Stump Town Stompin'

Hey Gang,

So much has happened since I last wrote, but the anticipation has built to a fever pitch and BLAM...here's the deal.  So, on Monday we got all geared up and headed east from Plymouth to the St. Paul train station.  Our friend Jesse was super awesome and drove us and all our gear to the station, he also brought our Bon Voyage caravan of Mark and Sarah to send us off in style.  My parents and brother also decided they wanted to send me off at the station so basically for about an hour we took over the train station with our antics and tomfoolery.  Admittedly, nerves were getting the best of me and I was feeling sick ALL day.  Nausea and headache and "other things" were plaguing my poor body so I was feeling out of sorts to say the least.  BUT I was determined to suck it up and have a good time.

Just keepin' it real

Lollygagin' around in the Amtrak station

Faking it with my brother, Ryan.

Bro's gettin' emotional, Oh Sarah.

"Help me Lani"

Yes we took turns boarding the train

LAAAAANI

After some tearful goodbyes (ahem SARAH ahem) we boarded the train and hunkered down for a long haul. We should have realized that an 11:15pm departure time translated to "quiet time" once we boarded, but the excitement of the trip was getting to us and we were quickly told to shut up or move to the lounge car if we wanted to chat.  Erring on the side of caution we dove into our books and then quickly fell asleep for the next 10 to 12 hours (i.e. we slept through the Dakota's...THANK GOD)  Lani and her lanky physique found it difficult to find a comfy position on the train seats, so she hatched a devious plan to spread out on the floor for maximum sprawling.  BUT HOW?? Well we were seated in the last set of seats before the stairwell meaning there was a little slice of real estate just behind our chairs and she was able to lay diagonally, with her legs just under our seats, and not create a safety hazard for people walking by:  See picture:

Nesting

You all might be thinking, but what about you Maggie?  Well, with Lani on the ground I was free to flop around the 2 seats, any which way I desired without a care...pretty ideal, cuz I'm a flopper.  All in all it was a pretty sweet train ride, despite the 3 year old ginger boy with the duck tail who was just finding his voice, but not his volume control...I mean...he was at least cute and not TRYING to be annoying, I don't think, and his mom tried to take him to the lounge car whenever he got too crazy.  Oh and someone threw a bottle at Lani's head while she was on the floor, mistaking her for a trashcan I suppose.

Shhhhhh....

From the train we saw some pretty amazing sights and managed to capture some of them on camera, sadly it was just starting to be dusk when we were going through Glacier National Park in western Montana.  We met some hippie guys from Missoula, fresh (or not so fresh) off the festival, jam band, "I haven't showered in weeks" circuit who proclaimed that eastern Montana should just be called "West Dakota, cuz I'm not claimin' that shit, hell no".  Sadly, I'd have to agree,  there isn't much to be said for the prairie portion of Montana, at least not the parts we saw, which isn't saying much because anything off an Amtrak line isn't all that rosy. 

Woke up to this site somewhere in Washington

This is my life now

Are we in Oregon?

GORGE-ous 

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park again

"Wait, I think I see a mountain lion!"

Gearing up after we got off the train

Look who made it to Portland, OR....THESE GUYS!!

We were surprised to be greeted by Portland's sunnier sun, until about an hour later and then it rained

That's right gang, we actually did it. We are currently seeking refuge from the start of the rainy season here in Portland in our former classmate, Kyle Drake's, home on the northeast side of Portland.  So far he's been a more than gracious host and his roommates are quite delightful.  Kyle met us at the train station only moments after our arrival on his break from work, so kind that gentleman.  After giving us a run down of where he lived we rolled through the city and managed to find his house and set up our tent in the backyard.  After a few moments of organizing and screwing our heads on straight we were introduced to Kyle's roommate, David, who offered to make us breakfast.  Now...if this situation were reversed, I would probably not just be coming home from yoga on my morning off and offer to make a salmon, kale and egg scrambler for some strangers who pitched a tent in my backyard claiming to be "friends" with my roommate. I would be still be sleeping and if I happened to be awake it would be coco puffs for all in breakfast department.  Fortunately I am NOT the host in this scenario and salmon and kale egg scrambler it was.  David also made a very detailed set of directions to various spots in Portland that might be of interest to ladies such as us.  On a full tummy and with directions in hand we unloaded our bikes and set off, only to be bombarded with rain.  Fortunately we packed our rain gear and were relatively ready for the wetness. After some exploratory hours on Hawthrone street and me realizing I was on the brink of exhaustion (I lost Lani in a book store and almost called 911) we headed back to Casa Drake, just in time for Kyle to come home from work and whisk us off to dinner at one of the local food cart spots in Portland.  Apparently there is a BUSTLING food cart community in Portland and we feasted thanks to that.  Some crazy french fries with gravy and cheese curds and REALLY amazing pizza with homemade cane sugar soda and salted caramel shakes and baby we was ALRIGHT.  Since it was raining and Kyle is very gracious we took advantage of the indoor sleeping arrangements and managed to stay nice and dry. 

That's the adventure thus far.  Today should be a nice relaxing day, with perhaps some exploring depending on the weather and our energy level.  We've heard good things about taking the lightrail up to the zoo and then riding the giant hill down...could be fun...or this could be my last entry.  I guess you'll find out.  

Lani and Kyle and FOOD CART MAGIC

I'm sure Lani is glad she opted for the Marmot rain gear vs. the bag she was planning on taking with

Check the Flickr photostream to get the full picture experience.  Until we have an internet connection again!!

-Maggie and Lani (mostly Maggie though :o)