Meanderings Of An Abject Fool

My mouth feels very good especially considering being on the road with my road naivety but all has turned out extremely well.

Woke as usual and did a solid food thing all groovy. Started early with short hike a did yesterday still beautiful but no surprises. Wouldn’t know till later I should have stopped.

Groovy day in 70’s perfect day perhaps to extend my 2nd hike. Been doing less so blood don’t pump so much. Since mouth feeling groovy I decided to test her out.

Went to the namesake Crater Lake looked around saw plenty of paved well marked routes and took one. Oops!!!

Lotsa vistas all within easy hops to parking lot this is how the trail reels you in.

So far not bad quite nice really plenty of pictures because it that easygoing and

serene.

I’m beginning to feel like I’m a treadmill to up. Thanks to reality I get change in scenery or I probably would be. I’m getting close to the halfway point as I’m starting to see and say hello to those on the way down.

There’s a family up there and the son does me a favor. He’s making snowballs and ask for a pelting. He obliged. Why ask for that? When will I get the chance to get hit by snowballs in June again?

Back down the mountain again when I see others coming up I feign politeness and step aside. Not for the thanks but for the rest. Selfishness confused for decency it works for me.

I can now tell getting close to down. Much like ever park I’ve been in the closer you get to bottom civilization starts creeping in.

On way to car on trail saw a couple getting ready to go from concrete to gravel. She was wearing a sundress and high heel boots! Either better or more foolish than myself. Back to camp shower shave and a wholesome dinner of macaroni salad and of course sleep…the sleep of the exhausted.

I blame yogi for all this. Jelly stone park!!! Never having been to a national park till a bit ago the only one you ever hear of is Yellowstone. As I’ve clearly stated before Yellowstone blows. Too many people all of which lack the civility of an influencer looking for likes and you and I are told it’s the stuff. Don’t waste your time. Yesterday was Mount Rainier today I drove to Crater Lake both absolutely amazing with a great staff and beautiful hikes. Hell the drive over was better than the national theme park.

This was just the baby step today. Tomorrow the big day where I’ll start early, as opposed to what, and do big one to Crater Lake. From what I’ve seen pictures won’t do justice…they never do.

Woke as usual. Nothing here open at my hour. Had some chunky tuna and while tasty after a few bites I’m getting concerned about dentistry. It’s enough for my hike and I’ll do scrambled eggs after. still went to town and got bills caught up.

Doing whatever this is solo obviously has upside especially the solo part but the biggest downside I can see is also solo part but for completely different reasons. I’ve already mentioned needing someone else for pictures while driving as I’m likely to go off cliff, hill, mountain et al. I see people and excluding me they are all traveling in groups. Each person has a job. Be that tent setup, cooking, going to town to pay bills or if a child run a round and scream. Or if a teenager go hide in bathroom and try to text and get likes on how boring everything is here.

Except for the last two I gotta do em all. Food, tent, bills and no matter what I’m getting no likes.

After cleaning up camp and a good dry shave I needed real breakfast. The park service has a an inn and little restaurant that serves breakfast. Currently working the non crunchy diet which means 3egg omelette (kinda) and cheese with more salt than usual for its mouth benefits. I gargle with salt water and now I top my Na with NaCl. After time for another hike as groovy as 1.

Starting to rain, everything has a down side but sounds very soothing not in a repetitive keeping the beat way more of a disjointed improv bebop thing. I’m cleaning up camp getting rid of trash so I may wake up early and on to crater lake.

Extremely quiet peaceful perfect for a good sleep. Pee o’clock still exists so did that round 3 but after checking mouth(not bloody) I took my pills read for a bit and didn’t really wake to 7.

Took care of all things morningish. Carefully brushed teeth with new soft toothbrush designed for kids, put on real clothes and paid park ranger as they were leaving on my arrival.

Have plenty of gas but taking no chances so drove to nearest get more and check supplies.

