Blog Archives

Deception Pass/Anacortes

6/30/2015

From casino I pack up and head for Deception Pass State Park. A scenic drive to State Park entrance. Made it to campsite through many twists and turns. Well placed signage directed me to site. Most sites here have good privacy. Campground is set amongst stand of tall firs, some 10’ wide at the base. Wild berries and bush-barriers 8-12 feet high between sites. I successfully backed the RV into spot (after 3 attempts) and was happy it only needed one leveler on the side. No hookups. This is first test of dry camping. I'll be watching closely the levels in tanks and electrical usage.
Sign says CAMPGROUND FULL. Deception Pass is a popular place. More people to encounter. I’m hoping noisy children calm down. So am I becoming a hermit? I long for original forest sound. People noise is comforting at times yet ugly when in the midst of an awesome forest. Lifelong friend
Kim and her friend Anita came up from Seattle to camp for a day. They brought tons of food and pitched a tent. I helped them figure out the confusing tent shield. Anita indulged in Washington legal weed. Kim and I drank vodka.
They had an uncomfortable night trying to sleep on slightly tilted site. Sleeping bags were sliding around. Morning came and I made coffee by plugging Mr. Coffee into a recepticle in mens bathroom. Kinda gross but need my coffee!
Kim, Anita, and I took the North Beach Trail to the beach with dogs and laid on the pleasantly solar warmed pebbled ground. Anita found her magic 3 rocks to take back to Ballard. We chatted non-stop about current events. Kim tried out dog whisperer techniques on GG. It worked! GG heeled right behind Kim. On the return an unleashed dog (german shorthair mix) lunged out to attack JP and GG. Anita scooped up GG and I held JP. The owner came out to fetch her dog offering a watery apology. Her dog got my dogs all worked up so when we set’em back down, like a bullet, JP shot at a young girl who was twirling around in the middle of path with arms flailing and nipped her. He didn’t break the skin, just scuffed. Her father, came over yelling at me and calling me filthy names in front of his precious daughter. I apologized to both people. He demanded my information so I followed him to his campsite and gave him my phone #. He called me a few more names as the little girl milked sympathy from her mom and dad, sniffling, sobbing and whining. I can tell when a kid is milking it as I was very good at it myself. Later a ranger appeared at my site and took some info. Nice young guy. Capable and very handsome (happy to make his acquaintance). Nothing else came of the incident. Except as the father was driving out he waved and then flipped me off with a big grin on his face. Someone has a little growing up to do.
This incident gives more cause to find JP a better home, where he can be kept from other dogs or taught not to be aggressive with other dogs. I’m not so concerned about him biting people though JP will need to wear a muzzle now. Both dogs have adjusted so well to living in an RV. The last thing to overcome is aggressiveness with other dogs. I do meet people on the trails who say “oh , how cute!” Looks can be deceiving for sure. Inside they are fiery beasts.
V came by around 8pm and delivered a glorious rhubarb-strawberry pie which she made for me!
Very happy to see her again. She must be psychic. She asked me some very personal questions and ended up giving an idea for the right tattoo I've been designing for twenty years. V has helped me find a new image to represent myself. An image based on kaliedescope, complex and symmetrical. She says a Libra would be best for me as a partner. She asked me why I was single and never married. That question goes so deep and personal. Not sure if I can answer it. I tried to answer but it only brings more questions. Somethings changing in me as I get older; a feeling of mortality. Life could be more fun sharing with a partner, and in some ways more demanding, trying not to disappoint. They say when you love someone you accept them for who they are with no expectations. That is hogwash. If I do life solo, any disappointment in myself, success or failure is my responsibility. Also I’ve trust issues: don’t trust anyone completely. My whole idea of human nature is tied to Darwinism. Adaptation, survival, and continuation of the species. Society requires a conformity to work as a whole. One must pull their own weight. But I do empathize with the human condition in that not everyone gets a fair shot to fulfill their potential. So how can one ever know what someones truly thinking? People lie, cheat, play emotional games constructed from various fears and insecurity. Motivated by greed or power. Women are motivated by their own nature in the same way as men; power and greed. The desire to be loved is strong. People lie right to your face. I don’t like playing upmanship games. I spot them rather quickly with my shit detector (thanks Dwight). Well V, thanks for the questions because they bring about this reflection. Not sure if this answers your question. We are never truly alone with love of friends, family, and pets. Did I leave something out?
Oh yes, many have found God who wraps everything up in a tidy package with a bow, explaining that life is a gift of goodness. I can’t quite buy that story. I am the first one to admire the design of a leaf or trying to understand the structure of an insect. This is the closest I get to worshipping. I refuse to pray for a desired result from some higher being though you can pray all you like. That’s your right. I do appreciate beauty and empathize with suffering. If there is a higher being, I’d like to point out to this being the cruelty and destruction perpetuated by its believers. Nature itself is designed with cruelness. A little bit of kindness from a stranger is enough to inspire me for days.
As I pack up to journey towards Fort Ebey State Park, to my surprise after 3 days there is no sign of battery loss. Been very conservative with lights and music. The water tank is 3/4 full. The gray tank is 1/3 full. Ship's in good shape.

