No Ham Sandwich

Its raining in Baltimore...

2011-10-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

So I have been back in Maryland for a few weeks now, and as always it has been a trying time. I came home with hopes of a 'soft' entry back into my 'life'. It did not happen.

Mold, everything covered in fucking mold. Where shall I start? Well, I go into the room/storage unit at my parents house and my bed, clothes, books, bike, camping gear, the few things that hold worth in my life, covered in mold. Why? While I was away, I had someone offer to buy my arcade game collection, and in this economy I jumped. I had my father show them the machines, but they had to remove a sliding door to get RoboCop out. It is a fairly simple procedure, gorilla grab the door, lift up, removed door. The fucking apes were able to do that much (including my father), but the funny thing about putting it back on... come in close, this is a valuable secret. IT IS THE REVERSE OF REMOVAL. Who would have thought? So they just left the door off, and being a wet year the concrete in the garage made it a very moist environment.

Awesome

So onto the car, my Subaru, my daily driver. It stopped running several weeks before my return. My father didn't know how to fix it, as he has only been working in the car business for 35 years. I told him to leave it, so he leaves his McDonalds cup of coffee, and one of the windows down at some point, but doesn't dry it out. Leave those doors shut for a few weeks and what do we have class? Anyone, that's right more fucking mold. And all this because my incompetent mechanic (Beware: Carmel Auto on Harford Road) didn't put my ground cable on the starter, in fact they didn't put the bracket that the ground cable connects to back on either).

It has been raining quite a bit here in Baltimore, loving it. I have been considering getting the touring bike together and just riding south, I am not sure I am ready for the cold. Which leads to why I decided to write a blog entry:

Today is the one year anniversary of the Ha Ha. Time is just passing by, I am not sure where it all went.

Easy to Grin.. Rest in peace, thanks for a great adventure. Actually thanks to the whole crew:

The Captain (I still have that rainbow sail tie by the way)

Our most experience member, and such a lovable (but strangely Homophobic) Douchebag

And who could forget Jessica!

It had hopes of being on the Ha Ha this year, but it didn't happen. Its such a duality, wanting to travel, but really needing stability and time to myself. I have not been motivated to write, which is obvious from my blog. But it is my hopes to stay on top of the things over the next few week. But do excuse me, I have a date with some mold and some tea tree oil. Dirty Dirty Mold, spank it.

Black mold- fuck ebay!

Hiking

2011-09-06T01:31:00.000-07:00

It's just not the same when your day hiking, this I have realized. You can just run away when things get uncomfortable.

But that doesn't mean you should.

Unless the mosquitoes do not let you out of your tent:

I wish that video gave you some idea how bad the mosquitoes were in the Glen Pinchot national forest. We were camped under the breath-taking Mt. Adams, but we were unable to leave the tent, as we did not come armed with Deet, or long pants (BOY put on your pants!).

Or the tent fly, as Princess Moonburn lived up to his name, and needed some protection from the sun. Sorry for the poor quality video, but he jumped the gun, but never the less, I hope you enjoyed him running around like a ninny. Here is what he looks like with a bug net and a truckers cap:

And here is what the bugs did to his neck:

To finish off this wonderful (and rare) blog entry, this is how you get your water bottle when you have:

Trekking Pole
Bug Net (keep an eye on his hand)
Motivation
No booze or grappling hook

So what does a sane person do? Certainly not get in the car, drive 4.5 hours back to White Pass, and hike the same section again... even better lets stay up to 2am writing a blog that no one will read (except you Uncle Corkey), I will see you in a few weeks. If I never write this, because I do hate it. FML for realzies.

Decisions

2011-08-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

So life is full of them huh?

Broken Spoke

2011-07-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

Words

They haven't been flowing...I feel as though they never have. To add to that fact, my last few blog entries have been brief and uneventful. No ham sandwich for you.

I am struggling, no lie about that. I am sitting at a cowboy bar in Austin Texas, in a pink Veggie Heaven t-shirt and Choco sandals. My Choco tan is coming along well by the way.

I feel as though I should just drink another 10 of this watery Lone Star draughts out of my plastic dixie cups, and find me a lady to dance with. But once again, lets be honest, I am not a dancer or a writer. Alone I sit.

I just flew (and broke my no fly rule) to join Dani (yes, she is a girl) to buy a Mazda convertible (sight unseen) and drive it 3,000+ miles around the country. Well, here is where the romantic part turns to shit. The girl who was the previous owner treated the car like a demolition derby machine. The car hardly has a straight body panel, and it has hail damage to boot.

I tried to get the car aligned on tuesday, only to find out that she ran it on a curb, pole, or the full church choir. Either way the steering wheel is 90 degrees out and the steering rack mounts are torn off. Which means I have to spend $600 to replace the subframe. Goodtimes. Still romantic? How about replacing all the filters, plugs, wires, leaking valve cover gasket, and not least, the entire convertible top. I was hoping to sell this car for a profit at the end of this trip, but that is very unlikely.

So when you are considering a car for a road trip, you think, comfort, space, good stereo, and gas mileage (just to name a few). For those who followed my last road trip, you should know my beloved Kingsley. Well, that Mercedes was spacious. I had the trunk, back seat, and even the 16 cubic foot cargo box full of gear (aka shit). So the Miata has about a 2 cubic foot rear trunk, and my backpack will barely fit in, so I came up with this.

I am not feeling very excited about this road trip... and I can't really understand why. I feel burnt out, used up, no deposit, no return. I am putting all my day hours tracking parts and calling mechanic shops. I haven't seen much of Austin at all, and its hotter Georgia Asphalt in this godforsaken state. Consistent 102-105 degrees temps.

And Dani and I just got booted from our place, the landlord didn't like that we were crashing Sam and Kady floor for a week. So uptight. Speaking of which have you seen the Rejected Cartoons:

REJECTED CARTOONS

This shit made my day... My spoon is TOO BIG! Sorry Y'all for the bitching. But a day in Texas is better then any day at work. Till I get a jerb, I will see you on the road.

-Linus Cloudbuster

Ruta Maya

2011-07-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

So I have been in Austin for four day now, and what do I have to say? I am in a coffee shop/bar/dance studio called Ruta Maya. I was finally feeling motivated to complete a blog entry, and then the music started, and a diverse group of people decided to flash mob my quiet typing area. Mamba!!!

It starts in Texas with this...

2011-07-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

A $700 unloved, hail damaged, no softop 1994 Mazda Miata. Lets see how far we can make it.

Where I have been

2011-04-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

In Maryland of course. I can't believe I haven't posted a entry in a month. Well, I have been busy.... don't give me lip boy... When was the last time you took a year off your life, and then come back to clean up the pieces?

Well that is what I have been up to. I came back to a bunch of projects and a room at my parents house that had become a storage unit. Packages of hiking gear in boxes, time capsules I call them.

I have been getting back into the hustle, selling off all the junk I accumulated before I left. Its tax season, so people have been buying... but there are always set backs. I blew the transmission in my Subaru, which is going to be an expensive fix, but I have really given that car hell. Right now its a lawn ornament at my rents house. They love me so.

So I am getting together with my friend Toothpick in about two weeks to hike the Grayson Highlands into Trail Days (Damascus, VA). It will be good to see faces from the past, I am really looking forward to it.

Hmm, what else to say? I have working most of the night trying to repair my Iphone that I submerged in a puddle. The backlight is not working... I just can't own nice things. I did just get my camera back from Olympus, and boy is it pretty again. It was really looking ratty after a year of traveling: dents, scratches, and for some reason it smelled of urine.

Anyhow, I must get to sleep, but if your up and reading this:

GREAT MUSIC PODCAST

Listen to Jesse Lamonaca Podcast at Dirty Boulevard Recording Company

2011-03-21T18:30:00.001-07:00

Hey Yall,

So Paul, Dani, and I left Austin this morning. Paul and I are wearing our new Veggie Heaven t-shirts, his is pastel purple and mine is pink. So we are driving Kingsley through rural texas, and I already heard a 'fucking hippie' muttered from a shitkickin' gentleman. We are heading for Lousiana, wish us luck!

We are Texas!

2011-03-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of updates, but it has been a weird couple of weeks. I have been trying to juggle an overwhelming social life, repairing Kingsley for the road-trip, and my sanity.

So many stories, especially the friday night trip to Tijuana to see Nortec Collective.

SDDIALEDIN TIJUANA STORY

It Has Begun! After a year, I head back to the Right Coast

Rosey, Yours Truly, Dani (And Kingsley in the blue)

So after a stressful few days of losing my debit card, alignments, buying bent rims, and all the other maintenance necessary to get Kingsley (My chinablue Mercedes) on the road. We left San Diego around 5pm heading for Tuscon Arizona.

The hills east of San Diego toward El Centro were slowing us down quite a bit. It doesn't help that we are driving a 30 year old non-turbo Mercedes, with a huge cargo box/bike on top, three souls, and enough gear to supply an excursion on Everest. Seriously Rosey and Dani, the car is on the bumpstops!

So we left Tucson this morning after staying with Ben, Roseys friend who had a nice hotel room at the Embassy Suites, thanks again Ben. A slow windy drive through the desert netted an attempted side trip to White Sands National Monument, but we turned around half way :( We were not going to make it before the monument closed. Some other day. We did get the most amazing sunset though.

So as we entered El Paso, we noticed the signs for Dick Poe. Dick Poe is an old friend of ours, a great place to buy a car. You have a friend in Dick Poe! Almost as good as Koons Cheverolet in Maryland. Seriously who comes up with these names?

Or better yet, Buds Beer Barn. Apparently they had a dozen copies of Dune on the shelf.

Well..

2011-03-03T01:02:00.000-08:00

Anyone out there?

Just another day

2011-02-25T21:58:00.000-08:00

Back to the American Dream...today I went to Costco...tomorrow I blow my brains out :)

Seriously though, going to Walmart or Costco, or any of these mega consumer institutions fill me with such great anxiety. I have to act like a complete screw loose to survive it. But we went home with our toilet paper from unsustainable sources, and poor tasting, but none the less cheap hummus.

God save the queen

Anyhow, Danzig, DaNzig, DANZIG. That is all, if you ain't listened to Danzig.

On a side note...Eat a dick Adobe.

Finished....

2011-02-18T15:15:00.000-08:00

My friend just asked me how it felt to be done biking...I was about to answer that it was good, some time to reflect and relax. I have been feeling a bit ragged since I pushed 300 miles in 3 days....Instead I answered that I am not finished cycling, hiking, or traveling. This portion of the trip is coming to a close, but I still have many adventures ahead of me.

So the next adventure is getting back to San Diego. I have a potential rideshare north from Cabo to SD. Unfortunately the driver wants to leave on Monday morning, which gives me only 2 days in San Jose... This might be a good thing because Del Cabo is a vortex. But my friend Robert is supposed to teach me the harmonica, he really liked the set I brought down for him :)

I will be driving back east in Kingsley, my veggie oil converted Mercedes.

My friend Rosey, the talented blogger of SDDialedIn wants to make the trip to Austin Texas for the South by South West music festival/conference.

