The Duncan Domain

Day 1 - Touring The Gas Stations Of The Northwest
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Saturday Scott & Joe Seattle, WA to Burley, ID 655 miles Superslabbing - Driving this many miles on the Interstate can be rather tiresome but with the goal of getting to the real riding destination, Joe and I can really hunker down and burn up the miles. We slip into a sort of rhythm and get it done while actually having an enjoyable ride. We ride for an hour and then take a 15 or 20 minute pit stop for gas, bathroom, snacks and water. On this ride, I'm on my Gold Wing 1800 with the 6 CD changer in the trunk so I have tunes the whole way which also helps pass the time. Joe, on the other hand, takes a simpler, low tech approach and just whistles to himself in his helmet.	How A Ride Gets Off The Ground - My brother, Paul, calls out of the blue and said hey, let's go for another week long ride before the year is out. How 'bout we meet in Colorado? I groan and say that work is way too hectic. I'd love to but no can do. Dejected, I hang up. A couple of days later, I go to my doctor for my annual checkup and she has a cow when she sees me. She says I'm a wreck and that I need to go on vacation immediately. If that doesn't lower my stress levels, I'll need to find a new job. Ok, so working at a company spun off of bankrupt Enron is no picnic. I knew I was bit frazzled but I didn't think I was that bad. Nevertheless, as this particular doctor got me through a very nasty problem with my heart years ago with flying colors, I obey her orders implicitly. She asks what I plan to do and I tell her of my recent phone call. So I call Paul back and make plans. Riding buddy, Joe, decides to accompany me out to Colorado before he splits off to go visit his sister. We agree to meet at a great breakfast place in North Bend before crossing the Cascades. In the morning, I head out on the same highway in Seattle that I take to work each day and so while my mind knows I'm on vacation, my body sure doesn't. I still feel the same tension and anxiety but as I take the off ramp on to I-90 heading East for the mountains with the B-52s playing in my helmet, the vacation concept slowly begins to sink in and that tension starts easing up. I begin anticipating yet another great adventure in the making. I feel a smile coming on.
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