Motorcycle Adventure Stories and More

A Lot of Firsts... and One Last

2011-08-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

By: Ned Opdyke

nedopdyke@gmail.com

8/15/11

Friday 8/5/11

8am - Honey and I, getting ready and packed for work, and then our trip to San Francisco immediately after.

4:45pm - My last tour group had a newlywed couple in it. A coincidence… I think knot.

Side note: I've been working as a tour guide at The Mystery Spot for the last three months, and I'm loving it! I've always wanted to be world famous, and this job is giving me that opportunity. Here is the current list of all the different Countries that my guests have told me they're from, that I've collected so far:

Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Somalia, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Russia, Moldova, Kahsakstan, Peru, Macedonia, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico, Holland, Japan, China, Philippines, Viet Nam, Taiwan, India, Iran, Columbia, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, England, Canada, Australia, France, Korea, Belarus, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Romania, Greece, Palestine, Israel, Austria, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Yemen, Syria, Laos, Lebanon, Sudan, Italy, Singapore, Malaysia, Argentina, Chili, Spain, Dubai, Bolivia, Pakistan, Cuba, Belgium, Eritrea, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, 63 and counting…

I've always wanted to be able to stand up in front of people and make them laugh. Now, not only am I getting to do that, but I'm actually getting paid to do it. Not very much, but it's better than what I'd been earning for the previous several years… which is nothing. Yes, I'm one of the many general contractor casualties from the recent economic downturn.

7:15pm - Arrived at Sharon's home at ___ Baker St., in San Francisco. Country Mouse is in the City!

Sharon took to me to 'Alamo Square,' one of her favorite short-distance walking destinations, and the location of her sacred spot, a two foot by two foot square piece of ground that holds more than a little importance to her. She says there's something about that exact area of turf that gives her a very special feeling of peace and serenity.

The connection between Sharon and I has been mysteriously strong right from the very first moment we set eyes on each other, and so… half serious, and half jokingly… I asked her if I could try to find the area in the park that made her feel this way. After traversing the better part of the open area, I zeroed in on an area facing southwest. I stood for a while, and studied the terrain and the views of the City, and then walked about 25 feet, directly to a spot that was drawing my attention for some unknown reason. I turned back towards Sharon and asked her, "Am I close?"

She looked at me incredulously and said in a calm, yet slightly quivering voice, "You're standing exactly on it."

Here's a view from her rooftop, where you can see part of Alamo Square.

We cuddled on the couch and watched "The Iron Giant" on her TV, and then nestled ourselves into her pint sized bed for a night of semi-sleep.

Saturday 8/6/11

6am - I'm up and at 'em. Sharon… not so much. She's been a night owl and therefore a late riser for the last several years. I plan to do my best to adjust my sleeping pattern as much as possible, and she's indicated she's planning to do the same. I'm confident we'll find a happy medium. So far, our sleeping pattern/ habits seem to be the biggest issue to resolve. In fact, I think it's the ONLY issue we've found so far that needs any type of adjustment whatsoever. It's almost spooky how similar we seem to be in so many of our preferences and personality traits.

7am - I took a few pictures of her home… these small placards were hiding behind a breadboard that was hanging on the side of her refrigerator. Things people put on their fridge speak volumes.

Sharon has personality, there is no fucking doubt about that. She's a high-class lady, hiding behind a rambunctious, rowdy, bawdy, full of life woman. Or is it the other way around?

9am - Off and away. Our first adventure ride together… her first adventure ride period… and my first adventure ride with someone else sitting on Honey behind me. The first picture was taken on her sidewalk outside her apartment, the second one at our first stop in Livermore… as the temperature was starting to rise.

We took a wrong turn leaving Livermore, but it turned out to be a very nice sidetrack, which allowed us to watch a model airplane dog-fight between a WWI Bi-plane and a WWII P-52.

1pm - After going due east, across the Central Valley, we turned south at Angels Camp, on one of my favorite highways in California, #49. One of these days I'm gonna do the entire length of that highway, from Oakhurst just south-east of Fresno, to Vinton just north-west of Reno. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are sacred to me, similar perhaps to Sharon's spot in SF, but encompassing a slightly larger land-mass.

While we were stripping off a few more layers of clothing in the warm mountain air, Sharon mentioned that her ex-husband might be in town, getting set up for a music presentation. He works as a promoter of some kind, for different groups, and was in charge of putting together a 'festival' right there in Angels Camp the following weekend. We rode out to the Fairgrounds, but we found it deserted, so Ron will have to wait to see Biker Babe - Lady Sharon another time.

Unless he reads this story however… J

As we were leaving Angels Camp, I FINALLY saw another biker giving me "MY" wave. For you non-bikers out there… it's common for members of our 'brotherhood' to put our hands out as an acknowledgment of camaraderie as we pass each other going in opposite directions. About two or maybe three years ago, I started using a distinctive gesture as my 'signature wave.' Up until the moment we were leaving Angels Camp… I had NEVER seen anyone else use it. The excitement I felt, and am now trying to describe is a perfect example of one aspect of my personality. "Simple things for simple people." And/ or… "Yes, I am very easily amused."

3pm - Groveland. Joe, the civil engineer waiter took our order and served us our burgers at "The Iron Door," the oldest continually operated saloon in California. This summer marked the 107th consecutive year that this establishment has been open for business. That's every single day of every week, of every year, for one hundred and seven years. That's (about) 37,664 days in a row. It kinda puts Cal Ripken's record to shame, don't-chya think? ;-).

4pm - Sharon's first visit to Rainbow Pool. I've been enjoying this swimming hole, on the South Fork of The Tuolumne River, for 41 years now, but watching Sharon jump off the rock ledge visible behind us in this picture is one of the highlights.

The pictures below where taken about six years apart, and were (obviously) not planned. Interesting isn't it… how similar we are…

5pm - A leisurely and peacefully quiet swim in the lake at the end of a private dirt road, where we stayed at a friend's home about one hour from the entrance to Yosemite. They should make that place a National Park or something. It has lots of trees, and mountains, and waterfalls, and other really pretty stuff.

9pm - In bed before dark; sound asleep not long after that. Tomorrow was gonna be a big day.

Sunday 8/7/11

6am - Ned up. 7am - Sharon up. 8am - Food. 8:30am - Off and Away.

9am - First time for Sharon in Yosemite. How could someone live in San Francisco for over 20 years, and NOT visit the most beautiful place in the world? I didn't have to ask her… she told me before I had the chance… she said she was waiting to go there with me. Ah… doesn't it just melt your heart? It doesn't matter if it does or not, it sure melts mine.

10:30am - I wasn't positive exactly where or when I was going to ask her, but I was fairly sure it was going to be at "Tunnel View." She had absolutely no idea it was coming, and was caught totally off-guard.

The best part (at least for me) was when she said, "YES!"

Noon - Glacier Point. We picked a perfect weekend; the weather was gorgeous, and there was more water in the falls (Vernal and Nevada in picture below) than at any other time in history, for this date.

Both of us were pretty much in shock, good thing we have pictures to remind us what we saw.

2pm - We had a picnic lunch in Crane Flat, and then decided to forgo the ride up to the High Country for another trip. We decided to go to another swimming hole instead.

4pm - This is me taking the leap at Diana Falls. Pretty appropriate, I'd say. As funny as this may sound, asking Sharon to marry me was very similar to making this jump… they were both as easy as falling off a rock!

6pm - Quiet conversation with my old friend and Sharon's new friend Ambria, and a nice meal.

10pm - My fiance treated me to an exquisite full body massage. I was already happy, even before she got to the end.

Monday 8/8/11

7am - Both of us actually got out of bed at the same time! That's another first!

9am - Breakfast in downtown Greeley Hill.

Noon - Ice cream in Escalona.

2:30pm - Back home to Baker Street.

4~9pm - Cuddling with Sharon and peanut M&M's (see: candyonthecouch.blogspot.com/).

10pm - Retired to her miniature bed for another restful night of semi-sleep.

Tuesday 8/9/11

6am - Ned is up and at 'em. One quick cup of coffee, and was on the road by 6:30.

7am - I stopped north of Los Altos Hills, to put on my sunglasses as I was coming out of the fog, and parked in front of a couple signs. Literally and figuratively.

10am - Home, unpacked, freshened up, dressed and off to work! What a weekend!

775 miles for me and Honey, and 605 for Sharon's first adventure ride. Oh, by the way... she did great. She was born to be my motorcycle mama.

Here's a picture of the Lake at Tokosaben, the place we stayed at near Yosemite. Can't you just hear the silence?!

… I bet you thought I'd forgotten about the 'one last' part of my story… It was my proposal.

THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT!

2011-08-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Even before I saw the first picture of us, I knew we looked right together.

Her name is Sharon King and she is my Queen.

She's sexy and spiritual. She's serious and silly. She's everything I've been hoping The Universe would bring me.

My next post will be about the trip we're taking to Yosemite next weekend!

I HAVE A NEW GIRLFRIEND!!

2011-07-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

We met on-line, and had our first date last weekend. It only lasted a little over 32 hours, but it was the most incredible 32 hours of my life.

Here's an example of what kind of person she is: She told me a story about when she was in Coeur d'Alene, ID in the early 80's and she and some of her friends were out on The Lake. It was a beautiful and clear day, but all of a sudden they all noticed a dark, ominous cloud approaching. The cloud spanned the entire horizon, and it didn't look like a normal storm cloud. She said she and her friends fell silent for several moments, and then all together agreed that they needed to proceed directly to shore and head for home.

By the time they were in their car and driving back to town, the cloud had moved over-head, and they noticed big gray flakes of dust, and then... birds started falling out of the sky! One of them said it was a sign from God, like Armageddon or something, and someone esle said something else, and Sharon thought it might be a nuclear winter from an atomic bomb explosion. Before too long, they heard an emergency news broadcast on the radio, that explained the phenomenon. It was the ash cloud from the Mt. Saint Helens volcanic eruption.

So... she ended her story by telling me that for her... it was actually more interesting to her, to see the expressions on the faces of her friends, and the 'probable scenarios' that each of them came up with, to explain what might be happening, than what was actually happening!

She's a voluptuous, silly, spiritual, empathetic, deep thinking, highly expressive, and very intelligent woman, which The Universe has brought into my life. Plus, she's sexy and... SHE LIKES ME!

I'm reading a book right now called "Secrets of the Lost Mode of Prayer," by Gregg Braden, and while I was waiting for the mechanic to do the smog check on my truck earlier today, I was reading from it. Here are a few of the passages when I opened the book to pick up where I had stopped reading the last time:

Side Note: I had already decided on my 'nickname' for Sharon... "Beautiful."

In addition to the beauty that's inspired by a sunset, a snowcapped mountain peak, or the work of a favorite artist, there are sources of beauty that come purely from the meaning that we give to our experience. In these instances, it's the way we see life that creates the feeling of beauty within us.

... Until the spectators watching the lift off of the Challenger space shuttle realized what they were seeing that day, they saw the billowing white clouds over Cape Canaveral contrasting against the deep blue backdrop of the south Florida sky as a beautiful spectacle of awe-inspiring technology. Once they realized that something had gone horribly wrong, the puffy white clouds lost their beauty and became the lasting symbol of a nation's pain and loss. The point is this: Although we may not have the power to determine what happens in every moment, we do have the power to determine our feelings about what happens.

Beauty holds different meanings for different people. To a scientist, beauty may come in the form of an elegant solution to a mathematical equation. A photographer, on the other hand, may see beauty in the striking contrast between sunlight and shadows in a composition. Albert Einstein saw beauty as an expression of a greater order in creation, stating, for example, "Mozart's music is so pure and beautiful that I see it as a reflection of the inner beauty of the universe."

It is clear that every person's experience of beauty is unique. For this reason, there may be as many definitions for the experience of beauty as there are people who experience it!

Regardless of how it's defined in our lives... whether it's viewed as a force, an experience, a quality, a judgment, or a perception... the power of beauty is real. In its presence, we are changed.

Beauty is an experience of the heart, mind, and soul. Beauty comes from our willingness to see the perfection in what we often call the 'imperfections' of life. To find beauty, perhaps it is more about recognizing that it's already there.

The ability to see beauty is a choice. The choice before us in each moment of every day is to consider only what we're shown in the moment, on its own merits, without comparing one experience to another. This is how we plant the seeds in our awareness that become the attractors inviting greater beauty into our lives.

Beauty may be one of the least understood, yet most powerful, of human experiences. The beauty that we experience in our lives is the blueprint for what is reflected in our world. In our high-tech era of miniaturized circuits and computerized devices, it may be easy to overlook the power that beauty offers in our lives. Within the quantum understanding of a world, where our inner beliefs become our outer world, what technology could be simpler, or more powerful?

I don't feel I have any choice about this... Sharon is beautiful.

Now,The "More"... (a non-motorcycle post)

2011-06-27T12:43:00.001-07:00

LIVING THE WISDOM

THE TAO

Complied by: Wayne Dyer

Selected passages and comments by:

Ned Opdyke

nedopdyke@gmail.com

4/24/11

(Quotes from The Tao are in bold ~ italics)

The Tao Te Ching, is a collection of 81 verses written 25 centuries ago, by a Chinese prophet named Lao-tzu. The words translate as, "Living and applying the Great Way."

'The Way' encourages you to change your life, by literally changing the way you think.

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one sees only the manifestations. The mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding.

When I am in the midst, and controlled, by the sensation of desire, I am usually surroun-ded by visions (real and imagined) of either what I am wanting, or examples of what I think life looks like without it. These visions are usually so overwhelming, that they crowd everything else out, so that all I see is what I have created in my mind, and I miss out on what is really there… which is typically something very beautiful in it's own way.

Emptying my mind… of thoughts and desires… has always been very difficult for me. I used to think that mysteries were like games, provided for me to enjoy, puzzles to be solved, and when the correct answer had been discovered… to celebrate loudly and profusely.

Once in a while I had glimpses of the realization that some things are simply not meant to be understood, but it has only been in the very recent past, that I have actually felt enjoy-ment… no, contentment… at truly accepting a mystery as a gift, in and of itself, and not felt the urge and the desire to solve it.

Hold on to the center. Man was made to sit quietly and find the truth within.

I am learning about 'The Middle Path.' It is neither the path of the self-involved, which is controlled by the ego; nor is it the path of the self-righteous, which is controlled by an impossible belief in attaining human-divinity. There have been too many to count, so-called masters, who have manipulated the weak and the needy; the unaware and vulnerable seekers of truth… and led them astray. And there will be countless more to come. Heck… I used to playfully think I could be one of them! "Give up all your material possessions… and give them to me!"

