Self Service

As much as we love our friends in Oregon I have to admit that it feels good to have finally left the state. There must be something they put in the water here that I haven't quite figured out what makes this place weird. You may think that weird is a harsh word to use but the state promotes itself with bumper stickers that say, "Keep Oregon Weird!". Hey, it's not just me. Let me give you a few personal thoughts that have given me these feelings.
If you ever get the chance to meet an Oregonian try mispronouncing the state to see their reaction. Say Or-e-gone. It's like you have just insulted their child. I was corrected on more than one occasion by several people on the state pronunciation as well as certain cities. I think they purposely pronounce their state and cities different because they have to be different than the other side of the country. The early settlers all came from a town on the east coast and they wanted to make this place home and would name it their home town. Lets call it the same but pronounce it different. They won't figure it out. Imagine if you will that Oregone is like our own little Canada. We know its up there but don't really know a lot about it. Here is another way to think of it, you know you have an attic but you really never visit it unless you have to. When you get there you go, wow I didn't know all this space was here.

In the wanting to be different category they are only one of TWO states that don't allow you to pump your own gas. New Jersey being the other and we could spend hours talking about them. It's second nature for most people to pump your own gas. It's something you do without thinking about. Case in point. Our last fuel stop in Oregone for Road Hazard was in a small town. As I have done so many times I jumped out and started to pump. The young attendant, that probably couldn't have a beer but is old enough to pump gas, came up to me and asked what I was doing. I replied that I needed some Diesel for my rig. Uh, he said sheepishly, you can't do that here!" OH JUST PUMP SOME GAS IN THERE SO I CAN GET OUT OF THIS CRAZY RECYCLING, NO PUMPING GAS STATE. I looked it up and found out that you can't pump your own gas BUT it is a self serve assisted suicide state. Can someone please explain the logic there?
Now don't get me wrong, Oregone is beautiful and if it means anything the state has been successful in keeping it weird.

Oh, to see the bright blue sign...

We made it! On our way east.

Nothing now but spuds and mountains.

Tomorrow morning I'm getting up early to pump my own gas. Feel the hose surging with every gallon of liquid fuel that squirts out the nozzle. It feels good to be on the road again.