We have been putting off the inevitable as long as we could. It was time to leave our friends behind and start our journey back east before the white fluffy cotton starts falling from the sky and causes Road Hazard to become a real danger. Spending time with Hossein, Maureen and the girls has been terrific. The evening singing and dance shows that the girls would put on for us will be missed as well as to hear their laughter and see their smiles. I never did like saying goodbyes.
While in Portland I have to admit that I have learned a few things. In a previous blog I mentioned the recycling practices performed here. There is a reason that their football team wears the color green. It's the way everyone thinks here. Green is in. Green is Oregon. I expect to see Al Gore jump out from behind a tree if I mistakenly put an item into the wrong bin. Thanks Maureen for educating me on recycling and now making me feel guilty when I don't.
Wednesday morning, as we packed up and prepared Road Hazard for the asphalt trail, we said our goodbyes to our latest friend we made along the way. Pete and his wife Sarah were staying next to us in the campground. We would sit and talk some evenings and exchanged stories of being full timers. I shared the blog with him and he shared something very valuable to anyone who enjoys camping and RVing. He created a web site that locates and reviews campgrounds around the country. I invite my friends that have "Hazards" of their own to explore his website and contribute. It's a free site so check it out!
The road out of Portland took us along I-84 which runs along the Columbia River. The calm water twisting and reflecting the tall mountains that frame the river.
At one point in our journey the sky started to turn a funny color. It almost looked like it was gray clouds but there was something different. When I looked at the sun through this cloud it surprised me. An eerie red ball in the sky took the place of what should have been the sun. Then Reta reminded me that there is a forest fire burning out of control in the Southeast corner of the state. This must be the smoke from the burning timbers. Sure enough, when we stopped at a rest stop an hour later I noticed the front of the RV was covered in ash as if someone had taken the ashes from a fire place and thrown it against RH.
A loud rumble and shaking of the RV would indicate that a truck loaded with trees would pass us on the way to the lumber mills. Tree farms line the highway for miles. Cedar is still a big dollar industry as it was hundreds of years ago when these cities were first started in this corner of the country.
Finally, arriving at our home for the night I took a second to relax with these wooden coins the campground gave us. Our journey will continue early in the morning as we continue to push east.
1 comment:
Oh, it was so quiet here without you guys last night. Hossein and I actually had to talk to each other once the girls were asleep!
Now if there are forest fires, it must mean Oregon CAN'T be that cold for them to continue to blaze, right???:-) And I'm so glad to know you left here feeling informed AND guilty about the environment. That's my job. You're just lucky I didn't invite my hard-core granola friends over who would make you recycle your tea bags!!
Come back soon now, y'hear?!!!
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