Icewind's Ramblings

July 13, 2016       Day 4     Paso Robles to Joshua Tree NP via Palm Springs California It was a wonderful morning waking up at daybreak on a hill among the grapes. I have to say last night was a unique experience being alone within several thousand acres of grape vines in the vineyard, the sky opening up to stars.  The moon had been up most of the afternoon and had set just before the beginning of dusk so it was a perfect night to view the heavens.  The lights of town were several miles away so did not cast extra light.  The slight breeze brought with it several different scents during the night.  Most were somewhat expected with the slight smell of the fields and cattle but occasionally you could smell the salt from the ocean maybe fifty miles away. The different grape varieties also had distinct smells after one concentrated on them. I had a great night’s sleep which was needed.  I just blew up the ai...

I’m getting behind in my writing as I have been doing more driving than taking time to sit down and write but I will try to get back on course over the next couple of days.  This post goes with the photos from Tuesday, July 12, 2016 going down the Pacific Coast Highway.  I was writing this later that night after a wine tasting and invitation to spend the night in the vineyard so excuse me for the pause in this but decided to leave it in anyway.  I was typing this sitting in my Margaritaville chair under the stars.  It was a good night.  Here goes . . . I started the morning in Santa Cruz by the ocean with a nice cup of Bailey’s coffee and the smell of bacon on the camp stove.  It was a little chilly but not bad as the wind had died down overnight. The morning fog layer quickly burned off and the sun was out shining brightly. Yesterday’s drive along the coast had a couple of issues that needed to be dealt with before starting this morning.  The...

Today is going to be a little different pace than yesterday.  Zac Brown’s “I ain’t in no hurry today” is the theme.  Got up, made coffee with my Bailey’s to set the morning since it was slightly chilly about fifty degrees.  Hit the road about 9:40 AM driving south down Hwy 1. You could see the fog bank off shore several miles and it seemed to be inching closer to the coast as I drove.  It was a very pretty drive with the road winding its way along the coast climbing up and down several thousand feet from sea level up the mountains.  Driving the coast is not a fast way to travel with average speeds about 35 to 45 mph.  There are stretches that 55 is the speed limit but it is hard to maintain any speed as you slow down for the curves posted at 30, 20, or 15 mph. I drove about an hour past one of the places I was thinking about camping, Navarro Beach where the redwoods state park is just a few miles away.  As I climbed up one of the cliffs from t...

Went out with several friends, Colin and Donna-Lee for my going away dinner so on the spur of the moment we decided to go to McMenamins Edgefield.  They had music concerts playing in several locations on the grounds.  There were many small bars tucked away all over the property.  We danced, sang, ate and partied until almost 12:30 so it was after one before I went to sleep.  I awoke at 5:00 AM to finish packing and loading my rig. It was an emotional exit with Jan and Nate as I was holding back since the news of my bother-in-law’s passing.  As I left Portland Oregon it was 6:30 AM and the rain was starting to fall.  By the time I drove from Gresham into Portland to get on the 205 it was pouring.  The kind of rain that one expects of Seattle and Portland, in the south we use a term “it came up a big cloud” which usually means a gully washer.  With this pouring it brought with it a release for me with Doug my brother-in-law.  All the emoti...

Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes.   Sometimes again and again, which I guess is called growth.  I had started to settle into this nice place called Gresham, Oregon which still has a small town feel about it.  My friends here and the new friends I have made since arriving gave me a since of extended family and support during a time where it was a welcome change for me. A few days ago my childhood friend, brother-in-law, brother, and all around great guy passed into the night going on ahead to scout for the rest of us remaining on this earth.  It was a moment several thousand miles away which still impacted me to the core of my soul.  Family is a funny thing, no matter how far away or how infrequent you may see them when something happens it is a time to drop everything, pack up and head to them to comfort, support, and be there in times of need. Such is my life this week, stopping what I had going on, packing and planning an...

Ode to Doug Coker by my friend Russ As many of you know, on my journey from Alaska south I stopped for about ten days to visit with my friend Russ who lives in Campbell River British Columbia.  We have been best friends for almost fifteen years now and have shared many of our lives events over the years.  We met through a gaming community and one of the things he does was write obituaries for our game characters that are lost in battle.  Over the years he has personally written obits for several of my dogs, a friend’s sister passing and others.  This latest one he has written for my brother in law Doug who I have known since we were toddlers and married my sister Judy.  He has been a best friend to us all and this sudden lost leaves me now trying to write my own words but for now here are some from my friend Russ. Ode to Doug Coker –July 4, 2016 A Georgia man whom I knew not… best friend of my friend D, The husband of D’s sister he… he d...

