July 2026 Scoot Wrap Up

We part tomorrow.

In the mineral hot springs yesterday one naked dude, a local rider told us about a few fun country rides nearby. We decided to take a chill day. Wake up late in Ashland, have a good breakfast and ride to the nearby mountain. We ended up with a gentle ride to Applegate lake. Unfortunately, finally the fire got to us - meaning the Evans Creek fire’s smoke hovered heavily over Ashland and the surrounding area. So it was a smokey ride up to the lake. The campground store had one type of ice-cream - Dubai chocolate ice-cream. I don’t get it - all of a sudden Dubai chocolate took over the world. Relatively recent. Lots of money, great marketing, and I guess ok flavor. Still, I don’t get it.

(Applegate Lake, Oregon)

We continued over to Grants Pass, Oregon for the last night. This set up Roee for a shorter ride back home. I’ve never been there. For a reason. It felt like - nothing. We found a nice restaurant bar overlooking the river and hung there for a while. Went for a very uninspiring stroll in town, and a bit in the river park where we saw a guy practicing disk (Frisbee) golf or something like that. And called it for the night.

Lucky for us, we have amazing time just hanging together. It was still a great hang. A perfect relaxed wrap up night for the trip. Strange how after spending a full week together we still had so much to talk about - about the trip, the ones to come, and about life. Well, not strange - father and son after all :)

We had several encounters this trip where people immediately recognized the relationship. I am told we look alike. Why can’t I see it? I know we roll alike. He is better. The way it should be. I’ll throw a sideline - I learned so much from his demeanor, and reaction to situations, be it riding or Mexican clans. I also learn so much from my two other sons (this is for another story). The point is - how fortunate can one be to learn about life from his sons. Is there anything greater? (the answer is no).

(Beer dinner in Ashland)

The next morning we woke up early (7’ish), and had a surprisingly great breakfast sandwich right next to our motel.

Roee has a straight ~420 miles shot home to Seattle. I have 600 miles to Los Osos. I planned to stop overnight in the Bay area. I know somebody there. But since we left early, I got there around 3:30pm, and within 2.5 hours I get to sleep in my bed and watch the World Cup Finals on my TV. That’s an easy decision. I ended up even stopping for a quick dinner bite with a friend in San Luis Obispo before arriving home.

An amazing 2546 miles journey. So quickly. So richly. So profoundly. And I’m so ready for the next one.

(the horse is back home)

Anyways, still parting away. We got to say goodbye and head back home. That is so hard! It is an end of a very special, deep, and intense experience. How do you end something so special. A simple hug and goodbye feels so mundane. Yet, that’s all you can do. It is it. Like everything in life. Now you see it, now you don’t. It’s here and then it isn’t. In Buddhism the three marks for existence are impermanence, suffering, and egolessness.

This trip existed!

WOW