There’s nothing quite like driving through the night, to sleep in the car, to catch sunrise, just watch the eyes light up of someone you care about when they see, touch and feel the Pacific Ocean for the first time. To know that this is so much more than just a trip but a dream coming true – for myself included. It is something that will never be erased from my memory. From the moment he walked out of the terminal at the Portland airport to the “when do I get to see you again” and kiss goodbye. This whirlwind of a trip meant the world to me and was worth every mile and every second spent.
My best friend and I set out to head to Toketee Falls a couple weekends ago only to find out we had no way of reaching it. So we ended up stopping at Beckie’s for some of their famous huckleberry pie and then Mill Creek Falls. Oregon has unfortunately been suffering from some major wildfires. While I love the hazy, diffused light for photos, my heart is breaking for the PNW. I can’t believe how careless people can be in such a scary time, and I am sending so much love to all those affected by this intense time. This is a huge lesson in respecting the places we think will be here forever. Nothing is permanent on this earth and we need to cherish every single thing and human that we are blessed to have in out lives. Please please please respect our land and the natural wonders it has given to us.
I started to try and write a whole recap of this past weekend to go along with this blog post. However, as I started writing, I realized that words, and even these photos, do not do it real justice. It was a weekend I will never forget and one that meant so much to me in so many ways. From sleeping in cars to unplanned turns to sharing it with someone that gets it, every exhausted and exhilarating moment was oh-so worth it! It will forever be engrained in my memory.
“We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
As the old pine fell we sang
Just to bless the morning”