Originally posted on Just We Family Blog
Vacation Blog – Day 2-2
I hate heights. Exclamation point. Explicative’s. Puke emoji.
This is part of the trip I did not anticipate. Note to self. Turn the terrain layer on Google Maps when planning the next road trip.
From the Tacoma area, things started off great. I mean who doesn’t adore small-town America and staring up and breath-taking mountain peaks? Tears literally gathered in my eyes as I took in this view and the girls stated how glad they were that we did this. I am welling up just typing this. It’s one thing staring up at beauty though, and then suddenly realizing you are on a steady incline up until eventually there are no more views of mountain tops in a vehicle you have no idea how it handles in winter.
For much of the route through Mt. Hood, it’s not unlike driving along the Niagara Escarpment where we live. Occasionally the road winds close to the edge and you are treated to a stunning view of our city below, but for the most part you are inland enough that you forget that you are 500 ft above sea level.
500 feet. That’s funny. Try 3,900 feet at Government Camp.
“Wow! Look at that, Tara.”
“No ooh’s or ahh’s or wow’s, please girls,” I stated as I grabbed the steering wheel with a death grip and stared down at the centre of the road – trying to ignore my peripheral vision.
There is no greater feeling in the world then knowing you are going back down the mountain, and little scarier than constantly going back up.
You know those movies where they are hugging the mountain driving on a 1-ish lane road along with nothing but bottom to the right of their vehicle? Well, it wasn’t quite that but there was ice and snow.
There were only a few spots at the end of the day with a terrifying drop out of our window-filled RV, but the girls changed their vernacular to ‘take a picture of that’ over ‘oh my God’ so there was that.
Until we hit Bend, my grip on the steering wheel didn’t subside because by that point, I was always wary that there may be another rise, or even a steep decline with more view than my anxiety could handle at that point.
The entire region surrounding Bend is gorgeous, but there was still no prettier site than the one on NE Revere Avenue.
Browsing the last Blockbuster in the universe – I mean, perhaps there is one on Mars? Elon? – did not disappoint. There were of course 100’s of movies for rent. The ‘latest movies’ wall was always my favorite, staff picks, and there was even a really good selection of new and previously viewed movies for sale. That ultimately, is what we chose to do because there was no way I was going back through this way on our return trip home. Turns out, that might be the safest trip back. I am trying not to think about that.
We did it. A five hour flight and an 8 hour drive in an RV, to witness a little bit of video rental nostalgia. All inspired by a creative and funny Super Bowl ad, released on Instagram that captured the hearts of thousands like me. Missing holding physical movie cases in their hands, the smell of popcorn, a movie playing on all of the in-store televisions, and being among live humans – movie lovers, in search of a few flicks to get them through the weekend.
There were a couple of fingers passed back along the way, but I get knowing an area and others driving like the ‘Where’s the beef’ lady. Sorry to the guy that lost his glasses with his whole body hanging out his window to salute us.
There is something to stepping out of the digital world, and embracing the world outside the bright glow of technology, to see a smile, hearing laughter, to holding and examining the thing that is going to entertain you for the next hour and a half.
Our world evolves. It’s something we do have to adapt to, but we can’t lose site of what makes us human – how being connected to one another, makes us whole.
If the isolation of this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that even the introverts among us, cannot thrive in the dark confines of these devices that have become such big part of our lives.
Back to Day 2-1 – Flowery Gloves and a Clean Escape
Day 4 – Vaca Ville California
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