Exactly two years ago, on July 12, 2005, I packed up the rental truck at my apartment in Aloha, and with my good friend "Phriedom" began the 3-day journey down here to Las Vegas (well, technically, Henderson -- but just barely).
As most of my moves tend to do, this one got started a little late. The actual packing and loading went reasonably smoothly all things considered, but it did take a long time. As I recall, we didn't hit I-5 until about 8:30pm.
First night's stop was Roseburg. A pleasant enough motel, though awfully close to the freeway. I was so tired from the day's stress and effort, I hardly noticed the semis rolling by 6 feet from my window (so it seemed) all night long.
The second day was the long one -- all the way from Roseburg through 3/4 of California, in a rental truck towing a car trailer behind. Heavy construction during the last 20-25 miles of Oregon, through winding mountain passes. Construction through long stretches of the California highways as well. All told, 15 hours of driving before we rolled in to Bakersfield. Sans a whole tire on the back of the car trailer (which we didn't realize until we pulled in to the motel parking lot). Checked in around 11pm or so, to rooms which had not been air conditioned at all during that 106 degree July day in Bakersfield. It was cooler outside (100) than in for about the first hour and a half.
The third day had a late start, as we were waiting for the rental agency to come by and repair the tire on the trailer. With five hours left to drive until our destination, and our hopes of making it in time to get the keys to the new apartment before the office closed dwindling, we managed to skate in just under the wire. We quickly unloaded the Explorer from the trailer and left the truck at the apartment overnight, finally getting a chance to relax a bit at a local hotel/casino before the big day.
Have you ever moved in 115 degree heat? I have. I don't recommend it. But fortunately, we were able to unload a lot quicker than we loaded, and in about an hour we had at least transferred everything from the truck to the air conditioned garage. From there it was a relatively casual affair to move items into the apartment proper.
Come to think of it, it was a VERY casual affair. Two years later, there are still a few boxes that never made it from the garage to the apartment. Ah well...
All things considered, it was quite an adventure. One made immeasurably easier by the company I kept. Thanks again, my friend, for being there to lend a hand (as you so often have been through the years). Good times. ;-)
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