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Kels & I are heading out on another adventure!

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Day Fifteen - Home and Final Thoughts

I did not sleep at all last night.  Might have something to do with the fact that I slept in the car after 5pm yesterday.  But I was wide awake all night.  I finally fell asleep at 4:45 just as Kels's alarm went off at 6.  We got ready and packed up for the last time.  Last hotel had a Continental breakfast so we grabbed a bite to eat before hitting the road.  I was pretty much lights out until we hit the boarder.

Crossed back into native soil at about 10am and it was nice to be back.  Took a tiny break min Cranbrook.  At this point we both just wanted to get home so straight shot back to Calgary.   Got in about 5ish, stopped for one of our favorites - Atlas pizza, picked up Kels's computer then home to the girls.  They were VERY happy to see us.  In fact I have one not letting me type now lol.

Final thoughts:

We are both humbled, awed and grateful that we could take this trip.  We crammed a lot in and saw/experienced some incredible things.  There is very little we would have done differently and everything went off without a hitch, including the weather! 

Thank you all so much for coming along with us.

Now back to reality but with changed hearts, minds and memories to last us a lifetime.

Signing off for good.  (Until the next trip...)

Ps pictures from yesterday I was unable to load...

Day Fourteen - Travel Day

Cannon Beach was amazing. One of my favorite places by far. 

Slept pretty good last night and got up and went down to the beach at 9 this morning.  We stayed only 2 blocks away from Haystack Rock and the beach so we walked down.  It rained last night so things were a bit damp but it had warmed up even if the sun wasnt out. The tide was out so had to hike it a bit but it was really awesome.  After getting used to the temperature of the water (which really wasn't that cold  just cool) I took my shoes off and rolled up my pants.  Did some beach combing, took some pictures, explored the tidal pools around Haystack Rock, dodged birds pooping, walked in the surf and just generally soaked in the last of the ocean views we would see on our trip.  I've come to the realization that I adore the ocean.  The waves crashing and lapping on the shore, the treasures it brings with it, the adundant life contained within and the pure, raw power it exudes - yup I'm in love with the ocean. 

We walked back up the beach to a little place for breakfast, then back to the room.  I had a shower and we packed up and checked out.  We headed into the bustling town of Cannon Beach for some last stop souvies then we hit the road.

Just past Portland there is quite a few falls, one of then being very large (Multnomah Falls) so we stopped and watched water falling from rocks onto rocks.  The cool thing was there was a comparison in the visitors center and Niagara Falls falls 182ft, Multnomah Falls fall 620ft and the tallest falls in the world - Angel Falls - fall a whopping 3,212ft.  And they had a little model showing all of them side by side.  It was really beautiful to see the falls.

Hopped on the road and onwards!  Stopped in The Dalles for lunch and tried Jack in the Box.  It was ok.  Onto Spokane for our final night.

Up next: Home!

Signing off...

Ps I dropped the camera cord in the ocean this morning so I'll upload today's pics with tomorrow's updare.

Day Thirteen - Coastal drive to Cannon Beach

Sorry for no post last night folks but we couldn't seem to connect anywhere in the hotel.

Neither of us slept to well last night so when the alarm went off at 5 I think we were both relieved.  Packed up and got on the road. 

The drive has been gorgeous.  It was cloudy today but that added to the beauty.  The fog rolling off the ocean up the hills was spectacular early this morning.  Since didn't sleep well last night I slept for a portion of the drive this morning.  We stopped in Eureka for breakfast about 9am is and then shortly after we got to the Redwoods.  Wow.  Just wow.  Take a look at the scale below.  Kels took a pic of me and the car beside one.  Wasn't the biggest by far but the scale was unbelievable!  I just couldn't believe it.  The trees have been around for hundreds of years and to think if all the life they've sheltered or created in that time.... truly amazing. 

Since we are taking the scenic coast highway we made quite a few pit stops along the way cause the views were just amazing.  We played on one of the beaches, sticking our toes in the water, looking at the life in tide pools, searching for shells and just loving the wind and sound of the surf. 

