September 18, 2021: a mad dash along Highway 101 outside of sleepy Florence, Oregon. Rain and wind blows inland from the sea while fog fills the forests. Zipping around in a rental car with a wedding to attend at 5:00 — the clock is ticking.

An obvious mountainside footpath calls from the side of the highway. Later, an unmarked gravel pull-off becks exploration of the rocky beach, dancing with ocean spray, down below. So many things need to be photographed in this beautiful setting I have never before experienced.

It is my first time photographing with any degree of seriousness outside of Tennessee, so naturally I’m filled with excitement and an urge to take in all I can with my eyes and lens.

It’s also a far cry from the much slower approach I normally take, but we are only in town for a short time and I want to make the most of it. A real test of sorts, spending limited time in each location along the coastal highway.

The more I drive, the more overwhelmed, excited and thrilled I become.

The resulting handful of photographs are dedicated to Miller, Jay, Scottie, Jeff, and the whole Miller crew whose hospitality and warmth are legendary.