Winner!

6/28/2015

Swinomish Casino was FUN fun FUN. Level sites for big rigs and pull throughs.
All hookups worked well but I expected price to be lower ($35 a night). No showers yet. Expansion of RV lot is in the works. Been playing Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory machine (starring Gene Wilder) off and on for 2 nights. The game hooks me on all levels. Hoping for the Golden Ticket. Warm embracing music. A trip back in time to a sweet innocent place. Big energy and excitement. Even the social-political implications intrigue (discuss amongst yourselves)! I was down at least $200, probably more like $300. I went back on my day of departure early in the morning, just a little miffed that I lost that much moolah. So this is how people lose big, going back to win it back. And then with the very last $20 I was willing to spend hit a $761 payoff! I’ve heard of people winning thousands on one pull. Big enough jackpot for me. Grateful. Not the Golden Ticket but win pays for visit and more. Big thrills come when 3 rockets line up. Then a big music hurrah and a rocket blasts up into a nice wide blue sky. A finger points and says look up. It sounds like a Navy jet passing right over and your chair is vibrating and rocking back and forth. Every time the rocket blasts makes me feel giddy. The screen expands upward and prizes appear to be floating while violins sweetly serenade. The rocket ship shoots up passing several prizes until it randomly circles one. The selection opens to 3 different scenarios. Gene Wilders smiling face of amazement appears. A quick clip from the movie plays. You can pick from a a sheet of candies and win points, or lollipops and win free spins, or go on a boat cruise on a chocolate river where you randomly collect prizes from the riverboat. The other thing is a random Oompha Loomphas. I won when with a bet of 4.00. I normally bet .40 at a time. Guessed it just right. The giant Willy Wonkas lined up and there were 3 WILD barrels from the Oomphas. You can see sample play on Utube. Music and movie cuts make it irresistible. When Oomphas go into their dance with the jingle m happy camper. I’ve watched people happy dance in their chair when the Oomphas strike.
The Swinomish reservation is much improved infra-structure since I was last here 20 years ago. Perhaps Native Americans are receiving a form of reparation from conquerors; casino income? On this day, I’m grateful to finish up a winner. Winning is much more fun.
Met a friendly couple married 36 years who were camping neighbors. They have a big dog that weighs about 100 pounds. When I mentioned how amazing the sunset light was illuminating the clouds Paul admits he’s not here for the beautiful scenery, he’s here for the beautiful casino. He likes the way the neon lights up his wifes face. Big smile. He goes out on casino weekends several times a year and has his fun. His wife (forgot name, oops) told about three times she hit it big, into the thousands. They have an older motor home in great shape. Paul helped me out with some information about engine maintenance. They invited me over for cocktails and later a flank steak dinner. I hope to see them again sometime then I will invite them over for a salmon dinner.

