We're in the Willamette Valley!
After two hours of snow packed roads in eastern Oregon and a brief stop in the winter wonderland of Hood River in the Columbia gorge, the temperatures rose to 45, the sun came out, and we rolled down into Eugene in time to watch the Huskies demolish Fresno State. Five days of amazing weather, one cracked spark plug, two hours of snow, one sweet traveling cocker spaniel--beating the Oregon Trail average of 4-6 months by some days. Fantastic trip.
Pictures follow.
Thanks for watching our journey west.
Love,
Bob, Lois, Cully
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sunny Western Traveling
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| Lois is in here somewhere! |
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| northern Utah |
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| Southern Idaho |
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| Boise: Humanitarian Bowl tomorrow! |
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| No beer for the driver! |
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| We're here. |
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| And the mountains keep on going |
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| Snake River on the Oregon Trail |
Pioneers on the Oregon Trail
Leaving Ogden, Utah at daybreak, we've enjoyed another day of stunning scenery and have arrived safely in Oregon. Once again, the weather gods smiled on us and we had clear sailing with only a little daunting driving (such as the six-mile downhill grade into Pendleton at sunset). On the way, we enjoyed a fun break for lunch at a brew pub across from the site of tomorrow's NIU Huskies game at the "U-Drove Humanitarian Bowl" in Boise, Idaho. We showed the NIU colors, took a picture of the stadium, took Cully for a much-needed walk on a nearby bike trail and drove on.
Go Huskies!!
In the morning, we head out for Eugene and the last leg of this part of our northwestern holiday adventure. Since the previously predicted "big snow storm" seems like it will pass south of us (and what's a few inches snow with mild temperatures to us midwesterners anyway?) we plan some sightseeing along the Columbia River Gorge, Hood River, and Portland on the way. Meanwhile, we are very thankful for our great trip thus far and all three of us are eager to wrap up this trip and settle in for Christmas with the family. We send you our warmest wishes too!
L, B & C
Go Huskies!!
In the morning, we head out for Eugene and the last leg of this part of our northwestern holiday adventure. Since the previously predicted "big snow storm" seems like it will pass south of us (and what's a few inches snow with mild temperatures to us midwesterners anyway?) we plan some sightseeing along the Columbia River Gorge, Hood River, and Portland on the way. Meanwhile, we are very thankful for our great trip thus far and all three of us are eager to wrap up this trip and settle in for Christmas with the family. We send you our warmest wishes too!
L, B & C
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Smooth Sailing
Crossed the Continental Divide three times today. How can that be?
We had a nervous beginning at the auto repair shop in Cheyenne this morning--but the problem turned out to be a cracked spark plug, quickly fixed, in and out in 50 minutes, on an 11 degree sunny morning without a cloud in the sky. We flew across the wonderful, weird, vastly empty Wyoming plateau and arrived for the evening at Ogden Utah, another beauty, nestled in snowy mountains overlooking the Great Salt Lake. Still can't believe our weather luck--except for a few minutes here and there where black ice and leftover snow reminded us how treacherous it could be out here. We may have tomorrow before a "whopper of a storm" (TWC) heads into the northwest, so we'll miss the Huskies playing in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise Saturday, push on, and hope precipitation is only rain along the Columbia River.
Travel in the winter is tricky--
If the weather is good, you want to move out,
So you miss all the cool spots going by
(like the Wyoming Territorial Prison "Historical Place,"
Or the Fossil Butte National Monument,
Green River Flaming George)
But if the weather is usual and road-closing bad,
Then you're stuck
In Carbon County,
At the Sinclair Oil Refinery
Sucking fumes.
Thanks for following our christmas travels!
We had a nervous beginning at the auto repair shop in Cheyenne this morning--but the problem turned out to be a cracked spark plug, quickly fixed, in and out in 50 minutes, on an 11 degree sunny morning without a cloud in the sky. We flew across the wonderful, weird, vastly empty Wyoming plateau and arrived for the evening at Ogden Utah, another beauty, nestled in snowy mountains overlooking the Great Salt Lake. Still can't believe our weather luck--except for a few minutes here and there where black ice and leftover snow reminded us how treacherous it could be out here. We may have tomorrow before a "whopper of a storm" (TWC) heads into the northwest, so we'll miss the Huskies playing in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise Saturday, push on, and hope precipitation is only rain along the Columbia River.
