Epic Road Trip from Sandy, Oregon: Our Journey Begins

Our adventure finally begins! With the Ford Flex packed tighter than a can of sardines (thanks, Leesa, for proving a month’s worth of “necessities” can indeed fit!), we officially hit the road. Our noble steeds were directed towards the majestic La Quinta in Bend, 150 miles away. It is a beacon of road trip luxury, or at least, a place with free breakfast. Our chosen path? The scenic, and occasionally cow-crossing-filled, Highway 26.

But hold your horses (or, in our case, hold your oversized luggage)! No epic adventure from Sandy, Oregon, starts without a stop at Joe’s Donut Shop. It’s a must for any self-respecting traveler.

Let’s be honest. A month on the open road needs a sugary foundation of fried dough. There’s always a side of existential regret from eating too many maple bars. This is probably the only time “necessities” and “donuts” will be in the same sentence without a doctor being involved.

Onward to Bend

Our Oregon adventure continued with a scenic drive down Highway 26 towards Bend. Every experienced road-tripper knows a journey requires a vital pit stop. In our case, as self-proclaimed Sonic connoisseurs, this is essential. So, naturally, we pulled into the Sonic in Madras for a refreshing drink and, of course, their legendary cheese tots. (Yes, we’re those people who’ve visited over 100 Sonics across the U.S. – don’t judge, it’s a very specific, highly delicious hobby.)

Bellies full of cheesy goodness, we continued our pilgrimage to Bend. Before reaching the breweries, we took a side road. We had a mandatory photo op with the majestic Three Sisters mountains. These aren’t just any mountains; they’re North Sister (Faith), Middle Sister (Hope), and South Sister (Charity). We like to think they’re judging our Sonic obsession, but hey, at least we’re consistent!

Quenching our thirst

We rolled into Bend’s Industrial District. We felt like a couple of parched prospectors hitting a desert oasis. Our sights were set firmly on UPP Liquids brewery.

I chose a Blood Orange IPA called First Blood. It’s always good to start an adventure with a little bit of a dramatic flair. And a whole lot of hops. Leesa, ever the sophisticated one, went for a Blueberry Rose Tea Tart Ale named Moments Made.

We also decided to try a Jamaican Jerk Chicken wrap and fries. Spicy chicken and carb-induced bliss truly say “we’re on vacation.” Both the beer and food were so good, we almost forgot we had other places to be. Almost.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream

Next, we ventured into the famed Old Mill District. The only logical next step after a brewery is, of course, an ice cream parlor. So, naturally, we made a pilgrimage to Ben and Jerry’s. Our stomachs hadn’t quite reached their full capacity for deliciousness.

The end of our day

Finally, at the respectable hour of 3 PM, we checked into the La Quinta. We snagged an Accessible room. It was complete with all the bells and whistles. There were handrails in the bathroom for those moments when even standing upright feels like an extreme sport. There was a glorious king bed and a couch that practically begged us to sprawl out on it. Now, about that pool… it was on a mezzanine level, which, to be frank, wasn’t exactly screaming “accessible.” But hey, we weren’t planning on doing laps tonight anyway. It was a great start to our adventure, even if our swimming dreams were momentarily dashed.

Tomorrow? Crater Lake and a night in Klamath Falls. Onward and upward (but maybe not into mezzanine-level pools)!