This trip is an overview. We are skimming America to find the places we'd like to see again. It is not, in itself, an end. Nor is it even a means to an end. It is a brief introduction to the rest of our lives. After this trip, how can we settle down without at least even the thought that we are denying ourselves the very instinct of human beings, to explore? 

We have mentally bookmarked a thousand or more places to visit again, to spend days learning and understanding. Places where the culture intrigued us, even begged us to experience it. Mountains left untouched. Deserts crossed but not truly discovered. Streams and lakes, trails and roads spider-webbing their way across valleys and towns lie waiting for the rest of our lifetimes. Not just for us, but for everyone. But everyone grinds their lives away at a job, returning home too weary to even care, to tired to even know they're miserable. Do it now.

This trip is not an opportunity of a lifetime. This trip is carelessly thrown together by three people who have never done this before. All planning is out the window, all schedules are meaningless. What matters is the experience. What matters is living it. What matters most, however, is doing it again and again.

We have become a nation of consumers where we used to be a nation of do-ers. We sit on our big couches in our big houses after slaving away just to make enough money to live our consumer lifestyle. This kills every opportunity to explore the world outside of our little bubble. If we would only simplify our lives. Focus on what is important. We could understand how meaningless all this buying and spending and so-called living is. And that, even if you don't see the world through travel, is what will save us all.

Simplify and deny the learned tendency to consume. If this trip has taught us anything, it is that. It's up to us to not only remember it, but to teach it as well.

We are a family, each having a specific role, even if it's undefined and seemingly unimportant. It's not the traditional sense of family, but when did that ever matter? When I talk of "us" it's like talking about one person. Together, we've created this group consciousness. We haven't lost any of our individuality, but have taken all three and bound them together with travel and living in a car for five weeks. I was worried that we may fight, not mesh and not get along. The opposite is true. We left Pennsylvania as three different people exploring America for three different reasons and have found one thing that keeps us going: each other.

Hi!! All three of us wish you a very super happy birthday! WOOO!!

Everyone else do the same! DO IT!

NOW!

Today was a driving day, though not an especially long one.  It was also the first camping morning in what seemed like weeks, though it was only a few days.

I wrote in the morning while the girls slept, we showered and tore down the tent. We're getting quite good at this.

We finally left the park around 9:30am and drove north on 101 through more redwoods. Often there is a lot of fog, but it was clear sailing for us.  The driving was pretty much nonstop until Roseburg, which is about 90 or so miles south of Eugene, Oregon (our decided stop for the night).

Let me back up a little. Since we're going back to California (Cole's) on Saturday, we're stopping in Eugene for the day (tomorrow) and then turning around. Tonight we're in Eugene. Tomorrow is a whole day of Eugene.

Anyway, we stopped at Roseburg for some Chinese (Ashley got Yawbus instead). Food was good and we were quickly on our way.

Eugene afforded us no campgrounds, not even a KOA, so we found a Motel 6 and bedded down for the night.

It was 6pm and we were pretty hungry, so we checked out an all vegetarian Chinese place in downtown Eugene. Amazing. Wow. This was just ridiculously good. Nikki got some fake beef stuff that was eerily like real beef. I got tofu something or other. Ashley got springrolls. The food was incredible. The place was called Lotus Garden. If you ever find yourself in Eugene, just go there. Wow. Seriously. Go.

We walked around Eugene a bit before it got dark. Nice town, but everything was closed. We'll see more tomorrow.

Nikki and I took in The Village, while Ashley is taking in free internet across the street. Nice that they just give it away like they do.

Sorry for the short entry, but really, not much happened today. Some very beautiful scenery (and more clearcuts than yesterday). Oregon doesn't allow you to pump your own gas, but it's a LOT cheaper here than in California. Go figure.

Stats
Miles traveled today: 313
Hours on the road: 7
Miles traveled in total: 6241

Pictures
What few pictures we took today will be up on tomorrow's entry. Sorry.

Where are we?
Map showing where we are today! (Coming tomorrow)
(Purple = where we've been. Red = where we traveled today.)