Getting closer! Getting excited!
- chrisleslied
- Jun 30, 2016
- 3 min read
In just a few days we leave for our big trip across country and back. I'm so nervous and excited. You see, exactly 2 years prior to the day that we are leaving on a jet plane, I had a life changing surgery. I have had a spinal condition for many years but was diagnosed a few years ago with spondylolisthesis which is a major misalignment and fracture in my spine. It was MAJOR surgery and required 3 months off from full time work and a slow reintegration back to work. The recovery was nothing short of brutal and there were several times I thought that I might not live through it. But I did and here I am taking a cross country trip... 2 years later! I am nervous about the long plane ride and nervous about the train rides but i have all of the accoutrements to help me through: back pillow, neck pillow, meds, etc...
So... for those who are interested the itinerary will follow. I feel compelled to note that our first hotel in Seattle just recently changed. Yesterday I got online and found a BETTER and CLOSER to town hotel for cheaper because it was last minute. As of last night we had reservations in three different hotels in Seattle because it kept getting better. I just cancelled the two I no longer need... We are now staying near the Fremont troll in Seattle proper. :)
1. June 3, flight to Portland, Oregon. We rent a smaller car than we are accustomed to (minivan people!) and drive the 2.5 hours to Seattle. You'll see why soon. Then we stay in Seattle for 2 nights. While there, we plan to see the Fremont troll, the view from the Columbia Center (300 or so feet taller than the space needle), and eat our way through Pike Place market! http://pikeplacemarket.org/ It's so big that it has very detailed maps to help navigate the place. Best part is that they are supposed to do lots of samples and fish throwing (yep) so it should be entertaining.
At some point we need to pick up some food to load in the car and bags for snacks and drinks so we can be a little cheap.
2. When we leave Seattle on July 5, we are going to drive through part of Mt. Rainier National Park... I am a national park junkie and willing to admit it.
Portland includes a visit with one of my favorite people ever, Corey C and a visit to the coast to see the tide pools at Cannon Beach.
And Portland would be useless without Voodoo Doughnuts! They have a bunch of naughty doughnuts.
3. Once done in Portland (for now), we board the train there eastbound. We could have switched it up and gotten on the train in Seattle for the same destination but the Amtrak blogs and posters all said that the ride through the Columbia River Gorge beats the whole ride from Seattle... So we made it happen!
4. We train overnight and arrive in East Glacier Montana the next morning where we will be spending three nights and days in Glacier National Park! Again with the addiction to the national parks! Glacier is the most concentrated area in the lower 48 for Grizzly bears so I'm cautious but thrilled about the idea.
While there, we plan to see Grizzlies from a distance, travel on Going to the sun road, canoe on Lake McDonald, and watch the stars. :)
5. When we leave Glacier, on July 11th, we will be heading east to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. I was wondering how or why we would ever get to ND until I found out about the train and the fact that TRNP is one of the most beloved but under appreciated national parks in the country. Miles and miles of uninterrupted wilderness is what we will find in both the north and south units of the park. Unfortunately, there were no cabins to rent (this titanium spine does NOT camp in a tent... especially with rattlesnakes and bison) so we are staying in a hotel outside of the park... for two nights.
OK.. worn out.. gotta go pack some more. Going to update tomorrow with the rest!
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