By Casey Holdahl

The third leg of the “Make it Better” Summer Tour presented by Kia started off in earnest with a day trip to the Salem/Keizer area, but on Tuesday we kicked off the overnight portion of the trip. It was off to Albany, after which we’d traverse the Santiam Pass, ending the day in Sun River.

We had a full day of activities in “Hub City” before taking our tour eastside. VP of Community Relations Traci Rose and VP of Broadcasting Dick Vardanega swung by my place in North Portland bright and early in the burgundy Kia Sedona. After a quick rally at the Rose Garden, it was onto I-5 to visit KLOO AM, our Albany affiliate. Having arrived a little bit early, Vardanega and radio analyst Antonio Harvey had a chance to make an unannounced visit to the KRKT studio to say hello to an old friend who sometimes fills in for Jay Allen on post-game radio show. After some ribbing and reminiscing, Harvey walked a door over to the KLOO studio to pay thanks to the station and its listeners for being such great supporters of the team.

After bestowing various Blazers goodies upon Trina Smith, the station’s promotions director, we saddled up and headed to Pop’s Branding Iron Restaurant for quick bite. After a little cowboy trivia and a short stack, we cruised a few blocks over to the Albany Boy’s and Girl’s Club for another free basketball clinic.

It never ceases to amaze me how great of a response we get during these camps. Close to 70 boys and girls filled up the gym at the club, hungry for instruction from Antonio, Dick, interns Jordan Davidson and Molly Meadows, and (last and certainly least) myself. After stretches and various skills stations, we set up cones for the hotly contested dribble showdown. Following that spirited throwdown, the shooters took to the floor for the free throw contest. Sometimes I get a little nervous that maybe these competitions will turn unfriendly, but they never do. All of the kids have such great attitudes that jealousy never seems to come into play.

The hottest doc on the block, Sun E. Smart of Providence Health Services, showed up toward the end of the clinic to hand out sun screen and warn the kids of the dangers of over-exposure. After Sun E. did her thing, we handed out wristbands and lanyards to Albany’s best and brightest while Antonio joked and signed autographs. Another successful camp completed.

The last stop before traveling east was maybe our most special interaction of the day. We had an opportunity to have lunch with Tracy, a big time Trail Blazers fan, one of his friends and his caregiver Loralei. Tracy, quite possibly the biggest Blazers Believer in Albany, follows the team religiously despite having to deal with blindness and lymphoma. Tracy filled us in on all of his favorite Trail Blazers past and present over hamburgers and milkshakes. After our meal, Antonio presented Tracy with few signed pieces of Blazers memorabilia and a new hat, which replaced the cap he had obviously worn nearly every day for several years. As we said our goodbyes I had the overwhelming sense that everybody had received something valuable.

After a quick stop for gas (one of the few we’ve had to make thanks to the efficiency of the Sedona) it was east on HWY 20 toward Bend. It might have technically been the shortest route, which is probably why Molly’s GPS guided us as such, but I doubt it was the quickest. Winding roads accompanied by sheer cliffs made for slow going, but the Sedona, piloted by the steady hand of Traci Rose, was more than up to the task. The slower pace allowed us to take in the beauty that abounds in our fair state and who could be upset about that?

Summer Tour Maps: Trip 1 | Trip 2 | Trip 3 | Trip 4

Tour Stops: Salem | Albany | Bend | Prineville

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