Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 09:34:01 -0700 From: Charlie Ford To: type2@bigkitty.azaccess.com Subject: A Cold Cleveland Afternoon It's amazing how the events of ones life tend too generate thoughts of depth. I can see now how "Jack Handy" of Saturday Night Live fame, could come up with those deep thoughts. He must have had time on his hands. The events themselves may even be good ones, but the offspring they give birth to tend to be of such substance they can be taken either way, bad or good. I guess it's according to the frame of mind of the one thinking them. I guess thoughts of the future should always be considered good. But knowing that fact doesn't really console. The person thinking them still has to agonize with the entire process, and those logistics are always difficult. It is almost like work, fruitful yet tiresome. Over the past three weeks, my life has been no less a turmoil than it was a year ago when I was still deep inside the machine. In some small way those things and thoughts that drove me to take this journey still re-enter my mind. They still serve to consume me. They also tend to remind me of the sad reality, that my journey is three months from being over. I am torn between, not wanting it to end, mainly because of fear of the "grind", and knowing that it has too. I think the latter is because I have this need to see if 'because of the trip', the "grind" will be different. Hoping for easier. When I left Bill Bowman's three weeks or so ago, I was rested. Ready for all that was to happen in the near future. I headed toward south central Kentucky, stopping at Darrell Boehlers for a couple nights, to do an AmeriCorps job that would net me around $1000.00, at least three quarters of which I could save. I also had scheduled for the next week the job in Denver, that would almost double that amount. With this work under my belt, I could make it the remainder of my journey, and any odd job work I assumed, would be nothing but icing on the cake. I see this as a great way to finish this year of traveling. I would dearly love to actually pull back in to Hazlehurst in January, with more money than I left with. All in all, this year, my total take of wages would range around $8000.00. Not bad for one heck of a years adventure vacation. : ) But then that goals is yet to be attained. I flew back into Cincinnati from Denver on Sunday morning. I took the early flight out so that I could arrive back in time to pick up Gus, and settle back into the bowels of the Mothership. Her innards have become my sanctuary, and really do seem to have a calming affect on my psyche. Pretty amazing that 12.3 square foot of floor space could be so damn pleasing. Amazing! On Sunday night I once again stayed at Tony Moore's 'ingredients' lab. That night I called an old friend of mine. Greg Shivers is a preacher friend of mine that more than once has helped me get along when life got thick, as it does with all of us. Of course he is much more learned in the biblical teachings than I, but nevertheless, he tolerates my wicked ways and me. We are not as much "flock and shepherd", as we are "brother to brother". Although sometimes, we do tend to flip-flop, according to which is the need. That night I slept with many dreams. I dreamed of terrible things, would wake up, only to fall back asleep and dream of peaceful things. Gus dreamed about chasing bigger dogs than he I believe. he ran them away in fear and was the ruler of his domain. Such are the dwarfed dreams of a midget dog, every bit a full 'sized' in personality, only cursed to be so short. The next morning Tony and I went to breakfast and talked about his music and the band he plays with "The Marshwiggles, all of you really need too hear these guys play, they will 'soothe the savage beast' in each of you. It is some of the most peaceful music I have heard in a while. If they can keep the "muse" in tact, they will make gold for sure. But I guess that is the dream of a musician anyway. Or is it the "truth in the music", and the creation of 'it', that is the dream? Maybe both? On Monday night I moved from the lab over to the urban park in Cincinnati. Winton Woods Park and Campground is located in a "Greenbelt District". It sprawls over about 400 acres, and is registered officially as a 'natural area'. I guess as close as you can get to "natural" being in town and all. I secured my campsite close to the bath house, and among the RV's, as I have so many times on this trip. Gus also set up, and tore out the toys that Kelly, Tony's sister had donated as his travel gear. He and I were still getting to know each other for the second time since his incarceration and rescue from the "big house" for canines and kitty's in Carbondale, Illinois. It has been a good reunion. That night once again I slept good, and so did he. The next morning, Tuesday, I rose early and readied the bus for going north. I dropped by Tony's lab on the way out of town