Total Solar Eclipse - First Day on the Road

We left FG at 8, knowing we’d hit PDX traffic, but actually it wasn’t that bad. It was a cool, cloudy morning, but as we got into the gorge it cleared up into a bright, sunny day.

We’re driving to Casper, Wyoming, to see the total solar eclipse. Tonight we’re staying in The Hotel at the End of the Universe.

We stopped for lunch in Pendleton at Prodigal Son brewing, which was very good. I ordered the krautburger, which I thought would be kielbasa with cheese, sauerkraut, and apples. It was, but they were on top of a burger. At dinner tonight we noticed that the restaurant had a chicken burger and pulled pork burger, both of which came with both the aforementioned meats on top of a hamburger. What’s with that? However, sliced apples on a burger are fabulous, Dave’s reuben was one of the best he’s ever had, they had many interesting beers and I had a lavender-blueberry rickey (no alcohol) which was absolutely amazing. I’m still kicking myself for not getting my travel mug out of the car and having them make me one to go. 

On the way to Pendleton we passed a weigh station. It was closed, but had an electronic sign displaying a helpful message: Solar Eclipse Monday 8/21. When we got to Idaho we stopped at the rest area just across the border, where they had a whole display about the eclipse and were selling or giving away eclipse glasses. 

We got to Boise at rush hour, and all their highway signs, instead of having helpful information explaining why the traffic was so bad (the middle lanes were closed because  of a breakdown) just cycled between “Solar Eclipse Monday” and “Read Idaho 511 Website at home”

 

We also passed by what we think was our first Eclipse trailer park – basically a field by the side of the road full of trailers.

Dave says Highway 26 outside Prineville is backed up for 15 miles. I’m glad we’re here instead. I did enjoy these signs at the rest area, telling me not to do things it wouldn't have occurred to me to do. I hope you enjoy them too.