Travels With Randy

11/06/2026

All things must end, and this trip is no different. I started in Santa Monica, CA, and took a combination of Hwy 1 and Hwy 101 to Oregon, then stayed along the coast on Hwy 101 all the way around the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Olympic National Park dominates the peninsula and is one of the most diverse national parks in the country, featuring coastal, rainforest, and alpine ecosystems. Enjoy!

Remember, Route 66 Collection Saturday is a couple of days away, and this week we look at the diners, cafes, and other restaurants that line the Mother Road.

08/06/2026

Happy Monday! Let's complete our West Coast road trip by tackling the final leg of the journey: Washington State. While Hwy 1 stays down in California, US Highway 101 carries the torch up north. It crosses the Columbia River via the Astoria–Megler Bridge before embarking on a breathtaking, near-loop around the Olympic Peninsula. The iconic highway finally reaches its northern terminus in Tumwater, WA, right next to the state capital of Olympia.

I’m splitting this incredible stretch into two posts. First up: the rugged Washington State Coast up to Olympic National Park. In the follow-up post, we will venture deeper into the Hoh Rain Forest, explore the park's dramatic coastline, and take a quick detour to Cape Flattery—the northwesternmost tip of the contiguous United States—or what I like to call, "The End of the World."

Have a great week.

06/06/2026

It’s Route 66 Collection Saturday, and today is all about the cars! I recently drove Highway 1 and Highway 101 on the West Coast, and the one thing I really missed was the classic cars, trucks, and strangely cool abandoned vehicles of the past. Today’s cars just lack that unique character. All along Route 66, you see these vintage beauties parked outside old Mother Road motels and gas stations. They have truly become roadside art, right alongside the murals and quirky oddities. Since I have several hundred photos and don't want to overwhelm your feed, I’ll be sharing them over the next few weeks. Here is the first group!

Remember, I drove from Santa Monica to Chicago, so that is the order of the pics. Also, Tucumcari, NM wins for the most variety, even though there are a lot of Edsels there.

If you can identify some of these makes and models, please add a comment.

Route 66 Road Relics

06/06/2026

Just dropped! The TWR theme song is ready. Tell us what you think?



My podcast partner Bubba whipped this up for the weekly podcast.

04/06/2026

Now for the northern coast of Oregon. I spent a couple of nights in Tillamook at the Blue Heron French Cheese Company, which is a fantastic Harvest Hosts location. While the Tillamook Valley isn't quite as famous as the Willamette Valley, it is just as beautiful and sits right next to the coast.

04/06/2026

Travels With Randy Summer Of '26 Episode 2 is here!

The Oregon Coast

Randy's Travel and Health Routine

Randy and Bubba discussed Randy's routine while traveling in Washington, including his daily visits to Starbucks and his property maintenance activities. Randy shared that he has lost nearly 20 pounds by eating only twice daily (at 9 AM and 2 PM) with under 1,500 calories, and his goal is to live to at least 90 years old to match his father's age at death. The conversation touched on health and aging, including discussions about maintaining mental faculties and the appearance of older actors in media.

Aging, Stunts, and Road Trips

Bubba and Randy discussed memory lapses associated with aging, followed by a conversation about Tom Cruise's physical stunts at his age. The discussion then shifted to Randy's current road trip along Highway 101, where he shared his observations about the Oregon coast, including its long beaches and sand dunes, particularly in the Bandon area.

Highway 101 Coastal Route Challenges

Randy discussed the historical context of Highway 101, which was built in the 1920s-1930s around the same time as Route 66, and described how sand dunes are encroaching on the road in some sections. He explained the challenges of driving along the Oregon coast, including erosion, rockslides, and rough road conditions that require careful driving at lower speeds. Randy shared that this was his first successful attempt at completing the entire coastal route in four years, as previous attempts were hampered by storms and road closures.

Oregon Travel Exploration Highlights

Randy shared details about their recent trip through Oregon, describing how they slowed down their typical fast travel style to explore small towns and experience local attractions. They visited several lighthouses including Heiseta Head Lighthouse, stayed at a Harvest Host location at a cheese farm in Tillamook, and tried sparkling Chardonnay wine for the first time. Randy explained their approach of using meal times as a guide to find popular local restaurants and making use of free overnight stays at businesses like wineries through the Harvest Host program.

