Ch. 37 (cont.)
The Eureka Inn featured a lounge dining
area and has been a feature of that area for some time. A native wood interior
trimmed out and polished over the years created a charm that would intrigue
presidents and dignitaries as they visit the United States and sample its
offerings of food and hospitality. Some of its world charm is thanks to the old
world craftsman who work in exquisite detail to fine tune all the different
aspects of construction to make this place a museum piece as well as a working
restaurant and inn.
As Darla and me were ushered into the lobby
and then pointed to the restaurant, one could see the massive beams from local
forests used to construct the large dining area featuring a large fireplace in
the main room of the restaurant where we were seated. It is my understanding
that he fireplace was rebuilt after a 2010 earthquake requiring the removal of
almost 75 tons of debris and complete reconstruction of the chimney. The Eureka
Inn is registered as a national historical building of significance. One could
easily see why, as this grandiose place
must have been the center of activity as travelers making their way north or
south along the coast would seek out the Eureka in for its unbridled comfort.
Darla and I were seated in a wood booth
providing us with some privacy as we dined. A choice of seafood obtained
locally or beef was available. I ordered seafood as well did Darla, and we
settled into small talk leading up to Darla asking what upset me so when we started
out from Crescent City to Eureka. She had sensed I was deeply troubled by
something I saw but decided to let it be till now and it was time for me to
come clean. She felt she needed an explanation to see what it was that was bothering
me so. Also to know if she was interfering in something that may have an impact
on her.
I assured it was nothing and that I could
handle it. I explained to her that the Road Warrior had been broken into a
couple of times and we were at a loss to figure it out as it seems as if someone
was looking for something, having stolen Ann’s computer both times. We didn’t know
if it was robbery or what. We kind of thought it had to do with Dealing Dan the
car salesman and owner of Dealing Dan’s, that was causing the trouble or Tom, Ann’s
husband as he had an ax to grind with Ann for being left out of her fortune. Then
again it could have been a couple acts of random violence, one maybe but two is
more than coincidental. It seemed as if someone is after us. Then outside Oklahoma
City after having the door fixed, I saw Leann or what I thought was her on a
motorcycle and then again outside Crescent City, she showed up behind us. It
was just way too weird that she would appear all the way across the country as
if she was following us.
Darla asked what it was I did to her and I
said I don’t know except try and care for her , and she all she did was push me
away. I told Darla I was clueless as to what she wanted as she made it clear to
me she wanted no part of me when she wanted her things back in her classic text
breakup. Meaning she choose to break up with me over a text message as she
undoubtedly didn’t want me to talk to her personally. This all hurt me as well not
being with her during her operation and recovery process. I had no choice as Leann
wanted me to leave her alone, and now she is following me as I try to move on
with my life, if it is her. Maybe it is my imagination and I am sure there are thousands
of white motorcycles out there with women on them. So finding one following me
down the road should be no strange occurrence.
I told Darla of my plans though of adding
even more security to the Road Warrior by adding security motion lights and
that I have a closed circuit surveillance system that monitors the Road Warrior
on a 24 hr. basis. As our food was served, Darla suggested I had better take
her with me everywhere I go as she didn’t want anything to do with trouble from
a crazy ex, or a disgruntled burglar. I assured her that I thought only the
best of Leann and felt it really wasn’t her that was up to the burgling of the Road
Warrior but I would gladly appreciate Darla’s company all the time, until I figured
this all out. We ate and walked around the inn and up and down the main street
of Eureka enjoying all the Victorian construction of houses in the area lending
its charm to this seaside city.
We returned to the Road Warrior and I showed
Darla where I had the security system which she was aware of but didn’t know
how to use. I hooked the Jeep back onto the rear of the Road Warrior and set
off for our destination of Fortuna, California and the Fortuna RV Park along
the Eel River basin outside of Fortuna. Our trip was quiet as Darla sat in the
captain seat beside me in the front of the Road Warrior in shorts and a t-shirt,
having changed into more comfortable clothes after returning to the Road Warrior.
