Down, but getting back up.

10/13

We followed Matt and Sam southeast of Portland to Mount Hood National Forest. The roads curved back and forth, it was like a video game. The beautiful Clackamas River flowed over rocks big and small and over and around the huge trees that have landed there. There was an abundance of live, big, little, mature and new trees that lined the road. Moss was growing on some, along with the cement guard rails. Some rocks have gracefully fallen to the white lines of the highway. There were crunchy red leaves lying at the base of the trees.

We arrived at Bagby Hot Springs and the night was just starting upon us. We grabbed our towels, lights and dry clothes and headed up the mile or so long trail. We went over some little bridges and some large ones, through trees that all four of us and the dog Abby could have lived in. Some rocks scattered along the path and the river located steeply down the hill, we could hear it bumbling by. We went up a few steeper parts and some flat spots and finally seen some signs and a cabin. We walked up the stairs to find separate rooms each with a carved out cedar bath tub. It had a hole that was plugged with a stick that let the hot water from the hot spring fill your corked tub. There were two buckets and a cold water container outside so you could cool the temperature to your liking. Sam lit some tea light candles for us and Rico and I climbed in and enjoyed the stars from the partially open roof. Writing this now I realize that there is no amount of descriptive words to describe such a magical place. We are very lucky to have such wonderful friends to lead us to a place like this. Rico and I walked down awhile after Matt and Sam and got kind of lost in the dark woods for a bit, we had to stop and ask some people sitting on the porch of the cabin where the trail was. He said we were on it and pointing said, “Portland’s somewhere over there.” We cracked up a little. We did eventually make it down. On the way down having conversations about Sasquatch lingering around us, kind of creepy. It wouldn’t be the worst place to be stuck at though.

Matt bought some bunk, kind of wet firewood so the fire didn’t ever really take off and put out any heat. There were enough flames so they could cook some sausages. Meanwhile Rico went to the van and whipped up some Ramon Noodles with turkey chili, not as bad as it sounds. I wouldn’t recommend it for everyday consumption but it filled my belly for the night.

10/14

Happy Birthday Courtney!

We woke up today with the sun filtering through the big trees and Sam bringing us coffee. And Matt came over a bit later with some eggs and bagel. Today was a Foldger’s morning. Thanks Matt and Sam! We love you guys!

We are now driving to Albany to look for a van gas cap and get back on 101. We’ve stopped a few times along way out to check out and listen to the river. Those noise maker things don’t have anything on Mother Nature.

I think we are falling in love with Oregon. What a magical place.

We had some battery issues; Rico thinks there’s a short somewhere. We stopped for gas in Escada and it wouldn’t start. I asked two guys to jump us and it didn’t work so they were kind enough to push us out of the way. We walked to Napa, the guy said he could order the battery but it wouldn’t be in until tomorrow so we walked back to the gas station to ask the guys if we could plug in for awhile they seemed kind of weird about it.  So Rico yanked the battery out and toted it to Napa on his shoulder, in the blazing sun, so it could be charged. The guy said it would take about an hour. We got some awesome Mexican food from a taco cart. Walked back to the station to tell the guys what was going on. Then back to Napa to get the battery. My phone was almost dead so I stole some power from an outlet outside of Napa. Rico gets the battery and totes it back down the road on his shoulder to the van. The van starts! The man at the gas station is pleased that the van won’t be at his place anymore. I don’t get it but I know I annoy him when I ask “why?” so much. I’m really trying not to and I did already proclaim my illiteracy to engines and cars in general.

My phone was on the verge of death. Rico finally found an outlet outside of the van on a pole.

We stopped at the rest stop north of Albany to use the restrooms briefly. We’ve now been here for 5 hours. Neither of us needed to use them that long. The old girl just doesn’t want to start. Now thinking it’s the starter.

 This after a man pulled, no sped up in his little Nissan truck and red sweat pants and shirt and asked if we were having trouble. He proceeded to talk a mile a minute and had track marks all over his neck and arms along with the remains of the band aids that once covered them. White chunks of something and spit flew all over the poor van as he yakked away. He said he could have it running in two minutes, he’s an old mechanic and knows everything about Volkswagens. He then said he had to go to Eugene but would be back before nine.

