The beginning

we're here at last, cape disappointment.  And it isn't.  We walked along the ilwaco waterfront, boats filling the marina.  a small fishing village with a small tourist trade starting on the 4th.  Talked with two shop owners.  don nisbett the artist told me all about the path that led him to give up sales and live his dream of being an artist.  He's very proud of being an artist.  and of pat the pilgrim, who at the age of 80 walked across the united states, coast to coast, living off the kindness of others without ever having to ask for help.  He wished  us similar experience of freedom and discovery.

At another artist's shop, marie powell's husband heard our plans and told me that he and his wife used to ride, as much as 700 and 800 miles.  Small world. Also wishing us the best, of course.

And then we had a wonderful sendoff dinner at the pelicano restaurant with diane and matt.  Nice choice, maurice,  it was excellent.  Red pepper and lemon soup and a pasta with shrimp.  Couple of bottles of good white wine, good bread, a shared chocolate desert.  what else could you ask for?

Tomorrow we start the ride.  The first leg of this journey will take us from portand to missoula, mt, after which, jim will depart and head back to knoxville.  The route will take us back to portland in about three days time. Then continue up river, through the columbia river gorge, past mt. hood, into the high desert and eastern oregon and washington state.  Then through walla walla up to lewiston/clarkston at the idaho border.  that's when we start moving up hill, into the bitterroot mts, following the clearwater and lachosa rivers.  We'll cross the border from idaho into montana at lolo pass,  elev. 5,400'.  then down into missoula.  i'm estimating 10 days of riding, 2 weeks total.

Tomorrow, after symbolically dipping tires in the pacific, we'll head upstream along the columbia.  20 miles will get us to the bridge across the columbia to astoria.  we drove it today.  it's a long bridge, about 3 miles.  two lanes with no shoulder.   fun.  should be with a decent cross wind.  the first 2.5 miles is low to the water, then it climbs high for the last half mile to alow shipping to pass.  breakfast in astoria.  then 30 miles along US 30, 2 lane with shoulder.  after 30 miles we'll take the ferry back across the columbia to the washington side.  don't want to push the first day, so we'll start looking for a place to sleep 10 mi or so further down the road.  Probably tucked off the side of the road somewhere.

Tonight it's cool and windy.  I lit a fire from dead pine and driftwood.  Looking forward to finally getting going.  Hopefully, my anxieties will pass once we're moving.