When the West Coast called to me, I answered, and I found my destiny there. America’s Pacific Northwest region wove into the fabric of my own story. Part of my soul shall always live there in those three western US states – California, Oregon, Washington.
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Trinity River, road-trip, wife (raw) 
Mountains on the San Andreas fault in the desert near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Chiloquin, Oregon – camping (raw) 
Mojave desert, wife, convertible, Iron Age Road, engagement (raw) 
Chevrolet Camaro convertible – 29 Palms, Mojave Desert (raw) 
Camping in the Nisqually valley, wife 
Camping in the Nisqually valley, chair by the river 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible (raw) 
Trinity River, California, wife, corset, mountains (raw) 
Chiloquin, camping, wife, us, breakfast (raw) 
Mountains on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping – us (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Crater Lake, Wizard Island (raw) 
Chiloquin, camping, landscape, creek, mountains (raw) 
Reflection Lake, Mount Rainier, Washington (raw) 
Joshua Trees on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Mojave, Joshua Tree, poolside (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, Oregon – wife (raw) 
Tim and Wife – Joshua Trees – San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Trinity River, California – wife, tail (raw) 
Lake Klamath, Oregon, fantasy, maiden sword, wife (raw) 
29 Palms Inn, in the desert near Joshua Tree National Park. 73950 Inn Ave, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. 
Tim and wife – oasis formed by cracks of the San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, southern California. 
Tim and Wife – Rock formation in mountains formed by the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Wife – Joshua Tree on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Cactus on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Chiloquin, Oregon, creek, kayaking (raw) 
Tim – oasis formed by cracks of the San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, southern California. 
Gold Coast forest, Humbug Mountain, Oregon – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Mount Shasta, volcano, wife, snow (raw) 
Nisqually, hot tub (raw) 
Joshua Tree on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Gold Coast beach, Oregon – wife (raw) 
Joshua Tree on the San Andreas fault in the desert near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Palm Springs, wife (raw) 
Lake Klamath, landscape, scenery, mountains, sunrise (raw) 
Tim – Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California, USA. 
Trinity River, wife (homepage header) 
Mountains – San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Nisqually, Washington – camping (raw) 
Wife – San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Tim – oasis formed by cracks of the San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, southern California. 
Chiloquin, camping, wife (raw) 
Rock formation in mountains formed by the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Gold Coast road-trip, Oregon – wife (raw) 
Joshua Tree – San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Wife – San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, southern California. 
Wife – Cactus on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Rock formation in mountains formed by the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Wild flowers on the San Andreas fault in the desert near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Tim and Wife – Joshua Tree on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Wife – Wildflowers on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Rock formation in mountains formed by the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Tim and wife – Pool at the Joshua Tree Inn in the Mojave Desert. 61259 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA 9225. 
Oasis formed by a crack of the San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, California. 
Chiloquin, wife (homepage header) 
Mountains on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Wife – Pool at the Joshua Tree Inn in the Mojave Desert. 61259 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA 9225. 
San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, southern California. 
Hills formed by the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Wife – Oasis formed by a crack of the San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, southern California. 
Tim and Wife – Rock formation in mountains formed by the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Mountains on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Oasis formed by a crack of the San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, southern California. 
San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, southern California. 
Joshua Trees on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Tim – Rock formation in mountains formed by the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Gold Coast beach, Oregon (raw) 
Tim and wife – Saguaro cacti outside gun shop in the desert around Joshua Tree National Park, California – Independence Guns & Ammo, 56158 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. 
Tim and wife – Mountains on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Joshua Trees on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Mountains on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Wife in the Chevrolet Camaro convertible – Tim and wife – Pool at the Joshua Tree Inn in the Mojave Desert. 61259 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA 9225. 
Tim and wife – Saguaro cactus outside gun shop in the desert around Joshua Tree National Park, California – Independence Guns & Ammo, 56158 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. 
Tim and wife – Saguaro cactus outside gun shop in the desert around Joshua Tree National Park, California – Independence Guns & Ammo, 56158 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. 
Mountains on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Tim – Rock formation in mountains formed by the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Tim and wife – Mountains on the San Andreas fault near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
29 Palms Inn, in the desert near Joshua Tree National Park. 73950 Inn Ave, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. 
29 Palms Inn, in the desert near Joshua Tree National Park. 73950 Inn Ave, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. 
Mountains on the San Andreas fault in the desert near Palm Springs, Southern California. 