Libraries are full and overflowing, with books written by self-proclaimed prophets, who will tell you that they have solved all the riddles and mysteries of life. What these mis-guided, or (gosh forbid) evil prophets don't want you to know… is that the 'solutions to the mysteries' are not contained in their own alleged realizations, but are instead, only known to each individual, within their own heart; within their own body; within their own separ-ate, unique, and individual essence; within the Soul that they are. Everyone's own truth is individual and unique. There is no one right (or wrong) answer. Jeesh… there's not even a way to accurately formulate the question, let alone the answer!

Serve the needs of others, and all your own needs will be fulfilled. Through selfless action, fulfillment is attained.

I was born with a portion of this concept already imbedded within me. I have always said that although my father and I were very different in most ways… we were similar in 'this' sense: We both "Need to be needed." The sincere satisfaction received from doing things for people, isn't based on pride or ego; it isn't that type of thing. It's more of an inner ful-fillment that nourishes our spirit; sort of an inner-feel-good thing. From providing a service, like building them the best quality home possible, to doing simple favors, like holding a door open for someone.

The feeling of warmth and comfort might be described as a humble satisfaction… it would feel bad if I didn't make the effort. The key is that I don't expect the return of a favor, much less a reward for the gesture. It is something that requires no thought, decision, or even choice. It is a given.

All that being said, I know I have a long way to go. My generosity and kindness is often disguised… hidden behind a sometimes not so thin layer of self-serving expectation and desire to be noticed, acknowledged, and appreciated. Wanting to be humble as opposed to actually being humble, are certainly two different things. But… I have a dream.

Overfilled, the cupped hands drip. Better to stop pouring. Sharpen a blade too much and its edge will soon be lost. Puff yourself with honor and pride, and no one can save you from a fall.

Greed, lust, envy, and gluttony; four of the 'Seven Deadly Sins' that come to my mind in regard to this passage. I admit to having succumbed to all of them at one time or another in my life. Especially lust and gluttony. Together. Oh yeah. I used to fill my hands to over-flowing, and then scramble and struggle… grasping to hold more. I'd sharpen my tool until it puffed up, and begged me to stop and give it a rest. Then, most of the time, I'd ignore it.

And always… when it was over… I felt empty and discouraged. No matter how much I tried to make myself feel grandiose, and appear masculine and powerful… when I went home and was alone… I felt embarrassed and disgusted that I had allowed myself to be so over-indulgent and pathetic. It took me way too many years to learn my lesson about what would provide me with, and where I would find, true happiness and fulfillment.

The fact is… I'm still looking, but at least I'm not looking in all the wrong places! J

Having, yet not possessing. Working, yet not taking credit. Leading without controlling or dominating. One who heeds this power brings the Tao to this very earth. This is the primal virtue.

I still have a few possessions that are important to me. Honey, my motorcycle is probably at the top of the list. The picture of my mother - her brother and sister - and her parents, taken when she was about four years old, is probably second.

The biggest thing I can think of right now that I have, yet no longer possess, is… my pride. My vanity, my self-righteousness, my intelligence, and my charm and good looks are others. These are, and (hopefully) always will be, a part of who I am, while I'm alive and breathing on this planet. The difference is… *they no longer control me*. They serve as reminders to me of my humanity, but not as factors of determination. They are like the pain in my knees and my back. They provide me with perspective, with pokes, pinches, and jabs of what God gave me as his gift, to make me strong, by giving me the opportun-ities to learn from my mistakes. They are what make me human, it is what my body is made of, the perfectly imperfect manifestation that contains my true essence… Soul. That is the only thing I can think of that I never want to loose possession of; the awareness that God loved me so much, that he made me… exactly as I am.

Once again, I'm faced with the problem of my ego. Working without taking credit, and leading without controlling or dominating; these are traits I have yet to acquire. They are like muscles that have not been exercised. I admit my weaknesses, and these are areas in which I have much progress yet to make. Fortunately, I have gained a substantial amount of patience during this period of my spiritual development, and although The Tao does not acknowledge patience as the primal virtue, I believe that it is a secondary one. I am cur-rently satisfied with my progress and yet I also know that my journey has only begun. I am confident that eventually I will strengthen these muscles… enough to loosen my grip on them!

It is best to prefer that which is within, to that which is without.

I realize this is spiritually incorrect for me to do, but if I was to put my spiritual develop-ment in this area on a scale… I would say I used to be a 1, and am now a 2 or a 3. I used to hide from myself, and instead look for beauty, amusement, and companionship in people and things outside of my self. Now, I am slowly learning to love myself; find the answers to my questions from within; and hope to gain the inner peace necessary to then be able to truly appreciate and love the people and the world outside me.

* They no longer have as much control over me as they used to. *

The reason we have a lot of trouble is that we have selves. If we had no selves, what trouble would we have?

I believe this passage is making reference to the fact that we are all made of the same stuff; cosmic dust and a spark of God's Love. Thinking about each other as unique and individual is one thing, but thinking that we are totally different in our essence, is what creates a problem. We are not all that different when you get down to what we really are; God's gifts of Love.

That which cannot be seen is called invisible. That which cannot be heard is called inaudible. That which cannot be held is called intangible.

These three cannot be defined; therefore, they are merged as one. Each of these three is subtle for description. By intuition you can see it, hear it, and feel it.

Then the unseen, unheard, and untouched become present as one. Its rising brings no dawn, its setting no darkness. It goes on and on, un-nameable, returning into nothingness.

Approach it and there is no beginning; follow it and there is no end. You cannot know it, but you can be it, at ease in your own life. Discovering how things have always been brings one into harmony with the Way.

After being an avid and active member of our three-dimensional society for over half a century now, it's a nice change to spend some quality time outside that reality. Slowing my thoughts and emptying my mind is extremely difficult for me, but when I am able to do it… the indescribable feeling of peace and contentment that surrounds and bathes me, is… well… indescribably delicious.

The very first tattoo I ever got, is the Japanese 'symbol' that translates as,

"Harmony is the greatest of all virtues."

I'm still not synchronized and in tune with The Way, but I hear its musical vibrations more often, and now more than ever, my goal is to learn to harmonize with it, and create a beautiful life.

How do I know the ways of all things at the beginning? I look inside myself and see what is within me.

This is one of the most baffling, confusing, and frustrating aspects of spirituality that I've found on my Path. The consensus seems to be, that each of us already has all the answers to all of our questions within us. I've always known God has a sense of humor; why would he create beings like us, if he didn't? Isn't it just 'hysterical'… that he would give us the spark of imagination that allows us to ask these difficult, mind-boggling questions about our existence… hide the answers within each of us… then make it so freaking difficult for us to become aware of them!?

To know humanity… understand earth. To know earth… understand heaven. To know heaven… understand the Way. To know the Way… understand the great that is within yourself.

This, my family and friends… is my greatest battle (well, the next greatest, after the battle with my ego). After so many years - - - decades - - - of believing with all my heart that I am one of the greatest human beings to ever walk this planet… then coming to discover that I am actually one of the most common… it is not easy for me to rebuild my sense of confidence.

I am beginning to understand that the greatest treasure within me is my conscious admission and acceptance of the weaknesses and faults that make me who I am.

The successful person is poised and centered in the midst of all activities. To be restless is to lose one's self-mastery.

I used to think I was successful. But looking back on my life from where I am now, what I see mostly is a lunatic, running around waving his arms and shouting nonsense.

One who understands splendor while holding to humility, acts in accord with eternal power.

I have another tattoo… the Japanese 'symbol' for ETERNAL. When I got it, I was thinking more along the lines of the strength of my pride and ego. Now… it means something com-pletely different to me. It’s a statement of my belief that Soul is my essence. Now, my strength comes from a position of gratitude and appreciation; of nothing other than life.

Everything under heaven is a sacred vessel and cannot be controlled. Trying to control leads to ruin.

I can certainly attest to this. My life is a perfect example of it. I used to think that most of what was around me, both people and things, were provided for me to use and manipu-late in order to get the benefits and results that I wanted for myself. I think I was fairly gentle and polite about it most of the time, but I also must admit that there were other times, when the affects that my actions had on others was nowhere in my thought process.

Rivers and streams are born of the ocean, and all creation is born of the Tao. Just as all water flows back to become the ocean, all creation flows back to become the Tao.

In the religion of ECKANKAR, one of the terms they use for God is, "The Ocean of Love and Mercy." I'm lucky enough to have been raised on the shore of The Pacific Ocean, and also spend time in The Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is very easy for me to understand the symbolism in this passage. To me, the Tao is similar to The Holy Spirit. It cannot be touched, felt, or even truly comprehended on a visceral level. To me, both concepts are perfect examples of the definition of 'faith.' One of my favorite lines is,

"If you believe it to be true, it is much more likely to be true.

By not wanting there is calm, and the world will straighten itself. When there is silence, one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself.

I used to constantly want to control the world around me; I thought it was my duty. I was rarely silent. In fact, there were times when I would quite literally become tired of the sound of my own voice. I was always in a state of want. I think I was the most wanton person I've ever known.

Wanton is defined as: irregular; lacking; deficient; undisciplined; unmanageable; sexually frolicsome; unrestrained; senseless; unjustifiable; deliberately malicious; cruel; reckless or arrogant; ignorant of justice, decency, and/ or morality; extravagant; wasteful.

There's more, but you get the point. Holy cow… I really was wanton! Now, I'm much more quiet. Silence does not make me feel anxious or uncomfortable any more. I do not want nearly as much as I used to. Whew, it's amazing I had any friends at all…

By following the Way, one does not become complicated, extraordinary, or prominent. Rather, one becomes subtle, simple, and uncomplicated.

Its no wonder my spiritual development is at such an infancy… I actually took pride and put a lot of effort into being complicated, extraordinary, and prominent. I was subtle… yeah right, I was subtle like a Mack Truck; like a gorilla in a china shop; like a tornado; like a … well… again, you get my point.

A great scholar hears of the Tao and begins diligent practice. A middling scholar hears of the Toa and retains some and loses some. An inferior scholar hears of the Tao and roars with ridicule. Without that laugh, it would not be the Tao.

So there are constructive sayings on this: The way of illumination seems dark; Going forward seems like retreat; The easy way seems hard; True power seems weak; True purity seems tarnished; True clarity seems obscure; The greatest art seems unsophisticated; The greatest love seems indifferent; The greatest wisdom seems childish.

The Tao is hidden and nameless; The Tao alone nourishes and brings everything to fulfillment.

This is simple; simply astounding; simply confusing; and simply simple. The key for me, to grasping this type of concept is to not try and make sense of it. It goes back to 'faith.' You either relax and accept it as it is, or… you can spend the rest of your life trying (and failing) to make it fit into a box.

Let go of your need for more, and live in a subtle state of pure gratitude. When you give, it replaces the demand to acquire more.

It's a sad thing, how so many of us (as I raise my hand admittedly) have to deteriorate into a piece of quivering goo, before we decide to change our attitude about being grateful for the gift of life itself.

I have always admired the philanthropists of the world. Now, I appreciate them even more. Those who are able to realize, adopt, and embrace this concept of giving, without having to loose everything first, are to be truly commended. And those who are able to be grateful for the gift of life itself without ever having had anything to begin with at all, are to be commended even more.

The experience of inner peace is the true gauge of all accomplishments.

This is the passage that made me want to put my comments about The Tao in writing. I was raised by two very loving and caring parents, who were both fairly advanced in their spiritual development. They were however, also pretty much 'old school' in their teaching style, and although I'm sure their Souls felt and understood the concept of this quote, they were unable to share with me, the wonderful insight and truth contained in it.

I grew up thinking that my accomplishments, the things I was able to provide and add to society and the world around me, defined me. There is still a part of me that believes this to be true, and I have a feeling there always will be.

But my general attitude about it is changing. After all… when I (humbly) look back at all the things I have provided and accomplished… I realize that although I have indeed, helped make other peoples' lives better… I do not feel my contributions have provided me with any true satisfaction. The only true satisfaction I've ever felt is when I am in deep contem-plation, and feel the Spirit of God, embracing me with its warmth and love.

That feeling, that inner peace, makes all other feelings pale in comparison.

Stillness and tranquility set things in order in the universe.

As you probably have inferred by what you've read already, the first part of my life has mostly been like a ride on a roller coaster. In fact, I used to say that my life was an "E-Ticket Ride." If you didn't want to experience a series of thrills and near disasters, you best not step aboard. "Be afraid… be very afraid." That was something else I used to say about myself. And another one was, "Hey… it ain't easy bein' me."

Now, I would honestly say that I've spent more time in stillness and tranquility in the last two years than I had in the previous 52. Gaeir Louise Dietrich has helped me make that happen. She has given me the guidance, and more importantly the freedom --- the time --- and the space, to find and experience the importance and the power that can be found in stillness and tranquility. Who would have thought it? I'm sure those of you reading this, who have known me for more than a little while, wouldn't have guessed it.

The worst of faults is wanting more. Contentment alone is enough. The bliss of eternity can be found in contentment.

I was talking to someone at the gym this morning about this. I told him that in the past, I'd always thought of contentment as something bad. I thought of it like if I was content about something, I was settling for less than what I really wanted or what I thought I deserved.

I am now learning and understanding, that being content, about something in particular or in general, can be a perfectly satisfactory condition, in and of itself. Not having anything, and yet not wanting anything either, is a very unique place for me to be. I don't think I've gotten anywhere near the state of 'eternal bliss' during my feelings of contentment, but I have definitely found myself not feeling like I am cutting myself short, either. Baby steps.

True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It cannot be gained by interfering.

Keeping my hands (and advice) out of other peoples' business is something else that's new for me. I was always more than happy to offer my opinion to someone, even if it was not asked for, and sometimes even when I was not even part of the conversation. I'd often butt in, thinking I was being considerate and helpful, when really all I was doing was trying to show off. It amazes me now looking back… I actually thought I was a wise and thoughtful individual. What I really was, was insecure; looking for a way to boost my own vision of myself, trying to make myself more self-confident and secure. I was most definitely NOT comfortable in my own skin, and was attempting to prove I had wisdom and information that others did not have.

There is an age-old adage that applies to this. I've known it, and actually used it on occasions, but now I'm starting to understand it at a much deeper level. It goes like this,

"A wise man knows how little he knows."

It is your choice to be kind to those who are kind. It is your choice to be kind to those who are unkind. The nature of your being is kindness, and that is all you have to give away.

