The Oregon Trail

Getting out of bed in Boise was easy because I planned to have Jack in the Box for breakfast and I'd miss my flight in Seattle if I didn't get moving.

We drove along the Old Oregon Trail Highway and stopped in Baker City, OR to refuel, where the gas attendant was aggressively nice.  The drive through Oregon was beautiful, there were some places where you could look as far as the eye could see.  I was astounded that we could see Mt. Rainier from Dead Man's Pass in Oregon because it was over 150 miles away.  Absolutely incredible.  Mt. Rainier has to be the single most amazing thing I've seen on this trip.  

Here's what the drive along the Oregon Trail looks like.

This is Dead Man's Pass, OR, and I could see Mt. Rainier from here. The camera couldn't, so tally one for the humans.

We stopped in Pendleton, OR, for lunch and were directed to the Rainbow Cafe.  Everyone at the Rainbow cafe seemed to have an affliction, the guy coming out of the bathroom had a bleeding eyebrow, the guy sitting at the bar was missing an arm, and a guy that walked in had a massive scar from his nose to the back of his neck.  It was a nice old town, and life was obviously hard there.  I wasn't super hungry but ordered the Rainbow special burger because I might as well.  Turned out to be a wise decision, it was delicious and a few slices of ham gave it a perfect sweetness.   

Pendleton bathroom philosophy

Pendleton street philosophy

The beauty of Oregon was matched by southern Washington's wine country.  

Back on I-90, approaching Seattle, the end of the journey was near.  We traveled 1,865 miles on interstate highways, dirt roads, bridges, and scenic byways.  We saw mountains, rivers, valleys, forests, and lakes.  We drove through flat dusty plains, national parks, and twisty mountains roads.  We passed cities, towns, campgrounds, and Indian reservations, and slept in Seattle, Missoula, Helena, Idaho Falls, and Boise.  We breezed by buttes, bluffs, and barren hills.  We smelled farms, flowers, and sulfurous hot springs.  I touched lava rocks and the hearts of Tinder babes.  We heard waterfalls, geysers, and cowboys shooting the bull.  I saw a yankee from the east wearing a Hartford Whalers hat AND a Phil Plantier shirt.  For the first time I ate huckleberries and finger steaks, and elk meat for the second time.  I battled rain, wind, dust, Seattle traffic, and allergies.  I was most impressed by the Grand Tetons, the American Bison in Yellowstone, and Mt. Rainier.  I thought a lot about pioneers of the west, specifically, Lewis and Clark.  There is a lot to see and do across this land, from sea to shining sea, America offers endless beauty and adventure.

At the airport we had our last meal, I had fresh Pacific Yellowfin Ahi with snow peas.  

Alaska Airlines with Mr. Rainier in the background 

Long live all the mountains we moved

If you haven't trekked the Oregon Trail while being serenaded by Taylor Swift then you don't know anything about being a pioneer, adventure, love, or America.