Back at camp I readied myself for a good hike. Not long(to much blood flowing I gotta be careful) but with great views and fairly simple.

Got my list night before from madam ranger it had all groovy short ones.

That trek a trifle sketchy as a nearby hiker said I agreed and followed a different path. One more welcoming to invasive species like my butt.

Going on a bit and I heard it. In the woods you might ask. Of course you heard something it is no vacuum. This wasn’t a bird or a branch. This was an animal large and guttural….maybe. A yeti this ain’t Tibet. Sasquatch, like the yeti they don’t exist perhaps a bear or moose the latter oddly being more dangerous probably not don’t trust the subjective. But I’m not finding out evolution beats stupidity on occasion.

Wanted to hit American land with no choice of going through Canada It does sound peculiar but there’s a place Point Roberts Washington. It hangs to side of Washington but like a discarded limb it’s not connected. One must go through Canada no choice in the matter.

It’s the only place in this situation so being nearby why not.

It was what happens at customs asked if fruits firearms and drugs. As for the drugs I said prescription only. Extremely polite and curious bout my journey we exchanged niceties and on my way to home country America.

Arriving at us customes the agent looks at me tells me pull over in designated spot and get out taking only phone wallet and passport.

Gave them to customs clerk and was handed them back after brief glance. She asked where last park and the next I showed pictures it was fun till not.

Back came Barney Fife wanting I assume to flex his authority. “You living in your car?” Yes for now I said continuing “I’m hitting all-he cut me off”I’m talking right now. You homeless ?” “No as I was saying and is on license in your possession I live in Missouri and am on a trip-“ interrupting again “I don’t care he can pass” the clerk gave me a look that showed her sympathy and again on my way.

The campground was, as is my usual choice, FCFS many had already done so and I was SOL at least I got to do it and with a bad taste in my mouth from American customs I was now going back to America proper.

Canadian customs on way back a breeze checked computer and said “You were just here? Doing the Point Roberts thing eh” “Yes” I replied. “Hope it was fun have good day”

On my way stopping again at US customs. New guard same lack of civility. “Why so quick? Picking up a package maybe?” “No campground full I’m on way to next park Mt Rainier “. You bringing any thing back?” “Just what I came with” “pull over we’re gonna have to search”. “Of course “ I could’ve called him obtuse or some such thing but not sure if he’d understand, discretion being the better part of valor, and not wanting to spend anymore time here than necessary I decided to hold my tongue.

After the usual firearm drug fruit questions I was allowed to return to home country. I did not sing a lee Greenwood song.

I’m going be staying here 3 nights. Oodles to see, hike, do, and tooth rehab going well. It’s a great place to take extra day.

Off to see the rangers.

This one gonna be short and not a bunch of pictures, perhaps none.

Surprise!!!!!!! I stayed in till 5am that’s a record for me at least. At 10 off to get a yanking…of tooth.

It is a groovy day. Perfect temperature, , nice breeze, not cloudy at all and then there’s the tooth to take it all and ruin it.

Got on road immediately had over an hour drive. It’s a real shame they couldn’t make parks more convenient. Closer to town perhaps? I mean the gateway arch is a park and in a town St Louis..,yes I know it’s really not a park it’s a monument regardless of what it’s deemed and it kinda sucks.

I started round of antibiotics couple few days ago which gonna make this go faster and it does. In our 45 minutes with a mouthful of gauze and enough new rules to choke a snake.

Can’t use straw or anything really in mouth for days. Drinks okay as long as cold. Hot is bad. Why no straw suction is bad. Gotta let blood clot to protect the extraction site. Extremely difficult to do in one’s mouth.

It’s not just straws you suck on I’m off squares for probably 5 days!!!! This gonna be difficult. They have instructions on if you must smoke but are so convoluted and involve so much time you’re probably gonna lose the cravings by the time you can smoke. Or you’re like me and see list and just to damn lazy.