and said my final good-byes. Hopefully in a few months I will see him again. I think a lot of him, he is a good and peaceful man, with the virtues of a good and peaceful man. I consider him a brother, as I do so many others I have met in this year. Of course there are many sisters as well, all of them holding equal endearment in the scheme of things. They would include Christa, and Bobbi, Ginger, Jan, Debbie, Kathyryn, Ann, and Melanie. Women who are friends with men, yet at the same time, independent, and demanding of strong respect for their nature. I like that a lot. I remember a time when I only saw them as someone to get naked. Such is youth you know. Young, dumb, and full of the slang term for testosterone. : ) I hope one day I find someone that shares all of their good traits, the perfect woman she would be. On Tuesday I drove to Columbus where I stopped at Ted and Sue Chaney's home. I dropped in totally un-announced and they welcomed me with open arms and some good coffee. They insisted that I stay the night, so I did. I had met Ted and Sue at Busses by the Arch. More specifically, I met them at Bill Bowman's house on the Monday that BBTA all ended. Ted, at that time, invited me to drop in. He is an avid VW guy and the both of them are pleasant to be around. Good people they are. I do wish I could have spent more time with them. I maybe should have. That night I neglected Gus a little more than I should have. He was in the bus, and decided he would somehow gain the attention he wanted and needed and deserved. He had the call of nature, and instead of waiting for the surroundings of the great outdoors, he went in the floor of the Mothership. Believe me, the bus was already smelling a little from him taking occupancy, and the last thing she needed was a big ole doggy mine stinking the insides up. I cleaned it up while cursing, but all the while knowing it was my job to walk him, and I was the one that had failed in my duties. What can you say? It was the truth. On Wednesday I awoke around 9:00 AM, and once again prepared for the road. Since according to the weather, I would hit some pretty cold weather around northern Ohio, I took off the front spare tire, removed the front grill, and wrapped my plastic screen in tin foil. I did this last year as it cuts down on the draftiness inside the Mothership as I drive. At about thirty degrees, you need all the warmth you can generate, and all the prevention from the cold you can create. I said my good-byes to Ted and Sue, got back on Interstate 71, and headed north doing a hurricane speed of 65 mph. Gus crawled up on his seat, watched the road for a few, and then as usual, fell asleep. I talked on the CB and found some fun conversation with the trucker element of the highway. the trucker is your friend, at least most of the time, there is good and bad to be found in that population of driver. I stopped at the Akron exit just before entering Cleveland road-space. Isn't that what you call it...."Road space"? I mean we have air-space, floor-space, and outer-space, why can't we drivers have "road-space". The wind was blowing me around a bit so I needed some terminology to describe all the highway I was taking. Truckers were asking me if I was impaired, I think if I would have said yes they would have asked me to pull over so they could also suffer the pleasure. I explained the truthfulness of the problem to them. I think they were disappointed. The reason I stopped was so that I could get me a bite to eat. I went in a Shoney's hoping to find a marvelous buffet with all the trimmings for a low-low discount eatery price. That was just not to be, so I settled for a club sandwich and a bowl of warm soup. That tremendous meal ended up costing me $8.50, and although I had plenty of money on me, I still had to comment on how proud they were of their food. I re-mounted in the drivers seat, Gus re-mounted in the co-drivers seat, and off we went on our appointed rounds. Linear rounds anyway. I drove to the south side of Cleveland and picked up Interstate by-pass 270 east. I drove it until I got to I-77 North and turned up. I had received an E-mail from a fellow here that said I could crash at his home. I looked forward too it. I have some time too kill because I am waiting on the Denver check to arrive this next week. I don't want to go across the border into Montreal until I have that money in hand. It's almost $2000.00, and that is the rest of the trip, and hopefully some beyond that. As I headed up 77, I decided it was time to make the call and get in touch with William Claspy. I had met William at the Columbus show but could not remember very much of him. I knew that he was one of the guys that was hanging out at the Mothership, and I knew he was one of them that had a small daughter that was playing inside with the child of another guy hanging out at the Mothership. I exited at the Grant Avenue exit, the only one without a gas station, or convenience store. I