Roots and Wings

trek home and Just what Easter should be

2010-04-05T10:32:00.002-04:00

As I plot and plod my way back across the USA, I've made many happy stops.

I stayed for almost a week with my childhood bestie, Colin Morgan and his gf Lynnea in Bend, OR. Going up in helicopters, out on hikes, cooking dinner and giving myself a little more of a buzzcut than I bargained for.

Nea and I found this driftwood "fort" along the river we were hiking. Both of our childhood wonder at fun places to make and "hide-out" were ignited.

Next stop Boise, ID. Invited to a lovely dinner with a high school classmate, Holly Manning. Got to meet her beautiful family and see her lovely home. Then off to downtown Boise to meet up with Colin's boss for a couple beers, music superb conversation and Capitol viewing.

I let myself in late to the Hostel Boise, a very clean and charming hostel just outside Boise in Nampa. I was the only one there, but the next morning Elsa, the proprietress, came thru and we talked at length about hostels and reinstated my drive (should it have flagged).

The drive up to Driggs, Idaho was gorgeous if a little snowy.

A common site around about these parts are grain silos and grain elevators. Farming is big business here.

Much of this country is flat and where this is the case, the horizon feels like the ocean horizon where the sky stretches on forever and the land is dwarfed.

I stopped at Craters of the Moon National Monument... but too much snow meant the driving loop was closed and as were all of the hiking trails. I braved a little hike regardless and ended up in snow up to my thigh. But playing the cat game is fun, stepping lightly and trying to figure out how to spread your weight so you don't crunch thru the snow crust. The lava rock formations are very cool. 2,000 years have passed since the last eruption... about time for another one.

Stayed with Erika Hansen in Driggs, Idaho. She's was formerly an acquaintance from Portland and now she's a friend. I love this game! She's a brilliant musician and played me some songs old and new.

Crossing the Rockies was a little hair raising. I took the Grand Teton Pass in a snowstorm. Climbed one side ever so slowly and then navigated the 10% grades down on the other side. Amazingly after descending the first couple hundred feet the roads were dry and the snow storm cleared up. Ahhh weather, you are such a fierce and unusual phenomenon.

I couldn't find a couch to surf in Cheyenne, Wyoming, but that's just as well because it meant I got the chance to stay with Nathaniel Kitchel in Laramie, WY. Driving into Laramie was hard for me as the Matthew Shepard story weighed heavily in my mind. The town looks quite desolate until you get into the "downtown proper" area. Extensive conversations with Nathaniel and a taste of the local culture in first the Buck Horn Bar...

and then the Front Street (name?) bar with a totally hipster vibe, dispelled the last of my shivers about the town of Laramie. After all, hate is all around us and inside each and every one of us... as awful as that is, it's true. It's all a matter of facing the evils and doing something different with it.

I've covered a lot of road in past week. Oregon to Kansas with only 6-8 hour days of driving (more than that and I don't feel like I can enjoy myself). Driven thru blizzards, scary blowing snow, much sun and open prairie.

I often hold the wheel like this and find my fingers aching and switch my grip.

I know I don't look that happy as I'm driving, but assure you, I've been having a pretty good time. Currently listening to the audiobook, DUNE by Frank Herbert, an old classic, but one I've never read.

The Lincoln, Nebraska capitol building is VERY impressive. Dubbed the "Penis of the Prairies" by locals, complete with a statue at top of a man sowing seeds. The interior of the pillared edifice is in the running for the grandest I've seen (and I've seen quite a few by now).

bad picture, I know, I have more with my good camera.

From Lincoln, NE the plan was to jet to St. Louis, MO and then on to Chicago to meet a couple friends coming out to explore Chicago with me. I got a couple pointers from people to check out Lawrence, Kansas and when you get the same bit of advice often in a short period of time it makes you think "maybe there's something to that." The feeling of Lawrence, KS being a prophecied destination was cemented when my father told me that one of his childhood friends, Bobby Lominska, has an organic farm in Lawrence. "Okay," I said, "give me his info." I called up the Lominska farm out of the blue and asked if I could come stay the night. They welcomed me and more than that invited me to stay for Easter.

I got the pleasure of a wonderful Easter complete with burning a brush pile before noon,

getting in some dirt therapy, planting a row of green onions; honing my skills, trying to find the most effective way to plant, still being shown up by Bob doubling my productivity (he's been at it a bit longer than I have); meeting the family, hanging out on a dock on a little farm pond, eating a wonderful traditional ham dinner, making devilled eggs from the farm fresh eggs for a light dinner and picking lettuce from the hoop house for the freshest salad every meal.

- Posted from the road

Redwoods

2010-03-23T11:27:00.001-04:00

Yesterday started by waking up from my first night of sleep in Falkor.

A little cramped, but overall, not bad.

My intention was to get up early and head straight to the collection of redwood forest parks. But upon finding an envelope requesting $35 for camping in Patrick Point State Park. I decided I might as well get my money's worth. So off I went on a glorious sunrise hike, on rocks and cliffs overlooking the powerful Pacific ocean.
When I returned to my car there was an imposing ranger truck parked next to Falkor. The ranger got out and asked if I was "Serene" (no one ever gets my name right, but that he'd taken the trouble to look up Falkor's info to find out who I was... Alert, alert). We had a very pleasant conversation where he told me that I should have read all the info on the guard house and that there's usually an $85 fine for camping in a non-camping area. I told him I slept in my car, that I locked the doors and that I was planning on paying the $35 camping fee as I left. He liked that I was from Maine and quickly adjusted his fee scale saying since I got in so late, slept in my car and didn't know, he'd only charge me the day rate of $8. He then proceded to tell me about a dark day at the park two months ago when a rogue wave washed a man into the ocean and they lost him. Cheery things first thing in the morning when you've just been hiking on those same cliffs (hmmm). Anywho, this conversation brought to mind Mike Tooher saying that I "walk under a blessed star" or my dad's less poetic "luckier than cat shit." Either way, I was happy to save $27, I took myself out for a Very greasy breakfast, with terrible coffee (can't win 'em all). And sat in the sunlight and caught up on some writing.

Next I was off to the short Lady Bird Johnson loop trail thru immense old growth redwoods.

(Last week I went to Muir Woods outside San Francisco and must say I prefer the planked boardwalks to this specific trail.)

Off down the scenic highway (it's all scenic, but supposedly this is the cat's meow).
Stopped at the famous Big Tree pullout and hiked the short bit to see it. Eh, yeah, it's a big tree but the clearing beside it and the overweight, smoking group of women sort of ruin it for me. I saw trailheads at the back of the clearing and not knowing anything about any if them set off on one. Up to this point I've been a nature only hiker, by this I mean: I don't put in headphones because I like to hear the world around me. I don't know what motivated me to change at this point... but it was amazing. I put on Sufjan Stevens, an album I'd never listened to, and got lost in the redwoods. It was glorious. Moving thru these giants with dulcet tunes in my ear and the birdsong of the forest still penitrating, Magic.

I walked the length of a downed redwood.

- Posted from the road

Show Eating My Life

2010-03-01T11:38:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is FAIL Blog, however, I'm not proud that my blog has turned into a FAILed blog. Despite the best laid plans, life always seems to get in the way.

Brief update from my thumbs as I type all this on my phone:

Spent 2 1/2 weeks exploring a loop around the Southwest.

