This is a piece I have wanted to tackle for a while, and did not quite know how to go about it. No, I'm not doing a pathetic why oh why am I where I am now and how did I get here. It's just a look back because it's a sunny Sunday in March, quite pleasant, and it gets the creative juices flowing.
I have been in 1 relationship for 11 years and a month and 7 days now. This was the woman I knew from the first day that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, the vibes were that instant. It took quite a long time to find Vickie, an arduous journey of heartache, headaches and despair, and that was just the morning before our first date started!
No, seriously, the relationship cycle was a rollercoaster for years. I've met a lot of women, some of whom I've spent a good deal of time with, some whom I saw once and never saw again, to a varying degree of relief and sadness. In fact, I don't think I could write this without 11 years of happy marriage under my belt so I can fully look at the past objectively and with fondness, not angst, animosity, or regret. I regret nothing, it was all meant to be....or not to be.
To begin, I should make it clear that I was basically a virginal geek for quite a long time, even through college. It was a mixture of awkwardness and self-doubt that kept me out of the sexual and relationship arena for the years it would have been fun. The way I look at it is this: given the right opportunity HANDED TO ME ON A SILVER PLATTER, I would have been stupid enough to mess it up and/or gotten a venereal disease due to no condom because I would have been THAT GRATEFUL to get laid. Like I say, things happen for a reason. So let me go all the way back to childhood, say, third grade.
Yes, I was liking girls a lot early on, but my geekiness made me a laughing stock or just a general creep....I did a lot of staring in admiration and wonderment.
Lisa A- In third and fourth grade I thought her to be the prettiest girl in class. She thought me to be a creepy nerd. Luckily we grew to be friendlier acquaintances in junior high and high school.
Karen W-I liked her in 5th grade and never stopped liking her in junior high. I just had nothing going for me in those years. Hardly saw her in high school, but it's a big place.
Donna M- Cute girl in 6th grade, stayed cute all through graduation, just too sophisticated or pseudo sophisticated for the likes of me.
Robyn S- I thought she was the hottest number in 8th grade. Sitting next to her in science was the highlight of my day that year.
Mary P.- Quite a beautiful Greek-blooded girl. She was my 9th grade focus.
Tracey G.- Actually Tracey and I were just friends, but we talked regularly on the phone for a while. It was nice to talk to a female who didn't get me tongue-tied. I needed that.
Amy E.-Almost right from the start of 11th grade, I was smitten with this blonde beauty. I was not quite sure why then. This was the girl that had me being an idiot just to get her attention, and damn was I pathetic. I wrote her notes, sent her carnations with the message "Love Ya", and it pretty much embarrassed her, and me, as the end result. Ah, awkward youth. I was interested in her for the rest of high school but to no avail.
Julie Cinnamon- This was a girl I liked in my 1 year at West Virginia. Alas, she had a guy who was in the military. I will say it was nice to have a new focus other than Amy.
After West Virginia, I went through a dry spell in regards to girls to like. A full 2 years and 4 months to be exact. One of those years was spent with lousy temp jobs in San Diego, another was in junior college. Well, there was a girl named Darcy, but she was about 6 years older. I found myself being stupid again like I was with Amy...I was a guy who needed to get laid before my mind went bonkers.
Kimberly C.- I met her at Sonoma State's summer orientation. She was really fun and perky and I liked being around her. Unfortunately, I had 2 things going against me. First, when I got the guts to ask her out, my parents were on the verge of splitsville. Second, she had another guy she liked and was getting some from. Still, we had some nice times for a couple of years. My temper almost cost me my friendship with her a couple of times. The trouble with parents divorcing at that point in life is that it put me into a total sense of confusion and loss. And by temper I don't mean physical, just words. Luckily, we have grown and are still friends.
Sarah Sc.- Another college interest. Pretty and gaunt and smart. Other than that, she seemed to have a strange home life and we only got together a couple of times. I tried to get something going after graduation, but she got a job so nothing.
Sarah Su.- This Sarah has the distinction of being the first girl I met online. She was a very pretty Chinese girl who lived in Sacramento. I went over there a few times to see her. Once we just did lunch and movie, the next time was a day in San Francisco. We did a few other things, and were pretty passionate with each other. We never did the deed, but got close a couple of times. Timing was not right and I was probably a bit anxious.
