the fun thing

The End....Thanks Y'alls for the support.

2007-11-19T00:16:00.000-08:00

Especial Gracias to my friend Serena for taking the final image of me on the road.
And not getting mad when she finds out I stole it from her blog......Thanks Serena!
www.serenamitnikmiller.blogspot.com

day 61 to 65 and Home. Yeah.

2007-11-13T10:06:00.000-08:00

With my digital camera broken and the surf blown out I decided to split. After three fun filled days in San Diego, I said goodbye to Rachel, Chris and the dogs. I had heard my pals up at Mollusk Surf Shop in Venice were having a party and there was a late season South swell filling in. A few restful days under my belt and it was time to party and get some hectic Malibu surfing on. I headed up to Los Angeles. Five days, one party, many waves and a new wetsuit later I was on my way Northward with designs on home. A brief stop over in Santa Cruz thenI rumbled my way up Highway 1 toward San Francisco .I studied the fields of brussel sprouts which roll out to the cliffs above the Pacific.. The cool ocean breeze brought a familiar salty freshness to the air in the van. Thoughts of the life I left behind two and a half months ago were flooding my mind intensely. I hadn't even arrived home, and here I was already planning a materials list for a renovation on my studio, calculating bills that needed attention, and thinking of reuniting with my friends. I felt ready and not ready at the same time. I rolled into town, parked the van outside of my house and sat in silence. My friend Jeff rang my phone. "I just got here", I said. "Cool" he replied. " Let's get a burrito".

And I was home.

day 60 to.....

2007-11-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

Recovering from the drive on Chris and Rachel's boat . I've taken to drinking my coffee out of a mug in the shape of a stylized owl's head and falling asleep to the creaking of the dock lines. It doesn't take a lot to make me happy.

day 57 to 59...two and a half days across America

2007-11-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

Left Florida at 7am on Monday....arrived in San Diego Wednesday at 3pm. Drove right to Mission Bay for my favorite local treat. Tuna Jerky. The only time I stopped was to sleep and get fuel...except when I got pulled over in Texas. Got off with a warning. Yes Sir Officer Sir...Thank you, Sir. Oh...and I did pull off an exit that said "DateLand" ..I figured I'd been alone in the van a while so why not...it was different than I thought....

first drive west in two months

climbed up the mast and screamed for joy

day 54 to 56

2007-11-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

Visiting with my Brother and his family was great but Florida was getting to me. I got to see my Brother play hockey. I reluctantly went to Wal-Mart a couple times and couldn't go back again. My nephew even drew me a picture of Wal-Mart. I think it's the place aside from home he goes to most. I was ready to be in California again. I'm not one to be very wishy-washy in my decision making and I don't like to waste time. So after careful consideration and calculation, I chose to drop the hammer. Just get to CA as fast as I could. No sight seeing through the South or Southwest. Just get to the boat in San Diego. Then recover and surf. I set to planning my escape route.

planning at the game....

planning in the van....

....planning at wal-mart.

Enchanted Vagabonds

2007-11-02T17:50:00.000-07:00

I just finished Enchanted Vagabonds. I've carried it over ten thousand miles on my trip and I couldn't think of a more appropriate time to wrap it up. An epic adventure book on a relatively somewhat epic-ish adventure. I was introduced to this book while in Australia visiting Tom Wegener, who in tern was introduced to it by our mutual friend Thomas . As the story goes (and I may be messing this up) Thomas was inspired by this book as a kid (or something) and told Tom about it. Tom got a copy read it and was also very taken by the story. Understand that both of these men are fine craftsmen and aquatic adventurers in their own right. So, a story about a couple who rather than wallow in the mire of the Great Depression , opt to build a 16 foot boat and sail, row, and tow it from San Diego all the way to the Panama Canal living by their own skill and wit, was very intriguing. I thought so too. Ginger and Dana Lamb left from Dana Point California in 1933 and arrived at the Panama Canal in 1936 surviving multiple bouts of malaria, hostile gun fire, thieves, pirates, countless storms, cold and hungry nights, etc. For a year prior to their departure they trained. At the firing range with their pistols and in the kitchen, eating hard kernal corn and legumes to acclimate their bodies to the subsistence living they would have to endure on the voyage.The Lambs, who had known each other since childhood, and had dreamed of adventure ever since, saw this as a perfect time to make such a voyage. Take your chances in the unknown or take your chances in Depression era California. They chose the adventure. I'm glad they did. Take a minute to read the passage from the final page of the book. I thought it quite right. (note: in the fourth image below, the Lambs pose next to a shack made from wooden whiskey crates. I love it.)

day 53

2007-10-28T08:59:00.001-07:00

Leaving the fun of Miami was hard but I was ready to get on the road to go see my Brother and his family on the Gulf Coast. Besides, the surf was supposed to come up in the Naples to Venice area. After a dreary drive across Alligator Alley, I landed at the Naples pier. Waist hight sets dumped on the beach and there were about 7 to 10 people out. It was pretty much shit but I wanted to say I surfed on the Gulf Coast... I looked at it for ten minutes then decided to head north. Several false "check it's" later I pulled off on Connecticut St. in Fort Meyers. There I found some knee to thigh high peelers rolling in and a little channel splitting left and right peaks. The wind was light offshore and it spit the chocolaty water back toward the Gulf in the most beautiful fashion. STOKED!! I grabbed my log and went out, trunking it for a two hour solo session with an audience of four disbelieving retirees.

