I had made this trip before. It's a much easier drive this time. At least, it wasn't snowing like it did when I made the trip last Christmas.
I left home at around 11am without hotel reservations. I was originally planning to stay at my sister Sam's new place in Bend, OR, but decided against it the night before. It was too far away from I-5 and it would just delay me. I was even wondering if I could drive all the way down in one day.
The strange thing is that, even with only five hours of sleep, I didn't feel I had to stop and take a nap. I was wide awake. It took a few hours before I started relaxing into the drive though, but once I did, it was actually a very smooth drive. I think it also had to do with the time I left; I avoided the rush-hour traffic in both Seattle and Portland.
By the time I got to Medford, OR, where I usually stop, there was still a couple of hours of daylight, so I kept going. When I stopped for gas, I called AAA's travel agency, but the Best Western operator (who had a distinct Filipino accent and was probably talking to me from Quezon City) quoted me almost $100/night. When I said I'd call back later, she said they had a manager's special for $79. I wondered if she was paid by commission. I said I had gotten a much cheaper rate before and she sounded surprised. After her "Really?", I was pretty sure she was talking to me from the Philippines. Besides, at 7pm in the middle of the week after a long holiday weekend, hotels should be practically giving away their rooms for the night.
I crossed the border into California and got to Yreka by dusk. I found a Motel 8 which charged me $60, including a AAA discount. No haggling. Everything looked very new, and they had free wireless internet access. Quite unexpected for a Motel 8. And most likely much better than the Best Western room for $79.
From Yreka to my sister Dee's house in Brentwood was just a five-hour drive the next day. By the time I got there, the yogurt I was making in my trunk had formed nicely. Yes, it was that hot in the car the entire two days.
