Well, as most of you know, Adam Aaron and I are home. There's a tremendous amount for us to update you all on, and while we won't be doing it from the road, I'll try my best not to leave out anything I find worthy. I just wanted to let you all know that we will be continuing in the updates, but for now, there are people that I miss and things I need to do. I love home, maybe a little less than I love the road more, but they're probably equal. I like to think so anyway.
Till then, I got Colorado rocks on my desk, a glass bottle of coke from Atlanta next to my computer, and a million stories in my mind.
From home,
Andrew
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
What the hell are we doing in Texas?
Other than melting I mean. The South West is a billion degrees.
Time for another quick run through of what we've done and I'll try not to leave out the good parts.
The second day we were in Irvine we went to a house party that was full of drama. Aaron, Adam, and I avoided it, enjoyed the night the best we could while people yelled at each other and at least one person got smacked in the face. Awesome.
The next day we went to Hollywood, Venice Beach, and then Long Beach for the night. I fell in love, we drank too much, invented the words Friggie Back Rides, Trippie Back Rides, and I lounged in a bush. Then we went to Oliver and Brittany's place for dancing and wine and it was awesome.
The next day we went to the San Diego zoo. I want to eat a zebra. Yes, I know I'm not very good at not eating meat if that's the case. We then went to San Diego for some awesome Italian food at a place I can't remember the name of. I head some awesome eggplant Parmesan. It was nice to but full. We headed back to Long Beach and watched the Hangover. The next day we were going to Vegas, it seemed fitting.
But Vegas turned out to be mostly dead. We all left losers and we didn't really sin with the best of them. I realize now we did it all wrong. We aren't millionaires, we should've gotten drunk and went to a club, we would've saved money that way. Instead all I have are a bunch of cars with naked ladies and their numbers on them. it bust be weird to be a thirty-five dollar special though.
The next day we drove to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I got a speeding ticket on the way, go out of state plates. The Grand Canyon is beyond words though. I would explain, but go, see it. Drink in the width with your eyes and if you have words enough to explain it than you are far better with words than I. I will say only this though, the colors are beyond what I would have imagined from rocks. We live in kaleidoscopes from time to time.
After that we drove to Flagstaff Arizona and slept at a Walmart parking lot. No place like home. In the morning I would be given a magazine called awake. Never trusted a pretty blond woman with blue eyes in a Walmart parking lot at ten am. They're only going to give you Christian propaganda.
We went to Slide Rock in Sedona. We jumped off rocks into water for the second time this trip, it felt good and right and I was happy to do it again. I'm no long afraid to do flips off of twenty or so high jumps. In face I prefer it. It feels awesome.
After that we went to my cousin Jake's place in Tempe. It had been in the neighborhood of thirteen years since we'd seen each other. It was good to catch up. We had BBQ for the fourth of July and he took us for a ride in his M3 and I think I finally understand the appeal of Techno music, though I still don't like it usually. He, his roommate Cody, and his other roommate John were more than nice to us. His house is ludicrous as well, it has two projection screens and that just doesn't make sense to me. We watched into the Blue and fireworks from his rooftop. I was tired and went to sleep early, but Adam has a story to tell if he ever feels like it. I'll leave that to him.
The next day, after breakfast, we went to Salt River rafting with Cody. I was upset that Jake didn't come but such is his prerogative (did I really just use that word? What kind of asshole am I?). it was a good time, we floated down river and drank a couple of beers and we were all brown by the end of it. A man yelled at me that a rag is not a hat, and he thought I was Arab. I told him it was my shirt. People are miracles.
After that we went to a guys place who I've forgotten the name of. It was swanky as hell, but I don't care too much for that sort of stuff. I can see how it's appealing though, I don't know. I'm of a million minds on everything, I don't think that'll ever change.
We left for a dead bar and then I ate at a In n Out for the first time in my life. Awesome.
Following Tempe we drove to Roswell. Roswell is all about it's aliens, as well it should be. We checked out the museum for UFOs and then we went to what we thought would be an alien themed cafe called Out Of This World. The world Heavenly was underneath it though, and there's something about Christianity that doesn't make sense to me in Roswell.
After Roswell we went to Carlsbad to go to the Carlsbad caverns. We walked through it and caves are amazing. I tried to take photographs without flash and that didn't go so hot. We watched the bats spill out of the cave and chaos never seemed more orderly. All those bodies moving in the same motion and you would expect to hear the noise of wings but it's silent. It's quiet like church mice.
After Carlsbad we headed for Austin. We slept again in a Walmart parking lot. In the morning we got an oil change and headed on to Austin. We went into a movie theater to see Transformers 2, which sucked, and then snuck into Public Enemy, which also sucked. But we spent three fifty per movie, and that's awesome. Afterwards we went to Ruby's BBQ where they had okay jambalaya and played Jawbreaker. It was awesome.
After that we went to Sixth street. We had a beer each. Then we left. Austin would be fun but I think we were all just out of it.
And then yesterday we went to Dallas. It was hot. On the way we took a shower for the first time since Tempe. I was glad to be clean. In Dallas we went to a sculpture park and Aaron decided that he would leave in New Orleans. I'm sad to know he'll be leaving, but it's his decision. It just means that we really need to pack the week before he leaves full of awesome. After the sculpture park we went to a place called Jake's. Not my cousin's. It was full of pretty girls, just like the rest of the South West. We had three dollar Margaritas, then we went and played pool for the rest of the night. We had cheap Mexican food and afterward we left towards Oklahoma City. I pulled the car off at a picnic area and we spent the morning there. It was nice and shaded and what I wanted. Then we left and here we are in a Starbucks somewhere between Dallas and Oklahoma city and I miss every a lot and I can't wait to be home, but I also never want this trip to end.
And that's what's happened so far. I think i got most everything, but I'm hyped up on caffeine and antsy and ready for another great adventure today.
Take car everyone.
With love from the road.
Signed,
Andrew
Time for another quick run through of what we've done and I'll try not to leave out the good parts.
The second day we were in Irvine we went to a house party that was full of drama. Aaron, Adam, and I avoided it, enjoyed the night the best we could while people yelled at each other and at least one person got smacked in the face. Awesome.
The next day we went to Hollywood, Venice Beach, and then Long Beach for the night. I fell in love, we drank too much, invented the words Friggie Back Rides, Trippie Back Rides, and I lounged in a bush. Then we went to Oliver and Brittany's place for dancing and wine and it was awesome.
The next day we went to the San Diego zoo. I want to eat a zebra. Yes, I know I'm not very good at not eating meat if that's the case. We then went to San Diego for some awesome Italian food at a place I can't remember the name of. I head some awesome eggplant Parmesan. It was nice to but full. We headed back to Long Beach and watched the Hangover. The next day we were going to Vegas, it seemed fitting.
But Vegas turned out to be mostly dead. We all left losers and we didn't really sin with the best of them. I realize now we did it all wrong. We aren't millionaires, we should've gotten drunk and went to a club, we would've saved money that way. Instead all I have are a bunch of cars with naked ladies and their numbers on them. it bust be weird to be a thirty-five dollar special though.
The next day we drove to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I got a speeding ticket on the way, go out of state plates. The Grand Canyon is beyond words though. I would explain, but go, see it. Drink in the width with your eyes and if you have words enough to explain it than you are far better with words than I. I will say only this though, the colors are beyond what I would have imagined from rocks. We live in kaleidoscopes from time to time.
After that we drove to Flagstaff Arizona and slept at a Walmart parking lot. No place like home. In the morning I would be given a magazine called awake. Never trusted a pretty blond woman with blue eyes in a Walmart parking lot at ten am. They're only going to give you Christian propaganda.
We went to Slide Rock in Sedona. We jumped off rocks into water for the second time this trip, it felt good and right and I was happy to do it again. I'm no long afraid to do flips off of twenty or so high jumps. In face I prefer it. It feels awesome.
After that we went to my cousin Jake's place in Tempe. It had been in the neighborhood of thirteen years since we'd seen each other. It was good to catch up. We had BBQ for the fourth of July and he took us for a ride in his M3 and I think I finally understand the appeal of Techno music, though I still don't like it usually. He, his roommate Cody, and his other roommate John were more than nice to us. His house is ludicrous as well, it has two projection screens and that just doesn't make sense to me. We watched into the Blue and fireworks from his rooftop. I was tired and went to sleep early, but Adam has a story to tell if he ever feels like it. I'll leave that to him.
The next day, after breakfast, we went to Salt River rafting with Cody. I was upset that Jake didn't come but such is his prerogative (did I really just use that word? What kind of asshole am I?). it was a good time, we floated down river and drank a couple of beers and we were all brown by the end of it. A man yelled at me that a rag is not a hat, and he thought I was Arab. I told him it was my shirt. People are miracles.
After that we went to a guys place who I've forgotten the name of. It was swanky as hell, but I don't care too much for that sort of stuff. I can see how it's appealing though, I don't know. I'm of a million minds on everything, I don't think that'll ever change.
We left for a dead bar and then I ate at a In n Out for the first time in my life. Awesome.
Following Tempe we drove to Roswell. Roswell is all about it's aliens, as well it should be. We checked out the museum for UFOs and then we went to what we thought would be an alien themed cafe called Out Of This World. The world Heavenly was underneath it though, and there's something about Christianity that doesn't make sense to me in Roswell.
After Roswell we went to Carlsbad to go to the Carlsbad caverns. We walked through it and caves are amazing. I tried to take photographs without flash and that didn't go so hot. We watched the bats spill out of the cave and chaos never seemed more orderly. All those bodies moving in the same motion and you would expect to hear the noise of wings but it's silent. It's quiet like church mice.
After Carlsbad we headed for Austin. We slept again in a Walmart parking lot. In the morning we got an oil change and headed on to Austin. We went into a movie theater to see Transformers 2, which sucked, and then snuck into Public Enemy, which also sucked. But we spent three fifty per movie, and that's awesome. Afterwards we went to Ruby's BBQ where they had okay jambalaya and played Jawbreaker. It was awesome.
After that we went to Sixth street. We had a beer each. Then we left. Austin would be fun but I think we were all just out of it.
And then yesterday we went to Dallas. It was hot. On the way we took a shower for the first time since Tempe. I was glad to be clean. In Dallas we went to a sculpture park and Aaron decided that he would leave in New Orleans. I'm sad to know he'll be leaving, but it's his decision. It just means that we really need to pack the week before he leaves full of awesome. After the sculpture park we went to a place called Jake's. Not my cousin's. It was full of pretty girls, just like the rest of the South West. We had three dollar Margaritas, then we went and played pool for the rest of the night. We had cheap Mexican food and afterward we left towards Oklahoma City. I pulled the car off at a picnic area and we spent the morning there. It was nice and shaded and what I wanted. Then we left and here we are in a Starbucks somewhere between Dallas and Oklahoma city and I miss every a lot and I can't wait to be home, but I also never want this trip to end.
And that's what's happened so far. I think i got most everything, but I'm hyped up on caffeine and antsy and ready for another great adventure today.
Take car everyone.
With love from the road.
Signed,
Andrew
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Happy Fifth of July Everyone!
Yeah, maybe missed that update by one day. It happens.
So, Adam had intended to let you know what we were doing when we were in California, while we were there. Instead we got sucked into situation and activity after situation and activity. California is a busy place.
We never made it to the Monterey Aquarium like we had intended. We couldn't get a hold of our friend back home Busher for the potential hook up there, and we also had to be at a party for Adam's childhood friend that started in as much time it would take to get there. So we decided against it. I'm okay with the decision, we'd later get to go to the San Diego zoo.
We made it to the party a bit after it had started. They were playing a game called Sloshball, which to condense, is drinking kickball with a waterslide. You drink, you kick, you run, you drink, you run, you slide. Water balloons and kegs included.
