On the road to Portland, OR!!

Well it took over two weeks but I did it!! I left Seattle! I definitely found a part of me there but I must continue my search for the rest of me:) But really Seattle was great and only a tiny, tiny part of Washington! I will definitely be coming back to explore.  I would love to drive around the Olympic peninsula and attempt some hiking (notice I use 'attempt' here:).  So I decided seeing Mount Saint Helens was a must and lucky for me only 2 hours away and on the way to Portland!! So I left early (noonish:) and waved goodbye to Sally, Jerry, and Poppy.  I programed my beloved GPS to "Mt St Helens nat'l park" and off I went!! 

on the road again...

entering Toledo, WA

and beautiful scenery

Im getting closer

and closer

Crossing a beautiful bridge! The Hoffstadt Bridge-there is a whole viewing area for it and signs that explain its construction too.

I just found it beautiful to drive over!!!

There is Cherry Fit-Fit looking all outdoorsy in the Park!! 

And finally you turn a corner and you can see her...Mount Saint Helens in the distance!

Amazing! 

And when you look down along the river bed there is ash where water used to be! 

That is all lava and ash from the 1980 eruption! Water is flowing in small creeks down there too.

Here is another great shot of the river bed leading to the volcano

Up close and personal...its wasn't smoking or anything:( but you can clearly see the crater and wall that fell open from the explosion...So amazing!! (I find it even more cool b/c I covered earth science in my classes last year. Go science! I know, I know nikki = nerdy:)

One of my favorite views! 

I stopped to make a sandwich, from the last of my ham and cheese, and enjoy the most gorgeous volcano in America. Yum!

Making friends :)

The drive out of the park

After a nice leisurely visit I headed south to Portland. I drove through Vancouver, WA which is the town on the boarder that shares the Columbia River with Portland.

The Columbia River...Washington side

crossing the river

Hello Oregon!!!

I really am fortunate to have such great people in my life! Thank you to Ambryn for connecting me with Annie who has a great house and great roomates right off of Alberta st. in South east Portland!  

Tomorrow I will explore the city!