Somewhere just north of Florence, OR, on the 101.
Whoa… Before you all jump on the “HOLY SUGGESTIVE TITLE BATMAN” wagon. I can explain. We’re in Fort Stevens State Park in Hammond, Oregon, a hop, skip, and a jump from Astoria, the famed home of the Goonies. If you recall any of the 1985 cult-following film starring Rudy…um, I mean, Samwise Gamgee…shoot… What’s his name? Oh, yeah, Sean Astin. Where was I again? Oh, yeah, if you recall any of that film you’d remember that this troop of youngsters find a treasure map and go searching and (WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!!) find it – the treasure of One-Eyed Willie. Any of you who were thinking something suggestive, well… keep your mind out of the gutter. This isn’t that kind of a blog. Although, as I increase in age it may take a turn for the worst.
I am looking for my own treasure in life. And I’ve found it – In the joys of family, my faith, travel, the people I meet (well, most of them), and in hearing rain fall on an RV.
You could say I’ve found something more impressive than One-Eyed Willie’s hoarded treasure.
This guy was going northbound, but his semi was on its driver’s side facing south. The trailer was on its passenger side…still facing north. And there was no “life-threatening” injuries… wow. If only you could have seen the rig after they turned ip right-side up. Holy…
I’m reminded of a short essay by Robert J. Hastings called, The Station. Beyond all the goals, the achievements, the drive of some people to own expensive cars and fine real estate, is the simple joy of the trip.
Today, we were stuck for nearly 3 hours behind a wrecked semi on northbound Highway 101, just north of Florence. Friends we met the night before at the RV park were also stopped – just in front of us. Charlie and Joelle. Nice folk. You really do meet the nicest people at RV parks. Although, I did meet a couple of sketchy ones, too, but they were still nice.
I thought I’d turn the RV around. After all, we were pulled off the side of the road in a turn-out, made for larger and slower vehicles to pull off and allow the faster ones to pass by. It’s an Oregon law. Slow vehicles must pull off. Mind you, I’m driving a 31 foot Jayco Greyhawk (pictured at the top of the blog) and towing a Honda Odyssey. Total footage just over 45 feet. Therefore, my turn radius is that of an aircraft carrier. Not gonna happen. Even my friend Charlie had a chuckle over that idea.
Another stream making it’s way into the Pacific. Our view while the wreck was being cleaned up. Not bad.
So, what to do? I wasn’t motivated to unload the minivan, although there was a picturesque lighthouse I failed to snap a few photos of about three miles back that was tempting me beyond the powers of satan.
Another stopped pickup with a camper loaded on the bed stopped beside us. They unloaded their cooking utensils and made breakfast. Eggs and bacon…those bastards. The smell wafting through the damp air made a bee-line for my nostrils. I mentally shook my fist at them with a large grin on my face while dreaming of ways to nab a couple strips of that fine meat candy.
That didn’t happen either. Instead it was a grilled cheese sandwich and Wavy Lays, with a couple of canned okra.
Oh, did I mention that all this was happening while my daughter was puking her guts out? Yep, that too. We stopped at an ER in Florence for some advice. All looked okay, with only a few beginning signs of dehydration. After a whopping 30 minutes in the ER (that is a total record for me in any medical office) we were discharged with instructions to return if the vomiting hasn’t subsided in 48 hours. It’s been 27. She’s still up-chucking.
But WHAT A GLORIOUS RIDE! (Note: Some sarcasm may be in use) Albeit a little faster than I had hope to take it due to the wreck delay. I’m a little bummed as Highway 101 in Oregon has quickly become a #1 place to return to and drive…with a convertible…without a neurotic cat…with a non-barfing child…and my hot honey sitting beside me not stressing about said sick infant…and total sunshine in lieu of spotty rain clouds (The latter of which did make for some pretty pavement – seeing the blue sky reflecting off of wet pavement next to some of the greenest grass I’ve seen in years was pretty gnarly. I had to use the word ‘gnarly’ as there are surf shops around here.)…and in a vehicle that does better than 7 MPG.
Just north of Girabaldi, OR, overlooking the Tillamook Bay area… Breath taking.
Before my train of thought completely derails, do you see what I mean? The true joy of life, as Hastings wrote, is the trip. And this has been one heckuva of a trip to date! I can’t wait for the remaining 7,000 miles! Really! Word up!
We could have been stuck in the middle of LA traffic in downtown LA. I hear that’s pretty bogus. Yet here we were beside a beautiful bridge and stream that let out into the Pacific Ocean, less than 100 yards away. Not a bad place to be stuck at all.
Where your treasure is there also is where your heart resides. I’m happy to say my heart resides in the simplest of things: travel, family, non-barfing children, sunlight and rain, curvy roads and places like the Goon Docks, which weren’t sold at the end of the movie because Rudy found some gems to buy it back… Rudy? Sheesh, I’m tired. I mean, Mikey. Yeah, that’s it. Mikey.
Hug someone, people, and then go for a ride. Tomorrow its laundry day…lots of vomit-filled blankets. Sooper dooper. Its all joy. It’s my One-Eyed Willie treasure.
The Journey. Rev. Greg Larsen 