Hanging Loose

6/25/2015

This morning I wake up on the Swinomish Reservation at a campsite near the edge of
Skagit Bay. Birds twittering sunshine shining through the trees. There is no internet or Wi-fi available here. I’ve fed the dogs, cooked bacon and eggs and its time for our morning walk. Met with V at La Conner Bar & Grill. We sat in umbrella shade on the boardwalk overlooking Swinomish Channel on a mild sunny afternoon.
Does it get any better than meeting up with a good friend?
We updated our lives complete with quirky dips, dives, and flourishes over cocktails.
V looks great. Her cupcake business in Bellingham called Icing on the Cake is growing.
She showed pictures of tray after tray of goodies she bakes herself. She brought me 4 lovely cupcakes, all iced so nice. I gave her an art card with my Lake Union Grid painting. The cupcakes disappeared fast. I forgot to take pics. The art will last forever!
A call from Rory came in while we visited. V handed me over so I got to catch up with him. He’s opened a new bar/restaurant in addition to the Republic in South Lake Union area. He learned his profession from family who owns Kells, the Seattle based Irish restaurants. I ate many steamed mussels and drank many wonderful vodka martinis there with a few market friends. I traded artwork for Kells credit at one point.
Tuesday June 24th was tax clean up day. I took dogs south to Camano Island where my accountant Mary and husband Frank are retiring. Eleven years of accounting for my business and she will be closing shop. Time now to square away my records, preparing for next accountant. This is my first visit to their home. Mary said she’d never seen me so rested. Their home is lovely. Same color scheme as my RV! Beige/tan, muted tones, comtemporary. They’ve done a lot of tasteful customizing to make it their own. K.Drew artwork hangs all over their walls. A fun surprise to see!
Some art was traded for services and some Mary purchased at gallery shows.
Staked the dogs out in front yard and they were happy with shade and water. I was not so happy parked in front of Quickbooks trying to follow Mary as she clicked through the program, trying to give specifics about things which I entered in wrong categories. She had a stack of papers to sort through about 3 inches thick. Accounting is hell! I was patient and held back my irritation. Why can’t we fix our tax system so anyone can understand it? I’d rather be cleaning carpets then figuring out taxes. We tried for over an hour to save the company file to disc and couldn’t get it done. Frank offered suggestions but none panned out. Mac and PC communication issues. She’ll need to mail me final result. Mary did a thorough job and will be missed.
Then the moment came to depart and we both felt a little something. A few toasts with Merlot and two final tips from Mary:
1) when backing trailer hold steering wheel at the bottom, it’s less confusing.
2) when taking a picture and you want people to smile instead of saying “say cheese” try saying “say penis.” Mary swears it makes smiles every time.
Pleasant drive back to La Conner. Had dinner at The Treehouse. The scallop plate was exceptional. I met the co-owner/cook who is a friend of V.
Very nice gentleman and talented chef; David.
Made it home in time to walk dogs and check out Skagit sunset.
Today (June 25th) Gray and his new bride Christie came by. We met at the La Conner Pub and discussed a smattering of issues related to nostalgia and getting older.
Coloring books for seniors. Traveling. Making Art. Food. Christie wants to explore her Apache roots with video. I enjoyed meeting Christie who is well spoken and like Gray,
an independent thinker. They followed me back to campsite and we walked down to beach with dogs. Watched 5 eagles soar round above trees, about 100 yards away. Two Blue Herons appeared as we were walking back. We heard a Fisheries Ranger talking to 4 native fishermen. Apparantly something was wrong with the way they were netting fish.
Saw Christie and Gray off and they invited me down to New Mexico to visit them. Gray still has art to sell and stuff to get rid of before he can move to New Mexico.
Staying here until June 26th, then off to Swinomish Casino for 2 days and
try my luck. Went well at the Snoqualmie Casino a few weeks back. At this point +200.

