So now that we are pretty much going to be in hotels/hostels for the rest of the trip (except tomorrow night in Yosemite and the Grand Canyon), I'll be able to update this more than once every 5 days.
So before I catch you up on my day in Portland yesterday, I will debrief you all on my camping/ South Dakota shenanigans. One thing I learned is what gray water is. Gray water is the leftover water you cleaned your dishes with... you keep it so the bears don't find you. Or if you are really a Type 1 camper, you drink it! NASTY! So Jackie and I had a joke that our watered down tomato sauce gray water was going to attract a really desperate bear with low culinary standards. As time went on we developed a voice to this bear... and gave him a little back story. He was isolated from his family because he was a little slow... finds his way by drinking people's gray water...etc. Remember how Gus' persona started? Remember my fears of insanity? Yeah sanity isn't happening.
To make things better/worse, we also named our tent. His name is Marmaduke. Number one because his maker is Marmot and number two because we are former dukes of JMU. He is our home away from home and is our protector aside from Gus.
On another note...as I said in my recent post.. I visited South Dakota. Before my travels, I had either low or no expectations for this state. But now that I have toured the tours and visited the visitable, I now love it! It was very fun and surprising (one of the things I learned is you WILL be surprised). Jackie and I even developed a top 10 list as to why we liked the state.
1. They had a palace made of corn
2. They had a western style drug store
3. THE BADLANDS
4. Mount Rushmore
5. Crazy horse was a spectacular monument
6. They had a statue of James Madison
7. No grizzly bear threats
8. speed limit was 75
9. Dino landddd
10. They had prairie dogs!
Lastly, to wrap-up my random thoughts... I wanted to share some (somewhat predictable) tidbits I've learned.
Flexibility is key... things will mess up. Your hotel wont have good wifi or tv. Your hotel may not have power and you have to find other accommodations. Your campground may not have the right directions. And the list goes on. You can be as prepared as you want... not everything will happen the way you expected or planned. And it's okay!
Be surprised. It is so exciting to be surprised. To be caught off guard by how much you like something. It's wonderful to unexpectedly get your breath stolen from you by a cliff or river. It's fun to think one perception of a city and have it be completely altered.
Feel small! Something so cool for me has been to just feel small. I've passed through so many small towns..big towns... open spaces... And I love feeling what I am--- one person in a country of many! In a world of so many! It's a good reminder... a good perspective check. We all have our own lives, fears, dreams, vacation spots, grocery preferences, etc.
To end my thought processes--- a goal that Jackie and I have is to just experience each town. We don't have big to do lists for each city or a huge agenda... we mainly want to do a few things and just let the vibes of the town sink in.
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That leads us to Portland...! Yesterday, we didn't actually go into the city... haha. We found a trendy vegan place in St. Johns, an area north of Portland, and putzed around town and went in vintage stores and a used bookstore. Then we went to the edge of the local river and hung out on the beach! It was so relaxing :)
Definitely got the Portland vibe though... it's like... 40% of the people are friendly and the other 60% are quite indifferent. We also couldn't help quoting Portlandia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XM3vWJmpfo
After leaving Portland, we went to Eugene and set up camp at this awesome lake! This was probably the best location we've camped at as of yet. I mean, look at that view! Epic !
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So before I catch you up on my day in Portland yesterday, I will debrief you all on my camping/ South Dakota shenanigans. One thing I learned is what gray water is. Gray water is the leftover water you cleaned your dishes with... you keep it so the bears don't find you. Or if you are really a Type 1 camper, you drink it! NASTY! So Jackie and I had a joke that our watered down tomato sauce gray water was going to attract a really desperate bear with low culinary standards. As time went on we developed a voice to this bear... and gave him a little back story. He was isolated from his family because he was a little slow... finds his way by drinking people's gray water...etc. Remember how Gus' persona started? Remember my fears of insanity? Yeah sanity isn't happening.
To make things better/worse, we also named our tent. His name is Marmaduke. Number one because his maker is Marmot and number two because we are former dukes of JMU. He is our home away from home and is our protector aside from Gus.
On another note...as I said in my recent post.. I visited South Dakota. Before my travels, I had either low or no expectations for this state. But now that I have toured the tours and visited the visitable, I now love it! It was very fun and surprising (one of the things I learned is you WILL be surprised). Jackie and I even developed a top 10 list as to why we liked the state.
1. They had a palace made of corn
2. They had a western style drug store
3. THE BADLANDS
4. Mount Rushmore
5. Crazy horse was a spectacular monument
6. They had a statue of James Madison
7. No grizzly bear threats
8. speed limit was 75
9. Dino landddd
10. They had prairie dogs!
Lastly, to wrap-up my random thoughts... I wanted to share some (somewhat predictable) tidbits I've learned.
Flexibility is key... things will mess up. Your hotel wont have good wifi or tv. Your hotel may not have power and you have to find other accommodations. Your campground may not have the right directions. And the list goes on. You can be as prepared as you want... not everything will happen the way you expected or planned. And it's okay!
Be surprised. It is so exciting to be surprised. To be caught off guard by how much you like something. It's wonderful to unexpectedly get your breath stolen from you by a cliff or river. It's fun to think one perception of a city and have it be completely altered.
Feel small! Something so cool for me has been to just feel small. I've passed through so many small towns..big towns... open spaces... And I love feeling what I am--- one person in a country of many! In a world of so many! It's a good reminder... a good perspective check. We all have our own lives, fears, dreams, vacation spots, grocery preferences, etc.
To end my thought processes--- a goal that Jackie and I have is to just experience each town. We don't have big to do lists for each city or a huge agenda... we mainly want to do a few things and just let the vibes of the town sink in.
.JPG)
Definitely got the Portland vibe though... it's like... 40% of the people are friendly and the other 60% are quite indifferent. We also couldn't help quoting Portlandia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XM3vWJmpfo
.JPG)
.JPG)
Welp, tomorrow is San Francisco and Yosemite! Then from Yosemite we're going to VEGAS! Woo living it up! Will update more then :)
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