A viewpoint overlooking Nehalem Bay from Highway 101, north of Tillamook.

Can't really remember where this was...I was just too busy stopping and taking photos to really take note of where I was.

Just another view from a pullout along Highway 101.

Lots of sandy beaches are easily accessible from the highway.

Picturesque coves and lighthouses, just like you see in those free real estate calendars.

Ahh...we're reaching the famous coastal sand dunes of Oregon. A small taste of what I would see tommorrow.

There are so many spectacular viewpoints along the Oregon Coast, it's hard to make good time through the area. Almost every minute you're tempted to pull off to the side of the road to soak in the beautiful scenery. But that's really half the beauty.

The other half is the feeling you get just by driving down the coast. Ahh...there's nothing better than a cool breeze, an open road and good tunes in the background. It's hard to really describe the euphoric feeling I get from driving on a good stretch of coastal highway...but I'll give it a try.

"I guess I bop my head a little weird...She tapped me on my shoulder and asked me with a serious, but concerned face: 'Is there something wrong with you?'."

The cool ocean breeze blew through my hair as I opened up the windows. I had Filter's latest CD, Title of Record playing in the background. Track 6 was playing:

"I feel like a newborn,
And I feel like a newborn,
Awake on my airplane,
Awake on my airplane,
I feel so real,
Could you take my picture,
'Cuz I won't remember..."

With the music playing in the background, I felt like I was driving in a car commercial. With the beautiful scenery I could imagine a chase helicopter taping me as I sped along the coastal highway.

I switched to my mix CD of eclectic driving music. The disco-ish beats of Astounded by Bran Van 3000 were already subsiding, as I caught up to a pair of slow-as-molasses Winnebagos. By the time Start the Commotion by The Wiseguys was pumping through the speakers, the Winnebagos were mere specks in my rear-view mirror.

My head was bopping along to the rhythm of music. You know, that thing you do when you listen to a groovin' rhythm and you feel the music moving through your body (just like the people in that Mitsubishi Eclipse commercial you see on TV).

I guess I bop my head a little weird. Once, I was driving around with a friend and bopping my head along to some tunes. She tapped me on my shoulder and asked me with a serious, but concerned face: "Is there something wrong with you?". Embarrased, I stopped in mid-bop, as I tried to figure out if she was being serious. Suddenly her lips broke into a smile. Then she started to giggle uncontrollably.

Ever since then, I tend to control my head bopping to a minimum when other passengers are in the car. I guess the main advantage of traveling alone is that you have total freedom...which not only means you have complete control over the choice of music but you can also bop to your heart's content without fear of any embarassment.

"The piece de resistance of the Oregon coast is a forty seven mile (75 km) stretch of coastland between the towns of Florence and Coos Bay."

If you're patient enough to wait for dynamic evening light, there are several coves and picturesque lighthouses along the way that would make for really awesome photos. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to waste because I still wanted to drive to the town of Florence before I settled for the night.

The piece de resistance of the Oregon coast is a forty seven mile (75 km) stretch of coastland between the towns of Florence and Coos Bay. This stretch of coastal sand dunes, set aside as a National Recreation Area, is the longest stretch of coastal dunes in all of North America. Some of the largest dunes are nearly 500 feet (33 stories) high.

I was hurrying towards the town of Florence so that I could sleep near the dunes and spend the next morning exploring the area. In a couple of hours, I reached the town of Florence. I filled Betsie up with a tank of gas, and checked into a state campground.

After taking a hot shower to relax my tired shoulders. I made myself a quick dinner of soup and crackers. I got back into my minivan and drove to a nearby viewpoint to watch the sun set.

On the drive back to the campground, Don't Panic by Cold Play started to play:

"Bones sinking like stones
All that we fought for
Homes places we've grown
All of us are done for
And we live in a beautiful world
Yeah we do, yeah we do
We live in a beautiful world"

Cold Play's right. We certainly live in a beautiful world. Yeah we do.

Chapter 4 >>