Side Roads and Turn Arounds

This first encounter on our vacation was almost missed. Twice. We had already driven through the first park on our list to see the redwood trees.

As we were heading south, we needed to take a break so, in Crescent City, Ca., we stop at the visitor center. They have restrooms there and they have a volunteer at the center to answer any questions. So, I ask him a question. “What is the best route to get to the Redwoods? We want to see Prairie Creek and Del Norte Park.” I pronounced “Norte” nor-tay, as I assumed that would be correct.


The volunteer guy says, “I have to correct you on one thing. I don’t want somebody else to get offended or upset. The correct pronunciation is “Norte” nort. There is no “tay” at the end.” So, I guess, the only person I offended, was him. “ I was just going to head straight down Highway 101.” He told me that if I wanted to take a more scenic route, I should take the loop just past the river. It is very windy and it is a decent climb, but the view and the sights are neat. Even though it takes longer, it might be worth driving.

T. and I decided that we should take it and have lunch up at the overlook. As we are driving on the “long and windy road” (Okay, not that long, but windy. I just wanted to quote the song), we are following the river as it heads to the ocean. And it was about three miles from the mouth of the river, we made a small turn and there was a spot where cars were lined up by a little bridge. The little bridge was like one going over a creek and just had the safety rails. People were standing there looking toward the river. It had the appearance of a spot where fishermen would go. As we passed by, a boy, who was about ten, shouted to us, “It’s a whale!”

I didn’t quite hear him so I ask T. what he said as I drive past on route to the overlook and eventually the Redwoods. She told me that he said there was a whale. T. thought we should turn around and take a look.

Here are the two things that went through my mind. First, if indeed there is a whale, it can’t be very big. We are upstream quite a ways on the river. And second, I have already passed that spot, and there is “no-turn around and see what I have missed” policy. I recognize that this is a sad way to live. But, in my defense, it keeps me moving forward.

But, with T.’s encouragement, I turn around on the little two-lane road using the classic “three-point-turn”, and head back past the little bridge with people. I then have to execute another “three-point-turn”, (I’m getting exhausted here) and park behind the other cars. I get out with my camera and go to see this whale. T. had to stay in the car since our three-year old was napping. I get to the little bridge spot. And there it is. A whale and its calf.

It was right at the edge of the river. It was about a twenty feet drop from the bridge and the whale was about ten feet from the river shore. It kept rising and submerging the fifteen minutes I was there. Its nose was facing upstream and would drift down and then back up. It got to a point where I thought it was going to be gone, so I went back to the car so T. could come and take a look. Fortunately, it was still there, and T. got the “money shot”, as it expelled water through its blowhole.

I have only seen whales at a distance in the ocean. This time I was only about thirty feet away from this big old mammal. Who knew that in order to see a whale up close, one only has to go see giant trees in a forest? And this encounter would have been certainly missed if we hadn’t chosen to take a side road and make a turn around.


As we journey in life, and as we follow the route that we have chosen, sometimes the more direct path is the unexpected side road. And it is there, on the side road, you may be given a glimpse of something wonderful. Sometimes, a forty-five foot grey whale is just around the corner.

Preparing for the Unexpected

We decided to take a trip on the first week part of July. Now our trip process, or my process at least, will go something like this.


First, I will determine that this trip will be the greatest trip ever. It will be filled with staying in great hotels, eating in the best-recommended restaurants, and seeing the wonderful and breathtaking sites of the area.

Then we will have the “figure out where we are going to vacation” phase. There is a lot of pressure at this stage. If it is going to meet the above requirement of the “greatest trip ever”, the “where” part is critical. This is a very simple yet complicated undertaking. Complicated in the sense of listing all of the possibilities. Simple in the sense of the eventual obvious result. I must confess that this stage begins two to three months before the actual trip date. This time, like always, it seems the possibilities are endless.

We will throw around, in the beginning, the grand trips. Colorado? Alaska? The Mid-West to see family? Or, what about the East coast? And then the elimination and options that will be most practical and cost efficient enough to fit into our budget, but still have a great time.

So the choices now become directional. Do we go north or south or east or west? And it can’t be too far of a travel time. That will give us more time to enjoy “the greatest trip ever”. Is it going to be north to Seattle or the San Juans? Enjoyable? Yes. Have friends there? Yes. Expensive? Yeah, a bit. East to the mountains or Bend? Now that would be fun. Haven’t been there too much. Great restaurants. Good views. But T. was just in that area for a work retreat, so we will try somewhere else. How about south? The Roseburg area? The last time we were there this town fascinated me. It seems to be a fusion of blue-collar working atmosphere and fashionable urban trendsetters. Again, it wasn’t too long since we wee last there. So, no.

