S.S.S. Day 3 Draft

SEPTEMBER SOLO SESSION

DAY 3 (first draft)

Friday, September 26:

1:30am – Eyes opened, then closed.

3:00am – Same.

4:00am – Up and at ‘em.

5:00am – Coffee, Email, Facebook and Story Writing.

7:00am – Chelle & Randy appear with smiles and love.

8:30am – Met one of their grandchildren, Cash- 3 month, and his father Mr. Torche (not pictured).

8:45am – Tuning out with the help of my new toy… more about that later.

9:00am- Saying good-bye, happy on the outside, and sad on the inside.  I told them earlier that morning that I was debating omitting my overnight in Chester, so I could spend another whole day with them.

10:00am- Gas in Burney.   50/360

10:15am - Stopped at My Road, just outside Hat Creek.  If you look close, you'll see the "L",  as the  abbreviation for "Lane."  It's my complete name... backwards which is kind of appropriate. Opdyke, Lynn, Ned.  Honey asked to take the picture so I could be in it, but I told her that she is more photogenic than me.  True that.

   

10:30am- Breakfast in Hat Creek.  Discovered my relative, Pam Opdyke-Thompson-Giacomoni was this County’s (Plumas) Supervisor.  Cool. How ‘bout that ‘bout us Opdykes… from rustlin’ horses with Jessie James in the 1800’s, to government leader in the 2000’s.  I guess that’s not really a big jump in the social order though is it?   Sadly, she couldn’t meet me as I’d hoped.

       

        Biscuits and Gravy.  Yum.    Follow the curvy red curvy red curvy red, follow the curvy red line.

11:15am- Lassen National Park.    45/505

May 22, 1914

http://www.nps.gov/lavo/naturescience/eruption_lassen_peak.htm

This is the view from the south face.  Amazingly... there were no turnouts to stop (safely) and take pictures of the more impressive in my opinion north face.

Look Sharon, you have your own sign too!!

For those of you readers who don't know, my wife's last name is King.

The day was hazy, but you can make out Lake Almanor in the distance.

Honey being Honey.

She complains when I take her picture from this angle, because it makes her butt look big.

And I remind her... ever since I was a kid, I've always been attracted to full figured girls.

1:30pm- Chester.  Warm welcome from Debi, a good friend from Santa Cruz who now lives on Lake Almanor.  The attraction between us is genuine, sincere, and platonic.  She asked me if it would make any difference if she put on a few pounds, but I told her I was already committed.  You too right Sharon?  Yeah, she's gonna have me committed after that 'joke,' I can feel it coming.  For the record, Debi did NOT ask me that... I just needed to let "Thor" out of his cage for a minute.  Okay, he's done.

60/565

3:00pm- Done with the preliminary meeting and re-meeting social conversation and construction of Debi’s bedframe, and off to view the Lake...

... or The Lake bed as the case was.  This other gal is Sandy,

a friend of hers who was coincidentally visiting her from Reno at the same time.  

See Sandy... I told you my shadow wasn't shading the subject matter of my picture.

5:00pm- Excellent Chinese Dinner at a local restaurant, then home for a few more minutes of social engagement, until…

8:30pm- Turn out the lights… the party’s over…  Boy… are we old or what?!!?!!

S.S.S. - Day Two - 1st draft copy

Thursday, September 25:

1:45am – Eyes Open.  Sound of pouring rain soothing, but not enough to put me back to sleep.
2:00am – Coffee brewing.  Rain starting.
5:00am – Story outline completed.
6:00am – Pacing the floor.  Pant pant, Wag wag, Bounce bounce.  NED... Stop drinking the coffee!!!  Just because it’s there, does not mean you have to drink it.

6:30am – Randy up.  Chelle shortly thereafter.  Sound of pouring rain and sky, both beginning to lighten up.

7:30am – Breakfast ala Chellie.

Eggs with potatoes, garlic, onions, salt & pepper.
Avocados with avocados.
Bread with bread.
Bacon with bacon.
and a small remaining piece of a bear claw.

Chelle looked a bit weary when she was eating breakfast, and hinted that the rain may be a good excuse to take a (very rare) day off.

8:30am – Let the games begin.

