Two Wheels To Nowhere

Lost on the Links of Illahe ~ (Illahe is a local Chinook word meaning “earth” or “place” or “soil”) ~ Almost a full week on the road for work begins to make me feel a little antsy. Being continually indoors for work and travel the past week has me jonesing to get out of doors (pun intended), away from the connected hustle that is our daily life. Donning my sneakers and stepping out of my brother Ian’s back door into the cool morning air brings me down from the neighborhood perched on the hill to the Country Club where grounds keepers are busy maintaining the fabulous fairways and greens. As I reach the Willamette River’s bank, I am forced to hopscotch the muddy rutted lane to avoid puddles of recently fallen rain. A single mistep leaves me with a righteous soaker in my right shoes that squishes and sputters for the rest of my run. I continue on following the River, cognizant of the “No Trespassing” signs that warn ne’er-do-wells to respect the Club’s private property. As I run up Brown Island Road, past the Minto Growers tree nursery, I am greeted by an older lady loading landscaping stuff into her car at the edge of the golf course. Stopping to answer her question, “Are you training for the marathon?” our brief exchange informs me of her passion for running. She is now volunteering to keep the creek on the links landscaped and clear of lost balls. She encourages me to cut back across the golf course “the grounds keepers won’t mind” she assures me. I thoroughly enjoy the peaceful trek along the snaking cart paths back to the corner near the river where I got the soaker. As I rest a moment taking in the meandering river’s beauty, a man on a mower approaches me. “Busted!” I say to myself. Ends up the friendly lawnmower-man is the husband of creek-lady! He cheerfully gives me directions back to the tennis courts beside the blueberry fields where I can pickup the road back into the neighborhood. Passing the colourful blossoms on my way home I am met in the driveway by Rune who enjoys getting hosed in the chops as I rinse the Illahe mud from my shoes. I feel energized and relaxed ready to spend some time touring downtown Salem, drinking coffee and catching up with Ian. A good start to the second day of my mini vacation in Oregon.