Tour Schedule | Main Page | About the Sponsor
|
August 8, 1999 |
|
Mitchell to Redmond Chilly air permeated the RV and we all awoke in bed, with Clyde at the nape of Brian's neck, seeking warmth and comfort. He already favors Brian, and later in the morning, outside the RV on a make shift leash, hid in the wheel well near the tire, protesting our departure from the city park where we've made camp for the evening. After minutes of pleading with this furball, I finally pull out a can of salmon and open it. At last, I grab the critter and proceed to the sag stop. At least I now have a legitimate excuse for being late. When we finally meet Brian I am 30 minutes late. I blame Clyde, I should be ashamed, but somehow I am too wrapped up in my sadness to care. Intermittent showers fell inside the RV today. From the time I awoke, tears streamed down my cheeks off and on as I realized our dream trip was coming to an end. Clyde hid by crouching under the bed area. Brian, with no where to run for cover from these scattered storms and just looked at me, trying to be empathetic to my outbursts. He rode up the strenuous portion of the ride today and then we drove for a quick trip to the Painted Rocks. Sadly, I was too immersed in self-pity to enjoy anything about this jaunt. We lunch in silence as I tried to compose myself. I think Brian was happy to get on the bike and ride far away from me. Knowing we were to see our friends from Atlanta, Sharon and Howard Taffel Silvermintz cheered me, as they are so happy and upbeat. Driving toward Redmond, I had to blink several times to clarify whether the images in the distance were clouds in the shape of snow covered mountains or really snow covered mountains protruding high into the sky. So these were the infamous Cascades - .the McKenzie Pass road was cleared of snow for travel only 12 days ago. I wondered of Brian's reaction and make a bet with myself about the likelihood of a snowball fight at the peak. Redmond, with 9,000 residents, seems like a large city, in comparison to the small towns we've encountered for weeks. I saw a Porsche and a BMW for the first time in many states. The RV park was full so I make my way to the Wal-Mart, which is hosting a RV liquidation sale. I clean up the van and, in a display of surrender, put the For Sale signs in the window. I contemplate how the cat will be received and consider offering him as a gift with purchase, like at the cosmetics counter. When Brian finishes the ride, we drop in on the RV sale and meet a couple with our demographics. While the numbers match up (age and apparent income level), she beautifully is coifed with sleek, manicured hair, perfectly polished nails and impeccably crisp clothing. I dare not glance in the full-length mirror to see my nappy head, leathered hands and rumpled clothing. I envision her dumping the sewage from the RV and suddenly, we are again equal. She grills me about difficulty behind the wheel. I edit the experience backing into a tree and blowing out a tire and assure her, "Oh, its very easy!" They live in the green' community of Sunriver, a suburb of Bend, Oregon that boasts 37 + miles of bike paths. Brian now tunes into the conversation and quizzes them on availability of jobs and housing costs. We wish each other well and go back to our home, only a few short parking spots away. Soon, Howard and Sharon arrive. Overlooking the fact we are camped in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart, they compliment us how nice the RV looks and embrace Clyde our cat. Such non-judgemental approval of our current lifestyle is just one reason why we love this couple so very much. They are quite entertaining, too. I've incorporated several of Sharon's sayings into my life, including the "ceremonial shove" of junk and papers into an unseen location before a visitor arrives. Quite comfortably, we sit in our humble home and catch up on the news of home before they take us to dinner. Howard announces we could stop at as many restaurants as necessary to fill Brian up. After a hearty meal and a delightful sunset, we come back in to the RV and talk some more. Being aware of Brian's self-imposed curfew, Sharon claims it's time to leave and Brian and I subconsciously ask them more questions, in a quest to have them stay just a little longer. Poof, they are gone, but not before Howard says it's the longest he's come to have dinner with friends. We beg them unsuccessfully to stay. As Brian and I bed down for the evening,
a train roars by and we are reminded of Pittsburgh, where 3 tracks
surrounded us. |
Back to the home page of Cycle Across America for NAMI presented by Peachtree Settlement Funding