I keep trying to be done visiting this state but reasons to enter the state keep popping up. This time, because I had to find places in the U.S. near my flights in and out of Seattle (the pandemic meant I could not count on my original plans to visit Canada), I expanded my route through the nortwestern states. I did learn of a national park in Astoria -- the Lewis and Clark journey end point. And, I had heard long ago that seeing, from the Astoria bluffs, the Columbia River where it empties into the Pacific Ocean is quite a sight.

Three reasons Oregon is one of my least favorite states -- all have to do with being a traveler. One, at practically any time of any day I-5 traffic is like a rush hour traffic for the entirety north-south of the state. Two, Oregon is one of only two states where people are not allowed to pump their own gas. Three, the speed limits in the state are really slow -- sort of like Canada -- which is quite boring on those long two-lane highway drives through the state. For these reasons, I avoid Oregon.

Oregon did introduce me to yet another unique highway sign: Possible Solar Glare". This was along the interstate near Pendleton. I soon found out that a very large field of solar panels are on the sign of a large hill that is adjacent to the interstate. And, while driving through the northeast corner of the state, the clouds in the distance were incredible looking. They were stacked and of different types. Rain storms were brewing in the area.

East central Oregon is mountains surrounding flat farmland. Good combo. However, the central part of the state is simply brown everywhere, and very few trees. Highway 20, going east to west, just east of the town of Burns, ends a 20 mile stretch of road that is straight and flat. Quite monotonous driving, especially when there is no traffic, like I had.

Ever since I hit that deer in Idaho several years ago, I am very much on edge whenever I drive highways. As I experienced, deer can bolt in front of the vehicle from seemingly nowhere. Funny, though, I was driving the 25 MPH through the town of Lakeview, Oregon, when a deer starts walking, not running, across the road. At 25 MPH, I simply swerved behind the deer and kept going, and laughing about it!

I learned that it is a state law that when some crew is doing road construction, they cannot keep people stopped for more than twenty minutes. I learned this when I was first in line for what turned out to be a 19-minute stop. I was talking to the lady that handles the STOP-SLOW sign. I inquired about the latest of forest fires. She mentioned her husband works as a firefighter for the US Forest Service department. Those firefighters have lung issues, she said, and that he has caught pneumonia several times over the years.

In the Astoria area, I went to the Lewis and Clark Fort Clatsop national park as well as to the Fort Stevens State Park. Lewis and Clark was quite interesting. Over the years I had read a number of stories and articles about them, thus I knew much about them. But at this park I was able to learn more, and, see items (replacements!) they used. Additionally, I had a conversation with one of the rangers about Lewis and his troubles at the end of his life.

While in Alaska plus the Lower 48 states of Washington, Idaho and Oregon I kept seeing Fred Meyer trucks driving around plus spotted a few of their many stores. I did some online research to learn more about this business. Turns out that Fred Meyer started this chain back during the Depression. It is only in these four aforementioned stores but are huge in the area. So while in Astoria I decided to go into one of them. I was astounded. The store in little Astoria (population just under 10,000) is two or three times larger, in square feet, than any grocery store I have ever seen in the Kansas City area. But, the store is so big because it is also merchandise other than groceries all under one roof. Guess this chain gives Walmart a run for its money. The store is super nice to shop in and has helpful staff. I had a conversation with one of the staff members about the history of the store. Fred Meyer merged with Kroger a number of years ago but retains it popular name that is almost a century old.

Fort Stevens State Park was a disappointment. According to Google Maps, I drive to the parking lot and can walk right up to the river edge and see where it meets the Pacific Ocean. But, when I got there, the river was fenced off for some construction project. I was able to get to the river a bit further inland but from there was unable to see the Pacific. I planned to drive to the Washington state side the next morning and see the Pacific and Columbia from there.