I sent this quote to one of my new friends, and told her it reminded me of her. Personally, I'm still at the stage where if someone is unkind to me, I must separate myself from their presence. At least I don't feel vengeful or have any need for retribution, but I also have not developed the ability to smile and continue interacting with them. On the other hand… maybe the fact that I do separate myself from them, is showing them kindness. I'm very aware that I am not always the most pleasant person to be around sometimes. That's partially a joke, and partially true.

The sage lives in harmony with all below heaven. He loves everyone as his own child. All people are drawn to him, because he behaves like a little child.

The older I get, the easier it is for me to see past someone else's 'faults.' Most likely this is because I have pretty much succeeded at one of the goals I established for myself when I was younger. I determined I was going to try not to make the same mistake more than once. Besides a few repeated offenses, I've been fairly good at this. The thing is though… I didn't realize how many different mistakes there were that I could make just once.

I used to take myself very seriously. Now, not so much. Child-like versus child-ish. Check.

You are an immortal spiritual being having a temporary human experience.

The more I think about this concept… the more plausible it seems to me.

Realize your essence and you will witness the end without ending.

My essence is Soul; a spark of God's energy - - - God's Light. If this is true, and as Soul, I am immortal… then time has no meaning, and therefore there is no beginning and no ending to my existence. This reminds me of the concept of infinity; very difficult to grasp on a three-dimensional, intellectual level.

The Tao is everywhere; it has become everything. To truly see it, see it as it is. In a person, see it as a person; In a family, see it as a family; In a country, see it as a country; In the world, see it as the world. How do I know this is true? By looking inside myself.

The concept of infinity comes to mind again. Is there any difference between infinitely expansive and spacious, as opposed to infinitely small and confined? I believe not. The principle is the same. Three-dimensional language simply cannot define it.

The less you care about the approval of others, the more approval you will receive.

This may be true, but for me… as I have begun to stop looking (as much) for approval from others… the less I care if I receive it or if I don't. And when I do get it, it seems to come more from the other person's heart, and is much more meaningful for both of us.

Close your mouth, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is known as the primal union or the secret embrace.

These things are some the biggest changes I've seen in myself over the last couple of years. I used to be constantly on edge… anxiously looking for some sort of stimulation or activity to distract me… from myself. It was very difficult for me to sit still for very long. I was always trying to find something or someone to interact with.

I am less lonely now, without having anyone in my life to interact with, than I was when I was surrounding myself with people.

That doesn't mean I'm not lonely now; far from it. The point is that I'm not struggling to find someone… anyone… to entertain me. I am more comfortable in my own skin. I am not afraid to be alone anymore.

If people would refrain from harming each other, all the benefits of life would accumulate in the kingdom.

What a wonderful dream.

When heaven wants to protect someone, does it send an army? No, it protects them with love.

God's love has protected me… mostly from myself.

Remain serene in the midst of sorrow, thereby preventing evil from entering your heart.

The spiritual exercises I've been doing are much more effective in helping me cope with my sorrow, than the anti-depressant medications I used to take. The meds masked my unhappiness. The exercises teach me to accept the discomfort; and learn from it.

I will end this spiritual exercise with a poem I wrote many years ago.

It was the first poem I ever wrote, and is still my personal favorite.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO NED

There is no just one right way

To get to the other side, I say

Different means of transportation

Different types of affiliation

Roads, passages, trails and hikes

There are so many rites

Children sometimes take trikes

All the same destination, different flights

The house of God is what we search

Whatever the method, it’s a march

Some build theirs with sticks and sod

But there is only one good God

Baraka Bashad

May The Blessings Be

Mt. Tamalpais Day Ride

2011-04-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

DAY RIDE:

MOUNT TAMALPAIS

3/31/11

nedopdyke@gmail.com

About the Author

As with all my stories, this one is primarily for me. As I grow older than I ever dreamed I'd be, I've begun to realize that if I don't make an effort to document the important things about me… some of my thoughts… and some of the things that I believe are important about me, that there is a very good chance that after the people that have had the opportunity to get to know me are gone, so will I be.

I am the third generation in my family to be a residential general contractor. I have done nothing else in my life as a source of income. I always wished I could figure out how to make money off my charm and good looks, but alas… my innate sincerity has always kept me from being able to take advantage of people. As with the empathetic abilities I got from mother, I call it a blessing and a curse. I have always been very grateful of my parents for instilling a foundation of respect in me. I don't always make it obvious, but I really do care about people.

When I was a child, I decided I wanted to be different from everyone else. Something inside me told me that I was special. Most likely it was (and still is) my ego fighting back my human insecurities and self-doubts. Whatever the reason, it is my wish to be remembered. Mostly the good parts of me, but I also want to be remembered for all the different aspects of my personality. The good, the bad, and the ugly, as they say.

This story is written basically as a first draft, and as such, there will be rambling sentences, bad grammar, way too many commas, quotation marks, parenthesis, and past-present-future tenses all jumbled together, into the same paragraph, and sometimes even in the same sentence. I write as I speak… open mouth, insert foot. Usually I don't know what I'm gonna say, until after I hear myself say it.

For those of you who have not read any of my previous autobiographical action adventure stories… I will tell you… my stories are meant to serve three purposes:

(1) To allow me to express my own thoughts and feelings, for the selfish reason of my own self-awareness and betterment.

(2) I hope some of you will perceive it as gift to you, to be able to become more aware of your own thoughts and feelings, in such a way that you may also gain personal insight and therefore benefit in some way, within yourself.

(3) Simply for something to distract you for a while.

Although I have lived almost my entire life in this three dimensional world that we refer to as reality… I have also experienced brief moments in a completely different reality, and it is at these times when I feel most alive, nourished, and grateful to be alive.

I have chosen to use my three-dimensional adventures, out on the open roads of our Country, as a vehicle to travel into the inner realms of the vastness which exists inside each of us. Personally, I am most comfortable when I am exploring these regions of duality… the physical geography of the Country where my body thrives, and the emotional geography of my soul where my spirit resides.

The weather forecast was for temps along the coast to be in the low to mid eighties, and after several weeks of torrential rain and otherwise miserable conditions… I decided it was my duty, as sane unemployed motorcycle rider, to take advantage of this glorious Thursday.

I'd never been to the top of this particular mountain, and wanted to cross it off my list, so after a typical work out at the gym, I jumped on Honey and headed north on Highway 1.

Honey and I were both very happy to be back out on the road after so many weeks of virtual hibernation. It had been since last October since our last ride worthy of mention, and we were both smiling, me from ear to ear, and Honey from hand-grip to hand-grip... with the sound of her engine and her tires on the pavement singing a joyful song, that went directly to my heart.

The times I spend with her, out on the open roads of this Country, are some of the very best times of my life.

The ride north on Highway 1 was beautiful and uneventful. Perfectly calming and relaxing; just what I was hoping for. It wasn’t a crystal clear day, and the camera on my cell phone leaves a lot to be desired, but you can still get an idea of what the San Francisco Bay looked like when I got to the top of the mountain.

I made the two mistakes as I was leaving the parking lot at the top of Mt. Tam. I had a brief conversation with a bicyclist from Germany who was going to be in Santa Cruz the next day, and I didn't take her picture or ask her if she wanted my phone number. The changes in my personality that have been occuring over the last year or so, continue to amaze and astound me.

As I worked my way back down the road, I decided to take a short sidetrack and reconnect with Highway 1 in Stinson Beach. It would add only about 15 miles to the trip, but the added satisfaction of not retracing the section of the road I'd already traveled was well worth it.

The only bad thing about this decision, was that it made me remember the two trips I'd taken on that section of the road with my third ex-wife Donna. Letting her get away was perhaps one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made in my life. I will never forgive myself for hurting her the way I did. She will always be the true love of my life. The ride south, back to San Francisco, brought back powerful and meloncholy memories of how I felt when I was with her.

Before recrossing the Golden Gate Bridge, I stopped and took another short detour, to visit an area I'd also never been to before. The Marin Headlands gave Honey a view of The Bridge and The City, from a very unique perspective.

Two young Chinese tourists, Jay and Chung, gave me some much appreciated attention and distraction, and helped me get myself back into a mood of good will and good fortune. Life is a beautiful gift, and although mistakes can be painful, I try to always be grateful for the opportunity to learn from them.

After working my way down 19th Avenue, through SF, I once again chose to take a different route to avoid backtracking, one of the sins I do my best to avoid whenever possible on my rides, no matter how long or short they are.

South on Interstate 280 about 20 miles to Woodside, and a quick stop at the Village Inn, to see if I could catch Melody getting set up for the dinner crowd. I was pleasantly surprised to see her eyes light up when she saw me; it had been almost six years since the last time we saw each other, and we had never had the time or opportunity to get to know each other as well as I would have liked. Yes, another big, beautiful blonde who had caught my eye and attention, several years ago. I used to be easy. Now, I look back on those times and just shake my head, wondering how I could have been so wasteful and wonton with my heart and pseudo affections.

After a few minutes of catch up with Melody, I excused myself and took off up the hill to Skyline Ridge and Alice's Restaurant; a semi-famous and ever-popular hang-out for bikes and bikers that runs the full gamut from casual cruisers, to weekend warriors, to hardcore racers.

I thought about going directly back down the other side of the hill to San Gregorio, but decided to pass up on Apple Jacks in La Honda, and instead, run the razor back of Skyline Ridge and then go down into Santa Cruz via Boulder Creek. Here's a pic I took of the not-as-famous pub in La Honda a few years ago. If you look close, you can see the 'custom' road sign on the left, warning the passer-byers to beware of the tree. It's a cocktail glass. Pretty funny huh?

One last stop above Palo Alto and Moffiet Field (to the right of this photo) to look back at San Francisco and Mount Tamalpais beyond.

I'd left Santa Cruz at 10am, and backed Honey into her garage at 6pm. A wonderful eight hours and just under 230 miles of beautiful refreshing air, time, and space. I always try to end my stories with a total letdown, so in keeping with that pattern…

THE END

Glacier Point & Devils Postpile

2010-10-09T06:38:00.000-07:00

(Sept. 25th & 29th, 2010 )

By: Ned Opdyke

nedopdyke@gmail.com

www.motorcycleadventurestoriesandmore.blogspot.com/

9-State Adventure Ride.2.1k words

2010-07-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

... this is a story that happened 5 years ago:

   9-State Adventure Ride

CA~NV~UT~WY~MO~ID~WA~OR~CA… 3,388 miles in 13 days

   … from the 'lost archives'

   PREFACE

My middle daughter Ashley was going to graduate from high school, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. But as important as it was to me to be there, it was equally as important for me to turn the opportunity into an adventure.

Since road trips on Honey (my motorcycle) are one of my favorite things in the world, I decided that rather than riding directly from my home in Aptos, California, to Seattle, Washington, through the State of Oregon, I would take the 'scenic route'… through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.

Unfortunately, I lost my journal-log from the trip, so this story is based only on my memories from a trip that happened almost five years ago. Mostly, it's a pictorial essay about the trip.

Day 1 - 6/10/05: Aptos, California to Austin, Nevada

The first three hours of the ride was the same route I'd taken many times in the past.
Due east, over Pacheco Pass (Hwy 156)… thru Los Banos… then Hwy 33 to Merced, then the fun part of the ride, into the foothills on Hwy 132 thru Snelling and one of my favorite pit stops at the saloon La Grange, a little blink and miss it cattle town at the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range foothills.

One of the reasons it's my favorite, is because of the waitress that worked there for a long time… Laura serves a killer margarita, and then for special customers, put the second one in a plastic cup to go. She trusted me. I'm usually pretty good at making people feel like they can trust me. You can trust me on that.

Normally when I'm driving this route, it's when I'm on my way to "Tokosaben," the property my family owned, and I've always driven that section of road with great care, no matter how many killer margaritas I've had.

When I was 13, my family and 4 others bought 40 acres just outside of Greely Hill, and the name I came up with was voted as the unanimous winner. Here's how I came up with the name:

I took the "T" from the Tindall family; the "O" from the Opdyke (my) family; the "KO" from the Kobiashi's; the "SA" from the Sato's; and the "BEN" from the Benthin's. The really cool thing about the name was that before we voted on the name, we all voted on our choices for which of the five 2-acre parcels each family would get to build their cabin on. Based on the statistical math (5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5), the odds of each family getting their first choice were 3,125 to 1. And that's what happened.

Then, as if to prove what a 'special' place it was that we were creating… the parcels that each of the families chose as their first choice, was in the same order as the way I had put the letters from their names together. The odds of that happening are 9,765,635 to 1 (3,125 x 3,125).

Basically, Tokosaben had a one in ten million chance of happening the way it did. All of the families have always felt that this was how lucky we were to be together in the place we were. Two of the families have since sold their parcels, but the feeling of 'community and love' is still being carried on to this day, and I hope it continues that way forever.

I've spent parts of 39 summers up there (and counting), enjoying that part of the Sierra's, and it never gets old. First, a couple pictures from Tokosaben:


   Benthin's Cabin


   Stout Lake

And then, a few from Rainbow Pool, one of my favorite places in the world, located on Highway 120, about half way between Groveland and the Crane Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park.


   defying gravity


   enjoying the spoils


   feeling younger than I look

So it was at the La Grange Saloon that my route changed on this trip. Instead of continuing east on Hwy 132, I veered slightly to the north, and went thru the town of Sonora, over the pass with the same name on Hwy 108, and down the other side to Mono Lake.


   Elevation 9,624'

Even in June the air was cold, and the snow was deep on the sides of the road, but the pavement was warm and dry, and I remember thinking to myself that I really needed to do a lot more of these road trips. Five years later, I've written stories about this one, and seven others.

Please visit my blog listed at the beginning of this story, to read about them, and see all the other pretty pictures.

As I remounted Honey, I said good-bye to the cool mountain air, and prepared myself for the hot desert variety I was gonna be in for the next couple of days.
After reaching the bottom of the east side of the Sierras, I traveled north on Hwy 395 for just a few miles, before turning east on Hwy 50, "The Loneliest Highway in America." My day ended in Austin (Nevada) after a first day of (+/-) 570 miles.

Day 2 - 6/11/05: Austin, Nevada to Heber City, Utah


   Welcome to Utah - still on Hwy 50… and still lonely… next services 83 miles.

Besides remembering how nice the road was, unfortunately, I'm at a loss to remember anything else noteworthy. Oh… there was one thing… I remember a stretch of about 100 miles coming into Salt Lake City, where I was riding thru a cool early summer rainstorm. Day 2: 317 miles.

