Oh wow!

What a whirlwind adventure I have had in the last month!

While in Pendleton,  I had the opportunity to work at St. Anthony Hospital as an Emergency Nurse.  My coworkers, became friends.  It was bittersweet when I left, sadness that I was leaving, excited about my next chapter.

While in Pendleton, I made friends with the motel staff, who became family.  Even almost got to deliver a baby while I was staying there.  The nugget was born a few days later by c section.   I also met a wonderful lady, who we are now dating... albeit long distance right now... as I write this, I am sitting in a bar, enjoying an ice cold Carlsberg.

I just spent the last 12 hours flying from Phoenix, through London - Heathrow,  and find myself in Copenhagen, Denmark!   Tomorrow I report to the port to embark on the Eurodam, a Holland America Line Cruise ship, for my first tour as a Medical Officer on a 19 day cruise through the Baltic.

Whisperer...

I had the opportunity, to come in contact with two people about a week ago.  I just happened to take a ride and venture up to fulfill a promise.  Met a few more people on this trip as well.

This is a recollection...

I arrived, was greeted, and introduced to the immediate family members.  A few more showed up an hour or two later, yet that is just the "right of passage," one takes, when meeting new people.  Everyone wants to meet the "newbie."

There was however... three dogs, two cats, and a neighbors' few horses.

I was told the dogs are just dogs, the little one would have nothing to do with me.  I was also told the cats, as well...

So the next morning, I am giving hand signals to two of the three dogs, and they responded, did what I was asking of them.  The two cats, who supposedly will have nothing to do with strangers, are on the couch, in my lap, apparently in 'cat-speak,' "all about me!"

So then I was challenged.

Anyone who knows me, knows to not dare me to do something, because I will just walk away. 

Challenge me however, as in bring a horse from the middle of a pasture up to me... and I will ask which one?!

The first was the Roan...

Came right up to the fence.  The second was the black stallion, I little self-absorbed, yet he decided it was in his best interest to at least come over and see what "this" was all about.

Two horses, 30 minutes apart.  I was now referred to as the "Whisperer!"

The purpose of this vignette, is that the fence was electrified.  I took care as I brought the horses up to me.  Kept them a bit away, reached over, etc...

Then the ZAP!

I have a bruise and some sore muscles from leaning over that darn fence!  Actually startled the Roan when I hit it!  As the involuntary arm flail startled it...

Regardless, I am now known as the "Animal Whisperer..."

SEA > PDT

As I said, coastal cities are notorious!  Weather changes every 15 minutes!

There is a reason why coffee is popular in this area.

My departure was delayed until 10:00 am.  Well, at 9:00 am, I went out and wiped my bike down... took the wet off from the seat, tank, mirrors, bars, wind screen... packed, loaded up, showered, key turned in, two cups of coffee consumed... then a short hop over to Renton, WA to stop off at a HD Dealership to get some last minute advice.

My first hint came (that whisper in one's ear), when the cashier asked a fellow employee about the 410 around Mt. Rainier... "I know the pass is open" was the response...

The second hint came (the tap on the shoulder), when the cashier asked a few other fellow employees about the 410... "The pass is open, that's all I know."

Well, I grabbed a map that should have cost $15.00, opened it up and asked how to get there.  I was pleasantly surprised when a pencil came out, pinpointed where I was, the exact route, verbal advice on directions, etc.  The map was folded and put back into the rack.  I then said that if I can't get through, I would be back!  To which, I learned that my impromptu guide took their lunch at 1:30 pm...

I missed that appointment.

The directions I received, verbally, were a little off from what I saw from the map.  When I got on the road, I had a few adjustments!  Immediately, it was the second stop light to turn left, not the first.  I thank you, Colonel for allowing me to change lanes and move in front.  There was enough space that the left hand turners were not impeded!

A few miles and a few minutes later, the map and verbal instructions were both in conflict with the road signs.  I chose to follow the verbal directions.  Five minutes later, I received the third hint (the Ahem) a u-turn, and back to the last reference point I had.

I followed the road signs from that point.

My ride down to Enumclaw was totally uneventful.  Odd traveling through rural back roads, as you are on a highway, yet have to slow down as you pass through a community... there are schools and hospitals and such.  I stopped for fuel in Enumclaw, asked one last time.  Same answer!  "I know the road is open."

By this point I was committed and would venture through Mt. Rainier!

This is a really cool ride.  Had I given it one more week, it would have been awesome.  Stormy weekend, only got a partial view of Mt. Rainier.  I was riding through the clouds near the top of the pass.  In fact at one point, I couldn't see 20 feet in front of me.  Crawling along the road at 15 mph, looking down at the center-line to see which way the road was going.  Now I didn't have any winter gear with me either... so it got a little chilly for a few minutes near the top.

The amazing thing, less than ten minutes later, on the downhill side... sunny, 70+ degrees, I had to pull over and unlayer!

From that point on, I was chasing a storm.  Always in front of me, it wasn't until I got close to Pendleton that I once again layered up and pushed through.