So I have some work to do on Kingsley 'Squishey Bang' Zissou. I need to get rid of the bang part of his title, which is a driveshaft issue. Hopefully my friends at Petroworks Offroad in Fallbrook, CA will let me use the shop and tools to get Kingsley up for the 3,000 mile trip.

So the list:

-Fix Driveshaft

-Find a set of white walls tires

-Find a roof rack/cargo box for my bicycle

-Locate more WVO (waste veggie oil) for the trip), I found this site called Fill up for 4 Free.

And for the Life Aquatic theme:

-Tint the windows (and leave untinted portholes on each window)

-More red beanies/blue track suits

-Zissou Decals for the doors

-Mini flags on the front fenders

-Get my red velvet Jesus bank sent in, je'sus always rides shotgun

So close..

2011-02-17T19:54:00.001-08:00

1,015 miles on the bike computer, and I am in Cabo San Lucas! I am staying with a friend, eating stir fry and taking it easy. Tomorrow I bike east to San Jose del Cabo for the finish line. So close...

Boats,Mountains, & Vultures

2011-02-15T19:58:00.000-08:00

2011-02-14T19:47:00.001-08:00

Got my 100 :) and now I sleep. Sweet dreams y'all.

Nima aka Linus Cloudbuster

2011-02-14T05:18:00.001-08:00

Hey All,

I am sore! The good kind of sore, the muscles thoroughly worked kinda sore. I reunited with my bicycle on friday night after a great day of hitching. I caught a single ride from El Rosario to Mulege. I rode in a beat up Ford Escort which was being flat towed behind a truck.

It was like having auto pilot, while I sat back and read Dune. I did however forget my fresh peanut butter and bike jersery. Hot mess I am.

So saturday I hit the road after staying with Gary on El Coyote playa. Thank you Gary, and sorry for the drama.

I put in my longest day, 85 miles, and it felt great. Going solo has been such a freeing experience. I had a great dinner with an investigative journalist on Juncalito beach, and in the morning I pedaled over to Puerto Econdido to check out the boats. I ended up running into a group from the Green Bay area, and we had a great breakfast and conversations. Thanks again yall, hope to see you again soon. Anyhow my damned memory card is on the fritz and I lost all my photos from the last two days :(

I biked from Loreto to Insurgentes yesterday through the 'Sierra Grande' which was challenging, and was met with headwinds for 30 miles. Did i mention this was fun? I luckily met some folks and they put me up in there restaurant, because it gets close to freezing down here, and I don't have a tent anymore. I was woken at 5:15am by the cooks. So i type this as I sit on the throne... Do you feel dirty for reading this now? :)

I attempt a 145 mile day into La Paz, wish me luck

A good day

2011-02-10T21:42:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, but things have been a bit chaotic. Let me give you the short of it. I am in Rosario in Baja California Norte, why am I back in the norte? Because I did something a bit out of character, and went back to San Diego for less then 24 hours. I needed to get some supplies for the bike, and most importantly to see my friend Dani. She flew out yesterday to Hawaii, and other destinations unknown (I hope India or south east Asia). I jumped on a bus after my cycling partner Chris decided it best to part ways at Coyote beach south of Mulege BCS.

The bus ride north was expensive and long, the bus broke down in San Vincente. I awoke at 3 am to the sound of a diesel engine, and the sounds of metal hammering metal. The driver and his associate were banging on something in the rear of the bus, with the engine compartment door open, letting all the noise and fumes throughout the cabin.

Well, instead of getting into Tijuana at 6am, I got into Tijuana at 12pm Mexican time :)

I was pretty bummed, because I barely had enough time to get my supplies, as I only intended to be in town for 24 hours. So I didn't get a new memory card, and my current card likes to eat photos and spit them out as a big fat X. I also didn't get the chance to see anyone that I miss dearly, so sorry I didn't call yall, but I couldn't be distracted from my mission. Bike the damn Baja! No quitters here.

So I had a great time in SD, but it was very hectic. I walked across the TJ border late on Wednesday praying to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.

I was so unsure of what to do once I was in TJ, it is not a good place to be at night, especially if you stick out like a sore thumb like I did. I just trusted that things would work out, if not I was going to retreat to San Diego and stay with a friend. Anyhow as soon as I was over the border, I ran into a Mexican who told me that I could get a bus into downtown. From the downtown I could either look for a trucker at the market, or catch a taxi to Rosario where the M-1 and the 1-D meet. So I ended up in El Rosario via taxi, and spent several hours trying to get rides. I was having very little luck, and was growing very disheartened. I just wasn't in the head space for the bi-polar feelings that come with hitch-hiking.

However, I did run into a guy at the Pemex gas station, who recommended another gas station that was down the road a few miles. He was so kind and sympathetic, I was walking away when he pulled up and gave me 20 pesos. I told him I couldn't accept, as I didn't need it. Granted I don't have much money, and the adventure north to SD cost me about $300, but I still have money in my account. I was just hitching to save money for my road trip back east, or whatever else wants to take my hard earned dollars down the road. So he told me to take the money, and to help someone else down the road. I accepted: As they say on the trail, Pay it Forward.

I did pay it forward, I met a guy who was digging through the trash at the gas station. I was asking people for rides, and this young guy whos father I had asked for a ride with, came over and asked me why I was in the cold at 9pm at night. I told him I was trying to get to Ensenada, where I was going to crash on a friends couch. He said he wasn't heading that way, but he offered me a Fanta, and some more money. I once again declined the money, but accepted the can of pop. The guy was digging through the trash when I returned, and I started talking to him, his English wasn't bad. He found some coffee that someone had left on the table,a nice table dive, but no food. I started to make myself a peanut butter and Bavarian bread sandwich, and he asked if he could have one. So I made him a big heaping PB sandwich, and he really enjoyed it. I then thought about the money I was given to pay forward, so I gave it to him. Thinking back on it, I wish I had just bought him some food, as I am unsure what he would have used the money on. :(

I ended up getting a ride to Ensenada from some college guys who drove way to fast. My shoes really smell, I shouldn't have used them without socks. Good way to ruin a pair of beautiful Brooks trail runners. I just bought some foot powder, hopefully that will help with the funk.

Or maybe its Jazz baby.... Check out Rob Longstaff... Much love Rob

Anyhow, I got to Ensenada crashed on my couch surfing friends.. you guessed it couch. Thank you Adrianna and Marion for putting me up late notice.

I awoke rested, had my grapefruit and a cup of green tea, and chatted with Marion about this, that, and the importance of honesty with those you love. Not easy to find. I started walking to the bus, and just had a sense of joy about my hitching adventure, which wasn't present before. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing, and so was I. I think it was the Black Keys, tighten up.

It took me almost two hours, but I got a ride, and it was on of the best I have had. I got a ride from a couple (Maria y Robert) in a pickup called 'tortilleria' or something along those lines. I don't think I will ever learn Spanish with how fast people talk down here. They make a journey 110 miles south to San Quintin every Thursday to sell there home made cheese. There family of 5 children make the cheese and sell it locally in Ensenada, but once a week they deliver south to local businesses. When I first got the ride, I was so happy, as I thought the place I was hitching was hopeless. Yet this couple slowed down from 60mph and picked me up.

When they pulled over, I could see that there was little space in the cab. So jumped in the bed, which had several coolers. I wedged my legs in the coolers and then gave the side a few thumps to let them know I was good to go. It was very uncomfortable... but I couldn't sit against the tailgate because it didn't exist.

Gone

So was a foot or two of the floor where the tailgate once existed. So I did my best to keep my foot wedged, keep my head out of the wind, and hold the side of the bed. Well, I felt a bit wobbly as we went down the road, and kept adjusting myself, but something didn't feel right. I then noticed it wasnt me that was swaying, but the side of the truck.

Have you ever taken a piece of thin metal, and worked it back and forth until you have created a seam? When you continue to work said seam, it gets more and more flimsy, until the metal tears, snaps in two. Thats what the side of the truck was doing. Needless to say, I made my move into the cab between my two large friends :)

They were the nicest people I have met in Mexico, seriously, we had the greatest adventure. It was a slow ride with all the queso stops, but I know have some new friends in Ensenada. They told me I must stay with them on the way north to San Diego, or they will be very upset :)

Does anyone have a contact in the US immigration/embassy? Maria is trying to see her mother in Riverside, CA who had a stroke in October. Her mother is on her deathbed, and she can't get a visa to visit and say goodbye :(

Breaks my heart, fuck the borders.

Wind,wind,wind

2011-02-04T17:54:00.001-08:00

It burns! :)

Seriously though, this wind is the pitts. I can barely hold 8 mph with everything I have got. It took Chris 4 hours to do 15 miles, she walked most of it. The fact was we werent going to make the 45 miles to Santa Rosalia. We decided to hitch, and eventually caught the bus. Another 35 miles I need to make up. There was a magnificently steep hill called Hell Hill or something like that, i want it. . Anyhow we bike to Mulege in the morning.

2011-02-03T21:47:00.000-08:00

2011-02-02T09:38:00.001-08:00

Chris and I have reached the 28th parallel with the first tail wind of the trip, 30 mph on flat ground! We are now in the Baja California Sur, and we are headed to Guerrero Negro to meet some friends, and possibly catch a glimpse of grey whales in the Laguna ojo de Liebre. The bike odometer is showing close to 500 miles! We are hoping to be in San Jose del Cabo in two weeks. Light the fires and smoke the tires. Life is good

Playas

2011-01-30T17:23:00.000-08:00

Chris and I arrived in Bahia De Los Angeles around mid-day, which is on the Sea of Cortez. The trip is going well, we have had our disagreements, but still pushing ahead. The ride out of El Rosario was tough, we only made 30 or so miles. The terrain, harsh head-wind, and the weight of food/water slowed us down. Camping out under the stars...muy bien.

I also met a group of high liners/climbers near Catavina, who were setting up a 80-90 foot high line between boulders.
http://www.somewhereelseland.com/

Patience, perfection of patience. I now understand why I have traveled alone for so many years. :)

Flesh Love

2011-01-26T23:52:00.000-08:00

2011-01-25T21:58:00.000-08:00

So I am trying very hard to keep you updated on my travels, but I am having a variety of technical difficulties. The mad scientist (Rosey) and I have been working on some things, from signing me up for Twitter @Findinnima, anyone who knows me should be smiling at the irony. Anyhow, I only have SMS here in Mexico, and finding Internet has been a pain. I can now update my blog via SMS, but i cant load photos to blogger or even twitter. Let's face it, y'all have a short attention span, and my writing is not humorous or witty. You need my photos, you want my photos.

I should also mention that bad r&b is setting the mood...seriously, why are they playing Boys 2 Men in a Mexican restaurant.

I will never own a iPhone by the way, this pos keeps auto correcting in as I'n? Technology makes me want to practice my yelling, just like Bigfoot.

So my trip, it is going well. Chris and I left Ensenada on Monday morning, and we biked to San Vincente, a nice solid day of riding. Chris and I got a classy cheap hotel room, and got on the road at 8 am. We putin another solid Day into Vicente Gurrero. Warm weather and beautiful skies. Leave jealous comments.

And check the twitpics to the right
The wat?

Ensenada

2011-01-21T14:47:00.000-08:00

Hey Lovers,

I thought the call of my lova would wake the night guards..