La Conner/Swinomish

6/23/2015

Setting up and breaking down my daystall at Pike Place Market for 15 years is experience that transfers well to camping life on the road. Hitching up the RV, running electric cords, hooking hoses, extending awning and leveling jacks reminds me of getting ready to sell at the market.
Getting more efficient as I put tools in more convenient places saves a lot of up and down RV steps. Same bungie cords used at the market for holding canvas and tarp up now being used to hold drawers shut while rolling down the road. Binder clips useful for displaying art prints clamp folded bags closed keeping food fresh. Continuing on with comparison I guess my Fifth wheel is like my cart. Cart was 5’ long and I was the horsepower: my fifth wheel is 28’ long and Ford 250 truck is horsepower.
What is also different now is peace and serenity. The market is not where you go for peace and serenity. Each day the market starts out peaceful and quiet but quickly fills with loud, hyped up vendors, excited people from all round the world, buskers belting noise, delivery trucks rumbling by, clang of carts on the cobblestones and then there is the hustle and bustle activity. There is a veneer of community at Pike Place Market but the truth is its every man and woman for themselves; social-political games in full swing.
Campgrounds draw nice people without an agenda, or so it seems. These people are seeking various other intangibles than pursuit of money. An assortment of recreational campers, nomads, families, and drifters slowing down wheels of fast pace life gone spinning out of control. I was entirely caught up between making new art and selling it at the market. Seemed the only time I took a breath was in the elevator. Now I just head up the trail at La Conner Campground drinking in the freshest air and about to be rewarded with of an amazing new panorama to ponder. There are six or seven sites with panorama views of the bay and much in demand. They have to have a lottery to see who gets what space. The meeting is called The Sewer Club. These campsites use to be only ones with sewers. Now most all do. I’m happy being surrounded by old fir trees dappling the light. Beaches here are not sandy, they are pebbled. Not so fun to walk on. Pockets of seaweed and piles of kelp. I like sitting on a fat driftwood tree stump and writing, sketching, or thinking with dogs leashed to wood limbs. There’s a lone tree out on the bay. Standing tall, somewhat broken and twisted by raging Northwest storms. Could stand for anything in one’s imagination. For me it symbolizes the individual struggle to keep a distance outside the forest, and observe the forest to offer a fresh viewpoint. Bed by 9:30. No TV or radio. Quiet is perfect for now.