We made it into Cannon Beach just before 8 tonight.  Lovely place and 2 blocks from the beach.  Tomorrow we are getting up and goin beachcombing!  I'm debating on getting up before sunrise and going down.  Anyways the girl at the front had a book with all the menus of resturants in town and so we swiped it when we checked in and looked at where to have dinner.  We went to a local favorite and I had the best fish n chips I've ever had.  Then we went down onto the beach but we weren't dressed for it so it was chillly.  Came back here and was finally able to upload yesterday's blog.  Had a wonderful day today.

Up next: Spokane

Signing off....

Day Twelve - Alcatraz and costal drive to Mendocino

Got up early, packed up thecar, checked out and left the car in the garage and caught the bus down to Pier 33.  Once there we had breakfast and boarded the prison transport to Alcatraz. 

There was quite a few heading out too.  Our boat left dock at 9:30.  The water was calm and the views were good.  A few clouds the sun was hiding behind.  Short boat ride and we docked.  Once off we had a 5 min orientation  then we hiked it up to the prison.  Once inside we got our audio tour devices.  It was a 45 min tour and narrated by a former guard.  They had excerpts from former prisoners and they guided you very well through the prison.  We then exited through the gift shop (of course.  Lol this seems to be standard now - do a tour and you have to exit through the gift shop.)  They had an really neat snow globe of the Golden Gate Bridge but it was a "fog" snow globe trying to replicate the fog that rolls in all the time. I think what amazed me the most about Alcatraz was the gardens.  The families of the guards that lived there created victories gardens and late inmates, closely guarded, we're allowed to garden as well.  Since it shut down they went wild but they are beautiful!

After Alcatraz we hopped on the light rail to catch the connection transit a little ways away. Once back at the hotel there was a burger joint close by so we stopped for lunch.  It was so good!!!!  Then we hopped in the car and hit the highway up to Mendicino.  We took the scenic coast highway and at every chance we got we stopped and took pictures and drank in the coastline.  It is just something that takes your breath away.

So we pulled into Mendicino a tad later than originally predicted but it was only just after 7.  Ah Mendicino.  Its....Mendicino.  If you like small Victorian towns then this place is for you.  The hotel we are at...well we have a 10 x 10 room with a double bed, a sink and a closet the size of a coffin (Kels words).  We share a bathroom so it's out the hallway.  Ya.  So Um this is an adventure tonight.  Dinner was overpriced and terrible.  And there's SUPER shoty wifi.

We have an early start tomorrow as it's a loooooooong drive to our next stop.

Up next: Cannon Beach.

Signing off....

Day Eleven - Monterey Aquarium

We got in quite late last night but that's OK we were able to sleep in.  Continental breakfast went until 10 and the aquarium didn't open until 10 so it's all good.

It's not huge but what they do have packs a punch.  While SeaWorld was about the razzle dazzle shows and large marine life, Monterey Aquarium was about education and smaller marine life.  We were both awed and amazed by Monterey. They have huge tanks and beautiful displays and LOTS of informative staff members that answer questions about pretty much anything.  We saw the kelp forest feeding - Ralph donned his wet suit and climbed in the tank and fed the diversity of fish that they have in that tank (including sharks) while answering questions through it in helmet mic.  That kelp forest tank has two very large pipes that go out into the ocean that the aquarium is right next to.  The pipes have very light filters so that animals can come into the tank.  They said that starfish the size of pencil eraser have come in and now live in the tank.  But the water circulates and things like plankton also come in and keep the natural balance in the tank.  We watching a couple of presentations in their auditorium - one on white sharks.  It was very interesting to note that up and down the Baja coast the majority of the white sharks there are only 2 to 4 years old and sharks that age only eat things like fish and smaller things.  They avoid adult sharks as well since the larger ones would eat them.  Once these adolescent sharks reach 12 feet in length they graduate so to speak and that's when they start eating bigger things like seals and what not.  Apparently there are a lot of adolescent sharks on the Baja and surfers and lifeguards know about them but are never concerned because they aren't the big ones.  The adult sharks spend a lot of time in the open ocean between California and Hawaii.  Note to self don't go swimming there.   I learned so much in that presentation.  My view on sharks has changed. 

