Chapter 48

Wednesday July 30

Just like all plans, after you start, they change. The wives wanted to go up around Lake Tahoe to the Donner Party monument. Then down to Sacramento. “They had really loved Virginia City, had heard about it on TV, especially Bonanza reruns, but didn’t think it was a real place. The Bucket of Blood Saloon with the hearse parked beside it they read every plaque and gathered every brochure on the town and saloons. Putting a quarter in all the antique slot machines, Violet actually won two quarters on the machine in the Red Dog Saloon. Some of the Saloons had a painting of nude or topless women in the basement. They marveled that the paintings actually had painted hairy legs. The twins were in awe of everything, especially of the old buildings, the high sidewalks and steep streets going up to the second and third row of building and that the second story of a store or saloon opened to the street behind it. There was even an Opera House, but we couldn’t tour it, it was closed. Lake Tahoe was beautiful, it looked just like a postcard. Being above six thousand feet, there was no smog, so you could see what you were looking at. After Sacramento, we went down to Concord, Berkeley and Oakland then a short tunnel and at the Beginning of the Oakland bridge it was strange, cause they had barricades to block off lanes to block traffic, and send them to the other side because of traffic going the other way, like going to work one way and going home using the same lane. I retired to the bedroom to take a nap.

Hannah

After crossing the bridge. We went to the top of San Francisco and took Lombard Street down to the Golden Gate Bridge. It was foggy and all we could see coming down the hill to line up with the bridge, all we could see was the top of the towers, then we entered the fog, then all of a sudden we turned right and approached it, could not see the towers, then the fog started to thin out and we could see everything. Just after we crossed, there was a big tunnel, and we were in Sausalito. We were going to eat there on the bay but could not find a place to park. So we went on up to Santa Rosa. Found a place to park and ate at a nice little Italian restaurant. Continued to travel up 101 to 1, which is a dangerous road, right on the edge with a cliff above us. Then we got back onto 101 with huge giant redwood trees everywhere. It will be dark soon. I’m looking for a place to camp. Or we drive all night, we can do it, but you can’t see anything interesting, we are inland from the ocean now, I have never seen so many big trees before, and they are massive, now we are going through one little town after another. It is nice to be having some kind of normal sex. But I would rather make love parked and setting still, then on all these twisty roads. I takes a way the joy of it, all the time with trying to stay where you want on the bed. Samantha was driving and I, Hannah was navigating and looking for an overnight campground on the GPS. No luck so far, so I went to the internet and found Mendocino RV park KOA. Called it and they had one slot open, only because the folks had to leave unexpectedly, we could have it for three days. I reserved it and gave our traveling credit card. So we had a place to stay, unbelievable it was right on Route 1, where we were before. “When we get to Preston, turn west on 128, Sam, 1 hour and 42 minutes from Preston. I’m punching it in now. I don’t see it on the screen. Somebody narrowed the screen, probably in San Francisco. There it all is, only 10 miles to the turn off on 128. It won’t be dark when we get there. That’s great. Maybe we can look around some. It will be almost 2 hours. I can’t wait to get John on a bed that’s not moving.”

“Me too, voiced Sam, Violet and the twins.”

John

I woke up just as we entered a quaint little town that looked familiar. Making my way to the front, I looked out the windshield. We are in Mendocino! A town my ex wife and I both adored, never thought I would ever see it again. It was not in my plan to visit here, but a perfect spot for the wives and children to see. I wonder if Delores is still here. When she left me, she said she was coming here. This is where she divorced me, never in my life could I image being here. I wonder what she thinks of her deadbeat husband now?

We found the campgrounds, the GPS guided us directly to it, we even got a drive through site. I told the girls to go on ahead and see the town. I would get us checked in and set up. They unloaded the Explorer while still at the check in station. Then they were off to explore Mendocino. While setting up, I met our neighbor, a friendly guy by the name of Jake. After we had finished, we sat under the canopy and drank a beer.

He asked, “How big is your rig, and how many does it sleep?”