So Chris and I are in Ensenada, we left Wednesday morning around 8am, and cycled most of the way. I say most because we hitched a ride in a truck 10 or so miles. We left to late, miscalculated the mileage, and were fighting the wind all day. We also took two long breaks for food, and early on got a flat. We were doing well until we hit La Mission, where the Mex1 goes east, and the 1D goes south and follows the coast. The 1 is a windy steep road through the mountains. Chris ended up walking most of it, and we weren't going to make Ensenada until way after dark.

Any real traveler always has a sharpie... just the facts. Luckily this is Mexico, and you can find cardboard anywhere.

So I have two minutes until my time runs out. We are staying at Casa De Cyclista, a warmshower.org host. They have this bicycle of a brazilian man who passed trying to ride from Brazil to Alaska. It has my cogs turning in my mind, I need to learn more about him.

5 miles in 4 days

2011-01-17T15:03:00.000-08:00

Yes, 5 miles in 4 days. Chris and I are still in Tijuana, we hopefully will be heading out in the morning for either Rosarito or Ensenada. I am not sure if an 80km day is a good idea, so lets see where we end up.

Tijuana has been great to us, our couch surfing host has been very accomidating. We hit 6th street in Tijuana on friday night, and I personally had a great time. Chris said she had a good time, but she doesn´t drink and her spanish is poor, either way she is a good sport.

Don´t mind Chi, he is from China

We woke up on Saturday, and I had received a message from another couch surfers, inviting us to spend the weekend in Popolita beach near Rosarito. So next thing we know we are in a van full of Mexican punk rockers, on our way to the beach.

It was a bit hectic getting two groups of people to the beach, but we did make it. It was very relaxing, and I knocked out a few pages of ´American Gods´. The group we were with played very well, especially the bongos. Who knew punks liked bongos?

One of my favorite moments was saturday night, a few drunkards at the hotel above us kept hollering at us. Finally they came down, and who would guess, they were from LA. I am not saying anything but about people from LA.... actually I am. They were quite obnoxious. The one gentleman asked me where I was from, and how did I end up on a mexican beach with punk rockers. I explained my recent travels, and he said I have something to brag about at my 10 year reunion.

I told him the people in my life doing great things as well, so my accomplishments are mediocre. He was like, you go to the Thailand and shit, travel around, THAILAND. For some reason he kept talking about Thailand, and how it would be leverage to how I am special, again, at my reunion.

I haven´t been to Thailand.

Is that what people think about there lives? What should I do to make a bunch of people back in high school jealous. That they will regret the way they treated you because you have been to Thailand? Give me a break, LA mentality.

The women wasn´t any better, but she did read a passage of American Gods out loud. She had a sexy voice, and read with confidence about a man having sex with a women, and that said woman consumed him with her vagina. Literally.. like a

Ven us Vagina Trap

She said how she wanted to go to her reunion, and tell them all she accomplished, mainly going to Burning Man.

I went to Burning Man, it wasn´t that big of a deal. Why people make it there lives, I will never know. Its a bunch of white people getting high in the desert. Have you ever tasted the air at Black Rock City, it tastes of greed and spent fuel, worse then any developing nation I have been to. At least the nations are trying to aquire the basics water, food, shelter, and love.

Burning Man is hippie/druggie consumption. Go into the woods, you might find peace.

Baja 1000

2011-01-14T20:34:00.000-08:00

So despite the critics, I have started my 1,000 mile bike trip of Baja California. Chris and I jumped on the San Diego trolley at around 9am, and bought our one way ticket to the border. We were both grinning form ear to ear, talking about how great the adventure would be.

I left with hopes that this will be a great adventure for both Chris and I. This will be the longest cycle tour for myself, and the first for Chris.

I was trying to be ultra light on this trip, but its not happening. My bike is fully weighed down. I have 5 books: American Gods, Camping in Mexico, Spanish Dictionary, my journal, and How to play guitar. Why do I have the guitar book? Because I picked up one of these:

I also picked up a set of beginner Horner Blues Harmonicas...in hopes of seeing my friend in San Jose del Cabo. The hoochie coochie man.

And yes, he is art

So I layed the bike over twice so far.. once in the middle of Mexican highway 1, and the other on the way to the Playas. Both times my front panniers brushed the concrete and you would think they were made of flubber, because I went flying head first into traffic.... I scratched my damn mirror... but luckily not my grape.

My couchsurfing host here in Tijuana is Irak, he has been great so far. He picked us up from downtown, after we had a nice sandwich at place simply called: ´Organic´. Anyhow Chris and I attempted to keep up with Irak in his car, up a very hilly part of town. But I did not walk, or crawl, I made it up slowly. I am hoping my bike legs will kick in soon. Anyhow, we had a cerveza after a walk on the beach, which was stunning. These west coast sunsets are breath-taking, sorry east coast. The best part of this house is that it is guarded by a half dog, half bear, half lion creature.

I think it wants to eat me....

So here is the breakdown.

-I am riding a 2010 Jamis Aurora (great so far)

-Topeak rear rack

-Jim Blackburn front rack

-Green Guru High Rolla Rear Panniers

-Novara front panniers
Shimano SPD 520 Pedals
Sidi Cycling Shoes
Avenair handlebar bag (I already have to sew a broken strap)
Cateye front light and computer
Planet Bike Superblink rear light

Clothing
Dri Ducks rain gear (cheap and light)
REI Spruce Run Jacket for warmth
REI Thermal Top
Marmot Thermal bottom
Sportkilt (A given)
Patagonia running shorts
Marmot Wind Shirt

·Camping Gear
·Jetboil (Love this stove)
·Thermarest Prolite 3 sleeping pad (I do miss my NeoAir, but unfortantly Thermarest would not let me prodeal another one, even though they said I was a friend of the industry).
·Sharing a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2
·Princeton Tec headlamp, (just got my replacement by mail, thanks Princeton Tec!)

Loss

2011-01-13T13:27:00.000-08:00

I was talking to Rosey the other night about the loss of her friend Justin. It has been moving to see the amount of people that cared about him, especially the other night at the Turf Club. It had me thinking about loss, and I started thinking of two people from my past. Rob Myslacki, and Mike aka 'BigDuckie'. I miss you both. My friend Paul sent Duckie an email a while back, just to talk to him. Something along the lines of: "Hey mike, miss you, hope your well wherever you are." Funny thing is he got a response, but not from Duckie, but from his brother. He said Mike had passed a few years ago, No shit Sherlock.

I have also been dealing with the loss of my ipod. It sounds pathetic, but have you ever had something you relied so much on just disappear? Maybe it didn't just disappear, but due to your lack of responsibility, it is now gone. We (maybe just westerners) give mechanical devices personality, giving our vehicles names, or naming your mp3 player.

His name was not Robert Pulson, but 'Eat Shit'. If someone did jack my ipod, I hope they are eating shit, and continue to eat said shit as they listen to my collection of music.

I lost it in San Jose del Cabo. One day I was listening to it at 'La Semilla' and the next it was gone, just vanished. I ha no idea where I left it, and it still hasn't shown up.

Years...

For years I used that little black magic box to escape, escape to another place. Escapism. We all have one, reading a book, drinking, drugs, and even fucking. Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll. That little box traveled with me to countless countries... so many adventures.

And the rituals!

Whenever I was stuck on the side of the road, I would play 'Against Me! As the external cowboy'. A tradition started in New Zealand years ago. I was stuck on the side of the road, having a heavy load coming around after a night of drinking with some local Maoris. My hat kept getting blown off by all the trucks driving by, and there was no paper in my pack, and no toilet in sight. I needed something to distract me, and for some reason that was Against Me! I got picked up minutes later after singing along at the top of my lungs.

I did not shit myself that day. But life is all about timing. Talk to you soon.

2011-01-09T00:32:00.000-08:00

So, the night life here in San Diego has been amazing. I have attended more shows in the past few weeks then I have in years back in Baltimore. I have the lovely Rosemary of SdDialedIn to thank, you rock girl.

So last night I saw 'Youth Brigade' and 'The Sons of Liberty' at the Brick by Brick. What a great show, it has been a while since I have seen a punk show. I know... I know, I am getting old (just turned 26) and just bought a Martin acoustic travel guitar. Fuck me.

Anyhow, I did make up for the getting old/guitar thing. Serious punk points. And I am not talking about getting scabies or a new patch for my jean jacket. I actually went into the pit wearing my Chaco sandals... I know right, fucking Chacos. I am a sell out. I didn't have any other shoes, and my Doc's are back in MD. Anyhow, I had a great time, my feet got hammered, and were covered in grime. Photos to come.

The major points came from Rosey and Skates when we were leaving the show. "Is that blood?" My right sleeve of my white t-shirt had several large blood stains, and it wasn't mine. The only blood I have ever had on my shirt was at a Gwar show, and that was just food coloring.

"Because we are GWARRR, and we will have sex with your car."

The pit was full of skin heads with bad attitudes (go figure), and I laughed, danced, kept loose, and had fun. I don't think they liked me very much.

I just saw Josh Damigo at the Lestats, what a great show. Are you google-ing your self again Josh? Anyhow, he was raving about Nena Storey, and she did have one hell of a voice. You know I have a thing for curly (especially redhead) jewish girls, right?

Riding for charity

2011-01-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

For those who were following my Pacific Crest Trail hike in 2010, know (or least should have known) that I was hiking for a charity. The website was started by a hiker named Paul Mitchel (not the hair stylist), in an effort to help hikers raise money/awareness for a cause while they hike. Paul said the site will eventually be a site where the hiker chooses the charity, while this year was for Haiti relief.

