Don't Wait!

I heard a wise elderly woman asked today if she could share in two words some important life-lesson she's learned. She said, "Don't wait."

Don't wait...
-- to get married
-- to lose weight
-- to have kids
-- for the kids to leave
-- for a better job
-- till you move
-- till you get older
-- till your health changes...

In other words, don't wait for things to be just right. They'll never be.
Life is difficult. But it is whatever you make of it. Choose to make the most of it. Don't wait. Love the life out of everyday.

- Slugdog

Patriotizing

Today is Canada Day, the 144th anniversary of the confederation of Canada. It is a birthday celebration --the birth of a country. I say it that way in contrast to Independence Day in the US, which is a celebration of Freedom and liberty from British oppression. It is a victory celebration. It is saying "We won!"

In my opinion the differences in origins results in different characteristics in the respective people's psyches. America and Americans are very concerned about winning and patriotism. Everything is about competing and competing is tied to patriotism. Winners are heroes. Heroes are winners. And everyone is overtly patriotic. The national obsession with sport evidences that. It is bred in from early school days where jocks are idolized and nerds are scorned. and sports and patriotism are blended in a seamless cultural tapestry.

In contrast to that, Canadians tend to have a more laid back approach to life. Maybe the cooler climate cools our passion. Jocks are not idolized. For the most part, sports heroes and even movie stars for that matter walk among us virtually unnoticed and unbothered. Their stories are not shot through with patriotic allusions of the underdog overcoming the stacked odds to win.

Which all leads to a my main thought. Although we love our country our patriotism is not worn on our sleeve nor is it mixed with our faith or other aspects of life as if to infuse them with energy derived from zealous patriotism. In other words, we don't dress something up in our flag in order to "patriotize" it. We let things stand or fall on their own merit. We don't dress things in our flag in order to use patriotism to sell them. We don't attach patriotic feelings to everything to elevate their sanctity or manipulate the masses.

Perhaps I'm thinking about this because in a few days hundreds of Americans on the cruise on which I leave tomorrow will be celebrating their Independence Day. And patriotism will be worn on the sleeves and on the backs as Americans dress up in their flag to celebrate the day. Things that normally have nothing to do with Independence will suddenly be transformed into patriotic expressions.

For a cool Canadian like me it's a bit much. But as much as I eschew the overt displays, I detest apathy even more.

- Slugdog

The Days of the Knights (Day 10)

Ben and I left our hotel just north of Vancouver WA headed to McDonalds for a quick breaky. Downing that quickly we hit the highway, anxious for home. Essentially there was nothing unusual on that last leg. Traffic was good, weather was great, riding was easy. Getting through Canada Customs was quick and soon I was on the final stretch into Chilliwack and home.

The last half hour was bittersweet. Nearing home after a time away is always sweet. Ending a great holiday with great guys is somewhat sad. but I'll always have the colorful memories and the pics.

So, until the Knights of the Open Road ride again...

- slugdog

The Days of the Knights (Day 9)

Ben and I went to the Tall Town Cafe and Bakery, the same place we'd been for supper. It is the kind of place that the locals gather on a Saturday morning to catch up on all the scuttlebutt and goings on and doings. I would describe the ambience as "early stuff and memorabilia." After eating too much we left Lakeview and headed out for the day's ride through eastern California and Oregon. Although the drive was uneventful, it was nonetheless still beautiful. I travelled through desert sage brush, dunes, more mountain passes at snow level, and eventually on to Vancouver WA. One more sleep till I'm in my own bed again.

I read Bob's blog (PositivelyParkinsons) about relevance. I thought about similar things as I drove through small town after small town. Their common denominator was the obvious fact that their best years were behind them, way behind them. Their glory has faded leaving only the shells of buildings in various stages of decay, and even the ones still in use betray a lack of care and attention. It's like they're all in palliative care. The scary thing is this is the heart and soul of the US.

