Campfire Embers Ignite for Three
My name is Mike Rossi and about two years ago I became a full-time traveler. I left a lucrative career in Silicon Valley, bought a Class B motorhome and hit the open roads seeking new sights and adventures. Since that time, I've seen so many amazing sights and met so many interesting people and I'd like to tell you about some of those open road adventures.
Perhaps before I begin telling you about my adventures, I should tell you a little bit about my background. After graduating from college with a master's degree in software engineering, I was recruited by a Silicon Valley tech company that was developing security software for a variety of companies and governmental entities. I found the work to be challenging, exciting, and quite rewarding financially. But when the COVID pandemic hit it forced me to take a step back to examine and evaluate what was really important in my life.
I never married and never had children. Remarkable since, compared to many of my computer geek colleagues, I am quite outgoing and dated more than my share of women. I even lived with a couple of women at different times but never progressed to marriage. I guess I am easily bored and ready to move on which helps explain my current penchant for travel.
I had made plenty of money and I had enjoyed my work but that was all I knew. I'd never been anywhere or seen much of this fabulous country of ours. After I gave it a lot of thought I decided to leave my position in Silicon Valley and strike out on what I hoped would be an incredible adventure of discovery. I hoped to see beautiful places and meet new people along the way and perhaps even learn things about myself I never realized before.
So, I bought a Winnebago Class B motorhome. If you are not familiar with motorhomes, the Class B's are the smallest motorhomes. They are built on a van chassis and in reality, are only large enough to accommodate two people comfortably. Since I'm single it's the perfect size for me.
Even though I'd lived in California for a long time I'd never really ventured much farther than the San Francisco area, so I decided my first stop would be the Redwood Forest. I packed up my clothes, some food and the few belongings I'd decided to keep and headed north.
I found that the further I got away from the big city the more relaxed I became. It was a nice feeling. Quite a change from the fast-paced non-stop world that had been my life. It did make me wonder if I'd be able to adjust to a slower lifestyle. I knew that time would tell.
I just pulled into a McDonalds at lunch time because I wanted to eat quickly and be back on the road. I had about 200 miles left to my campground near Lady Bird Redwood National Park and I knew time would grow short for getting set up in daylight. I wouldn't plan to go into the park today but I had all the time in the world for as long as I wanted to stay.
When I got close to the redwoods, I found Big Red's, the campground where I had reserved a site. How appropriate as I chuckled to myself. I pulled into my little campsite. Ah, so this is what they mean by "fresh air". The air was coming in off the Pacific and over the Redwoods picking up pine scent and warmth on it's way.
It was nearly 7pm by this time and I set out my lawn chair, carpet and figured out where the hookups were and how much I would need to do to get level. I didn't set the jacks because my stomach started telling me it was time to find a place to eat. I also noticed that "Winnie," that's what I'd decided to call my new home on wheels, needed some nourishment too. The campground host suggested a diner/gas station just up the road called "Jakes" I had noticed the place as I was driving in but did not pay it much attention. These small rural towns were short on chain restaurants. I easily found "Jakes" place again and decided to eat first and get fuel later. I guess you could call the place a truck stop because there were diesel pumps out back and a lot of big rigs parked against the trees around the back of the lot. It seemed to be a popular place with the truckers. I guess they all ate early, though as I was one of three customers in the diner.
I'd never eaten at a truck stop diner before, so rather than take a booth or table I opted for a stool at the counter. I'd no sooner sat down when a friendly gal plopped a menu down in front of me and said, "I'm Barbara, what can I get you to drink hon?" I told her I'd like iced tea, and she asked if I wanted sweet or unsweet tea. I opted for unsweet. She said, "sure hon, I'll have it here for you in two shakes."
Barbara was quite the friendly gal. A bit on the heavy side but curvy in all the right places. I imagined that a lot of the drivers probably hit on her, but as I watched her, and listened to her banter with the other customers, it was obvious she could hold her own with all of them.
When she sat the tea down and laid a straw on the counter she asked, "what would you like to eat hon?"
I have to say that I kind of liked the way she always called me "hon" even though she'd never met me before. I had the thought that I'd like to eat those hard little nipples now poking through her white shirt on either side of the apron she wore. But all I said was, "what do you recommend Barb?"
She smiled and said "are you sure you want what I'd recommend hon?"
I wasn't sure if I had caught a bit of innuendo in that but I started paying closer attention to her. "Sure Barb, what DO you recommend?"
"Well it's your gut hon, but you can't go wrong with Big Jake's Jalapeno Burger with ghost pepper fries."