AFter the game of Sloshball and an eventless run in with the cops, we headed back to Pat and Megan's place, two of Adam's three childhood best friends. We hung out there for a long while, talked with the two of them, Jodi, their mother, Brittany, the third of three childhood best friends, Oliver, Brittany's boyfriend, and I believe Gorin (though I have absolutely no clue how the hell you would spell that).
Afterward Brittany, Oliver, Adam, Aaron and I went to get Megan a birthday cake. She wouldn't remember it, but it was fucking delicious.
We got to the bar the party had moved to, a place called the Dubliner. We would drink a bit and celebrate Megan's birthday, and I would wind up stuck to the face of a cute girl at the bar. Her name was Ida, it was perfectly innocent (probably TMI, huh mom?).
We headed home after that and I slept like a log.
The next day Megan and Brittany would take us to a pool. We sat around a hot pool in the hot California sun and got hot sun burns while surrounded by lots of hot girls.
But now I'm being called to go to dinner. So I'll try to do this a bit quicker.
After the pool we hung out at Megan and Pat's, then later went to a party full of drama. The kind of drama we weren't involved in at all, so it was almost comical.
The following day we went to Hollywood. We saw the stars and went for a walk, and did you know that Marilyn Monroe had just the tiniest feet?
We then went to Venice beach and I think I fell in love with it. If all goes wrong and I become a bum I at least know where I'm going.
And I'll tell more later. Dinner time.
Love from the road.
Signed,
Andrew
So, Adam had intended to let you know what we were doing when we were in California, while we were there. Instead we got sucked into situation and activity after situation and activity. California is a busy place.
We never made it to the Monterey Aquarium like we had intended. We couldn't get a hold of our friend back home Busher for the potential hook up there, and we also had to be at a party for Adam's childhood friend that started in as much time it would take to get there. So we decided against it. I'm okay with the decision, we'd later get to go to the San Diego zoo.
We made it to the party a bit after it had started. They were playing a game called Sloshball, which to condense, is drinking kickball with a waterslide. You drink, you kick, you run, you drink, you run, you slide. Water balloons and kegs included.
AFter the game of Sloshball and an eventless run in with the cops, we headed back to Pat and Megan's place, two of Adam's three childhood best friends. We hung out there for a long while, talked with the two of them, Jodi, their mother, Brittany, the third of three childhood best friends, Oliver, Brittany's boyfriend, and I believe Gorin (though I have absolutely no clue how the hell you would spell that).
Afterward Brittany, Oliver, Adam, Aaron and I went to get Megan a birthday cake. She wouldn't remember it, but it was fucking delicious.
We got to the bar the party had moved to, a place called the Dubliner. We would drink a bit and celebrate Megan's birthday, and I would wind up stuck to the face of a cute girl at the bar. Her name was Ida, it was perfectly innocent (probably TMI, huh mom?).
We headed home after that and I slept like a log.
The next day Megan and Brittany would take us to a pool. We sat around a hot pool in the hot California sun and got hot sun burns while surrounded by lots of hot girls.
But now I'm being called to go to dinner. So I'll try to do this a bit quicker.
After the pool we hung out at Megan and Pat's, then later went to a party full of drama. The kind of drama we weren't involved in at all, so it was almost comical.
The following day we went to Hollywood. We saw the stars and went for a walk, and did you know that Marilyn Monroe had just the tiniest feet?
We then went to Venice beach and I think I fell in love with it. If all goes wrong and I become a bum I at least know where I'm going.
And I'll tell more later. Dinner time.
Love from the road.
Signed,
Andrew
Monday, June 29, 2009
Aaron does not like I Love College
It's been awhile since I have had anything to say... Too much has been actually going on for be to sit still and write on the blog. This morning, I have a moment so I will give you a quick glance at last night.
Yesterday we woke up in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Gilroy, CA. We drove straight through to Irvine, CA. This is where I grew up. We were meeting up with my three bestfriends from back then, I hadn't seen them or even really talked to them in over 11 years. I had no idea what to expect or what they expected from me. Needless to say I was a bit nervous/apprehensive about the whole situation.
Andddd now we're going to a pool party, where Eric has a pool, a jacuzzi, and a mini golf course in his back yard. "Welcome to Cali Guys."
Too much fun, The stories will all come later.
Much Love, (from my hometown),
Adam
Yesterday we woke up in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Gilroy, CA. We drove straight through to Irvine, CA. This is where I grew up. We were meeting up with my three bestfriends from back then, I hadn't seen them or even really talked to them in over 11 years. I had no idea what to expect or what they expected from me. Needless to say I was a bit nervous/apprehensive about the whole situation.
Andddd now we're going to a pool party, where Eric has a pool, a jacuzzi, and a mini golf course in his back yard. "Welcome to Cali Guys."
Too much fun, The stories will all come later.
Much Love, (from my hometown),
Adam
Sunday, June 28, 2009
So A Week Is A Long Time
To not update what we've done, especially when the last thing I wrote about was Yellowstone. So, in favor of keeping most of you up to date with what's happening on this trip, I'll call this the abridged version.
We left Yellowstone for Jackson's Hole. We hit a bar, slept in the car. We met a very pretty waitress.
We left Jackson's Hole after seeing a female moose in a river. We made it to some hot springs outside of Salmon Idaho. We hiked for two miles but the view was worth it, and so were the hot springs. The earth is a strange place and I'm in love with it.
We got food at a brew pub and then made our way to Wagonhammer campgrounds. We met the owners, Abner and Shirley.
We left there and headed for Glacier National park. We stayed with Aaron's friend Nick at his place. We would spend two days there, hike to a beautiful lake, go to a riotous club, and I'm told get fucked with by the natives. I might not have been completely there for that.
We left Glacier and headed to Seattle. We stayed with Mark Reppi. If you live in the Seattle area and want an awesome friend, I suggest you find him before he disappears to Wenatchee, however that's spelt. We saw naked bike riders, ate massive burritos, went to two dead bars, danced in a graveyard, got tattoos, and watched Blindness.
We left for Vancouver after that and stayed with Adam's friend Alex. We had home made dinner, went to a bar where I was hit on by a crazy dancing girl and a mother. Then we barbecued the next day and drove to Portland. We had a blowout on the way. It was awesome but completely normal.
Portland we stayed with Adam's friends Alex's family. His brother Simon showed us around and showed us a good time. We had awesome indian food and went to a massive bookstore. We then saw Cursive that night before driving out to the Oregon Coastline.
We Drove to Crater lakes, saw it, and then kept going. We stopped for mexican food at a tiny place with a cute waitress, and why are there so many of them inthe world?, and continued on to Lake Tahoe to stay with our friend from high school Alex (and I'm not gonna try to spell his last name, I think it's Glazier. Okay so I did try. Damn.)
We spent two nights in Tahoe, and during the day we were there we swam in three lakes, and Alex and I jumped off of around sixty or seventy foot cliffs into water. Aaron and Adam did forty footers or so.
And then yesterday we were in San Francisco. I didn't like it till we got away from the piers, we met a couple named Shane and Amy. They proceeded to treat us for the rest of the night and tell us about Shane's roadtrip.
And now I'm in a starbucks rushing this before we go to an aquarium and then to a party for one of Adam's childhood friends.
Till I have more time, take care. The road is home.
Signed,
Andrew
We left Yellowstone for Jackson's Hole. We hit a bar, slept in the car. We met a very pretty waitress.
We left Jackson's Hole after seeing a female moose in a river. We made it to some hot springs outside of Salmon Idaho. We hiked for two miles but the view was worth it, and so were the hot springs. The earth is a strange place and I'm in love with it.
We got food at a brew pub and then made our way to Wagonhammer campgrounds. We met the owners, Abner and Shirley.
We left there and headed for Glacier National park. We stayed with Aaron's friend Nick at his place. We would spend two days there, hike to a beautiful lake, go to a riotous club, and I'm told get fucked with by the natives. I might not have been completely there for that.
We left Glacier and headed to Seattle. We stayed with Mark Reppi. If you live in the Seattle area and want an awesome friend, I suggest you find him before he disappears to Wenatchee, however that's spelt. We saw naked bike riders, ate massive burritos, went to two dead bars, danced in a graveyard, got tattoos, and watched Blindness.
We left for Vancouver after that and stayed with Adam's friend Alex. We had home made dinner, went to a bar where I was hit on by a crazy dancing girl and a mother. Then we barbecued the next day and drove to Portland. We had a blowout on the way. It was awesome but completely normal.
Portland we stayed with Adam's friends Alex's family. His brother Simon showed us around and showed us a good time. We had awesome indian food and went to a massive bookstore. We then saw Cursive that night before driving out to the Oregon Coastline.
We Drove to Crater lakes, saw it, and then kept going. We stopped for mexican food at a tiny place with a cute waitress, and why are there so many of them inthe world?, and continued on to Lake Tahoe to stay with our friend from high school Alex (and I'm not gonna try to spell his last name, I think it's Glazier. Okay so I did try. Damn.)
We spent two nights in Tahoe, and during the day we were there we swam in three lakes, and Alex and I jumped off of around sixty or seventy foot cliffs into water. Aaron and Adam did forty footers or so.
And then yesterday we were in San Francisco. I didn't like it till we got away from the piers, we met a couple named Shane and Amy. They proceeded to treat us for the rest of the night and tell us about Shane's roadtrip.
And now I'm in a starbucks rushing this before we go to an aquarium and then to a party for one of Adam's childhood friends.
Till I have more time, take care. The road is home.
Signed,
Andrew
Sunday, June 21, 2009
There's No Way We'll Ever Update This Enough
...but here's to trying.
Today is day twenty-one. I'm sitting in a nice house in Seattle with a stomach full of raisin english muffin and coffee. Aaron and Mark are awake in the kitchen, I think Adam is still asleep downstairs.
So, In the last update, I got everyone caught up to Yellowstone. We spent the entirety of the next day exploring the park. We talked to a man named Gordon and another named Eugene Tennessee. Gordon told us about a place called Interstate Roadhouse in Tennessee, and Eugene told us what to do around the park. He had been to Danbury before, said he was a bread deliverer for a couple of years when he was a younger man. He suggested we take two days to see the park. We would do it in one.
We went to a mud pit called Dragon's Mouth or something of the sort, and it was more than adequately named. There were three buffalo on and around the path. We wound up getting as close as five feet away, and there was nothing more than a wooden fence between us. It was awesome and I was ready to run the entire time. I would like to ride a buffalo though, no one fucks with a man on a buffalo I bet.
We made our way through the sulfur steam and around the wooden path. There were tons of people, but that's what's going to happen when you're at a national park. Yogi was right, no one goes there anymore because of the crowd. I didn't realize I was so much a misanthrope, I suppose I always expected though.
After that, we headed to a museum in the park. It talked about how it was formed, about the processes that happen underground to form geysers, mud pits, hot springs, and steam vents. We're all nerds for that stuff, and I would tell you, but you'd be better off with google. Turns out though that Yellowstone is a hot volcano. As in, it could literally go off at any moment. Hell yes.
After that, we made our way to the trail head for Mt. Washburn. It was an eighty minute hike through a cloud that was raining. Also, snow. Everywhere. And we walked on it. Snow in June doesn't even seem odd to me anymore, and that's a thought that kinda terrifies me. Aaron had a water proof jacket, Adam and I were in hoodies. Adam had boots. Aaron and I wore shoes. I'm not going to say we were wet by the end. We were swimming. The top of the mountain was thick with fog, we could see at the most fifteen feet in front of us. That's fine though, I don't expect every view to be breathtaking. That wouldn't be real. There was a couple at the top, they were tall and we'd see them again later.
We left for the bottom, and I can imagine my parents holding their breath while we went some passes that were less than safe. It's okay though, life is more interesting when you might die. Speaking of which, we saw a bear soon after that.
We headed towards food after that. We ate at Roosevelt's, some kitschy feeling lodge with waitresses all in denim. The rustic look was sold more than felt, and it bothered me, but I was hungry. We spent the time people watching and I could smell a pipe wafting through the front door. There was a family all dressed in Red and Black striped shirts. It reminded me of camp. I remember everyone from Little Thinkers wearing the same colored shirts at water parks and amusement parks. It made sense, but damn if it's not creepy.
