Now I’ve done it.
I’m sitting at my desk, alternating between tapping away at the keyboard and staring out the window. I have what the real state agents would call a “peek-a-view”. Through the window on my right, looking past the treetops, I can see the water of Elliot Bay and a glimpse of Bainbridge Island in the distance. It makes me question why I’m sitting here, looking out a window.
It’s been a few days since I arrived back in Seattle. It is good to be home in a familiar and comforting place. I had been traveling for 18 days. Solo. Staying in hotel rooms and eating out. Now I am settling back in, developing and scanning my film from the trip and I have a weekend full of printing planned.
I packed two film cameras for my trip, a Pentax 6×7, and Hasselblad Xpan. I exposed a total of 27 rolls of film, quite a number for me. For now, I have some iPhone photos of my little adventure.
I left Seattle on July 11th, taking Interstate 5 south in order to make the best time to Hermosa Beach. The first day, I stopped just outside of Eugene, Oregon for the night in a little town called Cottage Grove. The day was a short day for driving since I had plans to meet some good friends in Redding, CA the next day. In planning my stops I tried to pick places that had something that might be interesting to photograph and Cottage Grove advertised a nearby covered bridge tour.
It turned out that none of the bridges were in active use and the tour was a bit of a letdown, at least as far as bridges go. I did get a couple of interesting photos with the Pentax and the countryside is gorgeous, so nothing lost.
Interstate 5 south through Oregon, at least past Portland, is quite scenic and a relaxing drive. There are a couple of areas that are mountainous and can be impassable at times during the winter.
Mt. Shasta is the first of California that you see and it is with you for over an hour before you actually cross the border.
I made it to Hermosa Beach on the third day, arriving at a hotel that is two blocks from where we used to live. It was like I had never left. While I had a great time visiting with old friends and going to some of my favorite places I have mixed feelings about this part of the trip. Waking up early for a run along the strand, I saw familiar faces. People that I had run by for years. Some gave me an odd “where have you been?” sort of look, but most just nodded, intent on getting their miles in before breakfast. So much has changed in my life, so much time has passed, but I dropped back into an old routine as if I’d only been gone for days.
Here are a few photos from my wanderings around the south bay.
I wasn’t very motivated to go out and take photos while in LA. If absence truly makes the heart grow fonder, then I probably need to stay away for a while longer.
The next leg of the trip started with a six-hour drive up Hwy 1 to Carmel By the Sea.
Becki and I have stayed in Carmel many times. It was our first trip together when we started dating, we spent part of our honeymoon in Carmel Highlands and it has been a favorite destination for long weekend getaways ever since. In all the years of visiting, I have not made the time to take many photos. Being able to visit one of the most beautiful places on the planet for the sole purpose of photography had been on my list for a very long time.
Photography, art galleries, and good food. What a wonderful way to spend a few days.
My next stop was Eureka, CA. I chose Eureka for it’s proximity to the Avenue of The Giants. I wanted to hike among the giant redwoods and this is an area that has many trails and photographic opportunities.
Two days of hiking with a picnic lunch. Taking back roads and trails just to see where they lead. The majesty of these old-growth forests has to be experienced to be appreciated.
My final stop before home was Bandon, Oregon. I had seen many photos of the beaches and haystack rock formations. I know it’s all been done before, but I was anxious to get there and see it all for myself and snap a few photos.
As I drove further north on Hwy 101, there were more and more vista points on the side of the road and I pulled into most of them. I am so glad that I did. The views and the hikes down to the beach and rock formations was priceless.
Bandon, Oregon is a spectacular place. Some of the most stunning coastline that I’ve ever seen. A nice little beach town with good food and comfortable hotels and cottage rentals. And enough photo opportunities to last years.
After two days in Bandon, I was done. I had been on the road for 18 days and was ready to get home to my own bed. Another six-hour drive and I was pulling into my parking space, ending one of the best trips of my life.
Along the way, I mailed 10 rolls of film to Old School Labs for developing and scanning. I have all of the scans and my negatives back already. I’m just about finished developing and scanning the other 17 rolls that I exposed. I have a few keepers so far, with hopefully, more to come.
I am ready and itching to get on the road again.
Maybe Banff, Alberta. Or east to Idaho and into Montana.
So many choices.
I missed this earlier. I know I had seen the email flash by, but then other things took over. Glad to come back and read this. I am envious now. Haha. Honestly that looks like an awesome trip.