Day 48 to 52

2007-10-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Fun in Miami.... After getting stuck in a huge traffic jam just outside of town. I made my way down to Miami Beach. Dumped the van in some neighborhood and lit out on my bike to get in the ocean and explore South Beach. Post glorious swim I rang my new friend Blain to pine for more info on the Miami hotspots (thrift stores and record shops..etc). To my surprise, she and her friend Mirti were on South Beach just a couple blocks away! Sweet! We hung up and all met up for some fun. Eating followed swimming which was followed again by more swimming under the near full moon. There was much speculation as to the proximity of bull sharks near to where we were splashing about. We put the odds in our favor and just had a blast. Blain had to catch a super early flight the next morning but that didn't stop us from having some drinks and rolling bones for dimes. High rollers. I got taken for about $5 since I provided all the dimes and lost every round. Not to worry, I'll get a chance to win my dough back at some point. I'm sure I'll see these two again.

Day 45 to 47

2007-10-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Woke up in back of a hotel parking lot and made a b-line to the Avalon Pier around 8am. I found some waist to chest high peelers moving through and one guy out. No coffee. No food. Just put on some trunks and a wetsut vest and hit it. Came in ate breakfast and made some coffee then hit it again. Didn't even take any pictures. Just surfed. By 1PM there were seven really happy local folks having a great time in the unusually warm water. I got out and watched them frolic for a while then hit the road south. I planned to surf in Hatteras but the crowd to wave ratio was wrong even though the shape was right. I motored on. Caught a ferry to Okracoke Island...then another to Cedar Island. Slept on Cedar Island then at dawn lit out for the I95 south. Through the Carolinas and Georgia the air was thick and muggy. I called Blain who was down in the Keys at this point chipping the rust off her fishing skills. She said she had some pals in St. Augustine who I should hook up with and I wanted to line it up before rolling into town. Between gasps of excitment and one hang up due to a four foot Tarpon that was swiming around her baited line, she assured me she had friends at a spot called the Cafe 11 in St. Augustine who would help me out. With the appropriate info penned down I landed at Cafe 11 around 8pm. I explained my situation to the waitress..how I was just passing through, and was friends with some of her friends etc... and she told me I could park out back for the night. I devoured Mahi wrap and I crawled in back of the van for the night. I could have suffucated the air was so thick in there! I wanted a battery powered fan bad. I finally manged to sweat myself to sleep around 4am. Maybe I just passed out from dehydration...I don't know. Thanks to the folks at Cafe 11.

Day 43 and 44

2007-10-24T05:45:00.000-07:00

A week in California did for me everything I needed and then some. I was ready to get back on the road but was still trying to line up some riders for the rest of the trip. On a whim, some friends from SF told me about this girl they knew in Brooklyn who surfed, was "rad" and was looking to get to Florida for some RnR. "Great!", I said. "Lets make it happen". Next thing I knew I was fresh off a red eye from SF and ringing the door bell of some strangers flat in Brooklyn. Circumstances lined up nicely. Two days, a couple new friends, and several late nights later, I was primed for the road but still minus my rider. Blain, who's flat I invaded so early that morning was in fact looking to get to Florida, but had already booked a flight. So as it was, I remained a solo traveler. I'd had a great time in New York regardless. Third visit in a month and at least the memories were with me for the long haul. The morning I left New York, Blain and I found ourselves on an ill fated shopping excursion en route to her office with a less than perfect nights sleep under our belts. Feeling kinda slow and empty handed we arrived to the corner where I'd leave her. After a brief goodbye double parked between the change in traffic lights, she went toward work and I went toward New Jersey.

Day 41 and 42......Goin Home!!!!

2007-10-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

Times up! Packed one bag. Left the van.

Day 37 to 40

2007-10-23T12:51:00.001-07:00

The ferry ride from Yarmouth, NS to Portland, Maine although pricey, was totally worth it. It's a super fast and stable craft with plenty of legroom and decent drink prices. The ferry dumped me off around 11pm and I parked for the night in Portland. The next day I headed south to Ogunquit. The sun was out and the weather unseasonably fine. Nearly seventy eight degrees! There was a little swell in the water and I found some really fun longboard waves at the river mouth. I surfed alone for two hours...Ate two or three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches then surfed some more. Damn, I needed that! This was a real treat since I hit bottom up in Nova Scotia. Also, a nice primer for surfing back home next week! I can't wait to get home...

