The World According To Chris Brewer

NOTE: This is my journal from Day 1 of my roadtrip across America. I had just been relocated from Lajes Field in Portugal’s Azores Islands to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. I took nine days of leave to visit friends and family back home in Rainier, Oregon, on September 4. My dad bought my car for me (I gave him the money later), a 1995 Chrysler Cirrus LX which blessed me with a highway gas mileage of 32–and on September 13, my journey began. I looked forward to the task of transporting all my personal belongings from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. Here is entry #1 of the journal.

It was fun visiting Rainier, going to the first high school football game of the season, seeing Coaches Pinkstaff and Cameron (cross country and baseball)…also seeing my family and spending some good time with them. I don’t think Mom ever wants to play Scrabble with me again, by the way.

Yesterday was cool and I almost left after attending church at New Horizons in Vancouver. I love Pastor Smith…he saw me sitting in the back of the church and called my name out from the pulpit. I had brought Katie Hargett and one of her college friends from U of Portland to church with me, so we hung out afterwards along with my “sister” Danielle Parker. We ended up hanging out until nighttime and I ended up driving home from Portland in the dark. After watching a movie with Mom, Dad and Jason, I headed off to bed.

This morning I woke up at 8:30 and showered quickly. During the shower I realized that after nearly two years in the Air Force, I still really miss this place. I know it’s only a double wide modular home and my parents have converted my old bedroom into Mom’s office, but I slept better this week than I have the past two years. Rainier–and this house–is home, and nothing else ever will be.

After my shower and a quick breakfast, I said goodbye to Mom, Dad and Jason. I know I’ll see them again but still every time I say goodbye, my eyes well up with tears. As I pulled out of the driveway and drove down Fern Hill Road, I realized this was it. I’m not just going to Longview, Vancouver or Portland. I’m driving clear across the country on four wheels, $650 to my name, and Jesus Christ in my passenger seat.

I’m scared to death. I wanted to do this, but I’m scared to death.

I’ve never been farther east than Billings, Montana in a car. It’s going to be a different sort of adventure, driving all the way across the U.S. and seeing different states, people, walks of life, etc.

So anyway, here’s how today’s trip went.

After taking I-5 down to Vancouver, a road I have traveled for many years, I said goodbye to Danielle once again and headed east on Interstate 84 from Portland toward Idaho. I love the Columbia River Gorge–it’s overcast today but the scenery is still beautiful no matter what. Once I reached The Dalles, the sun started peeking out. I think it’s amazing how it’s all trees and rock cliffs from Portland to The Dalles…but once you pass the Celilo Indian Reservation it becomes barren lands of wheat, grass and tumbleweeds. It doesn’t feel like Oregon.

Around 1 PM, I reached Kennewick, Washington after taking Interstate 82 back across the Columbia River. I passed by the Tri-Cities COGOP (I think they call it High Point now), and said a quick prayer for Pastor Paul and Debbie Arnold and family. I love those guys. God bless their church and the Tri-Cities ministry.

Before I knew it, I was on US-395 north toward Ritzville. I pulled into Ritzville for a snack and read something at a local gas station about how black the sky was when Mt. St. Helens erupted. The photo on the tourist brochure was surreal. Other than that, I would have only known Ritzville to be the crucial joining of US-395 and I-90. I merged onto I-90 after grabbing a candy bar, and headed east. I-90 is going to be my main link to the East Coast.

Spokane, Coeur d’Alene….RAIN. It pounded once I reached Idaho’s interior. After climbing a few hills and passing a lot of trucks, the rain let up. Brrr, it got cold though….and my cell phone has no reception. Montana’s coming up so I wonder if Verizon even gets service out in the sticks.

68 miles? That’s all of I-90 through Idaho. Before I knew it I was in western Montana. I stopped for my first fuel stop of the trip at St. Regis, and it was 7:24 PM. I could still go another couple hours before calling it an evening.

Which I did. I stopped at a Comfort Inn in Missoula and called it a night. Called Mom and Dad from the hotel phone since my cell phone doesn’t get reception and I don’t want roaming charges. I’ll have to keep them both updated about my progress daily. Dad’s out driving the truck again so I wonder how Mom is doing at home with Jason. I’ll bet Mom’s reading a book or watching some TV, and Jason’s probably getting ready for bed and school tomorrow. I already miss those guys.

Jason’s really heavy on my mind. I didn’t treat him the best as a brother all these years, and now I have to make up for lost time with the short visits I have back home. Hopefully I can call him tomorrow and ask him how everything is going now, talk about the school football team again, etc.

One thing I forgot to mention was that I am going to keep my Bible on the passenger side of my dashboard for the remainder of my trip, as a constant reminder of Who I have with me at all times. He is guiding my path and has sent angels down to protect my car, my goods, and me. If only He could calm my nerves and brain, everything will be fine.

Time to stop writing. Monday Night Football is actually good tonight, and it’s the fourth quarter. Come 7:30 tomorrow morning, I’m on the road again. Maybe I can make it to Minnesota…hopefully. Pray for better weather.