This Conversation Seems Like A Dream

Road Trip, Part One

I know I said I'd try to post while I was gone, but it turned out to be more difficult than I thought while I was on the way there, and while I was there...I just didn't have the time. So, anyway, I bring you the first segment in notes from the road--I'll have another one or two of these to make, as well as notes on vacation proper.

Highlights: Victoria BC, Pike Place Market, and the symphony conducted by Howard Shore.

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7/10/04

8:30pm
Gold Beach, Oregon

So, I'm having to make this entry on a later date because I'm staying at a Motel 6 in Oregon that has no high speed access. The only way I could've gotten access at all would've been to go up to Coos Bay, which is another 100+ miles, and after leaving the house at 8:30am (got up at 6!) and driving around 460 miles...yeah. It was time to stop.

An early start this morning, especially after the (fucking awesome) concert last night, but it was nice to leave early. Part of why I got up early was because I wanted to avoid traffic on 880, and it turned out to work.

Before I get too carried away, I should mention, for those who've been following the Sirius radio drama, IT WORKS! Brett exchanged the antenna for me last night, and apparently they didn't even really check it very well. It's my fault the thing was broken in the first place, and...anyway. I got the antenna mounted and the car kit taken care of this morning, and it's alive. Woot.

Also. Sirius fucking RULES. 80s channel, hair band channel, classic rock, weather, comedy, traffic, sports...you name it, I can get it. It turns into a 'name that 80s/classic rock/hair band tune' kind of game, since I don't want to look at the display too much while I'm driving. Yeah. Love it. Seriously love it. I should've gotten it ages ago.

Random notes:

- Prince is DIIRRTY. Yeah, okay, I know that's a big 'duh' moment, but I actually listened to the lyrics of The Look today, and wow. 'Your body's slammin, let's get to jammin.' Yeeeah.

- 880 / 580 / 101 is THE way to go. I passed by the exit leading to the Novato Faire about an hour and 15 minutes after I left. Not bad at all.

- Gas in Novato is expensive. 2.35 a gallon, compared to 2.16 a gallon at home.

- There was an Amber Alert while I was on my way up that was displayed on one of those flashy signs on the side of the road. Handy things, those--it gave the color, make, model, and license plate of the car.

- Oh, hey. For my co-workers, one of the trucks that I passed by today was for Consani Racing. I think Jole may get a kick out of that. :)

- There are a whole lot of old people in Healdsburg, I found. I stopped at McDonalds there to pee at one point and the place was full of senior citizens.

- It's too bad that I don't like wine, there are vineyards all over the place down there. I almost wish I'd had time to stop.

- The traffic got really light after Healdsberg, not quite like driving through Nevada on 80 west, but still pretty light. After Willets (further north of Ukiah, mentioned below), it got light like it is in Nevada. It's also really weird to be driving on 101 when it's a 2 lane road, as opposed to the 8-10 lane freeway it is in the bay area.

- I stopped briefly in Ukiah to get a soda, and saw the following on a bumper sticker:

"Save a mouse, eat a pussy!"

I sat there for about five minutes just cackling so hard I couldn't drive.

[Ugh. The room upstairs just became occupied, and it's like being at home, there are elephants upstairs.]

- Sherrie Austin (a country singer) is an evil, evil woman. Go look up the lyrics to the song called Streets of Heaven, and you'll see what I mean. It made me think of Moonie and Sophie. Sniffle.

- Stopped for gas in Fortuna; I was only at 3/4 of a tank, but I figured that I probably better stop. I got 370 miles on that tank--and put only 13 gallons in. That's freaking awesome.

- Hit Oregon about 6:00. Brookings is the first town that you pass through, and immediately after that, there's a rest stop. I'm thinking that all the rest areas in Oregon are going to be a whole lot nicer than the ones in California.

Eventually, I'll make a post here about the Avenue of Giants, which I passed through on my way north. It's...amazing, though, and there's no way that I can even put it into words. The pictures I have don't do it justice, but I hope they'll be able to convey at least some of the beauty, and maybe some of the awe that I felt just being there.

Posted by Liz at July 22, 2004 08:47 PM