Road Trip Part Nine: SLOW DOWN AND READ THE SIGNS

The Pacific Coast Highway, or U.S. Highway 101, follows the west coast from the top of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, along the edge of Oregon, to southern California.

The two lane, 2500 mile, highway was built as close as possible to the western shore so it curves, bends, rolls with the terrain, and crosses the rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean.

Driving it provides outstanding views of the coastline, but it’s a road to be savored, not rushed.  Because of the twists in the highway and the many towns and cities it passes through the speed limit seldom goes above 55 mph and, more often than not, is 30-40 mph.

Traveling at much less than freeway speed gives those who drive the PCH an opportunity not only to see the sights...

...and share the road with others on tour, but also to read the signs posted along the way.

The following are some of the signs I photographed while DH was taking his turn at the wheel on our drive from the top of Washington to the top of California—plus a few thrown in from other parts of our road trip.

Wide load obstructs the wide view from the Palouse Scenic Byway 

of Eastern Washington.  Far away on the right are two grain combines harvesting the wheat crop.

I just liked this one.

I wish we’d had time to stop and get the story behind the pig and the pioneer.

Just in case you didn’t know what all those big lumpy things were 

on the side of the road along the Columbia River.

If you don’t want to go down Happy Creek you can take the Dam Trail.

 A real danger along the shores of the Pacific Ocean

They recycle everything in Oregon

Ironic

Too many shadows, whispering voices.  Faces on posters 

TOO MANY CHOICES! (Pet Shop Boys)

 A GREAT shoe store in Coos Bay, Oregon

 We didn’t need this sign to tell us we were in Onion Country Oregon.  We could SMELL it.  (Pay no attention to all the dead bugs on the windshield.)

Road Trip part 1-Smoke on the Water Fire in the Sky
Road Trip Part 2-Smelled the Mountain Air Man
Road Trip Part 3-On the Ship David B
Road Trip Part 4-Pods of Orcas
Road Trip Part 5-The Problem is All Inside Your Head
Road Trip Part 6-Looking Down On Fishermen
Road Trip Part 7-The Cure for Anything Is Water
Road Trip Part 8-Lighthouses
Road Trip Part 9-Slow Down and Read the Signs
Road Trip Part 10-Fresh Crabs
Road Trip Part 11-Food
Road Trip Part 12-Giants
Road Trip Part 13-Crossing the Deadly Desert