We Wont Be Derailed.

Daniel, our rideshare from San Francisco, had contacted us just a few hours before we planned to shove off after having thumbed his way to Palo Alto from Los Angeles. We were happy to have his bright energy and knowledge of the area. I did, however, find the need to conjure my bull guide and speak up to him, every plan Veronika and I constructed was met with discouragement, aiming only to please his personal agenda of arriving in Eugene A.S.A.P. I told him we were on this epic road trip and had plans to see Mt. Shasta, Ashland and Eugene. He seemed to understand, but later, while barely conscious after many hours of night driving on no sleep and curled up in the front passenger seat I heard him discussing the “new plan” while pumping gas with Veronika. I angrily bundled and got out of the car to remind him again that we would be spending the night in Mt. Shasta so we could see it in the morning. He kept agreeing that what we wanted was great, and then slightly manipulating events to his discretion. When we pulled into the spring head in Mt. Shasta he was convinced we were only staying to rest an hour, but I told him he was welcome to set up his tent if he wanted. Slumber was again interrupted by sleeping body parts every 15 minutes, but it was worth it to be partially refreshed to see beautiful Mt. Shasta in the morning. Our new travel companion woke with a fresh perspective on the trip and had moved into alignment with our seat-of-the-pants, fly-by-night disposition. We filled our jugs in the icy waters and pushed on, stopping for coffee in Ashland. Veronika struck up conversation with a local, who was of course a spiritual teacher who divulged to her a website where she could promote her healing art.
Driving scenic route 99 Daniel remembered his family owns property along the Rogue River, just as we were about to pass it so we stopped, happy to deliver him to a destination of his own. In Eugene, he proudly pointed out the places that shaped his childhood and brought us to a hill similar to the one we climbed in San Francisco. It was cold and rainy, but we enjoyed the leafy stroll. We parted, relieved to be off defense duty, and rejoined I5 to Portland.