My reply was, “Forty-four feet and twelve comfortably and two in the trailer if need be.” That surprised him that there was a bed in the trailer. I started to explain to him about the trailer, but then asked if he would like to see it. Explaining on the way that it was first off an office, car hauler and lounge with a Murphy bed. I took him in the back first, showing the folding table and chairs, the racks for laptops and other office necessities, then the lounge area and kitchenette. The Murphy bed and last the storage closet in the front. He was amassed at the amount of storage space. I went to the fridge and got us both a beer. That amassed him too.

I asked, “How big is your rig, and how many does it sleep?” Just to be polite, I really didn’t care.

His answer was, “I don’t know any of that. It belongs to my wife’s sister. We’re just vacationing here with her. Beautiful place here. We have been up and down the coast. That highway one is something else.”

I called Violet and asked about supper. I wanted to take them to a cute little Vietnamese restaurant for supper. They were not done looking around yet, but would come and get me.

Samantha and the twins came to get me. Sam asked, “How do you know so much about this place, John?”

“I’ve been here a lot, spent a whole summer once. I used to love this place, actually I still do, but it has terrible memories for me. The sooner we get a way from here, the happier I will be.”

“Why is that John?”

“My ex wife may still live here. And I don’t need nor do I want to see or talk to her.”

“She must have hurt you real bad to hate this place. This is a marvelous little town, so quaint and peaceful.”

“Yes it is. It is the most relaxed place I have ever been, but I have heard that about all the little towns in northern California. You see, this is where she met the man she left me for. I’ll tell you a nice area, it’s Eureka/Crescent City. And there is an Apple Bees in Eureka.”

“Where is it at, John?”

“Three hours north of here, on California route one.”

Violet and Hannah met with us at the restaurant. Violet says, “This is a nice little place, John.”

“I used to eat lunch here every day.”

Just then, a little old Vietnamese woman came out to our table. I stood up and greeted her in Vietnamese, “Good afternoon mama san, may I present my wives, Violet, Hannah and Samantha?”

Turned to the ladies and said, “Welcome to my restaurant.”

“John Honey, what did she say?”

“I said welcome to my restaurant. I’m sorry I did not know you didn’t speak Vietnamese, like Mr Marshall. He is an old friend. He left suddenly when the misses broke it off. Never heard from him again, but I saw him on TV and have read all his books with Hannah and Samantha and the one about you, Violet. Never thought I would see him again, at least not as long as she is still here.”

“Nice to have met you. John didn’t know we were coming here. He was asleep in the camper when the decision was made.”

Hannah asked, “Is she still here and with that man?”

“Yes, she is, but not him. She got tired of him about two years ago. Now she has nobody, only her little knickknack and jewelry shop.”

“What’s the name of her shop?”

“Les Memories.”

Violet says, “We were in that shop. Is she a slim blonde with small breasts?”

“That’s her, no tits.” She makes the motion of grabbing her own breasts and shaking them up and down.

“She’s your ex John? Beautiful face, but too skinny.”

“Please, give me a break. I hadn’t discovered breasts yet. Did you talk to her?”

“Yes, we told her we were looking for wedding bands.”

“That’s all. She doesn’t know who you are.”

“No. But if she does she didn’t hear it from us. Why are you afraid of her?”

“No, I just don’t want to see her, she annoys me.”

Supper over, we said good night to all at the restaurant. The more I thought about it, the more I felt a little surprise visit to Les Memories was in order. Since she doesn’t have a significant other, it would give me a chance to show off my harem. “Where is this Les Memories place at, I think we should pay it a visit?”

“But John, you said you didn’t want to see or talk to her.” Said Violet.

“I changed my mind. I want to show you all off and maybe get a little revenge. Now where is it at?”

“Turn around and go to the end of the street and turn right. It’s the fourth shop on the right.”

Parking in front, we all get out and go inside. I look at the shop lady and say, “Hi Kathy, where is Delores?”

“I don’t believe my eyes. If it isn’t John Marshall, didn’t think I would ever see you again, especially here. Dory went to the bank at Fort Bragg and I don’t expect her back today. She gave me the keys and told me to make sure I locked up at closing, and she would see me later.”