it's happening!

We are currently making our way to Oregon, enjoying a delightful overnight in Salt Lake City with my niece and her family, where we are now. They have a new tiny human who is eight weeks old, and may I recommend if you have the chance to get some baby snuggles in the days before your big race, do so [provided no one is ill - which thankfully here, they are not!] We were greeted with a wonderful home cooked fajita dinner (something that will make it's way into our menu rotation), great conversation and a divine bed for the night. I did a good stretch routine before laying down, then was totally out for the night. I feel great this morning!

On the way into town, we stopped at a favorite brewery, Templin Family Brewing. This is a nice trip for Mr. Blueberry Pancakes, too, and he deserved every ounce of that spectacular cherry plum beer he had! Many thanks to the host for suggesting it. We bought some to take with us, which I will properly enjoy on the other side of this coming weekend. While there, another employee gave us a suggestion on a coastal Oregon brewery, Breakside. I'm not sure we'll be able to check it out, but we will look for it, because, well, Clues from the Universe. 

Trip observations:

• I was having a very hard time actually LEAVING the HOUSE yesterday morning. I called myself out on it, too, recognizing there was some sort of subconscious mind game going on. Once we got on the road, all was fine and I was excited!
• We've broken the trip up into three days, because sitting is hard on my body. We pushed slightly to get to Salt Lake, but today and tomorrow can relax as we drive and take more breaks. Aiming for stops every 2 hours, for a walk and stretch break. We're in no rush. 
• Staying hydrated on the road was a challenge. Today I'll take a couple extra water bottles. My calves were tight last night. I woke up thirsty and was VERY thankful I had my big tumbler at the bedside.
• I am a much more nervous passenger on this trip. Mr. Blueberry Pancakes picked up on this, and as a result, I'm doing most of the driving (which is good, since it relaxes me and stresses him).
• Not a trip observation, but a reinforcement of something I've known for a while... I am married to the perfect partner. We are not perfect - if you know us, you know this! But we are perfect partners. And this is really a fun trip for both of us, one day in. Diamonds. 

I know it's been a whole year that I've been "on the road" to Oregon, but it feels wonderful to actually be ON THE ROAD TO OREGON. Time to continue the actual journey to the Willamette River.