Oh my!

Sunday was the first time I have driven the Newell pulling the trailer any distance without TLE there in the passenger seat helping me with navigation, and providing a second set of eyes to watch for things I might be missing......I was ready to roll by 0645.....I had 120+ miles to drive up to Vancouver and wanted to be sure I was there when TLE arrived in Portland.  It doesn't get light until 0720-0730 right now, so it was effectively dark.  I don't like to drive in the dark when TLE is with me, let alone when she is not, but I started to roll anyway.

When I went to bed Saturday night my exit strategy from the parking lot was simple.....leave the way I entered......I 'assumed' it would be just the way I saw it as the sun set Saturday, however, as I approached my first right turn into the street that would lead me out of the mall parking lot I saw that a metal barrier had been placed across the exit.....wait, what?  I knew there was the annual Susan G. Komen breast cancer awareness event scheduled for that day, but had no idea this section of the lot would be blocked to traffic.  I reflexively began to steer to the right to drive up one of the parking isles, but within a few feet I realized I could not complete the turn without taking 5, or 6 vehicles with me so I stopped.  Wow, just 30 seconds into my day and I've managed to do something I have been able to avoid for 4 years now.....not get the Newell into a situation where I have to back up 100 feet to extricate myself.

I get flustered easily when it comes to driving 36,000 lbs. of metal and rubber, and boy was I flustered now......I thought I could see headlights in my side view mirrors, so I got out to check, and saw that the person was going around me, so I went back inside to begin to try and backup.  Right about then I saw a security guy from the event walk over, so I opened my window to see what he wanted.....he asked if he could help me back up......I immediately accepted his offer and with his patient help managed to back up the 100 feet so I could turn around and leave via a different unblocked route.  Whew, that worked out well.

So, I am finally out on the street waiting at a signal to cross the street to enter I-105, which would take me back to I-5 northbound, and Vancouver.  I notice the Delorme mapping program is telling me to turn left......right there!  It didn't seem right to me as the direction I wanted to go was to the right......just as I was passing through the intersection I realized that left turn was the entrance to the freeway......oh no!  Not again.....I haven't even gone a 16th of a mile and I've made another navigation mistake!  

The problem with missing a turn when you're 62 feet long is you have to turn around......finding a place wide enough to turn around is often problematic.  As I traversed the bridge over the freeway I should have already been on I did't want to turn right, or left at the next intersection as I didn't know what I would be getting into, and straight ahead the road was obviously narrowing significantly as it entered a residential area......I am sitting there kind of frozen in time not wanting to go straight, right, or left when I spy a parking lot across the next intersection for an elementary school.....I quickly size it up in the still semi darkness and decide it is big enough for me to turn around in......or at least I wanted it to be big enough.  I said a quick prayer and proceeded.....thankfully it was a Sunday and there were NO cars whatsoever in the tinnier than expected lot, and I was able to, with great temerity, navigate through the tiny lot and turn around.  Within a few minutes I was merging on to I-5 and on my way north.

About 10 miles up the Interstate I saw a sign for a Rest Area and I decided to take a 'Rest'.....I was only 10 minutes into my day and I needed a break....that's a record for me.  I pulled into the Rest Area, shut down the Detroit and sighed......and then sighed again.  So far I had done something twice I don't usually do.....ASSUME.....and got burned once, and barely escaped the second one.  Time to clear my head and start acting like I have been doing this successfully for 4 years now.  I took time to eat a bowl of Raisin Bran, brush my teeth, drink a cup of coffee, change into some warmer clothes (it was quite chilly) and then I was ready to continue my northward trek.

After that shaky start my day improved significantly....the sun came up, the Interstate was uncrowded, the skies were clear and I was just floating northward on a bed of air suspension and cruise control.....just as it should be....except that passenger seat was still empty.

I arrived at 99 RV Park (a Passport America park - $17/night) off exit 7 in Washington about 1015 hours.....TLE was scheduled to land in Portland at 1150.......all I had to do was set up, and wait for her loveliness to arrive thereby restoring order to my world.  Around 1148 I got a text from her advising she was exiting the plane, and should be 'home' by 1300.  Shortly after that I got another text from my brother-in-law, Glenn, who advised he and TLE's sister, Laureen, were in Portland visiting friends, and did we have time to get together?  I love serendipity......I answered quickly that we would love to see them, so we set plans for that evening about 1900 hours for them to drive over and spend a couple of hours together.

At precisely 1231 I got a text from TLE advising she had just arrived at the entrance to the park, and by the time I got outside she was parking the Beetle......life is good.

I spent the rest of the day watching NFL football, napping, and suddenly becoming aware it was getting hot.....I looked at my phone to see what the temp was and saw 81 degrees.....wait, what?  I had to go outside and put the window awnings on the passenger side of the coach out,and then turn on the 'attic' fan.....I didn't come to Oregon to sweat!

Glenn and Laureen arrived just after 1900, and we sat drinking brews, and talking for a couple of hours.......that is the thing about good friends......you can be apart for months at at time, but each time you reunite it is as if no time at all has passed.......a day that had a very shaky beginning had blossomed into an awesome day with an unexpected visit from lady serendipity.

Thanks for stopping by!