Fields of Puce

[mlerules]

I'm here (Portland, OR) safe and sound...and tired. It's just a two (2) day drive 'tween SoCal and NoOr, but they're long daze: 9 hours 575 miles yesterday and 8 hours 400+ miles today (pushed the wrong button so lost the exact mileage count...sigh). 45 minutes into my drive up I announced that Hwy 5 wasn't so bad after all. I clearly saw a giant sleeping beneath the rolling hills and amused myself imagining the saving roll req'd to prevent major SanLoss when it awoke and joined the Last Battle. A mere half-hour later I realized I was fooling myself: Hwy 5 is, shall we say, TEDIOUS, for lack of a more explicit adjective. You know it's bad when fields of puce start looking good and the now-and-again field of green filled w/sheep make you happy. Hell, acres of cotton thrilled me after a while - it looks like they're growing snow...or popcorn. The best part was lunching at Harris Ranch. Mmmm, good beef. Spent the night again in Redding, where I stayed on my drive back from the PacNW earlier this year (September). I partook of the spa facilities at the Best Western, which helped ease the strain of sitting for so long. Thank Dog for music...it kept me sane and happy.

At least today's drive was b!tchin'ly lovely. Fall colours in all their glory abound. And in case I needed a sign from above/beyond, today's full rainbow lasting for 20 minutes as I descended the pass into Ashland really confirmed that This Is Indeed The Place For Me (OR). It only rained 'bout half of today, but it certainly poured as I drove into Portland itself. Luckily most of the traffic was flowing South - looking like a silvery fish run as it streamed down the roadway, same as in Sacto during yesterday's rush hour. Hit 80,000 miles on the Highlander as we entered Sacto, which means I'm averaging 24K per year. Gah! Amused myself along the way by thinking of how various permutations of this journey (I won't always take Hwy 5 but will likely break it up into more scenic segments and explore lots) will likely feature in my future as I'll still need to head down several times a year to visit friends in SoCal and the Central Coast and whatnot.

Have dined and may go out and hit the streets...but might just take a hot bath w/a good book (and perhaps a glass of vino) and wait and explore more o'morrow. My partner in crime (L) won't be joining me 'til Sat (plumbing emergency's keeping her in AZ an extra day), but I'm sure I'll be able to amuse myself just fine anyway.

Hope all goes well w/everybody out yonder!

EDIT: Mileage is only 24K/year. I misfigured b'c I forgot I've had the car for 3.33 years.

Comments

[evilgerbil.livejournal.com]

Check out my awesome friends at Heartsong Chai in Ashland and Jacksonvile if you need a good cup on your way back. They make the best tea ever and they're super folks.

[anansi133.livejournal.com]

I always think that the Olympia to Vancouver leg is a pain in the ass to drive, but the run from Portland to Ashland has got to be two or three times as hard. Glad you're nesting in well, and sorry I couldn't connect later when I called.

When are you going to make it up to Yelm?

[giancarlo.livejournal.com]

The 5 has, at least in my lifetime, always been a boring, ugly drive. I find I prefer to do it late a night so that traffic is lighter and I can't see anything but the road.

[(Anonymous)]

Good chatting w/you last night. Turned in early - sorry to miss your later calls. Not sure when I'll head further North again. This trip's a bit whirlwind: fambily stuff on Sat then driving back starting Wed. Later!

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's pretty dreadful 'til North of Redding when it becomes quite lovely. Nighttime driving's not a bad idea, 'cept it then messes me up for the following day. When this becomes a habit, I'll probably head up the coast then cut over somewhere 'round the Bay Area. Best to make it a several day long drive.

[skarlett.livejournal.com]

If you want to drive a bit (two ish hours) you are more than invited to the witches ball that is tonight. There is a big gangle of us going. Would love to see your face while you are here, have missed you bunches!! Huggles.

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

I've got to go do fambily stuff o'morrow (Sat) morning about 1/2 hour South of here so the 2 hour drive back from up yonder this eve (or o'morrow morn) would exhaust me too much. If'n my thingie were o'morrow night I would have joined you folks...thx for thinking of me!

[evilgerbil.livejournal.com]

I really hate the 5 through the Central Valley. I decided to take it anyway coming back from SF because I couldn't spare the extra hour to take the 101. I lucked out and it was beautiful and stormy the entire way. Cool, moist, with a variety of angry clouds providing an idea backdrop. Even a little bit of rain.