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whirledtraveler
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Location: United States
Gender: Male
Interests: new experiences, meeting people, music, movies, hiking and climbing, sunsets and sunrises
Message: message me
Member Since:
3/1/2006
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| Portland, Oregon
That's right, the Northwest! This is probably the furthest north I've ever been, having crossed the 45th parallel yesterday. That's halfway between the equator and the North Pole! I've never been to the equator, either, but hope to someday soon.
I feel like I'm nearing the end of my trip, even though I have nearly 3 weeks left. I've been on the road nearly a month now, and while I've had my ups and downs, it's been a blast overall. Sorry to those of you reading this blog as your update on my travels--I haven't kept up on it as well as I wanted, and for that I'm sorry.
I'm making plans for the remainder of my trip, and it looks like it's shaping up to be a whirlwind tour. Tomorrow I'll likely head for Seattle, WA, spending a day or so there, then a quick trip up to Canada just to say I've been there. I may make it into Vancouver, but I don't know for certain. After that it's back down through Seattle on my way to Moab, UT, and Arches National Park. From there, depending on my time, I may swing by Zion National Park in southern Utah on my way towards Dallas, TX. I have a friend there I've been promising to visit for quite some time, and I need to keep that promise. After that, it's either back home to Indiana, or if time allows a run down through Louisiana and New Orleans, before finally returning home. Then I have only a day or so before I'm expected in northern Ohio for a wedding! Whew!
Seems like my slow-paced trip has really started to pick up steam. I hope I can handle it. More than that, I hope the van can handle it. I've already lost the radio (a REAL bummer) and my right brake light. I got pulled over for that in Yreka, California, yesterday. Also for wearing headphones while driving. I know that's not safe, but I need my music! Luckily no ticket, just a warning not to do that anymore. He didn't even tell me to get my light fixed. Guess that was just understood.
Anyway, that's the update on my life. Now I'm off for some more exploring of Portland. Wish me luck!
Keep traveling!
P.S. for pictures see my other xanga. I've been putting them there because my readership is higher. | | |
| Life on the open road...it's good.
Currently in Paso Robles, California, which is between San Diego and San Francisco. It's the location of the Hearst Castle, the estate of William Randolph Hearst. Hearst was reportedly the inspiration for Citizen Kane, one of the most influential and best films ever. So that's neat. Anyway, I'm probably going to go visit it tomorrow, then it's on to Sequoia National Monument.
Well, a quick update, but I'm still alive and having fun, so that's good.
Keep traveling. | | |
| Why do I love this roadtrip? For the opportunity to do random things like tonight.
I'm
in Twentynine Palms, California, seeing Joshua Tree National Park. My
cousin Kevin is a Marine stationed here, so I visit him and his new
wife Rebecca today. Kevin is flying home to Virginia tonight, with his
wife to folllow in a week. His flight leaves from Las Vegas, and he
asks if I want to drive up with him, so I could return his car to
California. I say sure, why not? Yeah I was just in Vegas, and yeah
it's at least a 3 hour trip, but what else do I have to be doing?
We
take off, and right away I realize that Kevin is perhaps the craziest
driver I've ever had the dubious priviledge to ride with. He doesn't
drop below 120 mph for the first 50 miles of the trip. We slow only
because of some railroad tracks. It's something of an adventure, I'll
just say that.
Kevin professes to have taken this route many
times, delivering friends to the airport and such. I believe him, and
thus assume that there must not be any cops on these roads. That is
until we're leaving the quaint little town of Searchlight, Nevada.
Kevin is pushing 120 again on a four-lane highway when suddenly we see
red-and-blue lights on the other side. Profanity flies, though at first
Kevin thinks maybe the cop isn't after him. I of course am doubtful,
but he insists that maybe it's just a coincidence that the cop jumps
the median, lights and siren blaring, and comes after us. I tell him
he'd better pull over, but he's seriously considering running. I
seriously consider jumping out of the car.
As the cop shines his
spot into the car, Kevin ultimately decides to pull over, after a bit
more urging. (Let's just say here it's not a good thing for Kevin to
get a ticket. As a Marine he has more to lose than the average
civilian.) The police officer approaches my window (passenger side) and
I roll it down, still finishing off my spicy mcchicken from our
McDonald's stop a few miles back. He questions Kevin on his speed, and
I calmly eat my sandwich. When Kevin admits to possibly going almost
100, the officer smiles and says he clocked him at 113 (very generous,
if you ask me). Furthermore, the cop's sergeant also clocked us in
excess of 100 a while back, and radioed ahead for this guy to pick us
up.
We may be in trouble here.
Kevin gives the cop his
Marine Corps I.D. along with the license and registration, and tells
him that he's just returned from duty in Iraq (true). Though I doubt
it, Kevin is hopeful that this may lessen his degree of screwed. While
we sit and wait with the cop's spot blinding us, I try to find the good
in the situation (times like these I like to be the eternal optimist).
As I search for positives, Kevin contemplates running again. (We're in
a Honda Accord. Yeah.) When the sergeant shows up in his Expedition,
Kevin is certain he could have outrun him. I agree, then remind him of
the cops' radios, roadblocks, and handcuffs. As it is, we're both
realizing that he's liable for reckless endangerment, which usually
ends in jailtime.
The cop finally comes back with news that
while his sergeant is furious and wants to arrest Kevin, impound the
car, and anally rape us, he is getting off with just a ticket. While
Kevin complains bitterly and plots revenge a la Public Enemy, I try my
best to get him to realize how easy he's getting off. I think he might
have got it, though by the time we reach Vegas he's pushing 90 again.
My
cousin is 19, and has had his license for a year and a half. This is
his first (though doubtful not his last) ticket. I smile a little.
::edit:: I know I said this would be a pic site, but I've put up some at my other xanga. Czech 'em out.
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| I'm finally underway! I left yesterday for my trip, and I'm currently in the Greater St. Louis area, visiting my cousin and his wife. Tomorrow I leave for Texas (it's like a whole other country) and the city of Dallas, home of Cowboys, J R, and my friend from high school Stephen, who is in grad school to become a scientist of some sort. Not that any of you care about that.
So yesterday before I left it snowed! Second day of spring we got almost 3 inches of snow.
spring wonderland
When I packed up the van I just kinda threw everything in there, didn't really organize yet. Here's a picture:
keri inspects the damage
Well, that's all I have so far. I promise more later, as photos get taken  .
Happy trails. | | |
| So I'm making the final preparations for my trip. I think I'll be leaving Tuesday or Wednesday. I hope. I'm just getting my food and cooking supplies together now, and deciding all the last minute stuff I'll need. It's suprising how much planning you actually have to do for a plan-less roadtrip. A few months is a long time.
Here is the beast I'll be cruising in the next few months:
insert good nickname here
I'm taking suggestions for a sweet name for the van, since you can't drive something this lame/cool and not have a great nickname.
Here's my view for the next couple months:
on the road again
Happy trails. | | |
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