Day 13 and 14

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

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

The video says it all.

DAY 10

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"

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

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

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.