Oregon Coast Bound... Part 3

Utah into Idaho

The colorful red cliffs shone with the sun on the very tops. A painting in the making. These cliffs surround the valley we travel through. Not as tight or deep as "The Narrows", in Colorado coming down from Bear Lake, but similar in the way it snakes and there's a rail road track that matches our route. And it's just as beautiful. Maybe grand is the word I need.

What a long day yesterday was. We didn't leave as early, got some free coffee at the hotel's kiosk, but their breakfast started too late--6:30, which is late in terms of getting on the road when it's still dark and relatively quiet. It was pretty chilly, too. 50's, which is really surprising when they expect 90's and some around 100 degrees today. Everyone is hot. Not just us, but Europe is also having an unusual heat-wave. But the humidity is tolerable, considering our area will have 60% or more. It's 47%, or such, here.

Utah's gas prices are over $3. Not sure why. We go through Ogdon, Utah, and then, later cross into Idaho. This makes it our 5th state to travel through. We only know we will head to Oregon. But after that, Dennis isn't sure he wants to come back through the blasted heat, or go north through Montana. We'd like to get into Washington as well. A new state for him. I was there when small, and only remember bits and pieces.

In Idaho the land flattens out. You can see why they grow things like potatoes. We eat another Subway sandwich, preferring the flat bread mostly. After lunch we get on I-84, which angles in a northwest direction. Once we cross the Snake River distant hills or mountains rise on the horizon. We pass sleepy little hamlets in a green valley, and then through large hills. We could see some had been burnt. Yes. We're in the areas which have/are still experiencing fires. We keep vigil at night on the news. The Carr Fire in California is the biggest fire. Even at this point it's been burning for more than a week. It will not be put out even after we are home.

Four days of constant driving, trying to find food and a place to stay it begins to get to you. I don't know how semi truck drivers do it, but they get paid per mile, and I'm sure that's the biggest incentive. So, it was good to see we've got Ontario down to 79 miles, which is just across the Idaho state line into Oregon. We notice the air is hazy in distance. I wasn't sure about it, but after considering it is not humid here, it has to be smoke from the fires.

ONTARIO, OREGON

It was 3:30 before we check into another Super 8. We could have had a Best Western, but Dennis wanted another motel with an easy outer door. Well, we got what we paid for: A stripped down version of what the Super 8's used to be. No extras--even the iron and ironing board were taken out, and they'd removed the dial on the refrigerator so you couldn't control it. There was no suitcase holder (those things that fold out and you can put your suitcase on). Plus, they had the air conditioner way up near the ceiling so you had to climb a swivel chair, taking life into your own hands, in order to crank it up. And there was no hair dryer (the reason I bring mine, just in case). We told each other this was only for the night. We would never stay here again. I don't know why but these people who've taken over these motels find some way to cheat you out of everything you'd expect to find in a motel. I'm sure if they could, they'd take out the air conditioning, but it's like 100 degrees out. You need it. I'd give this place a minus 1 on a rating from 1-5 stars. There was no hand hold on the tub, at all, and a cover for the overflow just sat on it. It wasn't even attached.

But FINALLY we are in OREGON!!! A state neither of us has ever been in. Closer to the ocean than we've ever been, close to our goal of this trip. We were so relieved and happy to finally get here, I guess we just put it all into perspective.

July 25, Wednesday
We woke up in Oregon first time in our lives.
The haze we saw yesterday in distance was from the wildfires in different states, including Idaho, and especially California. The young woman who checked us in yesterday said it was "humid" out, as an explanation. Apparently she doesn't keep abreast of weather or news. It wasn't "humid" at all. And we know humidity, like the dripping sweat we get from just walking around outside in Illinois.

But it was warm out, about mid-70's as we walk over to an Arbee's (as we did last night for a simple sandwich), to get something for breakfast--coffee, ham & cheese croissants from a not-so-friendly dude who was working the breakfast counter. I could tell he'd rather be in bed. He chewed gum--which I think might give a boss a migraine--had tats all over, including letters on his fingers. Maybe he's an ex-con, and they gave him this job when he got out? I didn't care for that experience, but we at least had breakfast and were able to buy a few things in the connected truck plaza, next door, so we didn't have to go too far for certain things we needed.

