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Originally we were going to visit the Oregon coast today, but we decided for
various reasons to cut the trip short and return home today in one shot of
10 hours of driving. That decision seemed like a prescient one after
I had the misfortune of breaking the Thule roof box key. Half of the key was
stuck in the lock. We tried tweezers to no avail (I had a second key, so we just
needed to remove the first one).
Eventually we gave up, used some utility cord and tape to secure the box shut,
and hoped it would hold. It did (it probably would have held even without the tape
and rope, though we felt better with it). The box served us well for about 12
years, but it looks like it's time to get a new one.
We left camp a bit before noon, stopping at the McKenzie Bridge store for some
snacks. We then had another misfortune when we got stuck waiting for road
construction on Highway 126 approaching Eugene. It was down to one lane and we
waited for 15 minutes before the flagger let our side through. Except the car in
front of me didn't move. I waited a few seconds, thinking he might have turned off
his car and had to start it again. Then I honked. Nothing. Honked again. The
driver jerked awake from his nap, then sped up toward the sign, but by then it was
too late - the flagger had decided to let the other side through, even though there
was a huge line of cars that had been waiting for 15 minutes. A woman behind us
was obviously not pleased with this development and got out of her car, walking
up to the flagger to have a discussion. I didn't bother rolling down the window to
listen; I can imagine the conversation. We had to wait another 7-8 minutes before
she let us through. Of course I thought this was entirely unfair and a poor job
of flagging; there are several variables and I think it'll make for a good topic
for my math blog when I have the time.
Anyway, we kept going, heading south on Interstate 5. There was pretty much no
traffic the rest of the way. We stopped for lunch, once more for gas in Oregon
(last full service!), then dinner in Orland, a place I'd never even heard of before.
I have to admit we found a decent Chinese restaurant there (having grown tired
of eating at fast food places).
We finally arrived home in the Bay Area around midnight. Probably the most driving
I've done in a day (about 600 miles), but it didn't seem too bad. I think we'll be
visiting Oregon
again! There is still lots to see, even just in the places we just visited. On
a return trip to Crater Lake, we could visit Godfrey Glen, Wizard Island, Mount Scott,
and Watchman Overlook. Three Sisters Wilderness looks like a good place to continue
exploring. And Opal Creek Wilderness further north looks enticing.
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