The Drive to Portland

We wanted to get an early start this morning since we were driving back to Portland. Our plane to Santa Fe is at 7:40am tomorrow and we thought that getting a hotel near the airport would make it easier. And we wanted to get to Portland before rush hour traffic this afternoon. So we left Florence before sunrise and headed down Hwy 26 to Eugene. Then from Eugene we headed up I5 to Salem and then Portland. We weren't doing any letterboxing until we got to Salem so we just enjoyed the drive. It was a little foggy in places but not bad enough to make the driving uncomfortable. It was also a very pretty drive. There were quite a few trees that had changed colors - a great reminder that it is Fall - something we seemed to forget while hanging out on the coast. We did stop once along the way for a quick breakfast and then it was back on the road.

We arrived in Salem to sunshine and pretty warm weather. We made our way to the Capitol and found a place to park (kind of scary how easy it was to find a parking spot - the whole area around the Capitol seemed deserted). Anyway we decided to look for a letterbox and fortunately we had parked in the perfect spot. There was a statue just ahead of us and that was one of the landmarks we needed to find to get to the box. So we read the clues and followed them from that spot. We think we found the area and looked for the box but it wasn't there. This box was last found in July but I don't think it was there. The clues seemed pretty straight forward but we found nothing - we even expanded our search and still nothing. So we called it quits on the box and headed for the Capitol. I took some pictures from the outside and then we went in. It was an okay building - Art Deco in style and fairly new - 1938. Now don't get me wrong - I liked the building and it is done well and was very nice looking. I am just not a really big fan of art deco. We walked around the building and looked into the Senate and House Chambers, admired the artwork and got a little history lesson from one of the volunteers. After about 45 minutes we decided to leave and try looking for another letterbox.

We walked across the street to Willamette University. We needed to find the Star Trees to start looking for the box. The trees were amazing - five trees planted in a circle in 1942. When you stand in the middle and look up you see the form of a five point star. Just incredible! So after looking up through the trees we began following the clues which took us on a little walk around the campus. We ended up at the Botanical Gardens. Unfortunately we didn't find this box either, but we did enjoy the campus. From here we crossed another street and went to the Mission Mill Museum. We watched a short film and then walked the grounds exploring all the buildings and the mill. A pretty fascinating story to the Salem and Oregon history. After seeing much of the museum we went and found a letterbox - this one we actually found. I went to a picnic table to stamp in and then we rehid the box. It was a nice stamp and box and a pretty good hiding spot. By this time we were hungry and decided to find a spot for lunch but while driving around I saw a sign and remembered that there was a box there. The box is at Salem's Smallest Park - Waldo Park. So Thomas found a spot to park and I went over to get the box - it took me a little while because this is a busy intersection. So I pretended to take pictures (well if you know me then you know I actually took some pictures) and then casually reached down and grabbed the box. I took it back to the car to stamp in and then went back to replace it. Now we were able to eat lunch. After a quick sandwich we decided to continue on to Portland. There was one thing we had to do before heading to the hotel.

We arrived in Portland and headed to 3rd Ave. - the location of Voodoo Doughnuts. I had seen this place on either Food Network or the Travel Channel or both. But the real reason for going was that there is a letterbox there. Unfortunately you have to wait in line to get in but it only took us 30 minutes from the time we got in line to the time we left. The line is mostly outside because when you get in you find out that the part of the building for customers is very small. It is decorated in a morbid halloweeny kind of way, there is even a wall of obituaries. Anyway, I grabbed the box from on top of a display case while Thomas waited in line and eventually ordered our doughnuts. I sat on a bench and stamped in and Thomas waited outside. I then put the box back on the display case and met Thomas outside. We still had a little time so we drove over to Berry Good Produce and Nursery for one last letterbox before the trip ended. This was one of those add-on boxes. But I am not sure why the owner carved and put 13 stamps into the box when they planted it. I didn't have a stamp to add because I wasn't even sure we were going to have time to get this box. So I stamped in and returned the box and then we headed for our hotel. Once we got checked in we needed to find where the rental car place was so that we can return the car in the morning. After that we filled the car with gas, went for something to eat and then returned to the hotel. Everything is packed except what we need tonight and in the morning so I guess we are ready to return home. I will post a slide show once we are back home and settled.