She reclined her chair and was almost flat as she looked out the window and
soon fell fast asleep having ate and getting sleepy. She slept till I turned into
the Fortuna RV Park and had to stop and talk to the park guide as to where my
lot was. I had prearranged payment and my spot was being held as a reservation,
and it was just minutes till I was there and set up. Having leveled the Road Warrior
and unhooked the Jeep, and extended the awning. I returned inside to see Darla
putting on a pair of tennis shoes asking me if I wanted to go for a walk.. I just
drove over 150 miles and really just wanted to relax but relented and went for a
walk with her around the RV Park. The towering redwoods were ever present as we
ventured around. We talked of my carving and experience in trees as we walked along.
The trees were humongous as their trunks in most cases were as wide as the Road
Warrior was long.
Seeing these huge trees made me long to
carve, not live trees but possibly some dead stuff if I could find it. I couldn’t
imagine why people would want to cut these massive giants in the first place. Most
having lived at least 2000 years and being sown naturally when humankind was
still in its infancy as California was there but not discovered by the white
men but instead a closely guarded secret of local natives who had no interest
in changing nature, instead relishing it. taking only what they needed to
survive and leaving these huge beauties to live until white man invaded their Eden
and chased them to the hinterlands while they plundered the resources. So goes
the neighborhood in most of the U.S., as resources are transformed into tools
of societal improvement as we provide houses and buildings made of wood and
brick into the communities we have today.
We returned to the Road Warrior after our
walk and settled into watching some TV and some local news and was made aware
of the fact that due to dry conditions there was an active forest fire just
north east of San Francisco and it was burning out of control. It was still
over 60 miles away, but was going to impede our travel as it was crossing Highway
101 and the road was temporarily closed. We had planned to spend a couple of
days here so by the time we were ready to move then the fire will have moved
out of the area leaving behind a path of destruction but the road should be
passable.
Darla fell asleep on the couch beside me
having cuddled up next to me while watching an old black and white movie on PBS.
I was getting sleepy myself as I sat there and hated to, but woke Darla and
asked if I could lie down on my lumpy couch bed with the bar in the middle of
my back. I didn’t mention the lumpy part or the bar, but in reality I wasn’t too
eager to sleep in this thing another night. Sitting in the couch was one thing
and sleeping was another.
Darla said she was sorry and asked if I would
join her in the bedroom as she felt I was safe and we were both adults and she
kinda liked snuggling up to a bear like me . Well a man can be pushed only so
far and yet I could not let myself join her in the bedroom as I didn’t trust
myself to just sleep beside her. I had Roman hands and I was a man. I felt that
until I was sure of what she wanted as well me, maybe we had better continue
with the arrangement we had. I was not to be trusted in bed alone with her and
it was not because I was not an adult, but instead because I was one, a male
one with feelings and desires and wants. And touching and caressing a pretty
woman was not out of the realm of these wants. She told me it was my loss and
that it required her acceptance to make anything happen. I told her it would
drive me crazy as it is doing already. And that I just needed to take things
slow as everything was happening to fast. Cuddling on the couch was ok and I never
really minded as it is kind of a friend thing to do. But then again I always
thought cuddling to be a pre cursor to sex also. I just never could get close
to a woman I liked without wanting more. It is just a male thing I guess. Women
must be wired different as it seems that they are content to just be close and
not want more. Anyhow I told Darla that cuddling would be ok for now. She
suggested just sitting there wrapped in my arms all night long.
I laughed and shooed her to bed, again she
told me it was my loss, and disappeared behind the bedroom door after saying
goodnight and sweet dreams. Instead as
she disappeared behind that door and she stepped into my imagination as I slowly
watched her undress in my mind and slip into an oversize t-shirt with her
nipples hard and pushing against the fabric. Then in my mind I watched as she
stretched out in the bed and rolled on to her side and curled her legs up and
pushed her hands between her legs. It was then I had to shut my mind down ,
instead I imagined her putting curlers in her hair and spreading cream all over
face and soon I fell asleep with that damn bar prodding me in my back and
reminding why it isn’t such a good thing to be so good all the time.
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