Eastern Oregon and Idaho

Last night, we spent the night in Bend, Oregon, in the Motel 6, which lately I've been affectionately calling "The Six." The Six was a study of contradictions: On the sign outside, it advertised free wireless internet, suggesting something higher-end than your typical Motel 6 (and yes, I'm getting to know what the typical Six has to offer). But the place itself looked a little squirrelly, especially because the room numbers were written on pieces of paper and taped in the windows of the rooms. So I was expecting the inside of the room to look equally sketchy, but they weren't -- in fact, we had a minifridge and microwave, which just doesn't usually happen at The Six. But the best part of the motel was what was across the street: An adult cabaret and "Adult Superstore." On the marquis, the cabaret advertised "Wet, Wild Wednesdays." Too bad it's only Tuesday -- I'm sure I missed something spectacular. It's not like we were staying in a weird part of town; this was a main business district. In fact, when I went running this morning, I saw 2 more "adult" stores within a mile of the cabaret. Apparently, they like their porn in Bend.

After bumming around downtown Bend (which did not have any porn shops), we hit the road, pushing eastward. Eastern Oregon looks nothing like the Oregon I thought I knew (the moist, green Oregon). Eastern Oregon is ranch country. The Cascades trap the moisture and keep it to the west. But anyway, after driving all day through the middle of nowhere, we are now in Boise, ID. Who would have ever thought that I would consider Boise to NOT be the middle of nowhere? The thing it does seem to lack, at first glance, is a good tofu selection (at least at the grocery store we raided for dinner). I don't think I'm in the Bay Area anymore.

And where are we staying in Boise? That's right: The Six. Because that's how we roll.