Postcard from Florence, Oregon. I took it easy in the morning, hanging around a buzzing and sunny Astoria to check a couple of Goonies locations out before leaving town to spend a little time chilling on Cannon Beach (“Hey you guuuys!”). In total it was a smooth 207 miles drive – in and out, up and down, the Oregon coast, taking any possible chance to leave the Highway 101 and drive at my own pace – ended with a crab cake and a glass of Willamette Valley Pinot by the water in Florence. I am starting seeing a pattern here: trees – ugly coastal cities – trees – breathtaking viewpoints…

Postcard from Astoria, Oregon. Another early morning meant driving the first part of today’s 336 miles in misty, foggy weather with white clouds still sleeping in the valleys and majestic conifers guarding both sides of the road. A few miles after Forks, I took a break from the 101 highway loop, heading towards the Hoh rainforest for a longer than expected easy hike among trees covered with clumps of hanging moss, stuck there silently hugging each other for thousands of year. Kinda romantic. Back to the coast right after leaving the rocks and driftwood of Ruby beach, it was heavy rain for about an hour followed by a sunny and…

Postcard from Port Angeles, Washington. Started the day pretty early, a bit hungover, to get to the ferry terminal, leaving behind a cloudy, lightly raining Seattle. The wind on the boat, a strong black coffee a crucially necessary, cheesy bacon and egg muffin took good care of me. The tricks you learn in London, huh? The ferry to Bainbridge Island was a pleasant, almost fun, 40 minute ride through a mostly sunny and calm Elliot Bay: shiny waters, blue sky and lushly vegetation: it’s the Emerald City for a reason after all. After a quick stop in the pretty postcard-like charming village of Poulsbo, today’s leg headed north, towards the…

Postcard from Seattle, Washington. Sea-Tac Airport to Seattle is not exactly a road-trip. More a 17 miles easy morning commute but it was the first 17 miles I drove since last year trip to Key West, hence I count it in. The inclement weather seems a familiar constant in the first couple of days of these US road-trips. A tornado in 2021. Thunderstorms in 2022. Light rain today. Progress, I say. Seattle: pine trees, lushly vegetation, majestic clouds, oysters for lunch, a dinner with one of my favorite out of state Chicagoan, the discovery of Fremont, one (two) for the road in an incredible dive bar, lots of coffee to…