Nice Kitty-Kitty. Uhm, Have Cat, Will Travel, Meow!
(The Tomaso Collection)
As surely, Don’t call me Shirley! Everybody carries
a Cat in a Backpack now and then?
Nah, No Cat in the Hat Jokes Here!
As typical, this No Fenders post has been fermentin’
awhile now. Since I always feel Sad ‘N Blue after another visit with Tacoma Bureau
Chief Mary Ellen. Hence leaving me feeling not like typing anything of substance
here upon Ye mystical Isle ‘O Nofendersville, Mateys…
Thus, this year’s 24 Heurs du Mans weekend was
quite different for Mwah, remember that Y’all? As that splendid Centenary race
seems an eternity ago now, Righto? Since fortuitously I had company in town
visiting, which naturally took precedence over gorging Thyself on thoust 24
Hours race.
As Mary Ellen and Her Traveling Menagerie of
Harriet Jean, Hang-10’ Hilo and the Demon Cat Marny made Thar annual pilgrimage
to view our abundance ‘O wild Rhododendrons upon Ye Oregon Coast. Primarily
around the regions of the disappearing Sand Dunes! Since Mary Ellen said that
the Scotch Broom, an invasive species was in full bloom this year, Yikes!
As usual, I tuned into Motor Trend TV’s
coverage for some ambiance whilst eating breakfast, before preparing for the
day’s outing. Having tuned in just prior to le Hamburgular’, Sealmeister b’,
SeaBass or just plain ‘Ol Sebastien Burdais got Hammered by somebody not paying
Attenzione to when the Slow Zone was still employed! This being during Hour-2
Me Thinks?
As it wouldn’t be until just after High Noon
that Mary ellen said we’re Here and get your Butt out to the Car, Hya! Telling
Hilo to wait until I got in the car! Before He promptly sat on my lap and helped
me eat my lunch…
After driving thru the Sutton Creek Park ground
looking for rhododendrons, and Harriet Jean getting out to discover that we’d been
looking at some Redwood trees. Little did I know that Mary Ellen would take mi
up on my previous offer to carry the “Demon cat” Marny in a Backpack! For which
was a very large mesh Backpack, which I believe allowed Marny to see out of…
After adjusting the straps to fit me, Mary Ellen inserted Marny into the pack before yours truly shouldered a nervous
feline Cat with an additional 15-20lbs total weight on my back, Youza!
Starting along the Sutton Creek trail on a relatively
cool day, and mostly having the trail to ourselves. Marny soon settled down
after making a few feeble cries of protest, along with a few movements inside
the pack, before mostly holding still.
Watch Out for that Tree! (The Tomaso Collection)
Funniest part of this new adventure of carrying
a Cat for Mwah! Having only previously carried Thy Mad Molly and Hang-10’ Hilo
before. As Yeah, who’d know that I’d become a Sucker for little Dogs! Was when
we got to the tree growing across the trail horizontally!
As it immediately made me conjure images of a
Congo line in my Head, and how it made me think of having to do the limbo
underneath this tree blocking the path! And it was bad enough having to totally
squat to go underneath the tree, but then I kept getting the backpack stuck on
the tree whilst trying to stand up! Although I don’t recall Marny ever making
any noise…
Wisely on our return trip, Mary Ellen suggested
I take the backpack off before going underneath the tree, which naturally made
the Congo line maneuver mucho easier!
Following an early dinner, I settled down upon
the couch and “watche”, Err listened to a few more hours of le 24 Huers du Mans
TV coverage. Although I cannot really remember anything of substance from that.
As it just seemed like the Talking Headz’ prattled on ‘N on about nothing!
Although I did finally figure out that the familiar voice in the booth was Jim
roller, who used to be a Pitlane Reporter for Radio Le Mans. Whilst I think
that the No. 8 Toyota was leading the Ferrari when I finally switched off?
Sunday morning, I was surprised that the
Reuters Motorsports “Feed” was only giving an update on the race with three
hours remaining, even though the race was long over. And as I was trying to
read Racer’s Sports Car page results, Mary ellen arrived for our Walkabout on
South Jetty Beach. As this turned into the most bemusing Beach walk I’ve ever
taken!
Not sure exactly when Marny started acting up?
Since think we stopped twice for Mary Ellen to check on Her just walking up the
Sand Dune to the Beach, where the wind was Ah-Blowin’ Almighty!
As Marny began Howling in protest and moving
left to right and back again as I tried walking down the Sand Dune to the Ocean’s
hard packed Beach…
As the winds were gusting around 35-40mph and
Marny was absolutely miserable. As Her Howling became louder ‘N louder
Meooowww, MEEEOOOWWWW! MEEEEOOOOWWWWW!
As Mary Ellen bemusedly asked me if I could Hear
the Ocean? As Marny constantly shifted back ‘N forth in the backpack crying
loudly! And even tried Headbutting the backpack’s zipper seams in order to
Breakout of Her Cell! For which when Mary Ellen would check upon Her, Marny
would try sticking Her claws through a small opening to which Mary Ellen had
tied with a double knot. Telling Marny She couldn’t get out!
Have to say it’s quite weird trying to walk
along a Beach with a Cat constantly shifting your “CG” (Center of Gravity) and
Howling Nonstop in protest over being forced to ride in a Backpack!
As I thought may be Marny would calm down on
the return leg since we were walking into a Headwind, but All I could Hear over
the roar of the Ocean was Meeeooowwww, MMEEEOOOWWWW!
As that was the final time I carried the poor Cat during Mary Ellen’s visit! And Arse-sumedly the last time I ever carry a Cat in a Backpack!