Day 36

2007-10-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Leaving Halifax I motored south on the 103 toward Yarmouth, a four hour drive away. My plan was to make it last a day and hopefully find some surf along the way. As the fog wisps receded out to sea the sun shone bright on the rugged coastline. I passed a sign which read "Liverpool next exit" and below that a smaller sign read "Hank Snow Country Music Centre". I pulled off semi erratically and rolled in to town eyes peeled for the museum. I found it in an old railroad station not a thousand feet from the exit. I knew Hanks music, but I didn't know too much of his history. Within minutes I learned Hank Snow was a native of Nova Scotia who's presence on the Grand Ole Oprey made him a household name. He was more a fisherman than a cowboy when he began writing songs while working on a fishing boat in the cold Atlantic waters. He acquired his first pair of cowboy boots second hand from a guy who rode a horse in a traveling show that stopped in town. He bought a horse and trained it to do tricks and such then spent years traveling North America performing as The Singing Ranger. He, his family, and the horse all lived in the same truck during this period of time. In a video, his son recalled each night before the family went to sleep (in the same bed above the truck cab) Hank would slide open a little window not more than a foot from them and feed his horse sugar cubes. I suddenly felt like I was traveling lavishly. This was a great little museum which was a treat to come upon. Before I left the curator asked me to sign the guest book. She inspected it and happily informed me that I was the first person from San Francisco to visit. Hopefully not the last. www.hanksnow.com

I arrived in Yarmouth around 3PM and there was a mean fog brewing in the harbor. I decided to park the van and try to make it out to the light house in the outer harbor and back before dark. The fog was so thick that after a mile of riding, my face and clothes were beaded with moisture. Damp and quiet. I could only hear the sound of the wind passing my ears as I cruised passed both cows and fishing boats in the same stretch of road. I thought about the up coming ferry passage and the potential for surf in Maine. I thought about the smell of the subway in New York and the warm dry air that might be blowing off shore somewhere in California. I thought about my friends between here and there and I thought about that girl. It began to rain and I pedaled slower and enjoyed the ride.

day 33 to 35

2007-10-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

The drive from NH to Nova Scotia was a solid five hundred plus miles of beautiful trees in near full fall color. Sunset was at 7PM and I rolled on another six hours arriving at the beach in Lawrencetown by 1AM. Morning light brought a heavy heart. Flat surf conditions and onshore wind. Boo Hoo kids. After 5500 miles of vanning alone with the hopes of scoring some epic right point surf, my whoopie cushion deflated with that familiar farting sound. Not so funny this time. I attempted to fend off my disappointment by setting out on a five mile bike ride along a picturesque old railroad bed snaking its way past salt marshes and teams of sea birds. The diffused sun paused the day in a hazy mid morning light that made my body feel heavy with sleep. My head developed a post party night fogginess and I lost interest in the beauty around me. I wanted a latté and a seat by a sidewalk teaming with people who's lives I could speculate on based on their outfits. I wanted my favorite burrito. I wanted that girl and my friends to be here with me. Goddamn, here it was. I felt alone and kind of depressed. I pulled my bike over and sat for a while thinking. I closed my eyes and just pictured it all as I wanted it. Home, surf, girl, burrito, latté. Five minutes later I actually felt better. The wind was dead calm and the tide falling. I pedaled back to the van with zest and decided to check the point again for any signs of surf. There was the littlest bump on the water when I arrived and there was one guy out. That sealed the deal. I was in the water for two hours until the wind was blowing so hard on shore that I just let it blow me in to the beach. With the wind swell dropping, I decided to head to Halifax for the next two days for some city time. It's a good town with a feeling that blends a bit of SF and NY into a smaller city. It was just what I needed. Plenty of people, lattés and good food. I received an email about a job back in SF and thought how fortunate! Perfect timing! I promptly bought a plane ticket home and booked my self and the van a spot on the CAT. This is the high speed ferry that goes from Yarmouth, NS to Portland, Maine. There was no way I was doing that eleven hour trip again. The CAT only took six hours to get to Maine where I was scheduled to meet the parents for a little holiday weekend visit. Stoked! It was all lining up! In a week I'd be home!

This stuff is so good.

At The Fair

2007-10-06T15:01:00.001-07:00

Epic tees. I've got a team of researchers on this phenomenon.

The livestock....

Here is my homage to the Sartorialist...Fair Fashion.

...AND let's not forget the food.

Day 30 to 32

2007-10-05T20:46:00.000-07:00

Ahhh....New Hampshire. Five years of great memories made here! And when I moved, I left a bunch their physical manifestations behind. Art portfolios, tons of memorabilia from my teen years and beyond, surfboards, skateboards, snowboards, etc. Decades old stories played out again as I thumbed over each object. I thought them over....and well, honestly, the stories weren't that great. What didn't get thrown away, got given away, and the rest goes in the van with me. I've wanted to deal with this loose end for years. Ahhh! Satisfaction!

