> > > Wet Leather : The Gather 99 : Oregon Trails : Arrival



7 August 1999


I spent Thursday night in Ashland with a fellow web consultant, Suzanne 
Stephens.  We've "known" each other online for years; this was our first 
face to face meeting. She coped with my "accident rush" pretty darn well!

We discovered we had more in common than a stint living in the south and
our web work. Dogs and mystery novels, for starters.

I pushed off about 9 am after Suzanne made yummy mochas and I sampled
her energy bars (she kyacks). It was raining. Good that I had turned 
around and retrieved the rain gear.

Stop for gas; hop on I5 to cross the pass. Find a car that's "in a 
hurry" and drop in behind her. Pretty uneventful trip. The country
reminds me more of eastern Washington than the "west side" ... the 
rolling vista and things seem more arid.

Stop in Yreka for gas and snacks (at McDonalds). Looks like I should 
make it noonish, which was my goal. Not pushing the bike like I did
with JC; I am alone, after all.

Think I'm going to leave Yreka sans rain gear ... but it starts
spitting as I'm packing up to leave. Well, OK. Back on it goes. Turned
out to be a Good Thing (tm) as I hit a major rainstorm before climbing
the mountains on CA3.

The guys scouting the campsite had provided alternative (more twisty)
routes to Trinity Lake, but I felt like this would be twisty enough for
me. The north side was pretty tame; but the south side! Yowza! Tight
hairpins, no markings and no guard rails. Cool!

Rolled in to the main campsite; not many folks here yet. Talked
briefly to H.Marc (giggle. "you have helmet hair." grin. "yes, I need a
haircut!") and Lee Hart. Head up to the commercial camp Right Next
Door. I _need_ a shower to get going in the morning, and there are
none at the main camp.

Found Ed (MotherGooz) and Rachel (Princess) already pitched. They'd
arrived Thursday and Wednesday, respectively. Getting unpacked and
pitching the tent took longer than Wednesday at Beverly Beach -- 
because We Kept Talking. At one point, I couldn't figure out why
I was hot. Duh, I still had on leather pants AND rain pants.






Rick had said he wanted us there about 3 pm for dinner duty. After a
shower, I joined the masses and started chopping veggies. Rick is a 
master visonary! Great idea for food ... great recipes ... wonderful
organization. We, the help, were just that. Help. All credit for that
scrumptious meal must go to Rick.

The beer finally arrived abut 5 pm.  We lost a lot of 'help' at that
point! Someone had set up the blenders and slushy concoctions were
in process. The party had definitely begun!




Day Trip 



> > > Wet Leather : The Gather 99 : Oregon Trails : Arrival