Traveling West Again

He Is Leaving The Life He's Come To Know     He Said He's Going To Find     What's Left Of His World    The World He Left Behind      Not So Long Ago     He's Leaving      On That Midnight Train To Georgia  

Gladys Knight And The Pips

Imagination 1973

DAY 1

The Drive:

The Dude & I were traveling west by 4:30am, the sunrise a few short hours later was magical. The remaining Utah snow was a inviting and Bambi's were plentiful along the roadway. The traffic was light on this particular Tuesday morning and the miles clicked off assiduously. I Enjoy Driving 

Northern Nevada hasn't changed what so ever, I just drove this endeavor almost one year ago to the date. Our revolving conversations became a blur like the black top covered miles. Totally uneventful day of driving and The Dude was able to catch up on text, phone calls, and paperwork in general. 

Just over 11 hours later, we pulled the silver bullet over just west of Reno Nevada for a trunk snack. The Dude had whipped up a heavily potent garlic hummus over the weekend. We sliced off nickel sized slabs of dry salami, fresh micro greens were pleased upon the fresh hummus, dank cheese slices, and rolled it all up tight inside a wheat tortilla. Roadside Lunch 101

The next remaining 40 miles were spent reminiscing, pointing our Antelope herds, and noticing how green the valleys appeared to us as Colorado is still dormant. Before we knew it, I was pulling into the hotel driveway in downtown Portola California. Easy Peasy 

I decided, after I checked in and The Dude headed on down the road, that going for a walk would be a veteran call. Threw on a pair of pants, powered up the Garmin, and out the door I walked under a blanket of twinkling stars. Two highlights would be finding a twenty in the back pocket of my pants and falling asleep to the crocking frogs in the distance. 

DAY 2

Portola , Ca:

I woke up early and my hotel room was filled by the aroma of Ponderosa Pine pollen and fresh mature Cedar trees. I walked down to the local coffee shop for a breakfast that included an egg burrito and a cup of fresh Joe. And then pulled a Forest Gump and went for a walk around the little sleepy old railroad town. The house below was our neighbors The Popish Family and they build the only flat roof house in all of Portola back in the day. 

We were all meeting up with the Tax Gal at 10am, so I Walked!!! Time was on my side so I walked some more as Mr Sun had yet to peak over the snow covered mountain range. Why not check out the old neighborhood?? I Got Time

Headed towards the old house on 5th & Colorado, snapped off some photos, and then meandered in the direction of the High School. In the above photo, Bill And Peggy still remain carved in time. 

This rock wall and bench seat used to seem daunting to me to climb around on as a young pup. That seat there in the shadow of the tree is only about knee high. But as a kid, it was a climb. 

These two photos showcase Beckworth Peak. The "trail" back in the 1970's was just off the side street from our childhood home. Now, its a muddy road!! Couldn't believe it. Countless adventures back when this was a little deer trail to the main trail. Now, just a simple drive and you are there. Or Somewhere

Here is a photo of the High School and the letter P on the barren hillside there in the distance. Not much has changed around the old schoolyard. 

Another photo of the P and the Elementary School is just below my shadow there. 

The towering roof of the Elementary School down below and that glass front wall still stands true. I always thought that it was so cool having living incased by those windows while attending grade school. Growing up here was comparable to the Television Show Little House On The Prairie. Meaning, duel parental support, class field trips, and yearly produced school plays were just some of the tidbits we looked forward to.  

I met up with my step sister and The Dude at 10am like scheduled. After that meeting, The Dude And I drove out to Bill And Jan's place to meet up with the realtor. The realtor explained her concerns and asked if we address some of these issues before the house goes on the market. Overwhelming for sure but its only one project at a time. And lucky me, Country Radio was playing from the boom box, only FM station available high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 

This photo below is out of place. This house below was the cream of the crop back in the 70's. Now, it is a reflection of the town. Really struck me when I approached it as the sun deserted the sky for the night. So Dilapidated  

Anyway, The Dude and I shot over to the local small, I mean very small, True Value for supplies. Let The Games Begin 

DAY 3

Manual Labor:

Keep in mind, my step sister and her family removed TWO, not just one but two, 18 Cubic Yard roll away dumpsters of trash from inside the home. They also had the emotional burden of cleaning out those personal items and asking themselves about what to do with... This was all done months before my arrival. 

I was up before Mr Sun once again, met the worker bees at the coffee shop at opening, sipped my coffee while they rolled up a breakfast burrito, topped off my coffee, and walked out to Bill And Jan's place to happily start working again. The Dude and I accomplished quite a bit the day before, after the realtor left, but still felt behind the 8 ball. I spent the previous day scrapping off all the chipped paint, lubricated both garage doors, and walked around the property with a 5 gal bucket picking up broken glass, random plastic Sh*t, and cigarette butts. After finally scrapping off all the chipping paint, began painting everything white.  

