Day 35: Pendleton to HOME

Triple A arrived right on schedule and started the car. Good thing they had long cables because when the battery is dead, we couldn't switch it out of "park." Found out later that you can, but it requires a screwdriver and about 8 steps...

Anyway, the Nissan started right up. We had already packed everything so we wouldn't have to turn off the engine. I checked out and made a running leap to get in as Jim drove by.

Homeward bound, we were in familiar territory and soon came to the Columbia River and started down the gorge. Visiting the Grand Canyon and the other national parks has really raised the bar for us with respect to scenic beauty. Even so, the Columbia River Gorge passes the test with flying colors. I never get tired of it.

Soon we saw Mount Hood peaking over The Dalles. We stopped at Multnomah Falls for a rest and to take some pictures with fall colors in the background. Then we proceeded to Portland and crossing the I-205 bridge headed down the home stretch to Ridgefield. Funny thing is, although it feels good to be here, we both could jump in the car and leave again tomorrow. This trip was so enjoyable, we can't wait for the next one.

We got home at a little after noon on day 35. We were gone exactly 5 weeks and travelled 8,979.3 miles. We have a list of places we want to visit again: Padukah, Buffalo Valley, Pensacola Beach, Sedona, etc ... And a few places not to visit. All and all, a great trip.

So until we next hit the road -- I've enjoyed sharing our experiences with family and friends. Thanks for taking the journey with us.