Day 8-9
La Grande, Or to Portland Or
The drive to Portland was one of the shortest of the entire trip, at about 5 hours I believe. When I awoke in the morning, my tent was most, and covered with little grubbies that took a lot of work to shake off the wet tent.
About half way to Portland, I came around the interstate to what looked like a big blue lake on my right. After driving along side the “lake” for a few minutes and thinking it was an awfully long lake, I realized that it was no lake, it was the Columbia River. I’m used to big, muddy rivers that occasionally look blue if the weather is nice. It was a sunny day out, but that river was the bluest I’ve ever seen. It was also a lot larger than I imagined.
About this point, I called up Lynette, and worked out staying with her and her husband, which was a relief. Getting into Portland, I followed hastily written directions to their apartment, managed to drive about 15 yards from the apartment for some time.
After actually meeting Lynette and Jon, I set off in the city, going to Powell books, and well, not a lot else. I didn’t know what exactly to see in Portland, and I’ve got to admit, it was a little odd staying with people I didn’t know at all. I enjoyed a shower, a good dinner (and dessert at a dessert place,) and I played the wii for the first time. All in all, it was good and relaxing.
Showing posts with label Oregon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oregon. Show all posts
September 17, 2008
September 7, 2008
Day 7 (or, in the Pines)
So, about those amazing Blue Mountains--
I pulled into Higard Junction State Park, which is a small state park that butts right up to the interstate in the Blue Mountains. I pulled in, there was a slight mist in the air. I chose to stop here for the night, one, because I was getting tired, and the next state park was several hours away still. Secondly, this park was cheap, really cheap to stay at, only 8 dollars for the night. I pulled in, and saw only two other campers in the small campground.
I got out of my car to go use the pay phone, because I had to call my parents and check in. Instantly, I was inundated by the smell of the pines. I still cannot properly describe them, but Pine-sol doesn't do them justice. It was one of the deepest, richest smells I ever had experienced. I would spend the rest of my trip trying to figure out the smell and the trees (those trees are only in that part of the state!)
As I worked on setting up my tent, I realized there only was really one other camper there, as the second camper was the camp ground manager, which was a really nice retiree and his wife. He came out at one point to walk their dog and asked me if I was going back to school (which was a logical question for a college aged girl camping by herself at the end of summer,) and I told him "nope, just taking a trip out west."
Having the camp ground manager talk with me comforted me a little bit, as I was breaking one of the rules I had given myself about campgrounds. My rule was that a campground needed to be at least 50% full or five people near by for me to stay. This way, I was likely to be noticed by someone. But I really liked this campground (the smell! the trees!), there were no bushes dividing spaces like the last campground (this was wide open,) and the manager had spoken with me, so I felt incredibly safe.
The night before I called my friend who had an old roommate living in Portland. I wasn't feeling confidant in finding the hostel, or there being space, so I had her call her old roommate and see if I could spend at least one night. That was my tentative plan for the next day, I still had to call Lynette in the morning. I knew I had a relatively short drive, and I would be up early, because there was construction on the interstate (which was right next to the park remember.)
I pulled into Higard Junction State Park, which is a small state park that butts right up to the interstate in the Blue Mountains. I pulled in, there was a slight mist in the air. I chose to stop here for the night, one, because I was getting tired, and the next state park was several hours away still. Secondly, this park was cheap, really cheap to stay at, only 8 dollars for the night. I pulled in, and saw only two other campers in the small campground.
I got out of my car to go use the pay phone, because I had to call my parents and check in. Instantly, I was inundated by the smell of the pines. I still cannot properly describe them, but Pine-sol doesn't do them justice. It was one of the deepest, richest smells I ever had experienced. I would spend the rest of my trip trying to figure out the smell and the trees (those trees are only in that part of the state!)
As I worked on setting up my tent, I realized there only was really one other camper there, as the second camper was the camp ground manager, which was a really nice retiree and his wife. He came out at one point to walk their dog and asked me if I was going back to school (which was a logical question for a college aged girl camping by herself at the end of summer,) and I told him "nope, just taking a trip out west."
Having the camp ground manager talk with me comforted me a little bit, as I was breaking one of the rules I had given myself about campgrounds. My rule was that a campground needed to be at least 50% full or five people near by for me to stay. This way, I was likely to be noticed by someone. But I really liked this campground (the smell! the trees!), there were no bushes dividing spaces like the last campground (this was wide open,) and the manager had spoken with me, so I felt incredibly safe.
