What are those things in the sky?

After about 1,100 miles and 17 total hours of travel time, the trek to Oregon is completed.

I was greeted in the Salem/Portland area with the sky filled with large grey puffy objects that looked like soiled wads of cotton. I was told those were clouds, threatening rain. Funny, I don't remember seeing any of those on the entire drive up the spine of the Golden State.

The exposed skin on my arms and legs experienced an odd sensation upon exiting the vehicle. The skin had this tingling sensation and mysterious little bumps appeared all over the place. I have had a similar sensation when opening a refrigerator door or the air from the air conditioner blows directly on me. I guess that is cold. The radio report said the high temperature was in the 60s here about the time of my arrival.

Didn't anyone tell the weather gods in this part of the country that it is June? Isn't it supposed to be hot outside? It certainly was on Friday when I was carrying stuff from my old apartment to my truck. Did I drive through some passage to the Twilight Zone? I must have missed that sign somewhere along the way.

I also almost missed the "Welcome to Oregon" sign on my journey. My plan was to stop and take a photo of it for the blog, maybe even try to take a picture of myself in front of the sign. Unfortunately, the sign at the Oregon state line on Interstate 5 is on a curve as you are climbing the Siskiyou Mountains. I was in the left lane passing a slow-moving truck when the sign came into view. So, there was no way to pull over and stop in time without causing a crash. So, sorry folks, no photos of the momentous occasion of the prodigal Oregonian's return to the Beaver State. It was a poignant moment though.

All throughout the drive today I was flooded with memories of previous journey's up and down I-5, and previous traveling companions, including hung over frat brothers, a photographer buddy from college, and maybe even an old girlfriend or two.

It's good to be home. Even if it doesn't seem like home yet. I'm very much a stranger in a strangely familiar land.

Moving
Weather
Homecoming