I went to 8 stunning National Parks,

4 states,

10 cities,

saw many old friends

and made many new ones.

Took pictures galore and hope to share more of them in the future.

For now, I'm back in Tucson, AZ. I'm working with Wolfe Bowart

and an awesome crew

to put up a really neat, original physical theatre piece: The Man The Sea Saw. In addition to being hired as a "stagehand", other duties (yes I said duty) include: seamstress, prop builder,

counterweight, and most excitingly Puppetteer.

We go up this Friday and the production has taken on a life of it's own by sucking the life from the rest of us. (And extracting some blood and many blisters in the process).

Chris and I are regularly at the studio until 1am and Wolfe is working until the wee hours on sound; effects, music and layering.

I got back to Tucson on Feb 21, and haven't come up for air since. But just now I feel like I'm finally starting to have the show sink into my soul. I'm thinking like a seal (one of my puppets).

Every action I make is accompanied by a theme song and sound effects, it's actually quite fun. A couple days ago I felt like I was drowning because I was in so deep over my head. But I've slipped into it, accepted it; and I know we'll succeed in putting up a magical show.

To check it out for yourself go to www.spoontree.com or www.themantheseasaw.com

- Posted from the road

Location:E Waverly St,Tucson,United States

Dillinger Days, Saturday, January 23, 2010

2010-02-13T13:58:00.000-05:00

In an effort to not let myself pine away in my aunt Kathie's gorgeous Tucson casita, I joined Couchsurfing.org's Tucson group. In doing so I found an escape from my head and the casita and also a wonderful friend, Charish.

I had no idea who John Dillinger was before this celebratory day. Charish posted a last minute note to the group asking if anyone wanted to accompany her to Dillinger Days, downtown at Hotel Congress. The details of Public Enemy No. 1 would come out slowly over the day.

Slowly because there was a antique car show and a fair vibe that didn't seem to have anything to do with relating the history of the event.

Can you see why car trunks are called trunks? hee hee

I discovered a kindred spirit in Charish because she's just as much of a loose cannon as I am. We'll talk to anyone and stike up crazy friendships with random people, afterall, we'd just met ourselves and were already hitting it off.

I was taking a photo of all the people in 1930s period dress who were standing at the bar, when this gentleman told me that I should take a picture of him. Never being one to turn down the opportunity to take a portrait, I obliged. Charish and I got to talking to him and his cohort. The shit-kicking went on for a good 20 minutes, we were offered rides in their antique autos they had displayed.

On to our next stop: the Wells Fargo Museum,

where just for the day the actually Tommy Guns that were confiscated from the Dillinger gang were on display.

Then, being peckish, we meandered over to Barrio Anita for a very tasty burrito recommended by my cousin Shya.

YUM!

The walk back downtown was speckled with stops for "picture opportunities." Charish was just as into stopping as I was.

This was the back of a mailbox post, nothing like a little inspiration!

This is the Bike Church, constructed out of old rims and forks, spokes and frames. The sun shines thru the gels and casts colorful shadows around. I love public art.

Typical Tucson homefront.

Loosing track of time with all of our picture taking, Charish and I realize that we need to rush back to Hotel Congress to see the scheduled reenactment of the Dillinger Gang capture. We make it back just as it's starting but all the seats are taken and we're trying to see over heads and thru people. The acting was good and the staging was fun, but the not being able to see made the thought of a beer in the lounge much more appealing. So in we went. While sitting and people watching we were joined by a party of three next to us. We got to chatting, as we do, and missed our date with our antique car guys. Then we missed our date to see the movie Public Enemy. Then we got invited to dinner with our new friends and their family. Dinner was awesome, conversation tumbled from us all as we got to know one another.

My New Friends: Anne, Charish and Briggitte (love them)

Carlsbad Caverns, January 20, 2010

2010-02-13T12:29:00.000-05:00

The night before visiting Carlsbad Caverns we camped at this desolate desert RV haven. It was not the most picturesque, but it was a place to stay.

When I was in third grade I remember studying Carlsbad Caverns among various other national parks. The memory excitement generated as a 10 year old carried thru 17 years and I was literally jumping up and down at the prospect at getting to see this cave system.

My pictures pale in comparison too. So I'll say to all of you that you just must go! Even those of you who are claustrophobic, the caves are colossal and spectacular. The park asks you be quiet inside the caves to preserve the quality of everyone's experience, the result of this was dark, whispery, almost churchlike experience.

The entrance has built in amphitheatre seating for the many months when the resident bats make their evening exodus.

Check out the reflection in the pool.

I learned that water samples from pristine lower cave pools have been found to have new bacteria that excite NASA scientist because the desolate conditions in caves are similar to Mars. The bacteria are also being studied for possible use in fighting certain types of cancer.

This formation is called "popcorn". I called it that before I read the sign that named it as such. I was sorta proud of myself.

This one looks a little suggestive, don'tcha think?

This cricket has adapted to it's cave home. Troglobites (Greek for "cave life") are the true cave dwellers. It doesn't have eyes and doesn't make any "cricket" noises so as not to attract attention to itself. Oh adaptations, you are so neat.

This is a long exposure shot of the Big Room, doesn't really translate the grandeur.

We were gonna camp and hike in the Guadalupe Mountains, but the winds were so strong that it would have blown the tent down.

So we pushed on with the help of Jim Dale reading Harry Potter, and drove thru to Tucson. Much to Rob's dismay the audiobook I have of The Prisoner of Azkaban was missing the essential 10 minutes of climax.

We stopped at at Borders in El Paso so he could read that section before we finished the book.

Flagstaff to Santa Fe

2010-02-06T13:06:00.000-05:00

After a much too brief visit to Flagstaff, I'm moving on to Santa Fe today, in order to avoid some nasty weather arriving here in Flag Town tomorrow.

Yesterday I visited the Grand Canyon with the beautiful Miss Aubrey Jones.

And let me tell you, it is indeed Grand.

And coincidently my wonderful couchsurfing hosts (Conor and Sam) are in a band (Low Ca$h) that was having a CD release party downtown at Mia's.

Party!

Wonderful people,

Great Music! Lots of dancing!

Just my cup of tea.

That's Right, You're Not From Texas

2010-02-05T21:28:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of state theme songs for crossing borders, I played Lyle Lovett’s “that’s right, you’re not from Texas”. In his version “Texas wants [us] anyway” in real life we couldn’t seem to catch with anyone who wanted us.

(Houston skyline)

Houston was the first night stop and we ended up staying in the Houston International Hostel. It was a little run-down, a little battered and forlorn, but still functional.

I felt like the charm of the place grew on me. The owner’s daughter and I talked about our intentions for transforming our communal hostel spaces into a place of sharing cultures, through various events. Her idea was to have a weekly story-telling night. I’m thinking more of a music night, where people from different countries trade and enjoy each other’s music. But I have to figure out a way to have the non-performers not disenfranchised.

Rob and I took a walk by the “river” downtown Houston before jumping town. We ran into a Cheveron sponsored marathon; looks like big oil really tries hard to maintain a “good guy” image down here.

Also, a killer skate park where kids of all ages (4-64) were rollerblading and skateboarding around the impressive cement system of dips, rails, slants, pools, edges and 180˚ concave jumps. Apparently, this skate park is ranked one of the top ten in the world and looks to be an excellent city sponsored outlet for alternative youth sports. We heard from the guy who works there that Houston is planning on building an even bigger one. Go Houston for being so progressive!

