"But you simply must finish. You've always had completion issues with your projects." My mother is half scolding, half encouraging, but I am never sure which half is which.
"Well, I'm hung up on Nashville. It's basically four days of nothing but exile."
"Just pretend the trip stops there, and keep writing!" she fake chirps, which would be her second half.
"I can tell you - I got very good at two things during 30 days and 8000 miles."
"What is that?" she perks up, in what what sounds like a sincere effort.
"Sitting on my ass and giving directions. I think it might be in my DNA." I shoot Mom a wink and grin, even though she is on the other end of the telephone. "Just kidding!"
"You know what they say about kidding. It's how you tell the truth without getting slapped."
OK - that is the 38% creative license. This would be the other 62%~
Final Itinerary:
1) Nashville, TN (his mother's place - 3)
2) Vail, CO (friend - 4 days - COTTONWOOD HOT SPRINGS)
3) ORVIS HOT SPRINGS - Ridgeway, CO (camp - 3)
4) Moab, UT (Canyonlands campground - 2)
5) Scipio, UT (1)
6) Reno, NV - (Circus Circus - 2)
7) San Francisco (all right - Mill Valley, CA - close enough - 2)
8) PCH 1 Campground (Ocean Cove - 1)
9) Eureka, CA (1)
10) Medford, OR (Crater Lake - 1)
11) Wendover, NV That place at the Nevada border with the casino - Wild West Dodge House "Home of the Cowboy" (1)
12) ORVIS HOT SPRINGS - Ridgeway, CO (3)
13) Salida, CO (1)
14) Memphis (1)
15) Nashville (some hotel - 3)
So I think I am up to #11 with the journal, which I will combine with #12.
#11 at the casino - at some point in a journey like this, certain things become a blur. I was asleep when we got there after 850 miles of travel. All I remember is pools and volleyball nets and groovy lighting for the hotel rooms that encircle everything, including ping pong tables and skee ball! Did I mention this splendorous party palace is ALL INDOORS? Great concept, however...
Dang get me to this room and please - let the sheets not smell like chlorine. There are no notes in the elephant journal for this evening, but I do remember this: we got in late at night, and this time we parked in the right place in one of many parking garages.
Once again we find ourselves among people stuffed like sausages in shiny polyester suits, doing a lot of jeers and cheers in front of flashing lights while cheesy cocktail waitresses bustle about. We maneuver our luggage among old school gamblers and other semi-lost people meandering around assorted tables where money is lost. Within minutes we are in our hotel room (no tent) and asleep - and that's all I have to say about that.
Numbers 13 and 14 on the list are also unmemorable ventures, other than busting a move across the country to the birthday party - #15, which is like Voldemort: "That of which we do not speak." I was incredibly disappointed that we weren't able to carouse in my old stomping grounds in Forrest City, AR or see the walking ducks at that hotel in Memphis, but at some point you have to make time.
#12 - ORVIS HOT SPRINGS (Part 2 - Eastward Bound)
Three nights of camping and it goes like clockwork. The lovely staff knows us, and I can navigate the stone trails blindfolded - foot is on the mend. We have found the best spot in the best hot spring, which is where we navigate each time. Even some of the locals recognize us and give the familiar nod.
However, both Wayne and Garth the Orvis Cats gave me grief last night. That wasn't supposed to be a complaint, so I will attempt to disguise it as a funny story.
"We just love Wayne and Garth!" she says, referring to the feisty felines who have been pestering me. They are both lounging in the sunshine chair in the the front room (the best one), trying to belie all of the havoc they have wrought during our nights of camping here. However, no one dares disturb them.
The black cat (Wayne) has taken a liking to me, and won't leave me alone. The first time we were here three weeks ago, he tried to break into our tent in the middle of the night, and then jumped into the innards of the van when I needed a flash light. 4:30 in the morning, sub-freezing temps, and I am chasing a black cat around inside a dark van. With no glasses on.
OK - cat is out, glasses are on and I am wide awake. Damn, it's cold. The creepy crawlies (heebie jeebies?) have arrived, so I go to the lodge to warm up, stretch and perhaps read. I am enjoying the solitude - umm - electric heat - when the striped cat (Garth) comes out of nowhere and won't shut up. That cat was going to wake up all of the people who paid real money to stay here in a real room! Back to the tent I trudge.
Wayne has obviously been waiting on me, and greets me as I exit the warm building. Hissing, "Go away!" didn't work, and he follows me all the way out, past the yurts and the lobster pot, letting his presence be known all along. I had to zip fast and dive into the tent so another black cat scramble wouldn't ensue and wake up my love. For the next 20 minutes, he circled the tent and complained that we wouldn't let him in. Instead of cussing, all he did was chuckle in his sleep.
Next morning - both cats are once again sleeping in in the best seat in the house as I write this. Later, Wayne is roaming about in the kitchen - giving new meaning to the word "communal" (hence the exasperated look in the picture).
"Well isn't that just hilarious?" the girl at the front desk says when I tell her of last night's escapades. Hmmm - no it is not. But perhaps my perspective has become rosy, and it's all in how you frame the picture and tell the story.
"I have seen so much beauty, it could make you cry." ~ Brett Dennon sings to us.
"'Homeward Bound' - name the group."
(Note: I used both sausage and cheese as adjectives. I must be hungry~)
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