Then we watched a presentation on Luna: A Sea Otter's Story.  Haha haha and that's when the awwwwwws started.  Luna got separated from her mom when the weather turned really bad.  She was only days old.  An otter watcher (yes there is such a thing and I'll tell you more about it after this) found her and searched for her mom along the coast (carrying Luna in his arms so she could continue  calling) but they couldn't locate her so he brought her back to the aquarium. They fed and groomed Luna (sea otters don't have blubber so they have very thick fur.  Because of this they spend 3 to 5 hours a day grooming themselves).  But Luna still needed to learn otter behavior like breaking abalone with rocks and diving for sea urchin, so they introduced her to a surrogate mommy otter they have already there and while it was anything but love at first sight, eventually Luna learned proper otter behaviour and she was eventually released back into the wild. Since then she's had four pups of her own in the wild.  Apparently its not unusual for mothers and pups to be separated during very bad storms.  Sea otters were almost hunted out of existence.  Before the invention of synthetic fabrics we used animal furs to keep warm and sea otter pelts were the warmest.  It go so bad that the sea otter population got down to only about 50.  I'm happy to report that through awareness and conservation efforts their numbers have gotten up to over 3,100.  That's where otter watchers come in.  They scour the shoreline, by boat, helicopter and land to watch the populations.  Once they find sea otters, divers go in under then and capture them in a large basket, bring them in for tagging and then they are released again back into the ocean.  All in under less than an hour.  But sea otter watchers also go out after storms and rescue lost babies like Luna. 

Sea otters are one of the top predators in the kelp forest.  They feed on urchin and abalone and various other shell fish.  They keep the urchin population down so that the urchin don't destroy the kelp by over populating.  It's a fragile system, like everything on this planet, and it can be unbalanced. 

The more you know.... lol

Anyways we really enjoyed Monterey Aquarium and if you ever get down this way it's well worth the visit.  Plus your admission etc goes toward more rescues, feeding, upkeep etc.  They have amazing displays (I have barely touched on them but ask us when we get back cause we've got stories) and it'll boggle your mind.  It doesn't take long as it's not nearly as big as the other places we've been, we were out of thereby 2:30.

After the aquarium we got on the road and headed up to San Fransico where were are spending the night.  We stayed in the last of the name brand hotels last night.  From here on out its inns and whatnot.  San Fran we had a tough time finding a decent place on the net but upon arrival we were pleasantly surprised.  This is by far the most spacious room we've been in.  Upon check in we queried about Chinatown and best place to eat.  He kindly directed us to leave our vehicle here and catch public transportation.  He also recommended his favorite place to eat.  We unloaded the car, placed everything in the room, signed into wifi and then headed out.

Catching the bus to Chinatown was not a problem.  The stop was close by and it was a little ways to Chinatown so walking would have been out of the question.  When we got off the bus the resturant was only a block away and while it didn't look like much on the outside the food was agreeable.  Two San Fran cops came in and sat at the table next to us.  After we were finished eating kels politely asked them a question that we've been dying to know since we got down here and they were very friendly and welcome us to San Fran.  After dinner I wanted to go shopping in  Chinatown so we decided to walk for a bit.  On the map I saw the Chinatown archway and so we decided to walk there.  We made it and just as I was taking a picture a Chinese man was walking across the street and asked us if we knew how lucky we were to take that picture.  So we talked with him for about 1/2 an hour, mostly about ancestry (he thought I had Asian heritage but I explained to him that I'm actually native which he said then yes I do have Asian ancestry and he proceeded to explain why).  He was pretty nice. And very informative.  We then continued on our way but alas all the shops were closed :'(  So we started back.  I really wanted to ride a trolley while we were here and as soon as we got back to a trolley street one came along.  We only rode it for 1 block but it was cool nonetheless.  We walked about a block and a bit and our bus to take us back to the inn was coming along so we hopped on it.  Kels needed a Walgreens and there's one 2 blocks from the inn so we went there then came back to the inn.  And now we are in for the night.

Up next: Alcatraz then up to Mendocino for the night.

Signing off...