Beckler River

6/22/2015

Just rolled down Stevens Pass. Took it slow, pushed towing option button. People passing me were throwing off the angst vibe. I said out loud to the universe: Hey I paid my taxes all my life, I have a right to go the speed I feel safe at. I was averaging 55 but many people go 65 or faster. Highway 2 is one lane each way. I’ll pull off to side when road allows. Hey people, relax. Life shoots by and you aren’t gonna see/hear/taste/feel much if its zoom zoom zoom (Hi Bill).
Camping at Lake Wenatchee was great. Connecting with some of remaining family was gratifying. Getting to know cousin Jim again and have him in my life is important to me. He seems very happy now with Kristin. I plan on dropping in on his brother, cousin Mark in Newport Oregon at some point. Jim and I talked about our Uncle Friels, Warner, John, and Jim. Uncle Warner was an eccentric man who owned the town of Douglas, Washington. My mom use to tell me about the general store he ran there, where she and her sister (Aunt Phyllis)worked, the golf course, and the house in back of store. I was jealous of my cousins, brother, and sisters, all who got to go ride on golf carts and have fun hanging out at the store. My mom says the Washington State Cougar basketball court is named after one of our Uncle Friels.
Jim and I tried to pool our childhood memories together. Cheyenne Wyoming and roller skating on the bumpy sidewalks. Catching prairie dogs. I knew Uncle Jack and Aunt Phyllis well. Jim told me circumstances around their deaths. I was too dysfunctional to respond at the time of their deaths. I was moved to tears.
Decided to stay for the night at a campground near Skykomish called Beckler River.
Pulled into the grounds office and there was manager swooshing in on a golf cart.
Perfect timing. He showed me site #3 and I took it. It’s lush green, dripping with moss and dappled light. Such privacy! I could pee back here without anyone seeing. Of course I would never do such a thing.
Steve, the manager was nice enough to back RV in for me since my two attempts failed. I felt a bit of lameness.
I’m trying not to be embarrassed anymore. I feel like a damsel in distress parking this rig. People are so nice about it. They had to learn once too and are generous about helping. Most campers I’ve met are warm and friendly.
Hooked up generator to charge my phone. Theres no hookups here, water, electric, or sewer. Price is right, only $16 a day. Generator appears to be working. Its a Honda generator. Quiet as far as Gens go. If anyone complains I’ll shut it off. (post script: no one complained. 2 neighbors had gens)
It has to run outside for potential of carbon monoxide poisoning. If I do the suicide, this is a pleasant way. Also hooked RV up to generator. I hope this laptop is being powered by generator and not RV battery. Would like to save juice if needed for something urgent.
So much fear to overcome. I’m doing that as I learn each new piece of this RV life puzzle. Dogs are eager to explore this new river terrain.
Phone must charge another 15 minutes. What if I leave it out and tak’em for a walk?
I keep remembering back to a conversation with Jonesy. I stated how I wanted to make some new art. Not plein air painting, or realism, or anything derived from photos. I want to respect that the experience of being in nature cannot be copied with a paint brush.
Ones only hope as an artist wishing to create something new is to draw from ones mind and inner imagination. This is the only way to add something more to nature that isn’t already here. The visuals of life are so amazing, as an artist you can’t top the real thing. Extending reality instead of copying it is a more interesting challenge and would ultimately be more rewarding to the artist in my opinion. We spend our whole lives living inside our heads. Thoughts spinning round which nobody hears. Dreams that come and go like any carnival ride. Invented places. Time travel. The world of the subconscious. Why not use that as subject matter? If you like art that copies nature that’s fine with me. I have made a lot of that and will probably make more when my bank account dips close to empty. This recent realization, painting from the inside out rings true to me. A good place to begin is the sketchbook.

Chickens from Hummingbird Ranch

6/20/2015

Did a few chicken sketches while visiting Hummingbird Ranch.

Lake Wenatchee Wilderness

6/18/2015

Index City Park Featuring giant granite cutting saw blade

My first RV dump experience no mishaps as I put that hose on very tight! (red hose seen here)