   

   

Keith Tindall

Keith and I snuck away to the house to let the athletes do their thing, but we timed our return just right, to document that even though I don’t work out as hard as Chelle, I can still look good standing next to her. Okay... it's true... ANY and EVERY one looks good standing next to Chelle.

As predictable… once Chelle got into the gym, her attitude changed and she ended up setting (yet another) personal record.  Chelle… I’m wondering… how often does a day go by that you do NOT set another personal record?

It's impossible to get two much of Chellie.

11:00am – Chelle and I did some errands.  She got food, I got toys... a phone charger cord (I packed the wrong one); a new wireless mouse for my laptop (I forgot to altogether pack my now defunct-spare one); and another toy that you will ‘hear’ about later.

2:00pm – Ned returned one of his toys for a different model.  Twice as much money, but (at least) four times the functional quality.  More about that later… heh heh.

2:30pm - Very nice visit with Keith and his lovely wife Donna at their house.

4:00pm – Ned back at the Estate.  Happy to be in the warm embrace of two of the most complete and secure individuals I have ever met.  So so glad to have them in my life.  MUCH more about that later.

5:00 – Chelle made the salad, dressing, sweet potatoes, and desert (blue & straw berries).

6:00pm – Fish on!

6:10pm – Look quick, because…

6:30pm – Dinner was over and we were sitting by the fire... for a while... the rain came back.

   

SIDE NOTE -  I'm glad I remembered to tell you this:  On Wednesay (Day 1) the weather was glorious.  On Wednesday night through Thursday early morning, it rained to beat the band.  On Thursday evening and night it rained (and thundered to REALLY beat the band).  On now on Friday morning (Day 3), as I write these words, it's clearing again, and forecast to be a magnificent, and clear day.

7:00pm – Chelle gave the boys their man-up time again, as she did the previous evening, to exercise their beautiful minds.  Eventually, this story will contain a whole bunch of descriptive words about what and how Randy and I melded.  This is not an exaggeration… I love this guy.  Head to toe, but especially his unique ability to communicate.  He can somehow bring together the esoteric and the teric, into perfect harmony and balance.  Science, nature, quantum physics and “God”... all into a verbal vision that actually makes sense.  I have a new Guru.  Not my 'main' Guru... Sharon will always be that.

Randy told me that his ‘bosses’ have expressed to him, how special he is, not 'just' with his knowledge and ability of the functioning of his job, but even more, what he can do with the individuals around him.  He is surrounded by beautiful minds, but he is is able to take his team of ‘crazy-brilliant’ minds, and create the environment for them to be able to express their ideas in ways that can be understood by everyone.

Example:  On numerous occasions during my brief visit, I found myself listening and concentrating on his words so intently that I was surprised that not only was my head not exploding from the expansion I felt going on inside it... but it actually felt good.  It was a sensation I don’t recall EVER having before.  Usually, when I’m listening and trying to understand something that is over my head… I become ‘over-saturated’ quickly, and find my awareness wandering away from the topic.  With Randy… I had the sensation of my mind opening up into a greater and deeper sense of understanding.  It’s very hard to explain, but there is one thing I know for certain.  I will never be able to think of him again, without feeling a sense of gratitude for the time I have spent around him... and Chellie too but in a different way, which you will also hear much more about later.

SIDE NOTE -  I’m now writing these words at 6:06am on Friday morning about what happened yesterday , and already feeling the tears in my eyes welling, as the time is approaching for my impending my departure.  And on that note, I’m gonna end this first draft entry of Day 2... of The Best Adventure Ride I have ever had.  I know... I say that to all the readers, in all my stories, LOL.

8:30pm – Chelle first to hit the sheets.  As if she really needed any sleep to be so perfect.

9:00pm – Randy and I shook hands and said good-night.  I remember not wanting to look in his eyes, because I didn’t want him to see my admiration and thankfulness leaking out.  Damn that man.

   

     Redding is the home of a few mythical animals.   Look Eron, tie-dye/ shoes laces/ dreadlocks.  




Friday, September 26:

1:30am – Eyes opened, then closed.  3:00am – Same.
4:00am – Up and at ‘em.
5:00am – Coffee, Email, Facebook and Story Writing.

Sept. Solo Session- Day 1: Draft

Wednesday, September 24:

2:55am – Eyes open.

