The Coast Can Do That

I had to go to the Portland VA facility last week and it was an eye opening experience. Since I am a veteran I rode the DAV Shuttle and we headed inland via Hwy 20. Near the top of Hwy 20 It’s beautiful looking out over the forests, peaceful, quiet.

But then we hit Philomath and Corvallis and I-5 heading north. There went peaceful and quiet. I-5 was a ribbon of cars and trucks clipping along at a good rate of speed.

Coming from Waldport the speed of the traffic seemed like supersonic speed to compare what we Coastal residents are used to. But these drivers on the highway knew what they were doing so it didn’t feel unsafe .

As we got closer to Portland the traffic got heaver. It was during morning rush hour so the intensity of the drivers and their passengers grew.

Everyone wanted to be at their destinations. Again, not something you see on the Coast. I think also what changed was how folks were looking.  They were all paying rapt attention to something, their driving, their passengers their phones. I was getting a kick out of just watching, I was lucky, I was a passenger not driving.

We arrived in Portland which was busy and rapid moving, took care of business and began the journey back to the Coast.

I’d only been away from Waldport for a few hours but when the shuttle stared moving Westward I was ready to roll.

I began to notice a relaxation it attitude, Not that we Coastal residents lack intensity of the city folk but it’s different and that’s the beauty of it.

The city has it’s beauty but there Is nothing like hitting the Coast and the city just falls away. It’s that magic that the Coast has, it can energize if you want that or it can relax if you want.

The Coast can do that and we are lucky to live here.