Alright, let’s talk about that drive I did recently, the one from Portland down to Grants Pass. Needed to get down there, so I just planned it out and went.
Getting Started
Left Portland pretty early in the morning. You know how it is, trying to miss the main rush hour going south on I-5. Always a bit of a gamble. Packed the car the night before, wasn’t much, just a bag and some stuff for the road. Before I pulled out, I did my usual walk-around:
- Checked the tires – they looked fine.
- Made sure I had enough gas to get a good ways down the road.
- Wiped the windshield down quick.
Felt ready to go. Started the car, pulled out of the driveway, and pointed south.
On the Road – I-5 South
The first part, getting out of the Portland metro, was slow like always. Stop and go for a bit. But once I got past the usual bottlenecks, maybe around Wilsonville, it started to flow better. Just settled in for the drive.
Kept heading south. Passed Salem, didn’t stop. Then Eugene zipped by on the signs. The Willamette Valley section is pretty straightforward, mostly flat, farms and fields. I just kept the cruise control steady for a lot of it. Honestly, it’s not the most exciting stretch of road, but you gotta cover the miles, right?
Started feeling like I needed a break as I got closer to Roseburg. Been driving for a few hours by then.
Quick Pit Stop
Decided to pull over near Roseburg. Found a gas station right off the freeway. Easy off, easy on. Filled up the tank, grabbed a coffee – just regular drip coffee, nothing special – and stretched my legs for a couple of minutes. You know, just to wake myself up again. Didn’t linger long, maybe 10 minutes total. Got back in the car and merged back onto I-5.
The Final Stretch
After Roseburg, the road starts to get a bit more interesting. More hills, more curves. You definitely notice you’re heading into Southern Oregon. The trees look different, more pines maybe? The miles ticked by. Traffic was pretty light by this point.
Just kept driving, following the signs for Grants Pass. Started seeing the exit numbers counting down closer to my destination.
Arrival in Grants Pass
Finally saw the exit I needed. Pulled off I-5 and drove into Grants Pass itself. Wasn’t too hard finding the street I was looking for. Pulled up to the place, parked the car, and shut the engine off. Made it. Felt good to be out of the car after several hours. Grabbed my bag from the back seat. That was the trip, pretty much start to finish. Nothing too crazy, just a straight shot down the interstate.