A classic story for ya - I am on an old aluminum slider ladder painting and my mind was full on playing tricks on me. I was alone and I swore I could hear noises of windows sliding open, dishwasher doors closing, and foot steps throughout the house. It was all in my mind as it was just the heat of the sun warming the roof of the house but I was freaking myself out. So I rang up a friend and put them on speaker phone while I painted the fascia. The Dude arrives but didn't want to interrupt my phone call and walks up and stands next to the ladder to get my attention. So I am near the top rung of the ladder with my phone on speaker in my front flannel pocket, my left arm wrapped around the ladder with the paint bucket in hand, the 2 inch brush in my right hand, I looked down to dip my brush and there stands The Dude. Scared me so bad that I jumped out of my skin and almost fell off the ladder. We laughed about later but that took a few years off my life. 

Its a beautiful house on 5 acres. It is just that the poor house has been neglected for about a decade and the house is full of 40 years worth of second hand smoke tar residue. Jan was confined to a wheelchair for about the last 7 years of her life and WC, well, I have a few questions that I would love to ask him. And who knew that there are so many styles of Country Music??? Country Pop, Classic Country, Bluegrass Country, Country Rap Was Highly Entertaining To Say The Least, Honky-Tonk Country, & Neotraditional Country Was A New One On Me. 

Can you see the ghost shadow from the hanging wall clock?? Check out the wall around the light switch. It was rubbed clean. CRAZY!! There were a number of those dusty ledges or the usual top of the refrigerator grime but there were also some What The Phuc moments as well. 

When the sun became too much, I went in the garage and removed all the wacky wires strung about through the exposed wooden studs while Country Music Tunes filled the empty space. Pulled the black electrical taped wires from the broken ceiling fan and other jerry rigged spliced together wires that went nowhere. Walked around picking up more glass shards here and there. Back on my hands and knees to paint some more. Another chore was securing the water heater per California earthquake codes. Back to some more painting in the shade. 

I dodged the sun all day and checked projects to be done off the list. Slowly but surely I made some progress painting and white paint was tuff on the eyes I tell ya. The window screens were literally hung wire screen mesh and held in place with thumb tacks. Pulled that crap off the windows. I would really like to know why the face plates around the 110volt plugs were gone. The folks at True Value knew The Dude & I well by the end of the week as we purchased so many random items. Sometimes in bulk but usually miscellaneous home repair accessories. 

Just as I was finishing the second coat of paint on the front deck here, The Dude pulls up with a little treat. He says,"With all the work you put in, are you thirsty?" I casually answered with my best Country Music draw," Sh*T Howdy." 

We cracked a cold brew or two, we shared more stories, we used a little more elbow grease, we replaced the burnt out bulbs with new ones, and checked more items off our list. We did well for two days of devoted "need to do" projects. Plus another full day of just house keeping and bathroom tile/shower/etc cleaning.  Check 

That night, we supported the local wood fired pizza place and enjoyed a pitcher of fresh Wheat, Oats, & Barely. I was pretty tired and stiff but once again found myself walking the dark streets after dinner. All in total, walked 14 miles / 22km on the day. Day one - 3.8 miles / 6km - Day two 7.9 miles / 12.7km. Walking And Processing 

DAY 4

Spreading:

Friday morning was a wash, lather, rinse, and repeat. Breakfast burrito and a hot cup of Joe, off to Bill and Jan's place, touch up paint, nailed down an oil line from the tank to the heater unit inside, sweeping out the garage, cleaning the windows, checking on the completed list, and then hosing off the house. Yes, pulled out the garden hose and washed the decades of built up dirt off the siding of the house. It was raining mud and the white was almost too white. I am very proud to be leaving the house in better shape than when we found it. Yes, I wish I had another week because I would love to pull the carpet, roll the walls with a fresh coat of paint, and cock the window jams.

 The Dude & I agreed that WC would prefer to be laid to rest on the property. We decided to spread those ashes here high above his homestead. The view is rather gorgeous and numerous bird sang out as we performed that heart wrenching ritual together. The whole ordeal just simply felt right and peaceful. Rest In Peace WC Reed 

We then drove over to the only reason worth visiting Portola. This disc golf course is beyond impressive and even offers free discs in that grey see thru tub to barrow for a round. Please Don't Steal was written on top of that grey lid there with a BLK Sharpie. Well Done Team Human 

The signs were top shelf, two tee pads for Pro and AM, and super easy to navigate the 18 basket course. 