As I have been on this recent journey of self-discovery and exploring the possibilities in life and living I have rediscovered one of our basic ideas of how lives work and go through many changes.  The scenery may change but the core values and work ethic remain the same. There may be an ebb and flow of old friendships leaving an area but there are renewed and new friendships made along the way to another location.  That dynamic has always fascinated me as you come in contact with those and the friendships grow stronger.  Renewed or meeting new friends can sometimes bring fresh perspectives which you may not have thought about before.  Part of my time here in Oregon has been getting to know friends who I have vacationed with but known long distance for many years while others are part of a large online gaming community.  Many of us gather once a year in various locations around the country to have a weekend of fellowship, music, and food.  It is a ...

The weather here in Oregon is getting better and summer solstice was yesterday. It doesn’t seem to have the same importance here as Alaska where everything is in full light mode right now.  There were a couple of mentions and the declaration that summer is here but that was about it.  No parties that I saw or happenings around town. It was sunny and 75 degrees today and it is slightly noticeable the days are longer when sunset is about 9 pm.  The trees and flowers are in bloom so it is green and colorful around town.  As I have explored different areas it varies quite a bit. There are many nurseries, tree farms about and many vineyards not far away with many different varieties of wine being made locally.  Wine tastings are held in many places to the west and southwest of Portland. Missing my fishing after surviving another cold dark winter in Alaska but at least I was able to go with my buddy Russ in Campbell River on my trip south.  There are man...

The weather here over the last couple of days has been interesting to say the least.  It has many similarities to Alaska weather in the summer.  Mornings can be chilly requiring a sweatshirt and quickly changing to sunny, warm making one shed the layer of clothes put on.  It has been for a few days with a cold front coming through that it has been constantly changing multiple times a day.  Chilly, cloudy, misty rain, clearing for a hour or so then mid to heavy rain.  There have been a couple of thunderstorms with lightening, thunder, and hail. Working in it has been a mixture of setting up the saws and other construction items to work for a bit then covering up everything with tarps, sitting it out for thirty minutes or so then uncover and continue working.  Some small showers you have a tendency to just work through until you are soaked then you debate whether or not to put on a rain jacket or be wet.  After the fourth or fifth time shedding clot...

Many years ago when I lived in Atlanta I was involved with Habitat for Humanity as the Atlanta Chapter plumbing lead.  I originally got involved because they were going to do the first ever “Blitz Build” of 21 homes in one week.  I was more curious than anything at first to see how they would pull off such an unheard of feat completing 21 homes in a week starting from scratch.  Short version of the story is we accomplished this feat with the efforts of many people, tradesmen, volunteers, and the proposed home owners who did “sweat equity” as part of their qualifications to receive the home.  I did other projects for Habitat over several years both in Georgia and Utah before heading to Alaska.  Alaska had a program but I was so busy I did not remain involved during my time in Alaska but they did build much needed homes there. I give you that background to start this story of my latest project.  During my stay here in Portland I have started contracting ...

I finished another project this week building a sun room for a couple across town in Milwaukee.  They are retired with the husband, Rich being ex-military and we were stationed in the same place though different years.  Great guy, a little battle worn over the years but it was nice spending a few days around him and his wife Angie.  She is a great gardener with a three tier back yard with flowers and gardens on all levels.  It was nice listening to her describe all that she has done and what stage various plants or vegetables were in their growing season. They hired me to build a 12’ x 16’ sun room on a slab recently poured for it.  Rich wants to make it into an outside kitchen for his two grills, one pellet & one charcoal, a smoker, and a refrigerator along with seating area. They also want to replace their deck once they return from a camping trip which they are leaving next week so I will probably get more work shortly to do the deck. This sun ro...

Life Observation # 162 . . .   One of the hardest things in life, letting go of what you thought was real. Ice

For most people Memorial Day is about the first camp out of the season, cranking up the grill or the first get together with friends for the start of summer.  For me it is those things and a day of reflection of the sacrifice that friends of mine has made, brothers whom I have never met but in the fraternity of having served in the military.  Memorial Day weekend starts out with many flags put on graves at many cemeteries, front yards across the country, and readying for many private and public events across this nation.  There are many big events planned during the weekend such as the 100 th running of the Indy 500 where there is much attention paid to what this time means and why it is celebrated and remembered. This Memorial Day was a little different from the last few I have observed in Alaska with a new twist being in Oregon this year.  It was busy but also a laid back weekend with various things going on.  Monday brought a cloudless day with brig...