Re: [VAL] West Bound I-84 to Salem, Portland I-5

["72 - 27 Int'l Ambassador" <72-27intlambassador@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

As a 40+ year veteran of the Seattle to Salem jaunt to Gramma's house, I can 
vouch for the inappropriate choice of I-5 through Portland for tourists with 
trailers.  Portland is a city bisected by big rivers cutting through big 
hills and deep canyons.  This stretch of I-5 was one of the first completed 
and is also one of the most often reconstructed due to heavy use.  The lanes 
are narrow, rough and there are many stretches with minimal or no shoulders. 
The on an off ramps are frequent with short acceleration lanes and often 
occur on curves through the hilly terrain.  Portland is a beautiful, vital 
and friendly city with incredible vistas of mountains and water...The 
collection of engineering marvels (bridges) which connect her neighborhoods 
to the center and the suburbs are truly awesome and best appreciated without 
the whiteknuckle experience of pulling our precious Airstreams though city 
traffic with big trucks.  Portland is a short drive from Salem, about 50 
miles, and well worth the day trip (or longer) without the trailer.

Judy White
72-27 Int'l Ambassador
Fall City - East of Seattle