The Best and Worst of...

The entire trip was wonderful but here are some particular highlights.

Best state for Rest Areas (clean and open) = Utah
Worst state = Arizona (too few, if any, open for business)

Best night's sleep = Seattle at my friend Elise's (Aero bed, down comforter, open windows with cool air)
Worst night's sleep = Winston, Oregon

Best road signage = Utah
Worst signage = Washington, especially the Seattle area

Best place I got lost = Montana (cute towns, good signage, easy to get back on track)
Most difficult place = Portland (could have had something to do with the directions I received?!?)

Best beaches = Oregon Coast
Best drink = Diane's Watermelon Cosmos
Best Shakespeare = Twelfth Night in Ashland -- Cedar City was also wonderful.
Best dinner = Carol's 12-hour slow-cooked pot roast in North Bend WA; Steve's ribs in San Jose
Best unplanned cultural experience = Getty Museum Los Angeles
Best spur of the moment = Water Taxi, Seattle Waterfront to Alki Beach (and going for the price of a senior)
Best beach view in Seattle = Three Tree Point but all beach views are spectacular



Most polite drivers = Washington (even in Seattle)
Worst drivers/driving experience = California (particularly LA area, but really the whole state)

Longest conversation in one place = Geri at Diva's Coffee in Phinney Ridge (Seattle) -- 5 hours
Shortest conversation in one place = Dragonfly Coffee with Alex in Portland -- 30 minutes (her lunch break)

Coldest weather = Oregon Coast but Montana Rockies come in a close second
Warmest weather (not in Arizona) = First days in Seattle
Nicest weather experience = Portland