Land of Coffee

Took the Greyhound for the first time in my life and I must admit that I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't meet any "interesting" people. Everyone was actually quite normal and the Swedish backpacker that I sat next to was very friendly. I guess there will be plenty more opportunities to witness some Greyhound shenanigans.

The bus ride from Portland to Seattle only took four hours and cost about $30. The seats were pretty comfortable and I managed to nod off, waking up a few times to stare at the epic cumulonimbus clouds that were hanging in the sky. My time in Portland was spent with a friend's family, watching after their 6-month-old, and trying desperately to keep her from crying. I don't know if it's even possible for my face to contort itself in a way that I didn't try over the last two days... babies are a tough crowd. It wasn't exactly the kind of start to my adventure that I had originally imagined, but it was pretty cool in its own right. Plus, I'm sure there's some hidden metaphor or symbolism in starting the road trip with a baby... yea, that's pretty deep.

The greyhound bus pulled into 8th & Stewart around 1pm and Janet called to let me know she was on her way. As I exited the station I watched the taxis fight over the next fare, telling the confused client that the others were liars who had tweaked meters. They continued to argue until a new person walked out of the station. This would-be passenger could only pay with credit card and most of the drivers lost interest. I watched as he spent some time in the backseat of the still cab and eventually exited the cab with his bags. The taxi's meter might have been legit, but the driver was definitely trying to skim off the top. Gotta love the skeeziness.

The next few hours were occupied with sampling a few of the local beers, doughnuts, Beecher's mac 'n cheese, cheeseburgers, and roast beef sandwiches, all while talking Janet's ear off. Her friend, Kevin, joined us for the last meal and he was also subject to my coffee-induced rantings. I must have been on my 5th cup of coffee by that time (I'm working on my 3rd as I compose this entry). They dropped me off at my hostel and we agreed to meet up the next day when Janet finishes her last class.

In case any of you are wondering, I'm staying at the Green Tortoise hostel on 1st and Pike. A bed in a 6-bed dorm room costs about $30/night, which is pretty damn cheap considering how centrally located the hostel is. You can see Pike Street market from the window of the dorm and there are several personal bathrooms on each floor, equipped with a sink, toilet, and shower. This is definitely at the top of my list of hostels, as the location and amenities are top-notch. It also helps that people are friendly and I've already made a few friends of convenience. Anyway, gotta meet up with a former coworker for lunch, I'll post some more when I've got something to say. All in all, I'm enjoying my time around Seattle, although the vibe here isn't as chill as Portland. I'll be here for another day or two, so we'll see what happens.

'til next time,

Andrew
Seattle, WA

PORTLAND!

This post will be a bit rushed, so forgive the short post.

Took the coastal route from Eureka, CA to Lincoln City, OR. I highly recommend the drive as it's one of the most beautiful drives I've ever done. It was about a 15 hour drive with minimal stops, so I'd recommend spreading the drive out over two days. Along the way there are a few roadside attractions that some of you may recognize from PeeWee's Big Adventure. I decided to stay the night at a motel in Depoe Bay, which had an amazing view of the ocean and only cost $49. Next door was a quaint little bar run by the most hilarious Chinese couple that knew everyone's name that walked through the door, occasionally substituting "asshole" for their name. All in all, a great start to what's going to be an epic road trip. Time to hit up Powell's Books now.

'til next time

-Andrew
Portland, OR

Packed Up & Ready to Go!

Well, it's 11:30pm and I really should be asleep by now, but I'm still pulling together some last minute preparations. The car's booked and I've got a hostel in mind, though I don't want to commit to an RSVP 'til I figure out what time I'll be making it to Portland. I guess that'll more or less foreshadow the theme of this trip -- play it by ear.

I've honestly got no clue what's going to happen on this journey. So far, there are only three destinations that won't change -- Portland, Seattle, New York. I've already had to give up on the only two things that I was looking forward to doing (sandboarding & zorbing). It doesn't seem like they're going to happen due to the crazy weather we've been having. Sandboarding's going to be rained out and the zorbing place had to push back their start date because of the weather. I guess my stint as a hamster will have to wait since it won't be available by the time I get to Calgary... that is, if I cross through Calgary at all.

So...

Perhaps instead of a trans-Canadian road trip, I'll be doing a proper one across the states. I have been meaning to check out Chicago, so I could end up there in a few weeks. The only thing that can't change is my flight from NY to Sacramento. As long as I know how I'm getting back home, everything else in the middle is just details that'll work themselves out. I promise to keep myself somewhat safe throughout the process.

'til next time,

Andrew
Sacramento, CA

Preparations!

Not happening.

I'm just sitting around my apartment poking around on the net (and setting up this blog). I'm leaving in two hours for a bachelor party in Reno, but I still haven't bought my share of the liquor or cigars. Guess I should start moving now. I'll do the rest of the preparations for my road trip when I get back on Saturday.