Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Details, Pt. 2 - The Best Day
As Peter L and Karson were waiting inside the shop for the GS repairs, I stood outside speaking with Jared about his trip to Alaska on the KLR. I asked what I thought was a loaded question: "Did you take any pictures?" Surprisingly, his answer was, "No, not one." I was taken aback by his response. This was Alaska, for God's sake! Wouldn't you want to show anyone? If anything, for proof that you did it? But he went on to explain that by not taking photos or blogging, the trip and memories were all his. Jared, who is originally from Kansas, works as a sound engineer for the band Soular and has toured twice through all of the lower 48. Oregon, he said, was the prettiest state and for that reason settled there with his girlfriend Clare. I remember my grandmother saying the same thing. After riding along the Columbia river, I'd have to agree. Seeing the Gorge and the waterfalls made me think I was journeying through some exotic land. It's a shame I didn't get to spend more time there soaking it all in.
The most direct route to Seattle from Portland is only 3 hours and it was still early enough in the day for me to get there before sundown, but I was done racing from point to point. Since Peter T wasn't expecting me for another day, Jared encouraged me to spend the day exploring Portland and Cannon Beach. Without a map, I wasn't certain of my bearings so he offered to take me to his place where I could regroup.We made it over to his house which was in the process of being remodeled while the band was on a break from their touring schedule. Over coffee we started to talk about the music industry, motorcycle touring, religion, his relationship with Clare, and their remodel. Before we knew it, the day was shot and his plans to complete the roof over his front porch had to be postponed. He then asked me to join them for dinner and offered a place to stay for the night. I remember thinking I shouldn't - I had to go ride some more. But then a light came on and I just told myself, "Slow down, this is what it's all about - allow these kind of encounters and be enriched by them." Once I realized that I was no longer in a hurry to get somewhere, it was easy for me to just take it as it came.
My Sleeping QuartersThe next morning, I insisted that I help him catch up on the remodeling, so we spent the morning framing and sheathing his front porch roof. It felt great to repay the favor in some small way. When we got to a stopping point, we hopped on the bikes and went downtown for lunch on the 30th floor of the US Bank building. It was a clear afternoon and the 360-degree view of the city was spectacular. Jared said, "If there's one thing I would want you to take away from this experience, it is to help out another motorcyclist who might one day need a place to rest or food or tools. Don't force it. When the time comes, recognize it." There were times on his trip to Alaska where he needed help and strangers took him in. After a year and a half, he was finally able to pay it forward by helping me.
Will Work For Food
I couldn't talk Jared into joining me out to the Coast but he did eventually lead me to the right highway after getting lost for an hour. But I was in the moment and didn't mind one bit. My Portland experience was nothing like what I expected yet was exactly everything I had hoped for.
Will Work For FoodI couldn't talk Jared into joining me out to the Coast but he did eventually lead me to the right highway after getting lost for an hour. But I was in the moment and didn't mind one bit. My Portland experience was nothing like what I expected yet was exactly everything I had hoped for.
Labels: Clare, House, Jared, Portland
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It's really great that after all the postponing of the A2B trip you did get an experience you were hoping for out of it. How often do you just slow down, take things as they come, and enjoy it all? Awesome.
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