30 June 2009
rePSYCHology
man oh man. my heart now belongs to northern california. i dont want to take time from my adventuring right now to blog but, great stories are to come. see everyone in a week.
18 June 2009
this here 15th of june.
forget the wolves that live under my bed or the sharks swimming in the deep end of the miles river yacht club pool, driving on hwy 1 at night time by far supersedes these terrifying nightmares. i am quite honestly surprised that i survived the 4 hour journey from eugene to eureka. after several angry encounters with fellow hwy 1-ers earlier in the trip, i noticed a certain etiquette impossible to follow at night time.
1-its okay to go slow-esp in rv's and vans. this is no time to race.
2-only okay to go slow if, when possible, one pulls off to let the porsches and corvettes of the roadways pass
3-do not tail gate. its just not safe.
last night i broke all of these cardinal rules. it was impossible to pull of because i could not see the turn offs until too late. the people behind me were tailgating me pressuring me to go faster than comfortable, and the only way i could stay on the the road was by following the car in front of me closely enough to use their tailgate lights as guides. AHHHH.
1-its okay to go slow-esp in rv's and vans. this is no time to race.
2-only okay to go slow if, when possible, one pulls off to let the porsches and corvettes of the roadways pass
3-do not tail gate. its just not safe.
last night i broke all of these cardinal rules. it was impossible to pull of because i could not see the turn offs until too late. the people behind me were tailgating me pressuring me to go faster than comfortable, and the only way i could stay on the the road was by following the car in front of me closely enough to use their tailgate lights as guides. AHHHH.
naked cougars?
written june 12, 2009:
"This is the first time I've seen a girl naked before I knew her name," the hitch hiker said to me and Georgia as we stood at the river edge cooling off from the McCready Hot Springs. We took the hour drive to several hot springs with several co-opers: Nick, Monica, Chris, and Steve. Nick replaced Martha as our human GPS, complete with a sudo-Scottish accent. I honestly would have believed anything he "taught" us while he was speaking with the accent.
About 2 minutes outside of Eugene, we came across Thomas the hitcher. Since I was driving we didn't get properly introduced hence the awkward comment at the McCready river. But I later found out that he is a 26 year old kid from Fort Collins, CO and was traveling because he needed a little adventure but didn't have any money. He squeezed in the back with everybody and decided to postpone going to Sacramento for a day so he could accompany us to the McCready and Cougar Hot Springs.
When we finally arrived at the 1st Hot Spring, McCready, I had no idea what I was in store for. When they said "clothing optional," it is only a figure of speech. Monica was the first to strip down and the rest of us quickly followed. I kept my cool, which was especially difficult with no recent shaving, showers are hard when you are on the road. But I immediately got over my fear of nudity and found it quite enjoyable. We would sit in the hot pools as long as possible, then run to the icy river, dunk in and return for another round. Georgia, Monica and I even went for a naked hike, which, if you haven't experienced, I highly advise it. I felt like we were forest nymphs, and it was a little rainy, which made it that more exciting. Wearing clothes is so overrated.
After a quick snack of soggy rain bread, we headed for the second hot spring, Cougar. Although, we had to pay $5 each to get in, it was totally worth it. The pools were deeper, and the perfect temperature. We didn't have the same privacy that we did at McCready but we could stretch out and fully submerge in the steamy pools. There were 6 old hippie men, complete with pot bellies and long beards. They were nice enough, almost too talkative, but I didn't feel compromised since there were so many of us.
THE EUGENE SATURDAY MARKET
With a final attempt of riding the Lorax tandem bicycle resulting with massive bruising on our inner thighs, Georgia and I decided to find a different means of transportation to the Eugene Saturday Market. The festivities were very bustling. There were tons of families, artists, musicians, great food, and hippies of all kinds. The market was separated into 4 sections. there was the craft center which sported hand made goods, produce ally providing every kind of organic vegetable imaginable, live music/prepared food booths with tons of vegan options, and the ganja corner where one could find the finest hand blown glass pipes--this is were the stoners and travelers hung out, played hacky sack and beat on drums. We both got some ethnic food for brunch and splurged on some local strawberries...mmmm.
As much as I am enjoying Eugene and all the people we have met here, I feel it is time to go. I am excited to see new things and learn about organic farming. There is only so lo9ng it is fun to stay temporarily in someone else's permanent home. Thanks everyone at the Lorax and Campbell Club for a great week!
"This is the first time I've seen a girl naked before I knew her name," the hitch hiker said to me and Georgia as we stood at the river edge cooling off from the McCready Hot Springs. We took the hour drive to several hot springs with several co-opers: Nick, Monica, Chris, and Steve. Nick replaced Martha as our human GPS, complete with a sudo-Scottish accent. I honestly would have believed anything he "taught" us while he was speaking with the accent.
