Trip Stats:

• Days:11
• Miles: 3472
• Skate parks: 10
• Windshield crack: 1
• Trail runs: California Basin, Corkscrew Gulch, Engineer Pass, Cinnamon Pass, Imogene Pass & Ophir Pass
• Fuel: alot
• Fun: Unbelievable

The idea of this adventure began in February as a chance to spend father son time with Boy. In the past we’d gone on a few little trips to skate parks but this was an opportunity to spend significant time together. At 14 years old, 11 days can be a life time on the road.

On this adventure together, we discovered Denny’s breakfasts are best, ordered anytime of day. We ran 4×4 trails together for the first time and Boy learned how to sleep in a bouncing rig. Boy skated parks he’d only seen in videos and magazines. We swam in pools, rivers and swimming holes that seemed to be put there just for us. We woke at 5:00 am and stayed up until the wee hour of night. We met new friends, caught up with old friends and picked up a new CB handle.

Together, we crossed state lines and timezones. We laughed together watching videos and telling jokes. We took pictures of things we saw and wrote about things we did. We posted events as they unfolded and read with great anticipation the comments of others.

Boy discovered his eyes were bigger than his appetite when it came to ice cream and hot wings but that both are a good breakfast items the next morning. I discovered I could drive through the night and that Boy dreams in colors. We both agree, Day 10 was the best.

Mostly we discovered how to live together day after day on the road and just how much a like were are. I know I learned more from Boy than I expected. I hope Boy learned a thing or two from me. Years from now when this adventure is one many, I hope Boy and I can still spend time together talking man to man and father to son.

Day 11 stats

• Start: Wilsonville, OR
• Finish: Poulsbo, WA
• Miles: 264

After a night at Club Killelea, which comes with a gourmet breakfast, we rolled out for our last day on the road. Those of you following will recall back on day one we were on a mission to find Boy a new deck to skate. We found it at the Department of Skateboarding (DOS). I always find it interesting how circular our lives are as we found ourselves stopping at DOS for the last skate park on this adventure.

Boy had receive a free session pass when he purchased his board and now 10 days later he is taking advantage of it skating anything in the converted warehouse that will stand still long enough for him to put his wheels on. He continues to skate with the same gusto he did day one.

And as Boy shreds the park, I write trying to catch up on over due stories. This off road adventure was the opportunity for me to spend time with Boy. We drove the open road, we wheeled some 4×4 trails, skated parks across the west and even swam in the perfect swimming whole. The thing that makes an adventure great is not planning everything so we can enjoy what comes our way as only a father and son can.

Over the last 11 days I have tried to impart some of the wisdom I’ve learned. I know he will probably make many of the same mistakes I did and have to learn his lessons the hard way. Knowing this though I understand my job is not to protect him from every little thing or to insist he never stretch himself and make a mistake. My job is to be there, support him, pick him up when he falls without saying I told you so, and to watch as he grows into the man he is going to be. He will always be my son and I will always love Boy. I can only hope that in twenty years he will take me on an off road adventure just for the opportunity to spend time with me in order to thank me for helping him find his own road through life.

We travel to Portland at least every other month to visit family and friends. The normal routine is to leave Portland, stop for dinner in Centralia. Centralia has all the usual suspects: Burger King, McDonald’s, Denny’s… this time however still in Portland and inching up I-5 in afternoon traffic, we decided to jump out of our normal routine. Hooters was just off the next exit and Boy agrees they have the best hot wings. I like Hooters for my own reasons. Remember this is my mid-life crises your reading about.

We ate and we talked man to man . We talked of shoes and ships and sealing-wax of cabbages and kings. We talked of punk bands and all things skateboarding. As Evelyne, our Hooter’s girl, came over and chatted us up, the subject turned to our rig. Turns our her boyfriend has a sun fusion yellow FJ Cruiser. From there it was an easy request for a photo opp. Evelyne even grabbed a couple of the other girls who wanted to get in the shot.

We waved good bye to the girls and hustled our way up I-5. Making good time through Centralia, Olympia and Tacoma on through Bremerton and into Poulsbo. As we pulled into the driveway, I got a smile and “Thanks Dad” as he jumped out to see his new sweatshirt that had arrived while we were gone. While it maybe sometime before he goes on another adventure with me, he did say he would like to run down to Portland next time I swing into Metal Tech so he can skate the Newburge Park. Life is all about redefining success and claiming it where you can. This adventure, a huge success.

Kelsi:  Stuck a picture in the mail.  Thanks for taking the time for our quick photo opp.

Day 10 stats

• Start: Twin Falls, ID
• Finish: Wilsonville, Or
• Miles: 572

In collage my friend Kevin was stationed in Mountain Home, ID. When I would visit we fished a beautiful little creek in the middle of farm fields filled with hungry trout that would take a fly and fight for their lives by spinning cartwheels through the air. When I saw the sign for Bliss, ID. 20 minutes into our drive, I thought I would show Boy one of the places I fished in my youth.