We went towards a waterfall following that. We left the beaten path in hopes of a better view, but it wound up ending rather abruptly in a washout. We hung around and tried to keep moving, but it wasn't to any avail. I don't know why they shut off the trail though, seems like most people would see that it was more or less impassable and would turn around. But then, perhaps 'm giving people the benefit of the doubt when they don't deserve it. I've yet to encounter a time on this trip that wouldn't support that though.
After that we made our way around the park and to Old Faithful. We stopped to almost see a bear for a bit, saw more elk and more buffalo and I'm sorry but I don't think I could ever look at buffalo enough. Also, turns out you can never have too many pictures of buffalo, or so Adam thinks anyhow.
We made it to Old Faithful just after it went off. Adam and I proceeded to sit on the benches and wait for it. Yes, it was going to be a hour, but dedication is important. We didn't really wait the whole time, instead Aaron Adam and I headed to the car to make PB&Js and listen to music. I had though we saw Gordon again, but we didn't. Perhaps it was folly to hope.
After Old Faithful went, an event that wasn't smelly in the least and much to my surprise, we headed to the Grand Tetons. It was getting dark by this point, and we couldn't see much of the view. We made it to Jackson Hole, went to a bar with quite possibly the prettiest girl in the world, then fell asleep in the car a bit out of Jackson. Adam woke up the next day confused, and Aaron and I had shitty sleeps in the front seat.
And that was Yellowstone. And it was what I wanted.
Today is day twenty-one. I'm sitting in a nice house in Seattle with a stomach full of raisin english muffin and coffee. Aaron and Mark are awake in the kitchen, I think Adam is still asleep downstairs.
So, In the last update, I got everyone caught up to Yellowstone. We spent the entirety of the next day exploring the park. We talked to a man named Gordon and another named Eugene Tennessee. Gordon told us about a place called Interstate Roadhouse in Tennessee, and Eugene told us what to do around the park. He had been to Danbury before, said he was a bread deliverer for a couple of years when he was a younger man. He suggested we take two days to see the park. We would do it in one.
We went to a mud pit called Dragon's Mouth or something of the sort, and it was more than adequately named. There were three buffalo on and around the path. We wound up getting as close as five feet away, and there was nothing more than a wooden fence between us. It was awesome and I was ready to run the entire time. I would like to ride a buffalo though, no one fucks with a man on a buffalo I bet.
We made our way through the sulfur steam and around the wooden path. There were tons of people, but that's what's going to happen when you're at a national park. Yogi was right, no one goes there anymore because of the crowd. I didn't realize I was so much a misanthrope, I suppose I always expected though.
After that, we headed to a museum in the park. It talked about how it was formed, about the processes that happen underground to form geysers, mud pits, hot springs, and steam vents. We're all nerds for that stuff, and I would tell you, but you'd be better off with google. Turns out though that Yellowstone is a hot volcano. As in, it could literally go off at any moment. Hell yes.
After that, we made our way to the trail head for Mt. Washburn. It was an eighty minute hike through a cloud that was raining. Also, snow. Everywhere. And we walked on it. Snow in June doesn't even seem odd to me anymore, and that's a thought that kinda terrifies me. Aaron had a water proof jacket, Adam and I were in hoodies. Adam had boots. Aaron and I wore shoes. I'm not going to say we were wet by the end. We were swimming. The top of the mountain was thick with fog, we could see at the most fifteen feet in front of us. That's fine though, I don't expect every view to be breathtaking. That wouldn't be real. There was a couple at the top, they were tall and we'd see them again later.
We left for the bottom, and I can imagine my parents holding their breath while we went some passes that were less than safe. It's okay though, life is more interesting when you might die. Speaking of which, we saw a bear soon after that.
We headed towards food after that. We ate at Roosevelt's, some kitschy feeling lodge with waitresses all in denim. The rustic look was sold more than felt, and it bothered me, but I was hungry. We spent the time people watching and I could smell a pipe wafting through the front door. There was a family all dressed in Red and Black striped shirts. It reminded me of camp. I remember everyone from Little Thinkers wearing the same colored shirts at water parks and amusement parks. It made sense, but damn if it's not creepy.
We went towards a waterfall following that. We left the beaten path in hopes of a better view, but it wound up ending rather abruptly in a washout. We hung around and tried to keep moving, but it wasn't to any avail. I don't know why they shut off the trail though, seems like most people would see that it was more or less impassable and would turn around. But then, perhaps 'm giving people the benefit of the doubt when they don't deserve it. I've yet to encounter a time on this trip that wouldn't support that though.
After that we made our way around the park and to Old Faithful. We stopped to almost see a bear for a bit, saw more elk and more buffalo and I'm sorry but I don't think I could ever look at buffalo enough. Also, turns out you can never have too many pictures of buffalo, or so Adam thinks anyhow.
We made it to Old Faithful just after it went off. Adam and I proceeded to sit on the benches and wait for it. Yes, it was going to be a hour, but dedication is important. We didn't really wait the whole time, instead Aaron Adam and I headed to the car to make PB&Js and listen to music. I had though we saw Gordon again, but we didn't. Perhaps it was folly to hope.
After Old Faithful went, an event that wasn't smelly in the least and much to my surprise, we headed to the Grand Tetons. It was getting dark by this point, and we couldn't see much of the view. We made it to Jackson Hole, went to a bar with quite possibly the prettiest girl in the world, then fell asleep in the car a bit out of Jackson. Adam woke up the next day confused, and Aaron and I had shitty sleeps in the front seat.
And that was Yellowstone. And it was what I wanted.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Catching Up: From Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone
So, I believe the last time you heard from us was somewhere around the base of Mt. Rushmore. At least, that’s what Adam says. The last time you heard from me was a lot earlier for that. Sorry for the lack of updates in general though, this leg of the trip dragged us out into the great big nothing that are the western states. Entire towns out here are created out of tourist traps and by taking advantage of beautiful naturally occurring rock formations and the like.
Right now, I’m writing you from Jackson Hole Wyoming. Only, recently, they dropped the Hole, apparently it made this place a bit more undesirable to live in. I suppose that’s the largest detriment to this place, I can’t imagine that living this close to the Grand Tetons would take much convincing on my part.
Anyhow, we left the camping lodge for horses back on Sunday morning. The lady there only charged us ten dollars to pitch a tent there, and even then she said she only charged us for the showers that each of us took. She looked a bit like my mom, I think they shared a nose and a certain love for the wildlife.
This entire trip has been like that though. Everywhere we’ve gone I’ve met people I’m convinced I already know. As though there are only a certain amount of people in the world, and there are only a certain amount of people you could possibly be. But then that’s a silly thought, and I’m a silly person.
We headed out first for crazy horse. We saw it, in all of it’s unfinished glory. We didn’t pay to get in, nine bucks a head is a bit pricy and we would learn more than enough about it form the people we were yet to meet on the trip. We turned around and headed for Mt. Rushmore.
On the way, we stopped at a place called Cosmos. I’ll save the nitty gritty details and say only this: It fuck’s with your perceptions. And well. Adam was happier than a kid on Christmas in anticipation for it, and Aaron and I left both skeptics. I suppose it’s just in my nature not to believe. I don’t know Aaron’s reason. But it was interesting.
We made it to Mt. Rushmore after that. Perhaps it’s a joke that I’m not privy to, or maybe the people that knew we were going to see the Faces wanted us to be even more impressed, but to anyone that told us they’re tiny, they’re not fucking tiny. We walked on the paved paths around the bottom of the faces, took silly pictures, and then found buried treasure. Thank you Mark Reppi. And I’m still of two minds about the whole thing. I understand the good it’s done, the business it brings, the work it creates, the tourist money garnered by a state with little else to go on but that, farm land, and the bad lands. Still, I wonder why we feel the urge to blow up mountains and reconstruct entire forests and hills to our liking. I worry about the touch of human hands I guess, but perhaps that’s a rant better saved for a a time I have a more formed opinion on it.
We left Mt Rushmore and headed for a swimming hole we never found. We did find an unpaved road and a river though, and I enjoyed both. We then headed for Sturgis; we were looking for The Road Kill café. I doubt they would have put the accent over the e though. We found, instead, a street almost completely devoid of business and life. We left the street a bit disappointed, but then we filled up on cheap Chinese food and made tracks for Yellowstone. It would be a long trip, we found ourselves smack dab in the middle of the Rockies at sunset. All the words and all the pictures we could take would pale in comparison to what we saw. I’d try, but I’ve been trying to learn this days when to fight and when to give, some losing fights are worth fighting and there are ones you could win that you ought not to bother. This is a losing one that I shouldn’t.
How could I forget? On the way to Yellowstone, we stopped on a route called Powder Keg Pass, we wound up climbing a mountain next to a turn off.It gave a view I dono't think I've ever seen the equal of with my own eyes, at least of nature. It was a rocky climb to the top, I dropped my lens cap twice into small crevices, and I can imagine the look of horror that would be one Aaron or Adam's face if they saw me contorting my body to get it. Sometimes I take dumb risks, but I know that. I think I'm okay with it. We waited on the top for a bit, then took off in search of Yellowstone. Oh, and there was snow on the ground. In June. Head-trip.
We made it to a Yellowstone campground that closed at ten at nine fifty-nine. We then met a man who would lay out the rest of our trip around Yellowstone for us, though we would do it at an accelerated pace. His name was Eugene Tennessee, and he was as bad ass as his name would suggest.
But I’ll save that for the next update. The road is treating us well, we’ve dealt with the rain, learned to live in the car, and I’ve become quite certain by now that the North East of America is probably the least friendly place I’ve been to thusfar. I’m ready for the rest to prove me wrong, though I hope it doesn’t.
From the road.
Signed,
Andrew
Right now, I’m writing you from Jackson Hole Wyoming. Only, recently, they dropped the Hole, apparently it made this place a bit more undesirable to live in. I suppose that’s the largest detriment to this place, I can’t imagine that living this close to the Grand Tetons would take much convincing on my part.
Anyhow, we left the camping lodge for horses back on Sunday morning. The lady there only charged us ten dollars to pitch a tent there, and even then she said she only charged us for the showers that each of us took. She looked a bit like my mom, I think they shared a nose and a certain love for the wildlife.
This entire trip has been like that though. Everywhere we’ve gone I’ve met people I’m convinced I already know. As though there are only a certain amount of people in the world, and there are only a certain amount of people you could possibly be. But then that’s a silly thought, and I’m a silly person.
We headed out first for crazy horse. We saw it, in all of it’s unfinished glory. We didn’t pay to get in, nine bucks a head is a bit pricy and we would learn more than enough about it form the people we were yet to meet on the trip. We turned around and headed for Mt. Rushmore.
On the way, we stopped at a place called Cosmos. I’ll save the nitty gritty details and say only this: It fuck’s with your perceptions. And well. Adam was happier than a kid on Christmas in anticipation for it, and Aaron and I left both skeptics. I suppose it’s just in my nature not to believe. I don’t know Aaron’s reason. But it was interesting.
We made it to Mt. Rushmore after that. Perhaps it’s a joke that I’m not privy to, or maybe the people that knew we were going to see the Faces wanted us to be even more impressed, but to anyone that told us they’re tiny, they’re not fucking tiny. We walked on the paved paths around the bottom of the faces, took silly pictures, and then found buried treasure. Thank you Mark Reppi. And I’m still of two minds about the whole thing. I understand the good it’s done, the business it brings, the work it creates, the tourist money garnered by a state with little else to go on but that, farm land, and the bad lands. Still, I wonder why we feel the urge to blow up mountains and reconstruct entire forests and hills to our liking. I worry about the touch of human hands I guess, but perhaps that’s a rant better saved for a a time I have a more formed opinion on it.
