As Promised

Day 1 of the trip was a success even though it took 14 ½ hours. But I guess that’s not too bad considering I drove 800 miles. I finished up all my last minute packing on Monday by 12:30am so everything was completely ready to go in the morning. All I had to do was change clothes and brush my teeth, which turned out to be a good thing since I woke up for the first time at 3am. I managed to go back to sleep for a little while but around 6am I decided to just get up and go. After one last drive through town I said goodbye to Depoe Bay and was officially on the road by 7. It seemed somewhat appropriate that it was a dreary and drizzly morning (which was uncharacteristically rare for the Oregon Coast this summer).

Interstate 5, the part of the drive I was dreading the most, actually turned out to be the best. Between Depoe Bay and Albany (where I first reach I-5), there was some road work adding about 30min to my trip, and then in the last portion near Visalia there was also road work on highway 99. Other than a little slowing near Sacramento the trip was all smooth sailing, especially once I reached California and the speed limit went up to 70mph. I was surprised but grateful that I only had to stop for gas twice. With my new snug top shell and everything I own packed into the back of my truck I thought I would need more than that, but 2 ½ tanks got me all the way to Grandma Crisp’s.

Being back in CA and in Visalia is turning out to be pretty nostalgic. Just the smell of Grandma’s house and to a degree the whole town is extremely comforting. I’ve realized more and more how much I appreciate my family. It really started in college when for the first time I was around people who weren’t so fortunate in their personal lives. Regardless of economics or race, this was about the wealth of love and support, or lack thereof, which I had not been exposed to in high school. The more people I meet the more fortunate I feel to have such unconditional love and support from my family and close friends. I’ve known for a long time that you are what is most important in life and I truly feel like my decision to move and go on this journey will help me appreciate that even more. Despite how much of my heart I left in Oregon.