Tidal

Along the seawall in Depoe Bay.

These three are out our window.





High tide.

We got to Portland, were not able to meet up with N. Lunch was mediocre, and I wasn't hungry, feeling ill and swollen. Took the slow way to the coast. Food had no appeal for me those three days, nor did driving. The town more touristy and built up than I'd imagined.

However, the hotel room proved more warm and lovely than the Inn's site showed, a first in my experience. We sat and watched the waves. Made tea. Could not settle, so we walked out in the cold wind, plumes of spray spouted over the seawall. That was amazing, although we made sure to stay dry, being old and not wanting to be that cold.

Heard the first harbingers of a HUGE SNOWSTORM! for Oregon. By morning, the hysteria is high, we are not sure at all we will be able to get home on Thursday, and we watch the weather. A few inches, traces, conflicting messages. It all seems overblown to us, except for two things, winding roads through hills that are not well plowed or gritted, with a tendency to form black ice, and drivers who are unused to these conditions going too fast and following too close. The state road alerts are requiring drivers to carry chains on the roads we will be traveling. The Inn folks assure us that if we can't get through, they will put us up another night, and since they do offer a winter discount of three nights for the price of two, the extra day would be free. We call the airline to find out what will happen if we can't get through. We begin to regret going unplugged, un-laptopped, this trip. After a few minutes of panic, we decide to just take it as it comes, and at least enjoy the day.

Squalls of rain, gouts of bright gold sun, tides, waves, crows, gulls, a heron, we snuggled and watched water move. Out in dense rain along a narrow state park drive to see Otter Rock and the Devil's Cauldron, we regain our delight. And lose the tail-gaters, for a while, among the trees. Pathetic excuse for bbq, still not hungry, we return to our picture window and solve a few more crossword puzzles. A spate of pellet snow rattles the windows.

Gut rumbling all night and into morning, as reports of bad road conditions spatter the local/regional news and weather channel. I am afraid, dreading the drive, wanting to get moving, but knowing that just waiting for the temperatures to warm and the road crews to work will greatly improve our odds. About 0930, we make a break for it. Hit waves of snow, but these drivers are taking it slowly, and we make it to the tire shop and get chains. Informed that if they are required (they were) there is a $300 ticket not to have them, so we had chains, in case. Stopped for breakfast, I could not put food near my mouth, but D needed food, and I needed him. By the time we were finishing up, the waitress told us one of their delivery drivers came down the road we would be going up, and it was mostly clear.

Ultimately, we did not need the chains, but there were a few miles of turning, steep, snow packed roads that would not have been nearly so bad but for SUV driving idiots who don't understand inertia and following distance. Tense and worried, I kept the car on the road, got us through. Not as bad as the hours of horrible roads coming back from Lava Hot Springs. We did make it to the Evergreen Air & Space Museum. D delighted, although neither of us as impressed as we'd hoped. More on that later.

Found our way to see our friend, N, give him a book, and leave the chains for his mom as a fortuitous gift. He seemed very subdued, but we got him laughing before we left - so that's alright then. Ate at the airport, which is not the terrible choice it sounds like. Had a lovely Rogue Irish Lager, and the first appealing meal I had all week. Easy flight back, cab ride home we nearly got cut off by a semi who couldn't stay in it's lane.

Moby well cared for while we were gone, but VERY HAPPY AND EXCITED to have us home. Staying very close, chasing a lot, purring mightily.