Portland to Sedro-wooley

Written politely 2018-06-21.

Driving to Sedro-wooley

When the day finally came to go see our friends north of Seattle, we were all excited to start that venture. Waze had our trip between 4-5 hours, but it actually came out to be 6-7 hours in the end (minus any time for stopping). We have visited Seattle before and really like it (it is still a great city in our minds), but any thought of wanting to move to Seattle was vanquished from us both by the traffic we hit. It was one of those situations where we hit expected traffic getting to the city, and going around the city, but it continued for 20-30 miles after we got past the city, taking 1.5 hours. If it had been for a reason (accidents, emergency vehicles, construction), it could have been understandable. But the traffic seemed to stop in a straight-way for nor apparent reason at all. And then we would start to go only to stop again. Absolutely maddening. We met our friends for dinner at a Red Robin and started to unwind from the drive. It just happened to be Jill’s birthday as well as K’s, so there was some Ice Cream afterwards and Jill had a daquari.
After the yummy dinner, we went to our friend’s house and got unpacked. It was still light when we got there despite it being probably 9pm. Summers in this part of the country must be great with such long days. Our friends have a guesthouse that we stayed in and also some livestock. It is quiet and beautiful and not the first time we had been there. They have chickens, sheep, a lizard, a pool, a sauna, and a beautiful yard with great landscaping. We difinetely enjoy ourselves and the great company when we go. We got unpacked and the kids settled in and down to bed and went to enjoy some adult time (as you always do when the kids are asleep). Parents know exactly what I am talking about. That point in the day when all of your adult duties of caring for others’ lives are done and you have time to unwind and enjoy adult conversation, a little tv, without the burden of having to be responsible for makings sure your own spawn is developing at an appropriate rate with the skills needed to survive after they don’t need you. It is exhausting and these are the moments we live for. Unfortunately, I needed to work the next day, since it was Thursday, so after some social time I retired to wake up early and get started solving problems and getting paid for it.


Lucas McDaniel

Husband, father, teacher, musician, avid gamer, nature enthusiast, and passionate about the human condition.