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"Best ... bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine - or Portland, Oregon...” -Jack Torrance

My own westward expansion is accomplished! Portland to Portland! All 4000K miles of the journey! DONE! "… You were always the best of 'em. Best ... bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine - or Portland, Oregon for that matter.” -Jack Torrance, in The Shining.  T he exterior of the 'Overlook Hotel' is the  Timberline Lodge ,  Mount Hood  in the Hood River area of Northern Oregon. One of my "Wander List" Items that I am proud to check off is coming to Portland Oregon. The idea of all those explorers making it “out west” and crossing the vastness of the continent to “see what is out there” has always been appealing. Perhaps because I am the child of immigrants.   I am an immigrant.   The image of all those people taking the chance and picking up all that they could to make it “all the way” to Portland… Leaving everything behind and carving a life in a new place.   I identify with all of that… the sense of adventure, the search for something...
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Shortcuts! Here are shortcuts to the posts by the park or city:  September 29:  Sleepy Hallow New York  , Tapan Zee Bridge. October 1: Maine   Visited a dear friend and enjoy a trip to the lake! October 2: More of New England and Hyde Park in New York October 4:   Letchworth State Park   in New York the "Grand Canyon for the East" October 7: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota  - Driving fast so I had to skip a lot but it was a nice drive October 9: South Dakota, Black Hills, Wyoming    Dead presidents, Alien Ships rest areas and SNOW! October 10,12 and 13: Yellowstone!  , Yellowstone , and one more Yellowstone October 14: Arches National Park  in Utah - Beauty beyond compare October 16: Portland to Portland ! From Portland Maine to Portland Oregon in one piece! mostly. October 19: Oregon, Crater Lake and I learned about "trail magic" October 21:  Lava Fields, Redwoods and ma...
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I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. – Leonardo Da Vinci

South Dakota, the Black Hills, Wyoming and a Sad Anniversary  After spending my first night at a Cracker Barrel parking lot in Sioux City I had a nice breakfast and (wisely) decided to find me a heavier coat.   I underestimated the cold during the “fall” season up here.   I am glad I went with my gut feeling.   On the way west I stumble onto the Louis and Clark expedition welcome center and had a date with Dignity! She is beautiful!  I made it to the Badlands National Park!   It was a bit cloudy and rainy but it the park was as beautiful as I ever picture it!! Someday I may come back and spend a couple of days exploring! The silence! The wind blowing through the canyons… Of course I had to stop at Wall Drugs... hey is a tourist trap but coffee was only 0.05 cents!!  From there I headed west to the Black Hills area. When I arrived to the welcome...
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Opportunity Dances With Those Already on The Dance Floor - H Jackson Brown, Jr

I've Been Preparing Myself for this Trip All My Life!  (I just didn't know it until now) Have I mentioned that I have never gone camping voluntarily in my life? ever... I've dated outdoorsy, adventurous people in the past, but me? nah...  Dad used to work for the Public Health System in Guatemala and he used to work in some remote locations.  I went with him a couple of times, maybe more. It required donkey rides, canoes, hikes through muddy jungle and back of pick up trucks. Mosquitos, spiders, snakes, and scorpions? oh yeah... plenty! I still hate spiders to this day. Mom says she strongly identifies with Sancho Panza and has never been tempted to go fight windmills... she prefers to stay at home and binge-watch Netflix.   So, I was surprised to find out that I already had a lot of stuff around the house that I can use for this trip. I've got solar lamps, solar radio, battery operated radios, rechargeable AA batteries (come to think of it,...
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"I'll like to stop there some day...."

How many times have you thought of stopping somewhere and just look around?  Well, for me, "someday" is NOW!  I am trying to make it into Yellowstone National Park before it shuts down for the season.  Each time I say that I imagen the rangers shutting down the water flow  into "Old Faithful" and cooling down the springs at "Thermopolis" -  But having that goal in mind doesn't mean I can have a little fun along the way. Day one and Two: Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rode Island and Massachusetts. Left VA at 6:00 on a raining day - what was I thinking! Made into into Jersey by 2:00 am and I learned a new lesson:  Stop ahead of the overnight destination at a restroom and put PJs under whatever I am wearing.  Once I get to destination, I don't want to be changing in the middle of nowhere, or, what if it is pouring rain? and I don't feel like taking a natural shower before bed....   ...
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