We left Mt Rushmore and headed for a swimming hole we never found. We did find an unpaved road and a river though, and I enjoyed both. We then headed for Sturgis; we were looking for The Road Kill café. I doubt they would have put the accent over the e though. We found, instead, a street almost completely devoid of business and life. We left the street a bit disappointed, but then we filled up on cheap Chinese food and made tracks for Yellowstone. It would be a long trip, we found ourselves smack dab in the middle of the Rockies at sunset. All the words and all the pictures we could take would pale in comparison to what we saw. I’d try, but I’ve been trying to learn this days when to fight and when to give, some losing fights are worth fighting and there are ones you could win that you ought not to bother. This is a losing one that I shouldn’t.
How could I forget? On the way to Yellowstone, we stopped on a route called Powder Keg Pass, we wound up climbing a mountain next to a turn off.It gave a view I dono't think I've ever seen the equal of with my own eyes, at least of nature. It was a rocky climb to the top, I dropped my lens cap twice into small crevices, and I can imagine the look of horror that would be one Aaron or Adam's face if they saw me contorting my body to get it. Sometimes I take dumb risks, but I know that. I think I'm okay with it. We waited on the top for a bit, then took off in search of Yellowstone. Oh, and there was snow on the ground. In June. Head-trip.
We made it to a Yellowstone campground that closed at ten at nine fifty-nine. We then met a man who would lay out the rest of our trip around Yellowstone for us, though we would do it at an accelerated pace. His name was Eugene Tennessee, and he was as bad ass as his name would suggest.
But I’ll save that for the next update. The road is treating us well, we’ve dealt with the rain, learned to live in the car, and I’ve become quite certain by now that the North East of America is probably the least friendly place I’ve been to thusfar. I’m ready for the rest to prove me wrong, though I hope it doesn’t.
From the road.
Signed,
Andrew
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Quick post from a porch on mount rushmore
I am writting this from my phone so please forgive the misspellings. A lot has happened since mil-rock. We drove from there to DES moines Iowa! On the way we stopped at frank Lloyd wright's house on the rock in somewhere Wisconsin. We were all pretty excited, paid the 12 bucks to get in and began enjoying the scenery. The was an infinity hall way which was just a hallway that went out into the sky and had NO supports! It was also built in such a way that it seemed like it was going on forever. We go through the whole house talking about how great frank Lloyd wright was and when we got to the gift shop at the end there was nothing about frank. How ever there was a book on alex Jordan. Curious I picked up the book and read the back cover "alex Jordan, the man, the dream, the house." it was the alex Jordan house not the frank house... Needless to say it was still pretty awesome! Then we made it to just outside of Des moines as it was getting dark and scrambled to find a place to sleep. Luckily we found a state park on saylorville lake. We watched the sunset over the road, words can't describe how truly awesome it was. Hopefully I'll throw up a pic sometime soon.
The next morning we went for a quick swim in the lake and then were on out way to downtown DM. it was a quick day downtown because no offense to our Des moineian friends but there ain't a lit going on. When we asked what there was to do in Des moines, people laughed at us, which reallly threw us off because what we usually get is... How old are you guys? After the laughter died down, we left Des moines.
We swiftly made out way to Omaha and we didn't know what to think. No place to stay, no plans, no idea what to do. But it didn't matter we were in the home of saddle creek. We were ready to rock.
Well I'm off to sleep. I'll let AJ fill younin up to now.
Signed,
Adam
The next morning we went for a quick swim in the lake and then were on out way to downtown DM. it was a quick day downtown because no offense to our Des moineian friends but there ain't a lit going on. When we asked what there was to do in Des moines, people laughed at us, which reallly threw us off because what we usually get is... How old are you guys? After the laughter died down, we left Des moines.
We swiftly made out way to Omaha and we didn't know what to think. No place to stay, no plans, no idea what to do. But it didn't matter we were in the home of saddle creek. We were ready to rock.
Well I'm off to sleep. I'll let AJ fill younin up to now.
Signed,
Adam
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Mil-Rock... Fuck Green Bay.
"You guys HAVE to go to Milwaukee!"
"Dude, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in Milwaukee! Why would you go there?"
"If there is something fun in Milwaukee... I definitely haven't found it yet."
Everyone was wrong. Mil-rock is outstanding. We left Chicago, late in the day, with no plan at all for what to do, where to sleep, or even where to go for the day. Ilana had suggested Milwaukee, and it was the first place we saw on the highway, so that is where we went. Our first stop was The Harley-Davidson Museum. 16$. We just looked through the window, and left. Then we searched and searched for the Pabst Blue Ribbon Factory, only to find out from two young police officers that it did not exist anymore. Shit. Dragging our feet we went to the Miller Valley where the great beers of America are brewed like, Miller Lite, Olde English, Miller Chill, Sparks, and Milwaukee's Best! Needless to say, we were well hydrated travelers. Example: I asked the bar tender in the beer garden what the last tap was. She replied with "Oh that's water." AJ responded "Oh you have TWO Miller Lite taps!" Our tour guide felt like she would rather be purchasing a noose. She wasn't a fan of Miller Time. or getting paid by the Miller Hour. From there it was suggested that we check out Pizza Shuttle. $13.45 for a large special pizza and three tall beers, local brew. We're there. The pizza was delicious as well. And the hostess set the bar for Milwaukee by giving us a LIST of places to see and things to do. Complete with actual directions. Awesome. We tried to go to the Lake Shore Brewery but it was closed (Luckily). We then went to a brew pub that we had seen earlier in the day The Water Street Brewery. When we got it we figured it would be a little pricey, but were excited to try a new beer. We sat at the bar and asked the bar tender what her favorite beer was. Oktoberfest. Sold. We told her about the trip and as par for Milwaukee she was really nice. Eventually, we started talking with her and the other bartender Johanna. Both girls were really awesome and helped us think of things to do here, and told us "Forget Green Bay". Lisa graciously crossed it off the list, and with that saved us five hours of driving and probably a tank of gas. Thanks Lisa. We were only meant to go into the brewery for a drink, but long story short we ended up closing the bar with them. Johanna's friend Andrew showed up, and go figure he went abroad in Australia as well! And EVEN went to Danbury, CT! hahaha. We're taking him our drinking next time we're all back in town. I can not stress how awesome the people here really are. Aaron met a guy and got us a place to stay. He taught us how to break into his house, and said he would only come back if he didn't find another place to stay. Andrew and Johanna stressed us going to this bar called Safe House. I can't tell you about Safe House. It's a secret. But you have to go through a secret entrance to get in. And to leave you have to put a quarter into a telephone in a booth, and the back slides open and leads you down a flight of stairs, through some hallways, and outside. The password to get in is definitely not "I'm looking for a Safe House." There we were once again greeted with a friendliness that I hope becomes a part of my life. The whole bar took on to us and helped us plan our next day in town. Even offered to take us to lunch, which we will be going to shortly. We got drunk. Found our way back to John's place (the guy who offered us his place). Broke in. And slept on the apartment. In the morning John woke up, while we were thanking him he told us a story about how the night before he told his friends that he was letting three guys stay at his place and he wasn't there. "Dude, you're sooo fucked, they're going to rob you blind!" John - "No, they're not. I was once in their place and I know how it is backpacking around." Friend - "They're stealing your shit RIGHT NOW" John - "And besides what the fuck are they going to steal. I have a fucking picture of an Indian over a T.V. from 1992. And two palm trees."
Last night, really set the bar for the trip. Staying in Mil-rock one more day. Couldn't get enough.
Signed,
Adam
"Dude, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in Milwaukee! Why would you go there?"
"If there is something fun in Milwaukee... I definitely haven't found it yet."
Everyone was wrong. Mil-rock is outstanding. We left Chicago, late in the day, with no plan at all for what to do, where to sleep, or even where to go for the day. Ilana had suggested Milwaukee, and it was the first place we saw on the highway, so that is where we went. Our first stop was The Harley-Davidson Museum. 16$. We just looked through the window, and left. Then we searched and searched for the Pabst Blue Ribbon Factory, only to find out from two young police officers that it did not exist anymore. Shit. Dragging our feet we went to the Miller Valley where the great beers of America are brewed like, Miller Lite, Olde English, Miller Chill, Sparks, and Milwaukee's Best! Needless to say, we were well hydrated travelers. Example: I asked the bar tender in the beer garden what the last tap was. She replied with "Oh that's water." AJ responded "Oh you have TWO Miller Lite taps!" Our tour guide felt like she would rather be purchasing a noose. She wasn't a fan of Miller Time. or getting paid by the Miller Hour. From there it was suggested that we check out Pizza Shuttle. $13.45 for a large special pizza and three tall beers, local brew. We're there. The pizza was delicious as well. And the hostess set the bar for Milwaukee by giving us a LIST of places to see and things to do. Complete with actual directions. Awesome. We tried to go to the Lake Shore Brewery but it was closed (Luckily). We then went to a brew pub that we had seen earlier in the day The Water Street Brewery. When we got it we figured it would be a little pricey, but were excited to try a new beer. We sat at the bar and asked the bar tender what her favorite beer was. Oktoberfest. Sold. We told her about the trip and as par for Milwaukee she was really nice. Eventually, we started talking with her and the other bartender Johanna. Both girls were really awesome and helped us think of things to do here, and told us "Forget Green Bay". Lisa graciously crossed it off the list, and with that saved us five hours of driving and probably a tank of gas. Thanks Lisa. We were only meant to go into the brewery for a drink, but long story short we ended up closing the bar with them. Johanna's friend Andrew showed up, and go figure he went abroad in Australia as well! And EVEN went to Danbury, CT! hahaha. We're taking him our drinking next time we're all back in town. I can not stress how awesome the people here really are. Aaron met a guy and got us a place to stay. He taught us how to break into his house, and said he would only come back if he didn't find another place to stay. Andrew and Johanna stressed us going to this bar called Safe House. I can't tell you about Safe House. It's a secret. But you have to go through a secret entrance to get in. And to leave you have to put a quarter into a telephone in a booth, and the back slides open and leads you down a flight of stairs, through some hallways, and outside. The password to get in is definitely not "I'm looking for a Safe House." There we were once again greeted with a friendliness that I hope becomes a part of my life. The whole bar took on to us and helped us plan our next day in town. Even offered to take us to lunch, which we will be going to shortly. We got drunk. Found our way back to John's place (the guy who offered us his place). Broke in. And slept on the apartment. In the morning John woke up, while we were thanking him he told us a story about how the night before he told his friends that he was letting three guys stay at his place and he wasn't there. "Dude, you're sooo fucked, they're going to rob you blind!" John - "No, they're not. I was once in their place and I know how it is backpacking around." Friend - "They're stealing your shit RIGHT NOW" John - "And besides what the fuck are they going to steal. I have a fucking picture of an Indian over a T.V. from 1992. And two palm trees."
Last night, really set the bar for the trip. Staying in Mil-rock one more day. Couldn't get enough.
Signed,
Adam
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Second Tuesday (From the Arch to Chi-Town pt 1)
I'm laying on an air mattress in the basement of Aaron Katzs girlfriend's basement uploading something like a hundred and eighty photos to a photobucket account I made while Aaron, Adam, and Alyssa (the wonderful provider of our place to sleep (wait, maybe that's her parents(Of course, that isn't all that important, but I ask you, who doesn't like a ton of parenthesis?(See?)))) are still sleeping, or at least trying to. I'm sure the clack of keyboard typing and Alyssa's cat jumping around and opening doors doesn't help.
We'll be leaving Chicago soon. I'm not so sure that's where we are at the moment, Alyssa lives in a suburb, but I do know that I'm still going to call this Chicago, and in whatever strange corner of my brain this place and the memories I accrued here will inhabit, this will still be linked with Chicago.
But then, I don't feel we've had any kind of substantial update since Nashville. I'll try to catch you guys up, but it's a bit of a daunting task. Our days are packed, our nights are packed, my dreams have been packed, and the coming weeks don't seem like they'll be any slower at all.
