West Coast road trip - Day 3

Drove into Portland. Did some quick googling to figure out where to eat and ended up at Pok Pok. We got there 5 minutes before it opened to a line. Didn't really expect that and not generally one to stand in line but made the (right) decision to ride it out. The fish sauce wings are bomb. The half bird and the curry are good too. Apparently they have one in NYC too, which makes me really happy.  After lunch, met up with Atif's friend from college and his girl. We perused Powell's Books. Bookstores are so charming and enticing- I could just get lost in them for hours. Had some ice cream at a spot I can't remember then a Blueberry Bourbon Basil donut from Blue Star- perfectly light and not too sweet. Always opt for the more local and low key spots and you probably won't be disappointed. On our way out from Portland we drove through a area that we were told we might enjoy because of it's hipsterness (can't remember what the hood was called but it started with an A) - but it was a lot of coffee shops, barbershops and restaurants. Not really what I was expecting. Went to Cathedral park and then off to Oregon for Cannon Beach. Never seen The Goonies- shocking, I know - but I Googled it and watched the scene with the Haystack Rock in it. This rock is pretty magnificent as it was sitting in shallow water and had hundreds of white seagulls on it. Ate lots of salt water taffy, and indulged in beer and fish and chips at a shore bar. Again with the tasty fish.

A part of this day I won't forget is how it ended. We get on our way out on a windy, mountainous road and then realize we have about 18 miles left in the tank. The closest gas station is who knows how far so we stop at what was luckily a rest station only a few miles down- only a big parking lot and bathrooms. It's 11pm, out in the middle of nowhere, no cell reception (apparently there is no ATT cell reception along the coast. How did no one tell us this?), no map. NO GAS. We ask a bunch of wary strangers if they have gas, find out the nearest gas station is 40 miles away (people think) and have to sleep in our car for the night. Put on my Jetblue eye masks, try not to think about the cold and pass out. It wasn't as bad as I thought though, and it was probably all my fault although I won't admit it. That's how day 3 ends.