Roadtrip to Oregon with Ellie

So at 10:46p on Saturday, May 4th Ellie and I embarked on what we anticipated to be a 15 hour journey from El Segundo up to Portland, Oregon (aka her new home). Yes we intended to drive straight because we wanted to see the Outlet Comedy Night but needed to get up to Portland by Sunday afternoon for her to sign apartment lease papers so she could move into her new apartment that she rented entirely by internet. Crazy huh - yeah that is what everyone else said but we figured we could do it.

Here's a pic of just how packed her Nissan Armada was. Seriously there wasn't any room. We actually had to do a bit of rearranging and stuffing things through windows just to make my bag and a few other things fit.

Not kidding when I said it was packed - see the spices in little areas of the car.

At about 5:40a I'm "flying" through Redding, Ellie is sleeping, and I see "lights" in the side mirror because again seriously it was so packed from floor to ceiling that there really wasn't a rear view mirror view. Yep got a speeding ticket - traffic school here I come. Never gotten a speeding ticket before which I guess is the bright side of things. Tried a few excuses but he wouldn't let me off.

Few hours later we hit Oregon (we wanted the welcome to Oregon sign but its so small and there isn't anything that gives you a hint that you are going to drive past it in two seconds) but of course it was raining in Oregon which was a big enough sign that we had entered the state.

About an hour left until we get to Keizer, Oregon where I was going to stay a few days with my best friend, Gail and her family. At this point, I've had 30 minutes of sleep and we're high on Monster and Starbucks. But I'm allowed to drive again!!!

Got to Keizer, OR which is about 40 minutes outside of Portland. Boys are so fun - got Collin, Gail's son who's 11 to climb in this bush so I could take a picture. Then we all headed up to Ellie's new place to help her unpack.

Ellie's new place.

the view from her balcony and bedroom - so beautiful and serene

After we helped her unpack, I headed back to Keizer with Gail and the family. Here we are on Monday night BBQ'ing Oregon style. Yep of course it was raining again and of course I didn't want to get wet but did want to BBQ so we turned the grill inward.

Tuesday Gail's daughter didn't have kindergarten so I took a lunch break from work and we went to lunch and did a Target run. For those of you who know that I love the minivan, I'm so sad - Gail doesn't have one anymore for me to drive the kids around when I'm up there.

Camie got to pick the lunch location - of course what would any 6 year old pick but McD's.

Me and Courtney, Gail's oldest at 14, almost 15.

Me with Collin and Camie after his baseball game - guess what it rained throughout...

After the game Gail, Collin, Camie and I met up with Ellie half way and had a little Cinco de May celebrating at Chevys. How cool are those hats!!!

Afterwards we headed over to the Portland City Grill to see the nightlife in Portland - not much going on but it was a Tuesday.

Wednesday we worked from home - this isn't my usual work from home attire - usually its gym clothes but they didn't fit in my little bag that had to cram in the car so you get pajamas.

Here we are looking a bit more professional before heading out for lunch and to our flights.

Oh yeah it only took us 13 hours to get to Portland in case you're thinking of a road trip and that was with a sit down breakfast of tacos from Jack In The Box, several bathroom and gas breaks including one where we couldn't figure out how to get back on the freeway and of course the speeding ticket pull over.