Seattle to Driggs: The Oregon Trail (11/17-18)

First Leg: Seattle, Washington -> Lake Oswego, Oregon (11/17)

182 miles

Monday morning we loaded up the car and my mom, step-dad and I hit the road down to Oregon.  I managed to stay awake up until Tacoma but then jet lag got the better of me and I crashed for the rest of the way to Lake Oswego. goodbye seattle!

Reid (my step-dad) and my mom had a meeting with an architect who was working on a project they were involved with back in Idaho.  While they did that I watched a bit of the Simpsons on my computer and then walked around.  our trusty steed lake oswego, oregonI offered to drive the next leg so I grabbed a bit of cafeine and after they finished their meeting we hit the road, this time I was driving.

Second Leg: Lake Oswego, Oregon -> Pendleton, Oregon (11/17)

214 miles

I was driving my sister's car in Seattle, but that wasn't really a long-distance trek.  This time I got a bit more time on the road.  First we drove out to The Dalles where we got some gas and I grabbed an ineffective Red Bull.  The drive wasn't all that bad, to be honest, and before we knew it we were arriving at the Wild Horse Casino & Hotel just past Pendleton, Oregon. 

We grabbed some dinner at the buffet downstairs and after my mom went to play some penny slots, I went to my room to rest up with a bit of "First Blood" on Spike TV.  After some computer time and video watching I hit the sack.

my motel room in pendleton, oregonThird Leg: Pendleton, Oregon -> Boise, Idaho

227 milesAfter waking up in Pendleton and getting a bit of breakfast at the small cafe down by the casino floor, we packed up the car and headed out on the open road. This leg of the trip would take us to the State Capital of Idaho, Boise. the state capital of idaho in boise nice fall colorsI managed to sleep through most of this leg of the trip too.  I woke up once at a truck stop, but only for a few minutes and then finally woke up as we entered Boise proper.  We made a b-line to the state capital where we had a meeting with some folks in the Department of Tourism regarding one of the projects I'm working on while in Driggs.The meeting went well and then we checked in to a motel.  Reid had some meetings in the morning but in the meantime we had a bit of free time.  We grabbed some dinner and then I went to the hotel and relaxed. dinner in boiseActually, I found a nice lens for my camera on Craig's List, so I arranged to get that.  Craig's List is great.  The guy came to the motel lobby, I checked out the lens and made sure it worked well, and then paid him and that was that.  All done within the span of 45 minutes.  A lot of the thigns on Craig's List these days are people who have lost their jobs and need to make some cash.  This guy used to work for Verizon but was out of work and needed to sell the lens.  Lucky me since I got it for about half of the shelf price. playing with my new lensI spent the rest of the evening watching videos and then went to bed.

*****Fourth Leg: Boise, Idaho -> Driggs, Idaho*

321 milesIn the morning Reid went to his meetings and I took my time waking up. We had a lot of ground to cover as this was the longest leg so far.  The route we took was pretty nice.  Lots of big sky, open fields and endless horizons.  Definitely not what I have been used to seeing in Hong Kong and a nice change of pace.  This part of the country sure is beautiful.  I can see why a lot of people like living out here. lots of nothing litterally in the middle of nowhereWe made our way in to Driggs just in time for dinner at home -- around 6:00 p.m.  I managed to snap some nice sunset pictures as we pulled into Teton County.  rear view sunset sunset in idahoAlso, as you can see from the map, Driggs is literally on the border of Wyoming and Idaho, just a stone's throw south of Yellowstone National Park.  It is a bit chilly out here, but not as cold as I thought it would be.  No snow on the ground yet, but I hear it is only a matter of days or weeks before it happens.And so, almost exactly one week from the day I arrived in the United States, I finally made my way to my destination, Driggs, Idaho.  I will leave my time in Driggs for another blog entry.  For now, that's all she wrote.You can view photos from this leg of my trip here.