Mojave Desert – Chevrolet Camaro convertible at the Joshua Tree Inn (raw) 
Wife – Gun Shop in the desert around Joshua Tree National Park, California – Independence Guns & Ammo, 56158 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Chevrolet Camaro convertible – 29 Palms, Mojave Desert (raw) 
Chevrolet Camaro convertible – 29 Palms, Mojave Desert (raw) 
Chevrolet Camaro convertible – 29 Palms, Mojave Desert (raw) 
Mount Shasta, volcano, wife, us, snow (raw) 
Gold Coast, Oregon, road-trip, car (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California, wife, corset, mountains (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California, wife, corset, mountains (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California, wife, corset, mountains (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California, wife, corset, mountains (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California, wife, corset, mountains (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California, wife, corset, mountains (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California, wife, corset, mountains (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California – wife, tail (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Trinity River, California – wife, tail (raw) 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible, wife (raw) 
Reflection Lake, Mount Rainier, Washington (raw) 
Trinity River, California (raw) 
Reflection Lake, Mount Rainier, Washington (raw) 
Reflection Lake, Mount Rainier, Washington – usie (raw) 
Crater Lake, Wizard Island (raw) 
Crater Lake, snow wall (raw) 
Crater Lake, Wizard Island (raw) 
Crater Lake, Wizard Island (raw) 
Crater Lake, Wizard Island (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon, creek, kayaking, wife (raw) 
Chiloquin, wife (raw) 
Chiloquin, camping (raw) 
Chiloquin, camping, creek (raw) 
Chiloquin, camping (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin, cowboy camping (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – wife, maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – camping (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – camping (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – camping (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – camping (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – camping (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – camping (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – wife – maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – wife – maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – wife – maiden (raw) 
Chiloquin, Oregon – wife – maiden (raw) 
Lake Klamath, Oregon, fantasy, maiden sword, wife (raw) 
Lake Klamath, Oregon, fantasy, maiden sword, wife (raw) 
Lake Klamath, Oregon, fantasy, maiden sword, wife (raw) 
Lake Klamath (raw) 
Lake Klamath, wife (raw) 
Lake Klamath, landscape, scenery, mountains, sunrise (raw) 
Lake Klamath, landscape, scenery, mountains, sunrise (raw) 
Gold Coast, Oregon, road-trip, car (raw) 
Gold Coast, Oregon, Humbug Mountain (raw) 
Gold Coast forest, Humbug Mountain, Oregon – wife (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, Oregon (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, Oregon (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, Oregon – wife (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, Oregon (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, Oregon – wife (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, OR – wife, us (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, OR – wife, us (raw) 
Gold Coast beach, OR – wife, us (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, Washington – cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, mountains, sunrise (raw) 
Nisqually, hot tub, wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping (raw) 
Nisqually, camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping (raw) 
RAW: Nisqually 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping – wife (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Nisqually, cowboy camping (raw) 
Camping in the Nisqually valley, chair by the river 
Camping in the Nisqually valley, chair by the river 
Siskiyou desert, Ford Mustang convertible (raw) 
Tim and Wife – Oasis formed by a crack of the San Andreas fault, Coachella Valley desert, California. 
Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California, USA. 
Tim at the Googleplex – Mountain View, Palo Alto, California, USA. 
Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California, USA. 
Tim – Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California, USA. 
Tim at the Googleplex – Mountain View, Palo Alto, California, USA. 
Tim on a Google Bike – Googleplex – Mountain View, Palo Alto, California, USA. 
Tim – Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, California, USA. 
Tim at the Googleplex – Mountain View, Palo Alto, California, USA.
My humble words can’t begin to describe these legendary places. Here, I offer only a few selected photographs to chronicle my experiences. I met my soulmate there; I married her there.
I’ve had road-trips all along that coastline, from Southern California through Oregon and into Northern Washington. I’ve watched the sun rise and set over majestic snow-capped stratovolcanoes. I’ve stood on the rock formations of the San Andreas fault and enjoyed the shade of an oasis there. I’ve trudged through snow at Crater Lake. I’ve beaten a drum on the shore of Lake Klamath. I’ve kayaked in creeks and witnessed escarpments hewn by the cataclysmic Cascadia fault. I’ve smoked tobacco upon smooth pebbles in the Nisqually River and found bear tracks in the silt. I’ve panned for gold the Trinity River. I’ve seen the volcano mirrored in Reflection Lake. I’ve heard the wind whisper through the junipers and sage in the High Desert of Northern Cali. I’ve left my footprints on the sand of Oregon’s Gold Coast, and tasted chinook salmon from the Klamath River. I’ve even tried fish-and-chips there, Pacific cod contrasting with the Atlantic varieties that the English famously enjoy. I’ve driven a convertible through the deserts of Southern Cali. Too many memories to enumerate here…
I first found my way to the West Coast in 1999 on a business trip to meet with corporate colleagues in Palo Alto, California. I was immediately star-struck by this sunny place, exotic to my British perspective, and its people, and I already wanted to spend more time there. Silicon Valley was different in those early days, three years before Google first set up their HQ at Mountain View, and long before the existence of Facebook and many other companies that defined the web revolution and subsequent rise of social media. I was officially based at 3401-3431 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304 (now the VMWare campus). Another purpose of the trip was to work with a biotech data consultant, Kate Hanham (Catherine A. Hanham) of Hanham Consulting, Inc, working a desk by an upstairs window at 283 Dorland Street (Apt. 301), San Francisco, CA 94114. I had a limo pick me up from SFO and take me to my hotel. My excitement built as I looked out of the windows as we drove along the Camino Real. I stayed at the Crowne Plaza hotel. On my first night there I couldn’t resist exploring and took an arbitrary walk that took me past the beautiful nearby campus of Stanford University. On that first night I recall ordering seared Pacific bluefin tuna at the hotel restaurant, it was delicious and grilled tuna instantly became a favourite dish ever since. On my first morning there I took another aimless walk and stumbled upon a grocery store in a large open space, which might have been Trader Joe’s. I was profoundly enchanted by this small shop, carefully stocked with wonderful produce, the brown paper bags, and the cheerful courtesy and “Have a nice day” from the checkout girl. I bought a huge bag of American Red Delicious apples, gigantic, plump, so crisp, so sweet, my favourite variety to this day. I also discovered a local See’s Candy store during that initial reconnaissance. The whole area was much quieter, and the atmosphere more relaxed, in those olden days. There weren’t many people around in the streets or in the store. I fell in love with the place. Property was relatively cheap in Palo Alto back then, a sizable detached home with a pool costing less then than an apartment in Hertfordshire. In my early 20s with seemingly a whole lifetime ahead of me, I remember contemplating that it might be nice to live around here one day, but that was before I discovered the rural Pacific Northwest…
Perhaps I’ll tell the whole story of my West Coast adventures one day, if fate grants me time to pen my memoirs…