California to Portland Oregon

What a nerve racking time we had repalletizeing our life for pick up by the shipping company. Talk about waiting to do things last minute. we woke up and started trying to play tetris with our life. Then off to find boxes to build a box big enough to fit our box spring in. As i pulled back in with boxes the truck arrived early. A hurry to get everything ready left me shaking. We shrink wrapped the pallets and labeled them. Upon the company loading one pallet onto the truck everything started to shift and we grabbed it just in the nick of time. nothing like watching your whole life ALMOST tumble off a truck. the guys assured us they would secure it and band it when they got back to the docks.

Next mission was to figure out how to roll our 10 inch think memory foam mattress up like a burrito so it would fit in the car. this took 3 people but successfully was done. this must have looked so funny as it was being done.

Next mission was to fit everything else left behind into the car. We really should have shipped more. It was a mission but we managed to use every cubic inch the matrix had to offer and fit everything in but were not able to see out the back window and had an uncomfortable box between us for the drive up.

After Loading the car up we gathered up everyone that lived in the Livermore house and we piled into Ed's truck and headed to Oakland for Goodbye drinks at our friend Keli's Bar car Eli's Mile High Club.
I had the keys so i didn't indulge in the spirits but everyone laughed and drank and had a good time. Around 11pm we headed Back to Livermore for a good nights sleep.

We woke around 8am and did a dummy check of the house and realized we couldn't fit our brand new pillows into the car nor could we fit a few other items in the car. This made me sad to leave brand new things behind that we spent our hard earned money on. We also realized that we had no way to bring all of our frozen food up either. There goes about $75 in food.

We Handed in our keys and out the door and off to Jack in the box for $1 breakfast sandwiches and off we went.

It was a pretty dull drive for the first few hours. A whole lot of nothing to look at besides dead dry tan hills just waiting to go up in flames. We passed over a $5 toll bridge and off to the 5 freeway.

A few hours north we got our first glimpse of Mount Shasta. What an amazing mountain. The whole top of this mountain was snow covered as the bottom where we were was about 100 degrees out. we stopped at a small town called Redding to grab out last bite of IN & OUT Burger. Yum. We even grabbed some of their spread packets for my friend danielle who has been craving IN & OUT.

After getting our bite to eat we got back onto the free way and started getting closer to Mount Shasta. A few exits later we pulled off the freeway for a better view of shasta and to get gas. Brian was complaining that he saw a gas station that had regular for $4.05 a gallon. I ended up going to a different one that was $4.06 a gallon. as i exited my car to fill my tank i noticed a young girl holding an infant and a coat hanger next to a car by the gas pump next to me. The gas station was full of people yet this young woman looked so helpless. just then her phone rang and i over heard her asking the person on the phone if they knew anyone who knew how to slim jim a car to get her keys out. i heard panic in her voice. So i finished filling my tank and moved my car to a parking space. I walked over and asked her if she needed help. she told me she had locked her keys in her car an hour ago and cant figure out how to get them out. She said she didn't have triple A but did have road side coverage on her insurance but the card and # were in her car. I kindly asked for the coat hanger and brian pulled the door open enough for me to get the hanger in the door. as we were trying to get the hanger to touch the button or the handle a guy walked up and looked in her window and asked her for a cigarette. we explained that that wasn't happening cause the keys were locked in the car. he seemed angry that he wasn't getting a cigarette and then started putting his two sense in on how i could get the door open. All i could think was really buddy you see two young ladies trying to get into a car at a gas pump and one is holding a child and all you have is suggestions. Just then two other guys pulled up at the gas pump and asked if we locked keys in the car. UM No buddy we just stick coat angers in car doors at gas pumps for fun around here with infants. So then he started telling us he used to work for AAA. Brian pipped in just then with "Hey buddy then why dont you show us how it is done". he replied ah that sounds like work. This made me mad and more determined to get in her car. The man started laughing so i told him i bet you cant do any better. The man came over and within two minutes got the door open. The girl came up to me and hugged me and thanked us for being the only two people who even offered let along helped her in the hour she had been there trying to get in her car while holding an infant.

It was almost like we were ment to be there. But back on the road for us.

A little ways up the road we saw Cop cars speeding down the freeway and cops on the side of the road with spike strips ready to be thrown out. With this we decided to pull off at a rest area. Brian and i both went to use the rest room then went to the information center to see if they had any cool maps. we started chatting with the woman working the information center and may i add she was full of great information. she explained to us that most of the lakes there in northern california used to be volcanos that blew their tops off and filled with rain water and melted snow over the years, she told us we were in the ring of fire, AKA volcano alley. we absorbed her great information and chatted about hiking and the PCT and Mount Shasta. After a while of chatting we realized the time had flown by and we needed to get going. as we walked out there was a helicopter pulling up out of a hidden river looking for someone. This was scary. It turns out the cops stopped the car they were looking for and the guy jumped out of the car into the river. We decided we should probably get back on the road and away from this area.
Upon pulling out of the lot there were cops galore. All looking for someone in the river. as we slowly pulled by a group of cops with our window open we heard them say there were disturbed reeds on the other side of the river and the guy went up the hill. Just then the helicopter came by and flew up and over the hill. We past the cops and took off. I still wonder what the person did to have such an intense chase.

