3,000 Miles to Portland :: According to iPhone Pictures

Helloooo from Portland, OR -- and Happy New Year! Steph, Jimmy & I made it to Portland last week after a successful, week long road trip across the states. The home made trailer remained in one piece, the weather behaved perfectly, and we had a blast in despite of insane amounts of driving. This road trip was completely different from our last one; a little colder and a little more in a hurry. But it was so beautiful. From Nebraska on we mostly stuck to "scenic byways", and I've never seen such beautiful wide expanses in my whole life.

I kept the "real" camera tucked away, but here is my collection of iPhone photos from the trip - blurriness, crazy filters and all - many of which you may have already seen on my Instagram.  I copied Taza's way of doing "life according to iPhone pics" - I think I'll do more of it!

Chicago Bean / sisters / Chicago style hot dog

Chicago skyline on the Bean / Grand Teton National Park

Nebraska hay bales for days / little scene from Omaha

the most exciting grocery store / thrifty business

amazing finds: coat hanger / happy platter / scary masks / delicious inner tubes of flavor

Omaha!! books / shops / eats / snow

open road / belly button / Jim's creation / wide spaces

horses smooching / jackelope ride / small town Wyoming / hi to the horsies

middle of nowhere / Jackson find

entering Jackson / antlers! / shops / no parking

The Lotus Cafe! India breakfast bowl / Bombay bowl / soup sips (Jimmy takes the plate)

cool sign / cool fence / lots of trains / cub sneak peek

Oregon coast with friends / games games games / welcome / sea stack

Cannon beach / winter sand frolic / silhouette 

And by the numbers:

• 12 states tackled
• 3,199 miles driven
• 7 crappy motels stayed in
• 280 gallons of gas sucked dry
• 38 rest stop/McDonald's bathroom/mini mart visits
• $913 put towards gas for the truck
• 1,789 coal train cars passed (guesstimate)
• 6 games of Settlers played
• 8 bags of uniquely flavored potato chips chomped
• 9 used clothing/vintage shops scoured
• 2 french toast & bacon ice cream cones licked
• 128 Disney/Glee songs sung 

It was a success! And now for the big announcement........Jimmy and I are officially moving to California! I just accepted a wonderful job down in the Bay Area, and I couldn't be more excited. We're not quite sure when we'll get down there, as we don't have a place to stay yet, but I'm sure we'll figure it out, as we always do :). We can't wait to explore a new area, meet people, learn things, and enjoy some sunshiny weather. I'm hoping to learn more details in the next couple of weeks, so we'll be in touch...