Day 3 - 6/12/05: Heber City, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming


   Welcome to Wyoming - drive thru cocktails… I Love Wyoming.

It was surprisingly cold, but fortunately I'd packed my warm weather gear, and it wasn't too uncomfortable for me. And no, I did not stop at any of the drive thru's.

Day 3: 265 miles.

Day 4 - 6/13/05: Jackson Hole, Wyoming to Livingston, Montana


   The Grand Teton's (the clouds were covering the real mountains).

That morning it was cold… really cold… and I stopped at a random person's home and was given hot tea and as much time as I had wanted. I just love (most of) the people I meet on my adventures. Most of them are really nice. It warms me to my cockles to think about all the wonderful people on this planet. That day however, I needed a little bit more to warm my cockles.


   The road crisscrossed the divide three times, before taking me to…


   Old Faithful

But not willing to wait another 54 minutes… I continued on, and stopped in Livingston, Montana. It was a spectacular 213 mile day.

Day 5 - 6/14/05 - Livingston, Montana to Spokane, Washington


   Missing my Dad

I remember enjoying the ride and the terrain, but cannot remember anything specific about this 426 mile day.

Day 6 - 6/15/05 - Spokane, WA to Seattle, WA

Same as above about this 293 mile day.

Day 7 - 6/16/05 - Seattle and surrounding areas

I spent most of the day with Kellie, my oldest daughter. It was a gorgeous day in the Emerald City…

… but I did make the time to take a ride up to a place I found just before moving back to Santa Cruz way back in 1989:


   Denny Creek

THE DENNY CREEK DOCTRINE

You need to know where to go To meet the people you want to know
Life in the city is full of illusions
People in the city are full of... Shit in the water?! Don’t you care?
What are you thinking of?
You’re a fool to live in the city

You need to know where to go
To find the people you want to know
Life in the country is simple
People in the country understand
Shit in the water, and you get
Sick of the people in the city

I want to sit on the rocks
And watch the crystalline water
Tumble across my feet... no shit In the Denny Creek water

I met a really nice Park Ranger there, who shared some of his age, wisdom, and humor with me. I sure wish I could remember his name, or one of his stories…


   Retired Biker Brother and Honey

Day 8 - 6/17/05 - Party on the patio…


Ashley's pre-graduation party took place at her mom Mimi's house and was attended by a small handful of her friends. Including, but not limited to: (3) friends - one seated in ponytail, one dressed in yellow, and one in aqua… aunt Tracy (Mimi's sister) - standing/ eating… sister Kellie - standing next to… her (then) boyfriend (now ex-husband) Jon… and (Mimi's mother) Blah - sitting, with last name the same as the color as her hair (Grey).

Day 9 - 6/18/05 - Father's Day…


   … with Daughters #1 & 2

Day 10 - 6/19/05 - Ashley's Graduation from High School

When this picture was taken, it was only the 2nd time I'd worn this shirt. The first time was for Kellie's graduation from high school, two years previously. Since then, the shirt has (only) been worn for… in order… Kellie's graduation from college, Eron's (my youngest Daughter) graduation from high school (when she was only 16!), Kellie's graduation from college, and Ashley's graduation from college. One more (at least) graduation to go, before I can 'retire' the shirt, and put it in my cedar chest along with my high school and college graduation gowns and a few other priceless heirlooms.

Some pictures of the happy occasion:


   The loving sisters


   The proud grandparents, Art and Pat Grey

And the even more proud graduate…

   … Look out World!

Day 11 - 6/20/05 - Seattle, Washington to Newport Beach, Oregon

Now I was headed south, back to Santa Cruz, but I had a passenger with me. My oldest daughter (Kellie) was sitting behind me! She'd already done a fair amount of riding with me, but this was our first 'inter-state' ride.

Instead of heading due south, we went west. Luckily, Kellie is like her Dad… she doesn't like straight lines either. At one of our stops on the north coast of Oregon, we found a photo op… several years earlier, I'd picked my 'road name,' and now… I have a picture of me standing next to my namesake…


   … "I am Thor, master of the universe."

When we got to Newport Beach (Oregon), we were greeted and welcomed by two very loving relatives. They are technically 'ex' relatives… the brother and sister in law of my second ex wife, but to me they will always be my brother and sister… the same as Tracy and David, my first ex wife's sister and brother in law.


   Brad and Wren
Day 11: 334 miles.

Day 12 - 6/21/05 - Newport Beach, Oregon to Arcata, CA
It's interesting to me, how different people are when they get on the back of a motorcycle. Kellie had a really hard time. She was so relaxed and comfortable, that she kept falling asleep. Here are some pics from some of our rides:

Kellie and Dad:


   Leaving Newport Beach, '05 (this adventure)


   Lake Tahoe (Emerald Bay), '03


   In Santa Cruz, '04

Kellie and I really enjoyed the Oregon coast, even though I had to wake her up when we stopped! =)


   There was almost Daily Wine Tasting…


   ... and always time to stop and kiss the girls


   The Oregon Coastline, and...


   ...we met Mr. Wynn, who had worked on the bridge!

Day 12: 308 miles.

Day 13 - 6/22/05 - Arcata, CA to Aptos, CA; the last leg!


   We rode thru a redwood tree in "The Avenue of the Giants"…


   … and across the Golden Gate, in San Francisco

I dropped Kellie off in Los Gatos, just short of Aptos, so she could hook up with her mom, and the rest of her Seattle family, to attend a family reunion that weekend. It was a tremendous adventure. A 306 mile day, and 3,338 for the trip. And for those math wizards out there, this total includes 300 miles while I was in Seattle.

A Very Strange Day - 2.1k words

2010-06-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky. My sister's side of the family and I are perfect for each other. We lean on, and enjoy helping each other. My dad was chastised by most of my family, when he decided to move to El Paso, and be near my niece Taumie and her family, because 'they' thought he had already given them too much.

Someday, I hope, 'they' will realize that there is no definition or description, or even the need to try to define what is enough. What is enough is like beauty… to me.

Friday, June 18, 2010

6am - Up and at 'em.

7am - My obligatory visit to the gym was once again, a perfect way to start my day. I've been starting most of my days like this, for about five or six years now, and have been grateful for my decision to do so.

A warm soak in the hot tub… a 30-minute ride on the stationary bike, and an always-random work out with the basketball and weights does something indescribable for me. But let me try:

Not long after I turned 45 years old, I realized I was in trouble. I had no fucking idea I was actually gonna live this long, and realized that if I didn't change my patterns, I was gonna be in a world of hurt. My body was breaking down, and my pride took a good look at myself, and said, "Ned… if you don't loose some weight and mix in some good habits with your bad ones, you are gonna be sorry."

So I committed myself to a regiment. A very lightweight commitment… of simply showing up at the gym each morning. Before long, I felt something. Then I saw it in the mirror. Since then, I have found that if I don't start at least four or five days a week… sweating profusely, and panting for breath… I am not nearly as happy.

9am - Last night, I'd asked Kristie (my niece's neighbor and very good friend) to call me when she woke up, and let me know if she needed or wanted my help finishing up with her packing. She's moving (from Killeen, TX) to ?Podunk? Alabama.

When I hadn't heard from her, I called her (cell) number first. She had it turned off. I left a message. Then I called my grandnephew Brice. It was on, but… no answer. I left a message. My third attempt at finding out if they were alive was successful. My grandniece Brynn, bless her heart, is almost always there to answer her phone. Thank goodness someone in this god-forsaken family of misfits has some common courtesy.

She handed the phone to Kristie, who told me to common over… she was up and ready to get started on the final touches of the packing.

9:30am - I arrived at Kristie's to find her weeping about her sister (in-law) not being able to come out to help drive one of the caravan's vehicles back to Alabama.

Let me stop right here… Kristie was NOT weeping. This gal is amazingly strong and capable. Her courage and fortitude is commendable, and… yes… I want her… bad.

I even went so far as to offer to drive one of the trucks for her, and take a bus back to Killeen. A FUCKING BUS from Hicksville, Alabama, thru Mississippi and Louisiana… back to the civilization of Killeen, Texas. Jeesh almighty… how far have things gone in my life, when I can say that a place like Killeen is civilized.

10:30am - The vehicles were almost filled to capacity, and the garage was still full. I left after Kristie assured me she and Brice were gonna go get a trailer.

11am - I went the four miles back to my apartment, and sat down and breathed. I was hoping to get a phone call from a young gal I'd met on-line. I wish I could tell you her name, but she says, "The Canadian Government owns me." She's a 20-year old red head, who's working herself up the ranks of boxing, and says she may qualify for the Olympics in England in 2012. Does this sound like a woman for me, or what?

Noon - I got the call from the Canadian red head and it was great. Details deferred.

1:00pm - I called Kristie, and surprise surprise… she answered. She said Brice was on his way over to pick up the trailer, and that Taumie (my niece) had been admitted to the hospital. I knew she had gone to the doctor's office that morning, to try and find out what was wrong with her, but I had no idea is was so serious that she needed to be 'admitted.'

This is a good time to go back to the beginning (of this story). My sister Jackie, and almost every single one of her offspring, has always required lots of help. That's why some people in my family (all of them except me) have discontinued their emotional and financial offerings. I have never been able to offer them any financial help, but my heart has never stopped me from feeling like it was a good thing for me to help them in any other way that I could.

Now that I'm here with them, and a passenger on their boat-ride from Hell… I finally feel at peace… I have found my home.

My dad 'needed to be needed,' and I am the same way. If I am not able to help people (especially family) in some way… I feel alone and empty. Taumie and her family and friends are gifts to me.

1:15pm - I pulled into the visitors' center at Ft. Hood, to get my pass to get on base, to visit Taumie. I had my cribbage board, a brand new deck of cards, and a six-pack.

2:15pm - After 55 minutes waiting in line, I received my pass. That's the good news. That bad news was that I could not get thru the gate on my motorcycle without the 'appropriate attire.' I was in shorts and sandals, not even close to military requirements. I didn't want to join the Army… I just wanted to visit my niece in their hospital.

2:45pm - After leaving the visitors' center, it took me 20 minutes to get out. I hadn't even been allowed to get ON the base, and I had to go through a gate to get OUT. They wanted to check my paperwork, to make sure it was in order. What the fuck? First you won't let me in, and now you won't let me get out?!!!

I am so lucky they stopped the draft just before my number came up. I would've been a whole lot of trouble for the commanders of 'This Man's Army.' Remember Steve McQueen, in "The Great Escape"? That would've been me. And I woulda been on their side… for god's sakes.

3:00pm - Instead of going home for my 'proper attire,' I decided to take a short detour, and go by Kristie's to see if she and Brice could use any help loading the trailer. When I got there, no one was home. I was snickering at myself as I punched the numbers to call them, but I went thru the process anyway. First Taumie… I didn't even bother leaving a message for her… she doesn't listen to them. Kristie… no answer… left a message. Brice… left a message. Brynn… once again, my heroine, tells me the rental place didn't have any trailers, so Kristie and Brice were unloading the 12' truck, and moving everything into a 16' one.

I wandered next door, and rocked Brynn's youngest daughter (Geralynn… my great grand niece) for while, waiting for Cheri (Brynn's sister) to call back with directions for me to get to the truck rental place, so I could help these poor bastards who were too lame to answer their phones.

3:15pm - I gave up and called Cheri. She gave me very clear and understandable directions and I was on the road.

3:20pm - Stopped off at my house for more beer and appropriate attire. Don't worry, you'll get a full description of what that means, in a minute.

3:30pm - Dropped of one of my resumes at a potential employers business.

3:45pm - Arrived at Penske's U-Haul just as Brice and Kristie were leaving. They'd gotten help and were already done with the switch over. PHONES people? Have you ever heard of communicating with people who are trying to help you? Jeesh… my work here is only just beginning. These people have so much to learn.

Etiquette and decorum… yeah… that's gonna work out just peachy. They're gonna latch onto those concepts and run… like hell away from me.

4:00pm - Got pulled over by a City Cop, for sharing a lane with another car. I'd been told that it was 'frowned on,' but NOT illegal. This cop told me something different than the other cop I'd asked. Yes, it's legal to share a lane… with another bike… not another car. I think he pulled me over cuz I split/ shared the lane just as the light at the intersection turned green, and hit it just right, and he was bored. I'll get back to ya'all about this one. Now I am really curious… I love Texas…

… Maybe BECAUSE… it's so totally different from Santa Cruz (California). Oh… the cop told me he gave me, "The break of all breaks," and gave me a warning. I politely thanked him, and told him I'd never share a lane with a car again, while to myself I was thinking… I need to confirm what the fucking law is, or isn't, in Texas. This is a challenge for me now. It's the principal of the thing. Can you share a lane, or can't you? Or is it up to the individual cop to decide. I may have to stop wearing sandals and swimming trunks around town, if that's gonna be a red flag to these rednecks. Get it… red flag… red necks…

4:15pm - Arrived again at the front gate of Ft. Hood. I pulled over just outside the gate, and started putting on my appropriate attire. First I slipped out of my sandals and pulled my jean up over my swimming trunks. Then I took off my tank top and put on my long sleeved shirt. Then my boots (no socks), then my helmet and gloves.

4:30pm - Now I was parked (again) by the side of the gate, waiting for them to check my paperwork. The gatekeeper had already told me that my tie-dye shirt was not bright enough, so I was pulling out my tank top, to put on over the top of it, when he asked me about my glasses. I said, "What about my (didn't say fucking) glasses?", and he said, "They're not appropriate."

If I'd been as tipsy then as I am now, I'm sure I wouldn't be typing this story right now. The other 'gate-keeper' had specifically told me the first time I'd been asked to step to the side of the road and wait for further directions, that the glasses I'd been wearing WERE 'appropriate.' So… I chuckled out loud, and instead of giving him a reason to check my breath for alcohol… I said, "OK... fine"

As I started to take my jeans off, I heard a loud whistle and a voice… "Sir, you cannot take your clothes off here." What? All I was doing was doing the exact opposite of what I'd done 15 minutes earlier on the other side of the gate. This REALLY cracked me up, and I heard at least one of the gatekeepers laugh when I laughed.

This Mans Army… clearly, they do not want my kind.

Oh… the proper attire: " Shoes over the ankles; full length pants; long sleeved shirt (either 'brightly colored by someone's definition or); a reflective vest; a helmet; full fingered gloves; and… this is the one that kept me out… WRAP AROUND eye protection."

I think they just didn't like my tie-dye.

5:00pm - Back at Kristie's to share my saga and beer.

6:00pm - Back at home to write this story.

