Viva La Portlandia (Warning for mobile data users: Lots of Photos)

[catch22]

Just wanted to let the OKCTalk community know we made it up to Portland.

We split the drive up into 3 days.

May 20th at 6am we departed OKC, arrived in Denver at around 6pm with traffic.



Forgive our Cheesy faces -- I bought a "Selfie-Stick" for this trip, and this was our first photo with it. We couldn't keep from laughing.



Some wind turbines out in W. Kansas



Finally saw some blue near Colby, KS, but it did not last long. More overcast....



Entering Mountain Time



Made it to Colorful Colorado....



Hit rush hour traffic coming into Denver for the evening.



Ate dinner at the amazing Casa Bonita. A must stop on the trip.



Driving through Downtown Denver.

That was all for the 20th. The hotel kind of sucked (Super 8) but wasn't bad since it was just for the night and really just a place to hang our hats for the evening. 21st on the following post.

[catch22]

We got up the next morning, the 21st at 6am and hit the road by 7am, aiming for Twin Falls, ID by 8pm.





Driving towards a cloud.




Rest stop in a cloud.



Welcome to Wyoming.



Clouds touching the earth in the fields.



Caution: Blue skies ahead.











She found a furry friend.





















Welcome to Utah!



Stopped at In-N-Out Burger in Ogden, UT



Welcome to Idaho!



And finally Twin Falls, ID. Gorgeous place, but we got attacked by mosquitos. Retired for the evening, at another Super 8 -- was better than Denver but not great.

Twin Falls to Portland on the following post!

[catch22]

Finally! The 22nd. We woke up at 3am, and hit the road by 4am. We wanted to make it in to Portland in time to sign the lease at the apartment, and run a few errands before the day expired.

After two hours of night driving, the sun finally came up, just a few minutes outside of Boise, ID.





The above picture really spoke to me. It was at that moment that it hit me that I have given up all that is familiar to me. The sun is rising on me 1,500 miles away from home, and I have 400 miles to go. I was really sad at this point. It's scary. "Looking behind but also moving forward".



Welcome to Oregon!



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Bad picture, but it was really gorgeous.





Descending into the Columbia river.







Hydroelectric dam



I realized a freight train was following us for quite some time at the same speed.







And the last photo is coming around the corner a few miles west of Portland.

Thanks for all of the support. I will have more updates soon

[White Peacock]

Now you must do the responsible thing and go eat at the nearest Burgerville.

[Mel]

Please send some of that odd blue color in the sky down this way please. Nice pics catch.

[Urban Pioneer]

Bonneville Dam?! Very impressive structure! Built to power the Manhattan Project.

[turnpup]

It's really cool how you documented your trip. This is such a big step in your life! Hope you and your girlfriend will be very happy there.

[CaptDave]

Glad you made it safely and had a fun road trip. Sometimes major, unexpected changes end up being the catalyst for even greater things. Enjoy the ride!

[s00nr1]

Thanks for sharing Catch! Really enjoyed my trip to Portland a few weeks ago and already am looking forward to getting back. Best of luck!

[Spartan]

Selfie stick!!! Selfie stick is bae.

Great pics catch. Looking forward to seeing your perspective on Portland.

[Mel]

Great pics catch. Many a time I have wished they had digital cameras when I was younger and traveling. Your GF must take yoga and has great balance. I couldn't hang on to that rock with both feet planted and hands gripping the edge.

[catch22]

Thank you all.

Here are some photos from the previous week of moving in and getting settled.

5/22 -- All of my crates from FedEx. Took 4 trips in my Volvo to go pick them up from the store.



View from the back balcony. No, not a downtown skyscraper or converted auto-garage building. I live in a vinyl-wrapped apartment community in suburban Portland. It fits my needs for now. The area is nice, not very walkable -- but the MAX light rail station is 1,200 feet from my door. Not too bad of a walk if I do want to take it.






This image is taken on my street about 1,200 feet in the opposite direction of the light rail. A little forest.



Still getting settled in.



Between photos, someone decided the placement of the table would be better against the other wall. So it has mysteriously moved locations between sets. I don't know anything about it.



OMG sun.



Chris the cable guy installing internet, TV, and phone.



Went out and did a little exploring...

Columbia river...



Went swimming at Blue Lake...





Found a wild elephant in downtown Portland.



About to work my first flight at PDX.



Of course my first flight, I load a bag destined to OKC. Sad



Sunrise at PDX the next day.



Ordered a couch, the salesman told me to come by the next day to pick it up. I show up with a coworker who has a truck -- and turns out it is out of stock. So it will be about another week or two before I have a comfortable place to watch TV. Everything is going good so far other than the couch

The apartment is really great. Has modern high ceilings which really make the space feel a lot larger than its actual footprint is.

No air conditioner, but no one here really has one. Which will be an adjustment for me. It does have a heater for the winter months, however.

[Urbanized]

I expect photos of Multnomah Falls and the rest of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway soon.

[Mel]

Columbia River on a jet boat with a go pro cam. That is a trippy elephant. Cool sculpture though.

[OKCisOK4me]

Love the pics! I prefer staying at Super 8 Motels when I travel because they're cheap and do the job. Every once in a while, you'll find a gem of a Super 8 like I once did in Salida, CO. This trip I just took to Montana and Canada, I only stayed at one Super 8 and that was on my way back home. Since you're much closer, if you have the opportunity, make it to Yellowstone if you haven't been...AWESOME!

I look forward to seeing future photos of Portland. It's one city I'd love to live in, if I could afford it!

[White Peacock]

If I might offer a few recommendations for outside of PDX, you really have to make a trip out to Silver Falls. Not only is the drive there nice, but the park is stunning. Also, if you go to the coast, avoid some of the trendier beaches and go to my favorite spot on the coast, Fogarty Creek.