Final Reflections
I'm in Portland now, which isn't exactly the "end" of the moving process, but does count as the end of the roadtrip part. Now the moving to Canada part begins.
My final day of serious driving came right after the last post. I made it all the way from Bozeman to Walla Walla, WA in one long day of driving. There isn't all that much to report from that day, because I didn't do anything but drive and stop for food and gas. I did look around Hayden, ID, for signs that would lead to a "peace park," but understandably that community doesn't really advertise it. Between the short hair and the NC license plates, I opted out of stopping at the Chamber of Commerce for directions.
I did once again confirm that Washington drivers are the worst in the country, bar none. Oregon drivers are better but have this annoying habit of sitting in the left lane even when a faster vehicle approaches from behind. One has to pass them on the right frequently.
I spent a day and two nights in Walla Walla with my friends and their 10-year old daughter, Kallisti. I lived with them about five or six years ago, but Kallisti no longer remembers any of it. Now she likes to play Wii and Frog Juice. The family has a big house, three cats, a very well-behaved dog, and chickens in a coop in the yard. The grandparents have a big vegetable garden, and loaded me down with corn and tomatos before I left.
Since getting to Portland, I've gotten the car serviced. It held up well, in spite of a problem with the radiator cap that is now fixed. I'm almost at 68,000 miles, but I think the car will hold out for a good long time to come, if properly maintained. I'll be heading up to Vancouver in a few days to secure the apt and get my visa, then coming back down in a truck to load all the stuff that's sitting in a generously offered basement right now. From there, I'll have stuff to do with insurance and preparing for school, but I should have enough time before classes start in Sept.
I've run into two friends on the street at random - it makes me very happy that I can come back to Portland after three years' absence and still have that happen.
My final day of serious driving came right after the last post. I made it all the way from Bozeman to Walla Walla, WA in one long day of driving. There isn't all that much to report from that day, because I didn't do anything but drive and stop for food and gas. I did look around Hayden, ID, for signs that would lead to a "peace park," but understandably that community doesn't really advertise it. Between the short hair and the NC license plates, I opted out of stopping at the Chamber of Commerce for directions.
I did once again confirm that Washington drivers are the worst in the country, bar none. Oregon drivers are better but have this annoying habit of sitting in the left lane even when a faster vehicle approaches from behind. One has to pass them on the right frequently.
I spent a day and two nights in Walla Walla with my friends and their 10-year old daughter, Kallisti. I lived with them about five or six years ago, but Kallisti no longer remembers any of it. Now she likes to play Wii and Frog Juice. The family has a big house, three cats, a very well-behaved dog, and chickens in a coop in the yard. The grandparents have a big vegetable garden, and loaded me down with corn and tomatos before I left.
Since getting to Portland, I've gotten the car serviced. It held up well, in spite of a problem with the radiator cap that is now fixed. I'm almost at 68,000 miles, but I think the car will hold out for a good long time to come, if properly maintained. I'll be heading up to Vancouver in a few days to secure the apt and get my visa, then coming back down in a truck to load all the stuff that's sitting in a generously offered basement right now. From there, I'll have stuff to do with insurance and preparing for school, but I should have enough time before classes start in Sept.
I've run into two friends on the street at random - it makes me very happy that I can come back to Portland after three years' absence and still have that happen.