After I got my junk taken care of it was time to hit the Deerfield Fair! Yep, an honest to goodness county fair chock full of pigs, sheep , oxen, draft horses, acrobats, cotton candy, farm equipment, bandannas, carnival rides and fried anything on a stick. Some humans were there to, but it was hard to tell them from the animals in many ways. There was so much to see I'm going to have to do a separate post on the fair itself.

I managed to visit my old friends Jenny and Jared who since my last encounter have purchased a house , had another baby and made quite a nice life for themselves! Time moves fast....for sure! Four years under the bridge and yet not a day had passed. That's what makes great friends.
It was really nice to reconnect with everyone. It had been too long.

Yes. These were mine.

Duh...it's the holy family. They made me do it. 1978

BIGFOOT at monster truck show. 1983

Heartbreak 1992. Katrin.Die Deutsche Frau.

Not Jesus..Jim.. from a College ID photo. $20 in Korea .Oil on canvas.

I like trains. These were pretty old.

day 26 to 29

2007-10-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

Well, Jon and Maura headed to Greece for ten days to shoot for some magazine and I headed up to New England to visit more friends and family. I get my own little piece of Greece every time I'm in New England by visiting the Greek diners. The portions are always disgustingly huge and you can't beat the"home cookin" taste. I look for this certain type of marble cookie that I used to get as a kid at every diner I go to but I haven't found one in years. The default second is a shortbread cookie with a raspberry filling and a dusting of confectionary sugar. I promptly killed one the size of a dinner plate just over the CT border. After a trip to the Italian bakery, and the thrift store, I tried to visit the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Cannan, CT. Unfortunately, upon arrival I learned all the tours were booked. Instead, I thumbed through a beautiful hundred dollar gift book on the house and felt like I got a good tour anyway!

Day 25

2007-09-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

Ok. I know this is getting rediculus but it was another amazing morning to wake up in Brooklyn. Seventy degrees, dry and sunny. Maura had told me about this great French Bakery down the block the night before. I cracked my eyes open and knew that I was headed straight for a double latté and an almond croissant. I made it down to the place stumbling, with flip flopped feet over the jumbles of cobblestones that make up Water St. just below the bridge. Went in and could tell from the moment I stepped in I was about to taste greatness. That's why I gladly spent $7 (w/ $1.50tip) for my double short latté and my almond croissant. Though it was just as amazing as expectations had suggested, the graphic on the bag I had to reach in to get my morsel was a little disturbing. I wasn't sure if I was going to get a croissant or a feminine napkin. I'm not sure who decided on this thing, but if anyone who works at Almondine Bakery in Dumbo is reading this...take my word...the picture looks like it came straight off the Summer's Eve bottle. Get rid of it. Ok enough on that. While walking back to the apt. I found two cool spherical flowers in the gutter. Stragglers from a catered event the night before. I decided they would be great in the van. I took a picture of them then walked to the dock to look at the water. A tug boat went by and an epic right revealed itself to me. Back up inside the place, Maura suggested I take a bike ride out to Red Hook and check some of the sights along the way. Good delis and shops etc. Great brownstones...whatever. So I did. When I got out to the park in Red Hook I was starving. The sound of Banda music , along with soccer whistles drifted behind the smoke of grilling meat under make shift tents and vending booths. I was in heaven. THis is JUST LIKE HOME!!!!! I couldn't have been happier to come upon this scene. I stood in line for a Hauracha and some sliced mango with salt, chili powder ,and lime. OH MY GOD was it all insane. Football y Tacos ...Red Hook...Pura Vida.

Day 22 to 24

2007-09-23T17:11:00.001-07:00

I'm really settling in here in Brooklyn. Having my bike is the best. My van has just been siting under a tree next to the East River since I arrived. Every other day I just look in on it. You know, to make sure there isn't a body dumped in it or something. I took a run up to the Mollusk Surf Shop here in Willamsburg and talked a bit with Mike who was working there. Nothing happening surfwise...Not even a blip in the Caribbean to speak of! I'm concerned I might find a wave in Nova Scotia! It struck me for the first time. All the product in that place is created by people I know well. It's funny. Other days I've headed over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan and just meandered around SoHo and the Villages. Up the W. Side, down the E. Side. At one point, my eye caught this random grouping of chairs chained together on the sidewalk and I stopped to check it out. It was an impromptu viewing area for a butterfly garden apparently. A woman coming home from market stopped to tell me she was the one who set this whole deal up. She was beaming with pride, excitement as she spoke, the Monarchs fluttering about behind her. I took a few shots and was on my way. This particular day I was searching for a barber shop that looked old and forgotten with a bunch of old guys hanging around not actually cutting much hair. I figured I'd get a cut and get a great story too. In my search a hand painted window sign caught my eye. The lettering was great. It read "HARRY CHONG" in all caps forming an arch with a white drop shadow. I peeped in at the ancient barber chairs, soda fountain, and glass decanters of colored liquid on the counter. I inquired about a haircut....next week he said. I told him I liked his place and asked if I could take some shots. Ricky (his name was Ricky) said sure and offered me something from the fountain. He told me this place is actually called Sit and Sip Beauty Parlour and he just kept the "Harry Chong" on the window because the neighbors asked him to. He went on to say before he moved in it was a Chinese laundry that had been there 0n the corner of Waverly and Charles for eighty years! The oldest Chinese laundry in New York he said. The lettering on the window was such a neighborhood icon he agreed not to scrape it off.Thanks Ricky. It's funny...for all the bad rep New Yorkers get for being an unfriendly bunch, I've been meeting great people left and right. That same day some waitress/actress just started chatting me up about her show and gave me an invitation....the parking guy, Hasan talked with me for an hour and gave me a recommendation to a friend's shop to get an oil change. All super nice folks! Mike met me one day and we got up to the 50's on the W. Side and it started to down pour. We got soaked and rode back to his place. While the clothes dried and the rain subsided we sat an watched The Deer Hunter. Damn, so good. When the sun came out we got back to it and watched an amazing hazy sun going down behind the Statue of Liberty as we cruised by Battery Park. I stopped in the Chelsea Market building to see another old friend of mine Chris, who was working for Sanctuary Records. He told me this was the old Nabisco building and that the Twinkie was invented "right here". What could I do but be blown away. On his desk was an album from a band called the Tide...I don't know 'em but the cover art reminded me of home and Ando. I couldn't get out with out him giving me some albums for the road! Score. Thanks Chris.