***Click here for the site***

So the mysterious Dave from the ill-fated 'Easy To Grin' forwarded an ad from the 'Baja Western Onion'. Apparently there is a ride that leaves mid February called the 'Baja Love Ride.'

~~~~Baja Love Ride~~~~

I have been searching for a charity to raise money and awareness for, but I haven't found a site to advertise myself on. I would like to participate in the Baja Love, but that pushes my travels back a month. More then anything I don't like the support aspect of the trip. The idea of riding a bike is to ride a bike, if you are being supported by a vehicle (even if it is low emission), defeats the point. I also want to take my time.

If you know of a charity, or a site like HikeFor where I can advertise myself, shoot me a message or leave a comment.

On another note I wanted to thank the guys at the REI Encinitas store. I contacted the store manager, an explained how I lost most of my hiking gear in the boat wreck. He put me in touch with the warehouse crew, who deal in all the returned/damaged gear.

Well, they helped me out big time, I now have a tent, jacket, and a sleeping pad.
Thank you!

Racks are on!

2011-01-07T12:47:00.000-08:00

The bike is coming together quickly. After speaking with some cycle tourists at Adams Avenue Bikes (great shop near University Heights), I decided to go with a front rack and panniers. So... some more money and I now have a Blackburn rack, which was a pain to install, and I had to modify it to accept my Novara panniers. The rack was used and inexpensive, and it matches the color scheme well.

I got my Green Guru recycled/up-cycled bike panniers about 10 minutes ago, these bags are great! I want to give a shout out to Justin at Green Guru. I sent an email last week explaining my adventures, and I got a response the next day with great news, a set of discounted High Rolla Bike Tube Panniers.

The panniers are great, well thought out, have a great mounting system, and are made of old bicycle tubes. Green Guru makes several different products from old bike tubes: Wallets, messenger bags, and more.

http://store.greengurugear.com/high-rolla-bike-tube-pannier-p-881.html

Thank you Green Guru!

Next thing you know I will be one of those people... you know what I am talking about. The people with too much stuff hanging off their bikes, and that crazy look in there eyes....

That look my friend is freedom

Counting Down

2011-01-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

The day draws near, the day I leave San Diego for points south.... I am unsure how I feel about the trip. I almost feel numb, like its just another walk in the park. Maybe it is because I have already been to Baja, that I am not wandering into the 'unknown'. Or maybe I am scared of whats behind.

I have changed in the past few weeks, I would like to explain this in a little more depth. When I left San Jose Del Cabo, I was in a bad head space. I had thoughts of just walking/running the entire 1,000 miles north, and to make it even more challenging, I was going to fast. Starve the negative feelings about life, love, and my place in it.

Well, that didn't turn out as I got picked up at like 4am by a cuban bar owner named Juan. He was a bit tipsy, but we had a great conversation on our ride to Cabo San Lucas. He said he never picks hitch hikers up normally, especially at 4am, but he trusted me because I had dreads.

when I review this in my mind
I don't think I even had my thumb out...

My own cuban angel

Can angels drink? Maybe he wasn't an angel, but a guide, to help me out of the dark spiral. It sounds like hippie bullshit, but the simple act of giving some poor soul a ride at 4am can make a difference.

I have a great time in San Diego, from reconnecting with family, to the great shows and new friends. I can truely say I could spend some time here in San Diego. But alas I must ride in the next few days.

Proudest moment in SD: Taking rude photos with some random camera on New Years, and then later reviewing them with the owner. "Is that someones ass?"

**Singing karaoke: Boys 2 Men, I'll make love to you @ Bourbon Street.... Not so much.

I have been thinking of a random thought/fact that I would incorporate into my blog, so here it is: The first cd I owned was Elton John, I found it in a car my father bought when I was 10.

The first cassette I ever owned was Coolio: Gangster Paradise.

**Dont judge**

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T19:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year All!

I hope your day was as great as mine, mainly hiking with new friends at the Elfin Forest.

Much love

I am going to sign this one Cloudbuster, just because I miss it.

Big Body Benz's

2010-12-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

My new west coast ride:

1980 Baby Blue Mercedes Benz, runs on waste veggie oil. Mad hippie points :)
Help me with a name... I would describe her as squishy and slow.

So Chris and I drove all the way to LA to pick up her Surly Long Haul Trucker, so jealous..... but I roll hard with the Jamis.

I am stuck on the phone, ebay, and amazon most of the day. I need to get my gear together for this bike trip, its just moving so slowly.

Anyone know of a rear rack that is reasonably priced? I have been looking at the Surly Nice Rack and the tubus, but might have to settle for a planet bike,etc.

Anyhow, I found this company on Amazon called Green Guru. They make a bunch of different products out of upcycled/recycled bike tubes:

http://store.greengurugear.com/high-rolla-bike-tube-pannier-p-881.html

I was going to give them a call, see if they could help Chris or I with some bike panniers. Cross your fingers for me.

Anyhow, this photo surfaced on facebook:

NO HAM SANDWICH

Start the revolution :)

Poison Moon

2010-12-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

"Cut loose in a nightmare, cast off in my dreams
If home is anywhere that I can hang my hat
Then it's coming apart at the seams
My luck is hanging upside down
I try to hold on tight
But money's rolling out of town
And love slips right out of sight And these bones, they don't look so good to me
Jokers talk and they all disagree
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon
You look in the mirror
I'm sorry, but it can't be replaced
You're thrown straight out in that cruel parade
Buttoned down and laced
It starts like fascination, it ends up like a trance
You've gotta use your imagination on some of that magazine romance
And these bones--they don't look so good to me
Jokers talk and they all disagree
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon"

By Elvis Costello
album: My aim is true

This is one of those albums that just appeared on my Ipod years ago, I think I have M@tty M@tt to thank for that one. It took me years to stumble across this album, sad since Costello is considered by many to be a father of punk. The bonus album with the demos/honkey tonk version of 'Poison Moon', and 'Blame it on Cain' rate in my 50 favorite songs. I also hope one day to sing those songs with some degree of confidence like Costello.

I am off to drop the rent a car, and bike back to my aunts.

In French or in English

2010-12-27T01:51:00.000-08:00

It looks like I am heading south of the border, much love to all my fans back east, but I can't have a repeat of last winter. I have picked up a partner for my cycle tour down the Baja peninsula, and her name is Chris. I know Chris from the Baja Ha Ha, she was once a crew member of the ill fated '~~Easy To Grin~~'. I am excited to have Chris join the team, she has minimal experience in cycling, but her passion for an epic adventure is what really matters. Wish us luck!

I am still mourning the loss of my Ipod, a real friend for almost 5 years. Boy do I miss the escape of my little black friend. I would just blast off to a place far away, just Elvis Costello, Captain Beefheart, and I. Just another possession I lost in San Jose.

I wasn't asking much Papai Noel, just a itty bitty chrome chain saw....I like this one:

Its only 15,000 grand you fat bearded bastard

Why is everyone so goo goo ga ga for Mumford and Sons? I don't get it. But then again I think Danzig is god, so forget my music taste.

"MOOOOTTHHHHHERRR,

tell your children not to walk my way,

tell your children not to hear my words,

what they mean, what they say.

MOOOOTTTTTHEERRR."

You know what I like? Looking up lyrics for song I have know for years. Songs I have sung over and over again, and realize I royally corrupted the lyrics. My mind lyrics are better anyhow.

Another birthday has passed, it was a good one, nice and peaceful. I found myself at the hospital with my newly born second cousin, Yasdin. We have the same birthday Yasdin, but I hope to hell you have better taste in music, and less of a chemical imbalance.

~~Chemicals~~

I have discovered the strike-through button, look out.

I have been to a few shows here in San Diego, and they have been entertaining. I visited the West Coast Tavern on Thursday and had the privilege of hearing two musicians: Josh Damigo and Jesse LaMonaca. I have nothing but respect for performers, especially when they are playing to a crowded self involved bar. The other show worth mentioning was Los Maricones de Rock, a Rolling Stones tribute band. I have been told this band gets together once a year on Christmas eve, I was fortunate enough hear them play.

I made the trip down to the USS Midway museum, to pay a visit to a plane. Yes, a plane. My grandfather, Webster McPherson flew a SNJ on June 26, 1945 out of the USNATB Corpus Christi, TX. That same SNJ is currently on display, so I made the pilgrimage to honor a man I never knew, and to fulfill a promise to my uncle.

Oh, and you know what I hate? Poorly maintained arcade machines, especially when they are multi-cades.

Family

2010-12-22T21:04:00.000-08:00

So they say you can't choose your family, but you can choose whether or not to spend time with them. I am severely regretting that fact right now. The petty chatter between said family, makes my hair stand on end, and I put my hands in the universal mundra and just breathe breathe breathe....

I don't have enough gear to keep me alive, but I am about to get on my bike and just start riding....

Saddness

2010-12-21T01:31:00.000-08:00

What a depressing place, this sunny city of San Diego. Rain Rain Rain go away. I would love to be watching the lunar eclipse, but looks like I am out of luck.

I just watched two Documentaries:

The Cove:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKNCN1ESZM

And 180 degrees South:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK3TOHLFL50

These are both great films, both inspiring and depressing. Unfortunately I feel more depressed after watching these films, hopefully the inspiration will come in the morning.

San Diego

2010-12-20T17:05:00.000-08:00

I am back in San Diego! I arrived last night after an 17 hour drive from Mulege (Baja California Sur). I want to publicly thank the gentleman who gave me a ride, Thank You Wayne. I met Wayne through the owners of 'The Shack' in Mulege, a great shack under the highway with 10 peso draught and great food.

http://www.facebook.com/search.php?q=the%20shack%20mulege&init=quick&tas=0.8486303676621555#!/pages/Mulege/103791776326275

So I had my touring bike sent to San Diego... I have been very excited to get to this bike. I have been shopping for a touring bike for the past two years. Since Surly bikes turned down my proposal for a sponsorship earlier this year, I have been looking for the right bike for my budget. I picked up a Jamis Aurora for around $400 off ebay. I was so excited to see the bike, but my aunt sent me straight to bed like an excited child on Christmas eve. This morning I woke up and the first thing I wanted to see was the bike, what I saw made my spirits drop. The box was quite beat up, chunks of the box were missing, and parts of the bike had punctured the box.

So I am looking at a bent derailleur hanger, a few bents spokes, missing hardware, bent fender, and a lot of cosmetic blemishes. Ups really worked a number on the bike, but it really wasn't packed very well, so thank you American Cycles. I am waiting to hear back from the seller, hopefully something will happen, but I don't really feel like dealing with it.

The other package is my new Jetboil.... Thank you Jetboil for sending me all of this:

I also spoke to Jesse from Primal Foods, the makers of Primal Strips. Jesse is putting a team together for Primal Person travel campaign/documentary. He is also putting together a team for the Wild Canyon Games, check it out here:

http://www.wildcanyongames.org/Overview.php

Tonight I am looking at a 1966 VW Beetle to either drive east or back down to Baja California. I have been looking for a VW bus, but I think I might have to settle with a teal '66 cali bug. That or I found a cool 1922 Ford model T Rat Rod. That would be serious cool points.

Nima

These feeling wont go away...

2010-12-18T01:59:00.000-08:00

I like wearing my hair down recently, I am not sure why. The blonde highlights are quite defined, telling me I have spent to much time in the sun, that and all my arm hair is blonde. Blondes really aren't my deal, I'd rather worship a dark haired women with soulful hazel eyes... the kind of eyes that make you howl at the moon.
