It’s such a relief to feel the cool air of the Pacific Northwest after baking in Sacramento for several days. And we didn’t have to get out of California to notice the difference. In the high altitudes around Mt. Shasta, we spent a night that seemed to be close to freezing. We had to dig out our sleeping bags, having packed them away in the trailer for the season, or so we thought. It isn’t that cold in Oregon, but it is cool and – not surprisingly – rainy.

We have guests along on this trip, two homeschooled teenagers from California whom we’ve had tour with us before, only at different times: Olivia (Libby) and Edith Sarah (Eddie). They’ve never been to Seattle before, and that’s where we’re headed later.

After spending a couple of days in Eugene catching up with various aunts, uncles and cousins of Kimberly’s, we headed on to Portland. We’ve spent the past couple of days in the artsy neighborhoods of Hollywood and Hawthorne, full of cafes, restaurants, and curiosity shops. The Hawthorne in particular is well worth strolling through; it features a fascinating Asian gift shop called The Monkey King, a store that offers fairly traded clothing, and an herbalist. There’s also a branch of Powell’s, the legendary “world’s largest bookstore” in downtown Portland. This one isn’t nearly as large, but it still offers an eclectic selection of reading matter.

Like Eugene, Portland offers plenty to make the bohemian feel right at home.