Jodie D.- Another online connection. We actually had 2 separate periods. One was brief in the summer of 2000 and we fooled around a bit. The other was was just slightly longer in late 2001-early 2002. It was during this last period that I got my cherry popped at last...AT 29!! I think she figured that out without asking, and was frustrated I was awkward about that part. Oh well, an obstacle had been overcome and I no longer felt pressure within myself.
Treasa S- My first real regular woman friend after moving to Las Vegas, met online. She was taller than me but it did not matter to her. We had a lot of fun going to movies, eating together, and fooling around. I felt quite blessed to be with her, although she was not really with me exclusively. That bothered me a bit, but I did enjoy my times with her. Like Jodie, we had 2 periods: spring-summer of 2003 and spring-summer 2004. We are still friends to this day.
Gigi P.- I actually met Gigi through another online connection. Gigi was older, divorced, and with a child. After a slow start, we enjoyed a 4 month relationship of sex and companionship. However, we bickered a lot over commitment issues (I wasn't close to ready) and she was quite jealous of any other females in my life, Treasa in particular. There was no place for that relationship to grow.
Dorothy- There came a time when a lot of failed first and second dates were taking their toll on me. Summer of 2004 was that time. Losing Gigi and then Treasa for a second time did not help. I found Dorothy from Texas online in late summer and we developed a daily phone routine. I really wanted to meet her and invited her for a visit. When that time came in late October, I was at wit's end over relationships and work. I not only paid for a plane ticket, but I invited her to live with me. Never having met her before, I actually asked her this! She came, we had sex a few times, and were trying to be domestic. However, she was 9 years younger and had her own huge problems, not the least of which was coming down form a speed addiction. After a week, the dam burst and we both knew it was not working. I drove her back to Texas during track break and came home a lonely guy. This guy was in need of serious psychotherapy and I proceeded immediately.
Thea R.- After a few weeks of therapy, I was starting to feel better and ready for the dating world. Maybe a bit premature, but I had, in my own mind, unmanned myself with Dorothy and needed to get something back. Along came Thea in December of 2004. It was almost too perfect. We met online and then a bar the next night. After a few drinks we came to my place and had the best sex I'd had to that point. Shortly after, she hooked up with someone else, but after a few months it was over and we got together a few times in spring 2005. We are still good friends and I credit her with restoring my manhood during a difficult time.
Jacqueline C-My first experience with a psycho. Quite the mood jumps. A wiccan, and as I later discovered, still married to her 2nd hubby! This lasted a little over a month before I escaped.
After my last time with Thea, I had a few dates with others, but by fall of 2005 I was tired of the scene. Part of it was my fault, I expected too much from people, not in terms of relationships but rather honesty. I quit for 3 months.
During that time I developed a nice friendship with a woman named Robin. No stress, just meals and movies. I also hung with 2 sisters with major mental hangups. Overall, the celibacy was wearing thin pretty quick, so I got back into the game during the Christmas holidays. Robin and I might have gotten serious if we'd wanted to, but her plate was pretty full and the most we shared was a kiss on New Year's Eve.
In January 2006, I spent some time with Melanie in Bullhead City, but that commute would get old fast. She was also too down on herself. I was also with Vanessa K. Sex with her was fun but she was another temperamental firecracker like Jacqueline, and was much more obsessed with her own orgasms via whole fist. Quite the lesson in elasticity.
On February 11 2006, after a week of phone talks, I met Vickie. Seriously, the rest is history. We married 9 months later and had a baby girl in summer of 2009. It is not perfect, we have our pasts and disagreements, but we talk and work things out and above all, we love each other with all our hearts!
The end!
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Solo 4 and 5 and 6
Nice to have something to write on again, happy to say! Having no computer was tough for a bit.
OK, that's out of the way, on to business.
Previously, I've written about some solo road trips I've taken in California. I've decided to mix the last 3 memorable trips into one post so I can unclog my brain on other issues. I say last 2 because a year after the last one, I met the woman who would become my wife and make road trips even more great!
Solo road trip 4: Santa Rosa to Las Vegas
After a quite stressful year of applying and interviewing for teaching jobs, one such trip involving a car wreck, I'd finally wrangled a teaching position in Las Vegas,Nevada. This meant a major uprooting from comfy, beautiful Sonoma County to the bleak desert. It also meant leaving a pretty easy street situation of no rent payments that had been going on for 4 years. It had to end sometime. I was also leaving my best buddy Scott after 8 years of dorm and apartment living. Yes, the common law marriage was coming to an amicable divorce. It was about time, he needed to get a woman in his life!
