Burton Speaks

This past weekend's adventure started in the back seat of a small car. My girlfriend, her roommate, her other roommate, and that roommate's boyfriend and I all crammed into his Honda Civic coupe. Since I'm not romantically involved with the driver, I got to enjoy the back seat of this vehicle. For those not aware, a Honda Civic coupe is not an especially large vehicle, it's blessed with neither an abundance of head room nor an abundance of hip room. The three of us back there were constantly shifting around, trying to find butt-room in the cramped quarters, and I spent a few hours hunched over slightly to avoid banging my head on the rear-window.

But that's all part of the fun. Our destination was two hours away: Newport, OR.

We arrived about two hours after we left home, and we anxiously piled out of the vehicle at our first stop: the Oregon Coast Aquarium, home to one of my all-time favorite signs. Imagine a picturesque stream, bubbling alongside the path near the entrance. Next to this stream is a sign, a masterful demonstration of tact and subtlety. It simply says, "No coins necessary to operate stream." Tragically, the picture didn't come out well. But trust me, it was awesome.


We traipsed around the aquarium for a couple hours, laughing at the sea lions, marveling at the sharks, and appreciating the experience. (Not my first time there, of course, but my first in a couple years.) The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a fantastic and fun place, and I highly recommend it for anyone in the area.

After the aquarium and lunch, we then frolicked past the two local lighthouses. First was Yaquina Bay lighthouse, where we unsuccessfully tried to fly a $1.50 kite, and then Yaquina Head lighthouse.



I'm not ashamed to admit that, on the way back, I slept in the car. In fact, I'm pretty sure that all of us crammed into the back seat of that little Civic spent the ride falling in and out of consciousness - and I'm okay with that.