Austin was our next stop. I’d been anticipating Austin for a while. Hearing what a neat town it is and knowing fellow Portlanders had transplanted there. For all of that I don’t feel like I got a true taste of Austin.

Again, no in-town contacts got back to us, the Austin-HI was booked tight (on a Sunday night no less), the B&B the hostel had referred us to was full too and no CSers where getting back to us with lightening speed. Time for a different plan. Rob is always looking for National Parks and his radar blinks wildly when we’re near one and have the chance to get out in the wilderness.

Lucky for us Mc Kinney Falls National Park is within Austin city limits.

We picked up some provisions, it was dusk and right outside the supermarket were thousands and thousands of birds (it was a dazzling sight).

In a short drive we’d reached the sanctuary that would be our campsite for the night. We chose “primitive camping” from the menu in the office, which really just meant that we couldn’t drive directly to our campsite and that there was no electricity.
We trekked down gear and I brought the firewood down while Rob worked on starting a fire (wood purchased for a $1/log at the office. Whew, expensive.) We had a Korean American family as neighbors. The two boys were inquisitive and social, over at our campsite watching disbelieving as Rob started a fire and drooling over our dinner of sausage, onions and peppers. I finally shooed them away as we sat down to eat because it was like being watched by seagulls. I was amazed by how much these boys knew about outer space, Rob’s first dream was to be an astronaut so the boys found much to discuss; the younguns quizzing Rob on what would happen if you walked on Mars, Jupiter or Saturn and what kinds of terrible deaths would befall you.

A definitive sign that we were in new territory was coming across a scorpion hanging out in the warmth of the women’s bathroom.

The next day we checked into the Austin Hostelling International (HI). It was my first stay at a HI affiliated hostel and I learned a lot! Interviewing the director of the non-profit hostel I was given the HI – standards sheet that will come in mighty handy as I plot and plan my own hostel.

It was Martin Luther King Jr Day and we found (thank you Google) a celebration downtown with live music and lots of people promoting their chosen causes. Back at the car there was a flier stuck under the wiper advertising a free showing of a documentary on Palestine. Being a day for social awareness we made our way to that viewing and while it widened my scope of understanding I would NOT recommend that documentary. Zero plotline, gratuitous violence without me even being sure who and what was the “good guy/bad guy”. The message of the gathering was FREE PALESTINE. But when the only message I got clearly from the video was Palestinians wishing God to come and smite all the Jews in Israel, it doesn’t make me want to side with either party.

Rob and I ended the night with a beer sitting on the end of dock just outside the hostel, looking out over the city lights of Austin. It was clique, just like we always seem to be. Complete with two white swan swimming past and coming up to say hello.

The next day (Tuesday, January 19th) we did some grocery shopping (Rob had to stock up for his rafting trip) before hitting the road for a 9 hour drive to Carlsbad, NM.

Two of my most proud roadtrip schemes seem to be a bust. 1. I’ve never used the curtains that mom and I fashioned for all of Falkor’s windows. 2. The crockpot cooking in Falkor with a power converter ended with slight catastrophe.

Mid-day, maybe ¾ of the way across Texas I started cooking Shakshuka (a favorite Israeli dish that I learned in Guatemala last year). When we stopped for lunch we cut up onions and garlic ahead of time and they cooked down quite nicely for an hour, then in went the cans of diced tomatoes (I would have liked to use fresh ones, but car cooking, means using what’s easiest) and spices.

The final ingredient to be added 20 minutes before eating is eggs, which get poached in the hot tomato-ey liquid. We were near Carlsbad by this point and faced a conundrum of needing to drive around to keep the Shakshuka hot enough to cook the eggs. While driving around town, looking for a good place to guerilla camp for the night, a corner was taken a little too fast and OVER went the crockpot.
Steaming Shakshuka dumped all over the floor and center console of poor little Falkor. It was disgusting. And at the end of a long day, just about more than I could bear. Rob was a champ, immediately jumping into action to fix the mess. My spirits improved as I looked at the disaster in the car and simply saw the humor of the whole situation. Laughing at the tomato, egg, onion goo as I scooped it out of the car, Seren meltdown was averted.

Be Here Now

2010-01-31T22:49:00.001-05:00

I have not caught up with these blogs. I have also not given up hope of doing so, and neither should you. But I do want to give all you people who I love an honest update of time and place, in REAL time.

I'm in Tucson, AZ. Currently using the internet connection at Alex and Linda's. This afternoon I have also taken advantage of their patio, for the sunshine; their washer and dryer, for clean clothes; and their hot tub, for an utterly relaxing hour of water massage.

The last couple days have been a whirlwind of activity and new people and "old friends" and rediscovering what it means to be on a roadtrip and why I'm on one. I'd gotten a bit staid in Tucson and flying the coop to Tempe last Thursday was the best decision I could have made. I met Neil and Dan for the first time, surrogate uncles that I've only ever heard stories of. I entertained myself and felt glorious about my power to do what I wished when I wished. I reconnected with friends I'd met the previous weekend. I met new people and marveled at my ability to be social and engaging (but boy it's exhausting).

I started the day in Flagstaff, a city that startles me in it's similarity to Portland. I went there on a lark with Ashley Burrell who I met in Mexico this time last year. We groggily and grudgingly got going this morning. Had to get Ashley back to her Law School Duties (yeah, I said duty). Mother Nature dumped 4 feet of snow on Flagstaff last week, in 2 DAYS! So there was still plenty of snow to go around up in Flagstaff's staggering (and headache provoking) 7,000' elevation. An hour drive south and the snow was completely gone. Two and a half hours down the road, dropping Ashley off in Tempe and I was going barefoot. Incredible!

Rob left for the rafting trip 10 days ago, the night of the 21st; it was a heart wrenching parting. We decided to split up, not because of any disagreement or any hardship uncovered by traveling together. On the contrary, we had a ball. The split is for "practical" reasons of a forced 2 month separation with exciting adventures to be had by both of us. And then, Rob doesn't know where he'll land when he's back in Maine, but he knows he doesn't want to live in Portland. And my heart is in Portland. I'm dreaming and scheming to build my business there. That alone is a pretty sizable wedge. But it doesn't make the split suck any less. To be sooooooo in love with someone and to have successfully traveled with them (no small feat, as my parents can attest), then to break-up for "logical" reasons? Well, I suppose that follows the scientist rules that govern Rob's world and have rubbed off a bit on me. It feels very sane to have the logic behind the decision but quite insane when my heart says "NO, You're crazy, what are you doing?" so clearly. So needless to say the last week + have been tumultuous. I've had the blessing of my aunt Kathie's casita here in Tucson to hole up in and cry when I need to. It feels amazing to have a space that I can claim as my own, a very rare treasure when you're on the road. But I've been pushing myself pretty hard to get out of the house and meet people and go on adventures. I've met at least 15 new people in the last 10 days who have enriched my life (wow!), I went to Dillinger Days, I hosted some other roadtrippers, I met more family, I have fallen further in love
with everything that couchsurfing.org is and stands for, I crossed the border into Nogales, Mexico (seeing missions on the way and discovering a love for Hornito's tequila); I went to the Desert Museum, I hiked thru Sabino canyon and forded the freezing river many times, I've shared meals with people who wow me with their generosity of spirit and openness of heart, and listened to bad flamenco guitar music. (Not bad for being heartbroken in a town where I started only knowing 4 people, huh?)