I am about to turn another year... but I am ok with it. Last year I wasn't content, turning 25 and doing it alone. I don't know why 25 was such a dreaded accomplishment. I would joke when I was younger; I joked that I was a 25 year old model, that I would leave a young beautiful corpse. Joke. Time will tell, I still have a week.

I jacked the above image from my friends blog: http://motherswit.tumblr.com/ J, you have a way with words, I am truly jealous, but I am working on it. You are my friend and I am sorry I haven't been around for you through your dark times. You were certainly there for me last winter. Thank you.

I left San Jose Del Cabo a week and a half ago, unsure if I was making the right decision. I live my life with to much regret, I still can't recognize that the past is the past. I started walking at midnight up the highway towards San Lucas. I took the afternoon off from La Semilla to pack up my few belongings, and I went out with the only person I ever felt truly close to in San Jose. The hoochie coochie man... a 54 year old street performer with few teeth, hips like Elvis, and a heart of gold. I will miss you Roberto.

Around midnight I returned to the place I was staying.... and had to witness a woman I cared about take someone else into her bed. A bed I spent more then a few nights in, one that I hoped I would share one last night. I tried to sit and read, but really that was just a cover up. You walked by me, not saying a word, but so much was bouncing back and forth between us.

I watched as you went to your room.
I waited for his return.
He sat across from me and had a smoke,
I shook his hand at the end
His eyes full of innocence and love
Mine full of the most remote saddness
I watched as he walked to your room
I heard the sound of the doors closing,
one after the other
I watched as you closed the curtains
Do you know how that felt?
these feelings wont go away...

The desert is good medicine, as that night I went to a very dark place. I walked for hours, lost in deepest tar pit of hatred and self loathing. Simply put, I can't keep taking hits like this, I am just simply too involved. I wish I could go back to my mind eye at age 19, I need that right now.

The other night I had a breakdown of character... it was late and I stumbled on an old link to someones photo account. Why I clicked on it, I don't know why, maybe I am a masochist. Next photo, next photo. It won't happen again... I wish I could restrict who has access to my blog. But that is what happens when you have a public blog...words are easily read. I know you are reading this right now, you know what the difference between you and I is? I am discovering what it is to fight this alone for well over a year, and you are not. Does he know you send text messages to me? I am afraid not, but sometimes I ponder how he would feel if I told him the truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8cMy-Jmoso&feature=related

Mulege. I am in the town of Mulege. I am couch surfing with a 70 year old man who I believe has turrets, which is truly entertaining. He is so kind, and truly has the greatest laugh. I noticed that I need to get out of Baja for a little while, it to much of a party. Where is the intellectual exploration? Its just like JC said about San Jose, but it seems to involve most of Baja.

So I am hitch hiking my way up to San Diego. Time spent in La Paz and Cerritos was fun, all good stories for the book, but I need to get my bike.

Breakfast of Champions

2010-12-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

"Here was the plot: a flying saucer creature named Zog arrived on Earth to explain how wars could be prevented and how cancer could be cured. He brought the information from Margo, a planet where the natives conversed by means of farting and tap dancing.
Zog landed at night in Connecticut. He had no sooner touched down than he saw a house on fire. He rushed into the house, farting and tap dancing, warning the people about the terrible danger they were in. The head of the house brained Zog with a golf club."

I read that today on a hill overlooking San Jose del Cabo, and it brought warmth to my heart. Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut is one of my all time favorites, and conversely the first book I had read by Vonnegut.

I am heading out of Baja... and I have mixed feelings about it. The weather is great, and the community is amazing for the most part. I think more then anything, I need my own place to be myself. I am living at Raices y Brazos, and though it is amazing, I feel awkard a majority of the time. I feel like most people are so open, and ready to be social. I feel the opposite, I just want my time to write, read, sleep, meditate, and so on without interruption. I do know of a squat in town, its being occupied by a street performer friend of mine, the Hoochie Coochie Man. I am going to check it out tonight.

My plans are to ride the touring bike (not a motorcycle) back east from San Diego, or buy an old VW bus/Baja bug and drive east, stopping and seeing friends along the way. I could just as easily ride from San Diego to Baja. I have a lot of farting and tap dancing going on in my head. :)

Type 2 detectives vw van, photo by Jonathan Mold

I want to give a HUGE shout out to JetBoil, the manufactures of you guessed it: The Jetboil stove. Here's the scope, if you have been reading my blog, as I know you haven't. I lost most of my hiking gear in a boat wreck a few weeks ago. I was really attached to my gear, especially the stove, as it had been with me for 5 years. I contacted Jetboil customer service after spending an hour or two typing up an email, explaining how much I loved there stove, and in the end its watery grave. Well, A rep named Whitney is sending me all the pieces to put my humpty dumpty stove back together, which is 90% of a new stove. I have nothing but good things to say about Jetboil, I will never own another stove. Take that you ultralight facists!

http://www.jetboil.com/

My next tattoo...

2010-12-01T20:42:00.001-08:00

2010-11-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I was wearing blue capri pants, you can't wear a kilt everyday!

San Jose del Cabo

2010-11-18T14:06:00.000-08:00

I have been staying at this community center called Raices y Brazos after we left Ericks and Chris home in Gringo Hill on tuesday. Thanks again Erick and Chris for putting us up for a week, I know Dave and I really appreciate it.
Anyhow here is the link to the website:
http://raicesybrazos.com/category/sabor-de-amor/

This place is beautiful, Dave and I have been helping at the organic farm they are establishing, and I have been assisting in the organic cafe they just opened. I have been taking advantage of the studio: mediation, salsa, and yoga just to name a few.

I think Dave and I will stick around until the grand opening of the restaurant this saturday, and then the full moon party on sunday. I am considering flying back to Maryland, as I don't feel anything pulling me to stay in Mexico. I was hoping to get a ride from Arizona, but my cousin informed me that they will not have space. That or I am not welcomed my said partner of the infamous cuz. Oh well, nothing new in that part of the world.

Blah blah, talk to you soon.

RIP Easy To Grin

2010-11-13T19:36:00.000-08:00

So, the boat is gone. Gone Gone. It drug anchor at night and washed up on the rocks. The loss I am feeling, even though it wasn't my boat... it fucking hurts. I put a lot of time and energy in that tri, and I didn't want it to end like this.

I just spent the day helping remove the remains off the beach, and the remainder snorkeling trying to find my few and precious belongings. I am left with a my ULA backpack, one trekking pole, a few tent stakes, the stove portion of my jetboil, and my sleeping bag. It could be worse, but my Wild Oasis tent, Arcterxy rain jacket, my beloved green Patagonia vest, all my thermal layers, and my cherished Thermarest Neo Air are all floating around in the Pacific. We are going back out in the morning to see if any of it comes back in with the tide. It funny that I hadn't snorkeled this whole trip, and now I am searching for the pieces of my life. At least, my hiking life. Those items kept me alive for over six months, 2,665 miles.

But I still have my life and we all walked away. We were sleeping on shore, at a friends place. What really sucks is when we got off the boat, I was going to take my entire backpack. It was calling me, and for some reason I just tossed some clothes in a smaller pack, and abandoned my duties to my gear. Somehow I think of Edward Norton... "That was not a bunch of stuff that got destroyed, it was me."

And its true, I can't survive without that gear. It was my home, my kitchen, my means of mobile existence. This shit doesn't happen in the mountains, I should have known better. :(

I told you an upbeat blog was coming your way, only not in this post. Please keep the skipper in your thoughts, he lost a lot more then I did. Sorry Dave.

2010-11-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

Where should I start this entry? Up and downs recently, it seems that everytime I get to one of these loud in your face touristy places, I die inside. Everything is too loud, the drunk americans, street vendors, and fisherman asking if you want to go out an hook some poor fish. We spent the weekend in Cabo, because we couldn't clear customs or immigration until monday. We left Cabo San Lucas yesterday, with intention of sailing to La Paz, but we ended up 16 miles east at San Jose de Cabo. The reason, a fellow Ha-Ha 'er gave us a place to stay, and a tour of the local area. We are still in tourist heaven, but Erick who owns the house, is an old school surfer and has a really nice quaint place. We are heading out shortly to go snorkeling and surfing, the first of the trip. We were in such a rush to keep up with the Baja fleet, that we didn't get a lot of time to enjoy the sailing life style.

I am feeling a bit down and unsure of which path I should take. I have the opportunity to keep heading on from La Paz to mainland Mexico, but Easy to Grin will have to be in town for a few weeks for sail repair/upgrades. I have been traveling for 8 months or so, and I am feeling a bit worn out. I can continue on, or catch a bus up to San Diego from La Paz. From San Diego, I know of a free single speed Raleigh. My cousin Mike D is supposely driving from PA all the way to Arizona on a climbing trip. I thought a single speed bike ride to Arizona to San Diego would be trying, so I am trying to keep my options open. I know I mentioned going south to South America, but I might go home for a month or two, and rejoin the boat in El Salvador or Costa Rica. We will see.

Oh, and why can't americans cook? It seems to odd that people can't do more than make some toast. Three people, and none of them can figure out how to make potatoes? Especially after I made them potatoes numerous times, how hard is it to take a mental note? Onions, oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and add some heat, not rocket sience. I need some good vegan company, not that I really know anyone who has kept with it. :(
Ho hum

More upbeat blog to come soon, or so I hope.

Peace,
Nima, aka linus cloudbuster

Cabo!

2010-11-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

We are in Cabo, Easy to Grin pulled in last night around 10pm, followed by a dingy ride to shore. Beers and cheapo mexican strip bars were in order. Just had some late breakfast and it is time to wander.

Viva la mexico
Nima

Turtle bay

2010-10-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

Quick update

Easy to grin made it to turtle bay last night right around none pm. We had a great voyage even though we had many crew members jump ship the morning we left. Yesterday consisted of naked sun bathing, whales, good food, great company,and dolphins swimming next to the boat at night. It was one of the most magical scenes, the dolphins were disturbing the plankton as they surfed the wake of the bow. I wish you all could have seen it. Catch you on the flip side

Life

2010-10-24T00:26:00.000-07:00

Life is good, it sounds so corney to say but it is true. So many people I know fully admit how much they hate their lives, or maybe just the direction. It saddens me to hear it, especially since i feel the complete opposite. My life is great, I am typing this blog from the cabin of "Easy to Grin", my vessel to baja Mexico. I got to san diego three days ago after a unusual rideshare from Arcata. I want to give a shout out to my two chickens Liz and Zoe, thank you for everything. Don't forget: "Get money, Get paid".

San Diego has been wonderful especially the skipper Dave. The crew is a faroginous group, but it seems like it will turn out well. Plans are possibly changing especially since several crew members are continuing to central and south America. We have a few surfboards on board, so here we come Costa Rica! I am sorry my md friends looks like I might not see you until next year :)

Great Shot...

2010-10-17T00:25:00.000-07:00

Drugstore sent me this group photo, and we all know I am vain, so I had to upload it.

Spirit Hands

Hot Mess, DrugStore, Yours truly, Green Mile

I am in Eugene with Double Check and Tahoma 29, we are heading towards Sisters to make up the Ollalie Lake fire closure. Wish us luck.

Walking South

