Richfield, UT

After a busy couple of days with family and friends we are on the road again. We're in Richfield and in the morning we'll go get the boat out of the garage, offload some of the load from the bed of the truck to the boat, and start on our way to Laughlin, NV.

The weather has been gorgeous -- not a cloud in the sky. It's these crisp, bright, clear winter days that brings out the best in the Utah landscape. (No photos yet, sorry -- cameras are buried in the truck!)

Salt Lake City, UT

It was a slushy drive from Pendleton to the Idaho border, but we encountered no further freeway closures. I-84 in Idaho was dry as a bone (I-86 to Pocatello was closed due to drifting snow.), As soon as we turned south, though, Utah welcomed us back (Not!) with temps in the 20s and black ice. Thanks, Utah, we love you too -- need I say Not!?

Ike is spending the night with the kids and we are settled in at the hotel on the university campus. The next few days will be devoted to family activities. Weather permitting, we hope to be on the road again on New Year's Eve day.

Pendleton, OR

I hope yesterday and today don't presage other unpleasantness on our big southern journey. It took two days to pack the truck with all the boat gear that didn't make it on the boat in time back in October when we moved it down to Brent & Dixie's place in Richfield, Utah. Add to that Lori's new folding bike (a Christmas present), Christmas presents for the kids in Salt Lake, and all the other necessities for three months on the road, and we ended up with the bed stuffed to the top of the cap, and the back seat likewise filled with gear, leaving only about 18'' for poor  Ike.

Feeling much like a Northwest version of the Clampetts enroute to Florida, the I-90 snow reports persuaded us to bypass Snoqualmie pass and detour through Portland to I-84. Not much of an improvement, as ice ruts on the highway kept our speed enough below normal that we only made it as far as Hood River before stopping for the night.

The morning drive looked promising, as the temps rose as high as 46 and the ice gradually disappeared from the road. However, as we approached Pendleton, signs began to appear, warning that I-84 was closed just after the Wildhorse Casino. Dialing 511, we learned that I-84 was also closed near Baker City and LaGrande, After waiting a couple of hours at the truck stop for the highway to open, we decided to get a room at the Red Lion in Pendleton while we still could. We'll try again to make it to Salt Lake in the morning.