Choose Your Own Adventure Vacation

A couple of years ago I invented a new type of road trip, the choose your own adventure road trip. Now a few of you may remember the Choose Your Own Adventure novels from your childhood, this is very similar. One Friday we were let out of class and I surprised Eric with a little choose your own adventure vacation. I presented him with an envelope. I will give you the general idea, the letter read something like this," You just got out from class. You go back to the car and see that it has been packed for a weekend getaway. You gas up and drive to the Interstate, do you go left or right?"

Then Eric got to choose which direction we would go. Based on his choice I would hand him another envelope that offered another choice, each choice leading us further on our journey. The idea was that on Sunday night, regardless of his choices we would inevitably end up in Seattle to watch a Siouxsie and the Banshees show we had purchased tickets for.

The first night we ended up in Couer D'Alene, Idaho. We walked by the lake, took photos, and acted like shameless lovebirds. We went out to eat at what is possibly the best Chinese restaurant on the planet. The next morning we went out for breakfast and I presented him with another envelope. We drove through Oregon cruising through some serious fog in the green mountains. With his decisions we eventually ended up on the coast of Oregon.

This was the first time either of us had seen the Oregon coast and man-alive is it beautiful! We ended up in Seaside a normally small community. Driving past Tsunami warning signs Eric became nervous, but he managed to forget his fears once we saw the big beautiful ocean. We watched the sun set and were generally in awe. Before we knew it we had to find a hotel.

Little did we know that the hotel situation would be more difficult than originally anticipated. That very weekend was the annual sandcastle competition and apparently it really draws in a crowd. So, we ended up staying in a "hotel" of less than desirable qualities. After surviving the night we ventured out to see the coast again. We stumbled upon the sandcastle competition (see picture) and had a bite of breakfast before continuing the choose your own adventure road trip.

We drove up the coast into Washington. Good gravy that was such a beautiful drive. If you have a house in that area and want to give it to me I will not put up a fight.

Eric at the coast

Me at the coast

We made it to Seattle in time to see Siouxsie at the Showbox. What a wonderful show. I even managed to avoid my usual panic attacks that come when I fear people will stampede.

We did not get much sleep that night as the show ran late and we had to head back to Missoula early in the morning with consideration for the time change. I forgot to mention that early afternoon on Monday we had a major test for which we had not studied. So, the entire delirious drive home we crammed facts and attempted to learn everything for the test. We made it back into town with time to park and head to class. I am happy to report that we both aced our exams, a lovely end to the choose your own adventure road trip.