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Blogs by Paul Cuenco
Predicament: A Day at the Beach 4/5/2012 3:40:32 PM
I closed my eyes and I begin to see light, glorious light. It was a bit chilly but there was light. Even though I am in my long trousers, the wind breeze blew my way and I can feel a slight cold in that day.
I decided to go to Cannon Beach that day. There was no rush, so I drove at the stated speed limit on highway 26 past Beaverton up until I reached the edge of the metropolitan area. Cars and houses began to thin. The 8 lanes had dwindled into 2 and soon enough, I reached the country in no time. This was unlike the Bay Area where you could drive for hours and you were still in the midst of housing developments; after which another metropolitan area emerged. And when you do reach that edge, the atmosphere turns into treeless hills. But here, in the Portland Metro, there was lushness. Trees abound even in the city. It was only when you reach its outer reaches, when the 8 lanes turn to 2 that you knew that the Metro was gone and the country commenced.
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There were no mountains, only hills. Trees abounded; trees and on some slopes and valleys along the way, grass. There were small towns; a house here and there and some clump of structures for pasture animals. Gas stations punctuated the highway and then that one lone tunnel. 90 miles, yes, it was just that far between Portland and Cannon Beach. You could be there in less than 2 hours. Soon, I was in that part of the highway where trees were mowed down. I guess, those areas were owned by private firms. Right at the end of highway 26 and you turn to the right, you would go to Seaside. But I turned left onwards to Cannon Beach.
I don’t know why I went to Cannon Beach except that it’s a short pleasant drive. Cannon Beach was a beautiful coastal town. It has a different ambience, different to that of Mendocino, California. It was an artsy place, just like Mendocino, but it was more of a beach town than the more touristy Mendocino. I drove in its tiny streets, down into the main downtown area. It was busy that day. People and cars were everywhere that the only spot I could find parking was by the public restrooms; and even so, the beach was only a short four blocks away.
I didn’t intend to go to Haystack Rock, a monolith right on its shores, so all I brought was a towel so I could lie on the sand. On my way, I stopped by a crepe shop and enjoyed a wrapping of crepe. Cannon Beach has a river running through it that kids and dogs would cross it to the other beach. I did cross it and played a little on its shores since it was low tide, then. After a while, I settled on the beach nearer the houses, watching kites being flown. Everything was quiet and serene that I eventually lay on my back and closed my eyes.
I began to see this glorious light, imagining the clouds drifting past me while the chill of the day put me to sleep. When I awoke, a family with their dog was near me. I did not immediately rose rather I lounged for a while, studying the landscape. There were families, here and there, but there were fewer of them, now than before I fell asleep. I packed up my towel and then trudged towards the headland, towards my car awaiting me to drive once more to Cannon Beach.
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