I like Driving In My Car

I slept predictably badly, which meant I was back in the van and on the road at 4:30.  Most people might dread a 10 hour, 650 mile drive but I actually quite enjoy these road trips.  The van is comfy, quiet and powerful, I get my favourite tunes on the stereo and have a good old think about life.  The scenery varied between ok and very pretty and that also helped.  Despite being on the main I5 freeway, it snakes up into the hills in places and we topped out at about 4500 feet later in the trip.  Stopping for fuel provided a worryingly frequent break from the driving....she (for the van is a she) is doing 18mpg.  Even allowing for America's perverse decision to use gallons but make them 20% smaller than proper gallons, that's pretty poor.

I am now in Roseberg Oregon, an unremarkable town expect for being home to Marty and Marisa, with whom I run 1 or 2 cycle trips each year.  Marisa is out of town but Marty shares my liking for a good beer so we will have a boys evening at a nearby brew pub and catch up on things.  They will both drive over to the coast in a few days to meet the whole group on their way south.

I have a confession....despite all my big talk I didn't buy a beer cooler yesterday.  I remedied that this afternoon while buying a lot of other kit that is cheap but bulky and not worth trying to haul from home.  This required a visit to Walmart.

I have often wondered about Walmart...or, more specifically, Walmart's 'greeters' who hang around just inside the doors and...err...greet people.  It can't be a confidence that these people are almost universally older, more infirm or generally barmier than is usually considered suitable for employment.  I wonder whether this is a genuine act of social benevolence; I like to think so, but in a world run by accountants it seems unlikely.  Maybe their salaries are tax deductible.  

Walmart stores are large and daunting, and I had a varied and eclectic shopping list so I engaged the greeter for guidance.  This particular greeter was in the 'barmy' category and had 2 further significant shortcomings:

1/ he had no idea where anything in the store was but

2/ wouldn't just say so and let me get on with searching

He wore a Walmart overall emblazoned with I'm Here To Help' and this was true...but only to help prevent me getting in the store and buying things.

Tomorrow, Seattle.