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"IN MEMORY OF MARY LOGSDON" - IN NOTE SECTION OF CHECK

AUGUST 1, 2006 - WASHINGTON'S PLEASURES

Tonight finds me resting at the Forks Inn, in Forks. Wow, that was pretty cool. Really I am in Forks, Washington. My sister sent me an email that said "Stay out of the bars, because of all the bar fights that start for no reason." Well, screw that, I went and spent the evening starting fights. Ha!!!!

Raymond, Washington was an interesting town, but not quite as interesting as Aberdeen, Washington. I stopped in Aberdeen because I wanted to get the previous days entries published. To do that I headed for the library. Was that ever an adventure. I saw folks that were not all "there", if you catch my drift.  As I turned down the street that the library in Aberdeen was on, I saw a fellow with a backpack chock full of stuff, step off the curb. I stopped to allow him to cross and I noticed that he was talking.  I thought he was addressing me, so I acknowledged him as he crossed the street. At this point, he did a squat turn around move that had him going back the way he came. Ok, he changed his mind. HA, how wrong can you be??? He did the same thing at the curb he had just left and was now headed back across the street. I now have cars behind me. They started to beep the horn. I was reluctant to move in case he squatted turned around and began walking back again. I sat there. Sure as my name is Mark, he did it again. THIS time I timed his return walk to coincide with my taking off BEHIND him. I knew that if he was going to squat dip turn dip stand up and walk, he was going to do it at the same point that he did before.

I was right!!! I saw him proceed across the street behind me, after doing that weird maneuver again, at the curb, like he did before. It was a small victory. I did get my journal and almost all of the photos loaded from the previous day. I noticed two that didn't get uploaded, so I might upload them tonight.

The day proceeded without incident. I saw some wonderful scenery and took some decent photographs. Lots of forests lined the route 101 that is the closest to the edge of the United States. It followed the coast most of the way. There was one point at which I thought I might have to tap in to the spare gas can again today, but I took a small detour off of the 101 into a resort area. As I was pumping gas, I saw a sign that said "WORLD'S LARGEST PINE SPRUCE TREE". I asked the gas station guy how much the charge would be. His response almost knocked me off of the bike.

THER WAS NO CHARGE TO SEE THE TREE. All I had to do was get the bike parked and walk in three tenths of a mile. That is what I did. The tree is a Sitka Spruce, and I'll be darned if it isn't the biggest spruce tree I have ever seen. It is the "Jabba the Hut" of Sitka spruces. It is the "Elephant" of Spruce trees. It has no equal. It is just damn big. It was worth the price of admission, which, if you remember, was absolutely free. Well shit my drawers and call me Charley.

Really, it was impressive. When I left the gas station, I told the proprietor that I would honk the horn when I went past. He was actually standing out front waiting for me to go by. Not much happens in that town.

I continued north on 101 and saw a threesome of bikes parked along the road at a wide spot. I pulled in to and looked down at the guys who owned the bikes. They were walking in the surf. The bikes had Canadian plates. They came up while I was talking to a couple about my trip. I excused myself so that I could take the bikers picture all together. They were pleased with the offer. They asked if there was a gas station back the way I came. Since I couldn't remember, I consulted Ms.GPS and she said there was one just 6.01 miles south in the village of Queets. The guys were happy for the information. And off they went.

I decided to get the empty plastic bottle that I had been carrying around with me and head for the beach. I took a GPS reading  so that I could remember that I was 43 miles form Washington Route 113. That was the GPS reading when I filled the bottle with sand from the Pacific shore. I had stopped in the outer Banks to fill a bottle with sand from the Atlantic shore.

My journey is achieving the goals that it has set out to do. Getting beach material from both coasts was one of the objectives. It is done. I now have to decide which of the 173 photographs I will post tonight.

After arriving in Forks, WA. I realized that I was only a few miles out from the Northwestern most edge of the US. I booked a room at the Forks Inn and headed for the coast and pictures of the sunset. I am glad I did.  The personality of the beach and surrounding area changed constantly while I was busy shooting pictures.  Tomorrow,  a new day for everyone, and I will see how my grandkid looks walking, if my son remembers to send the video.

I am kidding, he already sent it.. She is a doll. I miss my friends and family more so tonight. I know that psychologically as well as physically I will be turning a corner tomorrow. I am excited about turning "right" and heading east. East is the direction I started with on June 1st. That rainy 4:00 AM when I backed out the driveway to head for Jefferson and Metropolitan Parkway to meet up with Kevin Matts, who accompanied me those first few days. My bike started the trip with roughly 14,000 on the odometer. There are a hell of a lot more miles on now. I believe I am over 25,000 miles as of this evening.

I want to thank those of you who have felt compelled to write to me. I appreciate the words of encouragement that  I have received from all of you. Tomorrow, a new phase begins on the trip of  a lifetime. It excites me and drives me on. I am looking forward to the time I will spend with friends 10 hours south of my  self imposed limits of riding the edge. The detour will last a coupled of days before I return to the edge. It is something I have wanted to do for decades, and I finally get the chance to see the Ashton Idaho area. I am looking forward to it.

I forgot to mention that the scenery changed drastically after getting in to this area. Lots of coffee places can be found. TONS OF COFFEE PLACES ABOUND. I have photos of the typical coffee stand. They sprout up in parking lots like, well, weeds.

I am beginning to nod off (it's 12:35 am for me here in Forks, Washington) so it is time to submit this and get the pictures edited for submission.