7.07.09

A Month of the Pacific Northwest.
This is a two-parter.

Of all the places I would make my home.

I was in Portland so long ago that it now seems nearly irrelevant to write about. But since I was there I should at least tell you something. I will quickly say, that this young city has more potential than most places I've visited in the last 4 months. Potential to be great! A place that people will be heavily talking about in the next 10 years or less. That is if the world survives... If we don't completely kill each other off and destroy the planet...
But, Portland just so happens to be the type of place that could help save the world. Well maybe not, but it could at least shed some influence to others and encourage a change of the way things are sorely and sourly going right now. What I mean is, the city of Portland is progressive in a way that if the rest of the U.S. decided to mimic, the planet could be a slightly happier one.
People there tend to interact a lot more and seem to carry a genuine kindness and care about them(not everyone of course, but a majority that I met). The public transit is top notch and very affordable and tends to run ahead of schedule. There is no state sales tax, they encourage local economy and put emphasis on local goods. They encourage art and alternative lifestyles. The city recycling program is very well organized and you can actually receive incentives for making your home more energy efficient. Oh, and I think I might move there.
Besides that, I began yet another music project that is sure to develop over the next few years. I also met a woman who could possibly chisel the cold stone off of my heart. But as always, I had an untimely departure in quest of more adventure.
So I left all these wonderful things in the dust with hope to one day return.

Here are some additional Photos of Portland.


Things never go as planned but usually work out in the end...
I'm actually about to leave Seattle, but I'll briefly elaborate what I've been doing here for the last three weeks.
You see, before I was even anywhere close to Seattle, my funds were getting very low - far too low to be traveling in any other direction than homeward. I knew this, but I had to go, it was a must. Even if this continuation to the North was completely irresponsible, it was completely impossible to talk myself out of it.
And so be it, I set out for the Emerald City!


I contacted a fellow couchsurfer named, Frank and requested to stay with him for only two days. And, it was after only the first day of fighting traffic, getting lost, and having a total blast when I realized my bank account had been cleared of all but about 60 dollars! 60 dollars can't even take you to the moon or anywhere closer these days, so what the hell was I to do?
My "fun" quickly came to a halt and I suddenly found myself in a bit of a situation. Some friends and family offered to bail me out, but I refused. This trip was never meant to be easy and for the very first time it had become difficult, and I found much excitement in that.
I needed to find the money or the means to make it home. After all, I got myself into this tight spot, so I shamefully asked Frank if I could stay until I raised enough money to get back. He agreed and eventually offered me an extra room in his Capitol Hill basement bungalow. He shared all of his food, left a key out so I could come and go as I pleased, and caused me to feel less like a couchsurfer and more like a roomate and a friend.
This became the closet thing I've had to a home since leaving Illinois. I naturally became comfortable with the various Seattle neighborhoods, the quirky streets and the transit routes. I began finding a variety of free activities to occupy my impoverished afternoons and evenings, and also met some new friends and couchsurfers alike. Frank taught me the art of dumpster diving to help supplement my lack of food and funds and I began walking between 5-10 miles a day to save on bus fare.
Stuck... One couldn't ask for a more beautiful place to get stuck. I kept thinking to myself, "Thank god it isn't Kansas or Nevada."
Seattle was growing on me pretty thick and I was considering a more permanent stay. But, regardless of what I was considering or might choose as my outcome, my biggest priority was to find work.
I searched Craigslist everyday for hours with no results. This is a pretty difficult task if you've never looked for work this way before, especially when you don't qualify for most positions and only need to find temporary employment.
I created a post under the general labor section and received a few sketchy replies. Finally, as chance would have it, someone contacted me for some legitimate work and at a very high wage too.
They say, "A grand don't come for free" and that's the damn truth. I spent 5 days shoveling dirt, pushing wheelbarrows, a dumping trailer loads. I moved brick, moved stone, excavated land and built walls. I washed windows, mixed mortar and laid tile. I spread mulch, mowed grass, tilled the earth and put down new sod. I cut my hands, strained my groin, and burnt the skin off my body. Yes it was laborious, and my memories of life in the midwest returned to me with great appreciation. A wad of cash, cold beer and a hot shower at the end of the day only feels rewarding after having done real work.
Once again I had earned my freedom.

