There's something about packing light that makes a road trip feel freer.
Just me, my friend, a Long Weekend bag slung over the shoulder, and a small point-and-shoot camera that promises to keep our memories simple and full of laughter. The plan was loose: drive until the road bent towards the ocean, stop whenever something caught our eye, and let the coastline set the rhythm.
I was well overdue for a trip to the ocean, and what a perfect way to spend my weekend, driving to Brookings, Oregon, and down to Mendocino, and back home in the Bay Area, taking many photos I find it amusing. Other than taking photos, I love seeing the ocean and beautiful, unique coastal views at every stop. The sunset and the light it offers are something to be enjoyed and appreciated. As the miles rolled away, we traded highways for narrow coastal trails. From there, we kept seeing little towns that we weren’t used to seeing, so we would stop to see what’s out there and find interesting photos to take. We also got to converse with some of the locals and talk about how beautiful the town is and what a beautiful day to be out, because it was warm and sunny. I
think the best part of this trip is getting to meet random people you probably never see again, and they get to talk about a glimpse of their life and experience what it’s like to live in a coastal town.
Driving along the coast felt like chasing light itself, the horizon shifting in color with every bend in the road. We found ourselves pulling over often, unable to resist the way the sun broke through clouds, or how the waves shimmered under its glow. Each stop became its own little discovery: a new angle, a fleeting mood, a photograph waiting to be made. The rhythm of the drive wasn’t about speed but about pauses, about giving in to the pull of the scenery and the urge to capture it before it slipped away. It was less about reaching a destination and more about the slow, wandering search for the perfect frame of light.
The Long Weekend bag carries just enough to keep me light on my feet, letting me stop and explore without hesitation, film rolls tucked inside waiting for their turn. Shooting on film in a place like this feels right; it slows me down, makes me look twice, and turns the unreal cliffs, ferns, and crashing waves into frames I’ll hold onto long after leaving. Every shot feels like a reminder that this isn’t just a place you pass through, it’s a place you pause, breathe, and capture
with care. We stopped a lot, but this specific location we found ourselves in, Natural Bridges in Oregon, was just so beautiful that we sat and enjoyed the view for hours. After doing such a long drive, it was well worth the travel. Till now, I'm thinking about how beautiful the coasts are here on the West Coast.
