PDX winter

Winter!!!!

Welcome everyone!!
Today is now known as -Oh-My-God-It-Has-Snown-A-Lot
I am living in Portland Oregon, which is pretty unfamiliar with snow and wintery things. We had a number of snow days last week at work, which I scoffed at. But now, things are a little different. I'm sitting on a Sunday afternoon marveling at how wintery it is here. There is a tree outside our window that has shed all its leaves, but is now frozen and frosted like a real winter tree ought to be. I did move here with the notion that I would be escaping ice and snow (among other things), so you might think this would bring my smile upside down, however, I have always enjoyed a nice white Christmas. It is quite pretty. I feel like a kid a little bit- every time I look out the window I get this big goofy grin on my face.
But it is hella cold.
This is really my window too. : )

december 15th Snow days, ice days

Haha!!!

Guess what suckers??????
I have a SNOW day. heehee. All schools are closed today because of an inch of snow and ice..... that has been here for two days....... Yep.
Thinking of you all, on my unexpected day off.....................
Shall we add..... that today, Tuesday, Dec 16th, we were told to come in late.. 10 am. And, rumors abound that there will be more days off this week. Hmmm... Unpaid......

And..... Yes Wednesday, Dec 17th Closed. Although this has a happy funny alternative-
Josh, my little better half, convinced me on Tuesday night there was no possible way that any place would close based on the weather Tuesday night. Really, I agreed, except this place seems extreme. He and I coming from Alaska, have a particular view, whereas Portlanders aren't exactly used to this sort of weather. Regardless, I got up and went to work. I should have clued in when my bus was 20 minutes late..... Or perhaps when I was on campus and no one was walking around.... But no, what tipped me off was walking into the coffee shop, and seeing no one in the place, let alone in line. I stayed and had my cup of coffee, figured I had earned it by this point. Then went home and did Christmas-y stuff.
Sure wish I could have slept in.

And, late arrival again Thursday Dec 18th. Sure wish it was paid somehow.

day-last-

Last Day Driving

Last Day, July 31st, 2008
Miles: 96994 -Starting-

Made it across the border last night- no incidents- Although the border gate guy seemed gloatfully happy (in the thought of detaining me) until I handed over my birth certificate. Apparently driver's licenses aren't enough anymore. Word to the wise. Plus Starting New Year 2009- I heard that you will NEED a passport.
Stayed at a Days Inn-eh- Left today from bellingham, got to olympia, faxed a rental application for a loft apartment. Got the apartment. In my excitement I didn't pay close enough attention to my freeways, so consequently I am sitting in a restaurant, waiting for traffic to pass and Crystal to get out of class to guide me to her house! Crystal is a friend fo a friend, whom I have never met, and she is graciously letting me crash at her house until I find a place. Even though I "got" the apartment I still have yet to see it.... so. Crystal lives in SE, the coolest part of Portland, for those of you not in the know. : )

Ending Miles: 97345!!!!

Epic drive, day 5

-This really is a bear I saw on my drive- He just sat in this grassy area munching on greens.

Epic drive, day 5

July 30th, 2008
Miles: 96505

Made the most miles so far yesterday, and hit the 2000 mark total. Stopped early last night because of a lightning storm! I was driving through this quaint farm country, when the sky suddenly went dark, like a stage cue, (it was actually quite beautiful, and I tried taking pictures before I realized what it was). Heavy monsoon rains ensued, which in itself wasn't so bad, until lightning started coming down in front and behind my car!!!! I kept thinking I was driving away from it, but it was following me like living TWISTER the lightning version! I tried the counting thing, but that's for thunder, right? Either way it kept coming after me. I really feel lucky I made it. I drove for about an hour and a half until I made it to Prince George, and the Spruce Park Inn. Uneventful stay there, except that in my head I remember it as Prince Albert.... shame.............
It really was one of the most scary experiences, because I couldn't do anything about it!
Currently cursing again for the lack of reset areas.
Pulled over to sleep-getting the droopy eye.