Day 21...Viva Los Labios Negros!!

2007-09-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

Slept in and didn't leave my beautiful apartment which over looks the East river, Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge and every tour bus that carries the rest of the world to catch a lesser elevated version of my spectacular view. Did I mention this place has a modest panoramic view? I could tell you about it again. I'm so stoked. You know, I did actually leave once but not until 9PM. My old old friend Mike, a booking agent here in town, rang me up to go see one of my favorite bands The Black Lips. Every time I'm in New York we're always guest listed at some show or another. It's great. We used to go see shows all the time back when we were going to college but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. Mike is the kind of friend you might not see for 10 years and the minute you do, not a day has passed. At the show there was more beer throwing,stage diving and head bobbing than I've seen at a show in years. I'd have participated years ago but was fine just watching and listening. It was good to see the kids still know how to cut loose. Needless to say the Black Lips were great. They have been touring for something like ten years straight and they are only in their early twenties. Their sound is spectacular for this genre and they understand that once you take the "stoopid" out of "stoopid rocknroll" it becomes lame. It was their song "Dirty Hands" (from the album Let it Bloom) that caught my ear several years ago. You can hear it below. The Black Lips get it. The Black Lips are it. Number of souls saved by the Black Lips sound...one and counting. Viva Los Labios Negros!

I'm crazy for this Greek yogurt and honey combo

Day 20

2007-09-19T22:00:00.001-07:00

Woke up cold and too early in the Pennsylvania Welcome Center parking lot. Fine welcome. Took my time and made up some coffee and oatmeal which set me right for the trip to New York. On the drive I made a bunch of phone calls in an attempt to secure a place to keep the van. My friend Maura was out of town and offered me her place in Brooklyn and even hooked me up with free parking! Sweeeet! The only thing I had to do now was pick up the apt. key in some SoHo park from the babysitter...then cross the Brooklyn Bridge and meet this guy, Hasan, at an auto garage next door to the apt. and he would tell me where I could park. Sounds fine right? Once I made it through the Holland Tunnel into Manhattan...my city state of mind was back like a flash. Ahhhh....the city. Yes, Please! I maneuvered the great white pig through the narrow streets of SoHo eventually jumping a curb up on a sidewalk to make a call. It's illegal to talk on the phone while driving without a headset here. I shut the van off and kicked open the drivers door My bare feet hit the pavement after my flip flops which had fallen out when I kicked the door. The warm pavement still felt like summer on my feet. While getting the directions from the key lady, I started to notice that several of the patrons of the open air cafe where I parked my van were taking notice of my presence (not something that I've experienced in New York before). This parking spot and erratic manner was making me somewhat of a spectacle. I finished my call, changed my shoes and jumped the van off the sidewalk. Rolling down blocks bursting with hordes of beautifully preened people I smiled a big smile and felt glad to be back for a stretch.

Day 19

2007-09-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

Wisconsin to Pennsylvania. Fourteen hours. Seven hundred and eighty eight miles. Two hours to get through Chicago. The I80/90 is nothing but alternating construction and speed traps once you are East of the Mississippi. What a trying stretch of pavement. I know I've been posting a bunch of cliché sunsets but I get tired of looking out for the cops and staring at the backs of semi trailers. When the sun goes down I take the time to take my eyes off the road ahead of me.