Countless volunteer hours has gone into this park and it shows. Both of us claimed a birdie on this particular basket above. And dig the use of the stumps. So Clever 

A fitting way to end the week, much needed round, and I played the 18 hole course 2 under. NICE 

DAY 5

Eulogy: 

Saturday morning started off with my arm completely numb and under my pillow. I struggled to roll off of it, used my other hand to pull that frozen stiff arm from under the pillow, and lifting that dead arm up felt so bizarre and heavy. Sleepy and a completely tingling dead arm wasn't the ideal situation for navigating my morning. 

Another cup of joe at sunrise, just what I needed. My guts were pretty much knotted up so I wasn't searching out a meal of sorts. Just a warm cup of coffee and walking I went to disperse some nervous pinned up energy. 

Bill And Jan's Celebration of Life took place in the town park and very well attended by town folk, friends, and family. Many of the faces in attendance were from so long ago. Rail Roaders that I didn't recognize but thanked profusely for coming out for the event. 

The Dude absolutely nailed his Eulogy and told the tale of the Charles lineage of our family tree. He dug up history that dated back to the 1820's, sprinkled in Great Great Grandparents stories, more Charles, Dr Charles Brown that delivered both WC and The Dude, and capped it off with The Dudes acknowledging his first born grandson Avery Charles. I was so proud of him for keeping his composure, delivering with confidence, and ended with WC Reed's popular phrases. "Money Doesn't Grow On Trees" - "You Make A Better Door Than A Window" - "Don't Eat Sunflower Seeds With The Shells On" - and when life throws you a curve ball," It Will All Be OK"

Me, my Cuz Andrea drove up Sacramento, Uncle Butch at 80 years old, and The Dude. Below is a photo of The Dude giving the Western Pacific Rail Road Props, Uncle Mark, And Myself. On the verge of throwing up and the worst low back pain, I spoke these words.

As Bryan and I descended from Rocky Point, sweeping into view not all that high above was a Golden Eagle. It had a monstrous wingspan of a flying dinosaur. Its powerful talons trailing behind. Its feathers spread with the fullness of a parachute, they stalled the air. These domed wings suddenly occupying more space than the both of our own bodies combined. With limber figure skating grace, it landed on an open branch of a might Ponderosa Pine. The wings remained out stretched for a moment in time, this Golden Eagle teetering for balance. Then they closed tight to the body, in control, surveying the landscape of possibilities of fishing the crystal clear flowing waters of the Feather River. My shoulders dropped, my breath was effortlessly full again, and my nervous system was claiming. Finding myself here in Portola, My Birth Home. I Could Breathe Again - I asked everyone in attendance to take a deep belly breath - Bill & Jan loved their animals. From Sammie the bird to Chrissy to Buddy. I have compassion for all animals. Bill & Jan were captivated by unique automobiles and hot rods. I am an avid enthusiast of capturing the sexy lines of exotic sports cars at a street rod car show on Main Street. Bill & Jan were rail roaders and traveled countless thousands of miles from Orville to Winnamucca. I have driven coastline to coastline in everything from a rental car to a school bus and once drove a dumbstruck across the beautiful state of Colorado. The Reed's can drive anything anywhere. Bill & Jan were talented with their own mediums of art and their creativity still shines on today. I have been painting and sharing my acrylic pours for years. Bill & Jan were friendly with everyone that they came in contact with. I still take pride in opening doors for others, greeting strangers with a friendly hello, waving to officers of the law, and treating my fellow human without judgment and genuine respect. Bill & Jan religiously watched NASCAR Racing every Sunday afternoon and cheered on Jeff Gordon throughout his career. I have had the privilege of traveling the world to attend F1 Racing Live and a handful of Indy Car Races around the US. Bill & Jan created gorgeous rock walkways, archways with stones, and various flooring over the decades of marriage. I throughly relish fabricating patio features with flagstones that were created from deep within Mother Earth. Bill & Jan rifled through numerous computers. I unfortunately house four dead MacBooks on the back shelf of my closet. Bill & Jan instilled in us the magical board game of Cribbage. Bryan and I are avid Cribbage players and enjoy a non competitive game of crib, even while we are vacationing in ViVa Lost Wages during opening week of March Madness. I am now going to honor all the friends, family, partners, and lovers that discovered Portola because of Bill & Jan - ( I listed off 14 names and wrapped it up with the world travel twins Dennis and Rob for 16 names ) - I leave you all with these thoughts. You are never too old to set goals. So stay adventurous and adventure on - Peace & Love   

The Dude & I hit the road before the sunrise Sunday morning. In all, we drove 1790 miles 2880kms. But it wasn't the miles, it was the journey. 

Cheers