As a college student, I feel that Memorial Day is my chance to get a break before the craziness that is the last few weeks of the term. Not only do I want to get the hell out of Eugene for the weekend, but I also want to get the hell away from Western Oregon. Because I’m a dumbass and a complete space cadet, I missed the Sasquatch Music Festival@@http://sasquatchfestival.com/@@ pre-sale and am too cheap to buy the ticket. So now, I’m forced to find something closer to home with friends who aren’t going to the festival — but I’m not bitter at all.@@apparently@@
So, changed plans.
At first, a group of friends and I had plans to go to Sunriver@@http://www.sunriver-resort.com/@@ for the weekend to do some bike riding, swimming and BS-ing. However, my friend’s mom was actually going to be occupying the house that weekend, so now we’re up a creek.
Hopefully.
I’d love to be up a creek, quite frankly. We’ve now shifted our thinking toward getting out into the open woods and getting our feet a bit dirty. Memorial Day weekend is a chance to get out and enjoy a bit of the gorgeous weather we’re receiving in the Pacific Northwest after having such a long and gloomy winter.
If you want to be like my friends, you’ve got to reserve campsites now. People make these reservations months in advance. With less than two weeks left until the big weekend, we’re behind the crowd. If you want to go camping, you’re going to have to take the risk and do a walk-up to a site. Your best bet is to send a few people early — Thursday night if you can help it — to reserve a good spot. For example, we have two people in our group who don’t have — or can afford to miss — class on Friday, so they’re going to go up a day early.
Another more expensive option is to rent out a hotel room somewhere. It sort of sounds dorky, but if you went somewhere fun like Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia, you could make a real weekend out of it. Of course, you’ll have to factor a lot more things into your budget, but it’d be well worth the experience and provide a great way to let loose.
If all else fails, I will more than likely find my way wandering back up I-5 to Portland, where I will ride my moped around and spend a lot of time laying out in my backyard with “Hunger Games,” Part 2 — which I’m having a terribly hard time getting into (Sorry y’all, Harry Potter ’til I die).
This week, I will be scurrying to find a campsite and getting our gear organized. If you’re having a hard time getting yourself motivated, just think about the consequences of not trying: sitting at home … with your parents … and maybe an annoying sibling … nothing to do … alone.
Memorial Day weekend will be your last weekend to get away from Eugene and take your mind completely off of school before summer. Take this chance to get out, and clear your brain a bit before knowledge comes pouring in like lava.
Enjoy the sunny weather while you can and soak up some vitamin D over the weekend, too!