On August 2,2002, my dad and I set out in a 2-vehicle caravan to Las Vegas. It counts as a solo because we were in different autos.We headed out at 2am onto U.S. 101, a dark and typically overcast night. Making our way to San Rafael, we got onto 580 and tore (literally) through the east Bay burbs of Richmond, Oakland, and San Leandro. There was almost no traffic and certainly no typical bay backups. 580 soon cut east into the Castro Valley towns of Pleasanton and Livermore, 2 towns I was never excited about. Before long, 580 was out of the Bay Area, heading through Altamont Pass and into the San Joaquin Valley. 580 soon ended at I 5 just south of Tracy and 5 continued the dreary travel through nondescript brown landscape, occasionally within view of farmland for a couple hundred miles through Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, and King Counties. Coming into Kern County, we got off on CA 46 to cut across to CA 99. 46 was just a nice quick 20 mile cut with no frills and thankfully no lights.
Soon we got onto 99 south. 99 was once the main Valley drag that hit all the major towns, and later I-5 was the high-speed yet desolate bypass. After about 25 miles, we were in Bakersfield, where I had gone for an interview previously. We got on to CA 58 (former U.S, 466) and were soon crossing the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was still only about 8 in the morning. After the Sierras, we were in the Mojave Desert. 58 cut through the small town of Mojave (coincidence?) and proceeded due east for a 70 mile trek to Barstow, passing to the north of Edwards Air Force Base and crossing U.S. 395 on the way. The cool thing was, there were mileage signs on 58 for Las Vegas, only 200 miles away!
In Barstow, 58 ended at I 15. where we took the northbound ramp toward Vegas. After Barstow, 15 cuts through the barren burg of Yermo and then 48 miles of bleak desert toward Baker, where we got a quick snack, After Baker, 15 climbs quite steeply for 16 miles to a crest, dips into the Cima Valley, then climbs again through a pass, then descends once more down a lengthy hill. This hill is notable because the stateline town of Primm,Nevada is constantly in view with its 3 casinos and an outlet mall. Once in Nevada, 15 is bombarded with billboards advertising all sorts of Las Vegas attrractions.
After 27 miles more of desert, 15 finally reaches the Vegas Valley. As it was a Friday, there was some traffic buildup at noon, but I was to learn that this was normal any day in Vegas. Passing by the Vegas Strip hotels to the left, we crossed U.S. 95 and picked up U.S. 93 as we headed into North Las Vegas. One thing I have noticed about Las Vegas is that, like other metro areas, it is quite ugly in the daytime, but sparkles at night.
At exit 46, we got off at Cheyenne Ave and headed east to Nellis Blvd, right next to the Air Force base. My apartment was pretty much right there. After almost an hour of filling out forms in a cool office, we spent a couple of hours unloading the vehicles and setting up my sparse furniture of a bed, chair, and a few glass tables. After that, we found a Tony Roma's on the Strip at the now-defunct Stardust Hotel/Casino and enjoyed some ribs and beer. Well needed!
The next day, my dad headed home quite early and left me some money to buy some items. I found a place to get breakfast, hit Wal Mart, and just spent the rest of the day getting organized and getting to know the town.
Over the course of the next several years, I'd do many drives to and from San Diego. Those are not really notable, pretty much I 15 the whole way. Once in a while I'd hit old 66 between Victorville and Barstow, but that was bleak 2-lane desert road with many bumps.
Solo road trip #5: Las Vegas to Enumclaw
I'd flown a couple of times to see my sister and her kids, but one year I decided to drive it. In March 2004 during track break (3 of those replaced summer vacation) I decided to take an unusual route. I headed up 15 out of the Vegas Valley. Once out, the desert is still there. U.S. 93, having been part of 15 for 22 miles, departs toward Ely and 15 heads toward Moapa and then hits a long straightaway before descending into Mesquite.
