Sitting now in a book shop in GOLD BEACH, south west OREGON, it's 8.13pm, the sun just thinking about going down. Heather and Aaron have gone back to our MOTEL with 'breathtaking view' of the ocean - which it is indeed once you walk out the bedroom into the car park and look out at it.

--- Arrival: Eugene, Oregon ---
Had no trouble recognising HEATHER after 12 years, and we are spending most of our time retelling the same BAD JOKES and cackling while poor Aaron drives and wonders what the words mean:
boobejane house [!] , kiff, nought, vaai, and such
knock knock, did you hear the one about, etc

Spent the first few days chilling at Aaron's parents in Veneta, farming area outside of EUGENE, Oregon. Lots of time soaking up sun in the garden with needy labrador Puffy and imbred squiff eyed cat called Thai. Eating CHERRIES off the tree and looking out for BLUEBIRDS.

--- what was i thinking?? ---
H & A are in agreement that I have concocted a HIPPIE ENDURANCE TOUR instead of a holiday for these 3 months [citing the 2 week bus tour, festival in the desert etc.
Put this way I have to agree, and am getting nervous. I had my initiation into what this might mean.
We took a trip [at my request] to some HOT SPRINGS were 'clothing optional' and encrusted with a bucnh of naked youths [not unpleasant to gaze upon] and a sagging couple with beard and bits [less enchanting]. The springs were beautfiul in themselves - 5 pools stepping down a hill, flanked by ferns and mossy trees. And hot of course which is weird. Heather instructs no heads to go under - it's ripe for BACTERIA. Nice.
Heather tells me Eugene is teaming with hippies - some kind of HIPPIE MAGNET. And it's true - there was more tie dye and dreads in the Saturday market than you can shake a dream catcher at. Am considering changing the title of this blog to something more crusty. Antidote for all this is to turn up the car stereo and bang along to the 5 cd's worth of System of a Down. [if anyone knows what 'terracota pie' is, share].

--- Trip to the coast ---
We drove down the COAST on Sunday and are staying at Gold Coast.
Went over the border into CALIFORNIA to walk in the REDWOOD FORESTS [too good this is, a crazy business i can't be floral enough to write about]

been investigating other places, learning the difference between the endless DOUG FIRS and other trees, dipping feet in the ROGUE RIVER, eating Salmon [the rivers are beating with it], trying to ignore the bear-like SNORING on the other side of the paper that separates it from my bedstead, sampling local MICRO BREWERY offerings, looking at PIONEER CEMETERIES, talking arse etc.

--- Onwards and upwards ---
Heading back to Eugene tomorrow, then Heather and I will kick up to Seattle until Sunday. Thereafter I'm on a train to San Francisco for a few days before Hippie bus tour kicks off.