The rain was overwhelming, the plane had to crab its way in because of the wind and we weren’t thinking about anything other than how this day was going to turn out? How were we going to drive a 37′ motor home 3000 miles half way across the country?
Our ride picked us up at the curb about an hour after landing and he proceeded to take us across the river into Washington State. A state that neither of us had been. What we could see of it was beautiful. Unfortunately we couldn’t see anything more than maybe a few hundred yards around us as the rain just wouldn’t let up.
We finally arrived and upon driving into the driveway my fears began to come true. It was much larger than I imagined and I had no idea what I was going to do. Jill kept asking me if I was alright, everything ok? Absolutely I said, we’ve got this. If you can imagine, I had no choice. I was fully committed. I only bought a one way ticket. I was going home in this behemoth, no matter what.
After an extensive 15 minute orientation, (Wha?) yup, a 15 minute orientation Jill was asked to drive his truck behind us and we were headed to fill up with fuel and propane. 100 gallons of diesel and 50 gallons of propane. The rain wasn’t letting up.
So we filled up at a normal gas station, and another fear began to creep into my head. Where do I fill up along the way? I can’t maneuver this thing well enough to pull into a regular station? What if I had to back up? What if I was too high to go under the cover, what if, what if, what if? Ugh, no time for this, I had to start driving!! Jill tells this part of the story really well because she was behind me, but essentially, I finally got behind the wheel in the gas station parking lot and practiced turning, backing up and driving around in circles for maybe 5 minutes. Both of our hearts began to pound when our host said, ok, you did great, its all yours!
It was about 7 PM and we were near downtown Portland by this time and the rain was coming down in sheets. Jill asked that we just stay right there in the parking lot, get a good nights sleep and take off in the morning. We had been up for almost 20 hours by this time. That might sound reasonable to many, but I had no idea if I was allowed to stay there, I had no idea what part of the city we were really in, I didn’t feel safe. I replied with a no, I want to get down the road and out of this city first.
It was dark, it was raining, and the first thing I had to do was simply cross the 6 lanes of traffic from the parking lot and get into the left lane to position myself to be able to get up on the interstate. I had to do it, so off I went!! With traffic stopped on both sides I proceeded out into the middle of the road while the huge windshield wipers were flying back and forth. Neither one of us said a word, I don’t think either one of us were breathing.
Feeling incredibly proud, I made it to the on ramp for the interstate. We were smack dab in the middle of downtown Portland. Traffic was horrendous. I found a lane and didn’t move out of it. I was traveling at the speed of 40 mph and thought I was flying. LOL I knew I had maybe 6 inches on each side of the coach, but it seemed like a half inch and my body was beginning to tense up and spasm. I was literally gripping the wheel so tightly and grinding my teeth so hard that my entire body was following suit while at the same time, In the back of my mind, the fear of where we were going to stay the night started to creep in.
We finally made it out of the city, I think it took us an hour and a half before the traffic slowed down and the lanes of traffic reduced from 6 to 2. The rain continued. I didn’t know how tired I was, the adrenalin was more than I had ever experienced, but Jill knew, and she began to pressure me to stop. I on the other hand was trying to come up with any excuse why we shouldn’t because I had no clue where to stop? I had to face it eventually and after calling Walmarts to see if we could park in their parking lot (got turned down) a rest area sign appeared. I immediately turned down the ramp praying that we could stop there. Jill had earlier Googled whether we could stay in rest areas in Oregon and it was a big no, so I had my doubts. Fortunately there was one other motor home and a few 18 wheelers that appeared to have stopped for the night, so I slid into a spot next to a truck and then realized I had to remember everything that I was told in the 15 minute crash session. Engage the air brake, release the air shocks, drop the leveling Jacks, turn on the compressor, turn on the heat, close all the curtains, and we fell into bed and slept like we have never slept before.
To be continued
It’s true, it’s true!!