Nighthawk Chronicles

Now that work and summer school has ended, I have truly felt the freedom of what summer should be for a student like me. The responsibility of a job and going to class every day was a rigorous endeavor, but definitely contributed to growth in my faith in Christ, and shaped my summer for the good. As some may know, I lived in a canvas army tent for six weeks in July and August, along with two excellent men; Tony Williams and Graham Kelley....each in their own separate tents. I recommend tent living to anyone in search of a simple life with low upkeep, bugs, and filthy belongings.

I am writing right now mainly to tell of an adventure I took to the coast, shortly after I was relieved of summer school and work duties...relieved in the literal sense as I peed my pants as soon as it was over.

After the tent was packed away, I loaded up smokey the nighthawk (my honda motorcycle) and headed up 99w towards McMinneville. I then took hwy 18 west where it met up with hwy 22 towards Tillamook. A quick stop at the cheese factory was necessary, as there were plenty of free samples to go around, then on to Rockaway beach on hwy 101. There I met up with the wedding party of Devin Smith; brother to Reid Smith and son to David Smith...whom I consider to be my own kin, the dirty dogs they are. It was a blessing to see them and catch up, but as they were on their own agenda for the upcoming wedding, I decided to do some solo wanderin' up 101. Falcon Cape in Oswald West state park was the destination. I parked the hog, grabbed my gear and hiked up the trail to a secluded spot on the cloudy, misty cape. The solitude I experienced was exactly what my soul needed after a busy summer, and the details of which I will keep to myself. It was a great time to reflect on my life and my walk with the Lord, which is an ever changing one, all the while admiring the mighty Pacific!

Seeyalaters took place with the Smiths, and I took the the road again, up 101 and east on hwy 26 back to Cedar Mill. However, God had different plans for the journey home. We never really know how or why "bad" things happen, and I always catch myself thinking that I could have done just one thing differently in order to change how something takes place. The bottom line, in my belief as a Christian, things happen for a specific reason, and that reason is often a mystery to us. For some reason, I crashed my motorcycle heading up hwy 101. Some may say that I just got a job with NASA and I was just spacin out a little too much. But, I reacted to some stopped traffic somewhat hastily with a quick stop and a turn to the left. Laid it down to the left, totaling the bike and leaving me with a few scrapes and a sprained ankle. I am thankful I was not more hurt, and even more thankful for the family that graciously stopped and took me all the way to Portland.

Tragic ending to the trip? Not in the least. A bummer, yes, but I am still rockin and rollin.