Day 66: Sunday trip

Going backward, I just rose from a nap after Corwin piloted Air Volvo to Hood River and back. We found and took the Bridge of the Gods and WA 14 back to Vancouver. The bridge is unique in our area; a previous private toll bridge that was purchased from a catalog and assembled over the Columbia River. It is now a state Park and still a toll bridge, $3 to cross. WA 14 is a two-lane road that, at some points, seems to be glued to the Columbia Gorge, and Corwin got to test his driving skills and Air Volvo’s handling. No mishaps, and I only thought one guardrail seemed too close. We left 14 to I-5 and returned through Portland over another high bridge, though the tunnel (Corwin does not like tunnels, and this one is short), and back to Beaverton. We arrived home with no losses.

Moving further back, after lunch with Rev.Dr. Wayne and Rev. Anne Weld-martin at Reedville Cafe, I returned home. Lunch was shrimp and local crab meat on a salad. I helped Wayne a few times as he had trouble with mobility. Anne and I talked some on Susie’s Concert coming up in just over a month.

At the house, I waited for Corwin to be ready. As we are traveling in the Gorge, I put my coat in the cargo hold–Oregon is less civilized than some folks think. It is best to be prepared. Corwin took the pilot seat, and I was in First Class (Biz Class is found in the back seats). Corwin had trouble with the steering at first and overran a curb, scaring me good (and possibly requiring a re-alignment in the future); he managed to handle the sensitive power steering after that. Air Volvo goes where you put it. It is not manual!

Corwin navigated Beaverton Traffic without issue except for being frustrated by the slow and extra-legal driving. The lane changes have to be watched for. I had to give some instructions on approaching some turns and lights. Oregonians make it harder to drive in traffic as there are no patterns to apply. In NYC, you assume everyone is angry, and you need to go with authority. In LA, you know they are all there to kill you, and you need to not show fear, and signaling is a sign of weakness. In Oregon, the cars trade lanes without warning, and there is no logic, just lemmings.

The transition to highways and highway driving was the practice Corwin needed. We took the advanced class for Corwin and did the tunnel and then the bridge, which is also a suspended highway. After that, we made the various connections to I-84, and Corwin watched as our fellow drivers would change lanes two at a time or fly across the highway to an exit with only a few feet for each move. Speeds randomly decreased to the speed limit minus five to ten over.

Corwin enjoyed I-84 as he flew Air Volvo at 100 mph a few times but discovered that the sensitive steering of Air Volvo is less enjoyable at high speeds–SUVs are not meant for racing. Most times, Corwin had us flowing with traffic, the imaginative lane-changing stopped in the Columbia Gorge, Corwin’s speed slowed, and we practiced better lane changes under 80 mph. I asked Corwin to keep it under 80, as the handling of our XC60 Volvo is not that good at higher speeds.

We had one complaint from Air Volvo, and it told Corwin to stop it, literally telling him to pay attention and get a coffee when he had trouble with high speed and a curve with a car in the other lane. We heard the trolly car bell, the collision avoidance warning, and it moved the wheel back, to Corwin’s surprise. The Volvo’s version of a raised eyebrow. No loss except Corwin’s amazement to be dressed down Air Volvo. I just smiled, and Corwin drove less like a video game.

I texted Dondrea that I would take Z driving when it was time, and Dondrea jumped at that. Wild’s Volvo Piloting School opening soon!

We arrived without any more comment from Air Volvo in Hood River. There, we parked Air Volvo and found Trillium Café was open and would to make us dinner a bit early before they closed at 4PM. I have been going to this edgy bar for years, and their food is good. I like the Wild Things mural and the games to play. Susie and I used to take Air Volvo to Hood River for fun and get a bite there for years.

At the cafe, I had a club sandwich with just a few fries to taste, and Corwin finished one quarter for me. Corwin had the mac and cheese with bits of meatloaf liberally sprinkled on top. Yes, it is that kind of food. I had ordered a BLT, but somehow, that got switched to the sandwich I almost ordered, The Club–an excellent change. My beer was good and would make the next challenge easier, Washington State’s curvy roads and a see-through bridge, The Bridge of the Gods.

Aside: The Bridge of the Gods is a local native American legend, and the physical bridge here is worthy of a Google search.

After a fine repast, we stopped by Waucoma Bookstore, and I finally bought a copy of Emily Wilson’s transition of The Odyssey by Homer. I have been meaning to reread Homer, and now a new translation is getting high marks in the press. From reviewing my newly purchased copy, the notes and glossary are already worth the $40 price. The bookseller joked that I needed to buy more to help with his rent payments. He agreed with my selection and loved this version. We both agreed that The Odyssey is more approachable than The Illiad. It is always nice to find a friendly bookstore.

Corwin and I reboarded Air Volvo and soon were headed to The Bridge of the Gods.

Moving back to the start of the day, I rose at 7:30ish. I had woken up with an ache in my leg and had to rise at 6ish to take some painkillers. I started writing and raced to be done in time for church. By 10AM, I had a decent story with the text mostly fixed. Published. I cleaned up and dressed, a Gay-pride tie under my blue sweater.

I sat next to Wayne at church. The church’s choir is growing and sounded good today. In the past, the choir has almost outnumbered the congregation. It is not unusual; it is a Methodist thing. I watched Dondrea, a former television journalist and communication director for a large local insurance corporation, handle the service with fantastic aplomb. Her open body language, smile, and her hand wrapping her hair behind her ear as she reads over the mic are so easy and professional that it was fun to watch her work.

The sermon, also by Dondrea, was about the newly minted apostle Paul in Acts 25:1-25 being unjustly accused. Dondrea tied this to the history of journalism, Joe McCarthy, and other dark histories of the USA from the Communist Scare. She pointed out how exposing the injustice and demanding it to halt is part of the American Experience. It is our responsibility, according to Dondrea, to evaluate any doubts about some people, more so for people who hold other political views and stick to facts. Rumors and gossip are not truth. In the end, “do good.”

After the service, Dondrea, Z, and I talked about dinner on Monday or Tuesday if they can fit in.

And that takes me full circle. I hope you enjoyed the story. I did stay calm while riding with Corwin. He will try for his license on Thursday.