Within 15 minutes we started to go up in elevation and into some beautiful mountains. Next thing i see to the right of me is a HUGE OREGON WELCOMES YOU sign. Brian and i were filled with excitement. We saw the exit for Crater Lake and decided we only live once and are right here why not pull off and go check out this natural beauty. Brian wanted to get a Motel 6 right off the freeway and i googled what else was down the road it showed alot more motels so we pushed on. We came upon a town called Shady Cove and Pulled into a motel we dont remember the name of. I went in to inquire about a room and their prices were a little high for our budget. The man at the desk suggested we go farther down the road to a place called The Royal Coachman. So we did. We were told this motel had a very rustic decor. We pulled and and went into the office and were greeted by the Friendliest Man in the world. He was happy and his motel rates were amazing. He set us up in room two which was a cute little cabin like room with wood and brick walls. This place was so cozy. We went back to the office to inquire about places to eat and places to grab a drink. He suggested we go across the street to the Pub and told us they had the best hamburgers in town. Off we went only to discover they were out of hamburgers. We ordered up a beer and decided to split a chicken finger basket with fries. Upon sitting there people starting coming over to us making small talk. I love meeting local people in small towns. We chatted and ate and finished up our drinks and paid our tab and wandered back across the street to call it a night at our cozy room.

When we woke in the morning we did our morning routine and stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and were approached by the nice man that ran the hotel and his wife. the four of us started chatting about our travels about the town. They suggested we grab breakfast next door so we decided why the heck not.

We walked into the dinner and were greeted by a mother , a daughter and were seated quickly. We ordered u eggs, hash browns, and bacon. The daughter started chatting with us about where we were from and what brought us this way. we shared our story with her her 7 year old daughter brought us water. she was adorable. Just then bell rang and the biggest breakfast plate was presented to us. Ah Heaven. we finished up our breakfast and walked back over to the motel. Once again we were greeted by the lovely couple that ran the motel. They explained to us that they were in the process of trying to find a younger couple to run the motel for a while for them. It would be free room and board but no pay. We would just have to do some renovations and keep the place tidy and be friendly and check people in and out. All i thought was wow if there was pay involved i would be all about this. But then brian and i said to each other that if things didn't quickly work out for us in portland maybe this would be a good back up plan. we exchanged info and got the grand tour and were introduced to everyone that worked and lived there. Every one we met were super friendly and beyond pleasant. they all gave us advise on places to stop and roads to take.

It was about 10am when we finally left and headed to crater lake. What an amazing drive. The road followed the Rogue River and was lined with beautiful trees and mountains. a few miles up we crossed the PCT once again brian had to get out of the car and run down it like a puppy who had been cooped up in a cage for two long. Once he returned to the car we drove for a little and arrived at the Crater Lake entrance. We paid our $10 and off we went. a few more miles up the road we got our first glimpse of the crystal blue waters of crater lake. We parked at the Gift shop and went in and picked up some post cards that many of you will be receiving soon. After that we wandered up a hill to get the full view of the lake. Crater Lake is one of those volcanos that i mentioned earlier that blew its top and filled with rain and snow melt off. We walked a few miles around the lake and took pictures and videos to share in the side bar of this blog.

After our little walk we returned to the car and decided to drive the road that hugs the lake. What beautiful Views. Words, Pictures, Nor Video can capture the beauty of this National Park.
On our drive around the lake we say smoke coming from the mountain. WOW a forrest fire how sad. Just then we crossed the PCT and with huge trail closed signs stating the trail is closed due to wild fires. Brian was in Awe he had never seen a forrest fire before. Its so sad.

Farther down the road we exited the park and went back to the 5 freeway. From this moment on the drive became strictly business and we were on a mission to get to portland before it got too late. The closer we got to portland it began drizzling. Ah yes the much expected weather. Off in the distance we saw the lights of the city and the amount of turns on our directions were almost over. The excitement of This new city flowed thru us. a few short minutes later we arrived at Danielle and Shawn's house. We went to pull in the drive way and were met by another car trying to pull in the driveway. They motioned us to pull in first so we did. Just then Shawn came running up and greeted us. It was amazing to finally meet him. We pulled our car into the back yard and They locked the gate behind us. We said our hellos to Shawn and Isaiah and then we were showed to the guest room and were invited to come out and see Their band ALABAMA BLACK SNAKE Play at a local bar. They took off to go set up their show and we decided to stay behind and wait for Danielle. Danielle messaged me stating she was going to be a little while and that we should go check out a bar called Vendetta around the corner. So we cleaned ourselves up a little and walked down to Vendetta. About 30 minutes later Danielle walked thru the door and the three of us went off to check out ALABAMA BLACK SNAKES show. we got there just as they were beginning their set. All i can say is they were amazing. Good times Songs with a great stage show. It was by far a great night so far. After the show Shawn, Danielle, Brian and I headed over to a pizza place called SIZZLE PIE. Hands down some of the best pizza outside of NYC or NJ. After Pizza we headed back to the house and called it a night after all we did just have a very eventful fun filled two day drive from Livermore California to Portland Oregon. We already feel at home here but I am going to end todays Post for now. Stay tuned for my next update coming at you tomorrow. Thank you again for your patience and Thank you for following our blog.