day 18

2007-09-19T15:14:00.001-07:00

My time is up here at the farm. Gotta get back on the road tomorrow. I started preparing for the transition back to city living this morning....I took the Thursday Styles section of the Times into my favorite little barn on the farm and read it thoroughly. Kim Gordon was at the Marc Jacobs show sporting a leather mini dress. Thought you might want to know. I'm kind of having a style crisis myself. I got rid of most of my clothes before I left in hopes of finding my new wardrobe on the road. So far I've picked up a red acrylic winter hat at the gas station/general store/ hardware store in Pepin for $4.99 (union made in the USofA). I might try to hunt down The Sartorialist here in NYC for an opinion or two. We'll see...he's a busy guy I'm sure. Regardless of that stuff, I spent the day just organizing the van, packing up and soaking in all the good stuff around me. After dinner, David suggested we take the Polaris up the hill and catch the sunset. We cruised the back 40(or 60) to check for deer. Sure enough there was a young doe just near the property line. Our arrival didn't seem to scare her. We speculated she wouldn't last very long since deer season just opened. Her curiosity got the best of her as we sat admiring her not more that thirty yards away. She came closer. We watched her until she leaped over the stone wall into the neighboring field. What a treat. A huge THANK YOU to my hosts David and Greg for everything. I couldn't have made it through the middle of this country with out the Twin Cities and these guys.

Day 17

2007-09-16T07:51:00.001-07:00

A bright warm morning. Coffee and home made apple skeevers (Scandinavian apple doughnuts) set the pace. The guys wanted to take the boat out one more time this year and suggested we head up the lake to Maiden Rock where Flood Run would be passing though. The Flood Run is a motorcycle rally that happens anually. Like a small Sturgis. I tossed my board and wetsuit in the boat just in case it was glassy enough to try surfing behind the boat. We hitched up the boat and took off with the dogs. The chop on the lake was a bit much for surfing so we just motored to a sandbar for some beach combing. After running ground in the shallow water near the dock we sucsessfully tied the boat up and walked down the dock to meet the hoards of leather clad bikers who were gathering in town. Brats and beer for lunch again. There was some coleslaw which was great. A little greenery tasted great. The train tracks which are still heavily utilized ran smack dab in the middle of the party. I loved having the train parting the biker rally, but the whole thing got a bit over stimulating after a half an hour so we retreated back to the water. I'm having mixed feelings about leaving tomorrow. There are good people here and it's so peaceful. I'll have to come back, but the road is egging me on.

Day 16

2007-09-16T06:14:00.001-07:00

Fall arrived at the farm this morning. Word around town was a frost was coming tomorrow....the tomatoes had to come in. After a lazy morning , coffee and oatmeal (with home made apple sauce. YUM.)...we headed outside. David chewed away at his table in hopes of finishing it by today and I plucked tomatoes from the vines. Lunch was meat and local brew. I plopped down in the solarium and warmed my bones. This fly that had been annoying me met his fate by my swift hand...then lunch continued peacefully. Later, I took some time to shoot photos of some other stuff on the property. The grapes were sweet, the junper berries were out, and I found a couple of burrs on my jacket after trompsing through the brush. I'm getting tuned in to the country again and it's a great feeling.

Day 15

2007-09-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

David and I packed the dogs in the van and headed across the Mississippi to the farm in Wisconsin. On the way he suggested we stop at this drive in for lunch. It was a trailer attached to a house nestled near a cornfield with a home made drive up window in it. The sign boasted "broasted chicken" whatever that meant. I skeptically toyed with David's iphone while the food was prepared. When the food arrived I was in heaven. This is the stuff I had been craving. What a meat laden trip this has been and Minnesota and Wisconsin were not the places I was about to go back to tofu. David even got fried cheese curds which I polished off at his suggestion (along with a chug of his chocolate malt) YUM. Upon arriving at the farm, I was promptly buckled into David and Greg's puffed up golf cart for an exhilarating ride through their large acreage. We came upon an owl eating a hawk, then two wild turkeys, a bald eagle and a couple of deer. After parking the 4x4 Polaris cart. I got the walking tour and enjoyed an apple from one of the many trees weeping with fruit. Then I finished off the red raspberries from a neighboring bush. Damn, they were good. We jumped in the van and headed two miles back to town for some gas for the chainsaw, a slab of meat for dinner and I wanted a beer. We toured the center of Pepin, WI and the marina by Lake Pepin. Not so much in the way of epic peelers on the jetty. Head high on a mouse...maybe. It had potential though. Back at the house, pot roast in the oven and beer in hand, there was a knock on the door. It was the neighbor and resident carpenter , Erik and his pal the welder, Wayne. They were checking in on David and wanted to get permission to take their new hunting rig up in the fields to scout for deer. Wayne informed us the season was opening next week and they were getting their locations scouted out. I was into their little Suzuki 4x4 with the camo paint they did on it last night themselves. An oak leaf motif of browns and greens really suited the vehicle. I noticed aside from the two beers they were holding there was a case in the front seat and a freshly cracked bag of pretzels. I liked these guys so I showed them my rig too. They got a kick out of how dialed in it was and questioned me about my trip. Then we bid each other adieu. I've gotta say, I wish there was a third seat in their rig....I could have gotten some epic footage! Maybe tomorrow.

