Bill & Ralph

WEDNESDAY

Today's sponsor is Johnny Walker Red Label Scotch. Pour one now, you are going to need it.

Today is dam day. We get to ride across the Grand Coulee Dam, minus anything on our bikes other than one water bottle. While waiting to go it seems that Bill Moyers and Ed Davis got in to a bit of a tussle. Ed lost.

I guess the Cobra Lounge was a bit much for him last night. Finally we were allowed across, quickly please, and then went on with the day’s ride. Lake Curlew was our destination and the ride was quite nice until we arrived. Then…..

It decided to rain. Personal Flotation Devices were issued for those who wanted them. Others chose to leave their gear out in the rain.

Bill was one of the first in to camp and secured us a site with a picnic table. Not only that he had a “pop up” tent which he set up over the table before it started to pour. We all huddled under the tent waiting for the storm to pass and Bill informed us of a little “altercation” he had with our neighbor who wanted to claim the table for himself. This neighbor was none other than Ralph & Carol Nussbaum, the Grand Poo-Ba’s of the Cascade Bike Club.

Bill had erected the pop up over the picnic table. Ralph came over and claimed the table for himself and Bill was forced to become THE ENFORCER. Words were exchanged and it wasn’t until THE ENFORCER offered to stomp 13 kinds of dog poo out of Ralph that an agreement was reached. Ralph and Carol would move. They found a new spot right next to a Sani-Can.

Even better, they had garbage and recycling right there. How convenient!

Later we were visited by Peter Verbrugge and Charles Ruthford who were looking for some facts for the evening meeting. It seems that Carol or Ralph had gone to them asking for Bill to be disciplined. What Peter and Charles really wanted to know was “what are the 13 kinds of dog poo?” Bill ticked them off and was asked to lecture the whole group on the subject. Fortunately for all, Bill declined the invitation.

For more on Charles, read this

Here I have gone outside our RAW experiences to bring in some family history. My father in law, Joe, worked for a time as a painting inspector for the Tacoma School District. His partner in crime was a long time friend, Conrad Lea who was known as Connie. My mother’s name was also Connie and our daughter referred to her as Grandma Connie. Connie Lea was Mr. Grandma Connie and he actually answered to this name.

Joe and Connie were inspecting a paint job in a Northeast Tacoma school and one of the teachers was upset because he couldn’t have the room painted the color he wanted. The school district set the colors, but this teacher would not relent. Finally Connie got tired and told the teacher that if he didn’t shut up he would stomp 7 kinds of dog shit out of him.

All three were called to the principal’s office to discuss the situation. The teacher was told he didn’t have a say in the matter and was excused. The principal then asked Connie what the 7 kinds of dog shit were.