I breaks my heart to do it, but tonight I will say goodbye to my new friends and this wonderful city. The Midwest calls and I am returning home.

View more Seattle here.

6.24.09

Towering Trees and the Coast that Wins Hearts.

I'd love to take some time to tell you about the trees that are wider than elephants and taller than any man made structure in Central Illinois. I'd love to tell you about the ancient Redwood forests and how incredibly powerless you'll feel in the presence of these erect and colossal towers.
I suppose I could go into further detail, but this is really something you should witness for yourself. Seeing these trees up close and personal will change your perspective of the world. You might decide that you believe in Sasquatch too.

What else...


I'd love to go into detail about camping on the northern California beach or driving along 341 miles of rugged coast, speckled by evergreen trees and jungle-like foliage.
I'd like to tell you more about the massive boulders that project from the waters and how these statue-like mounds evoke geological curiosity and awe. (one of the reoccurring visual highlights of the coast).
The beaches seem as vast as the ocean; they go on for a great distance until fading out into a haze of gentle mist.
Sea Lions hunt crustaceans in the surf-tide during sunset and I sit in the sand with a bag of fresh picked cherries and 40 ounces of PBR. It is all very much a paradise.













Without argument, the 101 is the finest highway you'll ever drive. Don't argue!

I'd love to tell you much much more, but I've traveled a much further distances since those days and have fallen on more crucial times that you will probably find more entertaining than the ongoing beauty of the west coast. So I must get caught up.

... More to come. In the mean time enjoy these photos.

6.17.09

With or Without Flowers In Your Hair.

We hadn't got any sleep on the train. There were too many friends and cocktails being made. Then we got in my car and drove off into the night. We hadn't slept much at the rest stop either. Somebody should probably film a horror movie there. Every time I'd doze off, I would wake up in a startle. So we shared driving duties. One passed out while the other stared blankly at the 500 miles of highway ahead.
We were overcome with anticipation,
and also disappointment every time we'd pass a new road sign.
San Francisco 320 miles.
San Francisco 180 miles.
San Francisco 70 miles.
We seemed to only inch closer, and we'd been in the car for nearly half a day.
But finally the traffic grew thicker, the lanes wider and the vehicles faster.

San Franscisco might be one of the most memorable places you'll ever drive into.
I recall coming around a long curvy highway and thinking we had to be close. And all within an instant we came into an opening and were confronted by the bays glinting blue water all of 20 feet from the road. Fresh cool air blows in through the window. You see the outline of a large coastal city and in the hazy distance stands a far but gargantuan silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Our first steps out of the car are through the nations largest China Town. I tower like a walking light post, asian girls gawk and I see a young black man get beat to the ground by two other thugs. I watch this unfold in front of me but don't feel a thing, yet I watch intently and can't seem to pull my eye's away from it. The stimulation of being in a new place has made me numb and I just seem to absorb everything weather it's beautiful or violent.

We only stay two days in San Francisco but explore nearly every corner of the city. It certainly wasn't enough time to discover any sort of impressive nightlife so we created our own.

For a cheap and adventurous evening I recommend hitting up happy hour at the Elbow Room in the mission district. It's has about 10 really affordable local brews and you're likely to be the only one in the joint. It's daylight outside but once you get through the front curtain, you'll drink by candlelight.

Then take the BART (the underground train) back up to the North Beach and have a ride on the vintage trolley cars. It's really affordable (like a couple dollars) and there's one that follows along the North Beach Piers. Good views. Fresh sea air.

You can walk across the golden gate bridge and drink wine. This is totally free. You should probably wait til it's dark before popping the cork. If you get there before dark, you'll have a good opportunity for some skyline photos. This is one of the most beautiful views in all of San Fran. The whole city is viewable and sometimes moon lit. When you reach the middle of the bridge, look over the edge and think about how terrifying it most have been for all the people who have jumped. Oh, and don't jump, you'll be killed.

When you've had enough of the bridge you can go sit along the beach and finish your Merlot or open another one. Watch out for the cops! they like to come around with their spotlights and even flash their cherries a bit, but they don't actually walk onto the beach. Hide behind a sand dune until they drive off, it's worth it. From this beach you'll have the golden gate to your left and Alcatraz prison to you right.

When you leave San Francisco make sure to take Highway 1 until the 101 reaches the coast. Don't forget.

...TBC