Ryan had to say goodbye one last time.
March 21, 2008
March 20, 2008
tabula rasas
My brand new trip, so far, has followed old patterns and traced old routes. The travel styles I've developed over the last few years are all meshing together now and forming something new - I live out of my car AND my backpack these days. I've driven the length of California several times now, and each time adds a new dimension of memory, the landscapes are now painted with aging experiences, and the territory doesn't quite feel new, like I already own it somehow.
It's especially mind-boggling to consider that in a single day, I drove the entire length I spent those three months on the PCT.
My favorite thing about traveling (at least when road tripping in the U.S.) are brown signs. Unlike most boring, informative roadsigns, the brown ones are there purely to point you toward something interesting, intellectual or pleasurable. They're usually free of charge and often lead to placards, which I believe are a valuable form of learning. I've pretty much earned a bachelor's in Placards by now. I wonder if I could put that on a resume.
Besides landscapes and brown signs, people are a big reason I travel. The moment I embark, people suddenly reincarnate into my life in new ways, both longtime companions and those long-lost. This always happens to me - is it normal for a person to become more connected to his or her friends while on the road? So much of what I do on these little adventures is empowered and made easier by people who owe me no favors. So much that I'm don't really believe it'd be possible without them. So, thanks to you who have been a part of this trip and helped out in big and small ways already, and to the undoubtedly large number of people who'll join that category before I become still again.
Unfortunately, I had to forgo many brown signs to reach my first (dare I say it) pre-arranged destination in time. This, you see, is why I despise traveling under the weight of schedules - it's so hard to be open-minded to the unexpected, to the truly new, if you already have plans made. My destination was a hotel in Tucson, Arizona, which also happened to be a venue one of my favorite bands, the RX Bandits, were performing at.
I'd never gone to a concert alone before. No matter how enlightened you are, I think it's fair to say there's still a thin, unavoidable film of inhibition that surrounds virtually all people when they're with other people they know. I'm no exception. What a joy to have this peeled away! - to dance wildly, like a fool, in a room full of strangers who expected nothing of me and will remember as much.
That kind of anonymity brings me immeasurable joy, I'd even say it's one of the main reasons I travel. I can become practically invisible at will, I can melt into my environment almost seamlessly. I can be the quiet stranger in the corner, the friendly out-of-towner, the wacky maniac - I'm not restrained by any previous definition of myself. Why is it that our conceptions of people must always be so narrow?
Add in a fresh landscape or even new informational placards and it's a heavenly experience. That's all I want out here, a tabula rasa, a fresh start. I want to give up my days to the world and see what it provides. It's a weird exchange, I feel like both canvas and artist at times, but all that matters is that the thing starts blank.
I'm on a public library computer in Phoenix, Arizona right now, and my allotted time is almost up, so I've gotta run. Give me a call if you like, I still have my cell phone for a few weeks.
It's especially mind-boggling to consider that in a single day, I drove the entire length I spent those three months on the PCT.
My favorite thing about traveling (at least when road tripping in the U.S.) are brown signs. Unlike most boring, informative roadsigns, the brown ones are there purely to point you toward something interesting, intellectual or pleasurable. They're usually free of charge and often lead to placards, which I believe are a valuable form of learning. I've pretty much earned a bachelor's in Placards by now. I wonder if I could put that on a resume.
Besides landscapes and brown signs, people are a big reason I travel. The moment I embark, people suddenly reincarnate into my life in new ways, both longtime companions and those long-lost. This always happens to me - is it normal for a person to become more connected to his or her friends while on the road? So much of what I do on these little adventures is empowered and made easier by people who owe me no favors. So much that I'm don't really believe it'd be possible without them. So, thanks to you who have been a part of this trip and helped out in big and small ways already, and to the undoubtedly large number of people who'll join that category before I become still again.
Unfortunately, I had to forgo many brown signs to reach my first (dare I say it) pre-arranged destination in time. This, you see, is why I despise traveling under the weight of schedules - it's so hard to be open-minded to the unexpected, to the truly new, if you already have plans made. My destination was a hotel in Tucson, Arizona, which also happened to be a venue one of my favorite bands, the RX Bandits, were performing at.
I'd never gone to a concert alone before. No matter how enlightened you are, I think it's fair to say there's still a thin, unavoidable film of inhibition that surrounds virtually all people when they're with other people they know. I'm no exception. What a joy to have this peeled away! - to dance wildly, like a fool, in a room full of strangers who expected nothing of me and will remember as much.
