Theresa Goodrich

I napped.

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 22 – Loon LakeRead More

One of my dreams is to own a cabin on the side of a mountain by a lake. Alternatively, I suppose I could marry a man whose family owns a cabin on the side of a mountain by a lake. Then we can simply show up in the middle of a month-long road trip and …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 21 – Spokane, WashingtonRead More

With a few exceptions, we hadn’t been tied to the clock on this trip. But this day, we were seeing someone special who was expecting us at a certain time. Because we had to backtrack a bit for our first stop, we made sure we were up and out early. That’s easier when you don’t …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 20 – Walla Walla to Loon LakeRead More

Never ever ever ever EVER camp by railroad tracks. EVER. I know this. Any camper – any non-camper – knows this, but when you’re driving along the Columbia River and need a campsite, there’s no choice BUT to camp by railroad tracks. When I booked Viento State Park I knew train tracks would border the …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 19 – Columbia River Gorge to Walla WallaRead More

“Ugh.” “Foot?” “Growler.” We were now communicating with grunts and one-syllable words. In case you don’t speak Jim and Theresa, my foot had been cramping a little, so Jim thought it was giving me fits. Instead, the growler had fallen over. The upside of our last-minute campground find was that, like the day before, we …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 18 – Oregon Coast to Columbia River GorgeRead More

I’m sitting in a crappy motel listening to crappy traffic and drinking crappy coffee that I had to get from the crappy office – and I’m loving it.” So began Day 17. Geographically we were at the halfway point, but in actuality it was a buffer zone. That day we were driving north. The next …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 17: The Oregon CoastRead More

Fog shrouded the lake. It was quiet. I felt like a thrashing giant as I walked up the hill to the bathrooms. The walk back down wasn’t quite as loud, and I began to see details through the dissipating mist. Gradually, I glimpsed Mount Bailey across the water. In the short time it took to …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 16 – Diamond Lake to the Oregon CoastRead More

I have come to the conclusion that I am a living example of B. F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory, especially of positive reinforcement. That’s the only way to explain my new-found comfort in chaos, lack of-planning, and ability to throw all caution into the dumpster. Wait – is that why this trip began in front …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 15 – Bend to Diamond LakeRead More

We pitched our tent in their yard, so of course I was up before dawn. My cold was now officially gone. I said good morning to the horsies and watched as a couple of the foals romped. Cheryl joined me and I helped her feed them breakfast. She left early for work and we shared …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 14 – Near Boise to Bend, OregonRead More

Jim hates me. When Jim gets a cold, it’s a beast. It’s a nearly apocalyptic event that never ends. It goes on, and on, for days. If he’s only ill for a week, it’s a short one. When I get a cold, it sticks around for one day, three at the most. This cold was …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 13 – Arco to near BoiseRead More

I want to meet the person who can fold tarps,” Jim grumbled. “They must have mad ninja folding skills. Fitted sheet level.” So began Day 12. I couldn’t blame him. A) Tarps are notoriously uncooperative. B) It was the eighth time, in twelve days, he had to fold the darn things. By this time, I …

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Day 12 – Grand Teton to Arco, IdahoRead More