 It was seven months ago that we first walked out onto the beach from our site at Turtle Rock Resort when Pam turned to me and said, "You know, we are going to blink, and before you know it, it will be time to pack up and leave."
Those prophetic words have come true as we try to wrap up our adventure here in Gold Beach.
With the "Tuna" play behind me now, I took a short motorcycle ride over to Medford to visit a friend and mentor from High School. He was the Campus Life director at the time as was the one that set my course for attending Biola college at the time. We haven't remained in close contact since that time, but as Medford is a rather close community we have been able to follow each other over the years. I was invited to a backyard concert they held for all many of their friends they've know since the early 70's. It was so good to see Don and his wife Donna again after all these years. We briefly shared some stories as the group was large, but still good to get a hug from a man I've long admired.
The ride also gave me some time to catch up on some sights I've had to pass on when I was in a hurry in the car. This first picture is of the Darlingtonia, or Cobra plant. A rare insect eating plant found in along the banks of the Smith River.
 This bridge is found on the road to Stout Grove from Hwy 199 on the Smith River. This will be added to my collection of places I am visiting on the motorcycle for the "Hodgepodge Tour".
And some shots of the critters populating the "Gypsy Boots, Shallow Roots Homestead" in Jacksonville, or more commonly known as my daughter Christa's place.
As I am not always happy just sitting watching life happen, I jumped in with both feet and got involved with the local theater group while we've staying in Gold Beach, Oregon for the winter. This led me to getting a part in the play, "Tuna Does Vegas". This is the first time I've done any public theater work, although I've wanted to before, but never had the time to make the commitment it takes to learn the lines, and works for months on the play.
So I did it, we opened to the press this past week, and Pam was there with the video equipment to capture all of the six roles I play. For those that live too far to come over to see it, this is a peek at what you are missing.
It's a period of transition here at Turtle Rock Resort. Many of the of the winter campers have already left, and the new crew is checking in and getting trained. We will be the last ones to pull out the first week-end of June, so we'll be part of the training team this month. As a way to welcome the new folk, and send off the winter team, we all headed down to a local dance floor and had a crazy time. See for yourself.
There are a lot of things our family loves to do together. That is one of the reasons we love the RV lifestyle, so much to do and see across the land. However, every once in awhile, our perfect getaway idea does not neatly mesh together. Pam loves times of solitude where she can crochet, listen to her favorite CD in peace, and not worry about the daily routine of life. I like to ride long distances with the solitude of my thoughts inside a motorcycle helmet. She likes to get away from people, I love to people watch.
So this summer we've made plans to each get our own way. Pam has booked a private house in Bend, Oregon to relax for the week, and I booked a stay at the campground of the Sturgis Motorcycle rally. Pretty radically different venues.
If you know us, or have been busy catching up on past blog posts, you know we've done this before. Pam's been on a cruise to the South Pacific, I've ridden to the four outside corners of the United States. She's been to Guam, I've been to La Paz.
Maybe there is another reason for our separate trips. There just isn't enough time to do everything, so sometimes we have to split up to cover more ground. In any case, our summer and coming seasons are filling up with exciting things to check out. Stay with us.
 Like this bedraggled Bald Eagle we spotted on the creek bank across from us this week, the rain and the damp is taking it's toll on us.
Everything is staying damp. I'm finding I need to run the toilet paper thru the park clothes drier just to be able to use it. I have a weekly routine of wiping off the walls to hold back the molds, and I stick the heater up under chairs and tables to keep the moisture from building up too much. A dehumidifier is what is really needed in this rig of ours, but with space at such a premium, we opted to not use one. What would be nice, is for some RV manufacturer to build one with the dehumidifier built into the heating/cooling system. They make an arctic version, they should market this type as an Oregon coast model. Make it complete with bright natural lighting and UV bulbs to simulate the sun you are missing all these winter days.
 That is not to say that our days are totally devoid of days without rain. Last weekend the sun made an appearance so I pulled back the cover on my motorcycle and took it out for a little tour of the region.
Spring is bringing new green to the coast line, and the flowers on the hillsides and meadows are abundant. The roads are showing the effects of heavy rains, but all were open. With the help of flaggers, you can get around the slide-outs and sunken patches. Not conditions for flogging any two wheeled machine, but perfect for really taking the time to take in all the beauty the rugged coast can offer.