About 2 minutes outside of Eugene, we came across Thomas the hitcher. Since I was driving we didn't get properly introduced hence the awkward comment at the McCready river. But I later found out that he is a 26 year old kid from Fort Collins, CO and was traveling because he needed a little adventure but didn't have any money. He squeezed in the back with everybody and decided to postpone going to Sacramento for a day so he could accompany us to the McCready and Cougar Hot Springs.
When we finally arrived at the 1st Hot Spring, McCready, I had no idea what I was in store for. When they said "clothing optional," it is only a figure of speech. Monica was the first to strip down and the rest of us quickly followed. I kept my cool, which was especially difficult with no recent shaving, showers are hard when you are on the road. But I immediately got over my fear of nudity and found it quite enjoyable. We would sit in the hot pools as long as possible, then run to the icy river, dunk in and return for another round. Georgia, Monica and I even went for a naked hike, which, if you haven't experienced, I highly advise it. I felt like we were forest nymphs, and it was a little rainy, which made it that more exciting. Wearing clothes is so overrated.
After a quick snack of soggy rain bread, we headed for the second hot spring, Cougar. Although, we had to pay $5 each to get in, it was totally worth it. The pools were deeper, and the perfect temperature. We didn't have the same privacy that we did at McCready but we could stretch out and fully submerge in the steamy pools. There were 6 old hippie men, complete with pot bellies and long beards. They were nice enough, almost too talkative, but I didn't feel compromised since there were so many of us.
THE EUGENE SATURDAY MARKET
With a final attempt of riding the Lorax tandem bicycle resulting with massive bruising on our inner thighs, Georgia and I decided to find a different means of transportation to the Eugene Saturday Market. The festivities were very bustling. There were tons of families, artists, musicians, great food, and hippies of all kinds. The market was separated into 4 sections. there was the craft center which sported hand made goods, produce ally providing every kind of organic vegetable imaginable, live music/prepared food booths with tons of vegan options, and the ganja corner where one could find the finest hand blown glass pipes--this is were the stoners and travelers hung out, played hacky sack and beat on drums. We both got some ethnic food for brunch and splurged on some local strawberries...mmmm.
As much as I am enjoying Eugene and all the people we have met here, I feel it is time to go. I am excited to see new things and learn about organic farming. There is only so lo9ng it is fun to stay temporarily in someone else's permanent home. Thanks everyone at the Lorax and Campbell Club for a great week!
11 June 2009
hippie christmas
So it's June 11th, and life is great. I am really getting used to this on the road lifestyle...if you can call it that. Georgia and I have found ourselves in Eugene, OR at a co-op house collective. Eugene is a small college city with 120,000 residents during the school year, and 90,000 in the summer. The Campbell Club and The Lorax are the two co-op houses separated only by a small alley, in which every toy from merry-go-round horses and hula hoops can be found. Both buildings used to be greek life houses and now house 30 co-opters each. Since we have spent more time with Lorax-ers, I tend to have more ties to the house. Plus, the actual building is a little cooler--sorry Campbell Club. The first night we were here, Renee took us to the roof for the sunset. It was beautiful, especially since the Lorax is a taller building. The rest of the house is pretty sweet too. The first floor has the vortex-a living room nook in which one can be sucked into for hour long conversations; the rainbow room-aka the library-in which bizarre books can be found; the living room which houses a couch fort; a sweet industrial size kitchen-only vegan cooking allowed.
Everyone here is super friendly and have included us in their daily routines. We have gone camping numerous times in Fall Creek. We dumpster dive regularly. Bread is never short here. After being here for a week, the only food Georgia and I have bought is some pizza from a highly reccommended pizza joint called the Pizza Research Institute. We got a 1/2 and 1/2: one side asparugus, garlic and tomatoes and the other pears, potatoes and vegan pesto. It was probably the best pizza I have EVER had in the entirety of my life.
Last night we went on a fun adventure in La Sharo-a small RV which can be run completely on vegetable oil. The constant smell of french fries accompanies this sweet vehicle. La Sharo is owned by a stellar dude named Will. There is no way to describe Will other than "uncle" of the Lorax. He came and picked us up in the alley and 15 of us squeezed into the magical transporter. After an hour ride up windy road, and a pit stop to help La Sharo up hill, we arrived on top of the world. We could see all the lights from Eugene and Springfield (the springfield from the simpsons). After collecting some firewood (whole dead trees), we had a rager, ate some popcorn, fell asleep in La Sharo and woke up in Eugene at 5am.
