Seattle to Portland - Day 3: Mountains

9 a.m.
On the road again…we are slightly behind on the mileage MV was shooting for each day. See the truck is governed at 65 and that wasn’t in his original calculations. But we are still doing well.

10 a.m.
Look! Baby cows!

Noon
I wake up again…look, mountains! Zzzz…

1:53 p.m.
We stop to fuel and stock up. (We have run out of beef jerky). We also stop in Salad Creations, as I have decided that we need a food that does not have jerky or push up in the name. I am so over retail establishments that try to overdo the cheerful. Two that I can think of locally are Coldstone Creamery and Biggby Coffee. While I all for good customer service and friendly employees, there is a line between coming across as if you are enjoying your job and feel happy to interact with the folks streaming in your door and over-the-top fake cheer.

So we walk in to a chorus of nearly shouted greetings, “Welcome to Salad Creations!” Then the girl at the register chimes, “Two free salads!” to the woman paying. I have no idea why, but she sure was happy about it. Then a perky girl asked what she could get us. I said I wasn’t sure yet. The funny thing is, with all the “customer service” flowing at us , no one actually took the time to ask if we were familiar with the concept or be helpful in a real sort of way.

I do have to say, once the programmed part was over, the kids were really nice. One was discussing with a regular customer while making his meal about how they were opening a new location across town and the manager was afraid it wouldn’t be ready on time. They seemed to genuinely be enjoying their interaction. But I never would have seen it if I acted on my first impulse and ran out the door when faced with the initial attack greeting.

Eating my salad, I realized that I am in full on spoiled-by-local-eating summer mode. Everything in this salad was obviously bred for distance, not flavor. That’s all I’ll say about that.

2:45 p.m.
MV says I get to drive. He pulls over to the side of the freeway (he does not want me to drive in an exit with other cars yet) and we swap seats. When I run out of excuses (I need some chapstick to drive…), I step on the gas and go for it. Almost immediately there are signs warning of high crosswinds, complete with fully extended windsocks to prove their point. But I only go in the toot strips a few times.* Then we head up into our first set of mountains. The truck was clearly not designed for climbing. I set the cruise for 65 – you know, the fastest it will go – and just let it do its thing. Sometimes we go 45, sometimes we go 55 but due to the massive headwind, we hardly ever reach 65, even on the down hills. MV naps for about an hour and, when he wakes and we hit a rest stop, he takes over. So my total driving time this trip is all of 1.5 hours. I am not going to tell you MV’s.

7:31 p.m.
We are following along the Clark Fork River. I totally want to go tube in it. MV says he could hook a rope up to the truck so I wouldn’t get behind. Fun!

8:47 p.m.
If you are sharing the trail mix and have permission to pick out and eat only the stuff you like, make sure to look at each thing you pick before you put it in your mouth. Otherwise, you might get a peanut.

9:11 p.m.
Typing is hard when you are zooming down a hill! Especially a bumpy one.

9:35 p.m.
Another time zone – check. Another state – check.

9:58 p.m.
Stupid Wendy’s not having baked potatoes. And stupid Dairy Queen having an overhang that the truck doesn’t fit under. Had to settle for tiny salad and chili from Wendy’s. MV is quite done with driving and not in the mood to go seek out gluten free options for a grumpy girl who can’t make up her mind.

10:34 p.m.
Blood sugar restored by lovely chili. Best chili in the world. Chili created directly in heaven and sent to me via Wendy’s.

Maybe I will start talking to MV again.

*You do know what those are right?