We slept in the car in St. Louis. It was roughly three hundred thousand degrees and more humid than the ocean. At least. The preceding night we were offered a place to stay by a homeless man that gave us a Columbia shirt, an embroidered lighter holder, and a meat thermometer. He turned in a circle and said "Yo, you could camp at my sisters! Let me go get here." We waited for him to walk down the street and then drove away. I wonder where our sense of adventure went.
We walked around St. Louis, saw the arch, went on the Anheuser-Busch tour, and then went to Soulard market place. We met a homeless man named Reggie who was holding a DVD player in a brown-paper bag. He told me that white people used to laugh at black people for the type of gauges I have in my ears. Then he asked us if he speaks like a nigger. Then he free styled and beat boxed. Then we gave him three dollars and told him to have a good day.
We gave away six dollars in total to the homeless in St. Louis, a city surrounded and filled with mansions.
We left St. Louis for Indianapolis later that day. We made it to within forty miles and stayed at a camp site. The night was going fine, we made rice and beans on the propane stove, went and bought fire wood, then spent the rest of the night trying to make a fire. The wood was soaked through with water, and every bed of coals we made sizzled and popped with moister pockets. It never really picked up.
While we were sitting watching and working on the fire, we heard rustling by our other picnic table. Aaron shined a light on it. A raccoon grabbed our bread and ran into the woods. That fucker. The raccoon would spend the rest of the night making noises as though dying and rummaging around our tent for food. Adam slept with his hands on a Hatchet and his pocket knife.
We went into Indianapolis for the day following that night. We went to a place called Bazbeaux's Pizza for brunch, then to the IMA. I saw Ma Jolie again, I had forgotten how much it ruins me. There are very few pieces of visual art that can tug at my heart strings, but Ma Jolie seems to do it more or less every time I see it. Ugg.
We ran into a man waiting at a bridge near the Lily house to propose to his girlfriend. He was wearing a nice suit and the day was just hot. I hope she said yes. I hope they are happy.
After that we drove to Chicago. We met Alyssa at Goose Island for a couple of beers before Aaron headed to her place and Adam and I went to Sam Young's apartment. I thought the night was soon to be over, instead we stayed up and watched Beavis and Butthead until I fell asleep on the couch.
We woke up early the next day, Ilana (Sam's girlfriend(see, how much do you like these)) showed us around Chicago. We hit up Navy Pier, down around the Mag Mile, and then went to a place called R.J. Grunts with a guy named Neil that we met the previous night. They had homemade potato chips and massive sandwiches.
Ilana and Neil were both good people, I'm glad we met them.
After that we headed to a pub named the Abbey for Ricky's show. We were forced to wait outside by a fat bouncer who seemed more than a little upset with life. But we hung out and had free drinks and listened to DJ Sluggo. After that we went to a pretty crazy party packed with people and a terrible DJ. The cops showed up in full force, a paddy-wagon and a couple of cruisers. We were cattled out onto the street and made our way, more miracle than motion, back to Sam's apartment.
We had been in Chicago for a little over twenty-four hours by that point, I was pretty sure that it was to be as ridiculous a time as I could want.
But for now, we're going to go get breakfast at Superdog, finish our laundry, and then head out for Milwaukee today. Yes, it'sn ot really on the list, but we've heard so much about it that it would seem like a crime not to visit.
This trip is more than I could have expected.
Signed,
Andrew
We'll be leaving Chicago soon. I'm not so sure that's where we are at the moment, Alyssa lives in a suburb, but I do know that I'm still going to call this Chicago, and in whatever strange corner of my brain this place and the memories I accrued here will inhabit, this will still be linked with Chicago.
But then, I don't feel we've had any kind of substantial update since Nashville. I'll try to catch you guys up, but it's a bit of a daunting task. Our days are packed, our nights are packed, my dreams have been packed, and the coming weeks don't seem like they'll be any slower at all.
We slept in the car in St. Louis. It was roughly three hundred thousand degrees and more humid than the ocean. At least. The preceding night we were offered a place to stay by a homeless man that gave us a Columbia shirt, an embroidered lighter holder, and a meat thermometer. He turned in a circle and said "Yo, you could camp at my sisters! Let me go get here." We waited for him to walk down the street and then drove away. I wonder where our sense of adventure went.
We walked around St. Louis, saw the arch, went on the Anheuser-Busch tour, and then went to Soulard market place. We met a homeless man named Reggie who was holding a DVD player in a brown-paper bag. He told me that white people used to laugh at black people for the type of gauges I have in my ears. Then he asked us if he speaks like a nigger. Then he free styled and beat boxed. Then we gave him three dollars and told him to have a good day.
We gave away six dollars in total to the homeless in St. Louis, a city surrounded and filled with mansions.
We left St. Louis for Indianapolis later that day. We made it to within forty miles and stayed at a camp site. The night was going fine, we made rice and beans on the propane stove, went and bought fire wood, then spent the rest of the night trying to make a fire. The wood was soaked through with water, and every bed of coals we made sizzled and popped with moister pockets. It never really picked up.
While we were sitting watching and working on the fire, we heard rustling by our other picnic table. Aaron shined a light on it. A raccoon grabbed our bread and ran into the woods. That fucker. The raccoon would spend the rest of the night making noises as though dying and rummaging around our tent for food. Adam slept with his hands on a Hatchet and his pocket knife.
We went into Indianapolis for the day following that night. We went to a place called Bazbeaux's Pizza for brunch, then to the IMA. I saw Ma Jolie again, I had forgotten how much it ruins me. There are very few pieces of visual art that can tug at my heart strings, but Ma Jolie seems to do it more or less every time I see it. Ugg.
We ran into a man waiting at a bridge near the Lily house to propose to his girlfriend. He was wearing a nice suit and the day was just hot. I hope she said yes. I hope they are happy.
After that we drove to Chicago. We met Alyssa at Goose Island for a couple of beers before Aaron headed to her place and Adam and I went to Sam Young's apartment. I thought the night was soon to be over, instead we stayed up and watched Beavis and Butthead until I fell asleep on the couch.
We woke up early the next day, Ilana (Sam's girlfriend(see, how much do you like these)) showed us around Chicago. We hit up Navy Pier, down around the Mag Mile, and then went to a place called R.J. Grunts with a guy named Neil that we met the previous night. They had homemade potato chips and massive sandwiches.
Ilana and Neil were both good people, I'm glad we met them.
After that we headed to a pub named the Abbey for Ricky's show. We were forced to wait outside by a fat bouncer who seemed more than a little upset with life. But we hung out and had free drinks and listened to DJ Sluggo. After that we went to a pretty crazy party packed with people and a terrible DJ. The cops showed up in full force, a paddy-wagon and a couple of cruisers. We were cattled out onto the street and made our way, more miracle than motion, back to Sam's apartment.
We had been in Chicago for a little over twenty-four hours by that point, I was pretty sure that it was to be as ridiculous a time as I could want.
But for now, we're going to go get breakfast at Superdog, finish our laundry, and then head out for Milwaukee today. Yes, it'sn ot really on the list, but we've heard so much about it that it would seem like a crime not to visit.
This trip is more than I could have expected.
Signed,
Andrew
Monday, June 8, 2009
Late night in Chi Town..
tonight was crazy not as crazy as last night, but tonight i met up with DJ Moptop and spun with him in The Butterfly on the the North Side of Chi Town. Tonight was crazy, free drinks all night long. Chi Town is nuts. Right now i am writing from a computer from the top of the Dwight Towers looking at the most beautiful Chicago skyline. Its prettu special and all the guys i am chillin with are top of the line. Dave Richardson, Young Live, DJ Moptop, Earn Money, and Don P, are partying at the after partying and its a good ass time. just burnt my hand too hell. but no worries because a young beautiful girl is here and trying to get my name, but i am just having fun. I have too much going on back at home and a girl that i have a PRETTY BIG cruah on, ao she doesnt have to worry bout a thing. Chicago has been pretty nice tho. Nice enough that AJ is passed out and i am chillin in this pent house apartment. Life in chi is crazy. When i Have more time i will tell more stories. Stay in tune, because new stories will start tomorrow becayse we are leaving the Chi and we will have more and more time to write about everything is happening. Right now all i can say is that we are meeting amazing people and are doin everything we can to make it on top. Keep everyone is your prayers, and everthing will be alright. Have fun. Good Night. Chi Town.
signed,
Adam
signed,
Adam
Saturday, June 6, 2009
In Chi Town Quick Update!
So much has happened but we haven't been able to get to a place with Internet and my friend Sam doesn't have Internet in his apt in Chicago so there has been a serious lack of twitted updates as well as blog posts and for that we are sorry. For now I am typing on my itouch using free wifi. I won't be able to type everything here but no worries more tweets and updates are on the way! In short, st. Louis was amazing and we slept in a wal mart parking lot! Not as bad as you would think. We woke up and checked out union station and then made our way over to the gateway arch! Soooo much bigger than expected and we even got discounts with our America the beautiful pass! St. Louis surprised the hell out of me and if I had to move there I wouldn't mind it because it was just that nice! We also met Ferrari there but I'll save that story for when I have a keyboard. Next was Indianapolis the night before we got there involved the three of us holding weapons and screaming into the woods than hiding in the car from... Another story for the keyboard haha. For now it's chi town and going out clubing with my good friend and number one dj in Chicago DJ Moptop! Tonight should get interesting. Also we had to break into our friends apartment but scaling a wall and pushing thru his window we will have to thank an or having a place to rest our feet Goethe afternoon! Didn't want to leave you guys hanging! Much much more to come! The road is long but will it be long enough? I keep thinking about you...
Signed,
Adam
Signed,
Adam
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
nashville...
we found a place to stay with jenn and sara and they are super nice.. its nice to sleep on a couch. the tent is nice, but a home is nicer. nashville was great to me. Plus im hanging out with craig stewart. he's pretty much the greatest person on the earth... pretty much. stay tuned and dont forget to follow our twitters and facebook. at twttier.com/adamamerica or twitter.com/andrewamerica
facebook at Facebook.com and then search Across America!
this is everything that i wanted it to be, this is living.
signed,
adam
facebook at Facebook.com and then search Across America!
this is everything that i wanted it to be, this is living.
signed,
adam
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Nashville with the Piranhas Night 1-2
Last night, we talked to a pretty girl in a Starbucks and she told us that her brother, if he were to be there, would talk our ears off about a place called Red River Gorge. So, we got severely lost on the way to the camp grounds there, asking several people along the way but Aaron and Adam couldn't understand the locals in Kentucky. We finally showed up around seven, found our way to a friendly man that told us we'd need to buy a permit to camp that night (which was thirty minutes back the way we came) and who helped us decide what we'd do. After all that, we set up camp, started a small fire that burned until the night got plenty dark as we played Monopoly on Adam's iTouch.
We talked in the tent until we fell asleep, and though I was sleeping in a way-too-hot sleeping bag in a muggy tent with no matt, I slept better than I had in months. Maybe it had something to do with the lack of sleep the previous nights, but I tend to think that it was simply that I was finally ready to fall asleep. I woke up a couple times in the night, but that's noting nothing new.
In the morning, we packed up camp and took a small hike through the woods. There was a group of Nova Scotians climbing a rock wall in the middle of the woods. This is nothing to remember, not really.
We left Red River Gorge and Adam ran through a tunnel carved out of a mountain overpass. There were two men standing around a white car outside of the tunnel with the hood up. I asked them i they needed help, but they told me they didn't. I didn't think there was much of anything I could do if they did need help, but it just didn't seem right not to pass them without saying anything.
After the gorge we drove to Wild Turkey Distillery. We met some incredibly nice women there, working in the gift shop. Peggy had worked at the distillery for forty-five years, only after they moved operations did she take up a job working as a tour guide. She took us around and told us a bit about herself and her life. The real story is, though, that after the tour we met Jimmy Russell, the master brewer for Wild Turkey. He signed a shot glass I bought for my sister-in-law that I had him sign, and then we spent the rest of the time there talking to a woman named Sherwine who, despite her age, was an absolute southern belle.