Eating not as easy as it used to be unless you’re given a temporary mouth somewhere else that hasn’t any stitches. Basically soft food for at least a while. They suggest jello pudding or some form of popsicle and ice cream. Excluding the last as I do dig some Ben And Jerry’s I’m not 9 yr old and not interested. I ask the dentist if they make a savory popsicle “not that I’m aware of” she replies. Perhaps eggs ? “ that’s great I suggest scrambled and not a bunch of extras” ie meat, veg, potatoes basically anything that can did a way to the former tooth parking spot. I never thought of it but per her rice is absolutely the worst….tiny grained bastards.

She said plenty of ibuprofen finish the course of antibiotics doc gave me and because I’m on the move she gave me a prescription of hydrocodone in case of emergency. I wasn’t planning on using them at all fore right now pain is livable but they look almost exactly like my antibiotics which I gotta take. So yes I took one thinking it was the other. Slept extremely well and moved opioids to different spot so as not to confuse them again.

No hiking today as just driving back caused me to bleed like a stuck pig. She advised nothing to get the heart pumping or I’ll be upping the share price of gauze pads. Less walking less bleeding.

So I’m here in cascades which is better than a hospital for recovering, less patients, less virus, more better views. Plenty of drinks I’ll pickup first of whatever softy food I can preferably eggs and ice cream perhaps BnJ which I’ll leave in bearbox and let melt a trifle for I hope a strawless shake. A bit of rest do me some good and welcome to the world of I don’t have a choice. Perhaps I’ll spend time planning next leg?

Woke up at redundant Thing bout early is nobody on the road. Another thing is it extremely difficult to find way down a mountain by touch. I have found several modern conditions to help with orienteering however. none of them are GPS you can’t call people unless you do a crazy dance and if satellite is not overhead you just look foolish.

Chances are at top you gonna be on lose gravel. Go from memory, not my strong suit unless it’s about something no one but me cares about. Soonish or not it’ll sturdy up a bit with less potholes but still gravel.

Then and this when it becomes easier you will spot a bridge. They only are built to get somewhere that could be civilized. After all emergency services needs them.

Once over still little gravel(no signs till a bit later) but soon it’s an actual road with pavement and everything. Good sign but not final. Drive on that for a bit if changes back to gravel you missed a turnoff.

Then you’ll spot occasional road signs that may just say don’t enter private property. This is good people other than park people are alive you are getting closer.

Once you see yellow lines on pavement it’s gonna be groovy. Highway department ain’t going where no one else goes there’s no point.

The final and best sign is one that says road adopted by the elks or rotary club or a local politician. What’s the point of doing something charitable if no one knows.

Your home free by that I mean a gas station nearby and that spells civilization.

Filled up the tank this time I was 3/4 down and I hate that. On the road to the northern cascades with a couple sites along the way.

Drive bout 3 hours when it hit as luck would have it near a rest stop Ran in and saw perfection in the shape of a toilet bowl.

Before camp I stopped for gas cause I ain’t getting stuck up high for an empty tank. Words to live by. Hiking only fun due to the sights and sounds. A face full of gravel and exhaust are neither.

Back up new mountain to set up camp call dentist with assistance from sister filling out questionnaire and then set up camp for evening.

It’s oodles of work just to screw up bumper.

Of course woke early and with pills swelling down and no pain. Left site in dark and once I got to a town pulled over got gas (always fill when at a half tank you’ll be driving a bit)and had cell service Hooray!!!

Checked dyrt app and split 8 hrs into to 4. Groovy idea. I’m stopping at Wenatchee National forest. Most camps at this time always booked but if like me you wake early and don’t mind a primitive site(they do have toilets) sites usually have some first come first serve.

Idaho was lovely except Ketchum left, like ketchup, a bad taste in mouth. Onward to hopefully something good.

Much better last night let me reiterate Oregon has great park system. Slept good and for me longish.

330 my time up and onward to Washington. Now this my kinda state. Not as flashy as others but decent folk beautiful landscape and only slightly lugesque(not a real word)downhills on mountains.

