Flotsam and Jetsam

I love to comb the beach searching for treasures the sea presents. Always hoping for a fully intact sand dollar, a piece of shimmering abalone shell or a bright red rock. Waiting patiently for a crab to emerge from it's hiding place or maybe spying on a harbor seal and her pup. The same mentality applies to my bike rides. The shoulder of the roads become my seashore. What has the earth "washed up" for me? What have passing motorists tossed out, discarded for me to find and make up stories about?

Well, it is sometimes frightening and sometimes comical and other times beautiful. The shoe tree is a work of art. Each shoe must have some great stories to tell. What possessed that teenager to throw their $75 shoes upon the branches of this lone juniper tree out in the middle of the badlands? What did his mother say? Is it an act of defiance or pure joy at the freedom of the act? Was their malace in their feat , a challenge, a dare, or just silliness. Was it just teenagers or were there some "adults" who wanted to get in on the fun? And why has no one pulled any of the shoes off "the canvas" to put them upon their feet as they tromp away into the sunset? Oh, the stories those shoes could tell!

I think this rider forgot their steed.

Unfortunately, I see a lot of death and destruction along the roadside. Skeletons may be all that are left of a life cut short by an auto. Fox, coyotes, deer, dogs, cats, rock chucks, mice, squirrels, snakes, chipmunks, frogs. All are vulnerable. And then there are the crosses and flowers marking the sites of people or beloved pets taken from their lives all too soon. The epitaphs letting visitors know who was lost, attempting to keep their loved ones alive in the memories of strangers. The smiling faces looking back at you, the letters of love, burned forever into your mind, of those you never knew, but now feel connected. "Share the Road". How many riders are struck down by an unaware driver? Do they really try and pass as close as possible or honk at you, just to frighten you? Share the road with all living things. Drive cautiously.

And then there all the inanimate objects. I wonder if anyone has done a study on what is thrown from cars to land along the shores of the road. Is this a commentary on our society or a comment on those people who litter? Definitely more Budweiser than Pepsi, plastic bags, diapers, usually neatly folded into a tight small rectangle. I keep hoping to find a paper bag filled with unmarked $100 bills lying in the ditch, waiting for me to discover it. So far, mostly pennies and more recently nickels and dimes, even a few quarters.

You can do your shopping on a ride. There is always something for sale. Signs exclaiming that it's a great buy, just call. Houses, horses, cars, food, taxidermy and some equipment that I have no idea what it is for, but it's a good deal. I especially like the signs announcing a store is coming up so I can purchase my snickers bar and a cold/hot drink.

Lots of car parts. You would think someone would notice their muffler fell off. Nails, bolts, hubcaps, fuel tank caps, bungee cords. Sometimes actually usable tools can be found. Each piece has a story behind it.

I like reading the signs announcing who has claimed that stretch of road to keep clean. They should have a phone number, so we can call and let them know the condition of their road. Our masters team has a stretch on the way up the mountain. I do my best to help. At times I come home with more than I left with. All in all Central Oregon's roads are pretty "clean" compared to other areas.

My favorite flotsam and jetsam are the flowers and rocks I discover along the way. Being on a bike, I can take the time to spy the flowers that I miss in the car. The rocks are distinctive to our volcanic origins and form very interesting shapes. Obsidian is my favorite. I do not know the names of all the flowers or trees, but certainly their beauty helps me through those long rides.

And then I get to meet some very interesting observers along the way. The horses have to come over to see the weird person with wheels instead of legs. And the birds, especially the crows, are quick to offer words of encouragement. The cows seem to be more lackadaisical about the whole process. Deer and rabbits scatter, not sure what a coyote would do, not sure I want to find out. I talk to them and really hope no one is watching. They may call the mental health unit to come pick me up.

I like to make up stories, let my imagination run wild. By the end of my ride, I can create whole lives from a piece of flotsam. I'm still waiting for that mob boss to toss the wrong paper sack out of the window. I could pay off my bills, start my oceanography school, start a foundation to help people pay for pet health care, get a chocolate lab puppy and have world peace. Well, maybe I can make a difference somehow.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings.

Aloha and mahalo

Deb