Salmonberry

Nestled through the lush western part of Oregon, beautiful grape like bushes emerge. As ample as vines during wine season in France. Big ripe bushells, longing to be picked, plucked and eaten.
Nestled, halfway between Intestate 5 and Highway 101, lay a quaint, yet accessible 13 site campground. Perched, atop a flat meadow, looking down on the quiet Alsea River. Just 50 miles from it's north fork headwaters it winds, beckoning highway 34 to follow. Playing hide-and-seek along the way, the river dodges the highway, retreating into an every once again draw, grabbing a fresh breath, before returning to flirt with it's traveling mate through to the coast.
Two and a half hours from our trailhead, we should reach our first destination before dark. Well out of the city, it will give us a nice jump start, for our first full day, following.
This site, provides a great backdrop to begin this adventure. A common river for drift boats, and fly fishing, our silent captain will be pleased.
The meadow is framed by age old alder trees. Long and slender they stand, dancing, ballarinas on the stage, a simple quiet audience.
I hear the Trueb brothers. They are playing their guitars. Seldom too they add their vocals, sweet though they may be. The captain, is already at sea, and has been since mile one. This knowledge makes me smile, and I know this is right. This time, this place, this adventure.
My brother sees the Captain, and hearing the brothers, finally finds a place to rest. His body cries, unnoticed as he finally feels the freedom. He has let go.
Officer Hillson is always at home. This ride did not satisfy. His soul beckons more. He's wondering why we stopped and what took us so damn long.
They are pleased, them all. Each one, getting used to their own skin once again as their masks, their costumes, slowly flake away in the breeze that makes the alders dance.
I look at them. Sit back. I smile.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Aaron Jacob Trueb (ha, just realized that doesn't spell A.R.T.)

One of the things I wanted to do was to introduce anyone who may be reading this to everyone who will be participating in this "ride" or "trip", whatever you wish to call it. We have an eclectic group of men that are all coming together, and hopefully, by the questions asked, and the questions answered, you may get a glimpse into who we are, and why we ride.

R`: So Aaron, Two Wheels And A Fly Rod, eh? What the hell does that mean anyway?

A`: To me it means a long open road - hills, the ocean, and grass instead of parking lots and freeways. Stars instead of street lights. Guitars and conversation around the warmth of the fire instead of blank stares into the glow of a TV screen. A long drive with Don Williams and friends instead of the rush hour commute. Sunlight instead of fluorescent.



R`: So what bike will you be riding?

A`:Once in the summer I rode this little Honda in my parents field, I think it's what they call a "100." I gave that throttle all I had, and the next thing I knew the back tire had slipped against the dry grass and I was laying there with a motorcycle on top of me, thinking about how I wanted to get up and do it again. I think I'll take that bike.


R`: Do you believe in Lake Monsters? Rumor has it that Crater Lake has one or two that survived the Alien Spaceship landing there? You think they'd be good marinated in BBQ sauce?

A`: If there is a Lake Monster in Crater Lake, I don't want to eat it. I want to ride that thing! Ok, I have to be honest I have been wanting to shoot something with my wrist rocket, and I plan to bring it on the trip. So, we may end up eating pretty well once we get to Crater Lake.




R`: How do you think this trip will shape your destiny?

A`: It's hard to say, although I do think everything happens for a reason. Or at least, something life-changing can happen to you on any trip you find yourself on. I expect to come back having learned something from the guys on this trip, and loving life even more.

Also, I like to watch this clip from Waiting for Guffman (one of my all time favorite movies), and imagine Corky St. Claire is talking about how our trip came together:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ1IP0H7574


R`: Woah okay, I'm getting a little off track here, with monsters and Destiny and such...tell me more about you? How'd you get wrapped up in this trip, with this random set of banditos?

A`: Well, Rodney and Eliot are really the instigators of this trip, and I've been friends with those guys for a couple years now. For months and months I'd been overhearing conversations about a road trip. I love getting out on the road and camping and all that, but I've never done much riding so I kind of thought the trip wasn't for me. But one night we were hanging out at Rodney's place, the.barrage, and they said I should come along. I've been friends with Officer Hillson for awhile now; we work together - I always know he's there in the morning by the roar of his bike as he cruises in. Nathan Trueb is my brother and my best friend next to my wife. He recently got a nice bike, but I'm sure he'll tell you about that! I'm really looking forward to getting to know Chad, Rodney's brother better on this trip.


R`: So rumor has it your a TAT man? Does that mean tattoo's, are you like an artist or something?

A`: Nathan and I have a rock and roll band we call Tango Alpha Tango, or TAT for short. For sure music is an art, but I don't typically refer to myself as an artist. I play piano, tambourine, and sing a bit in the group. I write a lot of my own songs as well. Maybe someday someone will refer to us as 'recording artists,' but for now I'm happy with Eliot calling us rockers.


R`: Interesting, so how does your music passion fit in with the rest of this gang? It seems all random...music, motorcycles, fishing? I mean really?

A`: Well, whether they are players or not, I am pretty sure all the guys on this trip are music lovers. I've had some great conversations about music with Scott and Rodney. And I've been to a number of great rock shows with Eliot. Plus, in this group of friends, we like to encourage each other's passions. All the things you mentioned are different passions for different guys on the trip. And we really all want to see each other work hard towards those dreams. "I'll be the expediter of your dreams." - call that movie quote.


Q: How about some words of wisdom for the kids out there? Anything to encourage them by? I mean you could be mean and mislead the little ones...actually do..that sounds like fun...!!!

R`: Well, really the words of Jesus have been the biggest encouragement to me throughout my life. One thing he said I like to try to live by is "Don't worry about tomorrow, because today as enough trouble of it's own." I would encourage any kid out there young and old, to take your own hard look at what Jesus had to say about life and himself. It might change your life, it did mine.


R: If I get the time, would you mind if I stopped back by the studio and asked you some more questions?

A`: Any time. Just call me up!

~Well, that's just a little look into who "T-rueb" is. Based on his questions, and the fact that I emailed him these questions, yeah yeah yeah, no studio involved it just makes me feel awesome to say that, I think there will probably be a little follow up on some of his answers before we hit the road on June 17th. And you can be sure that we will follow up with him after this trip~

Feel free to check out Tango Alpha Tango a little more by following these links:

Google Image Search: http://bit.ly/jTBf8
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tango-Alpha-Tango/26318440089
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/tangoalphatango
Studio: http://www.outgorecords.com/tango-alpha-tango.php

Thank you Bruce Brown

Friday night, May 15th, the "Two wheels and a fly rod" lot will be getting together at Finchasers to discuss the remainder of the trip. Hopefully we'll be able to wrangle the last few pansies who have yet to commit, into signing up for THE BEST TRIP EVER!

I figure with some of the.barrage.ale, some of Eliot's delicious ribs, and Bruce Brown's "On Any Sunday" should be a great enough selection. If that isn't enough, perhaps the excitement of those of us that are going will coerce the remaining few!