My morning is not really worth writing about - just the regular chores, reading and writing that I do, a game or two with X... but the afternoon has been something else.
It's amazing how much you can shove into a VW Bug. My wife and I both own black VW Bugs. Hers is a 2002 with black leather interior, a sunroof, and turbo power under the hood. Mine is a '98 with tan cloth interior, a nicer stereo and heated seats. We didn't set out to get his and hers cars, it just sort of worked out that way. We both liked the Bug, there were two available and the price was right. Anyway, since the air conditioner bit the dust on my most recent roadtrip and today promised to scrape temperatures in the triple digits, we decided to pile into hers. There were the various bags, water and snacks. Oh yeah, and our two newfoundland mix hounds.
They aren't true newfs - they're too small for that. Maggie is about 50 pounds and maybe the size of a border collie. Earl breaks 75 pounds, but is still much smaller than what one might expect of a newf. Earl is dopey and sweet, while Maggie is quiet and somewhat nervous. Both are good sports and were anxious to join us on our five hour journey west. It took little more than opening the door and they both clambered into the back and took up positions next to X. I filled the co-pilot seat and we strained out of the driveway under all the weight, and clawed our way forward down the road.
As it turns out, Burns, Oregon is far from everywhere. We spent the first two hours just getting to Bend, Oregon. We cruised across oceans of sagebrush and juniper, and what used to be an ancient prehistoric shallow sea. There are birds of prey, the occasional pronghorn and, of course, cows. Lots of cows. Maggie and Earl focused most of their attention on the air conditioning and ignored the cows.
About thirty or forty miles east of Bend, we could see the outlines of the Three Sisters. Then Mt. Bachelor. Then Mt. Jefferson and all the smaller peaks that surround them. The change in scenery helps make the last part of the drive into Bend go a little more quickly and before long, we were joining all the locals on the road as they got off work. Bend and Redmond entertained the dogs what with all the cars and activity, and a stop for quick nourishment intrigued them further. But it didn't last. Soon, we were on our way again, hugging the eastern edge of the cascades, and the dogs settled in.
We crossed the Cascade range at Government Camp. Prior to leaving for Alaska, this was our old stomping grounds. It was also the first home that Maggie and Earl knew, and I wondered as we sped through whether they remembered romping through those woods, tearing down the crosstown trail, or hunting squirrels. I didn't see any indication of such memories, but I think they were happy with the 74 degree weather - a drop of over 25 degrees from the beginning of our trip.
They came to life as we pressed on through Gresham, then Portland and across the 205 bridge into Vancouver and the state of Washington, our final destination. I cut the A/C and rolled down the window to let in the air. Maggie and Earl filled their noses and lungs with the air and they truly recognized the neighborhood. Amazing.
Sighs of relief when we at last rolled into the driveway. Even from the dogs. It was a good ride. But we're all glad to be out of the car.
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