Traveling through Washington not exactly what I expected at least in the beginning. Enormous tracks of farmland not of grapes but big corporate(one had a tiny cargill sign)ag owned fields of perhaps wheat.

During this period of ever growing and going fields perhaps my closest friend Steve Lauer called and our discussion kept me busy while the field kept going. As a child he was next door neighbor since birth and have remained friends. This is a rarity for me as I tend to chafe. He owns historic floors and uses refurbished old lumber to make exceptional flooring. Very much into not just the floors but craft in general.

I asked a favor using friendship to my advantage definitely not above that. He knows of the Telo and that I’ll have camper shell on mine. “I know it won’t be wood but captain craft can you design me a bed for the back?” Obviously I didn’t need the friendship card which is why we are friends in first place he was all in and the wheels started turning. “Of course it won’t be wood it’s electric it’ll need to be light graphite carbon fiber maybe. Get me the dimensions of trunk with shell and quick “ he was already working it out in head. Thanks Brother!!!

Then got on to Washington expected.

Then came the mountains I would love to get pictures but best keep eyes on road. Not only do the have the standard truck pull offs for chains and sand ramps when no breaks. They also have for old men like me who aren’t used to the long downhills places to pull over and let thee speed demons fly. I used them liberally and I was doing 50-60. Not fast enough for these cats.

Went uphill finally at least as much as downhill but less of a nail biter. Got to camp right as check in started once again FCFS got a great spot by bathroom of course and started exploring area. There’s a bunch of area to explore. Once again no service but who cares certainly not me.

I’m old so get used to this up early thing. Stayed groovy lodge

After leaving I checked face it was trifle swollen one side and because galevanting cross country new gotta be pulled.

Tried for dentist but like barbershop always closed on Monday dentist always closed on Friday. Ran to urgent care doc said no matter what they gonna send you here first so I can give prescription antibiotics. It makes their life easier.

Took pills and headed north to Oregon.

Sawtooth camp extremely difficult to get to. Took mighty long time and I only saw side by sides and got so bad had to turn around. Did I mention also no signal of course.

At this point expecting a picture and would like to share but on this one gravel lane and constantly moving over to share it a picture would mean certain death. As I’m not this means no pictures. Sorry.

My mouth feeling much better and am at state campground also from outta state so that means 40 bucks. I did get here just in time. Lots of people camping.

I’ll leave tomorrow early morning. Pretty sure next stop Cascades. I’ll be staying few days hiking and oh yeah getting a tooth extracted.

Thing is sawtooth mighty big place. Several entrances usually I check for campgrounds but was in hurry and not thinking just put in the park and it was only 58 miles away worse decision of the day.

Before that the morning hike at Craters of The Moon. Lovely and highly unusual place it’s a shame most including me never heard of it. Huge black lava flows everywhere made for an extraordinary morning.

Okay morning spent hiking on the moon. Time to get move on to Sawtooth. As I said before pretty big place and great drive…to bad I picked wrong entrance. But again drive cool at least after Ketchum.

Ketchum let’s go to that this is not a place for the bourgeois. They just the helpers the do what they’re tolders. They don’t live here can’t while I have no idea what it costs this is small town of 100 million, billions aires. Peruvian Nuevo cuisine check. The chi institute for mental gymnastics check. A performing arts center to rival big “real cities “. Hell even a doggy thrift shop better than any I’ve seen for actual humans. It’s a small town that would be perfect for walking where no one does. Traffic nightmare indeed. I imagine had I come in winter prime ski time I’d even be depressed but now just kinda funny,as in strange, and creepy.

In any case I left with great expediency and it took two hours to get to better entrance. Too much time with the ultra rich so campgrounds all full up. But lovely lodge or independent motel (extremely old school) had a room which ment shower and repacking. It’s much nicer than doing at campgrounds.

Early up maybe tomorrow and off to Hells Canyon great name and if it’s any indication they probably have a great house band.