7pm - Story complete. 8pm - Edit complete. THE END. NO REVISIONS ALLOWED.

"The Hill Country", Our 2nd Visit - 1.4k words

2010-06-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

6/13/10 - Sunday

6am - I woke up later than usual, but not by too much. This is 'sleeping in' for me! When I'd gone to sleep the night before, I hadn't decided if I was gonna take a day ride or not, but as soon as my feet hit the floor (@ about 6:02am) I knew.

7am - Sipped my coffee, did some random emailing and some not so random 'journaling.' I have a new cyber friend I met on a website called "Live Journal." I've been goofing around on it for about a year and a half now, and have made several 'good' friends, but "purr4you" (her user name) is the first friend that I've developed a real, real-life connection with. At least it seems like a real connection. No one can really know for sure… cyber-connections… an interesting concept. I'm looking forward to seeing how this relationship develops. We've been talking about meeting in person, but the distance, our schedules, and my finances are all quite limiting at this time in our lives. One thing I know… we are sure enjoying getting to know each other. I think we've 'chatted' every day now for about a week or more. But this story is not about her. It's about another relationship with another girl.

8am - Honey was as excited as I was, as she was getting packed for the trip. She remembered her first snippet of "The Hill Country," last year when we were out here, and liked the terrain and roads as much as I did. The closest thing I can compare this area to, is a more fertile and lush version of the base of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada's in Central California. The main difference is that there, the rolling hills are only about 20 miles 'wide,' before you get into the actual mountainous terrain. Here, they go on and on… for hundreds of miles in every direction. This area, which is just west of Austin, is really, quite beautiful. Either that or it just seems like it, because all the freaking flat flat flat, terrain, almost everywhere else I've seen so far in this monstrously large State.

8:30am - Off and away… it was a glorious morning!

9am - Lampasas. About 30 miles down the road. I stopped for gas, and checked inside, to see if Chelsie was working, but found out she was no longer employed at the gas station - mini mart. Too bad, she was a real breath of fresh air, I will miss her smiling face, and quirky sense of humor.

I did meet some new friends outside though. Ray and Tim were fellow biker brothers, on their way back home to Grand Junction, Colorado. They said they were planning two long days, to end their 10-day ride. We didn't take the time to chat too much, but they did give me a very good piece of advice when I mentioned I was gonna be in Fredericksburg later that day. They told me to be sure to visit Luckenbach.

We traded business cards, and Tim told me to be sure to contact him if I was anywhere near their home. I'd mentioned I spent a few days at a "Dude Ranch" in Rifle, and loved the area. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with his invitation, but I'm gonna keep his card, and take him up on his offer. I'd be really surprised if I don't end up there on one of my road trips someday.

10am - Colorado Bend State Park. Yes, that is correct. I'd just met two guys from the State of Colorado, and an hour later, I found myself (quite unexpectedly) in the State Park of the same name. A coincidence? I choose to think of it as synchronicity. Things happen to me on my road trips… outwardly 'strange-unusual' things… ALL THE TIME. I do not try to understand them, when they do, I simply acknowledge them, appreciate them, and remember… this is a big world, but there is an energy of some sort that 'controls' things around us, and… I just love it. It makes me feel connected… to the entire world.

Here are a few pictures of the area… first, a small tributary of the Colorado River. Not THE Colorado River, but A Colorado River, non-the-less.

Next, a sign that didn't make exact sense to me. I understood the intent… just not the word at the end, "seining". My best guess is that they meant to say, "swimming."

(authors note: I have since found out what "seining" is... it's a form of 'net fishing')

And this one, of a girl who actually chose NOT to run away from me.

Then, on my out of the 'Park', I stopped at "Bad Bobs," a little market out in the middle of nowhere, where there was a group of nine 'old-timers' sitting out on the patio shootin' the shit. It was a Sunday, so I kinda thought to myself it was an impromptu, or at least very casual 'church service.' I stopped. It never hurts to share a little gospel now and then.

After finding out it wasn't really a church gathering, but a weekly congregation of the local yokel informal men’s club… I relaxed, shared one of my brews as a cowboy communion, and sat with them for a spell.

Really fun group of guys. I'm gonna go back! RJ was the joke-teller. The one (of about five or six that he rattled off during my 30-minute or so time with them) that stuck with me was this one:

"Did you hear Obama was putting a 50% tax on aspirin? Yep… it's because they're white, and they work." This was his response to my mentioning I was half Mexican, and very proud of it.

11:30am - Honey saw the shade at one of the historical markers, and asked me if we could take a short break. No worries… no real schedule today, and not too many miles planned. It's like the attitude I have when I go golfing… "Nothing to do, and all day to do it."

12:15pm - We strolled right through the town of Fredericksburg without stopping. Tourists… everywhere. My stomach was starting to growl, but I sure didn't want to stop of some 'trap' called, "The Best Burger in Town." I was hoping to find something a bit more rural and authentic at the 'old west town' that my buddies from Colorado had told me about, just down the road.

12:30pm - Good thing they'd told me about it… it wasn't even marked on the highway, I had my road map, so I knew the number of the 'farm road' that would take me the six miles, but if I hadn't of been looking for it, I would've never known it was there.

Well worth the sidetrack. Although it is a tourist trap… at least it has some character. I'm sorry I didn't get some better pictures, but I'll be going back, and I'll show you one reason why, on the next page.

The motto of the town is, "Luckenbach, an adult day care." They have live music everyday of every week in the year. Every single day except Christmas is what Linda told me.

This is Linda. She is MUCH cuter than this picture indicates. I was very polite, and will be again, the next time(s) I see her, but you can probably imagine what type of "adult day care" activities I'm thinking about…

I took the main highways on my way back home, and the ride was pretty uneventful. The only stop I made was…

2:30pm - Marble Falls. To whet my whistle at the "R-Bar," a place I'd stopped at the only other time I'd been thru the area, over a year ago. I'll need to find another local cantina… this one has been remodeled and upgraded, and no longer has the feel of an old west saloon. I do ok in 'hoidy-toidy' type places, but I much prefer the well-used, seldom-cleaned type of places. I'm not a slob, but I'm not a prissy either.

4pm - Home… safe and sane. Well, at least safe. It was a very comfortable and leisurely day-ride of 298 miles and an elapsed time of 7 ½ hours.

THE END

Killeen Texas is My New Home: preface... 3.5k words

2010-06-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

KILLEEN TEXAS…

IS MY NEW HOME

About the Author

Ned Opdyke

I am the third generation in my family to be a residential general contractor. I have done nothing else in my life as a source of income. I always wished I could figure out how to make money off my charm and good looks, but alas… my innate sincerity has always kept me from being able to take advantage of people. As with the em-pathetic abilities I got from mother, I call it a blessing and a curse. I have always been very grateful of my parents for instilling a foundation of respect in me. I don't always make it obvious, but I really do care about people.

My father loved road trips, and so do I. Work has finally come back my way, after having been almost non-existent the precious several years, and I have now settled into the Austin Texas area, which is still growing, and is not quite as ugly as the way most people think of Texas… at least the way most of the people who have lived in the Santa Cruz area think of Texas.

I love to ride my motorcycle, and 'Honey' loves the way I ride her.

After all she is a girl and I am a man.

5/15/10

Saturday, 7am - Today marks the beginning of my 2nd week here in Killeen. The city is here because of Fort Hood, the largest Army Base in the United States, and inhabits over 120,000 residents, but has the feel of a 'small country town' to it… at least to me… at least so far.

The people I've met, mostly subcontractors and suppliers are very nice, and except for one or two of them, speak with little or no 'drawl'. Because the city is built around the Army Base, there are people from all over the Country living here, and it seems to have the diversity that I crave and relish.

In fact… shortly before I left Santa Cruz, I saw a guy walking around the 'Pacific Avenue Garden Mall', wearing a tie-dye t-shirt that read, "Keep Austin Weird." I'm happy and somewhat amazed at what the Universe has provided for me. Moving 1,810 (driving) miles, and finding a 'sister-city,' out here in south-eastern-central Texas. I'd heard from many people, that the Austin area is unlike the rest of Texas… an oasis of sanity (or insanity, depending on your opinion) in a desert of red-necked conservatism. Don't get me wrong… I love Texas… all of it. Even this example of two businesses; a roller-skating rink and a gun shop, directly across the parking lot from each other… strike me more as 'interesting and diverse,' than 'backwoods and hillbilly.'

I'm hoping that Wil, my boss, and I are gonna be able to develop a compatible working relationship, but so far, all he's done is give me reasons to be concerned. He tells me he trusts me, but he's only doling out the required information and authority in very small amounts. He tells me he wants me to run all aspects of the construction of our projects, but here is an example of one of the 'problems' I'm having with him:

Under his direction, the lumber company called him to tell him that when our first delivery had been made, there was someone on the jobsite telling the driver to deliver the material to a different lot. They didn't tell him that the driver also saw the guy take some materials as he was driving away. I found out about that when I spoke with the driver myself.

So… I get a call from Wil at 7:15am, and his voice is barely intelligible. He's scareaming at me. It took me a few hours to track down what had happened, and during this time, he refused to speak with me about any other topic. He totally tied my hands as far as being willing to give me the needed information, so that I could keep the job moving smoothly and efficiently.

Even after I found out what happened, he was still unable to communicate with me. I wanted to tell him (and still do) that I'm concerned that if he looses his ability to stay calm and rational over the fact that it was one of OUR subs who 'borrowed' four rolls of tie-wire for another of his jobs; and was going to replace it before he started our job later that day; and that he incorrectly thought that the delivery was for him (he was waiting for 'his' material for the other job).

I was (and still am) concerned how he might react when something more serious happens. Construction projects are inherently chaotic and ever changing. I understand he's a 'bottom-line' kinda guy, but the stress level he inflicted on me over something so insignificant, is not giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

And I've heard from several (3 or 4 so far) that he is not to be trusted when it comes to money, and that he makes promises that he doesn't hold up to. I always give people a fair chance to prove or disprove themselves with me, directly, but...

Originally, I told him I'd be ok with getting paid once a month, but now I've decided to change that to weekly. I've already allowed him to revise his promise to give me a $50/ week raise, until after the end of my first month. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in two weeks…

On a good note, I'm confident that there is enough construction out here, that I'll be able to find a good job if it doesn't work out with Wil, and even more exciting (on a personal note)... I'm only two weeks away from buying my airfare back to Santa Cruz, to bring Honey out to me. We should be in our loving arms and handlebars in just over a month. Oh, how I do miss her.

5/18/10

Tuesday, 5am - About 12 hours ago I verified a couple things about Wil. I cannot believe him… about what he tells me, or what he doesn't tell me.

Turns out HE was the one who took down my sign at the jobsite. He'd given me his ok to put it up, but when he saw it, he changed his mind, 'cuz it didn't say anything about him or his company. So instead of calling me and asking me to take it down, he ripped the screws out of it as he pulled it down.

This only increases my discouragement about what type of a person he is. It's not that he changed his mind and wanted the sign down until he could get his up… it's that he did it in a destructive way, and then… didn't say anything to me about it.

The bigger issue is that he lied to me about the construction loan closing. It didn't. Later, he said he didn't pay attention to the bank, when they told him not begin construction until after the closing date, and he'd planned to use 'his own money' until the bank's money was available. Well… the bank was notified by the title company, which had been notified by the City of Killeen Building Department. Then the bank called Wil and told him that if he continued the work on the project, they would withdraw all of their (allegedly promised) funds. So the job is shut down for 'one week'... so he says.

I'm gonna speak with Wil, and express my concerns, and tell him that if he cannot be more attentive about the 'paperwork' and more importantly... honest with me… we do not have a chance of developing a relationship.

On the bright side, I'm leaving for Santa Cruz in a few hours to bring Honey home! I wasn't scheduled to leave until the project reached the drywall stage, but since he still doesn't have the plans for our next project to bid, there's nothing for me to do, so… YEA!!!... Honey and I will be together again this evening, and so this story will turn out to be an motorcycle adventure story after-all! And more.

8am - While I was working out at my gym this morning, I thought of something else I wanted to say before leaving my new home in Texas, for my old home in California: I've told G, over and over, about how much she has added to my life. The things she's given me are priceless. I told her I'd lost seven pounds since I got here, but what I didn't tell her is that it was probably more like fifteen… of fat… with an estimated gain of about five pounds of muscle and a pound each of self confidence, self assurance, and happiness.

My belt buckle is down to it's second smallest hole, which makes my waist smaller than it's been in about two or three years. Good thing I don't weigh my ego… I'd weigh MORE than when I came out here if I did. I try to keep my ego as close to zero as humanly possible, but that's not easy for someone as handsome and as charming as someone like me.

Seriously though… what I'm honestly trying to say is… "THANK YOU G, for helping me along my path of spiritual evolution, I am a much better person than I was before I met you, and what's even more exciting, is that I'm finally interested in trying harder to become an even better example of what Sugmad (God/ Higher Power) wants from all of us."

My flights from Austin to El Paso to Phoenix to San Jose were smooth and passed quickly. I had a couple conversations with my 'seat partners', but mostly I was contemplating about my past, present and future life.

5/19/10

Wednesday, 4am - I awoke with G next to me, and although we both new it would be emotionally painful… we decided to make sweet love… which could easily turn out be the last time for us.

6am - I decided not to go the gym, and instead 'played' with my email and Live Journal friends. G's schedule and mine never did match up. She told me many times, that she had been wanting to re-set her clock, so she could get to work earlier, and get home earlier, even before she'd met me, but alas… it never happened. An example and proof that not even 'enlightened and advanced souls' are able to make all the changes that they want in themselves.

Part of me is a little sad and discouraged about that, and part of me actually feels a little relief. I have always felt my potential for 'greatness,' but have always also felt guilty for not accomplishing as much as I thought I was capable of. Seeing someone like G, who is so 'far ahead of me' on her spiritual path… still having difficulties with her human frailties… gives me hope that maybe I'm not as far behind her as I think I am.

7am - Started packing/ organizing Honey for our trip. This has always been a fun thing for me. I enjoy packing, whether it's for a road trip, a move, or just to organize a garage or closet. G calls it 'pattern recognition' which is part of the 'sage energy' of my personality. I see things differently than a lot of people, and it helps me in a lot of different ways.

The sage energy also has leadership abilities, which explains why I've always felt more comfortable when I'm in charge of a project. Not that I feel I need to make all the decisions… just the opposite. I like to draw on the ability and talents of others, which makes me a good leader. I am usually able to bring out the best in other people in most group settings and activities.