2010-10-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

Time is flying these days, like the pelicans we watched at the Oregon coast yesterday. It was good to see the Pacific, as the last time I saw it was in San Diego... nearly six months ago. Anyhow, Double Check and I had an amazing time in Vancouver, B.C, but like all trips, it was just not enough time. Double Checks brother gave me a ride over the border to Bellingham, which again was an action filled adventure.

I spent the day in Bellingham and caught the bus to Seattle. I met little Clive Dasek, aka baby long legs. Nick you have a beautiful wife and son, thank you so much for sharing your life for a few days.

I jumped on a city bus for eight hours (three hours by car) to Portland a few days ago. I have been hanging out with Toothpick, Spoon Man, and Princesss. We took a trip to the coast yesterday, hoping to camp out on the beach, but the rain made us run back to the city. We did get to go bouldering at the gym, which is always amazing and frustrating at the same time. Someday I will be in an area long enough to see real progress....someday.

So the big news is I am going to Mexico! Yes Mexico, another stamp for the passport. Deeg you are losing, and losing bad. Anyhow, I am sailing out of San Diego Harbor on Oct 25, heading for Cabo San Lucas. I found a vessel, a 31' trimaran, which is super exciting. LETS GO BAJA HA HA!!!

Anyhow, itinerary is to hit up Eugene tomorrow, then south to see Liz and Zoe in Arcata. If anyone in San Fransisco wants to put me up, I would love to see the city.

Cloudbuster

Two trails/Two years

2010-10-08T08:17:00.003-07:00

I am done! I just walked from Mexico to Canada... Oct 6th at 6:15pm. We had a week of fanastic weather, not a single cloud in the sky. This was a welcomed change from the near three weeks of cold rain that tested me every mile.

So... Double Check and I are exploring Vancouver for the next few days. Pictures and stories to come.

Take down the 40, look who got a 60...

2010-09-24T07:31:00.001-07:00

Sixty miles in 23 hours! Double Check and I started at 6:30 am and finished up at Snoqualmie pass at 5:30 am this morning. We are now resting in the Howard Johnson's hotel. A terrible let down; expensive, broken hot tub and sauna, and an absolute anemic continental breakfast. To make it worse, Double Check is snoring louder then the traffic on I90! In conclusion, two words...

^^NEVER AGAIN^^

Never again will I try and hike that many miles with a pack... but I got my 60 :)

2,240 Miles and a buddist retreat..

2010-09-16T22:38:00.001-07:00

Loyal Servents,

I am in Washington state! I got back on trail on the 8th at Hwy 20, where I had left off. I stopped off in Bend and saw Manimal, followed by a tour of the local speak easy. Thanks manimal for putting us up on short notice, you rock. Anyhow, I parted ways with Greenmile, he was taking it slow and finishing at Cascade Locks. A shout out to you Greenmile, you a hella cool dude. Anyhow life is good and my phone browser sucks and i cant see what i am typing hjwsdhhsdhsdjdscxsh.

Burning Man Decompression

2010-09-07T00:38:00.000-07:00

I need coffee

As my aussie friends would say: I am rooted. I am so tired after the 5 days at Black Rock City, that I have taken two days in Truckee. Greenmile and I are trying to find a ride back to Oregon to finish up the trail. We may be driving his vehicle up to the Bend or Portland area, and I may pick up the trail at Cascade Locks. I will be skipping 150 miles of trail, but I will make it up. My reasoning is that it is getting late in the season, and the weather is starting to turn. Two of my hiking buddies, Sneezes and Hot Mess are heading north from Cascade Locks on Wednesday, and I really enjoy hiking with them. The plan is to visit Portland after the hike, so the section I am skipping can be made up quite easily.

Sadly, I haven't heard from Surly bikes. I sent them my proposal several weeks ago, which I thought was quite strong, but alas no response. I will be calling them tomorrow, and hopefully I will get some more insight. If they say nay, I will just keep sending them more unfortunate missives....
I hope to post up some burning man stories, but I am tired, and I am on a Mac. Macs are cool if you know how to use them, and I do not.

Your truly,
L.C.

A Dream...

2010-09-05T20:33:00.001-07:00

Bend, Oregon

2010-08-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Five days until Burning Man begins, I will most likely be getting there on the Tuesday the 31st. After reading about Burning Man in Rolling Stones magazine about 10 years ago, I will finally see the man burn.

So, I want to give a shout out to Seamus at Sport Kilt. They hooked me up with a new hiking kilt, which is working great. http://www.sportkilt.com/category/52/Hiking-Kilt.html

Oregon

2010-08-14T22:04:00.000-07:00

I am in it! 1726 miles

I am not a playa, I just crush a lot...

2010-08-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

So loyal followers...

I am still alive, I am sitting here in Aetna, CA, 1605 miles completed. I have been trying to type my proposal to Surly, but I am so easily distracted. I recently called them after relying on postcards and magazine clippings. Apparently they commented on my letters on there blog: http://surlybikes.com/blog/P5/

*Its half way down the page...

So here are some pictures from the past few weeks:

Green Mile, Yours truly, Sneezes, and Hot Mess at Burney Falls

Mt. Lassen

Me as the Peruvian Dog at High Sierra, notice the nice fanny on stilts...

Simply put:

2010-07-20T23:25:00.000-07:00

I am having the time of my life...

I can't explain it, but the last few weeks have been some of the best. I hit the Kate Wolf music festival, got back on trail after a crazy hitch, hiked for 2.5 days, and got off in Mammoth Lakes. I then proceeded to hitch to the High Sierra Music Festival, which took me off the trail for almost eight days. Again, well worth the side trip. I am currently in Truckee, CA, mile marker 1155. I will be at the half way point in a few days, so someday I will finish this trail (sadly). So many stories to tell, but I must get some sleep.

Mt. Whitney

Forester Pass

Another look at the pass from a distance

856 Miles and hours from the trail

2010-06-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Hey!

So I have completed 865 PCT miles! I jumped off the trail near Florence Lake to attend the Kate Wolf Music festival with Liz and Zoe. It is so exciting to be road tripping with some familiar faces. I am 8-10 hours away from the trail right now, and have no idea how I am getting back to Fresno/Mono Hot Springs, but I pray the trail gods will smile on me. I have summited Whitney, climbed over Forester, Kearsarege (2x), Glenn, Pinchot, Mather, and Muir Passes. These were not such easy tasks considering the snow. I have had some gear failures, one dead compass (silva=garbage), a treking pole, solar charger, and top it off with some pack failures. Fail. Anyhow, all is well in my life, look forward to putting in some miles when I get back to the trail.

Someone needs to help me find a ride for the Baja Ha Ha. I have heard nothing, even though I put up an ad on the website. No pictures this time, I left my camera at the campground, but you know the pics would blow your mind.

Screw the power of books, the power of the L.C.

Kennedy Meadows

2010-06-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

This has been the destination for quite some time, (we all know that Canada is the ultimate destination) but this is what i have been waiting for. The high Sierras. Snow, Ice axes, bear canisters, and Mt. Whitney. I have been traveling quite slow for entire trip because it has been a high snow year. If I had hiked the pace I wanted, I would have been here 3 weeks ago. So it has been short days and hanging out at different trail angel stops.

Chance and I spent Memorial day and the following week in Las Vegas killing time. I unfortantly caught a bug right before Mojave, so thankfully Lisa picked us up. I returned the favor by vomiting on the side of her truck....sorry Lisa. We spent six days cooking food out of the Moosewood cook book, relaxing, hiking at Red Rocks, and finally a night on the strip. The night on the strip was bittersweet, but we did get heckled by the comedian Gordie Brown. It was our fault, Chance and I moved up to the $100 front row seats half way through the show, and half pissed on Budwiser tall boys. :)

Anyhow, we pushed close to 30 mile days since Mojave, and just got into Kennedy Meadows yesterday afternoon. Chance and I had two bear incounters in two days. The night before Walker pass, we camped at an established camp site. I woke up in the morning, after a horrible nights rest, and see that Chance roll over in his sleep. I wasn't in a rush, so I roll back over and drift into sleep. About 10 minutes later I hear: "Shit, Fuck, BEARRRR". So I roll back over and I see a black bear charging off into the woods, and Chance is as white as a sheet. He started babbling, breathing heavy, about how the bear was chewing on his sleeping bag, right by his feet. He said he was sleeping on his stomach, and all of a sudden his feet started to lift up. He thought it was me trying to wake him up, and he looked over and saw me in my sleeping bag. Back to the F, Shit, Bear.

The following day, we were at Spanish Needle creek, and I hear rustling. I look up and see a brown bear staring down at me, about 10 feet away. Yet again, F, shit, bear. We get up and the bear is just staring us down, a cute little guy, and not very big. Anyhow, Chance starts filming and the bear continues to creep closer. We eventually had to start throwing rocks, so the bear wouldn't come closer. The bear had no fear of humans, which is disturbing.

Anyhow, I have to run. It is loud in the Cyber Cafe Trailer in Kennedy Meadows. I can't type when people are blabbing, very distracting. Keep in touch.

Aqua Dulce

2010-05-22T08:16:00.001-07:00

Me and Chance just made it to Aqua Dulce yesterday afternoon, the 454.9 mile mark. We made it up Baden Powell, which was supposed to be difficult, but it proved to be challenging, but not as dangerous as people made it out to be. Anyhow, we have been rolling with Roo, Happy Feet, and Kara-boo for a few days, they are a great group. We lost them yesterday in Little Rock, at the station detour, because we walked/hitched on PearBlossum Road.

This area is beautiful, the devils punch bowl was amazing, especially the swimming hole. Life is good, especially since we are working our way to Mojave. I am a bit scared of the Sierras, I still have to research my resupplies.

Anyhow, I am signing off, but I will update soon.

265 Miles and Big Bear Lake!

2010-05-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks,

It has been difficult to keep in touch with you all, and I apologize about that. But part of the reason I am out here is to leave the computer screen and phone behind. It seems everyone has a blackberry or an iphone, which they are constantly using.

Anyhow, I am in Big Bear Lake, zeroing at the hostel. Just picked up a book by Edward Abbey, which is exciting, I don't believe I have read any of his books before.
The sad news is that Arren aka Princess Moonburn is heading back to Portland today. Grad school has taken him from us, so if you see grad school walking down the street, throw some poo at them. Eww...school.

Best of luck brother, you will never know how much it meant that you started this adventure. Good luck with you own Danish adventure, and until we meet again.

On the Hike for Haiti side of things, I got two new sponsors, thanks you Lance and Mr. Anonymous.

I am not sure how much I have talked about this on my blog, but I have this loosely knit post hiking plans. This is all a big IF. So I have been sending these random clipping from magazines to Surly Bikes to see if they will sponsor me. This hopefully will be a product sponsorship in the form of a Long Haul Trucker.

I want to ride that said bike south from Manning Park/Seattle to San Diego. I then want to sail south in the Baja Ha Ha Rally. http://www.baja-haha.com/

So, that is the romantic plan, if I get to Cabo San Lucas, then I don't know what will be next, but that is the fun part. Maybe some scuba on the Baja? Who knows?

153 Miles and Zero Day Baby!!

2010-05-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Well,

A small update, Chance, Princess Moonburnt, and I pulled into Idyllwild CA yesterday afternoon. We decided not to do the devils slide trail and just take on a extra days of food. Tomorrow we head up Fullers Ridge, which has snow and ice, and from what we have been told can be quite dangerous if the conditions are not right. So other then that, Arren aka Moonburnt is getting off the trail in Big Bear, he is going back to Portland to raise funds for his Copenhagen adventure. The best of luck brother.

Anyhow, loving the hiking life, the PCT has proven to be more beautiful then I thought. The desert is quieting my thoughts, and healing my heart..... :)

OH and donate money to my cause! WWW.HIKEFOR.COM JUST A PENNY A MILE=26 BUCKS

San Diego

2010-04-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

