Mexican Gal

   Whilst sharing a breakfast of sweet breads and oatmeal, Albert and Ali chatted about her experiences. Ali was nineteen and she was doing some pre-college travelling. Ali’s plans had changed, forcing her to head home sooner and by an unexpected mode of transportation. She’d been working on a farm in eastern Washington in exchange for experience. She was supposed to have earned a small financial stipend, which she never received. Forced to relocate to Seattle where she had a friend, there in exchange for an old bicycle, used travelling gear, and repair knowledge, she worked for a bicycle mechanic. Now, here she was making the long journey home. Ali was starting out later than Albert and in parting, saying their good-byes, both hoped their paths would cross again somewhere down the road.

   From Grayland, the road headed south-east past Tokeland and on into the small mill town of Raymond. For a short stretch, until Raymond, Albert had the wind at his back, however, that wasn’t to last. Soon, a little before South Bend, the road returned to a westerly direction and Albert had to push through a wall of wind for the next forty-or-so miles. Fortunately the rain was mere showers today and with the reemergence of the sun, Albert got to see his shadow for the first time in three days. Seeing as for the past three days the weather had been nothing but wet and windy, with yesterday’s conditions the worst – simply miserable, the sun on his face felt absolutely glorious. 

   The road skirted the Willapa Bay and at the 101 alternative split, Albert swung south-west past the Long Island National Refuge eventually ending up in the sleepy town of Ilwaco. This turned out to be his destination for the night as once again his most recent strand of yarn pulled taut. Albert was able to talk a local ranger into turning a blind eye as he prepared to spend the night, in a small cabin, at Fort Canby State Park. Albert had travelled 76 miles and before calling it a night, spent a little time exploring the beautiful Cape Disappointment and the North Head lighthouse.