Weekend Road Trip

When I moved to Nevada, I assured my father that I would try to visit him once a month. A friend was flying in from Alaska the last weekend of April and I promised him that I would go over to have dinner with him and his friend. I had every intention of leaving home after work on Thursday, but drug my feet and opted to leave early Friday morning, but the day drug on and one thing after another came up and it was almost seven before I finally got on the road. I don't mind night driving, there is little traffic and lots of time to think, dream and reflect. But as I started climbing into the lonely mountain passes I wondered if I had done the smart thing. I watched the outside temperature drop and kept a sharp eye on road conditions. The lowest temperature I saw was 14 degrees above zero. There was every likely hood of black ice, so I drove with caution, especially since most of the area I was driving through was open range. Large animals, night and low temperatures don't make for a good mix.

I listened to music, made a few phone calls when I was in service areas during the early hours of the night. I had borrowed my son's tomtom to help find my way in areas I was not familiar with. And more than once I made a wrong turn because I didn't react fast enough or information didn't seem current in the modern device. In Redmond, Oregon I watched carefully and still missed a turn because it appeared after I passed the point to do so. 'New road.' I thought as I tried to watch for corrections. A concrete barrier divided the lanes, but the woman's voice continued to direct me to make left hand turns until it told me that it was replanning the route. And I continued on my way. When it asked if I wanted to take a shorter route, I agreed and found myself skirting town on a winding back road. I was glad to see the freeway for once!

The night wore on, time slipped by until I knew Mt. Hood was looming ahead. Two in the morning and I wondered what the road would be like. A sign flashed warning to use chains or traction tires. I put new all weather tires on this past summer, I didn't carry chains because I had a four wheel drive pick up - I know - I hear the voices saying, "Thinks she's a good driver, doesn't need chains. Idiots like that should not be driving." I've had the words spoken to me and my reply was, "If the conditions are so bad that this won't hold the road, then I shouldn't be driving." I slowed down well below the speed limit, turned on my fog lights and watched the road intently. On coming traffic was moving at a good clip if and when I encountered it, so I was fairly certain that the road was not real bad, just wet with a chance of ice.

Another sign flashed warning of fog ahead and I adjusted my speed yet again. I pulled over to let a big truck go by and then further on, a small van. The fog wavered thin and then taking visibility to feet, then wavered thin again. Then I was over the top, with no problems and on my way to Portland.

I went through Olympia in the early hours of morning, just beginning to feel the affects of the long hours of driving. I stopped to get a cup of coffee and walk around.

Seattle was close and I was tired. I pulled into a hotel, booked a room, parked and hauled my things in ready to take a quick hot shower before lying down. After ten minutes of nothing but cold water, I drug my bags back to the pick up and drove around to the office to request another room. With a new key in hand I went back only to find that it would not open my door, so it was back to the office once more. At last I got my hot shower, but by now adrenalin had me wide awake. I called a friend to have breakfast and returned to my room to find out that I was once again locked out.

There was no sleep for me that day! My friend called - dinner reservations at the Space Needle were for a late hour, so I changed clothes and went to the store for a couple of items I had forgotten to throw in my suitcase then drove over to their hotel and we three went in their car.

Dinner at the Space Needle. A treat I look forward to and have had the pleasure of enjoying on a few occasions. We ordered dinner and went upstairs to the deck. My friend's friend had not been here before. The city lay below garbed in sparkling lights - breathtaking and beautiful. Elliot Bay from this vantage is nothing short of alluring. Tiny ferries moved back and forth across the blackness and we talked of previous visits and ferry rides across the water and we look forward to doing it again. We shared memories of visits, conversations and laughter from earlier times.

All too soon the evening was over and we were headed back to the hotel. It was late and I was beginning to feel tired - time to turn in. I had promised to have breakfast with another friend before we three joined up for a day of sight seeing. It was after midnight when I turned in.

My friend and I had breakfast at Three Coins across from the airport. Another spot I have fond memories of. My daughter and her husband flew in late one night a few years ago and we had late dinner there. I recalled the table, my daughter, the night as I sat down.

After breakfast, I joined my friend from out of town for coffee before heading for the waterfront and Pike's Market. I love the waterfront - it always fills me with a sense of peace despite the hustle and bustle that always seems to be a part of the scene. Finding parking isn't easy so we left my pick up in the parking lot of a grocery store. The walk through the market made me realize one of the reasons I didn't like Seattle. Nose to nose people moving at snails paces or stopped talking and blocking the path. We pushed and wound our way through the crowd from one end to the other with a stop at the original Starbucks for a cup of coffee. It was mid afternoon and time for me to head south. We went back to the car and out on the road to my pick up - the sky was overcast and a light rain began to fall.

By the time we got to my vehicle, the rain was heavier and steady. After farewells, they went one way and I went another. On the freeway, traffic was at a stop - a sign indicated an accident ahead, so I slipped off to find a parking lot and opened up my computer for awhile. Just over half an hour later I tried again and the road was pretty clear. Just past Ft. Lewis, the skies opened up and rain pelted down with force enough to reduce visibility to near nothing.

My cell phone died so I decided to stop in Olympia at the phone store. Bad news - the battery was swollen - a new phone was cheaper than a new battery. I made my purchase and started out again. By the time I got to Dad's it was after dinner, but a plate was on the table waiting for me.

My Dad was so happy to see me. He asked about the new job, what was going on, how was it, any problems. I could see the pride in his expression as well as the sadness that I had moved so far away. We talked and I watched a bit of news, but every time I looked toward Dad, I found his chair still turned to face me and his gaze still watching. When he was ready to go to bed, he stood shakily and I stood and walked over to kiss him good night. He touched my arm and kissed my cheek saying softly, "Good night. I love you. See you in the morning."

I had planned on leaving early, but my room was cool and the sound of rain and wind rattled against the roof and I awoke to hear knocking on my door. My sister had come to wake me, Dad wanted to make sure that I got on the road in time. I got up, packed my things ready to go and went to join Dad for a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal. He stood when I was ready to leave, again kissing my cheek and whispering, "Be careful, see you soon, I love you." and he watched as I left with a promise to return next month.

The skies were still heavy and gray and rain still fell without sign of let up. I glanced at the clock and estimated my travel time. I stopped in Portland for gas and headed for Mt. Hood. This time, the temps dropped more quickly and soon I was in snow and slush. Redmond was again a puzzle for the tomtom and I found myself on yet another back road and shorter route. By this time I had left the snow behind, but sleet was mingled with the rain that continued east of the mountains.

When I arrived in Burns, the rain had stopped, but the wind was blowing hard. I asked the station attendant if it was always like this. He remarked that the wind had been bad for the past 2 days and a storm was expected before night that would dump 2-3 feet of snow on the eastern side of the state. I was glad as I left that I wasn't staying. Power lines alongside of the road bounced up and down in the high wind as if they were ready to snap. Tumble weeds skipped across the fields and skittered across the road ahead. A jumble of wood appeared on the left side of the road and as I passed I saw that it was the remains of a prefab that had been dumped from a semi. It was now a twisted, broken heap of junk waiting to be picked up.

The wind never let up all the way home. But as I climber higher, the temperature warmed and dust swirled in the air. I topped out on the last pass and headed for home. Darkness was just touching the sky when I pulled into the driveway, glad to be home after a long journey.

I awoke in the morning and opened the curtain to look out upon a land scape draped in a new blanket of snow. Snow covered the truck and I had to brush it off the window. Winter, it appeared had returned to the high desert country.