...though not really from the road. We've arrived in Portland and now have the task of rearranging all the stuff we've brought into some semblance of order. The plants all survived, which is good, and the cats all survived as well. Technology (read: Internet) is in place after 24 hours or so, so all is right with the world.
The last day of driving, the cats behaved extremely well. I think they were getting used to the routine: truck during the day, motel at night. If you'd seen them in the room, you'd think they'd been in motel rooms all their lives. Very casual.
Gorgeous scenery coming down Highway 84 - through the Columbia River Gorge, and seeing the amazing Columbia River.
We made really good time and then, coming into Portland, I didn't make the right turn. And I lost it. Portland is an easy city to get lost in (at least for me, a newbie), and being lost in a city with lots of narrow, one-way streets with a 20-foot truck and towing an auto trailer is exponentially worse. After three days on the road, to be so close to our destination and suddenly having a whole new challenge was just too much. I don't usually curse a lot, but curse I did, upsetting everyone. The problem was solved relatively quickly. But, I can't say that if it happened again, I wouldn't curse up a storm again. But we made it, and here we are. Things are much better after having a good cup of coffee after three days of in-room coffee. (Boy, I'm a sad case.)
Driving a car after three days in a truck and trailer is very very easy. Now that we've unloaded, and the car is off the trailer, it's kind of a joy to learn a new set of city streets. I'm sure I'll get lost again. But in a car, it's nothing that a few right turns can't fix.
What a great introduction to Colorado! :) Thanks for sharing your story. I like the perspective of having gotten rid of all that frustration/anger/aggression out and being able to settle in. Today (and each day) feels a little more peaceful.
Posted by: Scott Brown | July 10, 2011 at 08:46 AM
At one point, I received a paper copy of a Portland "one way" map that showed which directions all of the downtown streets were. It was hugely helpful when I first moved there.
You'll get to know it pretty quickly. But driving it as an unknown with a big truck could be pretty scary - I can sympathize with the cursing.
My first time onto the I-25 exchange from I-70 was at rush hour on a Friday. We'd been driving for days cross country from Indiana and had been in the car all day. We had a cat that never stopped meowing (in a kennel - she coudn't be trusted to roam) and a 75lb german shepherd in the back seat. On the off ramp corner, the something slid off of the top of the cat's cage, onto the dog, which cause the dog to jump in my lap, while I was driving. 75lbs of scrambling terrified dog, sharp curves at high speed, and an unknown locale with lots of traffic. Yes, there was MUCH cursing.
On the plus side, our stay in Colorado was fantastic. So maybe that's the way to look at things - you've gotten the anger and aggression out early and can now settle into your new home.
Posted by: Matt | July 10, 2011 at 12:32 AM