Whenever the topic of traveling comes up, it seems like folks eagerly whip out their generalizations of what people are like, and you hear things like, “Oh yeah, it’s so hard to make friends in LA because people are so fake.” Or, “Gosh, the French are so incredibly rude, I’d never want to live there.” Or my current favorite, “You’re doing WHAT? Dude, don’t go into the middle of the country, the people there are crazy.  You know, those are the RED States.”

Well, I firmly believe that you can find good people wherever you go.  Really.  It’s less a question of how people are, and more a question of how _you_ are.  If you project love, integrity, and good energy, you’ll find the people who do the same.  Having moved so much in the past, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to test this theory, and it always seems to hold true.  If you’re looking for them, good people are everywhere.  Personally, I’ve made my best friends in fake-LA, rude-France, and self-centered-Buenos-Aires.

And so we come to the present, where this trip is reaffirming and strengthening that belief.  Already, four nights in the last five days we’ve been blessed by good people’s kindness and hospitality.

Our very first night, when our planned campsite was closed, a good samaritan let us pitch our tent on the lawn of their private camp.

For our two nights in Eugene, we enjoyed the hospitality of our new friends Josh and Palmira, whom we had met briefly at the Rueda Congress in Miami, and who opened their home to us.  Not only are they great rueda dancers (thanks for teaching us Toma Electrica!), but they’re raising two awesome kids.  Gaby and I loved playing with their kids, and dancing with them and getting to know them.  Thanks guys!

Last night, when we hit Vida and realized our planned hotel was closed (surprise surprise) we stepped into the general store to ask where we might stay.  There, we met Mrs. Jones, who not only offered us her yard, but also her hottub, her warm shower, some homemade blueberry muffins, and great conversation. 

So to wrap things up, let me leave with something Mrs. J said that stayed with me.

Hey, you get back what you put out.

Ride Summary
Trip Leg	Vida to the base of the Cascade Mountains
Mileage	32.6 miles
Cumulative Climb	1000 feet
Time on the Road	6.5 hours
Weather	Blue skies, cool weather (we saw our first snow patches on the ground!)
Spent the Night	Olallie Campground by the McKenzie river