Oregon Coast Travel and Photography

Randy discussed his recent trip along the Oregon coast, describing the distinctive characteristics of West Coast beaches including rocky terrain, driftwood, and tide pools. He compared the coastal development to Route 66, noting that the Oregon coast road has consistent demand due to its proximity to major population centers like Portland and Salem, resulting in more homes for rent rather than the motel-heavy development seen on Route 66. Randy also shared his approach to photography, explaining how they use AI to remove unwanted elements from photos, particularly power lines and people, while emphasizing the ethical importance of disclosing when AI modifications are made to images.

AI Tools and Travel Discussion

The participants discussed their use of AI tools, particularly Beth (an AI assistant) and ChatGPT, with Randy explaining he primarily uses Beth for questions while traveling and recently started using ChatGPT's image editing features. They had an extended conversation about Route 66, including details about Ted Drewes custard shop in St. Louis and the history of Highway 101 in Oregon, which was completed in 1936. The discussion concluded with Randy sharing his positive experiences visiting Newport on the Oregon coast, describing its various attractions including lighthouses, wildlife, and restaurants.

US Road Trip Recommendations

Randy shared recommendations for road trips in the United States, highlighting the Pacific coast route as their top choice due to its beauty, while Route 66 holds personal significance. He discussed driving conditions along the coast, including winding roads and the need for flat terrain for data center construction. The conversation also touched on recent stock market gains in AI-related companies like Dell and AMD, with Randy noting that while consumer AI applications may not generate significant revenue, the technology is creating efficiency and job opportunities rather than replacing them.

Future Travel Planning Discussion

Bubba and Randy discussed their recent travels and plans for future trips. Randy shared details about his upcoming road trips, including a planned journey along Highway 2 and a potential ferry trip to Alaska. They also talked about the upcoming centennial celebration of Route 66 and Randy's plans to travel it again in September. The conversation included recommendations for visiting the Oregon coast and the Columbia River area.

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Travels With Randy Summer Of '26 Episode 2 is here! The Oregon Coast  Randy's Travel and Health Routine Randy and Bubba discussed Randy's routine while traveling in Washington, including his daily visits to Starbucks and his property maintenance activities. Randy shared that he has lost nearly....

03/06/2026

The Oregon Coast is next up! It is roughly half the length of California’s coastline, so I am splitting this journey into two parts. Today's post covers the drive from Brookings to Lincoln City, and tomorrow we will head from Lincoln City all the way up to Astoria. Just like in California, coastal weather can be unpredictable, but I lucked out with beautiful sunshine for this stretch.

01/06/2026

And we continue north to the Oregon border!

Starting at the Santa Monica Pier in Southern California and driving the combination of Highway 1 and Highway 101 is over 800 miles. There are numerous places to stop along the way, including a boat trip to the Channel Islands, a visit to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Alcatraz in San Francisco, and many great State and National Parks. It is definitely not a drive you take and expect to finish in a day or two. If you need to be somewhere quickly, take Interstate 5, and you can do it in a couple of days.

As I've been traveling around the US since retiring last September, I've tried to keep my daily travel to around 200 miles. On standard roads, that is usually a couple of hours of driving early in the morning to get to my target location, and then another 1.5 to 2 hours in the evening to reach my next overnight stop. Because the winding coastal highways naturally slowed my pace, this 800-mile journey ended up taking me about 5 days.

Fortunately, Snuffy—my self-contained van—allows me to stop pretty much anywhere for the night. In the Midwest, it’s easy to hop between rest areas, Walmart parking lots, and Cracker Barrel restaurants. However, I’ve found that free spots are much harder to come by along the coast. I rely heavily on my Harvest Hosts account out here to stay at farms

and wineries. Plus, I love wine! Today's pictures cover the beautiful final stretch of the trip from Point Reyes National Seashore up to the Oregon border.

31/05/2026

Two of my favorite Northern California national park sites are located just a short drive from one another. Muir Woods National Monument is tucked just off Highway 1 north of the Golden Gate Bridge, and Point Reyes National Seashore is about 24 miles farther north along the coast. They offer two completely different vibes, but both are absolutely worth the visit. Just keep in mind that Muir Woods requires advance parking or shuttle reservations. I'll finish up the California Coast over the next few days and hit the Oregon Coast by the end of the week!

30/05/2026

They say "Everything is big in Texas," but that goes for all eight states along Route 66. The Mother Road is a land of giants. From pink elephants and a giant catsup bottle to the world's biggest flip-flop, you can get your kicks—and see your giants—on Route 66.

Since I drove west to east, the pictures are in that order. I hope I got the locations right.