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.

It was sad to check out of my hotel in Cedar Hills. I had grown so comfortable there that, honestly, I could have stayed permanently. But I had accomplished what I needed—rest, recharging, and enough time for all my Amazon deliveries to arrive. Now it was time to move again.

I loved my stay at the Even Hotel so much that checking out just didn’t feel right. Instead, I extended for another four nights—perfect timing since with IHG rewards you get the fourth night free when you book with points. (If you’re curious, I even have a referral link if you want to join the program yourself, LOL.) Weekends are always the trickiest and most expensive nights to find hotels, so this felt like both a win and a relief.

After two quiet days in my Airbnb cocoon, it was time to move again. Honestly, I barely left that tiny house. Other than walking Max for potty breaks and saying hi to Ashley parked outside, I spent my time curled up binge-watching Netflix, letting myself just be. Travel doesn’t always need to be nonstop adventure; sometimes it’s about pressing pause and giving your body and mind a chance to rest.

After a few days of hotels, waterfront walks, and catching up with old friends, Day six was about reality. Laundry, car washes, errands, and figuring out where to land next.

Ashley had collected another army of bugs on the drive from Bend to Vancouver, WA, so before leaving the hotel on the waterfront, I went in search of a self-serve car wash. Vancouver has a beautiful new waterfront area, but once I drove around the neighborhoods, I wasn’t impressed. The city felt stuck somewhere between the ’70s and ’90s—flat land, tired strip malls, dead grass, and little in the way of charm. No Whole Foods, no inviting local restaurants, nothing that made me feel like I could see myself there.

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.

I woke up on Rusti’s couch this morning to a quiet house— Rusti was up early and headed out to walk Piper. I didn’t want to inconvenience her, so the first thing I did was look for a hotel for my next destination. But before leaving, I wanted to thank her properly, so I had wanted to treat her out to lunch.

Leaving Redding this morning, Ashley and I headed north with Max curled up in the back. The drive carried us past Mt. Shasta, its snow-capped peak towering against the sky. I couldn’t resist pulling over for a photo with Max—the mountain rising behind him, his ears alert as if he knew this was a moment worth remembering.

This morning, Max and I left Paso Robles at 8:30, feeling rested and ready for another day on the road. I had a plan—stick to a more direct route—but against my better judgment, I let curiosity win and took Highway 101. It added more time than I expected, and what I thought would be a manageable drive stretched into a nine-hour marathon.

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.