After Mesquite, 15 crosses into Arizona and is bleak desert for 9 miles before entering what is probably one of the most beautiful engineering marvels on an Interstate: the Virgin River Gorge. Before 15 was built through there, one had to take U.S. 91 on a 45-mile curvy route to St. George, Utah. That route is still drivable and is occasionally preferred as the Gorge is often under repair and narrowed to 1 lane, quite treacherous and slow when big rigs are present.
However, when the Gorge is driven, it is a beautiful canyon drive for 18 miles before exiting and then hitting Utah. Gorgeous red rocks and tight curves make it almost hypnotic, but one must keep an eye on the road here.
Upon entering Utah, 15 is quickly going into St. George, a good place for breakfast at Shoney's. I like St. George. It is a desert town, but it is so full of red rock and a view of tall ridges to the east that one knows they have entered a different landscape. After St. George, 15 winds north and upward , experiencing up to 20-degree drops in temperature before entering Cedar City, only 50 miles from St. George. After Cedar City, 15 rolls through occasional farmland and is almost always in view of some high peaks in either direction. Utah is cool like that.
After 110 miles in Utah I pass though Beaver, a tiny burg worthy of many cheap jokes just because of the name. 20 miles later, 15 gives access to the western end of I-70, which travels all the way to the Baltimore area. 15 continues into Millard County in a series of high climbs, steep descents, and long valleys, crossing U.S.. 50 along the way. Juab County is a bit flatter, passing through pretty Nephi. Soon after Nephi, 15 enters Utah County and a 100+mile string of towns, the heart of which are Provo and Salt Lake City.. I've always loved this area!
After the Salt Lake area, 15 goes through Ogden and Brigham City, then enters the first bleak area for the first time in 2 hours. Well, not completely bleak, there were still ridges about. I got onto I 84 west, which cut through more bleak Utah before hitting bleak southern Idaho. In fact, I 84 showed me that southern Idaho is pretty much nothing for miles around. After a junction with short I 86, 84 hits a few small towns like Burley and Jerome, passes to the north of Twin Falls, then wends emptily toward Boise, where I spent the night.
The next morning, I got a better view of Boise, which looked pretty nice with a mountainous background. After Boise, 84 cut through a few smaller towns in the Snake River Valley, then passed into eastern Oregon. Now, I've driven through Oregon many times and have seen its beauteous greenery. Eastern Oregon is quite the opposite, with its long highway stretches of nothingness, though there are some exceptions, and the ridge and subsequent downgrade toward Pendleton make 84 a worthwhile travel. Shortly after Pendleton came Hermiston, and I got onto I 82.
82 is not what I'd call interesting, though it was nice to see other parts of Washington. It passes by Kennewick, though Prosser, and later Yakima before heading over a pass to end at I 90 near Ellensburg.
Once I hit 90, I was almost immediately climbing the Cascades. The highway is quite beautiful through there and is always worthwhile except in snowy winter periods. After hitting Snoqualmie Pass, 90 descends toward the Seattle burbs. I got onto 18 south toward WA 169, getting pulled over for speeding. I explained that I was on the final stretch of a long drive and was forgiven (no ticket). After getting on to 169 and through beautiful Washington farms and greenery, I was soon in Enumclaw and ready to relax.
Coming back was pretty much the same as I took the same route.
Solo trip 6: Santa Rosa to Enumclaw
Actually, my 6th and last major solo trip of note began as a trip to San Diego. After a few days with my mom and soon-to-be-stepdad, I headed up 5 and 101 to Santa Rosa to hang with Scott and his lady Darlene for a few days before heading to Washington. This time, I was determined to take a nice leisurely drive.
I headed up 101 through the beautiful Sonoma County farmland and vineyards before getting into forested, hilly, and curvy Mendocino County. I'd been through Mendocino County many times and never got tired of it. That county is one of California's best. I could do without Ukiah, but Hopland and Willits are nice little hamlets. Heading north, , two-lane 101 passes small Laytonville and Leggett and Piercey before entering Humboldt County where 101 is mostly freeway again. After passing through many curvy forested valleys, 101 hits the Eureka area. One thing I've always loved about Eureka is its constantly cooler temperatures. There is also a KFC buffet there...probably not good for my body now but back then the never-ending chicken, mashed, and cole slaw were enough to satisfy a traveler's belly. North of Eureka, 101 passes through Arcata where CSU Humboldt is. After that, the highway is windy forest with occasional ocean views, pretty cool stuff.
