State by state

I consider myself lucky growing up. Born and raised in the same small town in eastern Oregon. Didn’t move until I was 22. And even went to college in this town.

I had friends come and go in my life because their families moved. There wasn’t a military base nearby, so didn’t see a huge flux of kids in and out of my life.

The real lucky part was the summer between my third- and fourth-grade year. My maternal grandparents decided to take a car trip around the majority of the United States to visit family and friends. Little did I know that this was the last real adventure with my grandfather who passed away from cancer about year later.

We started in Oregon and drove south through Nevada and along the southern boarder of the US to Florida where we spent a few days at Disney World, NASA and Bush Gardens. Then traveled through the Carolinas and the midwest up to Chicago where my grandparent grew up. Then back to Oregon. All along the way seeing great historical spot of America and catching a few Major League baseball games.

This past year has been another busy traveling spurt in my life. A few trips to California, a trip to Florida  (which I had visited before) and last week for my brother’s wedding in Ohio, where I knocked off another five states (Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Michigan) on the list. It only took just over 6,400 miles to do this.

Now that I’m close to visiting all 50 states, I see potential to creating some great memories with my son. Just as we did with the trip to the midwest. It was his first airplane ride. Time to start planning a trip to the New England states and Alaska, then my journey will be complete.

 

 

 

A view from the top

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From the road below, following the Columbia River along the Gorge, you would never know that tucked high on the cliffs above is a place with breath taking views. Off an exit on Interstate 84 at Corbett, you climb a winding road up the face of the cliff, only to find yourself in the country side once you reach the top. A couple of miles to the east, past the country store and down another small road along the cliffs, the Vista House and all the beauty the Gorge can afford awaits.

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I try to stop at the house whenever I can and I’m not in a hurry in my travels between western and eastern Oregon. It was one such day last Friday that I took the time out of my schedule and drove to the top. It was a beautiful evening and you could see for an eternity. The photos above are from this stop. To view more photos, see my Intersect gallery.

Sitting pretty like a crown on one’s head, but in this case on top of Crown Point, the Vista House offers a scene unlike that of any you see while traveling along I-84. It sits some 733 miles above the interstate. Construction was finalized in 1918 . It was said that it was built to inspire the traveler along Highway 30. The structure is 44 feet in diameter and 55 feet in height.

Learn more about the Vista House:

• Friends of Vista House

Snowy commute at the beach

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This morning’s intermittent sunshine made for scenic snowscapes as I commuted from Long Beach, Wa., to Astoria, Or. At the same time it also made for treacherous icy roads. Several vehicles were along side the road, one spun a 360 right in front of me and speeds were at an all-time low of 20 mph the entire trip. There is a prospect of more snow throughout the day. Can’t wait for the commute home.

All photos by Crindalyn Lyster.