A Road Trip Home

Katie D.

August 8, 2010 - 9:28 PM

I have just arrived at my home in Eugene, chugging to a stop in the U-Haul, Mom walking up the stairs behind me and our journey is finally done. It's a relief--it has been one serious adventure, something fabulous happening each day until we are exhausted by beauty and excitement and the many, many miles we've traveled. We spent Thursday in Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction with my little sister, and departed on the trip itself on Friday around 10:30 am. Since then it has been one thing after another, like a quest. Like a life story.

I love traveling with my mom. She's a good conversationalist and is totally willing to be stunned by a place's beauty or significance. She loves museums and scenic overlooks. She's also difficult because she cannot read, write, sleep, or even look at a map long in a moving car. But she has also been willing to give up her usual tendency to plan ahead and reserve bed-and-breakfast lodging in favor of my drive-till-you-drop style. We've reached a great balance on this first long-haul road trip we've undertaken just the two of us together.

So here are two elements to keep in mind for the saga. First, we are listening to the novel Time Traveler's Wife for the long stretches. We've both read the book before, so it's an interesting backdrop. I think it made everything seem a bit more dramatic.

Second, we are following the driving instructions of a professor of mine. I asked for travel advice from him, since my previous experience with this drive was neither interesting nor beautiful. He gave me a couple of suggestions, then a couple of days later he sent me step-by-step instructions, amounting to 29 steps from Grand Junction to Eugene. We followed them until mid-way through today. I'll paraphrase the "Professor Bothun Driving Instructions" here (in condensed form), with comments on our trip.

1. Grand Junction ugh

I actually found Grand Junction to be a lovely place, although that might just be because of my little sister, or the fact that mesas are an exotic new land form to me. And believe me, the place has mesas.

2. From US 70 take highway 139 North to Rangely/Dinosaur and continue to Dinosaur National Monument outside of Vernal. Go to the Monument and note the bones.

This drive is absolutely phenomenal, with enormous mesas, canyons, mountains, and trees. We drive over winding highways and it feels like we are discovering something completely new. We haven't even left Colorado yet! Then, Dinosaur National Monument is a great stop, although the main attraction is under limited access due to construction. But we go to see pictographs and petroglyphs on the rock face of a shallow cave, which is completely amazing.

3. Eat Lunch in Vernal and try to find a Coke (I think it's still banned there)

We arrive too late for lunch, so speed on by. Plus, my mom has recently given up Diet Coke consumption, so i decide not to tempt her.

(Several driving segments omitted, including Salt Lake City. We have dinner at an awesome diner outside of Bountiful, Utah, and stay at a funny motel in Brigham, Utah. Next door we could have purchased a safe, handguns, or a concealed carry permit for $40. We're not in Kansas anymore...)

8. Continue on 89 to Logan and then continue on 89 from Logan to Bear Lake: note the enormous river canyon you are driving through.

Not only is the river canyon breathtaking, we also discover that Bear Lake is a gorgeous spot, and the town itself is in the midst of a raspberry festival. We purchase raspberries and a "Famous Raspberry Shake" that was culinary high point in the journey.

(Driving instructions deleted, and the incident of note is the Visitor's Information helper at Arco, Idaho, who is exceptionally kind and informative)

13. From Arco continue SW on 26/20 to Crater of the Moon National Monument.

This place is beautiful and strange. Mom and I, being the Lord of the Rings fans we are, imagine Mordor might have looked like this.

14. Get to Boise as fast as you can on I-84

I eat potato skins because it seems wrong to leave Idaho without some spuds.

15. Head to Ontario, OR and Highway 20 to Vale

We spend the night in Ontario, Oregon. I am thrilled to be back in the state!

16. At Vale take Highway 26 (The John Day Highway) to John Day.

This drive was first Scrub sage on hills, then suddenly we were in beautiful pine forests in small mountains. It was completely beautiful. Plus John Day is a cool little city, and we met several incredibly kind locals.

17. From John Day keep going west on 26 until you find an obscure junction with Highway 19 that is a bit west of Dayvile. Note the obscurity.

We do.

(At this point, we decide to change course. We have a dinner date with my friend's folks in Bend, so we decide to skip the meandering path and take a slightly more direct route. It's still scenic, but a little less scary in our massive U-Haul.)

This afternoon was my favorite part of the trip. We went to the John Day Fossil Beds, to a museum of Oregon paleontology, and to the Painted Hills. It was a completely gorgeous day, filled with some new pieces of Oregon landscape, geography, history, and beauty.

Then we drove from Bend through Sisters (note the massive mountains) and down into the Willamette Valley, which I now call home. It is such a relief to be writing from my living room, ready for bed and a rest from the peregrination (tired Lit major speak for "long journey").

So now, with images of Central Oregon, tail lights, and mile markers dancing before my tired eyes, I am off to bed.