The last “big” road trip I took was in 2007, a long drive down the coast highway to Petaluma and the return. That trip was 7 days of driving, 4 days of visiting, and around 3000 miles. This one will prove to be just as grand.

Open Road
Somewhere between Washtucna and Pasco, one of many two lane roads I drove on this trip.

One week after leaving Pullman, the real adventure begins. I’m now about 400 miles into my trip, sitting in Olympia just as the sun rises. My brother and family are still sleeping in the quiet hours. I wait a little longer to give them the chance to wake before I say goodbye, but eventually the appointed hour comes and the house remains quiet. It is time.

Rather than head home, I turn the car south on I-5 and start for Portland. The forecast called for a bit of heat and by 10, it’s clear that the forecast was accurate. I may be suffering, but the little green Miata is just fine—admittedly the air conditioning doesn’t do much while I’m driving at speed on the two lane roads of central Oregon.

I arrive in Bend just before noon, sweltering in 100°F weather. It’s a perfect time for lunch. Bend takes beer very seriously. I’ve only got two days here, so I need to take it seriously as well. Between the breweries, the mountain biking, and Shakespeare in the park, I filled the weekend with “things to do” quite effectively.