The Butter Hasn't Melted Yet

January 11 we are on our way across 42 from Roseberg (southern Oregon) to the Coast. The snow caught up with us so at the recommendation of the locals we decided not to risk the passes and head for the coast where hopefully, it will be warmer and less likely to have black ice and snow.

We had a great nights sleep in the parking lot of the Alder Creek Kayak store (on an island in the middle of the Columbia River outside Portland, under the flight path of the Portland airport and yes, somewhere nearby was a train). Yesterday morning we picked up my beautiful new kayak – an Impex Mystic from Alder Creek in Portland. We got a great deal on it and I am very happy. It’s a Canadian made boat and I got a better deal in the US than I could in Canada – partly because it was a demo (used once they say) so has a few marks on the hull. It fits me perfectly, can’t wait to get it on the water! A bit chilly to kayak here tho without the proper gear. We spent about an hour in the store purchasing all the necessary paraphernalia for kayaking on the Baja. Brian, from Alder Creek Kayaks was a great help and I think we are good to go – once we get further south. He had many great suggestions and was an all-round good guy.

With a late start we headed south only to have me develop severe pain in my right leg while driving. It was so severe that we stopped at the hospital in Roseberg to ensure it wasn’t a blood clot. They were fabulous to us; and no, thankfully it wasn’t a blood clot – likely muscular skeletal, so I will have to take more care with getting up, walking, and stretching during this trip. They provided travel advice and insisted that we drive no further due to the snow and black ice conditions on the I-5 passes, and to consider going over to the coast the next day after it warmed up a bit. They also provided us with free RV parking complete with plug-ins! In the morning they insisted on checking the road reports for us and provided the same advice – head for the coast! So, here we are. As we near the coast the sky is turning blue and the snow on the ground is much lighter, so hopefully we can pick up some time.

We had some very sad news, our friend Kenyan, husband of my dear friend Jayne, has passed away. In spite of all his efforts and those of his doctors his cancer returned for the third time and this time it took him away. He was only 48 years of age and Jayne and he were so very happy together.