Interstate 5 is looonnnnngggggg..... California alone has 796 miles of nonstop I5 goodness for you to enjoy. It also attracts bugs made of super glue to my car. My kids think its funny to watch me scrub away at my windshield and curse at the remains of an insect that had a bad day. I think its funny that they think its funny. Its one of those memories I know will stick in my mind forever. I have quite a few of those sticky memories from traveling up I5 as a child. I remember my fascination with the red dirt that is prevalent in the Lake Shasta region. I always thought it was the most beautiful dirt I had ever seen. As a matter of fact, it was probably the first time I really ever paid much attention to dirt at all. On this trip past Lake Shasta I saw much more red dirt than usual. The shoreline is considerably lower than usual due to drought. Luckily, the lack of water didn't seem to bother the kids. They were happy to get out of the car, strip down, and splash in the water for a bit.
We continued on through the mountains, gasped at Mount Shasta, mooed at happy California cows, and finally crossed the border into Oregon. Success. In the end we had conquered about 700 of those 796 California I5 miles. Success.
We drove through Ashland and I remembered the Memorial Day weekend in college I came home from class and announced to my roommates we were getting in the car and going north. We checked out the Shakespeare Festival, hung out at a dive bar in Grant's Pass, and slept under the stars near the Rogue River. What a great trip. It was also the same trip that inspired us to go on a 7 week road trip around the US when we graduated the next year. Now I am on a different sort of road trip. No dive bars with two year olds. The car is a bit more organized this go around. But it doesn't mean it won't be any less fun. I get to watch my kids see things that shaped me and hope that they shape them as well. And right now, those are the memories that I can't wait to have stick.
8 comments:
Ahhhh, Memorial Day 1999...and the road trip of 2000...yes, great memories! No sleeping under the stars and getting woken up by rain on this trip?? C'mon, where's the fun in sleeping with a roof over your head? ;)
you're going to have so much fun!!! can't wait to check out all the pictures :)
(love the shots of your little ones in the water)
Sounds like you all had a fun time!! The pics of the kids in the water are adorable! We just went on a road trip too and I saw one of those signs about dustbowls and I instantly thought of your last post!!!
Glad the trip has been great so far. Can't wait to see more pictures.
Awesome. Loving the skinny dip pics. Wishing P and I could have met up with you.
Awesome. Loving the skinny dip pics. Wishing P and I could have met up with you.
I've been curious about Lake Shasta and haven't yet made a trip up there. Also interesting to read about the smelt in your last post. Looking forward to more tales as you keep on truckin!
Looks fantastic so far! Nothing like starting a trip with some nakie kiddies in a lake!
Waiting for the next installment :)
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