Yesterday morning I woke up with a hunger for a burger - not just any burger, but a specific burger ;-)
So, I broached the idea with Holland: "Did I mention to you that I am impulsive?" Holland: "No." Me: "Well, I am; and today my impulse is hungering for a specific hamburger - an elk burger from Huff & Puff in Randall ... I know it's a long drive (1-1/2 hours one way), but it will so worth the drive. Wanna come with me?"
He did not want to make that long drive for a burger; any kind of burger.
Him: "What's wrong with burgers here?"
Me: "They are not Huff & Puff Burgers. And Longview is not scenic landscape. I'm needing a road trip. I miss the mountain" (meaning Mt. Rainier).
The end of January, I was hungering for a Bundy Burger at a retro burger bar across the river, in Clatskanie: ... and he enjoyed that outing once it got underway; so, I knew he'd enjoy the drive to Randall too once it got underway.
New Married Life Underway Post: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/02/new-married-life-underwaybanana-bread.html
"Hon, I agree that it will be a very long drive (3 hours' drive time, plus half an hour eating time), but it will also be a scenic drive. And my first long-distance drive of this year. I'd really like to have you with me, making a new memory."
It seems I always have to place a stick of dynamite under my guys' butts to get them out of the house. I {get} that they spent their entire {work years} on the road, and got tired of driving - especially long distances, But, I haven't. And Holland knew before we got married that I like to enjoy long drives.
I laughingly reminded him that just the other day he laughingly said:
We both groused a little before settling on The Plan. He agreed to go; I agreed to allow freeway driving, to cut down drive time as well as mileage costs ... with the concession that we drive the long way back home. This would be, after all, a scenic road trip.
We went :-)
And, as anticipated, once he was on the road - he enjoyed himself ;-)
We "made a day of it" every mile of the road that led to the Randall destination :-)
Miranda Lambert - 'Highway Vagabond' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ekEXOzV0-o)
We started off by driving Coal Creek Road, and over Delameter Road to Vader via Westside Highway; Holland wanted to share some of his life with me (today, it was fishing holes). He relaxed and enjoyed the outing; I enjoyed some {new} places I'd never been before.
Snow patches along Delameter Road; Castle Rock.
At every new experience, Holland would tell me a little more about himself before we had met. I'm glad we like the same things. I'm glad we enjoy spending time together. I am glad he showed me where we will be fishing. I LIKE being out-of-house and outdoors.
Steppenwolf - 'Born To Be Wild' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41cFf9N5F-A)
He was also noticing that after snapping off photos/videos, I'd loosen the back of the battery cache to save battery power on the digital camera ... so, he said, "the phone charger I bought for you will also work with your camera, Baby; you can take all the pictures you want to without worrying about running out of power".
He's so thoughtful :-)
My digital camera is several decades old, but it's still up to the job it's put to. I use the digital camera because there are times the pictures and videos come out clearer that with the smart phone app: the zoom feature is broader. The digital camera can do videos, but they are like silent movies - no sound.
Arkansas Creek & Cowlitz River, fishing spot; Castle Rock.
Portable Phone Charger also works for my digital camera!
Road is pitted with large potholes, and a BIG mud hole at the rock pit entrance/exit; Castle Rock.
The Highlander makes a good 'mud-dogging' vehicle; I was proud of 'Molly'. LOL
We have named the Highlander, 'Molly' because it has an attitude resembling Irish temper when the seat belts are not immediately activated. LOL
After we left the fishing hole behind the rock pit, Holland showed me another one at Hog Island, off Westside Highway towards Vader. I had used the roadside pullout as pit stops for twelve years when I had my Pomeranian ... but I did not know that there was a dirt spur off it, with a fishing hole: this was a nice {discovery} for me.
It dismayed both of us to see that someone had dumped garbage there :-(
Some lazy pig dumped their paint containers at Hog Island ... GRRR
Holland showing me where his older brother had in his younger years, rolled his pickup - Hog Island; West Side Highway.
And a little further down the road, Holland showed me two more fishing holes. I am so looking forward to next month.
Old barn & Pump House; Westside Highway.
A gravesite along a fishing hole roadside - of all the things to see near a fishing hole! Eternal fishing buddies; 71 yo & 17 yo, buried together - probably grandfather and grandson. Along the Cowlitz River; Westside Highway.
Along the Cowlitz River route; Westside Highway in the background. Holland grew up in this area; his family members still live on the family homestead, across the road in the distance.
An old train trestle in the Cowlitz River; Westside Highway.
Waterfall above Cowlitz River fishing hole, under the Westside Highway Bridge; Vader.
Westside Highway Bridge; Vader.
I LIKE this Patriot's spirit; I'd driven past this place a thousand times over the years. I never knew the secrets hidden and revealed to me, this afternoon.
Tom Cochrane - 'Life Is A Highway' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3sMjm9Eloo)
Holland then drove up S. Military Road in Vader, coming out at the freeway entrance - where Mt. Rainier & Mt. St. Helens revealed themselves :-)
Mt. Rainier, to the left - I miss "the mountain". I always love seeing it; freeway view from Winlock.
Mt. St. Helens, to the right - freeway view from Winlock.
Holland drove the freeway to Hwy. #12 ... and to Randall from there.
Solar Windmills in the distance, seen along Highway #12 ...
Mt. St. Helens showing near Mossyrock-WA
Mayfield Dam Plaque.
Mayfield Dam; I've never been here before.
Dam sponsored activities: maybe we'll be fishing at these places.
Mount Adams, in the distant Gorge area; seen Highway #12, nearing Randall-WA. No flooding anywhere today. YAY!
Huff & Puff Burger Bar; Randall-WA
We ordered our Elk Burger w-Fries, with a side order of onion rings and two milkshakes ... what we got was the burgers, onion rings, and shakes: no fries. When Holland went back to inquire about the fries, the girl said, "I didn't charge you for the fries, but I can out some down for you." He skipped it, and came back to the Highlander. I was chagrined.
WTH????
The burger came with fries: we paid $13.99 for a full deal; no extra cost.
I had bragged about Huff & Puff all the way up there. I always order the elk burger - and it always came with fries.
The girl working the joint must be either a really stupid blonde not to understand the menu - or she was new to what the job was, and didn't understand the menu clearly posted: 'Elk Burger WITH FRIES'. Why did she think we ordered FRY SAUCE? I choose to believe she was a stupid blonde.
So, we drove to Packwood, and ate our food there. While we ate, I said to Holland that I drive this way several times a year for a burger, to enjoy the drive - but mostly to visit {my mountain, Mt. Rainier}: I miss the mountain, and would really like him to join me when I do the drive. I enjoy the drive solo lobo ... but sharing the time with my husband would be an added bonus :-)
We also watched the elk roaming, eating, and loafing around lazily all over Packwood ;-)
Elk, comfortable in someone's front yard; Packwood-WA
Elk alongside the road, eating holly berries!
They are in the process of shedding their winter fur.
Elk were everywhere; behind a Lodge in Packwood-WA
Making themselves at home alongside a Realtors building.
It was a great day, despite the fries incident.
We both enjoyed ourselves.
Tom Petty - 'You Wreck Me Baby' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyO7qucNJJo) & B-52's - 'Love Shack' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SOryJvTAGs)
My heart is singing a familiar song I believed was null and void. I'm so happy to be blessed with the love of my husband, Holland :-)
Thunder - 'Love Walked In' song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IWAOPi4VCc)
