Passing Eugene, I begin to feel the day catching up and suppress a yawn. Then another. The next one escapes. I fumble in the console, recalling the Zip fix energy powder I packed for such a moment as this. I mix it with water and wait. And wait. A quick scan of the label shows it takes a while to kick in.
Crap, I’m still tired.
Suddenly, inexplicably, I think of Barabus. Well, rather, I think of Barabus’ funk obession. Yes, our own Barry loves early 70’s funk: the wider the lapel and pant cuff, the longer the heel of the zip up half boots, the happier Barry gets. We once traded 24 instant messages one night of nothing but links to funk tunes, and I was handily out-funked by Barabus’s encyclopedic funk recall. But Barabus’ loopy love of funk is now inspiring me.
Funk music is just what I need now to keep me awake.
Scanning the IPOD, I curse. Damn 90’s era rock. Where are you, KC & the Sunshine Band, when I need you? My quest ends quickly in the “C” section of Ipod’s artists. Yep, Commodores, with their super-fly morsel of sass, Brick House. I blast that baby and sing along, feeling the fatigue lessening. It’s working! I hurry to cue of Parliament’s “We Want the Funk.”
“GONNA BURN THAT MUH-THA DOWN!!!”
Full funk mode, I am, eyes squinting as I tap out Bootsie Collins’ bass line with the soles of my feet, and then purse my lips to mimic George *******’s wah wah pedal. My sleepiness is dispatched.
A few miles later, I am suddenly aware of being watched. An older lady, likely retired, is eyeing me, her hand on her husband’s arm as he slides up alongside in his Mercury-whatever-old-retirees-drive car. She smiles. I slink in my seat.
BUSTED.
A site rare to behold: being passed by a Harley doing well over the speed limit.
Rolling closer to Grants Pass, the sky is suddenly alive with color.
All at once, I want to take back every snarky comment I’ve made about people who burn their trash, polluting the air with smoke and smell. That smoke is now working to paint a gorgeous skyline with a soft haze. Pulling into a turn out for the photo op, I grab a few shots. So peaceful, the palettes. So amazing.
Next to me sits a Harley sportster, a thin black model with a chrome sissy bar propping up a bedroll, and a duffle bag carefully bungied on. A black tool bag hangs off the front handlebars. The rider stands in front, wearing dark jeans, work boots, a wool flannel shirt, and faded brown leather, probably suede, with dingy fringed edges.
He’s sporting a beanie, and his helmet, a half face, dangles precariously from the handlebars. He’s just finished rolling a cigarette, and now stands gazing at the view, a thin puff of smoke hanging just over his head. It’s like a scene out of “Then Came Bronson.”
He looks back at me, and catches sight of the FJR in the trailer. “Sport touring bike, huh?” I nod, feeling that sense of brotherhood between riders. He shatters it quickly with his reply. “Usually guys ride those instead of trailering them.”
I could’ve explained to Bronson that I am on a mission to slow time down with my boys, but it’s getting late and I don’t need his **** or his brotherhood. “Later” I manage, climbing back in the car, and heading to my first destination, Valley of the Rogues, where I bed down for the night in my E.
All snug inside, I take a swig of my beer and bring out my fresh copy of Motorcyclists for some late night reading. In my haste last night, I grabbed a stereo magazine instead. Oh well.
A few pages later, and I am asleep.