It's great because I never know what to expect while in Eugene. This week is finals week at the University of Oregon, and it is what co-opters like to call "hippie-christmas." Laptops, full jars of pb, brand new smart wool socks, wooden pipes, sweet clothes, banners, and more have been found in the dumpsters so far. I gotta run because we are headed to the dorms now to see what we can find.
Everyone here is super friendly and have included us in their daily routines. We have gone camping numerous times in Fall Creek. We dumpster dive regularly. Bread is never short here. After being here for a week, the only food Georgia and I have bought is some pizza from a highly reccommended pizza joint called the Pizza Research Institute. We got a 1/2 and 1/2: one side asparugus, garlic and tomatoes and the other pears, potatoes and vegan pesto. It was probably the best pizza I have EVER had in the entirety of my life.
Last night we went on a fun adventure in La Sharo-a small RV which can be run completely on vegetable oil. The constant smell of french fries accompanies this sweet vehicle. La Sharo is owned by a stellar dude named Will. There is no way to describe Will other than "uncle" of the Lorax. He came and picked us up in the alley and 15 of us squeezed into the magical transporter. After an hour ride up windy road, and a pit stop to help La Sharo up hill, we arrived on top of the world. We could see all the lights from Eugene and Springfield (the springfield from the simpsons). After collecting some firewood (whole dead trees), we had a rager, ate some popcorn, fell asleep in La Sharo and woke up in Eugene at 5am.
It's great because I never know what to expect while in Eugene. This week is finals week at the University of Oregon, and it is what co-opters like to call "hippie-christmas." Laptops, full jars of pb, brand new smart wool socks, wooden pipes, sweet clothes, banners, and more have been found in the dumpsters so far. I gotta run because we are headed to the dorms now to see what we can find.
01 June 2009
May 31st: Day 10 (an odd place to begin a story)
I knew this day would come. We unplugged Martha, our approapriately named GPS (sorry all you Martha's out there whom I'm sure are not reading my blog), since it is so satisfying to yell "Damn you Martha!" when she leads us astray. Since we have driven 2800 miles from St. Michaels, she has hardly been given a vacation. Granite, we only took I-40 west from the Grand Canyon, making no turns, to Barstow, CA. But, the entire leg was completed entirely old school with one of the many free atlases we had lying around my house predeparture, thanks State Farm Insurance.
I guess for your sake, I should back my story up since I am beginning this blog at what may seem like the end of a cross country road trip (since I am from MD and already in CA). Some quick fun facts that I deem are either vital to this story of just too good to leave out:
1. I have been "planning" (wanting to go) on this adventure since last summer's family vacation to northern california.
2. My partner in crime is Georgia aka "bluebird" and she is AWESOME.
3. Our plan is loose. So far I have hiked 21 miles on the AT from Pearisburg, VA (and still have the blisters to prove it); stopped in New Orleans; visited a couple state parks in TX and AZ; and just left the Grand Canyon, LA bound. We are staying there tonight then heading up the coast to San Fran and possibly Portland but, have no firm plans.
4. The trip is being completed in my family's old purple 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. He has been renamed Marvin (sorry Zoe), and been refurbished. We removed his center seat, put down some recycled wool carpet (very comfy to sleep on), gave him some lace curtains ($1 find at a 2nd hand shop in Williams, AZ).
5. Georgia, Martha, Marvin and I have been rondezvouzing with my frind Stacey Lou who is also from MD and three of her friends: Marcus, Scott, and Ben.
Dang, my computer time is running out...more to come.
I guess for your sake, I should back my story up since I am beginning this blog at what may seem like the end of a cross country road trip (since I am from MD and already in CA). Some quick fun facts that I deem are either vital to this story of just too good to leave out:
1. I have been "planning" (wanting to go) on this adventure since last summer's family vacation to northern california.
2. My partner in crime is Georgia aka "bluebird" and she is AWESOME.
3. Our plan is loose. So far I have hiked 21 miles on the AT from Pearisburg, VA (and still have the blisters to prove it); stopped in New Orleans; visited a couple state parks in TX and AZ; and just left the Grand Canyon, LA bound. We are staying there tonight then heading up the coast to San Fran and possibly Portland but, have no firm plans.
4. The trip is being completed in my family's old purple 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. He has been renamed Marvin (sorry Zoe), and been refurbished. We removed his center seat, put down some recycled wool carpet (very comfy to sleep on), gave him some lace curtains ($1 find at a 2nd hand shop in Williams, AZ).
5. Georgia, Martha, Marvin and I have been rondezvouzing with my frind Stacey Lou who is also from MD and three of her friends: Marcus, Scott, and Ben.
Dang, my computer time is running out...more to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
