after reaching crater lake area in oregon just prior to sunset, i was pushing my limit facing cold wind on a windshieldless bike with minimal thermal attire.
amazing views all around especially with the setting sun, plus some more curvy mountain roads to zig and zag along to the campgrounds.
the temperature dropped to just above forty degrees somewhere between 4 and 6 thousand feet in altitude. a chilly night of camping was punctuated by a shin-raking trip in the dark to take a leak, a wet morning and my motorcycle’s lack of cooperation in starting.
my attempt to push-start the fully loaded cycle was thwarted as the bike rumbled then stopped dead and fell (albeit slowly) to its right side on the asphalt campground drivewaycurse words were utilized along with my lower back and thighs to aright the motorcycle. a kindly gentleman offered to help push (which in my angry state i pleasantly refused) , then i decided to unload the bike and try once again. this worked and the only damage was to my fragile pride.
miles later i stopped for a late brunch in rogue river at a coca-cola themed restaurant named karen’s kitchen. lots of grandma-type knicks and knacks hung just at forehead -tapping level to tempt impulse spenders. the tasty chicken-fried-steak and eggs special hit my gut like a long-awaited ton of bricks, i paid my bill and asked for the bathroom. it was a cozy shoulder-width closet of a room with looney tunes posters lining its walls. i perched my helmet on a small white flimsy plywood shelf overhead. about two minutes into my rountine, i felt a bowling ball spank my skull. the helmet had fallen and somehow avoided cracking my sunglasses which were atop my head. ten minutes and copious swearing later, i emerged from the tiny room with no less humor, perhaps only an addition to my cranial topography.