Sept 29-30/08 - Losses and blessings ...

Monday, Sept 29th/08

We set out from our hotel at Mt Shasta under overcast skies that threaten rain. We decide to forego the very skimpy ‘continental breakfast’ at our hotel in favour of a proper breakfast with a few miles under our belt. Believe me; neither of us has been losing any weight on this trip. We have had some wonderful meal extravaganzas and I for one, look forward to getting back to my ‘normal’ routine of eating - and not quite so much. :-)

Mt Shasta itself lies veiled – almost ethereal – always mystical and magical to me. It is still hard to see her naked without her marvellous mantle of year-round snow and I imagine her as in past years. We are having a few localized ‘sprinkles’ but nothing of significance for precipitation.

We cross the Oregon border at 10:00 a.m. and start the long descent towards Ashland. I had forgotten how much fun this section of I-5 is at this point. Long sweeping corners that are easy and very enjoyable to ride at speed. We have been blessed (translation – lucky) to not pick up any tickets on these many miles – now would not be a good time to start. Along the ride into Medford, the sun had come out and started to warm up nicely then chilled right back down again as we pull off the freeway to fuel the bikes and ourselves at Elmer’s.

Our initial plan was to ride into Eugene, OR and spend the night there before going onto our cousins in Portland. We haven’t been able to give them an accurate ETA and originally had planned to be there before the weekend but the unplanned six extra days in Kingman, AZ with Rod’s bike repair made for a recalculation.

We fuel again in Roseburg, OR and decide to call cousin Walter and ask if they want us to ride straight through and be there tonight or hold-up for a night. “COME ON IN” – Walt says – “it’s been way too long since we’ve seen you” – gee it’s so nice to be missed and welcomed.

Getting back on the freeway after we talk to Walt, I am very excited to “get there” and although it will make for a long ride for today – I feel very energized. We always so enjoy our time with them and coming to Portland always feels like coming ‘home’ and it’s just a one day hop, skip and a jump of 300 miles to our house. We pick up an extra 10-15mph in speed. As Rod & I pace side by side on the freeway at 85-90 mph I pretend to take a riding quip out of my boot to urge my pony down the home stretch. Rod laughs and does the same.

About 11 miles out of Roseburg, Paladin suddenly ‘hiccups’ and seems to lose power. What ??? He recovers and then a bit further does it again. I ask him “What’s up Paladin – did we get you some bad gas back there”? This happens three or four times and I pull onto the shoulder of the freeway. Rod has also pulled over and asks “What’s wrong”? “I’m not sure but he is acting a little funny. It seems to be better now so we’ll just carry on and see if it gets any worse”. After so many miles together you become attuned to every sound and every nuance and feel of the bike. I love when you feel you have just become an extension of the bike and it feels like you ‘communicate’ telepathically.

About 10 miles later, as I check my mirror – something is missing ??? MY FLAG!!!! Oh NOOOOO!!! How could it be gone after all these many miles and just before we reach home. Sure enough, the flag pole has broken right off and of course the flag is no where to be seen. Was Paladin trying to let me know when he was doing his little acting-up? Perhaps – but we’ll never know for sure and never know what happened to my little flag and who may find it and wonder at its stories??? I am really feeling distressed about it and overcome with sadness which I try my best to ‘talk myself out of’ along the remainder of the way into Portland and Walt & Sandi’s. As we ride the last few blocks in however, it really seems to take hold and as we pull in the driveway and Rod holds me I am sobbing my heart out and trying to rationalize how ‘stupidly’ I am behaving. It’s just a silly flag after all. At some deeper level though I think I realize it symbolizes something differently and the pent up grief is trying to find an exit point.

I manage to pull myself together and put on a happy face to greet our cousins. Sandi has put together a wonderful dinner which we are able to enjoy on the patio in the early evening warmth.

Tomorrow we are doing a little shopping (not much as there is just no space to put it) it’s just always fun to look at the different things they have here and compare prices. Of course, Portland is always a treat because there in no tax – the price you see is the price you pay. (There’s that Scot again).

In the afternoon we are going boating with Walter on the Willamette. He loves to wakeboard and Rod is hoping to get some great photos of him getting some ‘air’.

An astonishing surprise was waiting for us at the end of the bed in the ‘Bird Room’ where we have the honour of staying when we are here. Sandi has printed out all the Blog entries including the photos and has placed them into a binder. It is FAT and wonderful and I am tremendously touched by this gesture of love. What a terrific visual memory of our adventure. Thank you both – we love and appreciate you so very much. We always look forward to ‘next time’ and hope it will be sooner rather than later.

We had planned to stay here in Portland for a few days to visit but the unpredictable fall weather has decided to turn against us and turn stormy and cold. The temperature for Tuesday into the 80’s, for Wednesday the 70’s and from Thursday through the weekend drop to the low 60’s with steady rain and wind. No fun for 300 miles of freeway riding particularly through the Seattle crawl. Although disappointing for all, we have decided to head for home earlier and plan to leave first thing Wednesday morning.