I've fallen in love these past three places, but I haven't gotten to the last one yet.
She told us about Nashville, told us about some crazy stories, and we listened with our ears wide open. We drank peach tea and ate bourbon mixed with cookies 'n cream. We left for Nashville right from there. We stopped along the way at Abe Lincoln's childhood home, poked our head in, and left. We didn't stop at dinosaur land though, mainly because we appear to be idiots.
We made it to Nashville and met Adam's friend Craig and his friends. We, Aaron, Adam, Craig, Jen, Sara, and I shot the shit in their apartment's parking lot for thirty minutes before they headed off to frisbee practice. We then went to downtown Nashville, walked near a pond, and listened to some live music at Centennial Park. After that, we drove downtown, and walked around for a while. We found pitas to eat, then headed around till we found a place called Piranhas Bar and Grill. The waitress took care of us, she was a miracle from L.A. that talked to us the whole time we were there. After ten, the beers stopped being one buck a draft and she kept giving us beers for two dollars a pop. We watched Conan O'Brien on the tonight show and watched people get severely hurt doing stupid things.After that we headed to a place called Paradise Park where they had two for one six dollar pitchers of PBR. We fell in love for the second time in Nashville. We headed back to the Piranha Bar after finishing our beer and I bought the singer of the band at the show a shot of J.D. We said buy to the beauty at Piranhas and came back to Craig friend's place.
So now, we are watching Independence Day at Jen and Sara's, and I am updating this blog, and I am tired, but we have more to come. I can't wait for the shower I'll take tomorrow.
Until the next time, take care everyone.
Signed,
Andrew
We talked in the tent until we fell asleep, and though I was sleeping in a way-too-hot sleeping bag in a muggy tent with no matt, I slept better than I had in months. Maybe it had something to do with the lack of sleep the previous nights, but I tend to think that it was simply that I was finally ready to fall asleep. I woke up a couple times in the night, but that's noting nothing new.
In the morning, we packed up camp and took a small hike through the woods. There was a group of Nova Scotians climbing a rock wall in the middle of the woods. This is nothing to remember, not really.
We left Red River Gorge and Adam ran through a tunnel carved out of a mountain overpass. There were two men standing around a white car outside of the tunnel with the hood up. I asked them i they needed help, but they told me they didn't. I didn't think there was much of anything I could do if they did need help, but it just didn't seem right not to pass them without saying anything.
After the gorge we drove to Wild Turkey Distillery. We met some incredibly nice women there, working in the gift shop. Peggy had worked at the distillery for forty-five years, only after they moved operations did she take up a job working as a tour guide. She took us around and told us a bit about herself and her life. The real story is, though, that after the tour we met Jimmy Russell, the master brewer for Wild Turkey. He signed a shot glass I bought for my sister-in-law that I had him sign, and then we spent the rest of the time there talking to a woman named Sherwine who, despite her age, was an absolute southern belle.
I've fallen in love these past three places, but I haven't gotten to the last one yet.
She told us about Nashville, told us about some crazy stories, and we listened with our ears wide open. We drank peach tea and ate bourbon mixed with cookies 'n cream. We left for Nashville right from there. We stopped along the way at Abe Lincoln's childhood home, poked our head in, and left. We didn't stop at dinosaur land though, mainly because we appear to be idiots.
We made it to Nashville and met Adam's friend Craig and his friends. We, Aaron, Adam, Craig, Jen, Sara, and I shot the shit in their apartment's parking lot for thirty minutes before they headed off to frisbee practice. We then went to downtown Nashville, walked near a pond, and listened to some live music at Centennial Park. After that, we drove downtown, and walked around for a while. We found pitas to eat, then headed around till we found a place called Piranhas Bar and Grill. The waitress took care of us, she was a miracle from L.A. that talked to us the whole time we were there. After ten, the beers stopped being one buck a draft and she kept giving us beers for two dollars a pop. We watched Conan O'Brien on the tonight show and watched people get severely hurt doing stupid things.After that we headed to a place called Paradise Park where they had two for one six dollar pitchers of PBR. We fell in love for the second time in Nashville. We headed back to the Piranha Bar after finishing our beer and I bought the singer of the band at the show a shot of J.D. We said buy to the beauty at Piranhas and came back to Craig friend's place.
So now, we are watching Independence Day at Jen and Sara's, and I am updating this blog, and I am tired, but we have more to come. I can't wait for the shower I'll take tomorrow.
Until the next time, take care everyone.
Signed,
Andrew
Monday, June 1, 2009
Kentucky Sunburnt
First day on the road, and we made it to Lexington, Kentucky in under twelve hours. Before, finding a place to sleep we stopped at a Bible Themed Mini Golf course.
Equal parts majestically and hysterical.
There we met the jolly owner of the course, sort of a sun burnt Santa Claus. He told us a story about when he was younger him and his friends would drive straight through to Algunquin N.P. in Canada with a roof rack. Whoever wanted to sleep climbed into the roof rack which was filled with matress pads and blankets and napped for the ride. "Sometimes we would let them out when we would stop." The guy was great and as par for the south extremely nice. Later we met up with a nice girl working at a Starbucks who told us of a place to stay. The Red River Gorge, with no plans, or goals in mind, that is where we will sleep tonight. Now to find some food. Sorry about the shortness of the blogs, not much time on the road. Keep up with the twitter accounts, and soon their will be pictures on everything.
Signed,
Adam
Equal parts majestically and hysterical.
There we met the jolly owner of the course, sort of a sun burnt Santa Claus. He told us a story about when he was younger him and his friends would drive straight through to Algunquin N.P. in Canada with a roof rack. Whoever wanted to sleep climbed into the roof rack which was filled with matress pads and blankets and napped for the ride. "Sometimes we would let them out when we would stop." The guy was great and as par for the south extremely nice. Later we met up with a nice girl working at a Starbucks who told us of a place to stay. The Red River Gorge, with no plans, or goals in mind, that is where we will sleep tonight. Now to find some food. Sorry about the shortness of the blogs, not much time on the road. Keep up with the twitter accounts, and soon their will be pictures on everything. 
Signed,
Adam
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Excerpts from my first trip across America:
(Written exactly as was in my original travel journal)
11/23/96
Said "Good Bye to Irvine, CA" at 9:30am. We only got 88 miles to the first pit stop. We Drove through the mountains and the Mojave Desert. Then I started to feel queasy, but only a little. When we stopped in Needles. My Uncle pulled into a gas station. My mom and I walked to Carl's Jr. When my mom and I got back we found out we had a flat tire. It took only 20 mins to fix. After that Needles was needless no more. Then we saw the Purple Mountains Majesty. I took a picture. I hope it comes out. we drove on the famous route 66. I saw the Grand Canyon. We drove 545 miles to Winslow, AZ. We stayed at Days Inn. We sunck Sheena in. She peed on the carpet. I also made a huge snowball. Uncle Bill made one too and tried to hit me with it, but I jumped out of the way and I hit him with mine. Before we stopped in Winslow we pasted Devil Dog Road, Uncle Bill tood us a hard to believe but true stupid story. About Boy Scouts.
11/24/96
Started out at 7:30. arrived at Wall Mart 8:02for a hot tamale run. We pasted Petrified forest, but we saw no trees so we kept going. There was no sine of inntelligen life through Arizona, New Mexico, or texas. We saw a snow storm, or a power plant. it turned out to be a power plant. We listened to a football game on he radio. We ate dinner at W.H. and at 8:00pm thay still said Good Morning. We drove 450 miles.
No Date*
We left Clinton, OK at 8:30. We got off of 40 and on route 44 with only 1/4 tank. Someone said there would be a gas station but there was nothing for 20 miles. ** We were on 1 last oz of gas when we saw a gas station. We were saved. Little did we know what was ahead. **(there was an arrow connecting this next sentence to the ** above) Uncle Bill had to call Emergency *55. It was a really, really, really big storm. There was rain, snow, & ice. We saw 25 accidents. But of the woresed accidents was a car fliped over in a ditch. The other was a truck on its side.
Signed,
Adam
(Written exactly as was in my original travel journal)
11/23/96
Said "Good Bye to Irvine, CA" at 9:30am. We only got 88 miles to the first pit stop. We Drove through the mountains and the Mojave Desert. Then I started to feel queasy, but only a little. When we stopped in Needles. My Uncle pulled into a gas station. My mom and I walked to Carl's Jr. When my mom and I got back we found out we had a flat tire. It took only 20 mins to fix. After that Needles was needless no more. Then we saw the Purple Mountains Majesty. I took a picture. I hope it comes out. we drove on the famous route 66. I saw the Grand Canyon. We drove 545 miles to Winslow, AZ. We stayed at Days Inn. We sunck Sheena in. She peed on the carpet. I also made a huge snowball. Uncle Bill made one too and tried to hit me with it, but I jumped out of the way and I hit him with mine. Before we stopped in Winslow we pasted Devil Dog Road, Uncle Bill tood us a hard to believe but true stupid story. About Boy Scouts.
11/24/96
Started out at 7:30. arrived at Wall Mart 8:02for a hot tamale run. We pasted Petrified forest, but we saw no trees so we kept going. There was no sine of inntelligen life through Arizona, New Mexico, or texas. We saw a snow storm, or a power plant. it turned out to be a power plant. We listened to a football game on he radio. We ate dinner at W.H. and at 8:00pm thay still said Good Morning. We drove 450 miles.
No Date*
We left Clinton, OK at 8:30. We got off of 40 and on route 44 with only 1/4 tank. Someone said there would be a gas station but there was nothing for 20 miles. ** We were on 1 last oz of gas when we saw a gas station. We were saved. Little did we know what was ahead. **(there was an arrow connecting this next sentence to the ** above) Uncle Bill had to call Emergency *55. It was a really, really, really big storm. There was rain, snow, & ice. We saw 25 accidents. But of the woresed accidents was a car fliped over in a ditch. The other was a truck on its side.
Signed,
Adam
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
All These Things To Come
So it's around three thirty in the morning and I'm tired of ripping apart poems I liked before I had to write about why I liked them. It's the thirteenth now, and that means there's eight days till my birthday, but more importantly to anyone following this blog, that means eighteen days till we start our trip.
I've been sleeping even less as of late. My bed seems like a good idea, like a good song that I could never really get into. Maybe like one of those really long Russian novels that you know are good, you just know it because the book can sit on your shelf and stare you into submission with it's title alone, and maybe you envision the long-bearded man who wrote it at some fancy event eating a leg of some Siberian animal and discussing the finer points of their genius. But then you probably don't, but I do, and that's probably why I'm trying to distract myself long enough to make me remember that I love poetry but hate writing about it. I'm no academic.
I finished a play yesterday, cut it down from forty three pages to twelve, and I turned it in for a class. People laughed while we read it, and for the right reasons, I think. Or at least, they laughed with fine timing.
I'm sorry, this doesn't have anything to do with the road trip. But you see, it's three thirty in the morning and I'm tired and I think I just want to talk with someone, but there's no one really to talk to.
I've basically got the idea for blackout curtains for the car. I just need to do a bit of stitching and some tactical placement of material and the car should be able to act as an incredibly cramp but private bed.
I cannot wait this long to see the road. It seems like a crime.
Signed,
Andrew
I've been sleeping even less as of late. My bed seems like a good idea, like a good song that I could never really get into. Maybe like one of those really long Russian novels that you know are good, you just know it because the book can sit on your shelf and stare you into submission with it's title alone, and maybe you envision the long-bearded man who wrote it at some fancy event eating a leg of some Siberian animal and discussing the finer points of their genius. But then you probably don't, but I do, and that's probably why I'm trying to distract myself long enough to make me remember that I love poetry but hate writing about it. I'm no academic.
I finished a play yesterday, cut it down from forty three pages to twelve, and I turned it in for a class. People laughed while we read it, and for the right reasons, I think. Or at least, they laughed with fine timing.
