Seattle to Portland – Day 11: On the road again, again

8 a.m.
We are driving.

We decide to come down 84 to 80 so we go home a different way than we came. Turns out, 84 is gorgeous. All mountains on one side and Columbia River on the other. We drive along pointing out cool stuff. Each person misses what the other person sees because there are a lot of trees.

Me: Look, a waterfall.
MV: Where?
Me: Oops, trees in the way.

MV: Look, a tugboat.
Me: Where?
MV: Oops, trees again.

Apparently only one person per car gets to see each sight.

10 a.m.

We have not resolved the forgot-the-CDs issue. Actually, we forgot we had it so didn’t remember to get a blank CD to burn something from iTunes. And of course there are no radio stations up in the mountains. The radio just scrolls through the scan and comes up with nothing.

Me: So what do people do who have no radio stations?
MV: Sing to themselves using animal noises.

How interesting that I inherently knew what to do and had been doing it all along.

11:42 a.m.
We are coming down out of a mountain pass area. MV says it looks like we are now in the plains of Oregon. Then corrects himself that it is not exactly plains yet. I agree, it’s more like foothills.

Me: So do you know why they are called foothills?
MV: Yes, but why do you think?
Me: Well, because they sometimes look like little toes.
(MV remains skeptical of this explanation and requests that this be noted.
Though he cannot deny that some do resemble toes.)

1:02 p.m.
Me: So, are you getting tired of driving?
MV: Getting there…
Me: But look – baby cows!

1:58 p.m.
Pull into the rest stop. Sign says simply “Rattlesnakes.” Sweet – I wonder where they are?

MV: Next exit, I want a real gas stations with Starbucks coffee.

I failed to find any rattlesnakes.

4:11 p.m.
We stop at the truck stop. But I just can’t face more truck stop food. I wander aimlessly. I relize there is a Subway and they can do a veggie salad. The girl is very nice, but has no idea about dressing ingredients. I go with red wine vinegar and a sprinkle of oregano. I miss Seattle…but the salad does perk me up, iceberg lettuce and all, and bring back my happy thoughts. We also get more beef jerky, you know, just in case.

5:20 p.m.
We are in rush hour traffic in Boise. We just realized we had passed into the mtn time zone and didn’t even notice.

We see a military jet take off. Sweet! Totally sounds like it does in the movies.

MV does not stop at the Outlet Mall. Even when I reason that when we leave, the traffic will be gone. But we do have radio stations here.

6:11 p.m.
MV tells me to look at the view. It is just golden fields curving up into mountains on all sides. The mountains are all flat on top with these cool rock formations. Then I notice a small rather rundown house tucked into one of the fields.

Me: Imagine living in the middle of nowhere like that.
MV: Sounds good...I could.
Me: But how would anyone come over for dinner?
MV: Helicopter
Me: OK, I could live there if I had a helicopter.
MV: No, our friends would have a helicopter that they would fly in.
Me: No, I want the helicopter.
MV: Rich friends...
Me: Well it certainly looks like they saved a lot on siding and paint. May as well get a helicopter.

Yeah, we need more radio.

10:04 p.m.
We order everything off the Wendy's menu. The drive thru guy has to tell MV to slow down so he can get it all.

Slightly later
We are in the hotel in Utah surrounded by food. Zzzzz...

ps - Southern Idaho is very, very dry except where they irrigate. It is basically all yellow.

pps - We keep having this conversation. Or some version of it.

Me: Guess what?
MV: What?
Me: I rode 200 miles.
MV: Over 200 miles actually. I'm very glad you did.
Me: Did you really think I would?
MV: Well, I certainly hoped you would.

Yeah, it hasn't gotten old yet. At least, not to me. I am not going to ask MV if he is tired of it.