Lake Wenatchee

Rest Stop off HWY 2

Campsite 178 North Loop

Wenatchee Campsite

HWY 2 East

Good Luck

Super GG to the rescue

Took Highway 203 to Monroe and Highway 2 to Lake Wenatchee State Park. Scenic drive and no traffic. Good traveling during the week. No troubles. Stopped in Index to let dogs stretch and take water. Young unshaven guy in store told me sandwiches were 3 or 4 days old. I couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth or maybe he was bored and playing a game with me; Will the hungry old man still buy overpriced old sandwich? He had a wry smile on when he delivered the information, like take it or leave it buddy. I made my own fresh chicken and tomato sandwich from RV fridge contents and ate chased with a Red Hook in the park in front of big sign that said: NO ALCOHOL IN PARK. My thought was...Well good thing I have this RV to have beer since there was no beer in the park. Fridge working well. Left propane on while traveling. Asked some experienced campers for advice on this. All polled travel gas on. Found way to North Campground site #178. Got camp set up with cousin Jim watching over me, an experienced camper himself. Retired from Coast Guard. He recommended this campground. Jim & Kristin in travel trailer with family and friends in tent on site #172. The North grounds are on two loops. Easy to maneuver for a novice like me. The place is beautiful gorgeous and open with feeling of space and privacy. Wow, this is real living in Northwest Forest experience. Everything perfecto!
Walked with leashed dogs on down trail to Lake Wenatchee, just five minutes to a nearly pristine Cascade lake panorama.
I walked out into the clear water, bottom mix of sand, clay, and gravel.
JP did his thing where he paws at the water and digs furiously. Very entertaining and I wonder what he’s thinking. Is he trying to dig out an imaginary rodent? Why does he do this everytime he sees water. Could be a mud puddle, a river, a lake. He’s learned to swim but kinda precarious. Sometimes his head will go under so I keep a leash on him.
JP has seizures and I need to watch for that. Does GG understand what her brother is up to? She acts so non-chalant about it. Not the least interest in finding the invisible whatever.
A new feeling just overcame: hey! I can really do this Nomad thing; the reward is perfect serenity. Recharging creativity inspired by natures creativity is goal. Beauty so compelling here, cannot be truly experienced without complete immersion (though RV enabled). ...so many layers of shit to sort through when immersed in culture. You know, right and wrong. good or bad.
Social grace-thoughts versus camping thoughts could be explored here a bit more.
Hypothesis: If I continue this camping by logical extension I may very well become a hermit. Grow a gray pointed wizard beard, wear raggy layers of clashing plaids, prefer company of twittering birds and chipmunks instead of twittering meanish gossip twits trying to upstage or win popular credits. Survival in nature requires some realistic evaluation. On the other hand, survival in urban America requires some delusional self-perception.
Are hungry bears watching me walk through these berry bushes?
...Are hungry hackers phishing for information to steal my name?
...I’m so cool with these unstereotypical tattoos and jewelry. Nobody can label me because I’m a unique person consuming quirky brand names.
...my awards, my furniture, my car, my address: Oh my look at me.
Social symbols of association are often used to manipulate and control circumstance for personal benefit. You may be doing this and not even realize it; living so fast in the city there's is the illusion there’s no time for reflection. Ok, so I got heavy. I’m sure that will happen again. So blogs. Isn't that a milk bath for the self-absorbed? I ask myself why I'm doing this. The truth is my memory is so bad I want to have a record for my later years. Could be a bit of self-absorbancy too. 😀
How about this new scientific variation: If a fart occured in the forest and nobody laughed, was there really a fart?
Tell me why we need mosquitos? I guess frogs and fish like them.
I took a big dump and showered at the facility which is a pleasant walk about 1000 feet from campsite. The shower was clean and tiled. Little bugs were doodling about, but it was cool. 3 minutes for .50 was great. I needed more time but could do it in 3 next time. Very hot water. Loving to feel the clean. Nobody around to peek at my sagging ass. Think I'll cop a shave.
Dogs are staked out and relaxed and we’re listening to Jethro Tull. Finishing second pot of coffee.
It's going to be a great wonder filled day.
Saturday heading for La Conner.

Snoqualmie Stand

6/15/2015

Snoqualmie Falls

Damn Good Coffee

Special Significance

Site 75 at Snoqualmie River RV Park

Willy Wonka is the ticket

Last Frontier Nice folks there!

June 15th
Used the phone navigation to find Tall Chief RV Resort. Set up camp. No problems.
Found a spot (#27) easy to back into. Neighbors all around. Most have dogs, sort of a worry.
Mine not dog friendly. Tried to find homes for them with no success. So here now, trying to work it out. Doing my best to think ahead to avoid “situations”. Spoke to one neighbor, gray haired guy like me. Baseball cap with more advanced belly than mine. His dog is old and blind. I let him know our dogs must not meet or there would be blood. JP would get the worst of that encounter.
This place is beautiful with plenty of wilderness. Cedars, firs, Maples galore. Nice stone firepit and table. Nice to have the folding bike to scoot around on. Going for a shower and later drive into Fall City to check out Snoqualmie Falls, go shopping, and beer at local dive bar, The Last Frontier. There is a pool here crammed with of screaming children having fun. I’ll have to wait for evening.
Really I’m a hermit and should start seek out knowledge catering tofor hermit like people.
Soon as I can get Wi-Fi I’ll google some "how to hermit" sites.