Day 13 and 14

2007-09-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

Been here in the Twin Cities area for two days and have really enjoyed what I've seen. It's a comfortable place where people seem to be active and enjoy their surroundings. It also seems like a very well rounded community culturally. There is a little bit of everything for everyone and I like that. It also helps that my friends David and Greg have been gracious hosts and guides to the area. Their place is not to shabby either...A lot more room than the van. It's nice to stretch out, check out a new place and have some great folks to hang out with too. I could be here for a while......

hanging out computing

sick commuter bike w/ air horn

Great hardware store in St. Paul..

the old Schmidts Brewery

the temporary office

sunset @ Lake Calhoun

Day 12

2007-09-11T19:58:00.001-07:00

It was in the 3o's when I woke up in my sleeping bag. Frost on the windows and snow up on the Big Horn peaks just outside of Sheridan , WY. John who managed the tire shop, showed up to work to find me waitng for him. He was a great guy who was originally from Humbolt County . He took me in early had me back on the road five minutes after the place opened! I was stoked and really ready to make time. I had a lot of driving ahead of me plus I had to see Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, Sturgis, and the Badlands.....could I make it to Minnesota? Heck Yeah......by 2AM.

Here the Antelope play.

Deadwood

Crazy Woman Creek...Hmmm ....a date?

Mt. Rushmore

Day 11

2007-09-10T07:46:00.001-07:00

The video says it all.

DAY 10

2007-09-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Jess took me around Seattle to get some supplies today. Saw this great old soda machine. Fifty five cents for a soda and it even had two mystery buttons! I haven't seen that in a long time. Maybe it's because I don't drink soda but I liked it none the less. Finally hit the road around 4pm. Saw my shadow in front of me for the first time this trip...Eastward. The tough part. Managed to make it all the way to Missoula, MT at 1AM and found a nice place to park near the University.

Special Report from the border.... "This Sign Sucks"

2007-09-08T00:15:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this is what they've decided should welcome folks crossing at the Canadian border. What a piece crap. I don't think it could be any worse right down to the crappy psuedo western hitching post design. I could make the USA look more appealing with a Sharpie and paper plate.

DAY 9

2007-09-07T23:06:00.002-07:00

Last night in Tofino the gang pulled out all the stops on the dinner. It wasn't on my account, they just like to eat and if they know how to do anything well it must have something to do with fish...so fish it was. Hand rolls of cold smoked salmon and avocado, tobiko, and rice. The rolls we built were epic. I swear I saw someone roll a foot long nori tube at one point. Pete threw the Coho he reeled in on the grill and we ate that too. There were even three or four orders of fried squid from the local Chinese food joint. AND...the fish just kept coming!.....Today I got up at 6AM with the guys so I could shoot some footage of them down at the docks before cutting out of town. On my way out they showed me fridge # 3 and said grab some fish for the road. Oh man! Cold smoked Salmon, fresh Coho, and Halibut. All line caught too. Damn,.. should have brought a bigger cooler! The rest of the day went off without a hitch. As I was leaving town I saw a black bear running on the side of the road which was cool. It made me think twice the next time I pulled off to pee. Made it to the ferry at Duke Point, BC just as the 10:30 blew its whistle. Drats! Had to wait for the 12:30. Just kicked back....then did the same on the ferry across. Sunny warm weather prevailed and made the drive back to Seattle a decent one even with Friday traffic. Back at Jess and Mike's place, I suprised'em with the cooler of fish and we set out on a dinner. After sitting on my ass all day, I had to get out and ride my bike after dinner. Always feels great. Went from Queen Anne to Ballard and found the sunset and a great little dump of a shack that caught my eye. Not a bad day at all. Tomorrow, a trip to the store for snacks and time to begin the long trip to the East.

My Tofino fortune cookie tells me......
I'm not sure what to think.

DAY 8

2007-09-06T18:45:00.001-07:00

After surfing for 4 hours yesterday and having group meal #2 with my fisherman pals, I was feeling a bit slow today. I got up early enough to catch some morning light which I had been missing nearly every day on this trip. I took a pre coffee run down to the docks to shoot some footage. The bay was glassy and the fog was just receeding. From there to the Tofitian and to Incinerator Rock to check the surf. Upon arrival I couldn't see a damn thing it was so fogged in. So I took it in stride, parked and went back to bed. When I woke up again the fog was gone and the surf looked pretty bad though it was glassy. I decided to survey the myriad of driftwood shacks strewn across the beach. The shacks up here make ours looks like doll houses. Mostly because the drift wood that comes ashore is huge. Never made it out to surf again but got a ton of trip planning sorted out and got this thing up for you all to see. I'm anxious to get on the road again. It's back to Washington State tomorrow via a ferry to the city of Vancouver in the morning. Three hours to the ferry, two hours on the ferry , three hours to Seattle.

