Visiting with Bob and Helen has long been one of our favorite things to do… so much so that when we started considering moving out of the Santa Cruz area, Cottage Grove was the place that drew us. Meeting up with them at their “time share” (they do their best to reserve site 41 at Schwarz Campground every year about this time) has been our calendar since before we began The Journey. The campground is only a few minutes drive from their ranch, giving a great mix of convenience, should they find they forgot something or have an emergency to deal with, while providing a change of mental space and change of scenery.

Ideally, we’d be parked next to them, but to seek maximum solar, and a shot at the southern sky for the satellite dish (more important than usual here, since the Sprint aircard doesn’t have a signal), we went for the most open site we could find that was still a reasonable distance from them.

Our thoughts have been wrapped up in news from Texas, as Hurricane Ike churns across the Gulf of Mexico. When we bought the Canyon Lake house, an identified function was for it to serve as “evacuation central” for Dennis, Nancy and Nicole. Little did we know how soon that would be needed. We’ve watched the forecasted track shift back and forth for the past few days, a little farther north, and then farther south, and Rockport looked like it was going to take the hit. We’re happy to know that our loved ones have a place to be and that they are among the rational people who leave before the roads jam and lines at gas stations become insane. Ike’s track shifted north, insuring that our family’s home would be okay. Houston and Galveston won’t be so lucky.

Other than worrying about Ike, we’ve been spending our time mostly hanging out together in camp or walking the dogs. Then, while everything seemed like a typical evening, with dinner was almost ready and Helen preparing to test driving Laura’s bike for a second time, the world shifted. Helen’s sister Michele showed up in camp to deliver the news that Bernice (their 102-year-old mother) had passed away. She had a massive heart attack during dinner and was gone. As hard as the loss of a loved one can be, there is much to be grateful in this passing. Michele, who lives in the Bay Area, happened to be in Oregon. She had taken Bernice to lunch at her favorite restaurant earlier in the day and Bernice had a nice visit with her precious Bluebelle (a tiny little lap dog). Bernice loved life till the end. What a role model!

Bob, Helen and Michele left to make the necessary arrangements. We had dinner waiting for them when they returned. We couldn’t help but think of other times along the way when our role has been to support others getting hard news. We had just picked up a “get well” card for Pete and a sympathy card for another woman who lost her husband in Santa Cruz.

We meandered over to Bob and Helen’s camp in the morning, drawn by a sound that we thought was made by river otters. We were rewarded with a viewing of a Bald Eagle, first perched on a branch across the river, then taking wing and flying up the river, a moment later, Bob spotted what turned out to be an entire family of otters directly across on the other bank. We spent over half an hour watching them until they flushed off into the water.

It was time to turn our attention to breaking camp, hitching up and heading out. A final stop for hugs and kisses and we’re back on the road at the crack of two (p.m.), en route to the Rogue River.