Early last week I got a 3 day "stagehand" gig helping Wolfe with his new show. This starts tomorrow (which is why I'm back in Tucson now) and SO VERY Excited to get to be a part of the process of production "ironing".

So begins my new style of blogging and my resolution to catch up on previous adventures with lots of pretty pictures while at the same time keeping all ya'll more up to date on current events in my life.

"Make voyages. Attempt them. There's nothing else."

— Tennessee Williams

The Black Forest Fancies

2010-01-29T12:50:00.000-05:00

Coincidence is one of the most beautiful things about traveling. Here I was at this magical purple home in New Orleans, hosted thru couchsurfing by random people who I was already thinking of as friends and overhearing conversations of puppets. I jump into the conversation, engaging Rhe in puppet talk. She proceeded to detail some gorgeous puppet events she’d seen and taken part in. Then she mentioned that tomorrow she’d be moving the puppets and set pieces to a new warehouse location where the Black Forest Fancies would be remounting one of their shows: The Pomology of Sweetness and Light.

I offered my services as an excellent mover of all things and went to meet the U-haul and the other puppeteers at their homebase.

Please check out their website, because they describe the essence of their show better than I could ever hope to.

Meeting these inspirational characters of both the human variety and the puppet variety was a highlight of New Orleans and my trip thus far.

New Orleans Adventures

2010-01-24T23:32:00.001-05:00

New Orleans was amazing. I was prepared to like it, I was not expecting to now count it among places that I would live. I spent three nights in this battered phoenix city; it is truly rising from the ashes (or river sludge, as it were).

We arrived to a very purple house

in the By-Water district wedged between the infamous Frenchman’s St and the 9th Ward where Hurricane Katrina took the largest toll.

Heather opened the door and let us into more than just her home. The house has the kind of community of roommates and friends that come and linger often. It is a very welcoming place to be.

And best of all Rob and I got to sleep in the recently built loft, looking out over the living room, with the tall Christmas tree still glowing, and the kitchen.

The house was a great refuge affording us a couple friendly nights of domicile. The first filled with conversation, shared food and The Avengers (classic TV show).

The second night filled with a game night beginning with Boggle and the Big Lebowski, continuing with “Nouns in a Bag” introduced to the fray by Rob and potentially ill-advised “White Russians” thanks to “the Dude”.

Rob and I went to a delicious breakfast at Surrey’s Juice Bar, I sat in the same seat Matthew McConaughey sat in when he ate there. Really, here’s the picture to prove it… you might need a magnifying glass.

Going for a drive through the Garden District to check out the architecture, I drove though an intersection, looked to my right and saw a couple walking. Of that couple I recognized the woman as Mikey Glasser, a girl I went to Tanglewood 4-H camp with for 8 years. There was no question in my mind that it was her. I stopped the car (thank god for light traffic), opened my door and yelled her name. Sure enough, she looked around. After much amazement at the coincidence of it all I invited Mikey and her boyfriend Steven over for game night.

Rob and I also met up with them the next day for a late afternoon coffee and what a brilliant chance to catch up it was. Learning what people do and how they relate to the world and the realm they live in is very engaging.

The action packed, last full day we were to spend in New Orleans was FULL indeed. Starting with breakfast of homemade huevos rancheros a’la Zach was amazing (Lizzy you’ll have to go a stretch to beat it, I bet you’re up to the challenge though, and I look forward to it).

Continuing with a drive through the Lower 9th Ward to survey the damage and reclamation that has taken place because of Katrina. On to the Art House, Tree House;

in Rob’s words it looks like a McDonald’s jungle gym and a junkyard got dropped on this lot and half of it got stuck in a tree. This was a mesh walkway between the two trees in the backyard. Scary and Exhilarating!

It was amazing! I climbed all over, holding my breath at times because most of the pieces were held there by knotted ropes and prayers. Did I mention that one of the slides is a water slide into a pool and another is hanging 10 feet over a tarp covered pile of cushions? Right, I didn't try those, it was a little cold that day.

Then checking into India House Hostel where we would spend the night (another hostel for Seren to ogle).

Next, on to the massive expanses of cemetery.

The rusty version of a masoleum.

Rob's full name is Robert Larzelere Stenger III. He was startled to find a crypt with his middle name on it and is convinced that he is related to the bones encased within.

Then coffee with Mikey and Steven in the dark. Such a storm blew up outside that the power went out for the hour we sat in the café. Then we sped over to the N. Robertson warehouse where the The Black Forest Fancies’ puppet rehearsal was due to be starting any moment.

We watched the 2 hour rehearsal as they manipulated their charges brilliantly and ironed out the kinks of working in a new space.

Then back to the Hostel to whip up some dinner

before a brief nap and out on the town to get a taste of the New Orleans nightlife/music scene which we had thus far missed. Took the trolley down to the French Quarter, meandered along Bourbon St. without stopping, just people watching was enough, walked the mile or so over to Frenchman’s St in search of good music and beer.

‘Good’ is a relative term, being rather sleepy and lack luster we didn’t feel like getting up the $10 cover to get into see the brass band we had been aiming for. Instead, we settled in a huge scarcely populated bar at the end of the strip with a ragamuffin brass band.

What they lacked in talent they made up for with enthusiasm. We tried a NOLA ale to wash down the tunes and both ended up to be pleasant though not earth shaking.

After the brass band we tried the blues club and a reggae club before calling it a night and trekking back to Canal St. to catch the trolley home.

Rolling into bed with Rob at 3am, I was very grateful to be there but I wouldn’t have traded that day of adventuring for anything.

The 'Bama

2010-01-24T18:20:00.000-05:00

As I drove to across the Florida peninsula from Nana and Grampa Stenger’s to Ariel and Aaron’s I caught up on some correspondence. Talked to my parents at length, getting the blow by blow of Lole’s (our much beloved family cat) last days. I had to pull the car over for that conversation, driving and crying don’t mix. I also caught up with Graham. One of our topics was Alabama, a state where he just recently received his masters. He told me Mobile was worth checking out. As I had no clear impression of where we were headed next and it would shave 2-3 hours off the days drive if we stopped in Mobile rather than beelining it for New Orleans I took it under advisement.

The night before we left Florida (after Avatar in 3-D) Rob got on couchsurfing.org and contacted some Mobilians. By morning two had responded with “come ahead”. Unbelievable! That’s the best and quickest response we’ve gotten from any CSers anywhere.

Off we went driving across the amazingly long Florida panhandle. I didn’t really have a grasp on how big a strip that is but it went on most of the day.

As we were setting out for Alabama, Monday morning, January 11th we realized that we did not possess a recording of “Sweet Home Alabama”. This travesty was solved in Rob’s world by resolving that we could simply sing the song as we crossed into the state. At that threat I instructed him on how to download it on the iPhone, so we could have more lines to sing along to than just the chorus. WIN.

Crossed into Alabama just as the sun was setting, maybe it was twilight that was to blame but driving though picturesque farmlands felt a little mystical,

a word I would not have previously associated with Alabama.

We found our couchsurfing host’s, Josh McMinn, home without incident and enjoyed a quite night of trading travel stories. As I had just been feeling the need to slow down and since Josh was so welcoming and trusting we decided to stay a second night and catch up on chores and breathing. I’ve been feeling like the country is moving by me very fast and I’m missing the simple pleasures of reading a book or pausing daily for a yoga practice and time for journal reflections. Heck, I’m still way behind in posting on this blog.