That kind of anonymity brings me immeasurable joy, I'd even say it's one of the main reasons I travel. I can become practically invisible at will, I can melt into my environment almost seamlessly. I can be the quiet stranger in the corner, the friendly out-of-towner, the wacky maniac - I'm not restrained by any previous definition of myself. Why is it that our conceptions of people must always be so narrow?
Add in a fresh landscape or even new informational placards and it's a heavenly experience. That's all I want out here, a tabula rasa, a fresh start. I want to give up my days to the world and see what it provides. It's a weird exchange, I feel like both canvas and artist at times, but all that matters is that the thing starts blank.
I'm on a public library computer in Phoenix, Arizona right now, and my allotted time is almost up, so I've gotta run. Give me a call if you like, I still have my cell phone for a few weeks.
March 19, 2008
March 16, 2008
what's going to happen
It is important that you are aware that this is not a "plan," per se. Just a basic plot of ideas which enable access to future action.
There are some nasty rumors going around that I am a "planner." I'd like to come out and say, right now, that these are unequivocally and absolutely false. To prove my point, I have almost no idea what's going to happen in the next three months.
But what follows is a loose itinerary of what may or may not occur in that timeframe, and may or may not be recorded on this blog.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
March 17th: I get in my car and drive in a general southeastly direction.
March 19th: I arrive in Phoenix, Arizona. A certain band I like is playing this night.
March 20th-27th: My mother and sister arrive by plane.
March 21st - 26thth: We tour some canyons and other locations throughout the state.
March 27th: My mother and sister fly back home. My sister works her photo-magic and lets me upload some pictures onto this blog (please?).
March 28th-April 5th: I drive a long way east, all the way to Syracuse, NY.
April 5th: I park my car at an especially cool friend's house. (thanks!)
April 6th: I board a plane, fly to Spain. This is your last chance to call my cell phone, after that, you're going to have to use the call-button/email/comments to reach me.
April 7th: I arrive in Spain, meet up with Jennifer. She has this week off, we may travel around a bit.
April 14th-May 13th: Jenn is still in school, I might travel around Spain and the surrounding area, might go farther, who knows really. Apparently, the rock of Gibraltar is covered in wild monkeys, so I'm definitely going there.
May 13th - June 10th: Jenn is done with school, we backpack around Europe (foretaste: Italy and Greece top our list of destinations).
June 11th: Jennifer returns to Oregon.
June 11th - July 4th: I continue to travel to other exotic locations in Europe all by my lonesome.
July 4th: My automatic 90 day VISA in Europe expires. Maybe I'll fly home over a dazzling array of fireworks? Maybe I'll get my VISA extended? But hopefully, Spencer and I manage to somehow pull off a trip to China for another month.
August 13th: Okay, I have to be back in the states by this date, because Jenn and I will be driving a long way east (again) through Canada this time, over to Syracuse so I can reunite with my car (remember?) and live there for about a year.
Exciting stuff, right? No? Well, you're just hard to impress.
There are some nasty rumors going around that I am a "planner." I'd like to come out and say, right now, that these are unequivocally and absolutely false. To prove my point, I have almost no idea what's going to happen in the next three months.
But what follows is a loose itinerary of what may or may not occur in that timeframe, and may or may not be recorded on this blog.
March 17th: I get in my car and drive in a general southeastly direction.
March 19th: I arrive in Phoenix, Arizona. A certain band I like is playing this night.
March 20th-27th: My mother and sister arrive by plane.
March 21st - 26thth: We tour some canyons and other locations throughout the state.
March 27th: My mother and sister fly back home. My sister works her photo-magic and lets me upload some pictures onto this blog (please?).
March 28th-April 5th: I drive a long way east, all the way to Syracuse, NY.
April 5th: I park my car at an especially cool friend's house. (thanks!)
April 6th: I board a plane, fly to Spain. This is your last chance to call my cell phone, after that, you're going to have to use the call-button/email/comments to reach me.
April 7th: I arrive in Spain, meet up with Jennifer. She has this week off, we may travel around a bit.
April 14th-May 13th: Jenn is still in school, I might travel around Spain and the surrounding area, might go farther, who knows really. Apparently, the rock of Gibraltar is covered in wild monkeys, so I'm definitely going there.