 Well, the little brother finally did it. He's crossed over into the next decade of his life this past week. I suppose this should make me feel older, but not really. What was hard to get over was when this little tyke grew in stature not age. In Santa Cruz around 1967 I was the big brother, in all areas. I was taller, I was older, and I was his protector against any kid that tried to bully him. (That didn't go so well, but another story).
Somewhere along the years he shot up, and before I realized it I was looking up to him, I mean way up. And I'm no shrimp. All three of us siblings, when we get together, can be quite intimidating. Especially in small rooms. Kinda fun actually.
Kirk has a great big heart to match his height. That was witnessed by the number of people that stopped by to wish him a Happy Birthday last Sunday. The kid brother has done alright, no wonder he's always been mom's favorite. (It's alright, we kid each other about this all the time, drives our mom crazy. "I don't have favorites, I love you both the same. " Can't you just hear her even now as she reads this.)
 When we are the move, we enjoy seeing the grand sights of the country. The wide canyons, the glacier topped Rockies, the raging seas rush against the Oregon rocks. But when we are not moving, when we are parked for a long winter in one single location, what is there to see.
Surprisingly, a lot. You just have to stoop down and look. I spent one morning climbing a rock high above the beach, and if I wasn't sure I was still within the Earth's realm, I would have sworn I'd entered an alien landscape. On a barren rock, little can grow, as the winds and rain wash away all soil, and seeds, but still, stuck in little cracks, there is life. And now that spring is bring warmer weather and more sun, these little plants strut their stuff.
I bought a Wildflower handbook, but have yet to identify this intriguing flower. The world is full of places to explore, by car, or on foot. And while the grand vistas get all the good PR, sifting through the stuff at your own feet is well worth the travel as well.
As some of the new work campers in this park start to arrive, and others are beginning to pack up and move to other parts of the states, I realize that our time here is quickly drawing to a close. We are staying longer than many of the others, but this last 8 weeks will be over before I know it. And while I have a general plan of what we are doing this summer, the details need to be worked out soon.
Still to come while in Gold Beach is the theater play, "Tuna Does Vegas". That will take up the first three week-ends of May, and most of the week day evenings leading up to that. (I hope you are following me on the side tab under "Mike's Ad\ventures" for that) Also in this 2 month time frame, Pam and I need to create and make a costume for our trip to Vulcan, Alberta. That would be the "SpockFest Days" where we will walking around in full Klingon make-up and uniforms.
After that I have a short summer to fill up with places to see, things to do, and folks to visit while in Oregon. Not to mention a growing list of repair and maintenance items that will need to be dealt with while parked at my mom's Medford.
Clock is ticking, even while I update this blog, so I better get to cracking...
 It's been a great week, if you were a duck. Sure your normal tranquil creek is a raging, bubbling torrent of logs, limbs and muddy water, but look at the new fields full of fresh water you can play on. But for us human dwellers, not so much.
Sure, we expected life on the Oregon coast to be wet and rainy, and we are glad for the bonus of a season that has been calmer than most Gold Beach winters. But still, days of solid rain drumming on the roof of our motor home has been enough. I hadn't realized how much a stick built house shelters you from not only the elements of weather, but the sounds as well. But to be trapped in a small aluminum and wood box with the sound of water pouring over the edge of the roof 24, 48, 72 hours solid does tend to get to you.
But we are getting to be old hands at this. With the waters rising, other campers were worried about having to evacuate the camp, swamping the office with calls for more information. Like we did the first time this happened earlier this year. Now we are "old hat", and can patronizingly tell them about the last storm and to relax and enjoy the wonderful view of the drips working thdown your bedroom wall at night.
 Hasn't it been a long time dream to have the kind of job where you could travel where you wanted, live where ever, and work from the comfort of your own house. I have that job now.
At any point of the day I could get a text message on my phone asking if a certain wood is safe for a rabbit to chew on, or what my professional opinion is on the use of hardware cloth or poultry wire for use as a small animal cage. Or maybe a question related to auto care, planting seasons, tool recommendations or immigration laws, (well, not that one, that falls to another friends domain).
I'm not alone in the cooperative business affair. Any questions that fall under child care, health, and nutrition are handled by Pam. It's a family business you see. In fact it's all family. That's our client base. The calls come from Alaska and Southern Oregon, and we love to hear from the kids. You see, just because we end up separated from family by the miles, the phone, social networks, and e-mail keep us connected. And frankly, with our daughters living in such diverse locations, we'd never be close to both of them anyway.
We both love the seasons and times we can spent in visiting them face to face, but in the between time, the operators standing by.
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