We hit the road shortly after 7 a.m., and it wasn’t until 7:30 p.m. and getting dark that we returned.

Instead of traveling up the coast solo doing my salesperson routine for Crossings: McCullough’s Coastal Bridges, I had Connie Bradley along. And she had a boxful of her book Snowball: The Nanny Goose of Sutton Lake. It would be a duet.

We also had a second reason for this trip. We would be passing out flyers and posters to libraries, museums, and bookstores about the first ever Florence Festival of Books that would be taking place October 1—just a little over two weeks away. We’ve been going all out to get the word out, now that more than 60 authors and publishers have signed up to participate in the festival. We don’t want a wimpy turn out. We want a great turn out.

We were off to spread the word . . . and sell books. Our plan was to get an early start and head straight for Tillamook—a three-hour drive—and hit all the other towns on the way back. It should work because most places wouldn’t be open until 10 a.m.

The sky was clear when we started but the sun hadn’t come over the mountains yet. By the time we got to Yachats, mists were filling every indentation along the coast. And by Newport, the mists had turned to fog.

We made one stop in Newport on the way north at the Sylvia Beach Hotel—a place especially designed for writers with a dining room called The Tables of Content. We passed out flyers and a poster and then each of us left a copy of our books with a bookmark and press release for the owner who hadn’t come in yet.

By the time we reached Lincoln City we were in drizzle and by Tillamook light rain. Oh joy! The one constant about coastal weather is its changeability!

Tillamook was virgin territory as far as our books were concerned. We stopped first at the Tillamook Air Museum south of town where all the great old airplanes—mostly warbirds––are on display in the huge blimp hangar built during World War II. The assistant manager bought four of my books. Then it was on to the Lincoln County Pioneer Museum, where we left the flyers and poster and info about my book. I also recognized some folks from Longview, WA, that had been visiting the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum the day before in Florence where I had been on duty as a volunteer docent. Small world!

Then we scurried across the street to the appropriately named Rainy Day Books, a delightful bookstore complete with resident cat. The owner bought books from both of us.

Then on we went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. I had called ahead and learned that the person we needed to see was not in, but it was okay to drop off a book and info and call back next week. After we got there, it was noon, and we were hungry. So we sat in the car and ate our packed lunches while the drizzle turned to rain. Inside, we found the right person to leave our books and info with. Then we got serious. We lined up for a Tillamook ice cream cone, and both of us had double waffle cones. Connie went for two scoops of rocky road, and I couldn’t resist a scoop each of coffee almond fudge and mocha espresso. While in line and later at a table eating our cones, we were again with the folks from Longview, WA. Small world indeed!

Totally fortified, we headed down the coast with stops in Lincoln City, Gleneden Beach, Depoe Bay, Newport, Waldport, and Yachats. The weather had stopped raining by Lincoln City, and it was sunny and absolutely beautiful from Newport on. We stopped at nearly every place on our list. A couple places we missed because they closed before we could get there.

Our last stop was Mari’s Books in Yachats where I had called ahead to say we were coming, but it would be closer to 6:15 instead of 6, which is when they normally close. Mari stayed open and bought books from both of us. It was about the fifth time to buy from me, but the first time from Connie. Mari and her sister Mary are so friendly, that it’s always a pleasure to stop there. And, as usual, as soon as I started looking around, I found a book I had to buy.

A total of 15 places are now sporting blue and white posters announcing the Florence Festival of Books in their windows and flyers with the same message on their counters. And each of us either sold books, consigned books, or left info about our books at each place we pitched them. We encountered only helpful, pleasant, and downright friendly folks at every stop. It had been a long but thoroughly enjoyable and very productive day for two coastal authors . . . on the road again.

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Crossings: McCullough’s Coastal Bridges can be yours for $24.95 plus $3.99 shipping. Order from Pacific Publishing at www.connectflorence.com or pacpub@oregonfast.net. It is also available on the coast in bookstores, museums, and gift shops; in Eugene at the airport, the historical museum, and several bookstores; and in Portland at Powell’s and the Oregon Historical Society.

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Judy a part of Yaquina Bay Bridge’s month-long celebration:

September 23, noon–1 p.m.––One of two speakers at Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce Meeting, Newport.

October 1, 2-4 p.m.—Yaquina Bay Bridge ‘s 75th anniversary celebration panel discussion on building the bridge at City Hall, Newport.

Judy participating in authors/publishers fair:

October 1, 10-4 p.m.—Florence Festival of Books–an authors and publishers fair at the Florence Events Center (715 Quince Street, 1 block east of Highway 101), Florence (Judy leaves for Newport shortly after noon)

Judy’s PowerPoint Presentation:

November 12, 1:30 p.m.––Visitor Center Theater, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport (just south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, near Oregon Coast Aquarium)