The great thing about getting older is you can hide your own Easter eggs and for the life of me I could not find the one little turn out in the road Kevin had shown me some 20 years ago. What we found instead; the University of Idaho’s research trout hatchery along with a swimming hole that only Mark Twain himself could have dreamed up.

The swimming hole was just the right size to not be called a pond or lake but a real life swimming hole. The water was gin clear and mountain stream cold. There were little water falls around the edge, trout darting around after brilliant blue damsel flies and an old hemp rope tied to a tree stretching out over the water. I think it is the rope swing that makes this an official swimming hole.

I don’t know whether Boy or I was more excited when we rounded the corner and gazed at our reflections in the water but we both knew for the next few hours this would be our own little oasis in the desert. The pictures give only a glimpse into the fun we had. Although I took the Boy’s rope swing dare I opted out of the roll in the mud portion of day’s festivities.

Sure we spent too long at the swimming hole but we could make it up… at least that is what I told the cow before we pulled into Boise and Boy saw the skate park. This is the park that Tony Hawk and a few others had used to film one of their videos. The rig’s wheels barely slowed down and Boy was out the door thrashing around another park.

Ok, it was now 6:00 p.m. and we had put a whopping 50 miles under us. Sure we’d had the time of our lives but we have to put some miles down. What gets worse gas mileage than a brick in a wind tunnel? How about our Toyota FJ Cruiser driving 75 mph, against the wind, up hill wearing big heavy tires. At this rate we made good time but paid a huge price at the gas pump.

The country stretching out in front of us was unbelievably beautiful and at sunset the hills glowed pink and orange with hints of yellow and brown. As the sunset rolled into darkness, we continued to drive through Baker, Pendelton, The Dalles and into Portland Oregon down to Wilsonville. My sister said she would be up late and just give her a call when we arrived. Standing out side at 2:30 a.m. with our stuff calling Club Killelea’s for the fifth time we started to wonder if the vacancy sign had been pulled in. Just as we were about to start waking the neighborhood, the door swung open and we ran inside before she changed her mind. Service with a smile. Even at this late hour, we were still welcome and found the guest beds turned down and pillows fluffed.

Girl, your daughter: You can edit the next adventure you and I go on… And a road trip to Nordstrom does not count.

Mark: Thanks for the great comment. We look forward to running another trail with you soon so you can show us how you tackle the really gnarly stuff.

Ripsnort: This trip has been a great time with my son. I find that duct tape helps keep us close. He can’t run away if you tape the feet together.

Day 9 stats

• Start: Denver, CO
• Finish: Twin Falls, ID
• Miles: 711

I don’t know whether it was the heat, the excitement of the past week or the hot wings at Hooters the night before but today we had trouble getting started and didn’t roll out of the hotel until the sun was high in the sky. This meant Boy’s morning skate session was going to be more of a noon session in the heat of the Denver day. Turns out everyone else in Denver slept in and the park in Aurora was empty when we showed up. Boy shredded the bowls, slid the rails and had fun goofing on the death box. I sat there taking in the vitamin D and watching Boy defy gravity.

As the sun burned hotter the park filled with skaters and BMXers. It is amazing how a good tattoo immediately gives you street cred. Hanging out on the side, it wasn’t long before a large crew of 2o something bikers came over to ask about the ink. They were on their own small road trip, hitting all the BMX / Skate parks around Denver and this was their third today. These guys made it look easy and were getting big air in the bowls. Leaving the BMX guys all waved us out and said what a cool rig we had.

The rest of the day; drive. Drive like you mean it. Drive like your life depends on it. We drove, stopped for gas and than drove some more. Boy decided the only place we should stop to eat was Denny’s. There are NO DENNY’S along I-80 in Wyoming. Our first meal since the leftover buffalo wings and cold pizza we pulled out of the frig for breakfast, 9:40 pm Denny’s somewhere in Utah. I have been training and building up reserves for just such an occasion. My wife would call it fat, I prefer reserve stores. Boy’s stomach on the other hand was growling loud enough to wake the dead and he broke down grabbing a couple of ice cream sandwiches (sandwich, that’s a good food group) when we gassed up. Some how he says that didn’t count and we still needed to wait for Denny’s to eat.

After stopping somewhere in Utah for a late night supper, Boy crashed hard and I was on my own to enjoy the silent night and the last 200 miles. Braking the still of the night ride was the occasional dream where I would hear Boy mutter something like “board slide” and than his feet would convulse and contort into a skateboard move. This kid really does eat, breath and sleep skateboarding.

Rolling into Twin Falls, we grabbed a room at the same place we stayed going out. They have 24 hour pool. Before nodding off Boy had made me promise to wake him so he could go for a midnight swim. I did my part… But he looked at me with his one good eye he had half open and said he’d swim tomorrow. Because tomorrow, is another day.

Day 8 stats

• Start: Ouray, CO
• Finish: Denver, CO
• Miles: 333

All good things must come to an end and today the was the conclusion of the 2008 FJ Summit. After a late night with the guys (see FJ Summit Day 7) we slept the morning away. This was the first organized event we have attended and it is significantly different than going out on an off-road adventure on our own. We met a number of great folks and made a few friends we hope to wheel with down the road. I also discovered that wheelers come in all sorts of sizes and shapes showing once again it is easy to celebrate diversity when you find a common ground. Here the common ground was our Toyota FJ Cruisers.

