MORE ROAD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

When I was a kid my family was into camping. We camped all over California and up into Oregon and Washington State - so I spent a lot of time in a car with my siblings. My kids have gone on very few long car trips and it was made very clear by Ally's reactions to some of the sights on our road trip!

We travelled highway 101 north up the coast. It doesn't take long for the cities to become towns and the towns to become smaller and smaller. The freeway then "ends" and starts again as we travel through the towns and there is cross traffic. Ally was freaked out that the freeway was suddenly going to come to and end - leaving us adrift. When I explained the way it works, she was then amazed that there was such a thing as a town smaller than the one in which we live (population 67,000!) She was at first horrified that people could actually live in a town of 2 or 300 people, then became enchanted by the countryside and decided it might be okay.

I was able to point out a lot of the places my family had gone camping when I was a kid. We especially loved camping in the redwoods and near the coast. I remember the feeling of enchantment in the fern filled forests. She was enticed by all the sign for this roadside attraction - Confusion Hill - but when we pulled into the parking lot it was closed so we had to learn it's mysteries on the internet later on in our motel room!

We had some fun with road signs - I about drove off the road I was laughing so hard when she reacted to a "slide ahead" sign with a "whoo hoo!" Thinking playground rather than rocks...

Then there were the towns with one flashing yellow light swinging in the middle of the main intersection but peppered with "Congestion" signs up and down the street. Irony? Wishful thinking?

Even with my dieting we had some nice meals. I had read about this little restaurant in Ashland which is directly across from Southern Oregon University. It was as wonderful as the "yelp" reviews indicated and is colorful and pretty inside, too. I have to admit that I steered Ally wrong on her menu selection. I have to admit it because blogging about my mistake was the only apology she would accept.

She wanted to order a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. The menu also listed capers and red onion. I said they always have all those things on the plate and you can assemble what you like. This is what was delivered to the table:

I WAS WRONG!! I AM SORRY!!

Eventually she got used to me asking questions of the students we ran into and I got used to her refusal to choose a restaurant. I let her eat junk without comment and she stopped trying to get me to eat junk with her. She went along with lights out at 11pm and I let her sleep when I woke up at 6am. So, we got along just fine considering we traveled over 1200 miles and spent 5 days in the car together!

NOTES FROM THE COLLEGE TOURS

Back in the day, I arrived on my college campus without ever before having seen it. In fact, I am not sure I had ever even seen a college campus in person before I arrived! My daughter is amazed that I could take such a leap of faith.

When we planned this trip to see college campuses over Spring Break, it was meant to inspire her to continue to improve her grades and do what it takes to achieve acceptance to the college of her choice. I hope it did that .

The surprise hit was Humboldt State University. It could have had a lot to do with the charismatic tour guide, the fabulous sunny day, the congenial group of parents and students on the tour, the beautiful campus nestled into the redwood covered hills with the ocean views to the west. The facilities are a mix of old California mission and the newest green technology. Although Arcata is pretty much in the middle of no where on the Northern California coast, it is a beautiful setting and a safe little college town. The school is very health and environmentally focused and I would feel good about her being there.

We didn't think much of University of Oregon in Eugene. It is a much larger school at 23,00 students to Humboldt's 7,000. It felt impersonal and the campus is not especially attractive. Our tour was a bit perfunctory (outside of buildings for the most part) and focused a bit too much on putting down California schools and talking up the Greek system. I realize a lot of the slant you get on these schools can come from the particular tour guide you get!

The school Ally was the most excited to see was Southern Oregon University in Ashland Oregon. She has attended the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland for 3 years and loves the town. She had never seen the school but was aware of the strong reputation of the Theater Arts program.

We planned the trip around the all day program they had scheduled at SOU. They did a great job of "selling" the school. There were meetings with faculty and admissions staff, tours, an academic fair, an opportunity to sit in on classes, a financial aid workshop - plus they provided breakfast and lunch! Ally and I wandered around and I engaged a number of students in conversation (which I wish I had done in Humboldt). We really felt we learned a lot about the school and the culture there.

I know by the end of the 3 tours, her head was spinning. she just kept saying "how will I choose?" I told her this wasn't about rushing to make a choice - but getting a start on the long process of figuring out what she wants to study and what kind of environment felt right.

Tomorrow - some of the fun and silly stuff....

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP

Ally and I are off on a road trip to visit colleges. we will be travelling for 5 days with plans to visit 4 campuses in Northern California and Oregon.

The last college trip I did was flying to the East coast with Maggie and then taking the train and cabs. This will be much more labor and stress intensive.

Not to mention that the weather is not cooperating and we are packing for rain but hoping the forecasts are wrong. On the plus side, Ally can help with the driving.

And wouldn't you know - I got a hot lead on a job and they want me to delay our departure for an interview...Back on Sunday!

Wish me luck!!