May 13th - June 10th: Jenn is done with school, we backpack around Europe (foretaste: Italy and Greece top our list of destinations).
June 11th: Jennifer returns to Oregon.
June 11th - July 4th: I continue to travel to other exotic locations in Europe all by my lonesome.
July 4th: My automatic 90 day VISA in Europe expires. Maybe I'll fly home over a dazzling array of fireworks? Maybe I'll get my VISA extended? But hopefully, Spencer and I manage to somehow pull off a trip to China for another month.
August 13th: Okay, I have to be back in the states by this date, because Jenn and I will be driving a long way east (again) through Canada this time, over to Syracuse so I can reunite with my car (remember?) and live there for about a year.
Exciting stuff, right? No? Well, you're just hard to impress.
what i got
There are some people who love to know the nitty-gritty of what it takes to make travel possible. There are also some people who say, "Oh, I wish I could do that, but I don't have blahblahblah." This post is for you two types of people.
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Plane ticket to Europe: $350
Approximate cost of modifying PCT gear to Globe Trot gear: $100
Guidebooks: $50
Oil change: What oil change?
Money still in pocket for rest of trip: $4500
GEAR:
(note: all my gear fits into my trusty backpack [img])
1 person tent (img)
Sleeping bag/pad
1.5 change of clothes
long underwear
two hats
sun/regular glasses
rain jacket (so i stay dry)
umbrella (so I look dry while hitchhiking)
towel (if i get wet anyways)
medkit
pop-can stove, messkit
assorted bathroom kit
headlamp (expensive one - much better than the one I had on mt. whitney)
bag of odds & ends (like needle and thread, rope, compass, etc.)
journal
phone (for calculator, clock + stuff)
Jenn's letting me borrow her camera for pictures when I get to Spain. She's cool like that.
The point I'm trying to make here is an important one, something I've been trying to hit home with all of my travels...
You can do it. You can accomplish your crazy little dreams. I don't care if it's totally cliche and cheesy - it's absolutely true. I was utterly broke this time last year, homeless even. This trip was made possible with a minimum wage job. All it takes is some effort and some patience, and sheer gumption can fill in the blanks.
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Plane ticket to Europe: $350
Approximate cost of modifying PCT gear to Globe Trot gear: $100
Guidebooks: $50
Oil change: What oil change?
Money still in pocket for rest of trip: $4500
GEAR:
(note: all my gear fits into my trusty backpack [img])
1 person tent (img)
Sleeping bag/pad
1.5 change of clothes
long underwear
two hats
sun/regular glasses
rain jacket (so i stay dry)
umbrella (so I look dry while hitchhiking)
towel (if i get wet anyways)
medkit
pop-can stove, messkit
assorted bathroom kit
headlamp (expensive one - much better than the one I had on mt. whitney)
bag of odds & ends (like needle and thread, rope, compass, etc.)
journal
phone (for calculator, clock + stuff)
Jenn's letting me borrow her camera for pictures when I get to Spain. She's cool like that.
The point I'm trying to make here is an important one, something I've been trying to hit home with all of my travels...
You can do it. You can accomplish your crazy little dreams. I don't care if it's totally cliche and cheesy - it's absolutely true. I was utterly broke this time last year, homeless even. This trip was made possible with a minimum wage job. All it takes is some effort and some patience, and sheer gumption can fill in the blanks.
March 15, 2008
Multimedia message
This picture of Louie is entirely unrelated to my trip and was just to configure my cameraphone-to-blog settings.
...isn't he cute though?
March 10, 2008
The ads
Yeah, I know. I'm a total sellout.
This is going to be a very expensive trip. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I cannot afford it.
So, I put some ads on my site to try'n help pay for it.
Forgive me.
This is going to be a very expensive trip. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I cannot afford it.
So, I put some ads on my site to try'n help pay for it.
Forgive me.
March 9, 2008
Here we go again
Blogger tells me this my 10th blog. Gross.
Unfortunately, the URL I wanted is already taken. Oh well.
Welcome, early arrivals. This here site is to chronicle my next journey. Will this be my greatest travel blog yet?
Maybe!
Unfortunately, the URL I wanted is already taken. Oh well.
Welcome, early arrivals. This here site is to chronicle my next journey. Will this be my greatest travel blog yet?
Maybe!
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