On The Oregon Trail

So, as some may know, I am on the trip of DOOM! Yes folks, we are heading to Oregon. We started out ok going up to Minnesota to visit with Reece and start the first leg of the trip. With the exception of having to go through Wisconsin, that went alright. Minneapolis is a nice city and Brett and I both agreed that it would be cool to live there. We had some very good vegitarian food at a fantastic little place that Reece took us to called The Ecopolitan. We also decided that Minnesotans get the blue ribbon for road curtousy. After the pleaqsant drive through Minnesota (with the very odd sighting of a truck full of chickens in cages the size of bread boxes 0_o) we ended up in North Dakota. I must warn all, AVOID NORTH DAKOTA! It is the state of BORING! There is nothing (and I do mean NOTHING!!!) there, not even an occasional tourist trap. (though we did see the Cow God, we took pictures and I will post them when we get them developed) Then came Montana. I LOVE Montana.

1) Montana is BEAuTIFUL
2) The people are awsome
3) The weather is fantastic...and finally
4) The speed limit is barely enforced! (Bwahahahahahah)

Ok, so we stayed in Montana overnight and slept in the car and decided not to bother with the tents. This had the effect of rendering me the lead driver on the next day due to Brett's inability to sleep in a highly uncomfortable position. I have had months of practice so I am well versed in this ability, having almost no place to really call home for the past 6 months. AND, we even managed to cover over 1000 miles that next day. Brett has been mesmerized and awed at the Rocky Mountains and I have to admit they have left me somewhat speachless. Pictures to come of those as well.

A word on Idaho.

IT IS EVIL AND NEEDS TO BE DELETED! We hit Idaho and suddenly the skies darkened and opened up with a torrent of rain the likes of which would scare Noah into buying scuba gear. What is a bad combination I ask you? Winding mountain roads and 150 inches of rain, that's what.

When we reached Washington we discovered that it is a carbon copy of New York, but with a lot more rain. And bugs. There's another phenomenon. We were apparently present for a great migration or hatching or something, because one moment we're diving along fine and suddenly the entire front of the car is covered in tiny littly splats. It was like driving through rain only rain is easier to deal with on account of it wiping away easily. Bugs just smear and make it impossible to see. Blech! We also discovered that contrary to popular belief, finding a Starbucks in Washington isn't so easy. We drove 200 miles before we even saw one. And that was only just before crossing into Oregon. Once in Oregon we found we needed to gas up and when Brett went to put some in he was accosted by the service attendant. She yelled "You can't do that!!! It's against the law!!!". Ok after much confusion and arguing, it turns out that in Oregon it is against the law for the average driver to pump his or her own gas. Everywhere is full service. Wierd, huh?

When we finally made it to Portland got to the campsite at about 3 in the morning(that 5 am our time) and were forced to set up tents in an ugly rain storm THAT WOULDN'T DIE! Plus not only did I not know how exactly to put a tent together, but Brett hadn't done it in so long, he forgot. Though I think it had more to do with the extreme sleep deprivation. So after fooling around with it for about an hour...in the rain...we got both tents set up. And managed to get some sleep, though I got more than Brett he had a problem trying to get to sleep. You know, with a screaming train directly behind us and the highway about a foot away. Not to mention the cold soggyness of the tents.

So we finally made it here, and are heading for the ocean. It should be cool to see the sun set on an ocean.(I've only seen it rise on an ocean being an east coaster myself) I am going to take many pictures so you can all see.

I am writing up the rest of our adventures and will post them soon.