We started out on the road today. I was at the wheel, going up 5 headed ostensibly to Portland, but more realistically just someplace north. Someplace small and north. Joseph was in the back of the rv planning the next 5 hours or so of music, and, he claimed, trying to figure out our expenses for the next however long. What he really was doing was loafing. Actually, I was wrong. He'd gotten the map out.
"Hey, Judy...how does forks of salmon sound to you?"
"Not good. I don't like fish. What, are you planning dinner?"
"No, I mean as a destination. It's a little town near the middle of Nowhere. Still in California, though. Not far from famous Mt. Salmon."
"I dunno. Can we get there from here?"
"Well, according to mister map, we just have to head West across a quarter of the state at Redding."
Redding was still, easily half a day away. "No problem. Forks of Salmon, California it is."
And we kept driving, Joseph kept lazing, and I was wondering what kind of local people we'd find. Our search was going to be spontaneous and random. And we'd actually be staying in town long enough to get a feel for the place. Charles Kuralt, eat your heart out.
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Lunch today at: Whistlestop Diner. Near Sites, California. One trucker, one waitress, cook in back. Two locals in a booth drinking coffee and arguing about whether Hank Williams Sr or Woody Guthrie was a better songwriter. I had the Blue Plate Special (meatloaf, mashed potatoes w/gravy, corn and coffee) and Joseph had a hamburger and fries. Price $9 for both of us, including a good sized tip.
Incidents of note: Strange incident on the way back to the interstate. A police officer, I'm not sure if it was sherriff or local or CHP, pulled out from behind a barn, had his lights on for a moment, and then turned them off and pulled off to the side of the road. It was enough to get Joseph (his turn to drive) to drop to 50, from his 57 or so. Nothing else unusual.
OFFICIAL MEMO - COLUSA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
From: Sheriff Reaver
To: Officer Taylor
Jim:
Sorry to hear about the problem with the cruiser; we've been seeing a
rash of problems with the electronics in some of the vehicles. But,
simply because an RV gets away with going 2 miles over the speed limit
is no reason to send out an APB on them. Let them go.
And your interrogation of Sherri over at Whistlestop went too far.
Threatening to close them on alleged health violations is beyond your
jurisdiction.
I'm afraid that one more incident like this, and we'll have to put you
administrative leave for a while.
(signed)
Frank Reaver