About Us

Chris and Dennis are traveling around the country seeing the sights and occasionally volunteering at select locations. We avoid the interstate as much as we can and tend to stop for squirrels and shiny objects.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Learning from Surprises


20160313_163337I was asked the other day why it had been so long between blog posts and I must admit I have been putting off posting for a while because well, let's face it there is only so much you can write about or, heaven forbid take pictures of, cleaning fire rings and picking up trash. And while the ocean is an ever changing vista of crashing waves and rolling seas, there are only so many seagull butts to see before it all becomes a blur (in the case of the seagull butts, that could be a good thing).
Today I'm posting because it has been an awesome week. First, I learned how to find and dig for gapers (clams) and have found that the fresh clam meat cooked over a smokey fire is pretty darn good. Not sure it makes up for standing ankle deep in mud braving the rain and hail but when you toss in a warming beverage upon returning it does get MUCH better.
Second, I learned coincidence is a funny thing. We were taking a break in our hosting duties when there was a knock on the door. The camper wanted to change his site since his reserved one required a boating permit to get into. While looking up his name on our guest sheet he was explaining that he was a retired Coastie and had his fill of puddles and such. I put two and two together (without having to take my shoes off to help count) and finally recognized his name as a fellow shipmate from 37 years ago. We had been together on the CGC Citrus for about six months back in 1979/80 right here in Coos Bay. We chatted off and on the entire weekend catching up – not just on ourselves but our fellow shipmates as well. Fare winds and following seas Wayne.
The third thing I learned was I could have really demonstrated what I posted about last time regarding community when once again on answering a knock on the door, I found myself face to face with a fellow blogger and RV'er – Gordon from Gordon's Grumblings. You see, we had been corresponding via blog comments for about a yearand had mentioned about meeting up. Time and weather usually threw a wrench into the works but just yesterday the stars aligned, the goat was sacrificed and I got to meet the beagle handler himself. We swapped notes on how to keep a drone out of trees and he filled me in on the latest models coming out. More importantly we were able to put faces and voices to the words we've read. See you down the road Gordon!
Lastly, the fourth thing I learned was that stuff breaks at usually the most inopportune times. Our microwave/convection oven, having survived numerous brown-outs, power outages, and of course the ever present rattle and roll of being in a motorhome, died an ignoble death. It happened to be right in the middle of me cooking up Mac and Cheese. Upon its demise there arose a great wailing and gnashing of teeth. There could have even been tears but the wife was able to convince me we could actually cook on the stove top. How strange, you really can cook without pressing buttons.
Life is full of surprises; good and bad. The bad just take a bit longer to turn around. Sometimes after a great wailing and gnashing of teeth.

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