Stories from the Road

Temecula, CA.

August 20, 2019

                                       High Drama in Temecula

                                                    

The traffic was light this morning at 5:30 as I made my way north on Highway 15 toward my destination, Temecula. The Pechanga tribe has built an enormous casino complex in Temecula along with a 5-star golf course that is very challenging. I had played there last week, but I wanted to go back and do better. 

The starter put 4 of us singles together, and we teed off around 7. I parred the first hole and felt comfortable and relaxed. We were on the tee on the second hole when a Ford SUV raced through an access road and began speeding down the cart path. Suddenly the driver stopped with screeching brakes. Two women got out the back door along with various water bottles that spilled on the ground. One man tried to start the car again. The engine wouldn’t turn over. He brought out a portable generator and kept trying to get the car going. He was frantic. He was scared. His companion ran and leaped over a fence. I thought had things been different, he might have been a good high school hurdler.

The four of us were watching from maybe thirty yards away. I felt I was in a reality TV crime show. After some time, I heard sirens coming toward us. The man finally abandoned the car and made a run for it over a fence and into a field. The two women started walking along the course.

Initially, I thought the 4 Hispanic people were undocumented workers fleeing the border patrol. I decided I wouldn’t give the police any information. Then I wondered if they had stolen a car. It was hard to know. My thoughts were interrupted by two security cruisers from the tribal police and then two more Temecula police cars with sirens and flashing lights.

                                                        

A sign flashed on the screen of our golf cart telling all golfers to leave the course due to a police incident. Since we had witnessed the entire event and seen the wanted people race away from the course, we knew there was no danger, and we kept playing.

The rest of the morning was uneventful as the four of us enjoyed the course, aptly named, The Journey.

Stories from the road

Stories from the Road

Olympia, WA

July 18, 2019

Ken Lake is still this morning with no activity at this early hour. Soon swimmers will be breaking the smooth surface of the water, as they begin their workout before heading to jobs. 

The rain drove us indoors yesterday, and we saw Late Night 

starring Emma Thomson, Mindy Kaling, and John Lithgow. A late-night talk show host comes to grips with the fact that her show is stagnant due to her rigid, autocratic nature. Her newfound ability to adapt and transform carries the film to a “feel good” ending. I liked the movie and found it entertaining and meaningful. The ending may have been too formula-driven, but overall it is a movie to see and enjoy.

 

Before we came to Washington, Vicki, and I saw “Wild Rose.” Both of us like this movie very much, and I would give it a strong recommendation. If you like country music, it helps, but the movie is strong regardless of your musical tastes.

Olympia has always had a counter-culture group of young people. Some are homeless and some have entry-level jobs at local shops. Last night while walking to the car, we passed a group sitting on some steps. They said a few things, and I kept walking, but I should have stopped and chatted. They weren’t hostile, and the one guy I talked with was friendly. I was curious about them but driven to move on by fear and caution I suppose. My loss!

 

Marle, who had knee replacement surgery a few weeks ago, borrowed a machine called Polar Care which automatically brings cold water to her knee. I have been using it every day and ordered a unit from Amazon.