Travels with The Rayman

It was as though we were suspended on fog.  The road was difficult to see, let alone navigate our 33 foot behemoth towing a car, rounding curves, avoiding traffic cones, oncoming traffic, while taking into account the cars behind piling up like a line of women waiting to use the two stalls at the sporting arena. 

It was difficult.  It was beautiful.  It hinted of splendid sights that were invisible to us, shrouded in the fog. 

The decision was made to trek along the coast of Oregon, going south so we could be on the outside of the cliffs in order to see all those purported huge rocks sitting amongst the waves of the Pacific.  Only, Mother Nature had a different idea.  And, as usual, she was right.  She is always right. 

When crossing the bridges especially, there was nothing to see underneath.  It was just gray.  Sullen, almost.  But since we were on our lark, we tended to regard the gray as erethral.  Check speling>>>>>gliding along almost like a plane flying amongst the rain clouds.

And then the fog turned to rain about the time we entered the Redwood Wonderland.  Giant redwood trees, the few remaining.  How could people cut down these wondrous trees?  Purportedly, only  5% remain of the original forests of northern California.  How could you take saw to tree?  It would kill me.  I don’t think I could do it.  They are too majestic, too vulnerable even with their size, standing like ancient wooden monuments to nature with no defenses against the saw, against man yielding saw, against progress such as it is. 

We are in awe. 

While traveling south, we come upon blockages in the road.  One way traffic is in order because of the mudslides from this last winter.  Crews are laboring to shore up the road in various spots along 101.  All clad in yellow rain gear today.  They stick out in the yellow like a daisy does in a floral arrangement.  Your eye always goes to the yellow.  There in the raining fog, they labor on laying rebar, pouring cement, working mightily against nature to undo the damage so we motorists can drive from point A to point B.  We appreciate the work they do. 

Then suddenly, in the romance of the moment, Rayman cries out, “What the hell are you doing?”  I have managed to almost balance the RV on all the wheels on just one side of the RV as I race around a curve.  Oops.  This RV is a lumbering, hard to drive, machine.  Straight away, not a problem.  Curves, a problem.  Why do they make them so top heavy?  When we’re leaning into a curve, it feels like we are going to topple.  Over.  And over.  Down to the ocean from the cliffs we traverse.  Are cathedral ceilings really necessary in an RV?  A foot shorter might be less likely to roll.  Just because they can design it, doesn’t mean they should build it.  Driving becomes more difficult, even at 55, which is about 13 miles an hour slower than I was going when the Rayman freaked. 

But, I digress.

We arrived in our first RV spot within the state of California today.  We left the state in June.  It’s been quite a summer sojourn.  Happy we are to be back in the Golden State.  Home is what it feels like.  Here at the Sounds of the Sea RV park a bit north of Trinidad, CA we are spending the night.  And we had a reservation to eat at Moonstone Grill.  A hidden gem of a restaurant.  The food, the drink was fine.  The view, even with the fog enveloping the coastline was sublime.  It was here that we confessed our deep felt feeling of gratitude to each other.  A special evening.  A tear was shed.  A look in the eye was forthcoming.  Great evening.  Blessed by each other.  And on the way back to The Dog House, we each remembered the first time we ever really discovered the heavens.  For Rayman, it was on a cross country trip, looking up when everything around him was dark and seeing the Universe.  For me, it was a “sleep outside” occasion with my neighbor, Nancy Jordan.  I can remember looking up at the stars, the Milky Way and feeling completely overwhelmed and insignificant.  A wondrous occasion for us.  Young, good eye sight, fabulous imaginations.  Viewing the stars.  Wondering, “what the hell?”. 

Even at that young age, I didn’t get religion.  Religion did not explain the Universe.  It did not explain the reasons.  It did not advance one’s curiosity to look forward.  It seemed to me always looking backward at a book with the same old stories.  Blaming Eve.  Building arks.  Really?  Nah.  Not this kid.  Way too limiting.  However, even though I was always a doubting Thomas, I did like the hymns, the bonnets at Easter, the Christmas caroles.  But I never bought the manger story, or the immaculate conception story.  Especially after I came to understanding sex. 

But I digress.  Rayman, gently reminded me tonight over dinner, that there is a nick in the front tire and rim when i hit the curb in Portland.  This was back in July.  It’s September now.  He is amazing.  Waiting, lurking for the right moment to suggest that maybe, just maybe, i should be a bit more careful when driving The Dog House. 

I’ll try to do better.  On our way home.  To our beloved Morro Bay.