So the picture situation/update.  My phone will not transfer data.  One of the pins on the miniUSB is bent.  I have uploaded them all to the "cloud."  Now it is a matter of figuring out how to pull them back down to earth and paste them in here!  I am eligible for a new phone/upgrade, it's just the $50.00 cost with a $50.00 mail in rebate thing... really!?  Just give me a new phone, cut out the interim step...

PDX > SEA

Monday morning was an early get up,  as I needed to go!

It's about 3 hours from Portland to Seattle and I had an appointment at 11:00 am, so that meant a 6:55 am departure.  Coastal cities are notorious for frequent, usually brief, changes in weather.  Portland is not immune!  My friend said more than once, if you don't like the weather... just wait 15 minutes.

I departed in very light rain.  Yet by the time I was in Vancouver, WA it had stopped.  The rest of the way up to Seattle was a nice ride.  Only the occasional misting of the windscreen... my leathers never got wet, until...

I passed SeaTac at 10:30 am.  Thirty minutes to go 14 miles further.  For those who have never been in Seattle, the I-5 turns into a parking lot!  The electronic speed limit signs indicated 35 mph... In reality, I was in 1st gear, clutching frequently, crawling along averaging about 15 mph.  One mile from my turn off, it began to rain.  Not a light drizzle, a good old fashioned, soaking rain!

I arrived at my appointment with 5 minutes to spare!  Took off my chaps, grabbed my paperwork, and headed in.  When I got to the door, I noticed that I was relatively dry, with the exception of where my chaps did not cover... it looked like I had wet myself!  How embarrassing!  Thankfully, the front desk was understanding and accommodating by providing me a towel.

After about 2 hours, I was done and headed to my motel to check in, shower, and change into some dry clothes.  Ended up taking a nap too!

The rest of the evening was spent getting some dinner, and some more last minute ride planning for my return trip to Pendleton.  Checking the weather forecast, road conditions, etc.

A pic from right outside my hotel room.  Hint: I was on the first floor...  For 100 points, where am I?  For 500 points, name the exact motel?  For 1000 points, name the room number +/- 1?!!!

PDT > PDX

First and foremost, I am dealing with a technical issue, that is not allowing me to upload pics from my phone right now.  So, one way or the other, they will eventually arrive... I promise!

I decided to ride down the Columbia River Gorge, from Pendleton to Portland.  More importantly, I decided to scoot up into Washington State, and take their SR-14 along the North side of the river into Vancouver then down into Portland.

I love taking the not so fast kind of roads most of the time.  The best thing about this particular road, was that it was slower.  Often times, people just whiz on down an Interstate... not taking the time to look, see, observe, experience, and in my particular case, often stop for a few minutes every once in awhile.  The landscape changed three times, from arid highland, to mixed, to coastal.  The Columbia River did as well! 

To give you an idea, my 4 hour ride took almost 6 hours!  Now I did stop a few times... just to stop, visit a particular place, fuel, eat, recycle... my point is this:  Slow down!  If you can't, then build in/add an extra day!  And just stop every now and then!

The winds coming up the Gorge often buffet... which adds to the ride, especially when they are headwinds!  Then there is the mist, not rain, just the gentle wetting that occurs that lets one know they are literally riding through a cloud!  Imagine that for a moment...

When I was working in Flight Medicine, I was blessed by a pilot that recognized a rainbow ahead...  they climbed to an altitude that allowed us to see the rainbow as a complete circle.  And then, we flew through it!  If you ever get the opportunity to experience such an event, do whatever it takes to make it happen!

I arrived in Portland, drove a little farther South than I intended to, and had to back-track up to where I needed to be.  I am old school with cell-phone apps, ended up accessing the Internet, got onto a mapping website, entered my current address and where I wanted to go...  Two and a half miles South!  Oops!  Better pay closer attention to directions next time, mister!  My overnight host was delayed a little... yet being a nomad biker, I was easily able to entertain myself for a few hours.

A very dear friend, from High School days... for those counting, just shy of 30 years for me... took me in for two nights.  I will be forever grateful for their generosity!  I am also grateful that I was able to help them, serve others, and make just a small difference one day. 

I'm still here!

I know...  it has been almost two weeks...  I apologize.

Life is a series of grooves and ruts!  I was lucky enough to get into a groove, and time has literally whipped past me!

Tomorrow is a road trip to Portland, through the Columbia River Gorge.  A few days there then a ride up to Seattle for a couple of days.  A meandering ride back to Pendleton around Mt. Rainier.

Pics coming soon!

Ride planning...

I have a "need to" trip, to make to Seattle, WA in the two weeks.  Started the planning for the ride.  Destination and accommodations are the easy part.  It's the route, fuel, and what are the stops to make along the way that are the interesting part!

Pendleton, OR is in the Northeast corner of Oregon.  About a five hour ride straight through to Seattle.  However... between here and there are some impressive sights!  I am going to basically ride diagonally through Washington State; however, do I take the Northern or Southern route around Mt. Rainier?

On my return, I am going to combine a "want to" trip to Portland, OR.  On my way down from Seattle, I am also planning a side trip to Mt. St. Helens.  Then there is the Columbia River...

I foresee quite a few more pictures being posted in a few weeks!