The Art of the Buffer Day

After spending two days straight in the massive crowds at the Hayward Field track meet, my introvert battery was running on empty. Don’t get me wrong, the meet was great, but I desperately needed a break from the noise. For me, that means taking a deliberate "buffer day" to just stop moving, stop driving, and head back into my cage—or my cocoon, depending on how you look at it. In this video, I’m exploring the quiet corners of the Oregon coast around Sunset Bay, Simpson Beach, and Shore Acres. I wander down a few overgrown trails, check out a hidden beach shelter, find some deer hanging out by a parking lot, and look for sea lions at Cape Arago. I also had to search out an open-sky parking lot early in the morning just to get enough Starlink signal for a work meeting (the glamorous side of van life). Mostly, this day was about doing a whole lot of nothing. I sit on a few really good memorial benches, make a slow cup of pour-over coffee in the van, and just let my brain catch up to all the miles I’ve been putting behind me. If you've ever felt like you needed a vacation from your vacation, this one is for you. Places mentioned: Simpson Beach / Sunset Bay State Park Shore Acres State Park & Botanical Gardens Cape Arago State Park