Pacific Coast

Monday, Kerri and I get up at 6am and climb into Brandy, our branded Kashi truck. We had to make an early start to get to the mechanics at 8am in Napa to have a brake-hose fixed underneath that has a minuscule leak. We managed to get there early and within an hour and a half we were out of there and heading to graphics place in Fairfield, because the right side of the truck was scratched from a tree branch. So, we spent 3 hours there waiting on that. But it turned out to be a great stop, because it was on a vineyard. The graphics company is based out of their home, so Kerri and I hung out on the grass, plucked and ate an orange from their orange trees, walked through their vineyard, played some bacchi ball, took a nap and I got to make tons of phone calls and send emails to Bank of America. The bank wouldn’t give me a straight answer, trying to find other reasons to decline me. My realtor thought it would be a problem that could be straightened out, but I had a feeling I was done with Bank of America. They wouldn’t even return my phone calls. I felt like a number, not a person. And I have a feeling they felt the same way about me. Plus, my interest rate was 4.25%! That’s unbelievable. I don’t think they wanted to give it to me.

By the time Kerri and I hit the road, it was early afternoon and Kerri started off the drive so I could sleep and try to get a hold of Bank of America. Kerri and I decided to stop in Ashland, OR. My darling friend Liz lives there, from my Kripalu Yoga teacher training, and Kerri was told to go there by one of our local temp staff in Portland. As soon as I woke up to sit behind the wheel, I got a call. Thinking it was from Bank of America, I took it even though I was in the middle of transitioning to the driver’s seat at a rest stop somewhere in Cali, and it was Joe from Lending Tree. He said he could close in 2 weeks and I didn’t even need a co-signer! I was thrilled, but, as you can imagine, rather skeptical, after what B of A did to me. So, I told him to call me in the morning, when I was still in a hotel, and I hoped. Kerri and I listened to “Home” by Michael Buble to send good thoughts toward my future home in Brewster, and arrived late in Ashland.

Ashland was lovely! Kerri found us an adorable bed and breakfast called the Iris Inn. The owner had wine on the table waiting for us and the her husband was a jazz musician that sang Michael Buble songs. We had a lovely conversation over wine and a Michael Buble serenade. After “Home” was sung to us, we walked to a restaurant. Greenleaf was this adorable little diner that had all organic food! I was thrilled. Where could you ever go to a diner that serves only organic and FRESH food?! I also found out that Ashland is the home for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and that the Rose Theatre just opened this past week for the summer season.

The next day, in between phone calls with Lending Tree and my realtor, Liz and I walked through the beautiful park, ate a lovely lunch at the cheapest co-op I’ve ever been to, and sipped some lovely wine at our bed and breakfast later in the afternoon. I still hadn’t heard from B of A, and decided to go with the Lending Tree. I got a decent deal (not as good as B of A offered a month ago), but am on my way to start a home loan application again, this time entirely on my own. No co-signer needed. I know how to do it this time around and have everything ready to go. So, it should be quick and painless. But don’t use Bank of America! They’re awful, so unprofessional and forever on my black list.

That evening Kerri and I met at the box office to purchase rush tickets to Henry VIII, which was playing in the Rose Theater, got tickets for $29 as opposed to $75, and headed to a frozen yogurt place for dessert. Yum! The play was certainly a spectacle. We could see the stars above our heads as the sun set. The play wasn’t my favorite of Shakespeare's, in fact I didn’t know it at all, but the production was really outstanding. The costumes were just phenomenal. Kerri and I had a really lovely time.

Ashland was an excellent stop, so glad we did it. The town was like a dream, my favorite on the West Coast – where else can you get both my loves in one place – green lifestyle from food to fuel AND amazing theatre. What a dream!

Back on the road to Seattle on Wednesday. So much traffic, we couldn’t believe it. Traffic through Portland, random places in Washington State. I-5 is backed up at every turn on the West Coast.

We had a bit of a wild arrival in Seattle, because the hotel that said they would accommodate our trucks saw them and decided they couldn't. Most people are unable to comprehend the size of our trucks until they actually see them. So I drove all over downtown Seattle trying to find a Marriott (where we tend to stay) that could accommodate one truck. It was a long night. But, after the hassle was over by midday the following day, I met up with an old friend from Natural Gourmet. She took me to her new house (loan is from the dreaded bank of America), and we rode bikes into town for drinks and dinner. I was just shocked at the town. She lives in West Seattle, and it really felt like beach town. I felt like I had been plopped down in Florida somewhere, besides the beautiful views of the sound and mountains behind it. On the way back, we rode directly uphill for 30 minutes. It was exhausting, but reminded me how much I love to ride and can't wait for my new home on the Cape, which is right beside the bike path. It was good to see my friend. Break away from the Kashi ladies for a bit, and enjoy an outsider. ;)

The weekend was great. Although we had a rough start with Jason being gone, labor not showing up for 2 hours so us 4 women set up alone, the event itself was fantastic. I really love the Fremont Fair. I think it's the best fair of all the fairs we've been to. Everyone is ecstatic that Kashi is there, and the people parade around in their painted naked bodies. There is also a man that has a "Kashi" tent, named after a town in India, where I bought some lovely shawl/blanket for my new home. Such kind and cultures people.

Immediately following the event we tore down and I skipped town. I drove into the darkness in Brandy. I could barely make out the mountains' shadows because it was pouring. But still, this drive was gorgeous. I could smell and feel the mountains to the right and left of me as I climbed up and flew down the mountains. I ended the night in Ellensburg, WA. Got my reporting done and finally got a good nights sleep.

I'm so excited to start heading back East!