Sea Lions, Seals, and a Parade

  A lot of mixed emotions today knowing that all of our Oklahoma friends and family were experiencing tornadoes, while we were out enjoying our vacation.  We felt particularly bad that our daughter Erin was home alone having to "hunker down" as Gary England would say, and that we couldn't be there with her.  Our prayers go out to all of the people affected by today's tornadoes.
  We had another cold, but not wet day here on the Oregon coast.  I guess it's the moisture in the air, but I sure do feel extra cold here.  We are near the site where Lewis and Clark camped and I can't even imagine the cold, wet misery that they endured when they first arrived here and lived with little or no protection from the elements while building their winter encampment..  I have on every layer that I brought on the trip and still feel cold at times.
   Here is the link to today's photos:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151652161197456.1073741836.677627455&type=3&uploaded=77 
   We were really blessed today to be able to experience some firsts for us.  We saw a huge group of sea lions near the start of the day, and as I sit here typing, I am accompanied by the barking of about 40 harbor seals that are sitting on a jetty outside of our hotel here on the Columbia River.

   Strangest moment of the day - we rumbled into Florence, Oregon and found ourselves smack in the middle of a parade.  We laughed as we proceeded down the crowd lined streets, right in the middle of the festivities, which were taking place on the other side of the dotted line.  Then, just to add more chaos, an army convoy passed us.  It was quite exciting.  When we passed the Shriners doing their figure eights on the other side of the road, we were tempted to attempt a few maneuvers on our side of the road, but thought better of it.

      Tomorrow, we cross the Columbia River and begin our ride up the Washington coast.
   Hoping and praying that the storms subside in Oklahoma.  I'll leave you with this photo of the sun beginning to set over the mouth of the Columbia River.