"The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on." - Joseph Heller

We made a decision at dinner last night. It is TOOO cold at Cape Blanco, so I made some phone calls this morning and learned there was one spot left at Humbug Mtn. State Park, just 15 miles south. Doesn't sound like much of a difference but it is. Not only is it on the east side of the highway and therefore sheltered from the wind, it's in a bay, not on a point. No fog, breezy but not howling, and warmer. Not warm, but warmer.

We can get everything folded up, closed up, hitched up and ready for the road in nine minutes. Not bad. It took that long just to roll up sleeping bags.

The new site doesn't afford the privacy that we had at Cape Blanco, but it's a small price to pay for sitting at the picnic table instead of huddled in the Kia. OK, the wind still blew the top card off the deck, interrupting our cribbage game, but the bushes snagged it and we adjusted by making sure it was all weighted down.

After getting set up in the new site we walked 1/4 mile down to the beach and then walked as far as the sand allowed. (It turned to large rocks with bad footing.) It was pretty windy down there, and the tide had just started to ebb, so it wasn't the ideal, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. The rugged beauty is what brings us back to the OR coast every year. The sheer size of the rocks, cliffs and ocean puts things in perspective.

We'll pack things up as much as possible tonight and hit the road early tomorrow. The plan is to get a motel room about an hour north of San Francisco and then head to SFO Sunday morning. Pam has a 10 a.m. flight home so she can be at work Tuesday morning. (Monday flights were almost twice as expensive.) I'll drive 90 minutes south to Prunedale, a rural community just north of Salinas, where I'll attend the church I pastored back in the late 70's and early 80's. They don't know I'm coming, and while many of the people have moved on I'm still looking forward to seeing good friends from years ago.

After church I'll head south another 5 hours to Solvang, where Bruce & Debby live. They were part of the Prunedale church but have since lived in Salt Lake City, and now Solvang as his work has meant relocations. They are important friends, too. As their pastor I walked through some of life's difficult transitions with them and we're close as a result. Debby is the consumate hostess and Bruce's skills have created a beautiful retreat, so I'll eat and sleep well. Bruce is a pilot, so Monday may include a spin in his acrobatic-capable plane. (My stomach will insure any flight is very moderate!) I'll eat very, very well thanks to Debby's skills.

Tuesday morning I'll begin the drive through the LA basin, across the desert and back to home. It will be a long, difficult drive. But all good things must end and, truth be told, I'm missing my Pathway peeps. (My son tells me I'm too old to use that term, but I don't care!)

It's interesting to watch some of the behemoths that pull into a campground. I told Pam we've had smaller apartments than some of those rigs. And the trucks required to pull them are just as monstrous.  We are completely pleased with our little teardrop; it's everything we need and nothing more. Her maiden voyage shows Thelma to be a treasure.

Condi Rice is stirring the pot without trying. I think it's a great idea; have always thought her very competent and modest. A rare combination in the political world. Her first book offered good insight into what grounds her. I haven't yet read her second, but plan to. She says she has NO inclination, and  I don't think that's posturing. She points out she has held appointed positions but has no desire to enter the cage fighting arena of elected office. I don't blame her, but wonder if she'll be pressed into service. Hmmm.

We got a call Wednesday that Pam's mom back in Michigan fell, breaking her tail bone. She's in the hospital and had surgery yesterday to place pins in order to stabilize things. She's in a lot of pain, on potent drugs to manage it, and is probably looking at an extended stay. She's 89 and lives alone (Pam's brother lives nearby, for which we're very thankful) so she will probably go into a rehab unit before going back home. Not nice to live 1500 miles away when stuff like this happens.

We're eating at The Crazy Norwegian Restaurant in Port Orford which serves pretty good food and has wi-fi. I just overheard they also serve pie...berry pie. So I'm signing off to give my full attention to a large piece of boysenberry pie a'la mode.
Deal with it!