The Lacaille 8760 Affair:: Day 139

After a few more shift changes and a narcoleptic series of naps, I found myself "waking up" to the incredible scenery of nothern Idaho. Never in my wildest dreams would I had imagined this picturesque scene in Idaho of all places, but as we pulled in to the town of Coeur D'Alene, it was like something straight from the movies. With towering mountains in the fore and background and encircling a peaceful lake of glass, I told myself that if I were to retire, this would be the place.

We got off the highway in search of a some much needed sustenance and were lucky to find a cute little breakfast house not too far from the exit. When we got out of the car it was damn cold in the early mountain morning, but inside was so quaint and cozy that you couldn't help but to feel warm.

We ate in near silence, other than a little banter with the sweetest waitress ever. By this point we didn't have a whole lot of conversation left in us and certainly didn't need to expend valuable energy talking that could be used for eating, which in turn would enable further driving.

We eventually lolled ourselves back into the hell-on-earth that now doubled as "the car". Throughout the many in & outs, fussing with the bags, the cat, stopping and going and the general shifting of crap, etc, the car was looking and feeling like a total trainwreck. Getting IN to the car after such a nice quiet meal was like getting kicked in the face. Twice. All i wanted was a bed to stretch out in and blankets to cover my head with so that I didn't have to see the light of day or another human being for an entire day straight. Alas, back into the car it was.

We took a quick jaunt up to the lake to try and snap some shots, but as soon as I got out of the car I realized how severely under dressed for the weather I was. It was probably about 35degreesF and I was in a tee-shirt and capri length yoga pants with my Peru scarf. Not exactly winter weather clothing. I got to the shore and turned back almost immediately, goosebumped and teeth chattering.

I'm pretty sure Jill drove for a while after this, but since I was conscious one second and un- the next, it's hard to put a finger on what was actually going on. I do know that at one point I was awake enough to drive after lunch. By then we were getting deeper into Washington and nearing our destination. With Jill passed out I drove for a few hours until we happened upon George, Washington. I tried desprately to get a picture of the 'George' exit sign, but as most of my faculties has then esacaped me with my lack of sleep, this was impossible while driving 75 and using an SLR.

Shortly after George, Washington, I pulled off at a scenic overlook and decided that since we were back on schedule from driving through the night, I would take a little time to shot some of the beautiful Washington scenery. I tromped around for nearly an hour here just snapping shot after shot before getting back in the car. It was so hot that I was bordering on actual exhaustion by now. I was in and out of sleep without knowing it all the way to the end of the line in Seattle. I got to enjoy a some of the beautiful mountains, but mostly everything is a complete ghost of a memory.

When we got to Seattle, Jill did her best to keep me engaged with a city tour from the car. I barely heard a word she said unfotunately, but the weather was fantastic, sunny and warm, so while she drove I strove to take in the city for what it was worth in my semiaware state. From what I saw, it is definitely a place that I want to go back and, fully coherent, enjoy.

I think I finally begged that we find our way to the airport so that I could get to my flight in time. As she dropped me off and we said our sleepy goodbyes, the whole trip seemed incredibly unreal. Stumbling through the airport, I got to my gate only to find the departure screen pointing and laughing at me with a sinister smile, telling me that my flight had been delayed. Not wanting to fall asleep and wake up to stolen bags and a missed flight, I fought to stay awake the extra hour that I now had to spend, totally two and a half hours wait time.

I drifted in an out until they finally borded and as soon as I sat my butt down in that seat I was out like a light. Unfortunately, as soon as they started coming around with drinks and pretzels, I awoke and was not able to get back to sleep for the next hour of the flight. This was getting ridiculous now and I felt like a freaking cracked out maniac. I desprately needed sleep.

Of course when we landed I was in the 2nd to last row, so I had to wait for the other hundred million people ahead of me to get off the plane. I gathered myself up enough to hobble out to find Nick, who amazingly was waiting directly in front of the terminal door, car running and ready to go. After a clip of delirious conversation, I got home, fell into bed and revelled deep into a sleepless oblivion.
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That's it. That's the trip. I don't know if it was fun, I don't know if it was exciting, but I know that it was LONG and stressful. I also know that I would never recommend 3000 miles of driving in 3.5 days. I would never take this outrageous journey back, but I will never do anything like it again. It was an experience and I got to see many amazing things and for that I am thankful, but the toll that it took on my mind and body was an unhealthy risk. I'm just glad to be home safe and sound, and of course that I can add all of these new states to my "Where in the World is Breezer M." map.

Thanks for joining me for this long winded story!

Cheers.

Breezer Bree