Eastward Bound

This morning (8/11) is our first official morning on the road east. We are in Butte, Montana. We drove from Gresham, Oregon yesterday and our goal for today is Jameson, North Dakota. Tomorrow, we will get to go to Fargo! I realize it is somewhat odd, but I really want to go to Fargo. Fun facts about Fargo - besides the wood chipper:

1. Fargo is located in the Red River Valley and 10,000 years ago, the area was under Lake Agassiz. When the lake receded, it left behind lots of silt, making the land around Fargo very fertile farmland.

2. The Weather Channel named Fargo the most dramatic weather city because of it's dramatic (extreme?) weather. It gets intense thunderstorms, dangerous heat waves, more blizzards than anywhere else in the US and then, in the spring, it floods.

3. Fargo holds many world records:

• In 2008 Fargo set the world record fro the largest pancake feed. They cooked 34, 818 pancakes!

• In 2007, 8962 made snow agnes at teh state capitol grounds.

• in 1982 the world's largest hamburger was eaten about 90 miles away in Rutland, ND.

Our drive up the Oregon coast was fantastic! So many beautiful beaches and quaint towns. Sofie had her first ocean water experience. Initially, she was not a fan. She ran away from the waves (we think she believed it was attack water). After a few throws of the ball into the waves and watching her people wade out to retrieve the ball without incident, she decided it was it was safe.

Visits with Rylie, Don and Debbie were great! Rylie took us to eat all kinds of good stuff in Portland: Portuguese Fried Rice, Donuts and Chai, we drank gourmet coffee and wandered in the rose garden. Sofie and Debbie's dog, Truman, found each other interesting, but didn't seem to be too much into becoming pals. Sofie managed to distribute all of Truman's toys all over the house. Truman is a very patient dog.

The car is working great. I'm not sure how we would have ever done this in a mini cooper. Sofie has her bed in the backseat, but she would rather sit on the cooler and stick her nose in the driver's ear.