Art with a Message Makes Tracks in the Pacific Northwest

Continuing our USA Tour, we left Sacramento and made tracks for the fast lane, intent on carrying our Art with a Message and Art in Action mottos up the coast into the great Pacific Northwest and the scenic beauty, both coastal and inland, of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Dry and relatively barren landscape gave way to lush evergreen wonders.

Our first mission was to find a nice spot to eat our packed lunch. Mission accomplished at Clear Lake. Wonderful spot which we had all to ourselves except for plenty wild life such as this majestic white Heron.

In the late afternoon we stopped for dinner in the delightful community of Arcata on the Northern California coast. The town is a pleasant blend of hippy, retro and alternative life styles. It’s the epitome of northern California living and one thing is for sure... it’s seriously laid back. We chose the Wildflower Café for its interesting menu of vegan home cooking. We ordered a healthy salad and a thirst quenching Amber Ale -- very amber and very tasty! After polishing off the salad and ale we walked directly across the street to the Muddy Waters Coffee Company and bought a large soy latte for the road... and some yummy-but-healthy bakery treats.

The following morning, after admiring the sunrise, it was time for a coffee. We stopped into a little town at the northern edge of California: Willits, the “Gateway to the Redwoods”. We thought Arcata was hippie. It didn’t even come close to Willits. Fascinating stores, psychedelic signs and clothes made for a interesting time. We talked to some of the locals and chatted to a wonderful mother and daughter team in the coffee shot. The elderly mother had a broach pinned above her breast pocket -- a peace symbol, of course!  You can see it in the photo below.

The next stop was the beautiful Redwood National Forest. Known as the “tallest cathedral in the world”, this is a wonderful stop if one wants to reflect on life and marvel at nature. In the damp green depths of the forest I felt the same spiritual ambiance as when I walked into the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

We drove through Oregon in the black of nigh, but don't worry, we'll be back very soon for a jaunt along the Columbia River Gorge and a visit to Hood River, Oregon. As dawn broke, we entered Washington, the Evergreen State! It somehow felt like home! Just like New Zealand, it was green, lush and cloudy!!!! 

Not long after crossing the border we reached the delightful town of Chehalis. We found a wonderful store called Book n’ Brush where I stocked up on painting supplies. The manager and shop assistant run a wonderful art in action program where they have local artists teach their skills to other locals. They provide inexpensive classes in a wide variety of art media and from the samples I saw there is some real talent in the area.

As I said goodbye and left the store I found a free button which I pinned on immediately because it was an apt message for Americans everywhere: "I Refuse to Participate in the Recession". The pins were made up and distributed compliments of Bald Eagle Cleaning, another local business.

Being that it was early morning and we had more driving ahead of us, we had to visit the bakery and café on the main drag... and I couldn not believe what I found. New Zealand licorice and sweets! We snapped a photo of Sarah in the café displaying the goods. Yum!

Well, we have to get back on the road now, but we love the Pacific Northwest and we're not done with it yet! We're headed to Seattle and the Puget Sound region, then back down to Vancouver, over to White Salmon, and across the Columbia River back into Oregon where we'll spend some time around Hood River.

Care to come along?

Leisa
www.leisacollins.com
leisa@leisacollins.com