DAY 7

2007-09-06T18:01:00.001-07:00

Woke up at 10:30AM after some much needed rest. Headed out to the Tofitian (the coffee joint) for a latté and hit the beach. It was glassy and small. The bars weren't really lining up but I wanted to surf none the less. After 4 hours of dumpy but fun surf the wind got on it and I paddled in. Fueled up with some PBJ sandwiches and headed back to town. The beach is about 17k south of downtown. Back in town I jumped on my bike and tooled around with the camera stopping to pick up a case of LUCKY LAGER and some salad makings for tonight's feast. There are heaps and heaps of wild black berries all around town so while pedaling every now and then I'd pull over and pick a few gems. Yum. Upon returning to the house I was informed that the case of beer I bought was called the "salmon pack" because it has an image of a guy holding a salmon on the front and contains three extra beers making it a 15 pack. I guess it works out if the fish are biting or not. Blake came clanging up from the basement which houses about six giant refrigerators full of fish and other game. He tossed a container on the counter and said "Moose steaks tonight!" I promptly asked who bagged it and if it was with a truck or a rifle. Everybody laughed then Blake took responsibility for the meal.

I wish I had the original photo

One of the six fridges...LUCKY on
top, Salmon on bottom, and a
Humbolt squid in the middle.
Yes, that's the one from Baja.

Blake with his marinated moose

DAY 6

2007-09-06T17:31:00.001-07:00

Arrived in Anacortes just after midnight and there were five cars in line for the ferry. I pulled up behind a big ranch pickup with a dog in the back. A guy who was half dressed and pulling some kinda bed roll from behind his seat informed me that this was the place to sleep when I inquired about a camp spot. After leaving a note in my seat to "knock to wake driver" I proptly passed out. At 4:00AM there was a knock and giggle and somebody ran away. I pulled up and payed...was directed to the proper lane for Sidney, BC then went back to sleep until 6AM which was when I checked the line behind me and was glad I got there early. Not to mention I got the best possible spot to film the crossing....bow of the boat. Too bad we were so fogged in. It was beautiful none the less. Sheet glass the whole trip but not an Orca in sight. Upon landing I headed to Victoria in search of the "biggest goddamn thiriftstore I've ever seen" that my pal Maz had told me about. After a brief stint in the touristy and beautiful part of town, I parked the van, jumped on the bike and found it. It's called Value Village and it's huge. Got a shirt and got outta town. I still had 5 hours to reach Tofino. Christ what a haul. It's like driving the CA1 to Bolinas but all the way to LA. On a brief snack stop was stoked to see that you can get my favorite Australian cookie in Canada! TIM TAMS!!!!!!!Yeahoooo! After a few TT's and a cup of coffee I pushed through and made Tofino just at sunset. I rolled up to Blake's house and was promptly handed a LUCKY LAGER and ushered into a delicious feast of spagetti with meat sauce , garlic bread with feta, and heaps of salad. The next day I get..."How'd you like the Moose, eh?"

4AM Ferry Termial

6AM

Bow watchmen and the van

I had a great camera position

Victoria

DAY 5

2007-09-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

Woke up late again. I must have needed it. Figured out the ferry schedule to Vancouver Island...which basically told me I had to get to Anacortes ferry terminal tonight in order to catch 8:15AM ferry without a reservation. Drove to Bellevue to meet my old pal Marcus from NH and check out Mike's workplace. I hadn't seen Marcus in 5 years and it didn't seem like a day had passed although things are definitely different. For example...he now has a wife and a dog and is in Seattle. I had to stop by Mike's workplace because aside from hearing about it (the interior is basicaly that of the sub from 2000 leagues uner the sea) I knew a place that developed the most popular video games would have a killer green room. It did and I filled up for the trip to British Colombia

this is two...yes that's his name. One didn't see the car coming. How sad.

mike with the snacks

marcus

late night drive to anacortes ferry. not into it.

DAY 4

2007-09-06T16:51:00.001-07:00

After waking up at 10am, I caught up with Mike, Jess and the Family. We spent the rest of the day wandering around the Seattle Center at the Bumpershoot Music Festival. With that much people watching we had to rest back home. Mike and I went back later to catch Devendra Bandhardt who was entertaining. Seattle is a "metal "town Mike says. I say he's right.

DAY 3

2007-09-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

westport, wa biking to check the gnar

three day road diet on quad

mt. rainier

olympia, wa

modern man. modern van....getting directions to mike's house in seattle.

DAY 2

2007-09-06T16:08:00.001-07:00

Woke up at a rest stop outside of Eugene. Hit town took a quick bike ride...got a coffee, computed and split. Called Mike when I reached Olympia... he says the surf was good in Westport so I went and it was. Glassy, solid shoulder to head on the sets and cold. Felt great. Slept in a parking lot next to the fishing boats. Fog horns and bouy bells sent me to sleep. Peaceful for a holiday weekend.

Aberdeen , WA was Kurt Cobain's home town.

DAY 1

2007-09-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

leaving town

100 degrees near Chico

gas station bathroom. Josh?

heading to Eugene

pre launch

2007-09-06T15:47:00.001-07:00

Detail oriented. It's collapsable too.