Pictures, before the journey began

If a face can launch a thousand ships, how many memories can a picture conjure up?

I have always enjoyed taking pictures.  Throughout most of high school and college the majority of my photos were of people.  Over the years I have had the ability to travel and expand my photo collection to include vast landscapes and wildlife as well.  The incredible thing is no matter the focus point of the picture there is a story behind it.  

Mt. Hood, Oregon (elevation 11,249ft) circa 1994

In 1994 I attended a wedding in Ashland, Oregon.  Little did I know at the time just how much this little ole wedding would impact my life.  I not only moved to Oregon a year later with hopes of experiencing the Pacific Northwest in all its glory, I married one of the bridesmaids more than ten years later.  But that is a different story all together. 

I flew out the week preceding the big day with the intent of sight seeing for a few days.  The plan was to fly from Atlanta to Portland and rent a car for the drive to Ashland by way of US 101 along the coast. I mapped out the trip with my first day being an exhausting series of layovers and a short drive to Lincoln City on the coast.  Over the next few days I would drive half the state along the coast to Florence before heading west to the main interstate. 

Above Devil's Churn, Oregon (circa 1994)

US 101 is a great drive, although it can be quite hazardous.  Traveling south the Coastal Mountain Range borders you on the left with steep black rock cliffs on the right.  Along the way you can find small beaches though far between until you reach Florence.  While I have not driven the lower half of US 101 south of Florence it is my understanding the beaches take on more prominence.

Florence, Oregon (circa 1994)

I ended my coastal trip two days early as there was a party to get to, and who am I to delay one of those.  I stopped at a little restaurant in Florence for dinner, took one last look at this sunset and headed west into the coastal mountain range.  That was an interesting drive in the dark.  At any rate I arrived to my final destination shortly after midnight.  Over the remainder of the week much beer and wine was consumed, many pictures taken and a large time was had by all.  

This last picture was taken from the balcony of the Bride & Groom's apartment.   The sun may have been setting on our day but the night was just beginning...

Ashland, Oregon (circa 1994)

as always,

bkd