No Place like Home

The plains of the Midwest become the movie that plays before our eyes.  Trains full of coal head east with us.  Like a trail horse that can see the barn, we think more of home than of the road and the miles covered by each day’s drive gets more and more.

We have been gone for 93 days and we seem to have been riding spring from Texas thru New Mexico, across Arizona and up California.  Now coming full circle, we are back in Minnesota, just in time for spring.  This has been a great trip and a perfect way to kick off our AMAZING RETIREMENT ADVENTURE. I am so excited!  

Rocky Mountains

We drive across the high plains of Washington to the pan handle of Idaho.  The forests returns but the and suddenly the majesty of the Rockies are upon us. 

We break out of the mountains to a huge valley.  Completely surrounded by snow -capped mountains, this is Big Sky Montana.

For miles all around there is wide open spaces. Ranches are very spread out and the livestock has plenty of space to roam; it is spring and there are calves everywhere.  It is still early spring here and the pastures are just beginning to green up.

Driving along is it not hard to spot the herds of antelope.  They have light patches on their backs and side and can be easily seen, even when lying in the grass.

Trees begin to speckle the landscape as you get in the foothills; you can see beautiful log cabins perched on the side of the hills. Brad is very quiet; I hear the opening bars of Bonanza playing in my head. 

We get to enjoy the countryside for a long time before we have to say good bye.

Portlandia

The Tahoe has driven through eleven states and over five thousand miles and we have reached the western tip of our adventure; we turn right and head east.  We drive inland to Portland through the Siuslaw National Forest.  Another beautiful winding and heavily wooded byway.

Portland is a large, city surrounded by rivers.  Portlandia, a sculpture taken from the image on the state seal, sits looking over the city like a Greek goddess holding a trident.  

The old town and water front give hints to the river’s importance. Going over the old bridge and following the Columbia River takes you quickly into the awesome beauty of the Columbia River Gorge.    We have hit the first rainy patch of our adventure.  The light mist does not seem to faze the local residents and the fog frames the green of the surrounding landscape.   Mt. Hood is buried deep in the clouds.

There are many magnificent water falls as we wind along the river; green hillsides and bluffs line each side of this  mighty river.

Oregon Coast

Driving along Highway 101 is almost indescribable. Through the tall dark cedars, you can see waves crashing into huge rock formations jutting out of the ocean from the narrow road that hangs on the edge of the sheer rock cliffs. 

For the entire length of the state, highway 101 hugs the coast and provides view after view after view. 

We have sun but the sea fog is never too far away.  Gold Beach is our stop for the night; the Chowder House our diner destination.

The southern coast, we are told, enjoy the benefits of the warm and dry Chinook winds.  Morning sun shine help us find these special treasures as we take a short walk on the beach before we head out this morning.

We continue up the coast through cute little fishing towns.  And just when you think that the ocean is the star of the show, the road winds around a crystal clear lake surrounded by towering pine trees.