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!
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