Travel in the winter is tricky--
If the weather is good, you want to move out,
So you miss all the cool spots going by
(like the Wyoming Territorial Prison "Historical Place,"
Or the Fossil Butte National Monument,
Green River Flaming George)
But if the weather is usual and road-closing bad,
Then you're stuck
In Carbon County,
At the Sinclair Oil Refinery
Sucking fumes.
Thanks for following our christmas travels!
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| windy wyoming |
 open road to winter |
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| Wyoming Dog Park |
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| Bob's 50 cent ice cream |
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| Western wild life |
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| natural cathedral |
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| It gets pretty awesome out here |
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| upscale digs in Ogden |
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Great Plains
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| Central Nebraska--just like home |
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| Amazing highway sculpture |
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| Celebrating us pioneers |
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| Sidney NE--"where the West begins" |
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| Uh-oh--it's still winter? |
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| Wyoming--two sides of the highway... |
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| at the same time. Lovely! |
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| Cowboy Dodge in Cheyenne.... |
In Cowboy Country
A very mixed day in the life and times of Westward Ho. But we made 550 miles today! Left Iowa before sunrise, and the weather cooperated-- as Bob said, like the Red Sea parting before us! Rest of the country is a weather mess, and we had dry clear roads all day--except in Sidney, where it snowed for fifteen minutes! Drove thru long, long Nebraska skipping all the fascinating-sounding museums along the way (like Museum of the Pioneer Farmer, Museum of Old Military Vehicles, etc. Maybe some summer we'll come back. Didn't even stop for Buffalo Bill's ranch!)
As the drive progressed, Bob and I both started feeling a little ill--headaches/ flushed faces, etc. Was it Nebraska or a cold coming on?? Cully slept peacefully between rest stops. So we did get off the road in Sydney to get hot soup and other provisions, and almost quit at 1 pm after 400+ miles. Then the sun came out, so we pressed on to Cheyene where we are now holed up at our second Motel 6! (And yes, I did check for bedbugs!) We're feeling better now but are concerned about the health of the van which is sorta skipping a bit. Elevation? Spark plug? We'll get it checked out early in the AM, then hit the still clear road cross Wyoming for Salt Lake City. There the weather hole looks like it might close on us.
wish us luck!
love,
L,B,C
As the drive progressed, Bob and I both started feeling a little ill--headaches/ flushed faces, etc. Was it Nebraska or a cold coming on?? Cully slept peacefully between rest stops. So we did get off the road in Sydney to get hot soup and other provisions, and almost quit at 1 pm after 400+ miles. Then the sun came out, so we pressed on to Cheyene where we are now holed up at our second Motel 6! (And yes, I did check for bedbugs!) We're feeling better now but are concerned about the health of the van which is sorta skipping a bit. Elevation? Spark plug? We'll get it checked out early in the AM, then hit the still clear road cross Wyoming for Salt Lake City. There the weather hole looks like it might close on us.
wish us luck!
love,
L,B,C
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Day 1: Lois' report
Greetings all,
Thanks for following us! it's comforting to know you are in touch. Ain't technology grand? Now at the Motel 6 in Avoca (unfortunately, not Ireland)-- Iowa about 50 miles from Omaha. Made about 375 miles today. Great visit and soup with former student/friend Joana in Des Moines. Then we pressed on til dark to this award-winning, fancy place for the nite (pet Friendly Motel 6). Cully proves again to be a great traveler! Really cold, Weather forecast for tomorrow a bit daunting, but gosh, Oregan had a tornadeo today, the east in in deep freeze, etc. Not complaining here. Stay warm and safe and watch for tomorrow's exciting edition.
Hugs, Lois
Thanks for following us! it's comforting to know you are in touch. Ain't technology grand? Now at the Motel 6 in Avoca (unfortunately, not Ireland)-- Iowa about 50 miles from Omaha. Made about 375 miles today. Great visit and soup with former student/friend Joana in Des Moines. Then we pressed on til dark to this award-winning, fancy place for the nite (pet Friendly Motel 6). Cully proves again to be a great traveler! Really cold, Weather forecast for tomorrow a bit daunting, but gosh, Oregan had a tornadeo today, the east in in deep freeze, etc. Not complaining here. Stay warm and safe and watch for tomorrow's exciting edition.
Hugs, Lois
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