| Highlights of the Pacific Northwest USA (May 2006) | ||||||||||||
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Traveling towards the northern tip of Route 1, we couldn't wait to encounter the world's tallest trees, gaze at volcanic peaks, hike through temperate rainforest and check out the microbrew and coffee capitals of Portland and Seattle.
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The World's Tallest Living Thing
Northern California hosts the only remaining truly giant coastal redwood forests - 30+ feet across and more than 370 feet high, these giants survive forest fires across the ages to live upwards of 1000 years. Straight out of the Ewok forest in Return of the Jedi, the scale of these majestic trees makes you feel like a tiny bug. Loving redwoods since childhood and having been married in a redwood grove in Edinburgh, these groves felt really special to us both. |
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Road Trip USA
Driving Route 1 provided quintessential elements of an American Road trip: gorgeous scenery, '50s-style diners and, of course, ridiculous tourist attractions! Only in America would someone look at a giant redwood and decide that - clearly! - the sensible thing to do is to chop a hole through it and make a drive-through tree! Equally preposterous was "Confusion Hill", where (apparently) the laws of gravity do not hold sway... |
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Crater Lake, Oregon
A magnificent, circular lake sits in the caldera of collapsed volcano Mt Mazama. Wizard Island (shaped like a magi's hat), rises from the middle-left of the lake, a testament to a subsequent eruption. |
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An Active Volcano!
Mount St. Helens, Washington, erupted in 1980. The near side of the mountain entirely collapsed, creating a dust-packed explosion that raced across the landscape at 300mph, scorching and flattening everything in its way. Today, in the centre of the crater a new peak is growing at 5 feet a day. In a generation, the mountain should have regained the 1000 feet it lost in the eruption - super-charged geology! |
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Fight the Power!
Volcano-loving Portland pals Amy and Nick, give a victory salute as they head south after out-running erupting volcanoes, supping Portland's tasty microbrews and dodging meat cleaver-wielding angry chefs! |
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An Olympic Champion
The far north west of Washington state holds Olympic National Park. This remote treasure hosts shrinkingly chilled glacial lakes; dramatic beaches strewn with driftwood; and temperate rainforest, supporting distinctive rows of trees, flourishing on a "nurse log" - a fallen tree that provides the nutrients for new growth. |
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The Fish People of Callum Bay
On a tip-off, we took a long detour to a remote Native American settlement, having heard of the mysterious "Fish Man". We were delighted to discover he has found a mate. A special prize to the first viewer to correctly identify Cheryl and Magnus in the pictures! |
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Feeling a little crabby?
Stopping in at Dungeness, we had to have the famous local crab for dinner. Unfortunately, this little chap had lost his appetite. |
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At Home with the Kostojohns
Seattle, the end of the line on our Pacific Northwest trek, and time to hang out with our friends V & Scott Kostojohn. After a little wine the dreaded Boggle board came out - as a result we are no longer welcome in their house (and no, Cheryl, gxu is not a word...!) |
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