9am - Errands. Wells Fargo Bank; my (old) gym; and the County Building, to deal with a traffic ticket I got the day before I left the last time I was in town. The cop was a good guy, a fellow biker brother in fact, and had given me the option of getting written up for either; a) rolling thru a stop sign, or; b) passing on a double yellow line. The traffic that day had been at a standstill in my neighborhood, and instead of being patient like a good boy, I decided to drive down the street on the wrong side of the road. No one was coming, I could see all the way to the end of the next block, so I new it was safe, but… when I came to the stop sign, I glanced left… then right… and saw the bike cop at the corner, as I rolled thru the intersection going about 10 miles per hour.

I pulled over and hung my head sheepishly. He wanted to give me a break and let me go… I could tell from his expression, but he also felt his responsibility to make this a learning lesson for me. All this was unspoken, but I'm pretty good at reading people, so I thanked him for doing his job, and promised him I'd relax and not be in such a hurry. I asked him which 'penalty' he would recommend I take, and he said that they were both the same fine; points against my license; and correctable by traffic school, so… I should take the one that I expected not to get again right away.

I thought about it for awhile, and took the 'rolling thru the stop-sign.' He'd already confirmed what I'd been told several times previously, from other law enforcement officers… that most of them give motorcyclists a certain amount of lee-way when it comes to coming to a full and complete stop at a stop sign, and typically… I'm usually pretty good about doing that (almost stopping). In fact sometimes, I DO come to a full stop, and then start again… without putting my feet down.

For you non-bikers out there, you might not understand this, but often… it's as much fun to go as slow as possible, as it is to go fast.

10:30am - I met Donna at The Bayview Hotel in downtown Aptos.

We love each other as much as we ever did. It's bitter sweet… we just could never figure out how to make our relationship a totally healthy one. If I had to pick the one biggest difference in our personalities, it's that I feel the sincere need to share myself… with as many people as possible, and she feels the need to keep her life private. Plusses and minuses on both philosophies, and we respect each other's choices, but it certainly does not make for a compatible evening out. I used to 'embarrass' her to anger, when I'd involve other people in our conversations, or interact with them about theirs. She admitted… I was 'good' at it, and was amazed how I could do it, without offending or even bothering anyone. I do consider myself an obnoxious buttinski, but I also consider myself a respectful buttinski. I can tell when someone isn't 'welcome to the intrusion,' and never push them if they don't give me the impression they want to 'play along' with me.

Donna and I are continuing to correspond, and although G hasn't made any indication that she would consider visiting me here in Texas… Donna has!

11am - I met Brian at his house.

Brian is one of my longest known and best friends. Although our personalities are extremely different, we seem to always be able to mesh together with ease and comfort. I think the main reason for this, is because we respect and maybe even envy to a certain degree… the differences in us. He's mellow, laid back, and studious. I'm always on the go, lively, and learn from experiencing things, not from reading about them (typically).

12:15pm - Made a quick stop at El Patio Grocery in La Selva Beach. I sure hope I can figure out a way to move back there someday. I know I'll end up there eventually… all three of my daughters know that I want half my ashes scattered at the mean tide line, and the other half at the Lake at Tokosaben (the property near Yosemite my parents owned from 1970 ~ 2005).

This is downtown La Selva

This is Stout Lake at Tokosaben near Yosemite

12:30pm - Went to Bev's house for a game of cribbage.

My brother Bev and I have never been what you would call 'close,' but recently we've developed a much better relationship. I think mostly it's because I'm not drunk every time he sees me. He and his wife are very loving and supportive to me, and someday I'll ask her if I can share some of our secrets with everyone. Ha ha… just kidding Bev =).

1:30pm - Went to Donnie's (my evil twin brother) for a game of cribbage.

He's not really evil. We trade that title back and forth, depending on how much beer each of us as in our system. I had to comment about his gut when I saw him. He's always 'teased' me about mine, but now… clearly… he has been more 'evil' than me lately! Kidding… look at the guy… even if he's tripled his body fat, he's gotta still be in single digits (I think I'm somewhere around 22%).

I'm trying to get him to act his age, and get a sensible motorcycle, but he's got a young girlfriend, and won't admit it, but I think he rides his sport bike to help him feel younger. Like having Amy at his side isn't enough to do that.

2pm - Watering/ weeding for G. My poor roses… she's not taking care of them and it's breaking my heart. I know she wants to, but she refuses to acknowledge her limitations, and continues to take on WAY too many responsibilities and commitments. She's working herself way too hard, and what's really sad, is that because of her choice to overload herself… all of her projects are suffering. She's going to a seminar in a few weeks, about learning to be aware of, and control the subconscious mind. I hope she is successful, and learns how to tell people, "No, I'm sorry, I cannot do that for you."

3pm - More packing and organizing with Honey. Everything is now on or in her, except the clothes I'm wearing, and the ones I'm gonna wear tomorrow!

5pm - G got home early!

6pm - I made us dinner (fajitas)... cleaned the kitchen… and…

7pm - Bed. G said it was too early for her to go to sleep. I mumbled that I didn't want to sleep, but I guess she didn't hear me.

10pm - I went upstairs to find out what she was doing that was more important than being with me on my last night, and found her playing her on-line game. Without looking up from her computer screen, she smiled and said, "Oh good, you decided to wake up." I turned around without saying a word, and went back downstairs… sad, frustrated, and very surprised that she didn't want to be with me.

11pm - G came to bed. No attempt to make love (from either of us). Sad. Very sad.

Midnight - Resting,.. not really sleeping.

Killeen Texas is My New Home: The Ride... 2.2k words

2010-06-12T05:50:00.000-07:00

5/20/10

Thursday, 1am - Resting.

2am - Resting.

3am - Up and at 'em.

5:00am - Took a picture of me pretending to sleep next to G. She grunted something, but didn't wake up.

5:30am - Off and away.

6:15am - Salinas. Beer and banana.

7:15am - King City. Beer and gas.

8am - Priest Valley. Beer and picture.

8:45am - Coalinga. Gas, beer, ice.

10:45am - Unfortunately, I was done with back roads for the day. I wanted to make hay my first day out, so had decided to stay on the freeways. This was gonna be the last day like that for this trip though! I went south on I-5 and then east on Hwy 56 thru Bakersfield; past Arvin; and up and over Tehachapi Pass.

12:30pm - Mojave. I had gone thru a cloud coming over the pass. It went from a drizzly wind chill of about 30 to an arid wind heat of about 95 in less than 10 miles. I had to stop to disrobe behind a metal shed. Off came the layers, and on went the sunscreen. Oh, and another beer.

1:45pm - Barstow.

2:45pm - Ludlow. Beer. Met Joe Misplay on his Orange Gold Wing. He and his buddies were on their last leg of completing the entire length of Historic Route 66. I'm gonna do that someday, hopefully it will happen in this lifetime. The picture didn't turn out, sorry.

4pm - Fenner/ Oasis. Gas, beer, ice.

5pm - Needles. I don't think I've ever been thru Needles without stopping at BK's Pepper Lounge, and after this trip, my record still stands. SHOOT. Somehow I lost the picture I took of Karla the bartendress… and she was cute too! =(.

6pm - Kingman, AZ. I made it! 630 miles in 12 ½ hours. Day 1 complete. Well almost complete. First…

6:30pm - Poolside, having my last beer for the day. Were you counting?

6:45pm - Spoke with G about our last night together. We've always had communication problems, and last night was a perfect example. She said she DID want to have sex, but thought that I was too sleepy. I asked her why she didn't ask or tell me what she wanted, and she said she was trying to be polite. F - ing hell woman… be polite about something else… when it's about sex… rude and crude can sometimes be a GOOD thing! She'll never understand my humor. Oh well. We worked it out, and things are ok now.

7pm - Dinner.

8pm - TV.

9pm - Sleep, with Honey hitched up just outside my motel room.

5/21/10

Friday. 2am - My neighbor at the motel came home and turned on his TV. Loud.

2:15am - I knocked on his door and got no response. Actually, that's not true. He did respond. He turned UP the volume.

2:30am - I called the motel desk clerk and then listened to my neighbor's phone ringing for about 15 minutes. He never answered… fortunately the volume didn't go up though. Maybe it was already turned up as loud as it would go. I called the clerk and said thank you for trying, and thought about asking her to move me to another room, but decided to use the experience as an opportunity to practice my 'spiritual exercises.'

3am - I succeeded, and was able to zone the TV out, and get some rest.

4am - Up and at 'em. Feeling substantially better than I looked.

5am - Packing. Morning beer.

5:30am - Off and away.

6:30am - Four miles from Seligman, and… I ran out of gas. Wow… this is a new experience. I wasn't even in Texas yet.

7am - Back on the road. If I hadn't have spent ten minutes pouting about running out of gas, I would've already had been pulling into the station up the freeway. How was I able to get going so quickly you may ask. Well, because of my previous experiences (in Texas)… I'd decided to have Honey carry an extra can of gasoline on her back. Me smart.

7:15am - After filling her tank I went directly across the road and bought a Road Kill Café t-shirt. It won't show up on a picture, so I'll tell ya 'bout it. It has the 'Historic Route 66' emblem on the front, with the name of the café, and on the back it has a (partial) menu of the food they serve. One item listed from each state the Route goes through:

Illinois - Pavement Possum "Served on a bun, this beast is awesome"

Missouri - Show Me Shitzu "A hairy little treat with fuzzy little feet"

Kansas - Curbside Kitty "A little bitty, bite sized kitty"

Oklahoma - Airbrake Owl "It was saying 'whooo' when thru the windshield it flew"

Texas - 2 Step Terrier "Step 1, we hit it, Step 2, you get it"

New Mexico - Chihuahua Chili "A Southwest delight that shivers when it bites"

Arizona - Grand Cnayon Cougar - "A big mountain cat, that you'll eat 'till you're fat"

and finally…

California - Cream-O-Kitty "Our Western version that starts out Persian"

8:00am - Ash Fork. Kellie wasn't working at the gas station mini mart that day, so I left a message for her with one of her coworkers, that I was passing thru town again, and still wanted to spend the night with her in Flagstaff some day. I was a bit sad that I'd missed her, but I was very excited that I had reached the point of my chosen route and was leaving the freeway for the rest of the day!

8:30am - Chino Valley. Breakfast at The Iron Horse Restaurant.

10am - Valle Verde.

10:15am - Pulled over and given a warning about speeding. Whew. Nice guy.

11:15am - Pine Trail trailhead. Honey wanted to go in and sit down, but I explained to her that the door was just too small for her to get in.

12:30pm - Heber. I'd heard there was supposed to be a BMW event there, but I didn't see diddle-e-dee.

1:30pm - Show Low.

2:30pm - Sunrise Ski Area.

3:45pm - Alpine! What a beautiful area. This is the Arizona that most people don't know anything about. Absolutely lovely… about 9,200' in elevation, and just as beautiful as you could imagine.

4pm - I headed south from Alpine, on Hwy 191 and encountered the most difficult part of this particular adventure. I'd 'aimed' my route directly at this road, because of its color and shape on the map. Honey and I both love little black squiggly lines. The biker lingo is 'twisties'. I had been lookin' forward to this road since I picked my route the night before. I'd gone many miles further than I needed to because of it. It was going to be a BLAST!

5:30pm - MAJOR twisties… non-stop for about 110 miles. Hwy 191. It's just what I wanted, but it was too late in the day, and two many miles. It almost won, and in a sense it did. It wore me out to the point of making my only mistake of the trip. Fortunately, it ended up turning out to be a good thing. I love it when that happens. Read on.

6:00pm - I drove right through the "Biggest Fucking Copper Mine" in the world. I 'google-earthed' it when I got to Killeen, and as I had suspected… you CAN see it from outer space. It was the end of the MAJOR twisties, and I'm sorry I was so pooped that I didn't even stop to take pictures. I just needed to find a motel.

6:30pm - Clifton. Gas & beer. No motel available, and the next town was 100 miles away. Shoot. I hate it when that happens. Riding when I'm overly tired is not a good thing.

8:30pm - Silver City, NM. Yea! A motel! That was the good news. The bad news was that when I went to call G, to let her know I was ok, I discovered my cell phone was nowhere to be found. I did what I do when things like this happen, and right away remembered. I'd set it on top of my saddlebag back in Clifton. I hoped that whoever might potentially find it, would enjoy some of the pictures of me on it. I hope it wasn't a kid, or someone with sexually conservative values or morals.

15 hours and 640 miles for the day; 1270 for the trip.

5/22/10

Saturday, 6am - Slept in.

6:15am - Coffee, beer, pack. Confirm route.

7:30am - Off and away.

8:30am - Emory Pass.

9:45am - Hatch. I'd been on this route before, going the other direction. I liked the stop the first time, and even more this time. I'm easily amused, so I laughed at myself when I felt 'impressed' that I remembered my way around the convenience store (they keep their beer in the opposite corner from the soda).

When I came out with my cooler full of beer and ice, I spoke with Ed, who was getting out of his truck. He was a NM State Trooper, a fellow 'brother', and after we chatted about Honey and his bike for a while, I asked him for… and he gave me… very accurate and detailed directions to the Verizon Store in Las Cruces.

11:00am - Las Cruces. As I was chatting with Corena about getting my new phone, I discovered that she was from Watsonville, the same town I was born in. I LOVE it! This Country (and World) is huge, but time and time again… I am given clear messages and examples of how small it really is.

I was eligible for an upgrade, so instead… I got a phone that was almost exactly like my old one… for FREE. I love Verizon.

11:45am - Back on line. Back on road. 1:15pm - Alamagordo. Very nice lunch (green chili chicken alfredo).

2:30pm - Sunspot; Sacramento Peak; The National Solar Observatory.

The "Tower Telescope," 136' feet above ground, and 228' below!

4:30pm - Durken. It had been a really nice road down from Sunspot, but now I was getting out of the mountains and back into the desolate high desert plains. It was only going to get flatter, hotter, and humider (I know it's not a word… I just said it to be cute).

5:30pm - Artesia, TX. Velma checked me in to my motel and I was happy. Not because of Velma… she was nice, but not in 'that' kind of a way. I was happy 'cuz I knew I'd be back home in Killeen the next day; it was going to be a fun route; the worst thing that had happened on the trip had actually turned out to be a good thing (getting a new phone); and it had been a relatively short and easy day… only 10 hours and 376 miles… and 1,646 for the trip.

6:15pm - Huge serving from salad bar; sizzling chicken & shrimp w/ green bell peppers and sweet onions… all for $10.17.