Soon 101 is in Del Norte County, home of cool Crescent City and Pelican Bay Prison. North of that, 101 gives access to U.S. 199 to Grants Pass, while 101 itself cuts through the rest of woodsy Del Norte into Oregon, hitting oceanfront Brookings quickly. After Brookings, 101, winds through windy forests and ocean views pretty much all the way up the Oregon coast, a lovely 300+ miles. Coos Bay is especially nice! However, I did not get so lucky.
My original plan was to stay in Florence for the night, but as there was widespread construction on 101, I had to cut east on OR 126 to Eugene, cut up to Corvallis, then take U.S. 20 to Newport. By then it was dark and I was hungry, so I stayed in Newport for the night. In the morning I grabbed the continental breakfast and continued up the coast through Lincoln City, Tillamook, and finally Astoria where I was to get a big treat. I had always wanted to cross the big bridge into Washngton on 101 and this was my chance. After a high rise, the bridge flattens to give a view of the Pacific all the way into Washington. I got onto WA 4, crossing miles of wooded valleys into Longview, where I had lunch with someone I'd met on a dating site. After that, I headed to 5 and aimed for Enumclaw.
After a few days with my sister's fam and a day with my high school pal Derek in Everett, I headed up U.S. 2 into the windy Cascades through Stevens Pass, where I caught U.S. 97 to Ellensburg where I took 82 back to 84 back to Idaho. I stayed in Twin Falls for the night, then took U.S.93 back to Vegas. 93 is long, brown, and doesn't hit much besides Jackpot at the state line, a more scenic version of Primm. It also crosses I-80 at Wells and Ely a couple hours later. After that, 93 hits a few pretty area, but mainly it is bleak desert all the way home.
Unfortunately, that was the last of my solo road trips. Not long after that, I was with Vickie and about to enjoy new adventures on the road with her as my co-pilot. I couldn't have asked for a better future!
OK, that's out of the way, on to business.
Previously, I've written about some solo road trips I've taken in California. I've decided to mix the last 3 memorable trips into one post so I can unclog my brain on other issues. I say last 2 because a year after the last one, I met the woman who would become my wife and make road trips even more great!
Solo road trip 4: Santa Rosa to Las Vegas
After a quite stressful year of applying and interviewing for teaching jobs, one such trip involving a car wreck, I'd finally wrangled a teaching position in Las Vegas,Nevada. This meant a major uprooting from comfy, beautiful Sonoma County to the bleak desert. It also meant leaving a pretty easy street situation of no rent payments that had been going on for 4 years. It had to end sometime. I was also leaving my best buddy Scott after 8 years of dorm and apartment living. Yes, the common law marriage was coming to an amicable divorce. It was about time, he needed to get a woman in his life!
On August 2,2002, my dad and I set out in a 2-vehicle caravan to Las Vegas. It counts as a solo because we were in different autos.We headed out at 2am onto U.S. 101, a dark and typically overcast night. Making our way to San Rafael, we got onto 580 and tore (literally) through the east Bay burbs of Richmond, Oakland, and San Leandro. There was almost no traffic and certainly no typical bay backups. 580 soon cut east into the Castro Valley towns of Pleasanton and Livermore, 2 towns I was never excited about. Before long, 580 was out of the Bay Area, heading through Altamont Pass and into the San Joaquin Valley. 580 soon ended at I 5 just south of Tracy and 5 continued the dreary travel through nondescript brown landscape, occasionally within view of farmland for a couple hundred miles through Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, and King Counties. Coming into Kern County, we got off on CA 46 to cut across to CA 99. 46 was just a nice quick 20 mile cut with no frills and thankfully no lights.
Soon we got onto 99 south. 99 was once the main Valley drag that hit all the major towns, and later I-5 was the high-speed yet desolate bypass. After about 25 miles, we were in Bakersfield, where I had gone for an interview previously. We got on to CA 58 (former U.S, 466) and were soon crossing the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was still only about 8 in the morning. After the Sierras, we were in the Mojave Desert. 58 cut through the small town of Mojave (coincidence?) and proceeded due east for a 70 mile trek to Barstow, passing to the north of Edwards Air Force Base and crossing U.S. 395 on the way. The cool thing was, there were mileage signs on 58 for Las Vegas, only 200 miles away!
