It is really hard to think of things to say when we have had no misadventures. We are now back in Oregon, just barely; we are in Ashland. We spent most of the past week escaping. That is we joined over 800 other RV rigs and nearly two thousand people in Stockton California at the Escapees’ Escapade. We have now been retired three years. Yes, I have just had another birthday, and now I have to admit to being on Medicare. It is amazing how many new “long time friends” we have accumulated in that brief time. This mailing list goes to family, friends from work, friends from church plus many of the people we have become friends with along the way.
The Escapade was really fun. We get to meet many of our friends face to face when we come to these affairs. Inevitably you also make new friends. Two new couples join our mailing list this time. Doug and Judy have been full timing for six years and in their previous career Doug was in the submarine service. We also ran into a couple from our old tandem club out of Portland, AJ and Maria. They had their Rans Screamer, a laid back recumbent tandem, with them and we made several rides into south Stockton. We saw the downtown area being duded up for their Asparagus Festival. Mostly we saw dumpy housing heavily festooned with iron bars. Still we got lots of “neat bikes” and “thumbs up” signals from the adolescent population.
Once again I signed up for the “Ham-o-Rama” talent show. This time I included Judy in the act. The MC announced that I had been playing guitar since the ’60’s so I explained that anyone who has played for over forty years needs a theme song and started to play “Oh Lord It’s Hard to be Humble,” as my theme song. As I finished the first chorus Judy with Maria and the other new friend, Judy came up to the stage waving and squealing and taking photos. I stopped and mugged for the cameras. Then I complained about the “pathetic showing” from my fan club. I said I needed to change theme songs and was going to preview the new one for the audience. I then sang “I Just Don’t Look Good Naked, Anymore.” The next day I had a surprising number of total strangers stop me around the fairgrounds to complement my performance. As you can tell I am having a hard time getting my swelled head into the coach these days.
We have enjoyed Ashland several times over the years. We have discovered now that Ashland had a wonderful system of bicycle lanes that go all the way through town. We will explore in the other direction tomorrow. It appears the trail goes into Medford and perhaps beyond. We also managed to get the last two tickets to one of the plays at the Shakespearian Festival for Sunday night. Our campground lacks a little on the charm end, (it is in the parking lot of a second rate motel beside I-5) but it makes up for it by being cheap and close to town.
Over the next week or so we will mosey our way northward through Oregon. Please refer to previous blogs on “The Art of Moseying,” from December 19, 2006, and “A Star is Born,” from March 25, 2005. You will even be able to compare photos of my stage presence from the two appearances. See if you don’t think “I get better looking each day.”
Time to close, so we send our love to all.
Gary and Judy