Drive, day four

Drive day four

July 29th, 2008
Miles: 95840

Pulled over last night near Ft. Nelson. It took longer than I expected because of the mountains and dark, curvy, windy, roads, oh and lest we forget all the damn deer hopping around! it was like a video game!! Don't hit the Deer!! See who wins!! They were stressing me out. i did however get to herd some bison, about 50 or so. Maybe more. It was cool at first. They just walked along side my car, then after about 5 minutes I realized they weren't parting on the road - they liked the road. I began to talk to them. Come on, just let me thru, please? Some Big Berthas looked like they wanted to charge my car. I had to wait a while.
Damn Bison.
Pulled over a slept on the side of the road somewhere. Got up early and 5 am and started driving. Saw a herd of bou and a ram with huge horns. I did see a big buck bou last night too.
This morning has been uneventful except for my emergency pee. At this moment I decide the Yukon is much better than BC- the Yukon has awesome and frequent rest stops and bathrooms. Bc has very few, you really have to hold it in BC. A zillion signs that read "Beautiful british Columbia" but no toilets! So I had to go, and decided to pull over. Used my car door as a shield of sorts from the prying eyes of the road, I squat, yet something goes wrong. I hear the sound of an approaching vehicle, so I get nervous and shift somehow, lose my balance, and while mid-pee I scrape my left knee and ALMOST pee on myself. Thankfully that horror was avoided.

Drive, Day three

Drive, day three

July 28th, 2008
Miles: 95310

I think I am getting worse as far as my sickness goes. i shower last night and this morning- hot water felt great. My cellphone hasn't worked at all, no reception anywhere. I'm sure josh is getting anxious.
Not sure how far I will get tonight, I keep coughing up gunk. I'm eating in this diner that is way over priced. My options are limited here. This is supposed to be the fancy place, but there is a girl working as a waitress here going without a bra. And she needs one.
No animals today. here in Watsonville, (I keep calling the town wrong in my head) there is a landmark-park of sorts. A signs-city-street-homemade- park full of them from all over the world. I took a few pictures. Did I come here on my drive before? It doesn't look familiar. I must have blazed through. There are the biggest ugliest bugs here. I have no idea what they are. I thought I was in a sci-fi movie.
----
So After I wrote "no animals" I saw 4 black bears and a musk ox/bison. I took some great pictures of a few of the bears. I told one bear I loved him and he turned his head perfectly to look at me.

drive day 2

July 27th, 2008
Miles 94815

Tok-Gakona
Campground was a little eerie. never sure if I want them full of people wandering by my car while I sleep smushed up inside, or empty so no one is around to hear me scream. Bought a cup of tea at a drive thru place in Tok off the highway, the owner was working, older lady in her 60s, real sweet. Gave me extra honey. Finally at the border. Crossing was odd, the guard-lady was funny to me. Like i was intruding on her day by driving by her booth. Gas at FASGAS, ladies were very helpful and friendly.
Saw One Eagle.
Took tons of pictures around Kluane Lake, one of my favorite magical places on the drive. It's so vast and huge, looks like an ocean. A long, lean black bear ran across the road in front of me. I had a little picnic of bread and cheese and grapes by the lake. Sunny and beautiful.
A whole pack of horses stopped "traffic" in this spit of a town. As I was waiting and watching a little fox passed em with a rat or something in its mouth.
Made it to Whitehorse- I had to pee so bad!
I found the last room at the last motel possible. Tried to sleep off my sickness. The road on the Canadian side is so bumpy.
Whitehorse is a cute, charming little town, right on the Yukon River, another fav of mine. If I did small town in any fashion, I'd want to live in Whitehorse.

Drive, day one

Drive, day one

Shame on me. Can't believe it has taken me this long to put up my stories. I'll have to post pictures later too. PRO-crastin-ation.

July 26th,
9am
miles: 94,336
Left Josh at the dock in Seldovia, it was a little sad, I knew he wanted me to stay. But I was so ready to leave. Leave Alaska, Anchorage, hometown, small town, the camp site with four dirty smelly men. Yes, ready. In a lot of ways I am very suprised that I stayed in Alaska so long. I certainly wouldn't have if I hadn't met Josh.
On my way to Portland, via Canada. First stop: mom's house for a visit.
Made it to Anchorage, ran around doing some last minute errands ( I mean how much more last minute can it get- I'm freakin' leaving the state). Drove to Mom's place in Houston (valley in AK). Her place turned out to be nicer than I had expected. It was easy to leave her though, I have been so ready to go for the longest time.
Saw a mom and baby moose outside of homer. I will definitely miss Homer, such a cute little fishing town.
I slept in the car in a campground near Tok; it just felt more safe than parking on the side of the road. Have been fighting this lame ass cold.
It's been raining like crazy.