Post by vwmama on Nov 15, 2016 9:42:44 GMT -8
June 23rd finally arrived. The weather left a little to be desired, being drizzly and cool, but I knew that within days we were looking at soaring temperatures well over my comfort zone, so it didn’t bother me. While Spencer picked up his yearbook and report card, I loaded the SUV and finished packing. By ten-thirty in the morning we were headed for the Huntingdon-Sumas border crossing. I’ll admit there was a slight feeling of trepidation as we started out, and I tried to stuff it deep down inside, knowing that everything usually falls into place as long as you’ve got the basics covered.
We had to make a stop at Ship Happens for a package that just came in, and then one at the Bellingham Best Buy to pick up an order for my niece. Of course we needed to stop at Wal-Mart for the mandatory road trip munchies and beverages (and to check for Hot Wheels). As we left I profusely thanked the clerk for ID'ing me when I bought some alcohol. By then it was lunchtime, so we veered into Bellis Fair and while Spencer downed some McNuggets, I had my fill of Panda Express, thoroughly enjoying, among other things,my Kung Pao Chicken. The girl who served me was terribly apologetic about the fact they only served Pepsi when I asked for a small Coke, which struck me as odd and terribly polite; it was not until some miles down the I-5 later that I realized I was wearing my Coca-Cola t-shirt.
Things went relatively smoothly until we hit rush hour traffic in Seattle. The snail’s pace we were travelling at allowed for some great views of the Space Needle, and a frightening peek at some random store with a freakish-looking clown as part of its logo. The jokes about staying in the Clown Hotel in Nevada suddenly reared their ugly heads, and my dislike of clowns seemed to be developing rather quickly.
We managed to get through Seattle, only to be slowed down again almost instantly as we neared Tacoma. We amused ourselves with things like wondering how the TacomaDome was built and why a sailboat from Rochester, New York was being trailered along in front of us. The fact that its rudder could put a quick and untimely end to our road trip, should I get too close, did not escape me. I smiled as we passed the turnoff for Gig Harbor, thinking how I would have loved to have stopped to visit some friends there, but the open road was calling and who was I to ignore it?
Spirits were high and the jokes were flying as the day progressed.We travelled on until our stomachs started to remind us that it was well past suppertime. We decided to wait a little and see what was available. Spencer checked the GPS for interesting meal possibilities. The results were disappointing as we discovered that In’N’Out Burgers were not located in Washington or Oregon (although Gig Harbor gave us false hope. We saw a “Sasquatch Subs”, but we opted not to stop there.
Later, as we crossed over the bridge that separates Washington from Oregon, we were elated. “High Fives on the I-5” and a selfie were mandatory. Passing through Portland we marvelled at the amount of overpasses and the fact that they seemed to be everywhere and going in every direction.
We stopped to fuel up and get some food after dark. By then I was quite tired, having woken up at around four-thirty that morning; and it was just a matter of putting something in our stomachs and trying to reach our first waypoint. I drove through the Burger King for Spencer’s meal, paid the young man and promptly drove away, with Spencer saying “Mom, are you sure there’re two windows? Mom, there aren’t two windows!” And faintly, from behind me, I could hear a confused “Ma’am? Ma’am?” I backed up, horribly embarrassed, took the meal and sheepishly drove to the Panda Express Drive-Thru next door (note to self: two meals of Kung Pao chicken in one day may be overdoing it).
We reached Sutherlin, Oregon at midnight. I was pleased at having made it to my planned first stop, but I really didn’t think much about anything, other than unloading our bags and falling into bed. And as I drifted off I was thought about the maze of overpasses that seemed to snake everywhere in Portland. I thought to myself that it was a lot like life. Being unfamiliar with them and where they go, you have no idea where you might end up. There isn’t always a sign to guide you. It’s really what you make of things when you choose one and see where it leads you.
We had to make a stop at Ship Happens for a package that just came in, and then one at the Bellingham Best Buy to pick up an order for my niece. Of course we needed to stop at Wal-Mart for the mandatory road trip munchies and beverages (and to check for Hot Wheels). As we left I profusely thanked the clerk for ID'ing me when I bought some alcohol. By then it was lunchtime, so we veered into Bellis Fair and while Spencer downed some McNuggets, I had my fill of Panda Express, thoroughly enjoying, among other things,my Kung Pao Chicken. The girl who served me was terribly apologetic about the fact they only served Pepsi when I asked for a small Coke, which struck me as odd and terribly polite; it was not until some miles down the I-5 later that I realized I was wearing my Coca-Cola t-shirt.
Things went relatively smoothly until we hit rush hour traffic in Seattle. The snail’s pace we were travelling at allowed for some great views of the Space Needle, and a frightening peek at some random store with a freakish-looking clown as part of its logo. The jokes about staying in the Clown Hotel in Nevada suddenly reared their ugly heads, and my dislike of clowns seemed to be developing rather quickly.
We managed to get through Seattle, only to be slowed down again almost instantly as we neared Tacoma. We amused ourselves with things like wondering how the TacomaDome was built and why a sailboat from Rochester, New York was being trailered along in front of us. The fact that its rudder could put a quick and untimely end to our road trip, should I get too close, did not escape me. I smiled as we passed the turnoff for Gig Harbor, thinking how I would have loved to have stopped to visit some friends there, but the open road was calling and who was I to ignore it?
Spirits were high and the jokes were flying as the day progressed.We travelled on until our stomachs started to remind us that it was well past suppertime. We decided to wait a little and see what was available. Spencer checked the GPS for interesting meal possibilities. The results were disappointing as we discovered that In’N’Out Burgers were not located in Washington or Oregon (although Gig Harbor gave us false hope. We saw a “Sasquatch Subs”, but we opted not to stop there.
Later, as we crossed over the bridge that separates Washington from Oregon, we were elated. “High Fives on the I-5” and a selfie were mandatory. Passing through Portland we marvelled at the amount of overpasses and the fact that they seemed to be everywhere and going in every direction.
We stopped to fuel up and get some food after dark. By then I was quite tired, having woken up at around four-thirty that morning; and it was just a matter of putting something in our stomachs and trying to reach our first waypoint. I drove through the Burger King for Spencer’s meal, paid the young man and promptly drove away, with Spencer saying “Mom, are you sure there’re two windows? Mom, there aren’t two windows!” And faintly, from behind me, I could hear a confused “Ma’am? Ma’am?” I backed up, horribly embarrassed, took the meal and sheepishly drove to the Panda Express Drive-Thru next door (note to self: two meals of Kung Pao chicken in one day may be overdoing it).
We reached Sutherlin, Oregon at midnight. I was pleased at having made it to my planned first stop, but I really didn’t think much about anything, other than unloading our bags and falling into bed. And as I drifted off I was thought about the maze of overpasses that seemed to snake everywhere in Portland. I thought to myself that it was a lot like life. Being unfamiliar with them and where they go, you have no idea where you might end up. There isn’t always a sign to guide you. It’s really what you make of things when you choose one and see where it leads you.
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