Day 5

Day 5: Kuna, ID to Beaverton, OR
Miles: 439
Gas Mileage: 34
Soundtrack: Linkin Park, lokalgrown, Lifehouse


I took advantage of the hour I would be gaining and slept in a bit Friday morning. I still hadn't folded my tent and put it away properly due to wind, snow/rain, wet conditions and told Raelynn it was something I needed to do. She said it was 20 degrees outside, but ok. It was beastly cold and my hands were numb by the time I got my tent rolled up, then I hadn't done it tight enough so I couldn't get it in the bag and decided it was better than it was before and called it good.


We took some pictures, and I was off for Portland (Oregon not Maine).

Raelynn's two kids.

The drive across Oregon was beautiful. For a good portion of it I was following the south side of the Columbia River, which was simply spectacular. Apparently, Oregon was having a rare sunny day, which made the drive all the more enjoyable.

Did you know it is illegal to pump your own fuel in Oregon? My dear, sweet, wonderful car, my baby who I spoil, has a very delicate medical condition affecting her gas intake. I have patiently dealt with her illness for a year and a half now, and know how to get her to drink. How, may I ask, do you tell the attendant pumping my gas he must speak encouraging words to my car, telling her she can do it? It was a very emotional stop for both of us. I realized I had applied for several jobs in Oregon and don't think I could take any of them, should they be offered, until I save enough to get the issue cleared up, which, of course, is ridiculously costly. I shouldn't be telling you this, it's a big embarrassment to my car and she's very sensitive about it. Please don't tell her I posted it on-line for the world to see.

I made it to Portland for drive-home traffic on a Friday night. I found my old roommate Melinda's house after only two wrong turns. She lives in a beautiful neighborhood on a hill. We hadn't seen each other since graduation from USU and had a lovely time getting caught up. Melinda was incredibly sweet and made me a birthday cake to celebrate, though a bit early.

I am not one to tell people when my birthday is, or to remind them it's coming, but I had told another friend the one thing I wanted for my birthday this year was to blow out candles. I couldn't remember the last time I'd done that and there was Melinda, putting candles on the cake, without knowing my wish. Isn't she fabulous?!?! And the cake was delicious.

Melinda and I stayed up much too late talking but we had five and a half years of catching up to do!