As we left the little town of Ouray , CO. we said good by to our new friends and wished them a safe journey home. We had wanted to introduce Boy to his uncle Benny but Steamboat is the opposite direction, he does not really have an address and our time was running short. Sorry Benny!

The road to Denver CO. is 333 miles long and winds over the mountains and high desert which looks like Idaho, Utah, and Eastern Oregon, lots of cattle ranches and well baked road kill. To pass the time Boy and I continued our discussion about all things punk. We debated the quality of Bremerton bands verses Seattle bands and the venues they play. This of course was in between his reading sessions (that was for his mom’s sake).

Rolling into Denver was a bit anticlimactic. We did not even know we had arrived until the GPS announce we were there. Turns out the skate park was only a few miles from where we landed and Boy grabbed his board and was wheels down before we parked. This is a big skate park with a truck load of kids shredding the concrete. Even in the crowd, Boy was easy to spot, he was the kid with the amazing moves and a helmet. I still don’t know how anyone can let their kid skate without a helmet. I get 16 year kids who blow off what there parents say but there were dozens of pre-teens out there.

Even though it was still 93 degrees boy skated for a couple of hours before calling it quits and asking about diner. Specifically he said, “I want buffalo wings”. This started this morning at Denny’s. We rolled in and the line was out the door but Boy loves his Denny’s. We walk past the crowd to sign in and got a number of mean looks when the hostess said we could have a table immediately. As we sat down and looked and menu Boy announced he would have is usual chicken fried steak hash browns, eggs over easy and pancakes with chocolate sauce now and the wings would have to wait until dinner time.

After more skating, a lot more, it was time to  for diner.  Like any good dad I wanted to fulfill his chicken wing wish so I punched in “Hooters” on the GPS and in no time we were sitting at the bar looking at the … menu. Turns out he had to think about what he wanted but settled on the wings… It was too easy so I’m not going with the obvious breast joke. We dug into the plate of 50 buffalo wings. Boy smiled and said “these are really good even better than Apple Bees. Its a guy thing. Like the blue bunny ice cream turns out his eyes were bigger than his stomach and the wings kick his ass, but we know what is for breakfast.

As my wife will tell you I have good parking Karma. Boy says I can add hotel room Karma to that list. I guess all that clean living and love for the road ensures I can get a room and the first hotel we see. That good Karma translated into a room with a all the things Boy wants, Internet, a pool and a bed with four pillows. As I finish this post Boy is settling into bed after brushing his teeth (that was for his mother) and trying to decide which skate park we will hit in the morning before we roll for Twin Fall, ID.

Day 3 stats

• Start: Twin Falls, ID
• Finish: Ouray, CO
• Miles: 597

Boy and I both agree Denny’s rocks. Boy, because he has discovered the fat dripping, artery choking, do these pants make my hips look big breakfast special known as gravy covered chicken fried stake, eggs over-easy, hash browns hot cakes with syrup and chocolate sauce as well as a vanilla milk shake. Yeah he’s a growing boy.

I like Denny’s for the people. Seems like whatever Denny’s we stop at… and Boy wants to stop at them all… people want to chat, hear about our adventure and tell us their tales. I wont lie, I’m a sucker for their biscuits and gravy with hash browns. I’m just growing. That makes 64 miles on the treadmill when I get back.

Between Denny’s we drove, we hydrated and we drove some more. Apparently it is orange barrel season and we found all the places the orange barrels were gathering for the rut. We also pickup enough bugs on the windshield that their weight was causing us to get even worse gas mileage.

After spending all day in the rig we came to the Green River in Utah. This land mark capped off a debate Boy and I had for the better part of a hundred miles; Examine and explain the merits of swimming in, the Ocean, a lake, a river or a pool. Boy was all over the lake. My vote was for the hot tube, so when we pulled up to the the boat ramp, I let Boy know he was on his own. It was 6:30 p.m. and the thermometer read 94 degrees.

By the time we got back on the road, now 7:45 p.m. we were still 198 miles from our destination. To pass the time Boy played solitaire announcing at each new game “this is the one I’m going to win” along with a card by card play description. He played for hours. He won once. We also put Boys Mac to use. Boy convinced me to buy the movie Wild Hogs the other day so we put it into the laptop and watch four other guys’ mid-life crisis. Mine is going so much better.

But we made it to Ouray, sometime after 1:30 a.m. but we made it. The next several days will be filled with trail runs where the pace is easy and the scenery magnificent. But for now it is time to call it a morning, three in the morning to be exact. What I wont endure to get these stories out.

Joyce: There were plenty of other crazy spinster aunts to choose from… it was your patients, understanding and tolerance of others, we want you to pass on.

Barbie: There is a lot of country to love. Hot as hell, dry as a bone, flat and filled with sage brush. What is not to love.