To Eugene and Back

So this week Joel and I found ourselves going on a road trip to Eugene to Look at a saw for Perry Pallet. I went along to break up the monotony, have some quality time with Joel and take advantage of Oregon's No sales tax!!

Joel's Mom and Dad agreed to Watch Phil Tuesday night and all day Wednesday, so we ended up leaving Tuesday night. we drove to Lynnwood and decided to get dinner. I have been trying to get Joel to try a Restaurant called Claim Jumper, I knew exactly where it was. We some how got lost ( Joel said he was just scouting the territory) So I had to call my sister to help us out and we invited them to meet us for dinner, as they only live 5 min away. We enjoyed a nice meal with Maran and Nathan, but I unfortunately don't have a picture, cause Joel would not go out to the car to get the camera to chronicle our dinner for blogging purposes. Then we hit the road again. driving down to Chahalis, and stayed overnight in a Best Western. We stayed for just a few hours, long enough to get a shower, some rest, directions to the mall I wanted to go to the next day and two muffins from the continental breakfast counter. We back on the road at 6:30.

We hit a little traffic as we got to Vancouver and crossed the bridge into Portland and made it down to Eugene at about 9:30. Joel dropped me off at the mall, while he went to look at the saw.

Welcome to Oregon!!!

I immediately found the Ann Taylor Loft store!! I could have blown my whole budget right then and had nothing left to do for the next two hours, so I opted to put some items on hold while I perused the rest of the mall. I found Several other stores that I was able to make a few purchases for family at. the Made in Oregon store for a Postcard, The Duck Store (all U of O duck stuff) where I found some kid books for Phil, a kids clothing store and a home furnishings store that was going out of business, where I found some wall hanging. I still hadn't found any capris that compared with the ones that I saw a Ann Taylor, So when Joel called and Said that he was at the mall I asked him to come in and look at. I tried them on for him, and he approved. So with bags in tow at 12:30pm we were back on the road to Bellingham.

Mt. Hood as we crossed the Colombia

We enjoyed a Beautiful day on the Road, passing fields of Iris' in Bloom, much like our tulip fields. A beautiful field of Chives going to Seed (this might not sound pretty, but we passed the field trying to figure out what flower or berry this was that blanketed the ground in a pretty red and all we could think of was chive in bloom). Scotches Broom and Lupine and other wild flowers were in bloom along the highway adding glorious color to the ever present emerald green. The clouds that had been there in the morning had burned off so we were able to see four mountains in one day. Mt. Hood, Mt St. Helens, Mt Rainer and Mt. Baker. I made Tried Very hard to get pictures of Mt. Hood and St. Helens, but when you are trying to get home you can not stop or even drive in the right lane for picture purposes, so I often got some funny pictures of the Mountains (glad we are not buying film anymore). Unfortunately My camera battery started to die at about the time we crossed the Colombia, so I only pulled my camera out for really good opportunities after that.

Mt. St. Helens this was my best picture

Joel wanted to stop at Truck parts place somewhere in Washington on the way back and look at some parts, so we had about a 45 minute stop there. If we kept driving we would have hit Seattle at rush hour. so we decided to stop and have an early Dinner. Joel's Mom had recommended a place in Olympia over looking a park and waterfalls. I am so sad that this restaurant isn't in Bellingham, as the View was wonderful, the food and service were impeccable. But after a nice dinner we were back on the road, no time for a stroll in the park, hardly enough time for a picture (Battery was completely out of Juice after that).

Joel and I at the Falls Terrace Restaurant, you can see the falls behind us.

We were able to get back to Bellingham by 9:15 to Pick Phillip up. Ready to go home in his PJs happy to see Mama and especially Daddy.

Joel and I were so thankful that we had safety on this trip, only having a slight problem with a strap on a the truck part he bought. We had a wonderful time talking about things going on in our lives, bringing back memories of our dating days when I rode along in the truck with him.

We also just enjoyed each others company and having fun together.

Although this was a business trip and not a vacation we did have Fun.