Oregon
A long drive up from the Redwoods in northernmost California to Portland, through a bunch of quaint logging towns and beautiful forests.
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Napa And Sonoma
Turns out Napa is pretty commercialised - lots of crowds and only the big corporate winemakers (although we didn’t experience the ‘luxury’ tasting experiences that you have to book months in advance - which I’m sure would have been incredible. Our hotel was also very luxurious, with a balcony overlooking a vineyard and a great Italian restaurant just down the road.) Sonoma felt much more relaxed, and the wineries are mostly independent. Our third and final tasting at La Crema (Sonoma) blew the other two out of the water in terms of wine quality. James left pretty squiffy, and of course, as a responsible wife, I drove him safely to our next destination 💅 (makes up for the many, many hours I have spent asleep in the passenger seat while he drives long distances!)
Waking Up To Sea Lions Honking
After a final wine tasting in Sonoma we drove up to a place called Humboldt. Stayed in a beautiful, rustic B&B called ‘The Lost Whale’, overlooking the ocean and some rocks COVERED in wildlife - seals, sea lions (who woke us up in the morning splashing around yelling in the water), and an enormous ‘Steller sea lion’ - 2500lb beast with a rock of his own. A short hike down to the rocks in the morning before driving on to the Redwoods.
Big Tree
More big trees (one imaginatively named ‘Big Tree’), some wild elk, and a tree goblin.
Forest Drive
Scenic but long drive up to Portland today. Loved the sign advertising “SWEET CRON ->”. And love our miniature ‘boho’ house in Portland - it was my choice, and is not quite the spacious hotel James had in mind.
Portland
Portland is a VERY cool city. I believe you need, on average, ten tattoos minimum to live there permanently. The vintage clothes shops were a dream (for me - nightmare for James). Got abducted by aliens at the Peculiarium. Ate some happy hour guacamole and joined a Pride-themed pub quiz (came 11th out of 20, which isn’t so bad for a team of 2, right? 🥴)