Day 1 Portland to Klamath Falls

Just had a shower and I'm now waiting for my hair to dry. I got a rental car from Avis in Portland airport this morning. This process took over an hour, all thanks to the fact that I don't have a credit card (first priority to apply when I get back). Before I left home, I knew that Avis said something like if you don't have a credit card and are using a debit card, they will take out extra $500 as deposit, I thought sure no worries they can do that. But I didn't read the part that you have to be over 25 years old to use a debit card. And I just happen to be a few months short of my 25th birthday. Luckily, I have a credit card that is linked to my dad's account (which I never use) and flashed it out. However, unluckily, it expired just last month. The lady said she can try to put it in again if I know the new expiration date. To which I had to telephone my dad in Australia (Aus time was 12.30am but dad typically sleeps late so thankfully he was still up). I got the expiration date. It did not work cos unfortunately my dad hasn't activated it yet and he can't go to a bank in the middle of the night. So I asked the lady if she could try my debit card, she was reluctant but still tried. However the card was denied by Equifax. WTH! I wondered if my sister who's at home in Aus has a credit card. I can't think of any other way so I called her and woke her up :( She only has a debit card but has a lot more money in there than I do. I wanted to try to use her card, however as expected, you can't use it unless you are authorized by the owner of the card. So she had to scan her card, driver's license, write an authorization and email it to Avis. Bix told me not to worry. I wasn't actually worried about whether I can get a car or not (I knew I'll surely get one somehow!) - I was more worried that I was causing too much trouble for her!

Portland was beautiful, the air was very fresh and I love the evergreens. The people there were very welcoming too. I could definitely see myself living there in the future. From there, I drove to Klamath Falls via US-26E and US-97S. On the way I visited Crater's Lake. The entrance fee was $10. I wasn't particularly happy about it, not that I had to pay money but more because the lake is a natural attraction and people should not have to pay to see it. In any case, I guess the fee was for snow plowing etc.

On a side note, let me tell you a funny but very true series of events which I observed on a shuttle ride yesterday. A lady and I were the passengers and our driver was telephoning in who the passengers were and he asked for our names...for her name he said 'Audrey Asshole'. I tried hard not to burst out laughing cos you never know some people maybe unlucky enough to have that last name (like Thomas Crap's descendants). She repeated her name and it sounded nothing like Asshole. After awhile, she said that she wants to go to Wawa - a place called Wawa? WTH?! The driver then turned on the radio and was cheering like a maniac to some foreign language report (apparently it was the World cup). She asked enthusiastically 'Is this Brazil?', no response on his part, she repeated her question to which he raised his hand to signal her to be quiet. After something like 5min, he uttered one word 'Brazil'. She then asked 'Are you from Brazil?', after another silence he said 'No, this is not Brazil'... This has to be the most crazy conversation I've ever heard. At her Wawa stop, I'm pretty sure she tipped him over 20%. I guess if I generously tip a guy who just called me an asshole and repeatedly ignored me, I would be going to Wawa-land too. (edit: there are in fact convenience stores called Wawa in Princeton)

It's amazing that sunsets here are at 8.40pm and there is still sunlight at 9pm! After checking into the hotel. I went to upper Klamath lake to see the sunrise. Catching the sunrise was so much fun! On the way, there was a 'Rock' sign, after awhile I saw a fluff of dust on the cliff to my right, then I came across a huge rock in the middle of my lane and swerved around it just in time!

I can hear the fireworks going on outside. Too tired to check it out, I should rest for getting up at 4am tomorrow to see the sunrise. In any case I'm not missing out on much since all fireworks look pretty much the same, but I don't know when I'll be in Klamath Falls again to see the sunrise against Klamath Lake!