Getaway in the Ole Dodge

We packed our gear in the back of George's 91' Caravan and headed out about 7:00 a.m. - in rush hour traffic up to Seattle. Most of the traffic headed north seemed to be trucks - Costco, Pella Windows, Aramark Uniform Services, Comcast, Alaska Marine Lines, Airport Shuttles, Ambulance and taxi's, and various electrical and plumbing companies.

When traffic bogged down, George got out his cell phone and rearranged some appointments with clients, cause, well, we were up to some mischief - we were gunna play some hookey...God, who wants to listen to other people's problems all day, when it looks so gorgeous out! The air was so fresh, the sun promising, temp in the 70's.

Well, the fun thing about George's car, his only car, is that over the years he has personalized it with about every kind of fishing decal they make - trout, bass - and George doesn't fish. The whole backend is herons and pelicans, the sides are cattails, hummingbirds, mallards, and more fish. The sliding door has a big canoe on it. The hood has foot prints, of grizzlies and ducks, crossing, so it's all confusing. The gas-cap has a cormorant on it....So, when traffic stalls on the freeway, people looking at the ole Dodge Caravan know we're heading out for some fun, and, they'll wave.

George has trouble getting rid of this ole car! He has had to refit the doors, patch the seat-covers, and had the engine rebuilt last fall. He's put $7,000.00 into overhaul and repairs, just to keep this piece of junk. I'd like to see him replace the windshield - heck, clean the windows - but George likes his van just the way it is, dents and all.

Everyone at the office - a mental health agency - knows George's car, and they get a charge when he parks it right next to the Psychiatrists Jaguar!

We had a great trip, did some fantastic canoeing and, unfortunately, had to portage a mile when a sudden storm came up. Boy were we tuckered out when we got home! All the camping gear is still trashed in front of the fireplace, and the canoe is still strapped on top of the ole Dodge Caravan!