The Texas Autobahn

[Portland Ute]

Interesting, I think the westward drive on 84 is absolutely beautiful across the entire state.

Really? From the border to Baker City is pretty much crap. Then, once you get out of the Blues, it's crap until you hit the Columbia. Even then, the drive isn't that pretty until you get to The Dalles.

The Blue Mountains are fine. The drive from The Dalles west to Portland is spectacular. Everything else sucks.

The 65 speed limit is maddening the entire way, but not as bad in the Gorge where the scenery at least takes your mind off of the drive. But, at night, the 65 is terrible. Nothing to see and 65 mph. Ugh.

The other thing about driving through Oregon, at least from Utah, is that the drive from about Tremonton to Baker City is awful. That stretch of Idaho and Western Oregon is horrendous. Only a pee stop and gas up at Boise breaks up the pain.

[Portland Ute]

I've driven it quite a bit. It sucks until you get to the Dalles, then it's beautiful. We drove the old Columbia River Gorge highway and stopped at Crown Point. It was a fantastic day and I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful lookout than I did from Crown Point. Absolutely fantastic view. Ours looked even better than this...

The drive from La Grande over to the other side of the Blues isn't bad. It's not awesome, but it's not ugly. The road curves, there are hills and there are trees. It could be worse. You realize that as soon as you get out of the blues and start heading west to The Dalles.

[Green Monstah]

Maybe I was just anxious to get to Portland (the only time I've gone back to visit after my mission), but I do remember thinking "Western Oregon is awesome."

I'll take your word for it, though.

[Portland Ute]

Maybe I was just anxious to get to Portland (the only time I've gone back to visit after my mission), but I do remember thinking "Western Oregon is awesome."

I'll take your word for it, though.

Maybe in the spring. If everything is green and with wildflowers, it might be pretty. I'm usually driving it in the summer, fall or winter.

Spring might be beautiful. When did you go?

[Green Monstah]

End of April. That must have been it.

[Portland Ute]

End of April. That must have been it.

Don't get me wrong, I think Western Oregon has some appeal. I enjoy the Blues. I think driving through the hills to the east of Baker and then through that valley to La Grande is interesting. Overall, from the Blues to The Dalles is pretty boring.

For me, the biggest frustration is mostly with the speed limit. It feels like you are crawling through those wide-open spaces.

[Surfah]

For me, the biggest frustration is mostly with the speed limit. It feels like you are crawling through those wide-open spaces.

By far. Not to mention the strict enforcement.

Really the drivers in Oregon and their rigid adherence to the speed limit drives me nuts. Add to that you can't pump your own gas.

[Portland Ute]

By far. Not to mention the strict enforcement.

Really the drivers in Oregon and their rigid adherence to the speed limit drives me nuts. Add to that you can't pump your own gas.

I feel my anxiety level rising and I'm 350 miles from the border!

One of these days, I am going to get busted again in Oregon. When we making that drive a few weekends ago, I was setting it at 8 over. I knew it was a risk, but I figured it would save me an hour or more on the total trip time. I made Boise from Kaysville in 4 hours at 85....or following traffic which sometimes was going faster and then I hit Oregon and planted it on 73.

What frustration!

[Surfah]

I feel my anxiety level rising and I'm 350 miles from the border!

One of these days, I am going to get busted again in Oregon. When we making that drive a few weekends ago, I was setting it at 8 over. I knew it was a risk, but I figured it would save me an hour or more on the total trip time. I made Boise from Kaysville in 4 hours at 85....or following traffic which sometimes was going faster and then I hit Oregon and planted it on 73.

What frustration!

Worse was having my Oregonian FIL follow me in Utah. We went to a Bees game one night and took two cars. My FIL wasn't even going 65. I thought we were going to get run off the road. Everyone was flying past us on I-15. We finally get there and he was talking about how crazy everyone drives. I told him that he almost got us killed driving so damn slow.

[chrisrenrut]

Nevada is on board. Wendover to Reno just got slightly less painful.

Oregon, you're up next!