I'm sorry, this doesn't have anything to do with the road trip. But you see, it's three thirty in the morning and I'm tired and I think I just want to talk with someone, but there's no one really to talk to.
I've basically got the idea for blackout curtains for the car. I just need to do a bit of stitching and some tactical placement of material and the car should be able to act as an incredibly cramp but private bed.
I cannot wait this long to see the road. It seems like a crime.
Signed,
Andrew
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Just One of Those Things
Today I woke up and ate old, cold Chinese food and watched the end of House Arrest, and it was the saddest movie I had ever seen. The movie is about this group of kids who kidnap all of their parents in basement because they want their parents to love each other again. Granted it is a children's movie, but as a 22 year old I was captivated by the movie and felt (probably more then I should have) for all of the characters involved. It is a sad world where things do not work out for the best all the time, but if it wasn’t sad sometimes we’d never get the chance to realize how great everything really is. It’s officially 26 days until we depart on our trip across America and a lot has changed. We have put up a Facebook group entitled “Across America!” which has quickly developed over 575 members. I won’t spend too much time talking about the group as the page describes its own purpose. Also, we have all become rapid fans of twitter, our accounts are up and running. I’m sure once the trip starts our posts will all become much more exciting. Maybe I’ll write haiku’s from the road…maybe not, we’ll see.
I should be talking about myself, I always forget that. Tonight is Senior Thesis Night for all the film students here at Fairleigh Dickinson, myself included. I was asked if I was nervous. I am not. Everything in my life has dulled because my excitement for the trip has taken my periphery. I am definitely searching for something on this trip, but what it is I still do not know. I know great things will come of it, and I can not wait to be living it. Yes, I cherish everyday and very much do not wish to be forced into the future, but come on, I’m going on a road trip across the country with three of my best friends! Who wouldn’t be excited.
I am definitely enjoying my final days as a senior in college. I would say I spend more days then not living the lines of the song “I Love College”. This world is a big crazy place and crazy things happen in it, you just have to hold on, smile through it all, and enjoy the ride. I do enjoy my parties and formal get togethers. My goal for the end of the year and for the rest of my life is to not miss out on anything. Try to do as much as I can. When the day comes I’ll be able to say, “Yeah I did it all. I lived my life to the fullest.” Some of this sounds a bit clichéd or maybe that’s not the world but I am still not sure what kinds of things people talk about in the Blogosphere. This is what I talk about. Next time, I’ll tell a story. For now I will sit and wonder, how will I change the world? What will my contribution be? Do I just come for a visit or do I leave something behind?
Signed,
Adam
I should be talking about myself, I always forget that. Tonight is Senior Thesis Night for all the film students here at Fairleigh Dickinson, myself included. I was asked if I was nervous. I am not. Everything in my life has dulled because my excitement for the trip has taken my periphery. I am definitely searching for something on this trip, but what it is I still do not know. I know great things will come of it, and I can not wait to be living it. Yes, I cherish everyday and very much do not wish to be forced into the future, but come on, I’m going on a road trip across the country with three of my best friends! Who wouldn’t be excited.
I am definitely enjoying my final days as a senior in college. I would say I spend more days then not living the lines of the song “I Love College”. This world is a big crazy place and crazy things happen in it, you just have to hold on, smile through it all, and enjoy the ride. I do enjoy my parties and formal get togethers. My goal for the end of the year and for the rest of my life is to not miss out on anything. Try to do as much as I can. When the day comes I’ll be able to say, “Yeah I did it all. I lived my life to the fullest.” Some of this sounds a bit clichéd or maybe that’s not the world but I am still not sure what kinds of things people talk about in the Blogosphere. This is what I talk about. Next time, I’ll tell a story. For now I will sit and wonder, how will I change the world? What will my contribution be? Do I just come for a visit or do I leave something behind?
Signed,
Adam
Monday, April 6, 2009
E-mail to family Across America
Glad to be part of this trip! Here is an e-mail sent to my family expressing some of my thoughts.
"Dear Family,
In 42 days I will be stepping out into this world of ours. What an exciting time for me! Even though the past four years have been filled with such wonderful, strengthening,difficult, and fun experiences, which I have no regrets for; I still believe there is so much more. So many opportunities, so many experiences, so many different people with different walks in life, so much more to see, so much to learn, and most importantly, so much more room to grow as an individual.
Therefore, with all other logic aside I have chosen to ignore the conformities and what is called "noise" that Universities put on you. I'm putting it all on hold for an adventure of a lifetime. I'm traveling across America!!
Two friends and I have planned a 60+ day excursion across our beautiful country. We have purchased a National Park Pass and plan on exploring and camping on every piece of land. We also plan on diving head first into all the possible sub-cultures in the nation. Most importantly, I want to connect with all family and friends that I have not been able to in the past 4 years.
For those on facebook, search "Across America" and you will find our official group dedicated to this trip. Join and comment if you can! We have had quite a surprising response of people opening their homes and sharing with us their knowledge about their hometown. We will be utilizing all the social networking tools we can to make this trip easier financially, and to share our experiences with everyone we can! We will be on twitter, youtube, blogspot, and facebook!
Additionally, we want to meet new people in all walks of life and have short and meaningful conversations with them. Similar to what is seen on roadtripnation.com! Also, we are learning and practicing sustainable living across the way. I am using this trip to not only explore the heartbeat of our beautiful country, but to explore, find, and dig deep into my own passions.
For those on the West coast I hope to spend at least one day with you!
The scary part is coming back broke, jobless, and in debt; but for some reason this fear and worry gets easier to deal with everyday. I ask for your prayers, support, advice, and any particular guidance along the way.
That is all for now but I am continuously thankful for the people I am surrounded with in my life!
To the Open Road!
With much Love,
Brian"
"Dear Family,
In 42 days I will be stepping out into this world of ours. What an exciting time for me! Even though the past four years have been filled with such wonderful, strengthening,difficult, and fun experiences, which I have no regrets for; I still believe there is so much more. So many opportunities, so many experiences, so many different people with different walks in life, so much more to see, so much to learn, and most importantly, so much more room to grow as an individual.
Therefore, with all other logic aside I have chosen to ignore the conformities and what is called "noise" that Universities put on you. I'm putting it all on hold for an adventure of a lifetime. I'm traveling across America!!
Two friends and I have planned a 60+ day excursion across our beautiful country. We have purchased a National Park Pass and plan on exploring and camping on every piece of land. We also plan on diving head first into all the possible sub-cultures in the nation. Most importantly, I want to connect with all family and friends that I have not been able to in the past 4 years.
For those on facebook, search "Across America" and you will find our official group dedicated to this trip. Join and comment if you can! We have had quite a surprising response of people opening their homes and sharing with us their knowledge about their hometown. We will be utilizing all the social networking tools we can to make this trip easier financially, and to share our experiences with everyone we can! We will be on twitter, youtube, blogspot, and facebook!
Additionally, we want to meet new people in all walks of life and have short and meaningful conversations with them. Similar to what is seen on roadtripnation.com! Also, we are learning and practicing sustainable living across the way. I am using this trip to not only explore the heartbeat of our beautiful country, but to explore, find, and dig deep into my own passions.
For those on the West coast I hope to spend at least one day with you!
The scary part is coming back broke, jobless, and in debt; but for some reason this fear and worry gets easier to deal with everyday. I ask for your prayers, support, advice, and any particular guidance along the way.
That is all for now but I am continuously thankful for the people I am surrounded with in my life!
To the Open Road!
With much Love,
Brian"
Friday, March 27, 2009
To end the radio silence...
It's ten oh nine.
People will be over shortly.
I don't really want to respond to what Adam said, I don't think this blog needs to be a discussion between us. I will say this though, you don't get someone's back just because you expect it in return. No, that's not it. You don't do shit for people expecting the same shit done for you in return. That's not it either. You do shit because there's shit to be done. You wake up in the morning, you put on pants or shorts or skirts or dresses or slacks or jeans, and then you do things. Lots of things. I guess I just choose to do things I think are the best for the people involved.
All that said, Adam's being a bit too self-effacing. He's done more for me than offering materials or services could. I think he knows that, maybe he just needs to be reminded.
It's finally nice enough here to go outside in a t-shirt, we've started playing ultimate, and a good friend is visiting for the weekend. The summer can't come quick enough.
Oh, and we both have Twitters now. Our names are AdamAmerica and andrewamerica, obviously one of each of us.
Oh, and what a let down. Nothing about naked girls at all in that post.
Hope you land on your feet.
Signed,
Andrew
People will be over shortly.
I don't really want to respond to what Adam said, I don't think this blog needs to be a discussion between us. I will say this though, you don't get someone's back just because you expect it in return. No, that's not it. You don't do shit for people expecting the same shit done for you in return. That's not it either. You do shit because there's shit to be done. You wake up in the morning, you put on pants or shorts or skirts or dresses or slacks or jeans, and then you do things. Lots of things. I guess I just choose to do things I think are the best for the people involved.
All that said, Adam's being a bit too self-effacing. He's done more for me than offering materials or services could. I think he knows that, maybe he just needs to be reminded.
It's finally nice enough here to go outside in a t-shirt, we've started playing ultimate, and a good friend is visiting for the weekend. The summer can't come quick enough.
Oh, and we both have Twitters now. Our names are AdamAmerica and andrewamerica, obviously one of each of us.
Oh, and what a let down. Nothing about naked girls at all in that post.
Hope you land on your feet.
Signed,
Andrew
Monday, March 23, 2009
Real Naked Girls...
This trip isn't just about the trip itself, but also about friendship. Let me be the first to say that Andrew and I are not necessarily the same person, or even really agree on a lot of things; in fact we are both very different from each other. However, there is a friendship that has been set in stone and it was only more so solidified in the past week or so. Someone challenged our friendship, saying "why do you have his back? what has he done for you?" Andrew replied with "I've got his back, because he's got mine, and I know he'd do the same for me." The whole experience was pretty intense. The room was just about to burn down. Luckily, the fire was squashed and more drinking ensued. However, the bitter remark stuck with me, and has been mulling around in my brain since. I haven't really had the chance to prove my friendship to Andrew. I don't really have a lot to offer. I have no car, I usually don't have money, I don't really have anything to offer in general. And yet, Andrew has been there for me repeatedly. That's not to say that I don't do anything for him, I still do all that I can, but I never know if it is received or not. Regardless, this trip is about friendship. Two brothers traveling across this ridiculous country of ours, searching for something that we won't know or understand until we find it. Andrew is the only solid person I know, that you could count on for anything at anytime, and has never once failed to come through. Think if you have a friend like that, no offense but you probably don't. There aren't many out there. I am just lucky enough to say that I do. This trip will only harden that friendship. Take out your stone carving tools, this shit is in stone.
Signed,
Adam
Signed,
Adam
Monday, March 9, 2009
First Thought
When I was in the 8th grade, I thought. Alright when I graduate I'm going to run away, and travel around on my own. Then society kicked in and said "Hey kid! You can't plan on having a life later if you don't graduate from high school first!" So I bowed out and said. Alright Life, I'll play by your rules this time. When it came time to graduate high school I thought. Alright when I graduate I'm going to run away, and travel around on my own. Society came right back and screamed "Hey kid! You can't plan on having a life later if you don't go to College first! Everyone knows you need a degree!" Again, I bowed out. Now I'm graduating from college, and saying, sorry society, but you're just going to have to wait this time. This time it's about me.
To be honest, even if I have no money, no plans, and no one to go with I'm going on this trip no matter what. I'm not sure what I plan to find, or even if I'm really looking for something, but I definitely know it's going to be a good time. I keep thinking of all the things that I want to do on this trip, and than I think about all the things that I don't know yet that I'm going to do. With no plans, there are a lot of options.
I'm trying to get in contact with friends and friends of friends all around the country so people can tell me fun things to do, or good bars to go to, etc etc etc. The stuff that makes up the REAL America, not just the tourist spots. If you have any good ideas, let me know. I'm open for anything.
