adam and I were privileged to spend 5 days at the 'mystic mountain resort' (also known as 'aunt laurie and joe's') in sonoma county. laurie lavished us with bunches of stellar (and vegan!) fare and we had time to take in the area -- including canoing with joe on the russian river and a visit to the beach. we also joined laurie for a sing-along where she proceeded to rock the piano for some local oldsters. we soon realized we needed to get out of there before we got too used to all the good treatment -- it was time to start the next chapter of our journey up the coast... officially AFOOT.
Our first ride could not have been more ideal. we were quickly friends with dave, a red-faced, easy-laughing retired wanderer living out of a utility van equipped for long term traveling: bed, curtains, porta potty, stocked coolers, and an open spirit to folks afoot. we rode along the windy ocean-view highway and laughed and shared stories. this ride and two days with dave is enough material for a short story. but, for the sake of time, all i'll say is that we showed up unannounced to his "ex-nephew's" place, pitched our tent in the back yard, and joined the locals.
A few other hitching highlights so far have been some white-knuckle rides in beds of screeching-tire pick-up trucks shared with large but friendly dogs. Another was just yesterday with folks we met at cape lookout -- cheryl, martin, jesse, and eli. they were on a trip moving to washington, we chatted and clicked but went on our way... the next day they were driving out of town and saw our thumbs so lifted us to tillamook where we explored the cheese factory together. we enjoyed the inquisitive youths peering through the factory glass, the parents' explanation to our impressed observation of the boys was "no TV."
SO many characters, so many interactions that leave me smiling. I think having on a bandanna and backpack brings us into brotherhood with a different crowd. even thought we don't have to be homeless, don't have to be eating everything out of tin cups, we choose to -- and it allows us the privilege of connecting with an array of good people.
2 comments:
Thank you for the most recent entries. You two are making the rest of us look real boring.
canoing sounds like a lot of fun, but I prefer canoeing - it offers a larger craft in which to paddle as the idea of canoing conjures travel in a cyndrical tin in my mind.
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