22/09/18 Something happened in my neck when I got out of the sleeping box, I can’t turn my head anymore. It is very inconvenient for driving. Let’s hope it will go back to normal next time I sleep on it.
I left Vancouver at 8 am and drove straight to Portland. This time, at the border I had to stop for an extra check as I was carrying zucchinis, bananas and nuts. I didn’t expect them requesting the car keys to inspect what I had declared, but it did make sense. It is just weird thinking that someone will go through your stuff without you being there. But as I had nothing to hide it went quick and I was back on the road.
I stopped for a nap around 12pm but woke up 2h later, and as there was traffic on the way I realised I won’t make it on time for the art museum, free for 1 day today only.
In the evening I stopped by a camping site which didn’t have free parking spots at the entrance then found 2 RV sites but they were full, so I finally parked at a 24h open Mc Donalds to get access to the restrooms, hoping I am not going to get kicked out in the middle of the night.
23/09/18 I drove to the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Park for a walk then went to the tourist info centre for brochures. I only parked for 5 min at the border of a non parking zone and a guy working at a stall nearby warned me about it. 5 minutes later, I went out of the shop and an agent was already laying a ticket on my car… and said it was ‘on request’. F***. This time $85 fine. I tried to talk her out of it but she said she couldn’t do anything especially once the ticket is printed. My only option to discuss it was in court ?. I need to be careful because at this speed, a fine every 2 days, my budget is going to melt very quickly…
I parked 3 blocks away so I could read the brochures I took from the tourist centre, and the fire alarm of the building next to me started to ring. 5 minutes later the fireman brigade was on site, asking me kindly to move my car so they can get easy access. Why do I get the feeling that the city does not want me here?
I read about Cannon Beach which looked lovely in the brochures and decided to go there for the night, as it is only 1.5h away from the city. The first camping site I checked had a free slot (number 26 – Jojo this one is for you) so I paid for it and drove to Seaside, the village nearby for the afternoon. I had my first (surely not last) US buttermilk pancakes (the waiter came with 6 giant pancakes on the plate, 6!) then wandered in the beach shops nearby. When it was time for sunset, I drove to Cannon Beach to watch the sun goes down. I almost missed it as I was sitting in my car texting my colleague about the recent acquisition of the company (let’s see how much you read about this ?). Exciting times for the company!
I was too scared of getting bitten by flying or crawling things in the dark back at the campsite so I didn’t bother trying my cooking equipment and ate a bowl of cereals instead of eggs and zucchinis as planned. I carried a head lamp since I left in March and it turns out the batteries have leaked so it does not work anymore. And cooking in the dark with the flashlight of your mobile phone is not the most handy thing to do. I wish Brice was here to help the newbie camper that I am ??.
23/09/18 I had a terrible night as it was pretty cold (4 degrees) and my neck still hurts from 2 days ago. So I booked a chiro appointment in Portland before heading to Sacramento. I feel like I should rename this blog Granny cherry on the road… I am too old for this, at least my body is ?.
