THE TIRE GRAVEYARD

Our first day of travel after a month at Cal Expo started off with a little delay.

For the past six months, we have watched Scoopy's right front tire develop an irregular pattern of wear. From time to time I panic over it, but have been reassured by "knowledgeable" people (like, for instance, a truck driver parked next to us during our lunch stop in a Texas rest area) that it is OK as long as the tire still has plenty of tread. We have been planning to get all six new tires next week in Eugene, Oregon - just 500 miles up 1-5.

Last night, Odel took a look and seemed quite concerned that the "cupping" on the edge of the tire appeared worse than he remembered. I looked at it this morning - PANIC! So, as we headed out on our pre-departure walk, I mentioned the big knot of anxiety in my stomach. He must have felt the same, because we made an abrupt about face, called the nearest Les Schwab (in West Sacramento), and were in the shop getting two new front tires within an hour of my comment. I love a decisive man!

By 12:30 pm, we were on the road north, feeling so relieved. At Les Schwab, we were told that our back tires have at least another year of life, so we rolled on especially happily, feeling safe and secure with our two new front tires and a major expenditure postponed until next year.

In Redding, we set up in record time so we could hit their wonderful Sacramento River pedestrian and bike trail. It is about 1.5 miles from the Elks lodge to the graceful, interesting, Sundial Bridge, so we managed to get our delayed walk in afterall. This photo of the bridge is from our visit last fall; today the weather was cloudless and warm.