decided that since this was the case, I would try one of the corporation front offices, sometime they have pay phones and there were plenty of them. I chose Seaway Foods. I walked in and asked if I could use a phone, explaining that I was just arriving in town, and was needing to get in touch with a fellow I knew here. I didn't bother to explain how well, or how little I knew him. The middle to late aged lady sitting behind the counter pointed me to the pay phones. I thanked her. She was looking at me a little suspicious at first but as time went by we connected and started talking about all sorts of things. At first it was about the Indians being in the series, then it moved to the Indians and the Braves 'Series', then it moved to the shape of the economy and the roads in Cleveland. We spoke about winter, and Vegas, and Saint Augustine. This was beginning to be quite nice. She then asked me if I had this guys number. I told her yes and she then asked me what the first prefix was. The started looking it up in the book, but to no avail. I looked up William's number and found his address right off beside it. Duh!!! learn something new everyday don't we, even if we already have learned it. She gave me directions to Cleveland Heights, I thanked her, she wished me the best of luck, and I headed out. Gus was waiting patiently (asleep) in the bus, constantly on guard of course. He is so vicious. An hour later I pulled into William's driveway he came out to greet me. The first thing he said is "Hey, we don't allow any outlaws around here!". I laughed and pulled into the back after he told me where the level spot was. The snow was peppering down and the wind was so cold it was freezing the outer shell of my leather jacket, which I had dug out of the clothes box, it was nice to see it again. I love my leather jacket. It smells so damn good, and serves it's purpose well. No other piece of clothing can give a person such pleasure and good aroma, all at one time. William, his wife and child, and myself had some good conversation, a good meal, and watched part of the series. During one of the pitches I asked William how long I might crash for. He explained that he expected one night. I understood, although I must say I was hoping for more. That check will not be here for a few more days, and it would make the cold weather much more comfortable to be in the comfort of someone to talk VW and things about. But, I truly do understand. I was fed, and kept warm for a while, that is all anyone can expect from anyone else. You don't complain about the length of time, you just recognize the goodness while it happens. That is the rule. I slept soundly all night, got up this morning and pulled out. I hope I meet William again someday. I would like to talk to him more, and learn more about "things" from him. Everyone has there take on "things" you know, each take is different. Understanding those takes is just another one of my goals. Now, I am set up in Punderston State Park just outside Cleveland. The temperature is hovering around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. I arrived here this morning and after finding me a really nice campsite on the lake, fell back too sleep. Gus decided he would do the same. We both rose again for the second time today, at around noon. I walked down and paid my fee, let Gus take a "nature call" the right way, and headed out to buy some groceries. I think I might stay here until the check arrives. Why not, cold here..........cold there........what is the difference. There is a little grocery up the road, a little cafe beside it, and the coffee is hot. There is even a little lounge in case I need a drink, I doubt it though. besides I still have some "Charlie Ford Special" left, courtesy of Tony Moore. The people in the campground are friendly, but all of them are RV'ers so they, as always tend to be a little weary of this big biker looking VW driver with the short vicious Basset hound. The weather is cold, about 40 degrees right now, but the snow appears to have missed us. The expected low of tonight is 36 to 40 degrees with lonely light rain starting tomorrow. Gus and I took a walk around the park which we both fully enjoyed. I fed and myself. He dined on "Puppy Chow" (as sold in stores everywhere), and I dined on People Chow, (ham sandwiches and crackers, also sold in stores everywhere). Life is good, although very solemn, quiet, and thoughtful. I hope the plans I make from all this deep thinking will work out, but I guess they will somehow. Only time will tell, time, and my drive to make them happen. One thing I have learned, its is up to me more than anyone else to make the good happen. Thanks for tolerating the ramblings. Charlie Ford "79" Transporter, dressed for the road The Mothership The"Turning 40 Nostalgic VW Service Tour, and Search for the Beginning of Wind". http://www.slurpee.net/~keen/charlie/charlie.html "Wider still and wider.....shall thy bounds be set"