So, I got into San Diego last night, the city looked beautiful. Even more beautiful was the woman waiting on the curb. I walked up in my kilt, leggings, backpack, and trekking poles in hand. When I saw her, she was on the phone, no doubt trying to find that lost driver. As I stared longer then I should have, she turned around. Long red hair, electric red high heels, all topped with a hat. What kind of hat you ask? Fuck it, I know nothing about hats, it looked like this:
It seems everyone is rocking these things, thanks Johnny Depp. Anyhow, eyes met, and you could see we were both intrigued. Sadly, the boyfriend rolls up in Lexus, and they drive off, damn those California plates.

So, my aunt picked me up. I haven't seen her in over 10 years, but it was though we never missed a day. She is such a wonderful person, I am so sorry we haven't kept in touch. We were speaking of communications, and despite how technology has gotten better we hardly talk to those we care about.

I am working on my collage to Surly Bikes, but I just found out they are in MN, not California, whoops. I am also hoping to get to the Kate Wolf festival, and possibly the Baja Ha-Ha Cruiser Rally this year. Dream big, that's what I do.

Spirits are high, I feel like I am in Tassie again, all the crazy adventures. I pick up Arren from the train station in 2 hours, I am so excited to see him. Then its off to the food store, rei, and the post office to get some drop boxes set up.

You can't stop L.C., there are things in my life I can't control

One year.....

2010-03-28T22:00:00.001-07:00

One year ago, I started my trek north from Springer Mountain, Georgia. One year ago I was sitting in a uncomfortable aisle seat on the Amtrak, scared shitless. It was only hours before I had been dropped off by Georgia. I sat in Penn Station for about 30 mins, staring at the floor. I boarded the train and suddenly realized how much I was going to miss her....that moment is when you relize how deep love goes . I texted her the same words I just wrote you, one year ago. Fear can take a hold of you in those moments.

I don't know what to post, that would be sentimental enough for the one year anniversary of an epic journey.... but the journey hasn't ended yet. Life has been good these past few weeks. I have trying to keep myself occupied, to keep my thoughts behind the patch job of a dam. Zazen, yoga, cycling, running (not enough), kayaking, and wrapping up long forgotten projects. My last day at REI is on the 18th, as always the managers were understanding and supportive. Thanks REI crew, hope you keep reading this blog.

I got some trail love from Primal Foods, a big box of Primal Strips, you rock Jesse.

I have been feeling this calling to go back to India... and I think I found the way, I hope it works out. Its crazy that it has been 3 years since that journey ended.

So this was just a bunch of rambling and shout outs, but I hope to type up something funny and light hearted in the next day or so. Junking with Pauly tomorrow, followed by dumpstering, and hopefully Darkest Hour and Dillinger Escape Plan at the ottobar.

2010-02-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

Hello there,

It has been a while since I updated, but life hasn't been terribly exciting, but less then two months until I start the Pacific Crest Trail. I have been gearing up for my departure, and my partner in crime Arren, is joining me on my thru hike this year. Me and Arren have past, we studied abroad together in Tasmania, and spend several weeks living out of the back of a 1981 Honda Accord Hatchback we purchased for US$280 nicknamed the "Goon mobile".

So as small as that car was, we both slept in the back, so you could say we are "close" :)

As I look through these photos of past adventures, my heart starts to beat faster, and I am flooded by a wave of good memories. These memories are bitter sweet, as I may never see the places and people I shared so much with. But I digress....

The PCT is a different animal, I am worrying about bear canisters, guide books, mail drops, and even water, which weren't much of a concern on the AT. So if anyone wants to send some vegan love in form of a drop box, that would be amazing.

Something amazing happened the other week, I called Primal Foods, the makers of 'Primal Strips' a meatless jerky alternative. I know what your meat mouths are saying, vegan jerky huh? Well, it is amazing stuff. I recently talked to my AT hiker friend Pellet, a good ole' boy from Alabama, and he still remembers when I gave him his first hickory smoked Primal Strip in North Carolina. Maybe that is why we ended up hiking together for all those miles :)

Anyhow, Jesse at Primal Foods told me about another hiker Paul, who started a website called Hikefor.com. This website is great! You can sign up and get people to pledge money for every mile you hike, and it is all going to relief efforts in Haiti. I was surprised at how many hikers on the AT, were hiking for a cause. So if you feel like helping, and a few bucks to spare, check out this link:
http://www.hikefor.com/haiti-2010-LinusCloudbuster

*You know I am going to hike every mile of it.

Anyhow, I will be updating more often, here is one of my favorite shots from New Zealand:
I know its not a shot of epic mountains, beautiful beaches, or deep Fjords. But thats the point, I don't remember those as much as I do these rocks. "Nobody sits like this rock sits. You rock, rock." Me and Arren were told about these rocks on the east coast of the South Island, we were told that they were a must see. Well we drive hours, and $70 worth of Petrol, and about a mile or two walk down the beach, and this is what we get. Don't get me wrong they were cool looking boulders, but Arren took one look and said, "Is this it? I am going back to the car", and I had to laugh.

I had to get my jaw dropping, this is amazing face on for the photo, so I hope you enjoy. If not take a hike.

Long TimeH

2010-01-18T19:37:00.001-08:00

Hey All,

So its fire sale time! I am done with Maryland, she has been good to me, but the lines have been cut and I need to sail.

This is a warning, if i know you, you will be hearing from me!

Rainy Night in Baltimore

2009-10-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a cheesy love song doesn't it.... but its not. I am not in love with Baltimore currently... actually, more or less the people in Baltimore. I have been very disheartened with people that I have let into my life, and I have realized something I have always known.... Fuck em'...... I think it comes down to community, Baltimore lacks it, at least in the circles I have been running in. I had a community of awesome people on the trail, and now I don't, I search and find mostly flakes.

So I am done, this is my signature to the Pacific Crest Tail '10 hiker list.

I have really tried Baltimore, and you have given my hope, the skies have been beautiful, the changing of the leaves, and I have even enjoyed the rain. Which leads me to my title. Let me set the mood, I was hanging out with a friend who has recently lost her father, our conversations have dealt with spirituality and especially the energy she felt after her fathers passing. Well, I was a bit tired on the drive home, but a bit gitty because I had just talked to Georgia, and I pulled into a gas station to fill er' up. Anyhow, as I was pumping gas into my Firebird (whoo doo) and listening to country music and I see something on the ground.. it looks like a rodent that had been run over by a car. On further inspection I find a hair weave, becoming one with the oily concrete. Suddenly I know everything was alright, that baltimore had so much to offer even when pumping gas (despite the people). It truly made my night.

(p.s. I want that van)

Still I roam the earf, Like the prince of darkness's

2009-10-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

So yeah, life has picked up steam. It has been one month since I finished on Katahdin. How did it go by so fast, I haven't done anything, or seen anyone it seems. I did go to the gathering last weekend in Gettysburg, it was good to see a few faces: Nature, Bronco, Baltimore Andy, Peanut, Angry Beaver, and Prairie Dog. Just reliving it a bit.

I got some exciting news last week that Rocket is working at the same REI, that's 4 thru hikers working in Timonium.

I have been lazy, I have so many stories to type up from the trail. So check back soon. I couldn't think of which photo to post, so you get both. (i know another picture of my ass)

2,178 Miles, 14 States, and 5 1/2 months...

2009-09-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

And I am done!

Male voice: Suzy?

Female voice: Yes?

Male voice: Suzy Creamcheese?

Female voice: Yes?

Male voice: This is the voice of your conscience baby ... uh, I just want to check one thing out with you ... you don't mind, do ya?

Female voice: What?

Male voice: Suzy Creamcheese, honey, what's got into ya?

*gotta love Wikipedia

Rangeley, Maine

2009-08-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

I am in Maine, and I have 22o miles left. That is 10%, I really cant believe it. Anyhow, I went through some really tough sections of the trail, the first few days in Maine really tested my will to continue this hike. It was raining and foggy, and just plain shit. Maine is all roots, mud, and slippery rock slabs. But, then the sun came out. It is so beautiful up here, it is truly like I thought it would be. Ponds are everywhere, the mountains are beautiful, and there is little development. I am running into resupply issues with food, since we are hitting small town general stores, so I am going to the grocery today and bouncing a box forward to somewhere along the trail, just to be safe. Anyhow, I have to run, much to do. I will update soon.

Suzie Creamcheese this is your conscience...

2009-08-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

So I have taken on another alias Suzie Creamcheese....

In other news, I took a zero here at M&M's place. Pad Thai with Tempeh for dinner, yum.

I just watched this movie "Hard Candy", what an absolutely disturbing film. Castration is a scary thing, it is what all males fear. At least that is what my feminist film teacher told me.....

I don't know which story to tell today... so everyone get gather around the fire. I will start with my Bennington, Vermont story:

I met his random hiker named JJ. JJ had thru hiked last year, but he didn't stop, he is what we call an official trail bum. He is part of the landscape now, just like the trees and squirrels. Anyhow, JJ tells us of a hiker feed in Bennington, VT on August 1st. The only problem is I was going to be way past Bennington by then, but as things go, Massachusetts was really slow because of the rain hostel hopping almost every night. We called it the no-camp state challenge. :) We almost made it, we only camped one night in the whole state of Massachusetts.

So I was hiking with Lisa and Toothpick and we pass through Bennington and push on to Manchester Center, hoping we can hitch back to the hiker feed. A little clarification: Hiker feeds are worth going to for many reasons:

You get to see hikers you haven't seen in ages
You get to eat free food
You get to drink free beer and some South Carolinian ends up peeing on someone (more on this later).

Me and Toothpick in Kent, CT.

So we get to Manchester which ends up being this horrible little town, its raining, and the hostel is full ( Hostels that take reservations and only have 10 spots=dumb). We end up getting a place to stay with some burned out Dead Head who just mumbles a lot, and won't let us do laundry because it is too expensive, even though she just pocketed $60 cash for letting three hikers sleep in her house. Anyhow, the next day we are off, and it is raining as usual and we make it to Griffith Lake. The rain lets off and everything is good, but we are on tent platforms. Tent platforms are great in theory, they reduce impact, but they also are a hard surface that rain likes to pool on. So we get hammered the next morning by rain, and everything gets soaked. Toothpick has a down bag, so his sleeping bag is worthless for that night, and with the temperature dropping at the time, things were looking questionable. So we all start hiking and everything is rainy and foggy, and the trail is a ragging river.

I am feeling fine, but Toothpick was loosing his mind. We get to this USFS road and he says he needs to get off the trail, everything he has is soaked and I think he was heading toward hypothermia. Here we are, Me, Lisa, and Toothpick sitting in a Privy (toilet) deciding what to do. We make the decision to hike 3.5 miles down the forest road to get dry place that isn't a thunderbox. Meanwhile we have to give this attempting thru hiker Ace a bunch of our food because he says he is running low (again more on this later). Well, Toothpick is loosing his mind, he is screaming "help!" as we are hiking along the road. "Help I am being raped!" Me and Lisa and laughing because we don't know what to do, or why he is screaming rape, he just snapped because he was soaked and tired. Then I asked him where his poncho was, which he just gotten a few days prior. He grew quiet, he had been hiking the past few days with a brand new poncho in his backpack,and forgot he had it. This was to funny, I was like you are screaming rape and you have a poncho in your pack! So to cut it short we got a ride from a nice couple who gave us a ride to Manchester Center.

