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.

KIVA ON ABC NEWS

I have heard from a fellow Kiva lender that ABC news will be airing a story about Kiva, and more specifically about Iraqi borrowers, on their evening news tonight. If you are not able to catch it (or would rather read than listen/watch), here is a link to the story:

Rebuilding Iraq - One Loan At a Time

Be sure to read past the first page; the second page was far more interesting to me (the story is three pages long).

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS...

Three days from today we will head north on I-5 from Sacramento to begin our summer travels - and resume updating our blog. An overnight in Redding (CA), a few nights in Eugene (OR) - where we will be putting 6 gigantic new tires on Scoopy - then we have planned a week-long stay in Hood River, Oregon, in the Columbia River Gorge.

By the end of June, we will be visiting one of my favorite state parks in Oregon, Sunset Beach, just west of Coos Bay on the beautiful Oregon coast. I took this photo in July, 2006. It's clear why we want to return, isn't it?

But leaving our former hometown of Sacramento is always a little bittersweet for me. This visit was one of the best: lots of socializing, including visits with friends I haven't seen for a long, long, time; some great meals; and more frequent and fun family visits. Now we are saying our goodbyes and I know I will feel my usual regrets as we pull out of town - until I tilt the passenger seat into lounging position, bring up the footrest, get Luna snuggled into my lap, and we hit 60 miles an hour. Then, whoopeeee - let the summer begin!