29th Day (Hermiston - Portland - Frankfurt)

The last day. Naturally, sentiment accompanies me when I wake up. My suitcase is packed in such a way that I just have to haul it out along with my hand luggage. No bags or the like flying around in the car anymore. The accommodation wasn't very nice, and just right. You like to get away. I drive the first stretch on Interstate 84, always along the Columbia River, which had a somewhat symbolic meaning for my stay. It led me to my first stop, then became a companion toward Canada, and then led me back into Oregon before accompanying my last travel route here. It is mighty and beautiful in this part of its course, which it does not end in Portland but instead makes a detour to the north before flowing into the sea. Like the Mississippi on Easter, I have come to love this river.

After half of the distance and enough time, I decide to drive the last 150 km in a clockwise direction on Highway 14, which means that I re-enter Washington State without really noticing it. Often there is a sign, but not here. The sun is shining, and numerous water sports enthusiasts in the form of kite or windsurfers are on the river, sometimes several dozen in one place. In the background is the impressive Mount Hood, a snow-covered volcano and the highest mountain in Oregon at 3425 m. Higher than the Zugspitze. Sometimes the road leads up a hill from where you have the most magnificent views of the river's course - sometimes it passes directly by the river, and the sun reflects picturesquely in the small wave crests.

A road that one wishes would not end, but nevertheless ends when I penetrate the metropolitan area of Portland, and the city life abruptly interrupts my river dreams. My navigation system bypasses a traffic jam and leads me through some suburbs of Vancouver, Washington on 3-lane wide streets towards the airport before I cross the Columbia River one last time on Interstate 205, thus re-entering Oregon and heading to the airport to the right. Unlike Chicago, LA, or Denver, the access is rather idyllic - the airport is not as huge as these monsters of the USA. I get rid of my car in just 3 minutes, this kind of return is extremely relaxed in the USA, and after all, I also have fully comprehensive insurance without excess. I'm sorry to just give up my faithful vehicle like this, and at home I will realize that I forgot how to start my Mini with manual transmission. 8000 km create a connection with a car that you wouldn't have in just one year.

Check-in and security are also quickly done, so I have plenty of time to sit at a bar where I meet Ted. He is 71, a retired lawyer, small and wiry, and on his way to Ljubljana to hike a 640 km trail in a month. After that, he wants to go to Greece and possibly explore part of Europe - in total, he will be on the road for 90 days. Alone, and he says that this is the best way for him to travel, he would also like to meet people. I admire him, especially his contentment. He has 13 kg of luggage for the 3 months with him, and he plans to stay in mountain huts during his hike, which apparently don't even need to be booked in advance. A fundamentally satisfied person, at peace with himself, and on the way to a great adventure. One can only learn.

Before boarding, I say goodbye, hoping to see him again in Frankfurt, but I forget that he has a connecting flight and doesn't need to pick up his luggage. While writing these lines, he might already be on his way to his hike, and I wish him all the luck in the world and more.

On the plane, I sit next to Wiebke from Thuringia, also a teacher, who was in the USA for 3 weeks to visit her boyfriend and travel around. We quickly exchange stories, and the 10-hour flight duration is a neighborly delight. She is a charming storyteller, and we amuse ourselves about the onboard catering (with the vegetarian meal, we get fresh-cut fruit twice and, additionally (!), a plastic bowl of sealed Dole canned fruit - a real joke. Even the nice flight attendant agrees with my remark that it doesn't make much sense. I don't watch a single movie, sleep for a few hours, and otherwise, I'm glad to have such a pleasant person next to me. Sitting next to a grump for 10 hours can be quite annoying.

In Frankfurt, I say goodbye to her at the train station, she continues to Erfurt and only needs 2 hours by ICE. I catch a direct train to Bad Kreuznach, and at 4 pm, after a total of 22 hours of travel time, I'm back in my apartment. I unpack and feel tired, relieved, delighted, sad, and excited all at once. I was on the road for almost a month, a month in which I touched so many events that I'm glad I wrote this blog about it. It will be a lasting memory of 4 unforgettable weeks in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alberta, Montana, California, Nevada, and Idaho. I will miss it and I will return. Thank you life, for being so kind to me.