When I pulled into my Airbnb yesterday, I didn’t know what to expect. The listing looked nice enough in photos, and at $360 for three nights—with laundry and a kitchen included—it felt like a good deal. But the place was right off a main road, and the area itself felt a little sketchy. Still, I wasn’t planning to go anywhere for the next few days. I wanted rest, groceries, and a reset.

As I left the waterfront hotel along the Columbia River, I realized I had been on the road for almost three weeks. Today, I checked into an affordable Airbnb inland, where I plan to stay for the next three nights. Max will get a little rest from the constant motion, and I’ll have time to catch up on my writing. Slowing down, I finally have space to reflect.

I was so happy to leave the Motel-6-esque hotel in Astoria. It drizzled that morning, and Ashley was once again covered in water spots. Today, my destination was Seaside, Oregon, a few towns south of Astoria. But first, I had a few stops planned along the way.

I’m heading to Astoria, Oregon today, but before I forget—I realized I never mentioned the scariest bridge crossing of my life yesterday. The Astoria-Megler Bridge. When I first crossed it from Oregon into Washington, I must have blocked it out from fear and a bit of PTSD. And now, here I was, about to face it again—this time hopefully conquering the fear.

I woke up excited this morning, curious to see how much of yesterday’s storm had washed the dirt off Ashley. The rain had done a decent job, but I still wanted to give her a little extra attention. While Rusti was still sleeping, I decided to film a demo of the cleaner I had brought along for the trip—Giotechniq’s Bug Remover that I picked up before leaving home. It worked beautifully, rinsing away the last of the stubborn bugs clinging to Ashley’s hood and windshield. There’s something oddly satisfying about caring for a car that feels like a companion on the road.

Today marked the beginning of something I’ve been dreaming about for a while: hitting the road and seeing where it leads me. Packing up the car felt both thrilling and strange—like closing one chapter and opening another. Max watched me with his usual anxious eyes, unsure of what all the commotion meant. Truth be told, I was just as unsure as he was.