The night before I called my friend who had an old roommate living in Portland. I wasn't feeling confidant in finding the hostel, or there being space, so I had her call her old roommate and see if I could spend at least one night. That was my tentative plan for the next day, I still had to call Lynette in the morning. I knew I had a relatively short drive, and I would be up early, because there was construction on the interstate (which was right next to the park remember.)
September 2, 2008
Better late than never!
I know, I know, it’s been several weeks (at this time last year, I was finishing up my trip.) I’ve…well, been a slacker (long story.) So here is a bit more on last years journey. I promise, I will eventually finish writing it all up.
Day 6-7 Moab to Layton, UT to La Grande, OR
I end up in a very northern suburb of Salt Lake City, as I kept on procrastinating on where to get off of the interstate at. I finally found an exit, that a) didn’t look dodgy, b) looked like a car place may be near and c) intersection didn’t look confusing. I rented a hotel room, the first one ever. It was really exciting. I made use of everything I could—Ice, the shower, swimming, breakfast, the tv. I wanted to get my monies worth. And I did. It wasn't too expensive at all. Points for random suburb hotel. AND! There was an oil place nearby. They just ended up giving me an oil change. This seemed to fix everything.
So I set on the road again, going northwest to Oregon. And I passed through southern Idaho, which was unbelievably disappointing (Idaho also produces an amazingly deceptive state map--Warning: the bottom is much wider than the map is telling you, and the top is much narrower than that map is telling you, really.) It really made me think about my own home, where every few miles there is an exit, which some sort of town within a manageable distance. In northern Utah/Southern Idaho, it was all “ranch exits,” 50 miles apart from each other. Very different.
Eventually the land got less dry mountain like when I crossed into Oregon (I had to stop at the first exit, and saw the first of many Oregon trail related things. This was very exciting to me. Pioneers!) The night before I marked out several state parks I could stop at along the way, but zoomed past several of them before stopping at what was one of my favorite stops the whole trip (which I will go into detail in my next post): the Blue Mountains!
Day 6-7 Moab to Layton, UT to La Grande, OR
I end up in a very northern suburb of Salt Lake City, as I kept on procrastinating on where to get off of the interstate at. I finally found an exit, that a) didn’t look dodgy, b) looked like a car place may be near and c) intersection didn’t look confusing. I rented a hotel room, the first one ever. It was really exciting. I made use of everything I could—Ice, the shower, swimming, breakfast, the tv. I wanted to get my monies worth. And I did. It wasn't too expensive at all. Points for random suburb hotel. AND! There was an oil place nearby. They just ended up giving me an oil change. This seemed to fix everything.
So I set on the road again, going northwest to Oregon. And I passed through southern Idaho, which was unbelievably disappointing (Idaho also produces an amazingly deceptive state map--Warning: the bottom is much wider than the map is telling you, and the top is much narrower than that map is telling you, really.) It really made me think about my own home, where every few miles there is an exit, which some sort of town within a manageable distance. In northern Utah/Southern Idaho, it was all “ranch exits,” 50 miles apart from each other. Very different.
Eventually the land got less dry mountain like when I crossed into Oregon (I had to stop at the first exit, and saw the first of many Oregon trail related things. This was very exciting to me. Pioneers!) The night before I marked out several state parks I could stop at along the way, but zoomed past several of them before stopping at what was one of my favorite stops the whole trip (which I will go into detail in my next post): the Blue Mountains!
August 23, 2007
Oregon makes em louder...
The crows, that is. Seriously, I have never heard crows so loud in my life as the ones I heard this morning.
I spent the day along the central coast, and shortly I will be leaving to go back up the northern coast. Hopefully they don't have crows. But I will be stopping at a cheese factory, I am feeling a little calcium deprived...I'm not one for random tours, but I am one for free cheese.
I am trying to figure out the last portion of my trip, because I realized the last few days tentatively are on labor day weekend. Which could lead to some trouble for me trying to find a place to camp for the night. So we'll see how much longer the trip is after Seattle.
I spent the day along the central coast, and shortly I will be leaving to go back up the northern coast. Hopefully they don't have crows. But I will be stopping at a cheese factory, I am feeling a little calcium deprived...I'm not one for random tours, but I am one for free cheese.
I am trying to figure out the last portion of my trip, because I realized the last few days tentatively are on labor day weekend. Which could lead to some trouble for me trying to find a place to camp for the night. So we'll see how much longer the trip is after Seattle.
August 21, 2007
Hello World...
I have made it to portland. The scenery alone has been amazing. Wooohoo for greeness.
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