There is always the old standby, west. Lincoln City or Newport? I will never tire of going there. But we can always go there for a weekend, so at this time we will pass. But it is the coast, and if given a choice, I love the coast and like to go to the coast. I would, in a heartbeat, live there. And we have our favorite places to stay, eat, and go after many trips there.

Then T. suggested the Southern Oregon Coast with a tour of the Redwoods. That’s it! I think that I have only been there once in my life, so in early May our trip destination for the first week of July was now settled. This could have been an easier selection process, since I generally gravitate to a 200- 250-mile maximum travel trip. And usually the coast is involved. Now all that is left are the details. This includes the reserving of the hotels, the review checking of restaurant choices, and the itinerary of site seeing and photo op extravaganza. This will involve “Tripadvisor” and similar sites to research best options for us and what has been approved by many a traveling commentator. I live for planned spontaneity.

And everything went as planned. It was a great trip, but not the “greatest trip ever”. That is an unattainable medal. We never do as much as we think we are going to. There was nothing bad about this trip but trips can never live up to the hype of one’s own fantasy and imagination. But along the way of our well thought out vacation there were three unexpected but life impacting encounters that weren’t planned. At least by us. But it was good and meaningful that we got to be a part of those encounters.

Sometimes, as we move along on our journey, something happens. Life. Life happens. And out of that life happening, we got tastes of the unexpected. And sometimes, the great moments and great lessons that come our way, happen while we are planning our life, and these my friends, must not be missed. Three encounters. One was by a river. One was in an art gallery. And one was at our motel. Curious?

One Year in the Books

One year ago today, I quit my job. It has went by fast in some respects, and dragged on in others. I had very specific reasons and goals as I left the corporate middle management ranks and entered into the self exiled island of unemployment. I am certainly not retired, as I have none (retirement money that is). For the past year, we have been living off of our savings and the part time income that T. is getting from her job.


There were four reasons/goals that caused me to quit and I will give an update on them at this time. I quote from my initial significant blog post in italics .

(Reason One: I needed a break from off-price retail. I’ve done it for many years and just need to get away from being middle management for a while.)

I have certainly accomplished this one. I, at this point, do not miss working in off-price retail. It felt like, being management, that you are caught between the corporation and your employees. There was generally never a win-win scenario. And that can wear you down a bit. Also, you always felt like you were one bad day away from being terminated. I like retail, so maybe when I get a job, it will be in a smaller setting. Oh, and I haven’t missed the holiday season.

(Reason Two: I really want to spend as much time as I can with my wife and son. Being older than her, I want to cherish each moment I can before it is gone. Never know when it ends.)

And that I have done as well. T.’s job is Monday through Thursday from 8:30am-2:00pm. So we get the three-day weekend together, along with evenings. This has been really nice. And every day I am spending it with my boy, who is now three. It has been great watching him grow. Not going to lie, sometimes he grew on me, both ways. I also would like to, at this time, applaud all you stay at home moms.

(Reason Three: I really want to work for myself. Start a business. For now I will be focusing upon my photography. Attempting to sell my photographs and taking portraits. I am not a great photographer, but I’m good at it and I like doing it. Focusing on it will give me experience. I’ve always wanted to try my own work but have been too afraid. I determined I would rather fail trying than always wonder what I could have been.)

I have at this point am not working for myself or have started a business. Periodically I have been taking photographs and have done some projects for friends, but that is about it. The fear of failure is a bigger hurdle than I thought. I am now, once again, in position to attempt to pursue something in this venue. August will be my month of active engagement into the business world. I hope.

( And Reason Four,: I have been quite convicted about trusting God enough to allow Him to provide. We are to seek his kingdom and righteousness and He says He will provide. George Mueller didn’t ask anyone for anything, but rather prayed and trusted.)

This, quite frankly, has been amazing to witness. That is probably due to the fact that it has been God doing great work with this goal. I just have to trust. Which isn’t always easy and there are moments of anxiety, but He has certainly been true to His word. We have not gone without during this past year. Sure we have cut back on some things, but all in all, our lifestyle didn’t change a whole lot. In this upcoming year, we may have to make some significant adjustments to our way of life and our way of thinking, but so far, we have been taken care of.

I originally had calculated that we were on track to be fine until July of this year and then we wouldn’t be able to pay our bills. Now, at least in budget terms, not foreseeing any major crisis or catastrophe, we are on track to go one more year from today.

To be honest, I am not sure how it exactly happened, but things just seemed to work out that way. I am not complaining, I am very grateful. This will be a year of trusting in Him more as we see our bank account get smaller and smaller. Thanks God.

I had hoped that I would have been more pro-active when it came to ministering to other people. Or at least, recognize the opportunities that were presented to me. But I did get to be involved with some church ministries that I would not have been able to accomplish in my “other life”.

So year one is over and I am heading into year two. Stay tuned. Off I go.

Be Free

Two ways of freedom.
1)

Two ways of freedom.
2)

 There is only one that lasts.