AN IMITATION OF COLETTE

Yesterday I realized how friends can affect you. I've spent years traveling with my buddy Colette, with her covering her eyes on bridges. (Of course, she'll go to Canada and go fishing in a small boat and not worry at all-unless a storm comes up.) Anyway, bridges never used to bother me, (and I have to blame this on someone!) So, yesterday, we were ready to head to Washington by way of two very long bridges. These consisted of being very high in the air, to being on a small strip of land across the water. I'm sure you've seen them from the views from Astoria. We started out without wind for which I am eternally grateful and progressed across the first one.

Then to climb to the high part of the second one.

Now we had to get from high to low-somehow it doesn't seem appropriate to go down a hill in the middle of the water.

Only a little to go-oh no, road work.

But then, yea-we made it!!!

There was a rest stop about a block down the road and cool, calm, collected Mulert, pulled in and let out a big sigh. The rapid gum chewing wasn't enough. I had prayed, talked incessantly and taken a huge number of pictures. Normally I'm thrilled with our front windows because we have a panoramic view-not for this experience. I have a new feeling of empathy for Colette. (Now, please Lord, don't have me also cover my eyes at football games when things get tough!)The rest of the day was gloriously simple-even driving along the Pacific. I wasn't fast enough, but we saw a herd of elk in a field and passed a huge pile of oyster shells which was neat. We're currently in a nice campground in Elma, WA, and our mail was waiting for us at the post office. Today we plan on taking the jeep up north for some sightseeing-hopefully no bridges today!