Replaced my RV tires at Les Schwab in North Bend ($600 ouch). LS was great. Did all four RV tires in about an hour. I donated to a cancer fund raising group of Junior High level kids. They washed my rig. Felt good about that. Raising $ for cancer research and getting clean too. Group was called Relay to Life (relaytolife.org).
Left the Tall Chief Resort and arrived at Snoqualmie River RV Park. The park is on the
river without much privacy. I’m on an end-cap where road splits, RVs all round.
Took dogs to river about 100’ from site 75. They loved it. Had an encounter with a wolf looking dog and black lab which were unleashed. The dogs came over in a friendly good natured way to meet JP and GG. I reigned JP in but the wolf dog came right in to get bit on the neck.
Of course JP attacked and latched to wolf dogs neck. The woman was obese and slow about getting over to pull her dog away. She was laughing as I pleaded for her to call her dog. She also had a black lab, both were friendly dogs.
Hard to shake JP off. GG joined in by attacking the dogs haunches. Wolf dog then got into fight mode and sank his teeth into JPs head. In a way I was glad JP would get the worst of it. The violence was too much for me! I wonder if this dog thing is going to work out.
My friend Kim (namesake) and Jan Holler with Michael Rose were visiting at the time.
Jan is very animated. I’m amazed at her ability to read lips since she is deaf. Her speaking voice is more clear than my own. Her husband Mike, a retired Boeing engineer good natured low key gentleman.
The dogs kind of ruined our should be pleasant little outing to the river beach. Maybe it added some excitement? Kim took GG’s leash and started using some dog whisperer techniques. Letting me know how to keep them feeling safe with me in charge. To protect them so they don’t have to be protectors. That bit makes sense. Kim took GG swimming (against her will) and I let JP do his thing pawing the water and mud like a crazed lunatic. I reined him in after 10 minutes while catching up with friends whom we knew in common. News is 40th class reunion was flat (since I wasn’t there). Also got reports of the previous two Issaquah High class reunions of Class of 1974. I hear there was over the top drunk puking idiocy at the 20th Reunion. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy drinking to a point. These guys were puking on the carpets of the Holiday Inn. Quite a proud legacy to leave. Guess its who you ask, like anything else. You’ll find someone who thought it was great.
They say Rich Payne once owned the Black Dog in North Bend. He’s a very cool guy, nicest you’d ever want to meet. Guess he sold it. Stills plays in a band for charity events. He use to play his keyboard in my cabin down on Lake Sammamish. Living on the lake was some the best times in my life. Boating the rounds of lakefront friends:
Corky, Dean, Vance, Dale, Jan, Judy, Mark, Lynn, Bucky, Steve, and Terry. I was most unlikely member of bunch since I was from less fortunate circumstances, living on my own without plumbing in a 6’ x 12’ horse shed converted to a boat house. I had a place for these teenagers to gather and vent, compare notes and stories around the campfire. Many more from Issaquah High visited my cabin in the summers of 1973 and 1974.
The spot came to be known as Kims’ Cabin. It’s amazing how many people you can cram into a space like that and have a great time. Once got 4 man band with amps cranked up playing in there. Yes, really! Of course there was a keg or spoolie.

We smoked a lot of pot back then, before it was legal. There was a phat rope swing off the cabin roof tied high in one of the mighty Cottonwoods. I remember watching Scott (my half brother) shimmy up that tree and tie it up there. Rope swing, tree and cabin have been replaced by 2 million dollar home. My mom sold the property back in the eighties for 40k. I wanted to buy then but had no resources. Just a poor starving artist.
Still a starving artist, but not starving for food.