I’ve been doing so many good things. Whether it’s enjoying Jim Dale reading me Harry Potter (again, and getting Rob addicted too), or exploring Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge,

(All of the houses are on stilts. I heard that the flood insurance is astromically expensive round these parts.)

cooking simple dinners in kitchens that are only mine for a night or two and getting good at finding what I need without asking, watching days come and go, observing the lengthening of the days. Enjoying sunsets (even if it does mean that I have to put down my knitting in the car). I’m knitting Rob a pair of socks, I won’t get them done before we part ways… He requested ninja turtle toes so he can wear them with ease inside his Chacos. I laughed at the request, but I’m enjoying the challenge of making them look uniform (and perfect) with this abnormal toe. It is slowing me down somewhat as I have to rip it and try again and again

The second night we all went on an escapade to pick up a papasan chair which just BARELY fit in Josh’s car, before heading to The Garage for a couple brews, card games, more couchsurfers and fun conversations. Favorite event of the evening: southern girls telling me they liked my hair :)

Wednesday we were slated to head to New Orleans but before we got going we met up with Kenneth, another Mobile couchsurf host, and got a little guided tour around Mobile.

Imagine if my roadtrip was taken in this horse drawn carriage instead of my little Falkor. I think it might set me back timewise a bit, but it would be kick-ass!

Lunch was had and enjoyed by all at this Mobile classic.

Graham was right. It is worth seeing. Once on the road we were sidetracked by Dauphin Island and Fort Gaines.

There are sooooooooo many oil rigs out in the Gulf, holy moly. I counted over twenty and that’s just what I could see from the beach. (All the little specks on the horizon are oil rigs).

Florida

2010-01-15T12:51:00.001-05:00

Rob did the driving from Brunswick, Georgia to his grandparents' condo in Cocoa Beach, Florida. On the way there was an exciting view:

Nana and Grampa Stenger have a spacious condo overlooking the open ocean.

Unfortunately, it never got above 40 degrees while I was there but that didn't stop Rob and I from going for a run on the beach.

We ran down to the pier and dodged the raindrops for a couple minutes.

Rob's cousin Amanda, her husband Jeff, Rob and I went bowling the next day. We had a ball! (Or many of them). Then on the way out we played many rounds of air-hockey. It was a marvelously fun way to spend an afternoon!

That evening I after a lovely dinner with Rob's family at a tasty restuarant with a ridiculous name, Fish Lips, I drove the hour west to spend the night with Ariel and Aaron.

The next day (Sunday, January 10) Ariel took me to work with her at a local greeting card gift shop. The customers came and went and we chatted away the the hours catching up on a couple years of life story. It was blissful.

That evening a posse gathered at the Regal Cinemas in Winter Park, Florida. We all went to see the 3-D version of Avatar.

For all the hype, I really enjoyed the movie. It was long, and Cameron quoted himself and other movies over and again, but still it was captivating.

If I find myself within 30 miles of a state capitol on my way thru, I'm making it a point to stop and see it. We passed real close to Tallahassee. This is the historic capitol building. It is now a museum, with the working capitol in a massive skyscraper behind.

We took the elevator up to the 22nd floor. We could look out on 360 degrees of Tallahassee. We couldn't see the ocean but the view was still spectacular.

Hostel in the Forest, Brunswick, Georgia

2010-01-15T11:16:00.000-05:00

I've epitomized this hostel as one of my only known roadtrip destinations for a couple months now. Ya know how when a movie gets tons of hype and everyone thinks it's great, your expectations are so high when you finally see the movie that you're always a little let down, and then you realize that it was a pretty good movie, you just had unrealistic expectations? That was my mood swing at the Hostel in the Forest.

We arrived at 7pm, just in time for 1/2 a tour of the premises, "circle of thanks" and communal dinner. My spirits were SOOOOOOOOO high. The people were amazing, the food was amazing, the premises were amazing.

My evening ended by dancing by myself in the kitchen:

The next day (Thursday, January 7) we hiked the trail around the 131 acres owned by the land trust/hostel that is the Hostel in the Forest.

We found a lake,

jungle palmetto groves,

a huge tree,

a hut with a hammock

The walk thru the jungle was warm and sunny, quite a change from the frigid Asheville temps. Sayings are posted all over the grounds: "Loosen Up"

or "You're Gorgeous" on the mirrors:

After our morning explorations the hostel volunteer staff hooked us up with a workt rade task: making "curtain walls" for the screen hut. We got all the tools we need, but the given materials were a little questionable: three really ratty blankets. What style do we choose? Rob and I brainstormed and settled on a rolling panel design with bamboo rods sewn into the bottom, both as weight and for ease of rolling. The project followed a similar trajectory to my mood at the hostel: I was really excited to have a project, excitingly challenged by the task, annoyed by the hiccups in said project, dismayed to be creating something that looked like it would have very little merit and finally surprisingly pleased with the outcome. The blankets were so holey they could have been blessed by the pope. Patching was the idea but it takes forever and there was no way we were going to complete the project in the 4 hours of daylight we had to work on it. We began it; the project is started in a way that works well.

The Hostel in the Forest has been going strong for 33 years. It has morphed over that time from an international hostel (jumping on the Hostelling International bandwagon for a short while early on) to what it is now which is much more an experiment in communal living and back-to-the-earth cooperation. It is staffed by a crew of volunteers who are have daily responsibilities like tending to the composting toilets, cooking the evening meal, cleaning the common spaces or caring for the gardens. Then there is the rotating task of manning the phones, taking reservations and being the greeter. Whitney Husz is the present manager. She receives a modest stipend and the final say. She is the arbiter as well as the designator of tasks. All staff contribute to the list-making of jobs to accomplish around the compound and Whitney assigns said jobs to work-trade hostellers. There's plenty to do, but I imagine there's also a delicate balance of necessary guests vs. work-traders staying without paying.

There is a price paid by the staff in such a seemingly idyllic jungle palace: their home is constantly "invaded" by strangers (hostel guests).

Imagine waking in your own hut and walking the boardwalk to the main dome where the kitchen is to get your first cup of morning coffee,

but before you get to the pot you have questions tossed your way by hostellers trying to follow the rules of recycling or looking for the spatula to cook themselves breakfast. Makes the "be here now" taped over the clock on the coffee pot that much more ironic. Staff and Managers last 3-4 months on average. The art of living communally might be a meditation in and of itself.

If you need a place to clear your head and get away for a time, the "Glass House" is the perfect retreat:

The community found at Hostel in the Forest will not soon be forgotten:

Sweet Peas Hostel, Asheville, NC

2010-01-12T14:14:00.001-05:00

The website link (just click on the post title) is so comprehensive I think I'll save the pictures I took and spare you the poor iPhone camera quality and the spur of the moment excited clicking away.

Almost on a whim I stuck my head into the new Lexington Avenue Brewery as they were preparing for their grand opening and asked about the attached hostel. Heads popped up from their planning and meetings and I was directed around the block and assured that Sweet Peas had now been open for a couple of weeks. Few people inside seemed to know much about the hostel which seems to me one of the dangers I'll face opening my hostel. Locals need to know and be involved. Buzz needs to get around.

We walked around the block to Rankin Ave and rang the callbox. A pleasant voice came over the waves, and when I told her that I was interested in checking out the hostel a friendly "come on back" was paired with the door unlocking.