In Barstow, 58 ended at I 15. where we took the northbound ramp toward Vegas. After Barstow, 15 cuts through the barren burg of Yermo and then 48 miles of bleak desert toward Baker, where we got a quick snack, After Baker, 15 climbs quite steeply for 16 miles to a crest, dips into the Cima Valley, then climbs again through a pass, then descends once more down a lengthy hill. This hill is notable because the stateline town of Primm,Nevada is constantly in view with its 3 casinos and an outlet mall. Once in Nevada, 15 is bombarded with billboards advertising all sorts of Las Vegas attrractions.
After 27 miles more of desert, 15 finally reaches the Vegas Valley. As it was a Friday, there was some traffic buildup at noon, but I was to learn that this was normal any day in Vegas. Passing by the Vegas Strip hotels to the left, we crossed U.S. 95 and picked up U.S. 93 as we headed into North Las Vegas. One thing I have noticed about Las Vegas is that, like other metro areas, it is quite ugly in the daytime, but sparkles at night.
At exit 46, we got off at Cheyenne Ave and headed east to Nellis Blvd, right next to the Air Force base. My apartment was pretty much right there. After almost an hour of filling out forms in a cool office, we spent a couple of hours unloading the vehicles and setting up my sparse furniture of a bed, chair, and a few glass tables. After that, we found a Tony Roma's on the Strip at the now-defunct Stardust Hotel/Casino and enjoyed some ribs and beer. Well needed!
The next day, my dad headed home quite early and left me some money to buy some items. I found a place to get breakfast, hit Wal Mart, and just spent the rest of the day getting organized and getting to know the town.
Over the course of the next several years, I'd do many drives to and from San Diego. Those are not really notable, pretty much I 15 the whole way. Once in a while I'd hit old 66 between Victorville and Barstow, but that was bleak 2-lane desert road with many bumps.
Solo road trip #5: Las Vegas to Enumclaw
I'd flown a couple of times to see my sister and her kids, but one year I decided to drive it. In March 2004 during track break (3 of those replaced summer vacation) I decided to take an unusual route. I headed up 15 out of the Vegas Valley. Once out, the desert is still there. U.S. 93, having been part of 15 for 22 miles, departs toward Ely and 15 heads toward Moapa and then hits a long straightaway before descending into Mesquite.
After Mesquite, 15 crosses into Arizona and is bleak desert for 9 miles before entering what is probably one of the most beautiful engineering marvels on an Interstate: the Virgin River Gorge. Before 15 was built through there, one had to take U.S. 91 on a 45-mile curvy route to St. George, Utah. That route is still drivable and is occasionally preferred as the Gorge is often under repair and narrowed to 1 lane, quite treacherous and slow when big rigs are present.
However, when the Gorge is driven, it is a beautiful canyon drive for 18 miles before exiting and then hitting Utah. Gorgeous red rocks and tight curves make it almost hypnotic, but one must keep an eye on the road here.
Upon entering Utah, 15 is quickly going into St. George, a good place for breakfast at Shoney's. I like St. George. It is a desert town, but it is so full of red rock and a view of tall ridges to the east that one knows they have entered a different landscape. After St. George, 15 winds north and upward , experiencing up to 20-degree drops in temperature before entering Cedar City, only 50 miles from St. George. After Cedar City, 15 rolls through occasional farmland and is almost always in view of some high peaks in either direction. Utah is cool like that.
After 110 miles in Utah I pass though Beaver, a tiny burg worthy of many cheap jokes just because of the name. 20 miles later, 15 gives access to the western end of I-70, which travels all the way to the Baltimore area. 15 continues into Millard County in a series of high climbs, steep descents, and long valleys, crossing U.S.. 50 along the way. Juab County is a bit flatter, passing through pretty Nephi. Soon after Nephi, 15 enters Utah County and a 100+mile string of towns, the heart of which are Provo and Salt Lake City.. I've always loved this area!
After the Salt Lake area, 15 goes through Ogden and Brigham City, then enters the first bleak area for the first time in 2 hours. Well, not completely bleak, there were still ridges about. I got onto I 84 west, which cut through more bleak Utah before hitting bleak southern Idaho. In fact, I 84 showed me that southern Idaho is pretty much nothing for miles around. After a junction with short I 86, 84 hits a few small towns like Burley and Jerome, passes to the north of Twin Falls, then wends emptily toward Boise, where I spent the night.
