July 15, 2006

Selected Trip Journal entries:

2:27 AM / 286 miles = Lookin' for Mt. Shasta in the moonlight

2:31/291 = AND THERE IT IS, RIGHT ON TIME!!

2:53/316.8 = Stopped on the freeway next to the big mountain. Took some great pictures of the mountain (snow topped in the moonlight) at night - they've come good! (through the moonroof).

3:57 - 4:02 AM = At the Oregon Border ... Bye California! 375.0 miles

4:59 AM / 437.4 = Rest area again.. There is sunlight behind the hills on the right ... The sun is up! Nothing like driving all night and watching the sun come up in the morning!

5:53 AM = 486.9 miles = Pulled over at another rest area for the morning. It's nice here, and I'll have shade later when the sun comes up more...

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2006
DAY #1

10:10 AM = 486.9 miles. I've been up for a while now ... but had a good sleep -- I may do this again instead of a motel stay later. But for now the odyssey continues.....

11:34/566 = On the road Again. "Sweet Dreams are made of this..."

12:34/634.8 = Passed 45th Parallel!!! (and continuing North towards the Land of the Midnight Sun)

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Lookin For..." came on as I'm lookin' for Mt. Hood.

I haven't found it yet (12:42/643.8) (m269).

1:00 PM = 663.1 = Left good ole I-5 for I-205 North, and still dont see Mt. Hood yet, but at least all these cars are staying in the right lane except to pass -- I-5 drivers (mostly Californians) were very bad from South of Salem and up...

1:20 PM/684.8 = I-205x22 for good ole I-84 East. Goin' to pay my respects to an old friend ...

1:24 - There's Mt. Hood -- or at least the bottom of it!

1:49 PM = 719.3 = I-84x44 @ Cascade Locks -- For old times sake. Took some pics at the Bridge of the Gods but the restaurant is too crowded -- no brunch yet.

3:40/823 = Near m147 = Tuned in to 106.5 tri-cities.

4:19/854.3 = Took exit for good ole I-82 NORTH. Retracing my route from August 7, 1995.

4:27/864.1 = Took I-82x1 for Hwy 730 East. Which U2 song should I listen to this time?

4:35-4:37 = A moment of doubt -- "Am I really on MY road?" -- Yes. I am.

4:43/876 miles = U2's "I still haven't found what I'm lookin' for" on repeat play.....

4:49/883.3 = In "The Spot".

4:59 = Entered Washington State and Walla Walla county. 883.4.

5:12/896 = Took a picture while driving near Hwy 12m301/m300.

5:29 = 912.4 miles = Passed I-82m8 and x7. There are homes next to m8 now -- sacred ground and they're building homes here!!! That K-mart is now a Burlington Coat Factory! The Burger King and Bank of the West are still intact at least... of course the Columbia Center Dunes Motel was converted to a Motel 6 long time ago! Bought a king-size "brunch" at B.K. for 5 bucks and $43.80 for 14.605 gallons gas. 921.3 miles.

7:14 = near Hwy 395m93 = 10,057 total odometer miles = FIRST OF MANY THOUSAND MILES ON THIS TRIP!

(that's not July 14 -- 7:14 PM)

7:17 = Joined good ole I-90 (near m220) - going East. 1003.7 trip miles.

8:15 = Parked at Quality Inn.