And sure as shit, after we had lost hope that our new friend had ditched us, he came flying back in. Right after I had said that I hoped he didn’t come back. He was just a little on the sketchy side. He asked what time it was and we said we didn’t know. He then proceeded to give us a digital clock, “with an alarm,” so we knew he made it back before nine.

His lady friend never did emerge from the truck. Rico said he was just trying to help. I texted Katie the license plate number. He told us not to let any mechanic jerk us around, it was the starter. After assuring our new buddy that we would be fine, that we were going to wait for the tow truck and declining his offer to tow us to his buddy’s house, he sped away into the night. After he burned some rubber of course.  Rico later admitted that he was making him a bit nervous with the screw driver he was holding. I’m just sure he’s blazing around Oregon tonight. I’m sure he’s a nice enough guy and really was just trying to help.

My toothbrush died. It’s not spinning. Dang!

The highway patrol has been coming into the parking lot and sitting for awhile and then returning a little later. So we are very idle tonight and trying to sleep a little as the interstate rumbles behind us and people keep pulling up. And leaving.  The towing/repair man is coming in the morning for us. They seemed very nice and helpful; the lady even asked if we were in a safe place. I sure hope so! No, we really are safe and have our stranger radars on. Peace.

P.S. People watching here is amazing and quite entertaining.

10/15

Oh what a day. That’s all I can start this with.

We slept not so happily nor so comfortably in the rest stop parking lot. Rico moved the stuff off the back seat and tried to sleep there and I shoved a blanket between the seats and attempted to sleep there. It got a little cold and we didn’t get out our sleeping bags. Heard the coming and going of engines and slamming of doors all night. I kept thinking we had to be getting closer to 8 A.M. It finally came after a worthless night of sleep. The tow truck came and Dan hooked up the old girl and we hopped in the truck, which apparently was used at the Indianapolis 500, not that I really care but I thought it might make the story a little better. We were dropped off by the tow truck with our van on the back at the Heritage Center Mall in Albany, Oregon. Suck! For 9 freakin’ hours we walked back and forth, sat and watched the Oregonians come and leave with all their bags full of purchases.  Yep we did overtime at a not so cool mall. Neither of us are shoppers anyway and that’s where we get dumped off. I shouldn’t have mentioned the people watching thing earlier because that is what we did all day. It wasn’t that amusing after awhile. We watched and watched and watched. Laughed a little, then waited and waited. I had a little contact with Dan, who really had nothing good to say to make me feel any better. Finally I called him and he said he would come and pick us up and take us to the shop. He had gotten the van started. There was a bit of hope inside me…

We got there and she wouldn’t start again. Dan said he called everyone he knew in the state and no one had parts. I guess the van due to the year of it is a first generation vehicle, so finding parts for it is difficult. This is news to me. There was a bit of sadness over me but I figured we are stuck here for some reason. When I thought this earlier in the day, I bought two scratch-off tickets, thinking maybe we were suppose to win some money here. No such luck.

So back to the van, they thought and said that it could be a multitude of things and/or parts. But it came down to the computer or part of the ignition. Then after a bit Rico put his hand in to mess with something and found that when he moved the pressure sensor it would almost die. The mechanic’s eyes kind of lit up and they decided that could be the ultimate problem. So they tracked down the part apparently and we are staying at a nice, clean, cozy KOA campground down the road. We were both excited to take showers and wash laundry. We were a bit stinky. We are really looking forward to sleeping normally in the van too.

The part is going to be here tomorrow hopefully. There is also a guy in town that may have the computer and ignition thingy. We’ll see how it’s running and figure out if we should hit the road or wait here and order the other parts. So we are fresh and on the hopeful side waiting for our laundry to dry. Someone forgot their satin panties and they are lying on the table in front of me but if this is the price to be paid to sleep somewhere peacefully, I’ll take it. Peace.