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DREAMS DO COME TRUE . . .
It all started with a question, ‘Will you
marry me if…’ and continues with, ‘I love
you’ every day. Don’t get it? Here it
goes…
After dating for a while, lying in bed
one morning, Pam asked Bill a simple question,
‘Would you marry me if I biked to Timberline
Lodge?’ Bill half-heartedly responded,
‘Sure.’ The dream started.
Bill was a hard nut to crack because he
always stated he never wanted to get married
to all his friends. He saw no point in
it. He didn’t understand the significance
marriage provided because he believed all
things were the same if you were dating
or married. He believed in the concept
of staying together as long as they shall
live, just not the institution.
Pam wanted to get married some day. She
believed it provided security and someone
to be there to grow together.
Before they started dating, Bill told Pam
he had two conditions if someone wanted
to be with him as a partner; he didn’t want
any children and didn’t want to get married.
She agreed to these conditions knowing in
her mind she didn’t want children either
and would consider no marriage for now,
although that is what she really wanted.
Pam’s dream began to grow and was determined
to climb Mt. Hood on her bike and stop at
Timberline Lodge, 60 miles and 6,000 feet
in elevation from their house in South East
Portland.
Bill had been cycling for many years and
riding up Mt. Hood wasn’t a big challenge.
He had done this several times and even
cycled across the US.
He cycles several
thousand miles annually. Pam was in
good condition as well, yet cycling was
not something she did regularly. She climbed
most of the NW Oregon and SW Washington
Mountain peaks in the summer of 1995 and
was in decent shape. Although cycling for
60 miles, over 6 hours on the bike, would
be a formidable challenge.
They decided Pam needed a bike that was
comfortable. They shopped for a full day
and picked one of the ½ dozen bikes from
the 3 shops visited. The hybrid bike would
be great for the trip as well as everyday
riding and commuting to work.
Her training included riding to work and
several long rides each week. They even
rode the first part of the grand tour to
Mt. Hood, which was the longest distant
she had ever ridden. Pam set the date:
Saturday, July 23rd, 2004. Bill was getting
nervous.
They watched the weather all week. Temperatures
were forecasted to be in the high 100’s
and lots of sunshine, much warmer than usual
for Portland. They planned to get up around
6 AM and leave by 7, before the heat.
The starting point is about 200 feet above
sea level. They followed the Springwater
Corridor Trail, a non-motorized multi-use
path, from their house to Boring, Oregon,
approximately 15 miles of car-free travel.
The temperatures were in the comfortable
60’s but climbing fast.
Bill had prepared
to stop every 10-15 miles to replenish water
and eat. He knew this wasn’t a race and
wanted to make sure she enjoyed every minute.
After stopping in Boring they continued
to Sandy on Highway 26 for another rest.
So far, Pam was doing great as the rolling
hills were about to start and the tougher
section was approaching.
The third stop was in Rhododendron. It
was 10 AM and the temperatures were climbing
past the mid 80’s with the sun beating down
relentlessly. They had traveled 40 miles
and climbed 1,000 feet. This was a deciding
point to stop or continue. If they continued
they would travel for a few miles through
a cool, tree covered shady section before
popping into the treeless four-lane high
speed road up the first major ascent – 10
miles to Government Camp at 3,888 feet above
sea level.
Bill asked Pam what she wanted
to do. She stated confidently, ‘Yes.’
Before departing they called their friend
Kim and asked her to meet them at Government
Camp. She would pick them up in a pick-up
truck when the ride was over. Government
Camp was the next deciding point to stop
or continue.
They started out pretty happy. Bill watched
Pam closely to make sure she stayed hydrated,
sun screened and fed. The climb got steeper
and the cars flew past. It was loud, hot,
smelly, sunny, and steep. Pam’s back was
cramping and in a lot of pain, this is when
the swearing began. As they approached
Government Camp they saw Kim and stopped
just prior to the main parking area. The
climb up was more difficult than expected.
They gingerly rode another ½ mile to the
main parking lot and stopped for more water
and food before the next decision was made.
While sitting in the back of the truck,
resting and replenishing, they randomly
met their friends Mary and Scott from Portland.
They were at Government Camp getting out
of Portland’s heat and camping for the night
at higher elevation. They asked what we
were doing and after hearing the story they
stated to Pam that she should continue up
the 2,000 feet to Timberline. Heck, if
she’s come this far, what’s another few
miles. After many minutes Pam decided to
attempt the last road to the top.
The first several hundred feet from the
rest stop were very difficult. Muscles
were tight. Backs were sore. Feet and
butts were chaffed. Luckily, the back road
to Timberline was shady and had lots of
switchbacks with only a few cars. Kim met
us at each mile to make sure Pam was okay.
Pam climbed, and climbed, and climbed.
She stopped a number of times. She cried
once. She swore like a sailor. She went
3 MPH in some sections wondering why the
bike didn’t fall over. She walked several
steps realizing this was more painful than
riding.
Bill kept telling her there was
a flat spot in the road just around the
corner, lying to make her feel better (not
sure this worked too well). One time they
stopped and chatted with a man parked on
the side of the road, who stated that this
was the hottest temperature Timberline has
had in many years. Finally we came to the
intersection of the main road and saw our
destination – Timberline Lodge.
It was about 1 PM and the temperatures
were in the mid-90’s, making the asphalt
soft. As we approached the lodge Pam stated
defiantly, ‘The first car I come to in the
parking lot, I am stopping.’ We stopped
at the first car. Pam was on the verge
of crying, hyperventilating and throwing
up. Bill reached out to hug her. He was
so proud she had made it. She said, ‘Don’t
touch me. Please take me off this mountain.’
Kim was nowhere to be seen. Bill called
her. She missed us coming onto the main
road for a snap shot and was still waiting
for us. She asked us to ride to where she
was. Pam retaliated, ‘No! Come get us.’
She was not about to get back on that damn
bike for any reason.
Kim quickly drove
over and picked us up as Bill swiftly loaded
the truck. Kim sped past Government Camp
and into Dairy Queen at Rhododendron where
we walked into the fast food restaurant
to enjoy hot hamburgers and cold drinks.
Pam says it was the best Coke she has ever
had.
Bill did not ask Pam to marry him at Timberline
Lodge. Pam was obviously disappointed.
After getting home Pam surprised Bill by
telling him they were going to Seattle on
Sunday to see the Bare Naked Ladies and
Alanis Morrissette concert. They drove
up, saw the concert, and stayed at a hotel
close by the venue. They saw their friend
Mike for lunch on Monday and drove home.
On the way home in the car, after Pam brought
up the fact that she delivered on her end
of the promise, Bill reiterated his belief
that marriage was not what he wanted. He
didn’t understand what the importance of
the institution was. He asked Pam what she
really wanted in life and in his mind it
was what he really wanted too. He didn’t
say anything more. She said that if they
didn’t agree on marriage that they needed
to reconsider their relationship and possibly
end it.
While watching TV Monday night, Bill knew
Pam was thinking about what she was going
to do. Bill turned the TV off and knelt
in front of Pam and asked, ‘Will you marry
me?’ Pam, looking confused, didn’t answer.
He asked again, ‘Will you marry me?’ She
still didn’t reply and was now in shock.
He said, jokingly, ‘I won’t ask again, just
say ‘yes.’’ She smiled and said, ‘Yes.’
They both went outside with their dog Tucker
and called their families to spread the
good news.
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