Stories from the Road – Bend, Oregon
I guess Johnny looks pretty approachable in his orange board shorts, dripping with river water, as he rinses off at the outdoor shower, when up rides a friendly guy on a bike.
Jakob the bike-riding baker: “What’s up? Where are you heading?”
Johnny: “We’re traveling for the year and just did some paddling on the Deschutes River.”
Jakob: “Cool, how do you like Bend?”
Johnny: “It’s awesome!”
Jakob: “Have you been to the Sparrow Bakery?”
Johnny: “Yeah, we love that place.”
Jakob: “Well, I am Jakob, a baker at the Sparrow.”
Julie: “That’s so cool. Do you think we could come visit you at the bakery?”
Jakob: “Sure, I’ll be there tomorrow. Just come to the back door at 4:00 a.m. What’s your dog’s name? He’s beautiful.”
Johnny: “That’s my brother, Max.”
Later that night we move our rig and camp in the parking lot of the Sparrow Bakery. The next morning, at 4:00 a.m., Jakob the baker greets us at the back door with a smile. Wearing a white apron, he moves fluidly around the kitchen, mixing flour and spritzing dough. We watch and learn. Jakob pauses to enlighten us about the importance of yeast and mold, as an artisanal, pungent smell seeps into our clothes.
A couple hours later, I tear off the heel of a pain rustique and dunk it in olive oil. Charlie eats an almond croissant, and Johnny chows down two of the Sparrow’s “most enjoyed pastry,” an ocean roll—a croissant with cardamom vanilla sugar baked inside. Then we all go back to bed.
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