At the risk of dragging on... I'll end here. Good Luck!
Signed,
Adam
To be honest, even if I have no money, no plans, and no one to go with I'm going on this trip no matter what. I'm not sure what I plan to find, or even if I'm really looking for something, but I definitely know it's going to be a good time. I keep thinking of all the things that I want to do on this trip, and than I think about all the things that I don't know yet that I'm going to do. With no plans, there are a lot of options.
I'm trying to get in contact with friends and friends of friends all around the country so people can tell me fun things to do, or good bars to go to, etc etc etc. The stuff that makes up the REAL America, not just the tourist spots. If you have any good ideas, let me know. I'm open for anything.
At the risk of dragging on... I'll end here. Good Luck!
Signed,
Adam
Saturday, March 7, 2009
It was then...
Last night I did what I do most Friday nights. I attempted to drink my body weight in various forms of alcoholic beverages, threw little white ping pong balls into red solo cups, and then did a bunch of things I don't quite remember.
I can't wait for this trip. I know that I'd be a fool to expect too much of it. After all, I'll still be me drunk in Chicago, still be me in Montana eating corn, still be me wading out into the gulf of Mexico, and still be me with swamp ass in the drivers seat at ten in the morning. But damn it man, I'm excited. I want to fall in love with America, I want to think of it like I did when I was seven. I want to imagine it pregnant with possibilities and ready to burst at the seams. I want to jump off of cliffs into water, drink with bums, write to my friends back home, and tell all my stories to people I'll never meet again.
I think I'm most excited about the places we're going where there'll be no one for miles. I think I might be looking for nothing on this trip. That'd take a miracle to find. I'd be a fool to expect it.
Adam said Aaron is mostly down to come. I hope he does. I love them both and I can't think of most anyone better to bump around America with. Maybe Kerouac, but he was out of his mind. I've been compared to him though, I wonder what that says of me. But if he does decide to come, I guess we'll be changing the name to "Aaron, Adam, and Andrew: Across America" Just call us triple A.
This plan was originated with our good friend Ryan planning on attending. He has to take a summer course though, and that would hold us in Danbury till July first. I don't think Adam or I even conceived of that, and I feel bad that we've moved so far in this direction without really talking to him about it. I want him to come more than I think I can realize, but he has his classes to take. I think I want to buy him a ticket so he could join us when he's done, but I don't know that he'd take it, and I haven't even talked about this with Adam yet. Who knows.
All I know is I want to fall back in love with everything. And I'm a fool.
Signed,
Andrew
I can't wait for this trip. I know that I'd be a fool to expect too much of it. After all, I'll still be me drunk in Chicago, still be me in Montana eating corn, still be me wading out into the gulf of Mexico, and still be me with swamp ass in the drivers seat at ten in the morning. But damn it man, I'm excited. I want to fall in love with America, I want to think of it like I did when I was seven. I want to imagine it pregnant with possibilities and ready to burst at the seams. I want to jump off of cliffs into water, drink with bums, write to my friends back home, and tell all my stories to people I'll never meet again.
I think I'm most excited about the places we're going where there'll be no one for miles. I think I might be looking for nothing on this trip. That'd take a miracle to find. I'd be a fool to expect it.
Adam said Aaron is mostly down to come. I hope he does. I love them both and I can't think of most anyone better to bump around America with. Maybe Kerouac, but he was out of his mind. I've been compared to him though, I wonder what that says of me. But if he does decide to come, I guess we'll be changing the name to "Aaron, Adam, and Andrew: Across America" Just call us triple A.
This plan was originated with our good friend Ryan planning on attending. He has to take a summer course though, and that would hold us in Danbury till July first. I don't think Adam or I even conceived of that, and I feel bad that we've moved so far in this direction without really talking to him about it. I want him to come more than I think I can realize, but he has his classes to take. I think I want to buy him a ticket so he could join us when he's done, but I don't know that he'd take it, and I haven't even talked about this with Adam yet. Who knows.
All I know is I want to fall back in love with everything. And I'm a fool.
Signed,
Andrew
Friday, March 6, 2009
And So It Goes...
As this conversation was going on, (via IM), Andrew had no idea I was transcribing it and placing verbatim into the website. This is us. Enjoy.
Andrew: I like the idea for a shared first entry.
Adam: Alright
Adam: wanna get to work?
Andrew: Sure.
Andrew: So, we got all these cities.
Adam: we can edit as we go along
Andrew: Yeah.
Adam: How do you want to do it?
Andrew: I don't know, let's just talk about how insanely excited we are to be doing this.
Andrew: Like, I didn't sleep much last night.
Adam: I think we should start "Hey America - It's Adam and Andrew"
Adam: or talk about ourselves a little bit, get people excited to read more
Adam: like want to hang out with us
Andrew: Yeah.
Adam what if we spray paint 49 all across america
Adam: let them know that we were here.
Andrew: I like that.
Adam: yeah, so lets start.
Adam: "Hey America - It's Adam and Andrew"
Adam: *oh put everythig in qoutes that you want to end up on the blog
Andrew: "Dude, we're gonna need a ton of spray paint."
Adam: "So everyone keeps telling me that we need to have a reason for going on this trip. I'm not sure what our reason is, but I know that by going on it, we are doing a good thing."
Andrew: "I wasn't even sure it's a good thing. I mean, I'm thinking carbon footprint and other shit like that, but I'm more than certain I need it. I think we both do."
Adam"I think America needs it."
Andrew: Ha ha, kitchy. Nice!
Adam: "There's a lot to America, and I want to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch all of it. I want to be it. And most of all, I want to meet people that otherwise I would never get the chance to meet."
Adam: "Hear their stories, and learn from their experiences."
Andrew: "We got nine weeks to fill with it. I'm just hoping to get lost in the backwoods of some po-dunk town and meet the girl of my dreams."
Andrew: "Then leave in the morning."
Adam: "I want to get drunk with a cattle rancher in South Dakota and go cow tipping"
Andrew: "I don't think a cattle rancher would be too keen on that. Maybe his son would though."
Adam: Good point.
Andrew: "You know I've never seen the west coast?"
Andrew: "Never seen the pacific. It's a figment to me. I can't wait to taste the salt."
Adam: "I grew up there, at least for a bit."
Adam: "I want to go to a big crazy party with kids in the mid-west. Mid-West knows how to party."
Adam: "Or stay on an Indian reservation in New Mexico"
Adam: "Or eat the biggest burger in Oklahoma"
Andrew: "I'll be content to wander around tripping balls on Peyote in the desert. I can't wait to see how flat Montana is."
Adam: "Or chill in some hot springs, somewhere with some cool people."
Adam: "Man, this great is really gunna be something."
Andrew: "Remember two summers ago? I feel like that was practice. Like waking up to early and badgering our friends till they came with us was a preamble to this. We found some things that I would have never seen before, and they were within ten miles of my house my whole life."
Andrew: "We been on this big ball of water and land for over twenty years. That's a long time. That's two lifetimes. I've been a million people. I can't wait to see what emerges at the end of the trip."
Andrew: Side note: I need to go pick up a pizza, be back in five.
Adam: Alright, Later bro
Signed,
Adam
Andrew: I like the idea for a shared first entry.
Adam: Alright
Adam: wanna get to work?
Andrew: Sure.
Andrew: So, we got all these cities.
Adam: we can edit as we go along
Andrew: Yeah.
Adam: How do you want to do it?
Andrew: I don't know, let's just talk about how insanely excited we are to be doing this.
Andrew: Like, I didn't sleep much last night.
Adam: I think we should start "Hey America - It's Adam and Andrew"
Adam: or talk about ourselves a little bit, get people excited to read more
Adam: like want to hang out with us
Andrew: Yeah.
Adam what if we spray paint 49 all across america
Adam: let them know that we were here.
Andrew: I like that.
Adam: yeah, so lets start.
Adam: "Hey America - It's Adam and Andrew"
Adam: *oh put everythig in qoutes that you want to end up on the blog
Andrew: "Dude, we're gonna need a ton of spray paint."
Adam: "So everyone keeps telling me that we need to have a reason for going on this trip. I'm not sure what our reason is, but I know that by going on it, we are doing a good thing."
Andrew: "I wasn't even sure it's a good thing. I mean, I'm thinking carbon footprint and other shit like that, but I'm more than certain I need it. I think we both do."
Adam"I think America needs it."
Andrew: Ha ha, kitchy. Nice!
Adam: "There's a lot to America, and I want to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch all of it. I want to be it. And most of all, I want to meet people that otherwise I would never get the chance to meet."
Adam: "Hear their stories, and learn from their experiences."
Andrew: "We got nine weeks to fill with it. I'm just hoping to get lost in the backwoods of some po-dunk town and meet the girl of my dreams."
Andrew: "Then leave in the morning."
Adam: "I want to get drunk with a cattle rancher in South Dakota and go cow tipping"
Andrew: "I don't think a cattle rancher would be too keen on that. Maybe his son would though."
Adam: Good point.
Andrew: "You know I've never seen the west coast?"
Andrew: "Never seen the pacific. It's a figment to me. I can't wait to taste the salt."
Adam: "I grew up there, at least for a bit."
Adam: "I want to go to a big crazy party with kids in the mid-west. Mid-West knows how to party."
Adam: "Or stay on an Indian reservation in New Mexico"
Adam: "Or eat the biggest burger in Oklahoma"
Andrew: "I'll be content to wander around tripping balls on Peyote in the desert. I can't wait to see how flat Montana is."
Adam: "Or chill in some hot springs, somewhere with some cool people."
Adam: "Man, this great is really gunna be something."
Andrew: "Remember two summers ago? I feel like that was practice. Like waking up to early and badgering our friends till they came with us was a preamble to this. We found some things that I would have never seen before, and they were within ten miles of my house my whole life."
Andrew: "We been on this big ball of water and land for over twenty years. That's a long time. That's two lifetimes. I've been a million people. I can't wait to see what emerges at the end of the trip."
Andrew: Side note: I need to go pick up a pizza, be back in five.
Adam: Alright, Later bro
Signed,
Adam
It Begins...
Day 1 - Danbury, CT
Frankfort, KY
Nashville, TN
St. Louis, MO
Day 7 - Chicago, IL
Green Bay, WI
Des Moines, IA
Omaha, NE
Day 14 - Rapid City, SD
Idaho Fall, ID
Helena, MT
Day 21 - Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
Eureka, CA
Carson City, NV
Day 28 - Los Angeles, CA
Irvine, CA
San Diego, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Flagstaff, AZ
Day 35 - Phoenix, AZ
Denver, CO
Sante Fe, NM
Dallas, TX
Day 42 - Kansas City, KS
Little Rock, AR
Memphis, TN
Baton Rouge, LA
Day 49 - New Orleans, LA
Biloxi, MS
Montgomery, AL
Tallahassee, FL
Day 56 - Key West, FL
Charleston, SC
ATL, GA
Charlotte, NC
Washington, D.C
Day 63 - Danbury, CT
Frankfort, KY
Nashville, TN
St. Louis, MO
Day 7 - Chicago, IL
Green Bay, WI
Des Moines, IA
Omaha, NE
Day 14 - Rapid City, SD
Idaho Fall, ID
Helena, MT
Day 21 - Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
Eureka, CA
Carson City, NV
Day 28 - Los Angeles, CA
Irvine, CA
San Diego, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Flagstaff, AZ
Day 35 - Phoenix, AZ
Denver, CO
Sante Fe, NM
Dallas, TX
Day 42 - Kansas City, KS
Little Rock, AR
Memphis, TN
Baton Rouge, LA
Day 49 - New Orleans, LA
Biloxi, MS
Montgomery, AL
Tallahassee, FL
Day 56 - Key West, FL
Charleston, SC
ATL, GA
Charlotte, NC
Washington, D.C
Day 63 - Danbury, CT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
