In 2007, I saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. Two of my friends and I were on a road trip to see the country because we grew up in Northern Michigan without many trips out. When I tell stories about adventure or finding my passion for public lands, they all start with this road trip in 2007. I was 23 years old, didn't know what I wanted to do with myself, and was STILL in school because I was afraid to move on/got real lazy towards the end. The trip of 2007, that had me seeing mountains, deserts, and the ocean for the first time really did change my perspective on life.
Since the 2007 trip was adventurous and successful, we wanted more for 2008. In 2007 we planned a bit, but much of it was improvisation. For 2008, we planned a bit more and added thousands of miles to the itinerary to include a variety of landscapes. In 2008, I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time. Ten years and one month ago, I was driving south on US-101 from Washington to Redwood National & State Parks. To this day, I can remember one of the morning drives and the smell of the sea air. My first visit to the Pacific Northwest/Pacific Coast was memorable to say the least. We stopped at many little beaches, got our feet wet, and watched the sun dance on the water. Here are a few photos from that time in 2008 that continued to change my outlook on life, one gorgeous rest stop after another. Is it any wonder why I've been obsessed with the Pacific Northwest since 2008?
