Darn This Pandemic

Went to sleep to, and woke up to, this view. 

The day started with a visit from AAA to jump start the motorhome. I'd left the head lights on. I realized this during the night. I asked Google where I was (I ask Google, "Where am I?" more often than you might think) since we were parked high above the ocean on an unmarked pull off. GPS on my phone gave me an exact no name location on a map. I was 12 miles north of Gold Beach. AAA showed up the next morning within an hour of my call. 

Note to self: buy some extra long jumper cables. I can jump the motorhome next time by using one of my three solar batteries. This advice came from my son. He and my daughter are my go to people for so many things! 

The most disappointing thing today was to get all the way to the Sea Lion Caves just north or Florence, Oregon only to find out they closed yesterday due to COVID. I'd checked their website on the 17th and they said they were fully open and, in fact, boasted about being open 363 days a year.

I know everyone is suffering because of COVID. I get it. But, damn. This pandemic is really tiring. Everything takes more effort, more sacrifice and more time. Just reaching my phone company like I needed today, took 30 to 45 minutes on hold. I tried this morning but the call dropped out. I know others are suffering greatly (my niece is one of them with this virus and it's been nothing short of horrific), and I know it's tiring for everyone, everywhere. It just added to my already cranky mood that I was hoping could be uncrankied with a little sea lion time. So, yeah, I'm pouting a bit. 

(Interesting article about the sea lions moving to San Francisco here.)

Internet photo.

I did have a kind-person encounter today in a grocery store. I'd picked up some items that I forgot the other day, and then forgot to get more ice. (If you're seeing a theme here, you're right. I'm forgetful. Caretaking has a way of doing that. Stress does too.) So I went back for the ice and a man waiting in line insisted I go ahead of him. He said, "We're kind in these parts," and smiled sweetly. I thanked him as much as I could with just words. I actually teared up when I left the store because kindness just feels all too rare these days. I was grateful and sad at the same time. 

Another nice thing that happened was when I got gas. (It is so strange to have gas attendants do the work of putting gas in my vehicle for no extra fee or tip, but that's Oregon for you.)  Cooper wanted to greet the woman attendant with kisses when I rolled down my window. She smiled and asked if I only had one dog, and I nodded, then she went to get a cookie for him. Happy campers, all of us after that. 

I almost missed being able to take a photo of the Heceta Head Lighthouse. (I googled for the name, otherwise I had no idea.) I missed a great pull off and at the last second spotted one more place to pull off across opposing traffic. It turns out this is the most photographed lighthouse in the country. Rooms can be rented at the lighthouse for around $350 a night. The whole house is over $2000 a night. The inn is operated by a concessionaire of the U.S. Forest Service. I'd love to know how that process works and how much the opportunity costs the "innkeepers". I imagine this is done all around this country. 

As an RV driver, I make sure I drive like I always want RV drivers to drive and that is to let people pass as often as possible. I pull over whenever and wherever I am for even just one car behind me. I try to let people pass whenever there's a wide spot in the road and I can move over. I do whatever I can not to be that dreaded RV on the road. 

Out one window of the motorhome we see the view above and out another window we see the view below. We're boondocking near a little town north of Florence, Oregon. Fingers are always crossed that no authority comes along and wakes us in the middle of the night asking us to leave. We woke undisturbed!

We're heading to Portland under blue skies today to pick up mail forwarded to my niece and say hello to her and children from a distance. We won't be setting foot in her home or leaving the motorhome. My niece thinks she knows a place where we can park overnight. Tomorrow we'll head for Washington. We have one more month before we can get back to our island home. It's rented until then. We are both looking forward to that.