"Ok Barb I'll try the Big Jake's Jalapeno Burger but I think I'll just have regular fries with that." "I'm not sure I'm adventurous enough to try everything spicy on offer here"Â I said with a wink determined that if she was flirting, I would flirt right back.
She patted my hand and said "smart choice hon. I'll have you order up in a jiffy."
OK, so maybe I had misread her intent but at least I was getting good service on the food.
The burger was quite tasty, but very spicy. I don't know how many times Barbara had to refill my iced tea. When I finished eating Barbara brought my bill and asked, "how was it hon?"
I couldn't help but notice that a couple of buttons at the top of her blouse had somehow come undone revealing very deep cleavage and the edges of a black lacy bra cup. "The burger was terrific, it definitely set my mouth on fire, I'm just glad I didn't order the pepper fries, oh and can I get another refill on iced tea, I think I'm gonna need it." I also wanted to hang around and see if there was more of that bra cup to come out.
" Barbara laughed patted my hand again and said, we're almost out of tea but I can make more... are you just passin' through or staying around awhile?"
"Oh, that's my camper outside the window there. I have a site over at Big Red's."
Well, how 'bout I make some fresh tea and I run it out to your campsite on my way home?
The service in this place was getting better all the time! "Yeah, give me 30 minutes to get back and set up?"
"No, I'm here by myself tonight except for Big Jake in the kitchen so I can't leave until 10 o'clock."
Gulp. Now here was potentially one of those adventures I had set my mind to go for but... "Umm, that's kind of late, Barbara. What about tomorrow?"
Even as I said it, I cursed myself for being so tentative. I was eye to bra cup with some spectacular scenery! Why didn't I just go for it and give her my campsite number and wait for her?
"Sorry, tomorrow I'm off but I gotta watch my kids because my husband works tomorrow."
Crash. OK, so maybe tentative wasn't so bad after all. I didn't know where hubby was tonight, presumably home with the kiddies but did I really want to get involved in all that? No, I did not.
So I had declined her offer and, quickly, shifted from regret to relief. She gave me the last of the tea in a to-go cup along with my bill, nodding toward the register by the door. I left a generous tip on the table and made my way over to pay her. I guess the moment had passed for her, too because by the time I paid my bill, the blouse was closed, the show was over.
After I paid my bill, I took Winnie to an empty gas pump and filled her up. As the gas was flowing, My horny self was kicking my reasoning self still thinking of opportunity lost. Nonetheless, I found myself smiling for some reason. I guess it was due to the friendly encounter with Barb. It bode well for the future. The episode had left me wondering if I would have another chance like that on my travels. Maybe next time... Is this what life is like outside the big city?
After filling Winnie's belly, I returned to my campsite where it was now after 8 and nearly dark. As I pulled in, I noticed that a big Class A motorhome had moved into the campsite next to mine. This rig was huge and made mine look so tiny in comparison. They must have just arrived because as I got out, the front door of the coach slid silently open like a spaceship and a good looking gentleman, I'm guessing in his early to mid 50's, stepped out and started checking how he was situated in the site.
I was in awe of the RV and gawking a little said "that's a beautiful rig you have there. Do you live in it full time?"
"No" he laughed, "my wife and I travel quite a bit but we are not full timers."Â "My name's Jim" he said, extending his hand. "Janet will be out shortly, she's busy setting up the inside while I do all the outside hookups."
"I'm glad to meet you Jim, my name is Mike but the waitresses call me "Hon," I joked.
"Well Mike, why don't you give us a few minutes to finish getting set up and then we'd like to have you join us for a campfire if you'd like."
"Thanks Jim, that sounds great." I hoped I didn't sound too enthusiastic about joining them but this friendliness I was finding on the road was quite new to me and I liked it.
Just then Janet stepped out of the rig. She was drop dead gorgeous! The sight of her made me a little weak in the knees. I was glad I did not have Barbara coming over later. Janet was a real knockout. Very fit and trim. Large ample bust, narrow waist and as near perfect hips as I'd ever seen. She wore tight-fitting clothes, and her long blond hair and blue eyes were mesmerizing. She looked a little younger than Jim. I'm not really a good judge of age but I'd guess she was early to mid 40's. I couldn't wait to join them around a campfire and learn more of their story.
"Oh honey, this is Mike. Mike this is my wife Janet", Jim said as he introduced us.
I was hoping I wouldn't stumble on my words, so I said, "It's great to meet you, Janet. You and Jim sure have a beautiful rig."
"Thanks Mike, we like it, it seems to suit us perfectly," Janet said.  Then she kindly added, "it looks like you have a sweet ride too Mike."