We'd noticed official fire units parked in the hotel lot. As Dennis loaded some things up, he happened to speak to some of them. They said they'd been in New Mexico, were sent for, but didn't know where they would be fighting fires today. We figured around here. We'd heard something about Snake River, Idaho area having a fire. Small fires just blaze up, and you can see how easily that would happen as the grass is dead-brown. No moisture whatsoever. And, as we get on our way, it isn't but a few miles in, we see smoke coming up from distant hills. Later still, a truck that has been parked near what is a charred hillside, and two men in orange vests going around with water packs on, putting out any existing hot-spots.

One more night before we get to the coast. Next we get to Eugene, and a few bad experiences, plus a motel room that makes last night's seem like a palace. Join me again as the adventure continues. Not quite as exiting as Lewis & Clark Expedition, but close.

Oregon Coast Bound... Part 2

Staying in Ogalala, NE, had us 71 miles short of the first day's destination. This meant we had an even longer day, mile-wise than we wanted. This would be a 500+ mile-day to get to Evanstion WY, thus, we were out the door of motel @ 5AM. This is the beauty of having your vehicle parked right outside. You load up and can go. But we needed to buy ice, coffee and a few other things to get us down the road, and being right next to a truck stop travel center, they have a store where you can buy just about anything you need.

 Traffic this early has been wonderfully light. Exactly how we'd expected it. There had been a brief shower earlier, and it was still cloudy and was only 68 degrees here. Once the sun was up, I could enjoy the scenery. At this point there are miles of range where cattle graze on whatever grass they can find. The rugged flat-topped hills are sometimes rocky. I try to imagine people in wagons and horse-back coming this way, facing dangers of every kind just to build a home and life.

By 6 AM, we pull into rest area, just outside of Sidney WY ( where we had intended on staying). It's one we aren't familiar with, but a lot of people are here taking their breaks. A man was standing near the building, on some rocks and in front of a sign which said "DANGER. RATTLESNAKES MAY BE PRESENT" The man had his hands out as if to say, "What rattlesnakes?" The woman nearby--I assumed was his long suffering wife--merely ignored him. We did too. I told Dennis later, "I wished a rattler had been there." We laughed about it. It doesn't matter where you go, you run into lots of dumbasses.

We continue to stop whenever needed. Dennis needs to stretch his back, and really sitting too long is unhealthy. I don't believe in driving hours on end without frequent breaks. And at our age we need a few more than we used to.

There are no roads without road construction. Usually it puts you down to a two-way, sharing one part of the highway, and reduces your speed dramatically. My husband, at times would do 80 in the 80-mile zones, but a lot of time he backed off and did 77, or 78. He feels that 80 is too fast. And yet you get someone who thinks it's just not fast enough. You make very good time at 78. Think about it. I measured how long it took to do just one mile. He did it in about 45 seconds. Doing a steady speed like that we ate up the miles.

We'd bought a subway sandwich along the way--something that just works out for us--packed it up for later and ate it when we wanted. We reached Medicine Bow around Rowlins. A beautiful area. Elk Mountain to the left, and nary a barn or house to see here, just scrub, sage and cattle, and snow fences that might be 15 feet tall.

We did make it to Evanston at 2 PM. Staying in a Best Western. Got a card for a 10% discount, which helps a lot. Every room is downstairs, and ours was somewhat like a suite, with a living area with a couch, cushioned chair and coffee table and large TV, and a small refrigerator. A curtain closed off the vanity and sink area. I don't know why they don't put the sink in the bathrooms. If anyone knows, I'd love to know. But this was an excellent room. However the bath tub was too long. I take baths, shaving my legs is tricky if I can't put my foot up somewhere. I kept getting my hair back into the bath water and my hair got all soapy again. I should have rinsed it out under the shower, but I guess my brain was addled from the road and it didn't occur to me. So, my hair felt like straw once I dried it. I just put it up in a pony tail and wore a hat.

There was a dinning lounge, but we didn't care for anything on the menu, as it was just fried food, and steaks--which were very expensive. Since we'd had steak dinner last night, we didn't care to order anything on the menu. We just had a pizza delivered. Sometimes you just want to stay in and watch TV.

Stop in for more of this travel log, hopefully tomorrow. I've run out of time here.