I

LAUNCH

6/6/2015

Got the rig all ready to roll and pulled out about 2pm.
Michael got out early from his real estate seminar and saw me off. I felt relieved to be rolling yet a bit sad leaving new friends. Life marches on. Must embrace our own destinies. Still feeling sad about leaving new friends in Wallingford Changes.
John, Dana, Colleen, Marc, Allen, Tim, Jake, and Felippe. You guys rock!!!
I want to Discover a meaning I can embrace. Open up to the thousands of galaxies and to trust there is some sort of meaning to it all.
Already studied what main world religions offer and I don't quite accept it all.
This is what my road journey is all about. Slowing down to a pace where I can process sensory input as it comes through these feelers. I don’t like the way I was living. Gotta find a new one! The serendipity thought occurred to me: June 6th is my deceased mothers birthday! How cool of a coincidence. Launching on moms birthday. Wish I could talk to you mom. I know you’d be proud of me to have made a living from selling my artwork. You didn’t get to see that, leaving too soon. Dad? Well that is an all together different story.

Took highway 18 east toward Snoqualmie and the worst imaginable thing I could imagine actually happened! Everything was going well and I was about 45 minutes along when I looked back in mirror at small black pieces bouncing along behind me.
I also heard a flapping noise. It was when a truck passed with a young woman wildly waving her arms and screaming: your tire! your tire! (lip reading) Then the Adrenalin kicked in. I steered the rig off to side. There was just barely enough shoulder to squeeze along with cars and semi trucks zipping by a few feet away at 60-70 miles per hour. I got out, dogs ready to jump out and be squished on the freeway (didn’t happen) and saw right front tire had stripped apart, shredded like. The RV rocked as traffic whooshed by. All blood ran out of my face. I fumbled around, mind racing, what to do, who to call. Noticed a little memorial with bright fresh flowers and a white cross that said Glenn. Apparently he died on this obscure spot between thick blackberry vines and meadow grass. I must not die today.
So I called AAA. Since it was a “busy Sunday” it would take 3 hours to get to me!
Thought for sure I’d end up like Glen only instead of a cross they’d have to erect a paint palette and an easel, fittingly saying “Drew”.
Luckily I had a nice spare tire. I unbolted it quickly to be prepared for help in 3 hours. A Washington State Patrol showed up and he saved my bacon! My experience with cops has taught me not to trust’em. He suggested I drive rig to safer spot just a mile up the way. Think his name was Chris and he escorted me going about 15mph to a gravel dirt turn off space. I thanked him like I have never been so grateful to a cop. I would’ve given him a big kiss but then he might not like that.
From there a Goodyear tow truck showed up. How appropriate since it was a Goodyear tire that blew! He quickly changed it and just like that I was on my way to the Snoqualmie Casino. The SC has 6 spots for RVs to stay over and I slowly winded down to lower parking lot to snag one. I took the easiest one on the end.
A big space easy enough to navigate. Right? Well, that’s if you know how to back one of these suckers up!!! How confusing is it when everything is backwards. Its like looking in the mirror trying to pluck a nose hair with tweezers for the first time, only there’s much more at stake besides social graces.
There was a hippie dude, my age, (long hair and happy friendly) who saw me struggle and helped get me her straightened out. Thanked him and talked a bit.
Whew! After dogs were pooped I went up to Casino and proceeded to play Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory slot machine. I watched the guy next to me hit one spin after another getting up over $200. I was reluctant to let my bank go below $20, but managed enough wins to stay close to original bank. Then it happened. I hit a nice one and landed $320. At that point cashed in, happy to pay a month of camp rent, and hit the sack for my first night of RV adventure. Not a great place to camp by the way, though not bad. Free is good.
In the morning had an omelet at casino. Food at SC is very lacking. Food should be a big draw on its own. Omelet had 3 ingredients built like a subway sandwich. Factory style. Gift shop did not seduce me either. Could use some K.Drew Edition souvenirs. Games were fun to watch, though didn’t play any cards this time. I like to watch the people and make up stories about them. Hard not to be entertained by all the bells, eye orgasms, and human drama unfolding. Many desperates hoping to hit it big. Some casino lizards. Some passing thru. Most I would not want to emulate.

Highwa(Note to readers: I don't know if anyone is reading this (Hi John), but I hope to keep up once a week.)

Kim Drew

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