17th day (Ocean Shores)

Today is what we call an interval day. We have booked our Ukrainian enclave here in Ocean Shores for 2 days, and can dedicate ourselves to necessities that sometimes need to be taken care of on vacation. In this case, laundry. Relaxing. No long car ride.

In Ocean Shores Laundromat, a drum with about 16 kg of laundry costs 4 dollars, and the washing process takes 30 minutes. The extremely charming employee who is very helpful to us in operating the machines is very surprised when I tell her that my washing machine at home takes almost 3 hours. She laughs and shakes her head. After the laundry has also been in the dryer for 40 minutes, and we have been having coffee in the meantime, she says she has been to Stuttgart before and knows Spätzle. We also talk about liver sausage and blood sausage and then leave this hospitable place again, where numerous residents without a washing machine spend their mornings. I can only recommend to all USA travelers - just take half or even a third with you and wash in between. It couldn't be easier.

On the way back to our apartment, we see numerous deer again on the side of the road, grazing here in a calm manner. You can approach them without them showing the shyness we are familiar with in Europe. You could almost think that they realize that no one is after their lives here. This sight is very characteristic of Ocean Shores, and even yesterday, when we were still sitting on the balcony in the evening, 2 male animals with antlers strolled comfortably into the property before calmly leaving it again. Unfortunately, it was too dark to take a picture, but it was really an incredibly beautiful moment.

We spend the afternoon on this first rainy day with beach walks on the rugged Pacific coast. It's no more than 19 degrees and we enjoy relaxing in the salty sea air. After 14 days of continuous progress, it feels good to stop and take it all in. The impressions of the past 2 weeks are things that you don't experience at home in half a year. And once again, Bennett's Fish Shack is our choice for dinner, this time fish tacos. Too much, but again very tasty. You should simply share portions consistently here. In most cases, you will still be full afterwards.