The Church of the Open Road Press

Narratives about motorcycling on Northern California's back roads; Reflections on the history and geography of the North State; Memoirs and early recollections of youthful visits to towns and forests and mountaintops. Also middle-of-the-road takes on current issues in politics and education. Middle of the road? Isn't that dangerous?

Monday, November 10, 2025

ANOTHER SUNDAY RIDE

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…two hours and a half gallon of gas…     I decide it’s finally time  to give up on riding motorcycles – safety wise, aging, etc. – and then ...
1 comment:
Monday, October 20, 2025

MY CLASSMATE THE PRESIDENT

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…a ‘No Kings Day’ reflection…   This song of the schoolyard bully  is really very sad He earned lots of infamy by simply being bad   He’d pu...
Thursday, October 9, 2025

Chance Meeting with Arnold

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  …people you wished you’d met on the road...   Lost to the dustbin of my memory  is exactly why or when, other than Arnold Schwartzenegger ...
4 comments:
Tuesday, October 7, 2025

A Visit to Hendy Woods

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  Today’s Lesson? Visit those places you frequently pass by.   In countless times  traveling State Route 128 to the Mendocino Coast, we’d pa...
Thursday, September 4, 2025

WALKING TO MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

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the first of about 60 first days of school for me       My first day of public school  would be my first day in first grade. Rosedale, my ne...
Thursday, August 7, 2025

The Story of Peach

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  History: unlearned . . The wind was hot  and fast and immediate. It kicked up right after the flash. In that instant, Peach knew what was ...
Monday, June 9, 2025

TESTIMONY OF A PEACEFUL PROTESTER

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     I said, “You must do what your heart tells you to.”      The Guardsman lifted his goggles and looked at me with warm, not angry, eyes a...
Wednesday, May 28, 2025

ANOTHER RETURN TO SIMPSON CAMP

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  …a Memorial Day Tradition…   On or about Memorial Day  in good years, I’ll make the trek up to Simpson Camp (western edge Glenn County nea...
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About Me

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Bumpa
Maps. Some of the best stories one encounters one encounters by reading a map. A map is the framework - the outline - upon which both history and fantasy are crafted. Just as two people can witness an event and come up with entirely different recollections - each completely true, verifiable and accurate - two people can travel the same mapped route and come up with entirely different stories. But without the map, perhaps they'd have no story to tell. Some of the best anthologies in my library are stuffed in my map case.
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