S.S.S. Day 4 - Draft 1

SEPTEMBER SOLO SESSION

DAY 5 - Saturday, September 27:

4am-  Thanks to a helpful technique I learned from Randy, I was able to sleep quite soundly on the downstairs couch.  I’d mentioned to Randy that I’d always had trouble going back to sleep after waking up before I needed to wake up.  He told me to try thinking about riding my motorcycle… with my, “Knees in the Breeze,” as he put it.  It sounded like a good idea, so I tried it.  It’s Sunday morning as I write these words, and I’ve been successful with his technique for three days in a row!

I went down the street for (round one) coffee, and went back to a pitch black house.  There was a scheduled PG&E power outage that Debi either didn’t know about, or forgot to mention.  Fortunately, my Beautiful-Wife bought me a clip-on night light for just such an occasion (I love you Sharon).  Road Trip Adventure Rides have always been always good for me, but since meeting her, they don’t seem to be quite as much good for me as they used to.  Damn that woman.

With or without make-up, she always makes the world a beautiful place to be.

When I met her, she told me her nick-name was "Precious."

It didn't take me more than a few seconds to come up with my name for her.

"Beautiful" is as "Beautiful" does.

The Beacon (gas station) was also a little diner-coffee shop with the nicest owner and employees.  I got this one of Charlene, the other gal is Jenn and the owner is Bill.  I just love small towns and their easy going, friendly people.

8:00am- After kissing the two sleeping girls on their cheeks, I loaded Honey and hit the road, Jack.

9:15am- Quincy for gas, and then finding help to pick Honey up after forgetting (again) to put down her kick-stand.  Jeesh, what is that, three times now?  Her design (thank you Honda!) is such that no damage has occurred, though… this time, I didn’t even have to adjust her rear view mirror.     60/615

10am ish- Between the blink and miss ‘em towns of Sattley and Sierraville, I was on a stretch of road that gave me a photo op of something I’d never seen before.

 I’ve been accused of going in too many directions at the same time before, and now I have proof of it!

11:00am-  Truckee, and no word from my friend Wink, so… onward to Reno.     75/690

11:30am- Starbucks with sister’s daughter (my niece) Taumie, her grand-daughter Gerrilyn (my great-grand niece), her good friend Tina, and Tina’s dad (Taumie’s god-father) Bob Chauvin.  What a lovely gathering of like minded souls.  Too bad Chelle and Randy weren’t there, they would’ve LOVED the ‘esoteric-loving’ energy of the group.

1:30pm- Ned checked into The Vagabond Hotel, filled stomach, and down for the count.

7:00pm- “Officially” went to sleep.   45/170/735

Tomorrow... Throttle Girl/ Kelly Quinn and... RENO STREET VIBRATIONS !!

http://www.roadshowsreno.com/sv_fall.php

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?!!?!!