Land of the Beaver

Captains Log

Day 5, 4/2/10

We woke up today in our giant hotel room at a ridiculously early hour. I don't even think the sun was up yet. Our room, by the way, is HUGE. The price we paid for the room is about average. However the room is about the size of a nice apartment. Its awesome. The casino downstairs had a little cafe inside so that is the destination for our bellies this morning. We spent $17 and had the biggest breakfast I have ever seen!! It was yummy. While we were eating, the slot machines were taunting us. We went to go teach them a lesson but instead they stole $2 from us. Time to go now before we lose all our money.

8:32am: Leaving the hotel. Stopped for gas first. Spent $20 at 3.12 a gallon for super.

Somewhere between here and the next time stamp, Paula has discovered cruise control. She has been terrified of cruise control for forever but suddenly I see her using it. Technology has won this battle. She conceded.

10:13am: We have left the safety of I-80 for the backroads of Hwy 95. I'm scared.

Somewhere in here we got gas. In the middle of nowhere. We are driving down Hwy 95 and right as we change to Hwy 140 there is a gas station. Well, a gas pump. This place is a hotel, cafe, bar, general store and gas station. They have one gas pump, a phone booth and a motorcycle sculpture outside. There is nothing else around for miles. This is the kind of place that kills you in your sleep if you stay here. We git our gas and go.

12:32pm: OREGON!!!!

1:05pm: We realize that this Hwy is very windy and long and treacherous. Paula is driving. Suddenly we notice that we have been driving up and up and up. I see a sign for the downgrade ahead. This is basically straight down, in the snow, with no guardrail at 6200 feet. Paula is screaming. Its so exciting!! Paula does not seem as excited.

There is a TON of snow. We went through the Rocky mountains and there was not as much snow as now. It is basically a whiteout and we can't see anything. Thank god there is a truck in front of us so we can follow in their tire tracks. We are going about 9 miles an hour here. After we finally get through this ( I am driving now since Paula has refused after that mountain business) we drive down out of the mountains and to a stoplight. The truck in front of us rolls down their windows and gives us a thumbs up. We made it alive!!!

A little while later, we hit snow again. Ugh!! There is a large Bronco in front of us. Suddenly, they slow down and pull over. They seem ok, so we pass them. Right after we pass them, I see them pull back out and follow us. So let me get this straight...this giant Bronco wants this tiny Prius from New York to navigate the snow first. That makes perfect sense. Douche.

We see a ton of accidents in these mountains and that makes us feel lucky.

3:14pm: We are listening to a random collection of mix cds that bear no indication of what is on them. Its exciting. We jam out to "Its Raining Men." Times like these, we need our own reality show.

Stop for gas in Klamath Falls for $19.00 at $3.02 a gallon. My father thinks we won't be to their house for hours and hours. I tell him we will be there by 6:30pm. He doesn't believe me.

6:15pm: IT'S THE CLIMATE! We arrive in Grants Pass earlier than I thought. Take that daddy-o.

Now for some relaxation before we leave for L.A.

Total mileage for Day 5: 445 miles (One of the lowest mileage days but felt like the longest. Damn that snow)

Total Driving Time for Day 5: 10 hours

Total cost for Day 5: $58.