Lee and I enjoyed a very pleasant day trip yesterday. The purpose of the
Trip was to reacquaint ourselves with a High School friend we had lost touch
with. Phil lives Northwest of St Paul on the Southern Washington Border ...near
a town called Cathlamet .
The trip was wonderful , the scenery was outstanding . There are several
ways a person can make it over to the Oregon Coast and this is probably one of
the least traveled . Stands to reason its out of the way ...most people leaving
for the Coast from Oregon take one of more direct routes from where they live .
If you live in Portland you take the Sunset Highway , if you are going to the
Northern Coast you take Highway 30 and end up in Astoria . The route we took was
Just north of Highway 30 , on the Washington side of the Columbia river . We
were on Washington Route 4 . this road will also take you to Astoria .
We headed North from St Paul , up Interstate 5 ..through Portland and over
the Columbia river . Just west of Portland the Columbia river takes an Abrupt
turn to the North .. Interstate 5 continues North out of Washington with the
River on its Left hand shoulder , then when you arrive in Longview Washington
the River Turns West again , I 5 continues sending cars and trucks North. We
turned left at Longview .
Longview is a working town , the largest town in the area it is a Lumber
town ...the smoke from several Lumber mills can be seen clearly on a clear day .
When I was going to College in Astoria , I Lived just across the river in a town
called Westport ...Longview was the closest large city to Westport , I spent
many wonderful days on the Longview Public Golf Course ( mint valley ) ..Turning
Left at Exit 39 Lee and I joined Washington Route 4 ..the route wound through
the town a Longview for a few miles ...the usual assortment of Burger King ,
McDonalds , Thai and Chinese restaurants , Les schwab , and Fred Meyer stores.
Nation wide Burger King , Mcdonalds , Wendy's seem to me a part of the
collective American Landscape . These are restaurants for people who know what
they want ...don't surprise me , I Just want a bite to eat and be on my way
...But Oregon and Washington also have some wonderful dinning opportunities
...that you may not be familiar with . There is something special and delightful
about most of the Chinese restaurants in the Northwest . I cant quite describe
it but the food is excellent , it is fresh and savory ...and well worth a try .
This trip we didn't try it , we settled on a corn dog going out and the dollar
menu at McDonalds coming back home .
IN just a few minutes we were through Longview and headed West along the
Columbia River , the Road follows the river for several miles and you have some
lovely views of the Broad Columbia River. The Channel actually comes very close
to the Washington side here . Salmon are easily caught by bank fisherman on the
Washington side . Highway 4 wanders over small coastal mountains and into
valleys and wetlands. On our Trip I saw Herons , Cormorants , Several
varieties of ducks including the beautiful wood duck , Geese and cranes.
Driving home I saw several seals in the channel .

You will see some interesting communities , the largest is Cathlamet , the
site of the Largest Native American encampment West of Portland ..Cathlamet is a
small community on the banks of the Columbia river, you can take a Ferry ride
from the town to the Oregon town of Westport and then continue to Astoria up
Highway 30 if you would like .

Phil had 300 acres along the Grey's river , a very productive salmon and
steelhead stream . We have a very pleasant visit , recounting the High School
years . Both Lee and Phil served in Viet Nam so a few war stories where shared
as well ...Lee and I discussed several possible return routes ...but decided to
simply return the way we had came .

I was reminded how I have often heard there is only one way to God ...but I
think its more like there is only one God , but He makes many ways available to
Him. God gave e me a map that include the Bahai faith ...Lee the Catholic faith
...Some of us choose McDonalds and others an unknown Dinner in a small community
..but we all need to eat. Along the way if we pay attention God teaches us , He
nourishes us , He leads us to understanding ....at least that is the way I see
It . Without the sacrifice of His son , with out this redemptive act we would
have no home to return to. enjoy the journey , take the road less traveled , or
take the freeway , know your final destination ....Its definitly worth looking
forward too .

PS: There seemed to be some concern over my post yesterday. My Apology if I sounded a little too depressed . I am really trying to sort all this out . It seems to me we live in a culture that nibbles around the edges of death. We consider it prudent to have Life Insurance ...we make our " Final Arrangements " Prepare our Wills ....yet actually talking about our deaths is somewhat out of bounds . As I grow older in earth years I sincerly find myself growing " wiser " and more Healthy in Spiritual years . I genuinly belive Heaven is my real home ..and while I am so grateful and so blessed to be here on planet earth , surronded by the most wonderful family and friends , the Love of a wife that surpasses any expectation I have ever had about Love ...I am definitly a man looking forward to Home and caught in the tension of Living as a stranger in a strange land ...Its hard to explain ...Part of why I am writting so much these days ...While I would shudder to compare myself to King David ,,,,I understand much of His angst as he poured out His heart his Joy , His fears , and His deep abiding trust in the Lord ....Long ago in a Christian Youth group at a time when my main concern was skin care and looking hip , I remember a song sung around a campfire with other eager and bright eyed youths ...." this world is not my home I am just passing through , my home is up in heaven somewhere beyond the blue " Strange I have never forgotton that song ...wandering in agnostisim , holding onto the Bahai faith , Challanged in the Christian Church , it has never left me , a reminder if you will of a future to look forward too . One of the hardest things for me to do is to simply live in the present ..to enjoy the moment the precious grace filled moment He gives us . We do not give ourselves these moments they are all Gifts , gifts to be thankful for ...and I am ...Its another beautiful morning, the fog has rolled in , the ground is white with frost , soon the sun and blue sky , but this view this moment this place is the one I have and it is Wonderful and I am so thankful for it .