Good for you -- it's always a "blessing" to arrive from a long road trip unscathed.

If I may ask, why did you make this cross-country move? (Jobs, family, cost of living, whim, etc.) Were there other locations that made it on your "short list" of possiblities? And do you think (at this point anyway) that this move will be your last major one?

Not meaning to be prying -- just curious.

crefloors, Columbia Mo was fine...the hotel was not so fine..But I saw no reason not to visit Columbia again..maybe I won't drive there though :D

Nimrod, mostly whim.
We were not happy living in Florida and we are blessed with the ability to pack up and go find somewhere that might be more to our liking.
London and Paris were also on the list but no one had the heart to make Pup fly cargo..
so far, we are most happy with Portland.

Razzle, darlin, your email is on its way..((F))
Love..hope you are feeling better today?

OO, Hobie cat is such a sweetheart, Pup sends his love back ((L))

Hi darlin, am feeling better. My email was returned, that confused me. Will try again a bit later.

I have been cleaning out drawers again, LOL. A nice relaxing job and consequently feel real organized. And popping onto Fodors from time to time today. Thinking of you and wishing I was in Portland. Give Pup a hug for me.

Welcome back to Fodors, Scarlett. You are always such a delight to read. My daughter and I will be doing a road trip this coming week from Denver to L.A. She's already driven solo from Chicago to Denver, but soon Mom will be on board for shared driving duties and a leisurely look at the southwest. This child is my world traveler and just visiting her has taken us to places that we wouldn't have otherwise gone. While it's wonderful to plan these trips, it would be oh-so-nice to have her closer to home on the east coast. Do I remember correctly that you have a son living in Japan? My girl spent 6 months there, although that's one visit that we did not make. Well, good luck to you and yours as you make your new home in Portland. ((#))

Scarlett darling! Max our dog sends dog kisses to Pup. Man-o-man was he mad at us for leaving him to go to Kauai! So mad, he and mrlou are off on an icecream/yogurt run! Welcome home to your new home!! Ironic once again, that we return together on the same date! Good Times!!!!!!!

Great "trip" report, Scarlett. I loved the "I have never seen so much corn." Neither have I. Hope you enjoy Portland. I'm sure this is a good week to be there considering the hurricane scare!

Thank you ellen ((F))

elsiejune, yes, my baby boy lives in Tokyo. There have been murmurs of the possibilities of his coming back to the US...our fingers are crossed tightly. I want to visit him there before he leaves though. But we also want to go to Italy and he would be welcome to take that trip with us too..so lots of possibilities ahead .
My best advice for these road trips is to get up early and get on the road while you are fresh and rested. Stop whenever you need to, don't eat much during the day..Stop around 5-6 and have a nice dinner and go to bed .. lol.
Without a dog you will have a much better choice of nice hotels. We had to take the luck of the draw with whatever La Quinta was in the town we "landed" in ~

gypie honey, pups forgive everything quickly. Pup has almost forgotten the drive..today he was quite happy to hop right in the car and stick his head out the window.
Did you bring your pup something from Hawaii?

Thanks neworleanslady! Have a great time in Prague!

I will!! As long as I can get out of here!

What a wonderful trip!

I have also driven across country twice. Once as a child from VA to CA and back and the other time in college from SC to CA and flew home.

Didn't appreciate it either time.

Glad you are settling in and I'm jealous of the cool weather!

Sounds like a great trip, Scarlett! Thanks for the report. :)

Thank you for the trip report. It was wonderful!

It's funny the things you learn about your spouse when there's no radio!

I'm starting to understand why my parents enjoyed Sunday road trips; we would all fall asleep in the backseat and my parents could actually have a conversation. Now that my husband and I have a toddler, we've started taking those Sunday road trips, too. We can talk away while she's snoring in her carseat! :)

Portland sounds lovely!

:-X>:D< :*
Welcome to the Left Coast!

So nice to know you've arrived safe & sound. That is one smart Pup, knows you'll be getting back in the car, so he can show off his yodeling skills! Glad you've made it and that you're enjoying Portland!

BC

Enjoyed your trip report, Scarlett! It reminded me of a trip in 1981 when we were headed to Colorado and having a problem with radio stations; we bought a cassette of Neil Diamond's The Jazz Singer at a truck stop in Minnesota and played it over and over. Being an immigrant myself, listening to "Coming to America" while driving through this wide and beautiful country was so awesome. This weekend we're leaving on a road trip "out west" and we're taking along a CD of The Jazz Singer, and renewing our appreciation for the vastness and beauty of our country.

Wonderful report! have you considered a set of travel books possibly titled, "The Further Adventures of Scarlett, The Yankee and Pup"? The title's an instant million seller.

By the way, Do you mind if I pry a bit and ask what it is that you and/or The Yankee do that allowed you to pick up and move accross the country? Was it a job opportunity or simply a whim? Do you have the same type of jobs in Portaland or are you beginning fresh with new career(S)?

Thanks,

AL ((d))

Al, we are lazy no good loafers and do not work.
I think moving to Florida from NY was the 'whim' .. this one was much more thought out and we came here a couple of times to househunt and be sure.
I used to live in Hawaii and California, so I sort of remember what the West Coast feel was, totally different from that 'feel' when I arrived in NYC all those years ago. So I feel very comfortable here and the Yankee is liking it more and more every day.
That writing idea sounds good..perhaps we will work on that, where can I go next, with Pup? :)

So the secret is just don't work!? Gee, I wish I'd thought of that. Kudos to both of you (and Pup) for being self-sufficient.

By the way, do you and The Yankee wish to adopt a 46 year old, just laid off, "Everyman". I'm a hell of a chef.

AL ((d))

And I make a great martini!

Scarlett,

I hope you will be very happy here with us left-coasters. I live in Spokane but am very fond of Portland.

My sister and I are very proprietary and protective about the northwest. In fact, my sister made a comment the other day about the fact that she rather resented the fact that the Columbia River travels through Canada as well as the northwestern United States. We laughed, of course, but I understood completely, except that I also feel a sense of ownership about NW Canada as well.

I can't wait to read your reports about your travels in Oregon and points west.

Hey Al, I'll adopt you! :0) My Mother downsized and I ended up with her glass martini set from the 60's complete with glasses, pitcher and stirrer. Looks like something out of a James Bond movie.

Scarlett-I think Pup should go to Rodeo Drive and show those purse riding hairless rodents they call dogs what a real dog looks like.