The Days of the Knights (Day 8)

After breakfast we left Hawthorne and headed to a town named Fallon where we gassed up again. The countryside is all desert although it wasn't as hot as previous days. Near Gerlock we had to stop for roadwork, something we have encountered every day. We talked to a truck driver who said that Cedarville where we could gas up again was 60 miles away. As it turned out, it was 90 miles and we were running on fumes when we rolled into Cedarville for lunch around 2:00. We ate at Janet's Country Hearth Restaurant and Bakery. I got a giant maple glazed long-john donut for 85 cents! (pic to follow)

We left Cedarville around 3:00 and proceeded along what we thought was the right road. after about 30 miles the pavement ended. Wrong road. We backtracked to where the road had forked. The map showed a gravel road as a shortcut, so we took it. After a mile or so of rough riding and gravel, the road narrowed as it wound through the bush only to end at a private gated-off road. So we backtracked once again and spying a third road marked as a forestry road, we knew this was our shortcut. We headed along this rough gravel and dirt road. Needless to say we were covered in dust in no time. The road climbed higher and higher. At about 6 miles along the 16 mile shortcut we encountered snow on the road-- enough to stop our progress and force us back down the same rough rutted road. Once down we drove the 27 miles back to Cedarville to get back on the right road. In total we travelled and extra 87 miles and lost 2.5 hours. We gassed up again and headed for Lakeview Oregon, arriving at 7:00. Although our day didn't go as planned, it was an adventure... The stuff memories are made of.

The Days of the Knights (Day 7)

We set out from Stovepipe Wells at 8:30 and headed down the road to Artist Drive and then further down the road to the Devil's Golf course and then on down to Badwater. It is literally "down" the road as Badwater is the second lowest place on earth at 279 feet below sea level, second only to the Dead Sea at 400 feet. They are very similar in that both are beds of salt crystals. The area is bleak, and sun scorched. It was there at Badwater we determined that Bob, Ralph and Jim would go their direction while Ben, Jerry Martin and I went ours. After hugs and prayer for safety, we headed up out of Badwater and headed for Tunopah. We had lunch there and it was time to say goodbye once again as Jerry and Martin headed east and we headed west. I also scored when I found one of those small general stores that sell stuff cheaper than anywhere else. I know this sounds silly, but try buying a pair of heavy denim jeans anywhere! I found some in Tunopah! Ben and I set out from there and arrived in Hawthorne Nevada at about 5:00. Although it is a town where they make bombs and bullets, it is
pretty quiet.

The Days of the Knights (Day 6)

We left Sonora and had a beautiful ride az we headed for Yosemite National Park. We had had heard that due to the massive snow pack this year, the waterfalls were spectacular. We stopped for gas at Crane Flats and Bob had a power nap. We were told that Ralph had been sick last night and so we joked that he was suffering Maureen's revenge. At the restaurant the night before, Ralph, out of the blue, asked the waitress if her name was Maureen. Of course it wasn't. It was Natalie. So maybe she did something to Ralph's food! Anyway, Ralph was a trooper. By the way, what's with Vegemite? Say Vegemite, now say Yosemite. Weird eh?

Anyway we had a spectacular ride through Yosemite. At the highest points there were 10 and 12 foot snowdrifts along the roads. The temperature was degrees C. at one point we stopped at a rushing waterfall for pictures. While we were there Jim was interviewed by a local reporter and photogrpher about why bikers from Canada were there when we have such spectacular waterfalls. Meanwhile Ralph ralphed over the bridge at the falls. Poor guy. Maureen's revenge...

We then set out from Yosemite toward our next destination, Stovepipe Wells. As we descended into Death Valley the temperature rose higher and higher. By the time we arrived at 4:15pm the temperature was 120 F (48 C). With the winds gusting, the words blast furnace were quite fitting descriptors. Some of us did laundry, setting our clothes out to dry... They dried in no time. one sidebar to the day. As I was finishing up last night's blog a lady appeared in the business lounge where several of us were. She had cash for gas but no credit card. She needed someone to use their card so she could get gas. No one would help her. So I tried, but the gas sttion had blocked use of the card so she had to wait all night in her car till the gas station was open and she could buy gas. I looked in the morning but she was gone.