We walked down a very freshly renovated hallway which was only an appropriate foreshadowing of the pristine Ikea-esque interior of the hostel. Sarah Porter and her counterpart were just sorting thru end of the day tasks, but Sarah took time to show me around the space she's been working on for months now.

Sweet Peas has only been open since mid-December 2009, but it's been in the works for months if not years in various stages of development. Sarah's been onboard since fall, living in her small private Manager's quarters, prepping the space for guests.

Sarah pads around the 4000 square foot space answering all my questions with barefeet and an apron with two big pockets. She becomes my idol, just from these two facts. She's stayed at three or four hostels, but was offered this job out of the blue and recognized the potential and jumped at it. She's learning as she goes as is the customary response I've gotten from all hostel owners/managers thus far.

This road trip is aimed at my generating a business plan, but business plans seems to be off in the distance from most people's minds and jumping in feet first is the way to go. Interesting perspective, I'll take it under advisement.

Sweet Peas is bright and shiny with no dings in anything yet. I look forward to visiting again and staying for a time when the gears have been worked a little, the engine tested and all of the plates eaten off of with comaraderie to warm the already inviting space.

Asheville is for friends

2010-01-12T13:05:00.000-05:00

(I realize now that I took no Asheville skyline or mountain-scape pictures, so I stole from google.)

I've heard for years that Portland, Maine is very similar to Asheville, if you were to replace ocean with mountains. I found that to be largely true. Our first afternoon there (January 4) we planted ourselves in an alternative bookstore/cafe: Malaprops. Random coffee shop conversations led me to find out about a new brewery/hostel that would be opening up soon. The Lexington Avenue Brewery and the Sweet Peas Hostel intrigued me immediately, but I hadn't read or heard about them any other way. I asked around all the local knowledge and ended up touring Sweet Peas Hostel (to be thoroughly explained in another post).

I would love more time to explore Asheville and would consider living there for the sole reason that they have kick-ass weekly contra dances. I went to Monday's dance at Grey Eagle with Rob and Hanni. We got to the dance late after a long dinner at Jack of the Wood. Hanni is a regular at this dance and mingled with her dance cohorts. Rob and I were quickly swept up by other partners and merrily passed a couple hours swinging around the hall. We found each other for the final contra and happily exchanged the confidence that we had found in the practice of the first couple hours.

My friend Andrea who I worked with, way back in the day at Granny's Burritos, now lives in Asheville so I looked her up and we went gallivanting the second afternoon.

Lunch for 5 at Early Girl Eatery, allowed Rob to further explore his abundant vegetarian options put forth by Asheville's dining scene. Michael and Meredith had to get back to jobs, but Andrea, Rob and I were fancy free.

We checked out Amazing Savings Market a hole in the wall derelict looking place but who can pass up Amy's soups for a buck or gourmet chocolate bars for $1.50 apiece? Not us! We stocked up.

Oberlin Alums abound in Asheville, The French Broad Chocolate Lounge is owned by an Obe and hosts a regular alum meet-up. Rob, Andrea and I went in here for an afternoon warm up. Rob's motivation was meeting a fellow Obe, Andrea and I were there for the chocolate! Microbrew stout with a scoop of homemade ice cream? Or an 8oz cup of some of the richest, smoothest hot chocolate I've ever tried. yeah, that's right, amazing!

Walking is my favorite way of exploring a city but did I mention that it was bloody cold in Asheville? Maybe 10˚F before the wind chill... phew, didn't lead to a whole lot of outdoor time.

Here are the Obes I had the privilege of dining with for the evenings I was in Asheville: (Michael, Meredith, Hanni and Rob [Charlie, the corgi, is an honorary alum])

We stayed with Meredith and Michael, two of Rob's chums, and their charming pup: Charlie, in a log cabin just outside of Asheville.

We had a dinner party the final night. Good food and good cheer.

Rob wanted to take Charlie with us. I told him even though Charlie was wonderfully compact, the emotional damage of stealing Meredith and Michael's dog probably wouldn't be worth it. And man, can that pup shed.

Newfound Gap

2010-01-10T16:52:00.001-05:00

Driving from Hartford, TN to Asheville, NC we chose a route that would take us straight thru the Greater Smoky Mountains.

We had the intention of picking up the Blue Ridge Parkway on the other side of the Smokies, but no luck, this time of year they shut that down to avoid clearing the ice and snow.

The Newfound Gap Road was "painfully beautiful" in Rob's words. It was bright sunshine with ethereal snowflakes blowing all around us. A couple days later Andrea informed us that the snow was blowing off the mountains (OF COURSE!)

Mom, this is for you. A picture of Rob and I.

Standing Bear Farm Hostel

2010-01-10T16:39:00.001-05:00

The first hostel explored on this Hostel Exploratory adventure was one recommended to me by some AT thru-hiker friends of mine: Standing Bear Farm Hostel. Curtis and Maria Owen are lovely purveyors of this rustic Appalachian retreat, established in 2001. This hostel caters to hikers. It has a very "through hiker" bent. It has seen constant improvements throughout it's 9 years tenure. Maria is the "idea person" and Curtis is the "implementer".

Rob and I asked about nearby loops hikes to get us into the Greater Smoky Mountains for the day and everything suggested was geared toward the AT. Curtis was very helpful in finding us great topographical maps of the area so we could hand-pick the hike we chose for the afternoon.

I picked Hen Wallow Falls, a 2.2 mile hike in to some beautiful falls.

One of my favorite things about Rob is that he's always teaching me new things. On this hike I learned that you can tell the relative temperature by how tightly rhododendron leaves are curled. Apparently at about 40˚F they flatten out again. It was definitely more along the 25˚F lines, January 3rd.

This is the cabin we stayed in, it spans a stream. The gurgling brook made us have to pee all the time. The cabin floor has no insulation so even with the propane fireplace the ground floor of our cabin was about 20˚, while the loft (where we slept) was a balmy 80˚. The bridge to the left heads back to the showers and the composting outhouse.

Trooper, is the resident dogger. He was marvelously friendly, pawing at our door to come in and cuddle.

The kitchen, laundry and internet are all housed in out buildings. Hot water was lovely on frozen fingers but morning brought us frozen pipes and frozen yogurt. Cooking with mittens on. brrrrrrrr!

The rustic interior to our cabin that we had all to ourselves (this time of year).

Curtis and Maria were gracious to allow me to interview them on their experiences with owning and running a hostel. They live in a house just over the stream from the hostel compound. They assure me that "they are always on" and that "you have to want to do it".

Nashville for New Years

2010-01-09T14:01:00.001-05:00

Nashville/Nash Vegas/Music City celebrates New Years' Eve by watching the guitar drop. Appropriate. Similar to Times Square, downtown Nashville featured a party with a huge stage and three live acts. Rob and I got there early.

Enjoyed a very expensive beer in a Honky Tonk with great live music. We camped out downtown watching the show with a bottle of wine and a blanket across our laps. The two bands we saw were rockin'. Saw Jonny Lang play with the funk band. Nashville is in the Central Time Zone so Rob and I had our own private New Year's countdown to 11pm Nashville time in honor of our Maine New Year. After that we headed back to our Couchsurfing host's house, avoiding the traffic, missing the "guitar drop" and the fireworks but meeting our host Aaron at a "reasonable hour".

