Our Grand Adventure

Once Upon a time three brave and courageous travelers set off on an adventure, a GRAND Adventure! 

Okay, so maybe it wasn't exactly grand, but it was an adventure!  It’s been a long day, and I mean a really long day! So I guess it's only fitting that this is a long blog post... a really long blog post! Our journey across Washington, Oregon and Idaho began early, long before the sun came up! 

4:45ish (I think, I can’t be exactly sure since I didn’t look at a clock) Mom called me and I woke up and then kind of drifted back off to sleep. Then she called up at me again. I hurried to get ready and finish off some last minute stuff. See, last night I kept remembering things I had forgotten to do as I was lying in bed (like grab my white jeans from the dryer, pack my guitar, bring my computer....exc.) so rather then get up and grab a piece of paper and jot down some reminders, I picked a pen off the floor and scribbled notes on my hand for me to decipher this morning. I’m so glad I didn’t get ink all over my face while I slept and I’m glad I didn’t forget anything (or at least I don’t think I did... but that’s the trouble with forgetting, you don’t remember you’ve forgotten until it’s too late!)  

This is my handwriting when I'm tired. Can you Read it?

5:30- On the Road!!! HERE WE GO!!!!! I looked back at my house and considered getting sentimental for a few moments....but then got over it :) 

7:00ish- Some guys driving by us started to check us out! Not even kidding! One of them was leaning out the window and staring into our car to get a better look. I mean I know we are some seriously cute babes, but really they didn’t have to be so obvious! :) We invented a phrase for when people check people out on the Freeway, such exploits are now called “Road Checks”

Rachel and I PARTAYING it up in the car! 

8:53- Stopped at Selah Creek Rest Area, which apparently has very good facilities. My mom gave it four stars (four stars out of five that is :) And she even was considerate enough to explain her rating, so just in case you were wondering here’s the breakdown: 

Restrooms- 5 stars

View-3 Stars 

Final Score- 4 Stars 

I didn’t realize that a view was a necessary component when deciding upon a Rest Area, but I guess one should take all things into consideration. :) Sorry Selah Creek, you could have rated a 5 if only you hadn’t built your facility overlooking a field of sagebrush. 

Here are my Moms words exactly: 

“I give it a three because it could be worst. At leasts it’s a clean view, nature just can’t help being ugly when it’s the desert”

So if you’re even near Yakima, stop by Selah Creek, as far as rest areas go, it’s top notch! 

9:10- Stopped at an Arco gas station because we have what my mother calls an “optimistic gas gauge” which means basically that our gas gauge is broken. After driving 3 1/2 hours the little needle still rests “optimistically” on “Full” and rather then brave the dangers of guestimating how much gas we have left, we believe in being safe over sorry! (Mom says she really doesn’t want to break down on the road 2 hours from civilization) 

11:35- Stopped at Deadman Pass Rest Area

Don’t be put off by the foreboding name, (or the grammatical error: Deadman pass should be Deadman’s Pass, my mother pointed out that it needed to be possessive, but I digress :) This delightful spot scored a 5 out of 5 as far a Rest Areas goes. You thought Selah Creek Was Good? Here’s the breakdown:

Restroom-5

View- 5 

Final Score- 5

The view was picturesque, the grass luscious, park benches kept up and all in all a lovely place to stop. The only complaint was that the bathroom only had three stalls, so it wasn’t perhaps as capacious as it could have been, however you could interpret such architexctual   design as a an attempt to make ones experience more private. 

12:00- I made myself a sandwich

12:30-I made myself another sandwich 

12:35-Rachel and Mom wanted me to make them sandwiches 

12:44- We passed the 45th parallel, meaning we were halfway between the Equator and the North Pole

3:05- Stop at Snake River Rest Stop

This one was the best by far! It was even equipped with an adequate amount of bathroom stalls! With a beautiful vista overlooking the Snake river, a wrought Iron Fence and an indoor entrance, this bathroom exceeded expectations. It makes Selah Creek Rest Area look quaint at best. The Results:

Bathroom- 5

View- 5

Final Score- 5

The only complaint: The entrance to the freeway is a little abrupt. But the Pros far outweigh the cons! 

4:00ish- Stopped Real quick at Costco to pick me up Shampoo, Conditioner and a CAMERA!!!!! It’s a Nikon and I love it!!!! :) (Thanks Mom :) 

Shampoo Conditioner and Camera From Costco :) 

6:08- Twin Falls Idaho Rest Stop

The only Rest Stop I choose to actually use and it’s the worst rest stop of them all! It was also the only rest stop that I had a camera at so I couldn't take pictures of the others! It only rates half a star, we considered giving it a zero but since all the facilities worked we figured it was important to be as objective as possible.

Bathroom- half a star

View- No stars

Final Score- half a star 

On top of the horrid view, smelly restroom, an empty soap dispenser, flies stuck on a string of tape dangling over one of the stalls, and an overall rundown appearance, we had a run in with a chatty drunk man leaning against the “Welcome to Idaho” sign who could barely stand up straight.  Such behavior would not be tolerated at rest stops like Snake River or Deadman Pass! 

The "Welcome to Idaho Sign" Before the Drunk man was leaning on it. 

7:58- Rachel does a Roadcheck! 

We drove by a boy driving a car packed full of luggage and mom commented that he was probably driving to college like us. I asked what he looked like and following conversation took place: 

Mom: I don’t know! I can’t look at people when I’m driving! 

Rachel: Yes but I can!!!  

Rachel was checking out the future options at BYU-I, it never hurts to plan early! 

8:10- We arrived at our hotel! Time to unload and get OUT of the car!!!!! :) Mission accomplished ladies and gentleman, we arrived safely in Idaho Falls. 

And then here are some of my favorite quotes from our trip :)

Mom: “Look at that sign, “Fruit and Antiques”... what does that mean, that they have antique fruit because that just doesn’t sound very good!” 

Mom: “We have an optimistic gas gauge”

Alina “It’s Magical!!!” 

Mom: Throw this away

Alina: No I don’t want to

Mom: Would you like to walk to Rexburg?

And so in the end the weary travelers finished their journey and we all lived happily Ever After! 

The End... 

... At least until tomorrow :)

~Keep Smiling~ :)