3:10am – Coffee brewing.

4:00am – Packing complete.  Love notes from Sharon discovered.

5:00am – Alternately pacing the floor and Facebooking.  Or Nedbooking as Sharon calls it.

6:00am – Begin loading Honey

6:10am – Kiss Sharon good-bye.  No tears.  Only love, support, understanding, and love… lots and lots of love.

6:32am – Off & Away, EXACTLY on schedule… dawn thirty.

7:00am – Sunrise #1; just before crossing the Carquinez Straight.

                      

7:30am – Fairfield:  Jamba Juice.  60/60.

These wonderful girls appeared in front of me at my first (get off the bike) stop of The Ride.  They started The Adventure off just right.  So friendly, so cute and perky, so helpful.  I *heart* the Jamba Juice Jurls.

From left to right:  Shariel, Momo and Darian.

New drinking while riding configuration conceived and executed.  I'm sure glad I didn't come up with this idea while I was still drinking beer... during the day while riding.

Brilliant!  Definitely the Best of Times

8:30am – North Sacramento;  Honey hydration stop (HHS).  60/120.

10:15am – Paradise: Karin, Gail, Maddy, Horsies, Chickens (w/ eggs).  Smelling the flowers.  Yogurt, nuts, and a banana.  And smiles… lots and lots of smiles.

There is love.

What a magnificent specimen.  And the horse is okay too.

Cluck x 4.

   

WARNING:

SCROLL SLOWLY and...

PREPARE YOURSELF...

FOR SOMETHING...

VERY...

SHOCKING...

GO SLOWER...

"A horse is a horse of course of course... and no one can talk to a horse of course...
unless of course, the name of that horse... is The Famous Mr. Ned."

12:45pm – Karin & Gail didn't have any jumper cables, but fortunately they had very kind neighbor with a truck and a rope... to bump (pull) start Honey.  Yes, I'd left her key on.  Again.  Is that (4) times now?  Jeesh.

1:00pm – On the road again.

2:00pm – Los Molinos (just south of Red Bluff):  gas, chimichanga, soda & bearclaw.  50/240.

3:15pm – Redding; Chelle, Randy, Soda.  45/285.  Day 1:  Ride complete.

These humans are so so nice.  So so welcoming and gracious.  So so beautiful.  

Randy (yes very graciously) made room for Honey in between his Cadillacs.

I was able to witness and supply the pen for the escrow signing ceremony of the sale of their home.
Chelle doing the honors while Randy is making sure she does it correctly.

They're gonna be gypsies for a year.  Lucky bast... I mean, what fortunate souls they are.

My first visit to a pawn shop.
Power tools next to audio equipment next to sporting goods next to guns next to jewelry next to...
whatever else you can think of.

A nice duck and a mean pig.

You don't see these very often.  Very rare breed of animal.

7:00pm – My hosts gave me a tour of their Estate:  Redwoods, machinery, hay bale counting.  Food sharing with neighbor. Halibut & Salmon from Alaska – and – Elk from Colorado.   I was still full from dinner, but already looking forward to the feast tomorrow.  Thank you Sharon for introducing me to my new best friends.

7:30pm – Best Scientific Esoteric Conversation (SEC) EVER.  Randy has a beautiful mind.  And body.  And he very graciously (that’s a reoccurring theme with these people) allowed Ned to think he had a grasp on what was being discussed.  Randy, would you be willing to share with us some of the big words and concepts you so easlity tossed around like I would toss a salad?

8:30pm – Chelle first to bed.

9:00pm – Ned and Randy followed suit, but not without hesitation.  The conversation continued as we were saying good-night and walking away from each other, heading to our respective bedrooms.  I wanted to cuddle in their bed with them, but I’ve got to spend one more night, so I postponed my request.

9:05pm- Good-night conversation with Sharon.  Discovered more love notes await me.

Thursday, September 25:

1:45am – Eyes Open.

2:00am – Coffee brewing.  Rain starting.

5:00am – Story outline completed.

6:00am – Pacing the floor.  Pant pant, Wag wag, Bounce bounce. NED... Stop drinking the coffee!!! Just because it’s there, does not mean you have to drink it.

To Be Continued...