Rob had an idea of throwing blown eggs with wishes for the future written on slips of paper sealed inside them with wax off of the bridge downtown Nashville at dawn on New Year's Day. We prepared the eggs at 1am. Our host Aaron took our photo: Happy New Year 2010!

Rob wanted to carry on his tradition of watching the sun rise on New Year's Day,

Unfortunately, there was a huge cloud bank to the east, so we didn't see the actual sunrise. But we knew the time of sunrise was 7am so we watched the clock and threw the eggs as soon as it was time because it was SO cold on the bridge.

Did you know that Nashville has a full scale replica of the Parthenon?

The city capital was grand and definately worth seeing, although closed tight on New Years' Day.

The second evening at Aaron's was spent most enjoyably! We watched Persepolis (highly recommended) and ate a decadent chocolate cake! Milk out of wine glasses, that's how we class it up.

Aaron is a photographer (check out his website). He's very immersed in studying many aspects that I haven't thought about for years and many I have never heard of. He was an inspiration as to talk photography shop with.

The rockstar, music group, couchsurfing picture.

Rob's ready to go! (Well, to go sliding off Falkor anyway, he found that hoods are very slippery and is now impressed by model's ability to stay sitting on hoods).

Evansville is for Family

2010-01-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

The drive to Evansville was long and fast. I love 70 mph speed limits. Mom, however, was not so crazy about them and had me keep it under 75mph, when I would have preferred 79, eh, one makes concessions and picks their battles.

I started a score card of all the road kill deer I saw. I'm up to 9 hash marks. That's a lot of deer, and those are just the ones I saw in the 4 hours of daylight we drove in.

Mom and I were the last to reach Evansville, rolling in 20 minutes after Dad. It was a welcome port with chili and chicken stew waiting for us on the stove and Dad, Kathie, Chris and Alice all sitting around the kitchen table playing catch up.

The next week was spent whiling away the hours in a most agreable manner. I did not catch up on blogging, much to my chagrin... but I did catch up on any sleep I might have missed in the last month. Going to bed around 10pm and sleeping until 8am, ain't it the life. This was my bed, as I arrived to it.

We based our days around meals, something us Huus' do VERY well:

And sitting around the fire in the cozy den:

We did a couple other things, we walked to Angel Mounds.

We didn't go in/around/thru. It was cold and snowing and I for one was dreaming of eggnog and rum.
The trees here in Indiana are quite different than what I'm used to. I'm really enjoying noting the different shape that foliage takes here. There are "grapevines" that look like Tarzan's mode of transportation and poison ivy that winds itself up trees in a hairy, scary fashion looking like a tree itself.

We helped with some yard work, wood stacking and log splitting around my Uncle and Aunt's house. We had to earn our keep, after all.

Most of the logs to be split were so massive that they couldn't be drove with a single wedge. I watched my dad try to bury the edge of the maul, striking great blows, over and over only to have the maul bounce off the cut wood face. I couldn't help but giggle, so I busied myself carrying wood over to the shed so as not to aggravate him.

One day we drove over to Newburgh, Indiana. Ogling yarn stores as always and pawing thru bookstores and antiques shops, then down to the Ohio River to meandering along beside it as it flows muddily by.

These smokestacks belong to an aluminum factory. They generate their own electricity because the amount that is used is astronomical! So everyone, lesson here: R-E-C-Y-C-L-E, recycle, recycle.

This is the old Lock. We went and visited the New Lock which is much more massive and up to date. There are many locks on the Ohio River because the gradient of the river changes.

In Pittsburgh, PA the Ohio River is 710 feet above sea level, by the time it gets to Illinios it's dropped 420 feet. Granted it has nearly a thousand miles to make this drop. But Locks and Dams on the Ohio River make the passage of millions of pounds of cargo on thousands of barges feasible.

My final morning in Evansville, New Year's Eve, we all went to Cracker Barrel. This is the restuarant Chris and Alice go to for breakfast every Sunday come hell, high water or tornados. I have heard about Chris' love of Cracker Barrel all my life, but since I'd never been to the midwest before I didn't realize that they are EVERYWHERE! I figured there were probably 3 of them. I was wrong. So we dipped into their tradition and enjoyed breakfast with them at their favorite spot.

I was slated to be on the road by 11am but a fluke of Rob's plane being delayed kept me with my family until 2pm. We took advantage of the time and went for a hike to work off breakfast. We drove to Kentucky, just a 15 minute drive and hiked through the lucious jungle of John James Audubon's home stomping grounds. We saw four deer. I loved the alien terrain of vines and water eroded hills and valleys.

I shoved off from Evansville with a tearful good-bye. I won't be seeing my parents for three months and that's a long time. But as Claire says: "I'll see you soon, and I'll talk to you sooner."

Car Trouble?

2010-01-04T16:13:00.000-05:00

Leaving right ontime from Pittsburgh. Mom is happily riding with me today and no sooner do I pull away from the curb than we hear a terrible noise in the front right wheel area. Mom and I quickly determine that it would not be okay to drive 8 hours to Evansville, IN with Falkor making this scraping, clacking sound. Dad and I take off the wheel downtown Pittsburgh. It's the day after Christmas and the streets are virtually barren, we know the area a little bit becasue we've spent the morning touring the city with Jason (our Couchsurfing host). Dad can't find anything wrong just by taking off the wheel. I put my iPhone to good use by finding an open garage nearby: Monro Muffler, Brake and Service. My heart was going pitter-pat as we made our way to the garage. I was sure that something deadly was up with Falkor and dastardly thoughts of woe were cirling in my brain: "what do I think I'm doing, going on a three month roadtrip?" The mechanics there were cheerful and helpful. My fears were put to rest when they got Falkor up on the lift and saw that one of the bolts in my front right caliper was completely missing, this had cause the other bolt to loosen and the noise was coming from the caliper clacking along merrily to the motion of the road and grinding terribly when the brakes were applied. Tom and Stuart found a used caliper out back that had the correct size bolt and pnuematically tightened all the bolts down. They told me: "all fixed" and I was so excited and relieved I hugged Stuart on the spot. I had some Christmas cookies (a'la Annie, thank you!) in my pack and I brought them to the counter in the waiting room as extra Christmas/thank you cheer. They were touched by the cookies and my profuse thanks but not as touched as I, by my Monro angels, Tom and Stuart, who fixed the terrible noise and allayed all my fears.

This episode was a wonderful lesson for me. I am but at the start of a long journey. Car troubles will happen. But they will be fixed. It might take a few days or it might take a few minutes. I have to trust in myself and the world to have what it takes to mend anything that needs fixin'

Amen.

Onward to Pittsburgh

2010-01-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

Christmas morning in Boston was lovely. Bagels and lox from NYC (thanks Ryan and Lannie). The 3 Huus' got on the road West by 10:15 am. Mom very much wanted to travel with me but I needed to prove to myself that I could accomplish a long day of driving independently. I did just fine. "On The Road" kept me company. It was dark by the time I crossed into Pennsylvania so I missed a lot of the landscape but the tunnels are impossible to miss and amazing! I wonder if they were constructed at the same time as the tunnels in NYC because the interior is quiet similar.

About 3 hours outside of Pittsburgh I realized that my parents were on my same trajectory and I offered to call my Couch Surfing host and see if they could surf there with me. I did, he did, and they did. It was tres cool. Jason was very accomodating and welcoming, giving up his bed for my parents to sleep in.

