Uncle Walter

We leave this Friday for a weekend trip up the mountain to Serrano Campground near Lake Arrowhead. We will meet my cousin and his wife, Janet - they are fun, happy and still honeymooning though they've been married for a while. We love people like this!
We are coming close to the 3rd anniversary of our travels in R Joyride (Airstream travel trailer). While each trip has special memories, there are only about 5 or 6 that we cherish and have been filed away as genuinely fulfilling and make the trip really memorable. Our shakedown trip was a quick weekend in San Diego County. We went to Santee Lakes and were so excited to be pulling our home on wheels. I remember being so nervous when I got out and behind the trailer to help Robin back it up into our space. A guy in a neighboring campsite must have sensed it because he came over and whispered to Robin - "do you want my help instead?" I was so touched but felt the pressure when Robin winked at me and said, "I have the best partner for the job already, thank you". I sucked in my breath, gave clear signals that were audible and concise and we set up camp in less than 12 minutes! Whew! I think we have it down to 7 minutes now and most work is done without questions or verbal communication.
It was during this weekend that Robin told me of his Uncle Walter who crossed the country several times on motorcycle, lived in an honest to goodness log cabin in the woods and raised chickens and lived off the land. He loved his motorcycle, which I believe was an Indian, one of the first, and I think Robin said it was like in 1909.  When it was well worn from the road, Walter visited corporate headquarters and asked for a new one - for free - in exchange for his old one along with his promise to promote Indian motorcycles as the best. I think his motorcycle may well still be on display in their corporate office's grand lobby! Uncle Walter got his free motorcycle. Love this story. . . and I loved the look on Robin's face while he was sharing it.