Driving Fourth
Journeys, like artists, are born and not made. A thousand differing circumstances contribute to them, few of them willed or determined by the will -- whatever we may think.
-- Lawrence Durrell
Tuesday, July 4, 2000
One year ago: Indigo Fourth
Two years ago: Vanguard Fourth
Three years ago: Glorious Fourth
My period had started last night, so I was not feeling very well this morning. Jack said something about feeling nervous, as if I might lash out at him any minute, which shocked me! "Have you noticed mood swings in me at this time of the month?" "No," he said. But past experience with other people had sensitized him in this area.
We got the raft fastened down on the trailer, and covered with a tarp. Then we used straps, tie-downs, bungee cords, snuggers, and I don't know what all, to make sure it was secure and that the cover wouldn't flap in the wind.
We left fairly early, around nine or ten in the morning. We took the northern route. The road to Goldendale turns into a one lane road (or at least no lines are painted on it) that switchbacks its way up the side of the valley. It's a little nerve-wracking when you haven't done it before, but I trust Jack's driving. A stop at the store to get supplies, a stop at the gas station, and we were on our way to Toppenish.
You are in some remote country along this road. The hills are wooded, then dry grassland when you get to the Yakima nation. I'd heard reports of a wildfire here some weeks ago, but we didn't see the burned land until coming over the crest into Toppenish.
We broke our journey there, because Jack wanted cigars! The smoke shop at the Yakimart has a good selection and good prices, so he always likes to buy there if he can.
I wasn't feeling too great most of this time -- backache, cramps, and so on. But I ejoyed the lunch we had in Ellensburg. The Reuben sandwich was good. Jack and H---- played with the peg game on the table, while I read a real estate flyer about property in the area. (I'm not looking to move there; just curious.) I checked out the shop next to the restaurant. It was a glorified fruit stand, with a sign: "Fresh Chilled Cherries." I bought a quart of Rainier cherries, and some salt water taffy.
I'd been debating all day whether to stick with our original plan for the evening of the fourth. I really wasn't feeling up to going to somewhere to see the fireworks, and Jack had concerns about his trailer and all the stuff in his car -- he didn't want to park it somewhere and leave it. Plus, if he continued home to Bellingham, he could have a very good view of the B'ham fireworks shot off over the bay, because of his status as a Georgia Pacific employee. The plant is right on the water. So I was dropped off to spend a quiet evening at home, while H--- and Jack drove on north. This was a good long weekend!
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