7pm - Spoke with G, happy to hear she's 'taking herself off the grid' for a few days… going to a 'spa' in Sonoma (Ca.). She REALLY needs to learn how to take care of herself. She should take lessons from me. I'm really good at making myself #1.

8pm - TV

9pm - Bed, sound sleep.

Sunday 5/23/10

4:30am - Up and at 'em.

7am - Off and away. Again… feeling much better than I looked.

7:45am - Loco Hills.

8:15am - Hobbs. No beer 'til noon. I love Texas… but I MUST learn to remember this rule, so I will plan ahead the night before.

9am - Eunice. Gas. And Jennifer (from Nashville, TN)… what a cutie!

10:45am - Tarzan (a post office and a church).

Noon - Big Spring. Gas. Food. And BEER!!

1:45pm - Robert Lee. I stripped off my leathers… and my helmet… for the first time on the trip.

2:30pm - Bronte. Eleanor at the gas station mini-mart remembered me from 1 ½ years ago!. Well of COURSE she'd remember me. How many good loookin' motorcycle riders come thru town on Halloween, with a stuffed alien on the back of their bike?

As per my previous visit, I was aware that the people in this town are nice. No… not ONLY because someone remembered me, but just regular… nice folks. I love Texas.

3:30pm - Santa Anna. Getting close.

4:15pm - Brownwood. Getting closer. Honey was breathing heavy… she's getting used to the heat now, but this was her last day of the trip, and we'd been traveling through some pretty hot stuff. Well… hot based on our 'northern California coast' weather… not even close to hot by Texas standards. I think it was about 95. She asked nicely, so how could I refuse. I stopped and let her take a quick nap under a (very small) tree.

5:15pm - Lometa. Closer still. And then…

6pm - KILLEEN! Home! Honey liked her new parking place I made for her…

… and I was ready for a beer!

An 11 hour and 519 mile day and a total of 2,165 for the 4 day trip.

THE END

Book Tour; day 1- Bayview Hotel, Aptos, CA

2010-04-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

The day started out really well. Even before I went into the Bayview Hotel, Claudia (not in the picture above) waved me over to be in a photo shoot she was doing, promoting/ marketing her knew business venture.

She's an Allstate Insurance Agent, and she's helping the company advertise it's new motorcycle policies. There will be another entry about her soon, as we're meeting next week to discuss linking our websites together. This will be a really good thing for me, as she's currently in full page ads in both "Rolling Stone" and "Sports Illustrated."

Yep, the first day of my Book Tour started out really well. She's single, very attractive, and the license plate on her bike says, "Vibr8Me." She rides a Harley, but I still sent her a text message a couple hours after we met, telling her... "Please Marry Me." (the part about the Harley was a joke).

I think we look pretty good together! =)

The rest of the day was pretty slow. However... I did meet a fellow rider who said he wanted to go for a ride sometime, and when he gave me his card, he said he was a general contractor. He mentioned they were slow right now (like everyone) but that he'll keep me in mind if they need any help supervising any of their upcoming projects.

I was also invited to a business networking luncheon next week. I'm trying to decide if I'm gonna promote Ned Opdyke - General Contractor, or... Thor - Master of the Universe.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 12- 130 words

2010-01-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 12/29/09

I let G sleep in, and didn't rise myself until 7:30am… as a thank you for the rise she gave me earlier that morning (for a grand total of 9 out of 11).

We continued south on Hwy 1 thru Sea Ranch… Bodega Bay… another of our late breakfasts, this one in Point Arenas… then across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco… and made our last stop in Half Moon Bay, a celebratory ice cream sunday… both to mark the near end to our adventure, and the beginning of our new diet.

Got home at 3pm, 2,682 miles and a few pages and pictures of wonderful memories. The End.

How's THAT for a non-dramatic ending to a story?

I think it might be my best one yet.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 11- 235 words

2010-01-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

Monday 12/28/09

5:15am - Ned up. When we checked in the night before, I'd noticed that the motel had an 'internet available' sign, but I didn't notice that it didn't say 'free'. Catching up on my emails and live journal posts & comments was gonna hafta wait at least one more day.

It was about 425 miles to get home, and G and I had both agreed that we'd prefer to make the trip in two short days, rather than one long one. Neither of us is ready for this adventure to be over yet.

6:45am - I woke G up and we had a nice talk about sexuality… in general, and specifically. Yes that's right… even when we're not doing it… we talk about it.

11:00am - We did a short sidetrack out to the end of the spit at the Eureka/ Arcata Bay, the "Most dangerous port on the California coast."

Had a late breakfast (chef's salad for me), and then followed Hwy 101 inland along the Eel River to Leggett, where we turned west on Hwy 1 to Westport. We didn't even have to get out of the truck to take this picture.

When we got to the coast we followed it south to Gualala, and spent the night there, and watched our last sunset of the trip from our room overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 10- 600 words

2010-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Sunday 12/27/09

5:15am - Time to get up… to lightly falling snow! I had my coffee and smoke, and thought about sitting under the falling snowflakes in the hot tub, but decided against it. Instead, I sat on the toilet to read, so the lights wouldn't bother our hosts, who sleep with their bedroom door open.

Because of the snow we decided to hit the road earlier than we had talked about. We were planning on driving up to Mt. Batchelor, but with these conditions it would've meant spending another night with Jacques and Lovely, and even though they would've been more than happy to have us, we wanted to keep moving. Incredibly and against all the odds… G and I were still enjoying each other's company!

On our way back to the highway, I missed my turn and backed up in the middle of the road along the tracks I'd made thru the fresh snow. There were two other trucks on the road that had to wait for me, but neither of them seemed upset and were probably laughing at me, when they saw my California plates. I remember from my previous visit how friendly the people here are. I love (Sunriver) Oregon.

We continued slipping and sliding our way towards the highway, where it turned to fairly good driving. There was more traffic, and the road crews had scattered gravel and dirt on the sections of road with hills and curves, and as long as we didn't make any sudden moves and were going in a straight line where there was no gravel, we were fine.

It was mostly a flat road to Klamath Falls, and by the time we got there the clouds were clearing and we even got some sunshine and some dry sections on the road.

From there we went over one more mountain pass before getting to Medford, and the warm comfort of the ocean's influence. But even before we were out of the snow, I told G I was gonna miss it. She agreed. Living in Santa Cruz doesn't afford us many opportunities to be in the snow.

From Medford we followed Highway 199, a very scenic route to the coast. I heard Honey, all the way from her garage in Santa Cruz… asking me to be sure to bring her back to this road. There were lots of nice twists and turns… steep cliffs rising on one side of the road, and falling on the other side… and the lovely Smith River below, with more than enough swimming holes to go skinny dipping in during the heat of summer, I'm sure.

I assured Honey out loud that she'd get a chance to experience this road. G laughed at me, but she's getting used to the way I feel about my motorcycle, and even refers to her as 'Honey' most of the time.

By the time we got to Crescent City on the northern coast of California, we were both ready for a motel with a king size bed. G and I love to cuddle, but we also like to stretch out and be able to toss and turn at will during the night, without the fear of bashing an elbow into the face of our partner.

We'd only traveled about 275 miles that day, but the first half was slow and stressful, on snow and ice covered Hwy 97 from Sunriver, so we were both whipped puppies. Not whipped enough however, for G to give me some lovin'. 8 for 10.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 9- 275 words

2010-01-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

Saturday 12/26/09

5:15am - Ned up, after early morning sex with G… that's 6 out of 9 I think.

7am - G had gone back to sleep so after giving her a chance to wake up on her own… I gave up and woke her up, as gently as possible.

8:15am - On the road only 15 minutes 'late'. We were headed to Sunriver just south of Bend, to visit my childhood friend Jacques and his lovely wife Lovely.

There hadn't been any precipitation for over a week, but without any thawing temperatures either… the roads were still very icy. Over about a 45-mile stretch we didn't see one other car in either direction, but we did see elk, mule deer, white tail deer, wild turkey, and several grey bushy tailed squirrels.

We saw some beautiful scenery, and G taught me a new word for a special kind of frost… hoar frost. I'll just leave that one alone…

3:30pm - Sunriver, groceries and pizza for dinner.

4pm - Arrived Jacques & Lovely's

I went on and on about these friends of mine in one of my other stories called, "From Here to There and Back Again", so if you haven't read that one yet, and you want to hear what they are like, you'll just have to read that story too.

5pm - Finished eating…

6pm - Started to fade…

7pm - G and I excused ourselves to bed… for SEX! That's twice in one day, so the current tally is 7 out of 9! That's a batting average of .778! Why yes, yes I am proud. But the best part is that it's not just quantity… the quality is there too.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 8- 560 words

2010-01-15T11:31:00.000-08:00

Friday 12/25/099 - Merry Christmas

4:45am - Up, coffee, journal notes.

6:30am - I stepped outside in the 11-degree air, to have my morning smoke and enjoyed the beautiful sound of Christmas morning… a song sung by four or five neighborhood owls. They were signing a song that said that if the bison's weather forecast is correct… it would be a high of 23 today.

7am - I woke G up to read to her from the book I'm reading, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

I've never been a big reader, but since I've been with G, I've developed a new, re-appreciation of the written word. Plus… if I'm gonna be an 'author'… the least I can do is read a few books written in the same genre as my writing style. That being said, I'm sure Robert M. Pirsig (the author of the book I'm reading) is calling his lawyers right now, preparing a suit against me, for comparing my work to his. Here is one of my favorite lines from the book, you tell me… aren't our styles almost identical?

"I think I'll just stick to drumming," John says. Then Chris asks, "What are you going to stick to?"

"Mah guns, boy, mah guns," I tell him. "That's the code of the west."

They all laugh hard at this, and my speechifying seems forgiven. When you've got a Chautauqua in your head, it's extremely hard not to inflict it on innocent people."

So… I will now continue to inflict my Chautauqua into your heads…

8:30am - I called my daughters… Eron was still asleep; Ashley was up, bright and cheery; and Kellie was sad because she was at the pharmacy picking up one of her mom's medications that she had forgotten to get the day before. I reminded her what a wonderful daughter she is, for helping her mom, and I think it helped cheer her up a little bit. Bless her heart, she's always had to be the adult in the family… she never had a chance to be a kid.

I napped from about 9am 'til 10 (honest… I never took naps before now), and got up to have a snack. I went for a walk around the neighborhood with G… then read a little more until my next nap…

2pm - I woke up and read for another couple of hours… socialized and ate with G's family, then excused myself to bed around…

6:30pm, while they played yet another boisterous card game at the kitchen table.

Ever since my first divorce, it's been hard for me to relax and truly enjoy the holiday season. When I left my two young daughters in Seattle, and moved back to Aptos, I left part of my soul up there, and have never been able to get it back. I knew I had to leave Seattle… I didn't have the support group I needed after the marriage failed. I tried to kill myself once, and I knew that if I stayed I'd try again, and maybe not be so lucky the second time. If you missed "Please Allow Me To Introduce My Selves"... you can read more about this there.

It's gotten easier the last few years, since my daughters are basically adults now, but there is a part of me that died in Seattle back in 1989, and I don't think it will ever come back to life again.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 7- 225 words

2010-01-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

Thursday 12/24/09 - Happy Christmas Eve Day!

5:15am - I got up, drank an entire pot of coffee, and took a short walk in the 10-degree morning air.

7am - G up. Sex (5 out of 7). It just keeps getting better and better.

Lounged around the house, and had breakfast at 10.

11am - I took a nap! I never take naps!

2pm - After 12 ½ hours of sleep the night before, and another three hours today… that should get me just about caught up from the sleepless night in Seattle. I took two walks with Skip, one for milk and chips, and another to drop off x-mas cards at the 'retirement villa' where Pat works.

3pm - Bill & Bonnie arrived. We had a very nice lunch/ dinner, and everyone was very relaxed. Especially Bill.

5pm - A rip roaring game of dominos. 'Simple things for simple people'… that's something my mom used to say, about how it's 'ok' to enjoy the simple things in life. It doesn't take a million dollars or a million anythings to have a joyous life. It's all a matter of attitude and choice. I wish my parents were still around to meet G's family… they'd love them.

8pm - Photo op of the Dietrich kids.

We exchanged presents, and then…

9pm - Bed.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 6- 600 words

2010-01-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 12/23/09

7:45am - I slept later than I had in a long, long time.

8am - Sex… 4 out of 6 days so far. Better than our average.

9am - A 'light' breakfast. That means a big bowl of oatmeal for me, and scrambled eggs and toast for G.

11am - Pendleton Wool Mill built in1909. I met Jeff & Cheyenne, a young couple coming out as I was going in. Jeff said he was born and raised here in town, and works at his uncle's saddle shop. He told me to be sure not to miss the 99th annual celebration of "The Pendleton Roundup", a rodeo par excellence (he didn't say par excellence, those are my words). They were a very handsome couple, and I wanted to get their picture for my story, but dog gone it… it didn't turn out.

2:30pm - When we were about 20 miles from Enterprise, G called her sister-in-law Pat, to tell her we were running slightly late. It was perfect timing as we were literally just driving past the turn-off to their house… in Wallowa… not Enterprise.

Her brother Skip and his wife Pat welcomed us warmly into their recently remodeled home. From the outside, the house looks pretty non-descript… just like most of the other homes in this little blink-and-miss-it cowboy town, but they had done a tremendous upgrade to the interior, and when we looked around, we felt like we could've been at the Ritz. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but I know Skip and Pat are gonna be reading this, and I thought I'd give them a chuckle.

After an hour or so of small talk, we got in Skip's car and drove blindly down the highway towards Enterprise, where G's other brother Bill and his wife Bonnie live.

The reason I say we were driving blindly is because Skip didn't wait for the windows to de-ice or de-fog. He just started the car and started moving. He was making jokes about knowing the road like the back of his hand, but when I asked him how many freckles he had on his right hand, he had to take his eyes off the road to look.

Jeesh… I amaze myself. I just met these people, and here I am, already flipping them shit. Oh well, like everyone else… they'll either learn to love me, or learn to hate me, or learn that they love to hate me, or learn that they hate to love me.

When we got to Bill and Bonnie's, the warm welcome we got at Skip and Pat's was repeated. Wonderful folk. Full of love, and an easy comfort that made me feel right at home. We also met Bill's daughters Donna and Shawna, and their respective husbands Jack and Carey, and Donna's daughter Kristen.

5pm - Great Christmas dinner… a prime rib roast, mashed potatoes & gravy, corn, broccoli salad, fruit salad, and rolls.