The next morning, I got a better view of Boise, which looked pretty nice with a mountainous background. After Boise, 84 cut through a few smaller towns in the Snake River Valley, then passed into eastern Oregon. Now, I've driven through Oregon many times and have seen its beauteous greenery. Eastern Oregon is quite the opposite, with its long highway stretches of nothingness, though there are some exceptions, and the ridge and subsequent downgrade toward Pendleton make 84 a worthwhile travel. Shortly after Pendleton came Hermiston, and I got onto I 82.
82 is not what I'd call interesting, though it was nice to see other parts of Washington. It passes by Kennewick, though Prosser, and later Yakima before heading over a pass to end at I 90 near Ellensburg.
Once I hit 90, I was almost immediately climbing the Cascades. The highway is quite beautiful through there and is always worthwhile except in snowy winter periods. After hitting Snoqualmie Pass, 90 descends toward the Seattle burbs. I got onto 18 south toward WA 169, getting pulled over for speeding. I explained that I was on the final stretch of a long drive and was forgiven (no ticket). After getting on to 169 and through beautiful Washington farms and greenery, I was soon in Enumclaw and ready to relax.
Coming back was pretty much the same as I took the same route.
Solo trip 6: Santa Rosa to Enumclaw
Actually, my 6th and last major solo trip of note began as a trip to San Diego. After a few days with my mom and soon-to-be-stepdad, I headed up 5 and 101 to Santa Rosa to hang with Scott and his lady Darlene for a few days before heading to Washington. This time, I was determined to take a nice leisurely drive.
I headed up 101 through the beautiful Sonoma County farmland and vineyards before getting into forested, hilly, and curvy Mendocino County. I'd been through Mendocino County many times and never got tired of it. That county is one of California's best. I could do without Ukiah, but Hopland and Willits are nice little hamlets. Heading north, , two-lane 101 passes small Laytonville and Leggett and Piercey before entering Humboldt County where 101 is mostly freeway again. After passing through many curvy forested valleys, 101 hits the Eureka area. One thing I've always loved about Eureka is its constantly cooler temperatures. There is also a KFC buffet there...probably not good for my body now but back then the never-ending chicken, mashed, and cole slaw were enough to satisfy a traveler's belly. North of Eureka, 101 passes through Arcata where CSU Humboldt is. After that, the highway is windy forest with occasional ocean views, pretty cool stuff.
Soon 101 is in Del Norte County, home of cool Crescent City and Pelican Bay Prison. North of that, 101 gives access to U.S. 199 to Grants Pass, while 101 itself cuts through the rest of woodsy Del Norte into Oregon, hitting oceanfront Brookings quickly. After Brookings, 101, winds through windy forests and ocean views pretty much all the way up the Oregon coast, a lovely 300+ miles. Coos Bay is especially nice! However, I did not get so lucky.
My original plan was to stay in Florence for the night, but as there was widespread construction on 101, I had to cut east on OR 126 to Eugene, cut up to Corvallis, then take U.S. 20 to Newport. By then it was dark and I was hungry, so I stayed in Newport for the night. In the morning I grabbed the continental breakfast and continued up the coast through Lincoln City, Tillamook, and finally Astoria where I was to get a big treat. I had always wanted to cross the big bridge into Washngton on 101 and this was my chance. After a high rise, the bridge flattens to give a view of the Pacific all the way into Washington. I got onto WA 4, crossing miles of wooded valleys into Longview, where I had lunch with someone I'd met on a dating site. After that, I headed to 5 and aimed for Enumclaw.
After a few days with my sister's fam and a day with my high school pal Derek in Everett, I headed up U.S. 2 into the windy Cascades through Stevens Pass, where I caught U.S. 97 to Ellensburg where I took 82 back to 84 back to Idaho. I stayed in Twin Falls for the night, then took U.S.93 back to Vegas. 93 is long, brown, and doesn't hit much besides Jackpot at the state line, a more scenic version of Primm. It also crosses I-80 at Wells and Ely a couple hours later. After that, 93 hits a few pretty area, but mainly it is bleak desert all the way home.
Unfortunately, that was the last of my solo road trips. Not long after that, I was with Vickie and about to enjoy new adventures on the road with her as my co-pilot. I couldn't have asked for a better future!
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