The next morning Mom and Dad took us all out to breakfast:

The number of houses/building made of brick in this neck of the woods is astounding!

Coca Cafe was delicious with a veg-friendly menu. Omelets, stuffed french toast and apple-cinnamon panninis were enjoyed all around.

Driving away from breakfast, Jason regaled us with the riot that ensued when the G-20 Summit came to Pittsburgh this past fall. Protestors galore, but cops put a stop to any interference very swiftly and sharply.

The Sprout Fund in Pittsburgh adds much to the public art scene:

PPG has a headquarters downtown Pittsburgh. We were faced with fortresses of glass and even a disco dinosaur.

Jason is a biker/walker exclusively, so the driving directions Dad recieved as he chauffeured us around the city were spotty at best. But we were all happy to be there and pleased to have Jason's knowledge of the city, so the fact that we circled the same blocks three times looking for "the right" bridge to get us to the top

of Mount Washington was no problem.

We never, in fact, made it to Mount Washington Heights. But a nearby hill served the same purpose of looking out over the city.

My little Falkor out front of Jason's house (the brick building across the way):

Thanks Jason for hosting me and my parents and showing us around your fine city!

Boston for Christmas

2009-12-30T19:05:00.001-05:00

A very Merry Christmas was spent in Boston at the home of the Zeisse family.

A sumptious Christmas Eve feast for 15 was spearheaded by the magical, Carrie! Magical, because she arranged the incredible flowers, picked the decadent menu, got all the fixin's and made it all come together. The Huus' helped with some cookin' and some plating to make the food get to the table on Carrie's timeline. All in all, a brilliant dinner.

Imagine the plates filled with:

-arugula salad

-beef tenderloin w/ au jus

-roast new potatoes

-two kinds of green beans

-polenta with sauteed shitakes, parm and parsley

Ava, didn't know quite where to start upon seeing the tree Christmas morning. But she figured it out right quick.

My time in Boston was much too quick. But as times go, so happy and full!

Good-Bye Brunch

2009-12-30T17:40:00.000-05:00

Before I go any further forward I have to go back for a moment and post some of my favorite pictures that I have just downloaded from my camera.

This takes us back to Dec. 19th. The morning of my "Goodbye Brunch":

Some Dancing Friends: Judy, Carl and Rachel

<--- Bobby and Andy hanging out

<--- Nancy Hill and me. This woman is such an inspiration!

I love this girl! Gonna miss my KP lunchdates ---->

Right: Kate, Lizzy and Mikey chillin' (mmm, biscuits and sausage gravy)

Leaving Portland

2009-12-28T16:51:00.005-05:00

I left Portland last Thursday, Christmas Eve.

Shutting the door to my blessed apartment, I will miss it soooooo.

This is the handy-dandy pen/iPod holder that mom made, it is velcro-ed to my dashboard. I love velcro.

This is the starting mileage:

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T06:42:00.001-05:00

Good morning and merry Christmas from the 18th floor of the Radisson in Boston.

Headed back over to Brook, Carrie and Ava's for Christmas morning and bagels, lox and coffee.

- Posted from the road

Location:Charles St S,Boston,United States

Ready, set, go

2009-12-24T09:33:00.001-05:00

So much to do before heading down to Boston. I need to just keep moving. Keep plodding. Get 'er done. But I feel like this:

And my room looks like this:

Okay must finish. Love to all y'all as I head out!

- Posted from my bedroom as I try to pack up this junk

Location:Mellen St,Portland,United States

First Leg

2009-12-18T15:32:00.000-05:00

My Departure Date is quickly approaching! I've google mapped out the first leg of the trip.

View Larger Map

I know I'll be in Nashville for New Year's Eve... but I'm not positive where I'll/we'll be staying yet... BUT, I just got news that Rob will be joining me on New Year's Eve! I'm so excited to spend New Year's with my sweetheart. Yay!

In other news, my roommate Aubrey graduated from her documentary semester at Salt today. The opening last night at the gallery was fantastic and I recommend all of you go check out their beautiful, moving, gritty, heart-warming work.

I'm hosting a "Good-bye Brunch" here at my apartment tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to the confluence of people that will surely ensue. I have friends from many of my different worlds converging over a smorgasbord of breakfasty items (my favorite meal!) Portland friends, Fair friends, Dancing friends, Union Brothers, Roommates, oh my! I can't wait!

I still haven't figured out the video aspect of blogging, I apologize. I'll get there.

Trash Percussion

2009-12-15T10:22:00.002-05:00

This post serves as my video upload test. I spent much time yesterday trying to figure out how in the world to upload video, taken with the iPhone, and share it with the world at large.

This clip is some early morning percussion. Witnessed on my walk home from a yummy Marcy's breakfast with Corey. The warm morning sun was doing it's job of melting the ice from the night before:

- Posted from my kitchen table

Apparently, I haven't quite mastered video uploading yet. FAIL. dammit!

Doghair marsh

2009-12-08T10:06:00.001-05:00

Alicia and I took a hike thru Stroudwater the other day and among conversation and taking the path less traveled came across many a marsh that looked like dog hair magnified.

I felt like a flea hopping along a dog's spine as I went tripping thru the tall grass.

~ posted from the road

Falkor, my personal luck dragon

2009-12-07T13:18:00.000-05:00

My little Ford Escort has been christened: Falkor (thank you Rob). The idea is that she will be my luck dragon and carry my safely around the United States and home again.

At Corey's behest (and because I'm a little crazy and it seemed like a good idea at the time) I've stenciled bubble gum pink scales all over her. With Katie, Corey, Kate, Rob and Betsy's help we protected the windows and made Falkor stand out beautifully.

I've poured a lot of money into my little car. Putting her in top working condition. Brakes are good, engine's checked, tires rotated, thermostat replaced, new tie rods, alignment. She's never driven this well before (at least not since I've had her).

Mom and I made inside curtains for Falkor, fitted out with Velcro so a modicum of personal, private space can be had inside the car. My own private refuge. Thank you Shane for the front windshield visor screen!

Before (observe Claire, ready to go!)

Today Claire and I drove thru the car wash! Which was a ride in and of itself!

After:

Sparkling in the driveway.

As soon as I have all the curtains done I'll show ya.

ROADTRIP!

2009-12-07T13:11:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

The time is close at hand for me to be flying off in my little white ford escort for three months of exploring the United states.

This will be my trip blog for keeping you all updated on my findings and encounters with the world.

I have three main goals to the expedition:

1. Research the United States Hosteling system. Interview hostel owners and try to gleen from their business plans what has succeeded and what needs improvement; in order to form/inform my own business plan.

2. To visit my far flung friends; because there's nothing quite like seeing someone in the element where they live. So Ariel in Winter Park, FL, Meghan and Erik in L.A., CA; Megan, Jill, Amy and Tim in Denver, CO; Colin in Bend, OR; Ashley in Tempe, AZ; Aubrey in Flagstaff, AZ; Emma and Family in Seattle, WA; Meaghan, George and Eva in Portland, OR; Marika in Toronto; ADD TO MY LIST!!!! I'm planning on posting my maps as I go, if I get close to you, or someone you know who I should meet: Let me know!

3. To see our amazing expansive country! I met so many world travelers this year in Central America who had been places in the U.S. that I hadn't and it made me think that I better get my act together and see more of what my own country has to offer.

Mission: to make the world expand and shrink all at once.