Skip made us all realize how special this gathering was, when he reminded everyone that this is the first Christmas with both his brother and sister since 1959, when G was only two years old, exactly 50 years ago. He and his brother are 19 and 17 years older than G, so they were out of the house shortly after G was born. It's interesting… I have an older sister and (2) older brothers almost that much older than me.

7pm - Games… laughter… silliness…

9pm - Back to Skip & Pat's.

10pm - Asleep, after playing with the adjustable air mattress for a while. Yep… simple things for simple people.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 5- 1.6k words

2010-01-15T11:10:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 12/22/09

Kellie's cats were happy to have G and I as playthings on their living room floor that night. I was relieved to have G next to me… her giggles about their running around making playful noises made the situation a lot more bearable for me.

Something that was not bearable for me was the air mattress that Toren had provided for us to sleep on. It was barely big enough for me alone, so with G next to me, it was like sleeping on a space the shape of a popsicle-stick.

I rested and dozed until midnight… then got up and sat on the edge of the coffee table for about 30 minutes trying to decide if I was gonna go out and find a motel. I decided I needed to 'tough it out'… Kellie and Toren were very gracious to let us stay with them, and I did not want to hurt their feelings by leaving in the middle of the night. That simply was not an option.

So once I conceded to the fact that I was not gonna sleep that night, it was much easier. I re-positioned myself on my popsicle-stick for about an hour and a half… then moved to the small couch.

At 3am I asked G if she would mind trading places, and she very lovingly and tenderly agreed. I so much appreciate G's kind and gentle personality. Even when things are not going well… she is a sincere pleasure to be around. I do not recall ever hearing a 'cranky' tone in her voice… knock on wood.

I rested better on the air mattress after I had it all to myself. I always toss and turn in my sleep. I call it 'basting' myself. First on my stomach, then my left side… my back, my right side… and then back to my stomach. I think the full rotisserie cycle takes about an hour or so. Without G pressed against me, the worry of smacking her in the side of the head with my elbow was gone, so I was able to get some sound rest until my 5am (inner) alarm went off, and it was time for me to get…

… up and at 'em.

I went down the street in search of the 'too many to count' coffee shops Kellie told me were there, and found them all… closed. I went into one of my faithful and trusted MMGS (mini-mart-gas-stations) that have always been a part of my road trip experiences. Cheap hotels and greasy spoon restaurants… G was finally getting to see another side of life. I hope she can handle it. It sure will be nice if she can become accustomed to this 'lifestyle' and enjoy these road trips with me. I enjoy the open roads on my own, but so far at least… I am truly enjoying her company.

7am - Kellie and Toren are stirring… they'll be leaving soon, and then G and I are gonna pick her up at her work around 8:30 to take her to breakfast, before we say and hug our good-byes, and head east over Snoqualmie Pass. The weather looks like it's gonna cooperate, but things change quickly in the Great Northwest, so there's always a chance for just about anything. Which is just the way I like it.

10am - Off and away.

11am - A very nice family in a big SUV was kind enough to stop and help us get out of the small ditch I slid into, while 'practicing' driving in the snow. I had taken the Denny Creek exit, wanting to show G one of my little pieces of paradise I had discovered years ago, when I lived in the area. As we started down the side road to the small campground, I told G I was glad to have the opportunity to practice my driving skills on the slippery road. I came out of a slight turn and gave the truck a small giddy-up, and the tail of the truck jumped sideways slightly.

The small slide was not enough for me, so I touched the gas pedal a bit more, and within seconds the back of the truck was moving down the road ahead of us, and we were totally out of control.

It was a good thing the side of the road was flat. It was also a good thing the SUV with the good Samaritans stopped and offered there assistance, as it would have been a very tricky maneuver for me to install the cable chains on my tires, without being able to back up over them.

I hugged Jordon and Karen, and we were back on the road within about 10 minutes. G was amazed, so I explained to her that this was a very common occurrence for me on my road trips. I'm always getting bailed out of some sort of predicament or another. And I am always grateful and remember to thank the 'road gods' for their continuing helping presence. I love (Snoqualmie) Washington.

At 2:15pm I pulled to the side of the road to leave a present for Jody Bonney at "Roadhouse 97"… a small tavern just outside the town of Goldendale in south-central Washington. I had met Jody seven months earlier on my previous adventure ride thru these parts on Honey, and if you haven't read "From Here to There and Back Again" yet… you should… it's a real hoot.

When I came back out from the saloon and sat down in the truck next to G, I called Jody and left a message that she had a present from me waiting for her at the local watering hole… you guessed it… a sprig of mistletoe.

I was happy G wanted to go to the observatory just outside the town… seven months ago I spent too much time flirting with Jody at the Roadhouse, and didn't take the time to check it out. I had been told that it was possible to view the stars from their telescope… during full daylight hours. When we got to the top of the mountain, we found a sign on the locked gate that showed the hours of operation. I was gonna hafta revisit the observatory (and Roadhouse 97) again… on a Friday, Saturday, or a Sunday from 2~5pm or 7~10pm.

It was just a hop and a skip down the road when we 'lost' an hour on our timetable, due to a missed turnoff, coming into "The Gorge"… a section of the Columbia River Basin that has sheer cliffs on either side of this massive river. Fortunately G has the same attitude as I do on road trips… there are no missed or wrong turns. Everything happens for a reason, and we enjoyed the ride on the side-road, even though we had to drive it twice.

After getting to within a few miles of where we were gonna be able to cross the river and get back on the 'right' road, we were turned around by a WaTrans worker, who told us there had been a serious accident and the road was gonna be closed for at least four hours.

G and I decided that the reason we had taken the 'wrong turn' was so that we would become aware of the accident and be able to 'pray' for the people involved.

About 'praying'… Christian style vs. Eckankar style: To me it's pretty much the same thing, 'cuz the way I've always 'prayed' is to think about the person I'm trying to send 'positive energy' to, and simply positive thoughts about them, or the situation they're in, at the time. G says the way 'they' pray is basically the same thing… to focus your thoughts towards a person or situation, and then "let the Eck take it from there."

After following the river along its north shore to complete our back and forth hiatus, we crossed where we should have, and began our journey east, on the south side of the Columbia River. G got a lot of enjoyment out of the 'little baby frozen waterfalls' along the sheer cliffs. The exposure this time of year doesn't allow any sunlight to hit the rock walls, and the water dripping down the sides of the cliffs had formed into beautiful still life waterfalls of ice.

JJ (Jeremy Joel… a cute gal with two boys names) checked us into our motel room in Pendleton, around 5pm, and gave us both a very warm and cozy feeling. It's amazing how a small amount of interest and connection from someone can make such a big difference in someone's attitude. Andrea had the same feeling about her, as she served us our meals at the restaurant next door. I love (Pendleton) Oregon.

After the almost virtually sleepless in Seattle night, I was in bed after our meal by 7pm and asleep by 7:15. I don't think G was awake much longer. I'm hoping this adventure trip will give her the motivation to reset her inner clock. She says she wants to start waking up earlier and going to bed earlier so we can spend more time together. She also says she's been trying to get to work earlier anyway, so… I hope she can do it.

The Last Adventure... (of 2009): Day 4- 1.8k words

2010-01-15T10:55:00.000-08:00

Monday 12/21/09 - Happy Winter Solstice

6am - Ned slept in, and G wanted to get up early, so we were awake at the same time, and had a nice morning conversation. It's so nice to start off each day with G like that. I enjoy her down to earth approach to spirituality very much. Somehow, she can make even the most esoteric concepts seem so plain, simple, and obvious. It's quiet a talent she has, and I’m very lucky to have her as my lover, my confidant, my friend, and my teacher.

7:30am - Off to Starbucks for foo-foo coffee and an internet connection. G had seen a sign for one the day before as we were looking for a motel, so we went in the 'superstore/ mini mall', and looked around. We couldn’t see the Starbucks sign anywhere from the entrance, so I asked one of the checkers.

She was on the phone to her boyfriend (is what it sounded like to me), and was too busy to turn to look at me. She simply pointed her finger over her shoulder behind her. I shrugged at her disconcern, and headed off with G, across the vast acreage of the mega-complex.

After traversing thru the isles for what seemed like a few city blocks, we ran into another employee and asked him if he knew where Starbucks was. He said, "Yeah… go back to the entrance and go up the escalators to the second floor."

When we got to the escalator, we noticed the girl at the check out line was still talking on the phone. I was surprised she didn't turn around as I burned a hole in her back with my disgust for her lack of interest in anything other than her obviously personal phone conversation.

When we got to the coffee counter, we were pleased to be greeted by not one, but two, happy and sincere employees. Maybe the checker just hadn't had her morning coffee yet. These two young things certainly made up for it though. Not only pleasant personalities… they also had bodies on them that warmed me up, even before I had a chance to have any of their coffee.

The place didn't have an internet connection, so I bought myself a cup to go, and we headed back to the truck. Not far down the road we found a little mom & pop restaurant that had a "free wi-fi" sign, so we went in, and found another smiling face.

I didn't get her name, but she was a very friendly waitress with bright eyes and a happy voice. She brought us our food and kept our coffee and water glasses full, for the 45 minutes or so that we were there, and didn't mind at all that I had brought my own coffee in with me.

I felt like Goldie-locks… the checker was too-oo cold… the gals at Starbucks were too-oo hot… and the one at the restaurant was ju-ust right.

As we were packing up our laptops and folding up the roadmap, a gentleman in the booth next to us turned around and asked me if I wanted him to tell me an easy way to get to where I was going. In my typical 'smart aleck' voice, I said, "Sure, you can tell me, but I'm gonna go the way I want to anyway."

Fortunately, he could see the smirk on my face, and the mischievous twinkle in my eye. When he finished giving me his directions I asked him if the road we were on connected to the freeway, and he said it didn't. Good thing he offered his assistance, he saved us who knows how much time we would have spent wandering around the side streets. I love (Portland) Oregon.

As we were heading for the door, the waitress wished us a safe journey, and I told her that we really appreciated her attitude, and commented on her glowing personality. She looked sincerely at us and said that she was glad that her effort was appreciated, and then explained that she was feeling down because her father had died several days ago.

Funny isn't it, how different people are. The memory of the sourness of the check out clerk at the mega store was gone… sweetened by the friendly and caring people we found shortly thereafter.

We went out to the truck and just as I was ready to pull out of the parking lot, I stopped… jumped out… and grabbed a twig of the mistletoe I harvested the other day. My intention was to share it with friends and family along our journey, and this gal was a perfect recipient of my holiday offering.

Neither Gaeir nor myself wanted to visit the arboretum as we had talked about, and since we weren't meeting my oldest daughter Kellie, in Seattle until around 5pm anyway, we decided to head for the coast, and take the scenic route to the next destination of our adventure.

About an hour out of Portland, I pulled over and had G take a picture of me, in front of my 'dream house', a log cabin with a large covered wrap around front porch. The home was situated on what looked like it could easily have been turned into a little 'pitch and putt' golf course. I spent a few minutes standing there on the side of the road, pretending I was the owner of this beautiful property.

The small highway thru the heavily forested mountains to the coast was very beautiful. At two of the passes, the light rain turned to a gentle snow, and Gaeir and I were as happy as we had hoped we would be when we headed out from Santa Cruz. It was only three days ago, but it already seemed like another lifetime. We were both accomplishing what we wanted. "Brain off", was the mantra I had been saying, and continued to repeat, as a reminder to her to relax and enjoy this time away from her responsibilities, schedules, and commitments.

When we got to the coast, we detoured about 12 miles, to visit "Haystack Rock" in the tourist town of Cannon Beach. It was a little town with a big rock.

From there we headed north and crossed the Columbia River at Astoria. We were now in the State of Washington, and G and I both mentioned almost exactly at the same time, how we felt the 'mood change'. Something about this State has always made me feel different, and apparently it has that effect on other people as well.

Another minor detour just down the road had us going in circles in another vortex near Long Beach. We were following the clearly marked signs on the road, but for the life of me it felt like we were going 180 degrees in the wrong direction. My inner gyroscope is usually very dependable, so this was a very disconcerting feeling for me… the feeling of confusion and apprehension continued to grow for several miles, until at last I felt the effects of the vortex weakening, and that we were going north again.

At our next stop to empty our bladders I made G shake her head at me again. It had been a while since I'd done or said anything goofy, so I was happy to get a little reaction out of her when I went out of my way to park in a spot that was clearly marked as a place not to. Have I mentioned yet in this story how 'easily amused' I am?

4pm - We got to Seattle about an hour early, so I took G on a loop across the two floating bridges on Lake Washington. First, we went east across the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, then west across the I-90 bridge which passes thru Mercer Island, one of the highest high rent districts in the Seattle area.

We pulled up to Kellie's house about 15 minutes early and gave her a call to check on her schedule. Luckily my oldest daughter has a better sense of time and responsibility than Ashley. Sometimes.

She told us she had been tied up at work, and that we could either wait there for 30 minutes for her to get home, or that we could drive about 10 minutes and pick her up. It was an easy choice.

My feelings as I saw her come out of the building where she works, and walk across the sidewalk to the truck, are hard to convey. Kellie has a very strong and distinct air about her. Without anything close to cockiness, she is able to portray her confidence as an easy and comfortable self-assuredness. I am proud of all my daughters, but there has always been something about Kellie that makes me feel that the world is a better place because of her. Who am I trying to fool? I feel that way about all my daughters.

When we got back to her apartment, we opened each other's presents and shared some laughs. She had previously told me she wanted to wait until I was published, and then autograph her copies of my short stories before she read them, but when she gave me two HUGE books, and specifically told me she expected me to read them, I went out to the truck and grabbed my stories that I had originally planned to give her. Both of us were polite in our excitement about the gifts we received.

We met Kellie's mom at the Old Spaghetti Factory, and had a pleasant meal. I've talked quite a bit about Mimi in several of my other stories, so this time I'll say something nice… Gaeir LIKED her! I cannot remember anyone's first reaction to Mimi as being anything but almost fearful of her (besides me). G said she was able to see thru her loud, obnoxious exterior, and see the 'hurt child' behind all her manic distractions. I was touched… both by G's assessment, and… of Mimi's attitude towards Gaeir.

After she realized that she was 'being heard'… she calmed down enough to allow some of the other people at the table to be able get a word in edgewise. I wish I would've been able to get pictures of the looks Kellie and I traded during the conversation… priceless. The best way to describe them is for you to imagine what it would look like if someone was rolling their eyes, without rolling their eyes.

We got home to find that Toren, Kellie's roommate, had made our bed for us on the living room floor, and we all quickly settled down for the night at around 9pm.