While we are waiting for the bus in Manchester to get back to Bennington, we are approached by a lady eating Cool Ranch Doritos (known as 'Cool American Doritos in Iceland.. fun little fact). When I say eating, I mean eating, her mouth is so full of Doritos her corn snacks are flying out of her mouth like projectiles. To top it off, she has a massive wet stain around her crotch area (Toothpick fails to notice this, but Lisa does).Please notice the stain

So this lady ends up paying all our bus fares, buys us all a bar of Hershey's chocolate (don't worry I didn't eat it). On the way to Bennington she tells us of her travels to Texas and her true love who lives there, and how it was his turn to chase her. She gets off the bus at the post office, but not before she informs us that it was Jesus that told her to help us. Thanks Jesus wherever you are.

So we get to Bennington and we get to Chris and Arla's house.
They are some of the coolest people I have met on the trail, and let us sleep on their front porch. I end up meeting a bunch of hikers I didn't know, and we all went out for some pricey Mexican food. It was at the Mexican restaurant that I notice that my licence is MIA, which is a total bummer, because the man likes to know who you are. So the next day the hiker feed starts around 5pm, and they have vegan boca burgers! The guy doing the grilling asks if it is okay that he is using the same grill for the cow corpses, which I informed him wasn't a problem. (Usually it is, but if the foods free, then what can you do?) Anyhow, I return a few minutes later for my boca and not only is it on the same grill, but the cow is on my boca, leaking its juices onto my boca burger of vegan justice! OH NO! I get the cook to give me the boca burger next to it, and crisis was avoided.

It was a good grill, very relaxed, a whole keg full of beer for the hikers, and the normal frisbee session. What was even cooler was that I got to see a bunch of people I haven't seen since as far back as Virginia (Hobbit, Kanickers, Tag-Along/Tagless, K-bar & Soundtrack), so that was "a real nice suprise". To make things even more amazing, on a whim I had called the grocery in Manchester looking for my ID, and they had it, and to make it better the woman who answered the phone lived in Bennington. She said she would deliver my ID later that night, so everything was going a-o-k.

So the feast wraps up and we are playing pool and listening to Tenacious D in Chris and Arla's barn... life can't get much sweeter.
I then realize that it was 10:30 and I had to meet this woman for my ID, so I walked next store to the Friendly's and there she is. So I ask her if she would like to join the party and meet some hiker trash. So she comes next store and proceeds to hang out, but then asks me if I would like to go to a local pub down the street where her friends were hanging out. I didn't really want to go, because the vibe at the barn was good, but I thought it would be fun to see some of the VT locals. I am glad I did. We get to this bar and there is this AC/DC cover band called Loose Change playing. So I just tried finding them on google, but who knew there was more then one Loose Change? They even had a sign, so I was hoping to find a picture, but this picture will do (they weren't much better looking):So they are playing all this AC/DC music and it was fun to watch the locals, so much diversity. Buzz cuts meat heads, the elderly, the young guys wearing Fox racing shirts. Overall a good people watching experience, but then I saw her. She was well in her 60's, long flowing white hair, orthopedic shoes, black slacks, and a floral shirt holding it all in. She hit the dance floor with a storm. Listen, I have been all over the world and I have never seem moves like these. It was beautiful, it was free, and more then anything it was fucking hilarious. This woman was just throwing down, like she had just escaped from an old folks home where dancing was a crime. I was almost on the floor watching this woman (sorry for the 90's pun), get jiggy with it. What was confusing was that no one was laughing with me, and it made me sad that I didn't have a camera with a video function. Being Dick Tracey and all, I put it together this woman has been around the block so to speak, dancing every week to bad cover bands like 'Loose Change'.

So in comes my grocery store friends---friend. He is this overweight monster of a man, with a high voice, huge gauged ear cartilage, really expensive SLR camera around his neck, all topped off with a nice Kangol cap. Fast forward to later in the night, and we go outside to get some fresh air. Well he starts telling me about his overweight girlfriend, who he really doesn't like but she has a nice place and drives him to work everyday. They all work at the Grocery in Manchester by the way. Anyhow we get on the topic of hallucinogens, and this guy eyes light up like a fat kid on a cookie. He proceeds to tell me that he was quite into LSD at one time, but now he stays away from it. He told me a story that I will never forget. It goes like this: "So this one time I had an eye dropper full of LSD, next thing I know its 5 days later and I am in Buffalo New York with no idea how I got there." :)

So I don't know how I get myself in these positions, but I realized long ago that 99% of Americans are on drugs, so they are all just stories for the book, or at least a blog.

I get dropped off later on back at the Barn where I proceed to get in my tent, because all the other hikers are passed out around the pool table. I am on a nice knoll that overlooks the barn, so I have a birds eye view of what occurred. Enter the South Carolinian pee'ers. So I am making myself a P&B wrap in my tent when I hear some commotion coming from the barn, where I see Snarky and Story Teller walking out of the barn with all there bedding. I didn't know what to think of it, so I just went to bed. The next day I find out what happened. Slapshot, form S.C. woke up at some point in the night, and proceeded to start to pee in the middle of the floor. Well hearing the sound and wreaking some of the splatter, K-bar yells: "Slapshot, Are you Peeing?"Me and Slapshot

I would like to point out that Slapshot has a mullet, but a joke mullet. Anyhow, Slapshot wakes up mid pee and is like, "I guess I am peeing." He walks outside and finishes off in the grass, but not without casualties. Toothpick's crocks got hosed, and a few hikers got some splatter, but it could have been worse. I have seen worse(Jack Pond you still have take the cake), so I guess people got away pretty clean, again forgive the pun. Anyhow to make it better, Toothpick, also from South Carolina, may have had a problem holding his pee on the front porch, because Walk about and Rocklobster both agreed they got wet when Toofy walked by at some point in the night.

To make it better we were being followed by this random hiker, Ace, who I mentioned earlier who has some type of mental deficiency. He may have autism, but we were unsure. He had a pack the size of a Camel back and had nothing but Power bars for food. I tried to help him because I knew it was bad news if he didn't have the right gear in the mountains, but he was hopeless. We tried to get away from him to make it to the bus back to Manchester, but he was right behind us. So he is on the bus and he says he is going to the EMS to check out a new pack, which we were happy to hear. But he doesn't get off at the EMS, but proceeds to get off at the same stop where we planned to hitch, following us like a little dog with purse for a backpack, with four Power bars, half a jar of peanut butter (that I gave him), and a bag of Cheerios. Me, Toofy, and Lisa looked at each other, because we all didn't know what to do, if he followed us, we would have to keep him alive out of our food bags.... So I told him to get back on the bus and to get a bigger pack and more food. Luckily he got back on, I have seen him since at the Long Trail Festival, with the same Osprey pack as I have (which is a bit creepy), and a six pack of Odoul's non alcoholic beer.

Anyhow, that is only one of the many stories that happened in the great state of Vermont. More to come, I need to get to sleep. When you do, dream of this face...

White Mountains

2009-08-18T19:26:00.000-07:00

Ace, Col. Mustard, and yours truly

So I have made it to Pickham Notch in the Whites. I summited Mt. Washington today which was cloudy, and to tell you the truth, an ugly ass mountain. Well, to be fair, all the overweight tourists and the antenna's were the culprits, I am sure the mountain would be beautiful otherwise. I did a solo mooning of my white ass to the patrons of the Cog Railroad, twice actually , but no pictures because none of my fellow thru hikers waited for the train like I did. The way I see it, I didn't get to do the half gallon challenge because I don't do dairy, so missing out on another tradition was not going to happen.
I am zeroing at M&M's house, who hiked the AT previously. My knees hurt, and my face looks like a tomato, as I should have put on some sunscreen. Everything is going well, the mountains are truly pushing my mind and body, but that is a good thing.

I know I owe you guys some stories, but I will do that tomorrow, as I have had a few more adventures since we last spoke. Namely, a hut caretaker named Stinky who won $185,000 in the lottery and blew it all in 8 months, but had the time of his life doing it. He went to Disney World 4 times :)
Col. Mustard above treeline

On the trail to Mt. Washingtong with Lakes of the Clouds Hut visable

Cup of Joe, Col. Mustard, Me, and BlessedShot today on top of Mt. Adams

Hanover, N.H.

2009-08-08T07:40:00.001-07:00

I have been having so much fun on the trail the last 2 weeks. I am truly falling for Vermont, even through the mud and the rain, it has been great. I have had 3 or so days of awesome weather, and made the push into Hanover yesterday. I had a crazy hitch back into Rutland for the Long Trail Festival, but not crazy bad, but crazy good. I honestly have to sit down and think it over, because so much happened. I will give you a taste: hitching with a paper bag sign, getting picked up by this wonderful woman who lets me shower and gives me beer, running over the quiche gorge where people like to committee suicide, sitting in front of a gas station eating a sub where a hot air balloon lifts off out of nowhere, staying at the 12 tribes commune, and a crazy ridge runner who tried to off someone with a maddock. :)

This trail is out of control, and I still have 450 miles to go. I will update again soon.

519 Miles to go...Danby, VT

2009-08-01T10:30:00.001-07:00

So,

Progress has slowed consideribly for many reasons. I was pushing high miles for so long, and I am finally in New England, and with 500 miles to go, why rush? The weather has also been slowing us down, it has been raining almost daily, and it is heavy wet rain that can last for most of the day. When the rain stops, the sun doesn't come out, so we get little time to dry out. I am doing well, luckily I have my trusty synthetic sleeping bag (down with the down) and decent rain gear. My feet are doing well, but the moisture is taking its toll. Hmm, I just called my mom to send in my winter gear to Hanover, N.H. The cold is starting to roll in, and you never know what you are going to get in the Whites or in ME. We are in Bennington for a hiker feed, free food/music/beer. The bad part is that I lost my licence. :(

I am finally getting my new shoes from Salomon, after it took close to 2 weeks for them to arrive in Dalton, M.A. then I had to have them sent to Rutland. Oh well, what can you do. The saga continues with gear issues.

Overall things are good, I have hiked over a few of the local ski resorts like Stratton and Bromely. I have some live music awaiting, so I must go...

1,582 Miles Down....

2009-07-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

Enjoy

Dalton, MA: 617 miles to

2009-07-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

Quick update again as I am on dial-up (I am suprised they still offer it). I walked into Dalton yesterday with Toothpick. I haven't seen many of the hikers I normally in several weeks. I hope you all are doing well, especially you Ferdie, heard you got the lyme. Anyhow, spirits have been a bit low since Kent, CT. I just hit a wall, and the bugs and wet weather have helped. But I almost in VT and then the Whites, so I am still pumped. The exciting thing is my pack is at 25 pounds with a liter of water and 3-4 days of food. Not for long though, I am going to get my cold weather gear back=heavy.

Well, it beats working... hoping to summit the first week of Sept.

-L.C.

No rant this time, just Kent CT and 723 Miles to go...

2009-07-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

So I just walked into Kent, CT after a wake up call, the mountains are getting bigger. I just loaded up on too much food, but CT has been tough, but I will be out in another two days. The states are just passing by, which is a good feeling. It seems hikers are hitting yet another wall, they are just tired of hiking. I am tired, but I will push on, because I have such beautiful country ahead. Anyhow, not much else to report. Happy Birthday Georgia!

Dirty Jersey (edit)

2009-07-09T17:11:00.000-07:00

1335 Mile and going.....

I am in Unionville, NY... well I am at a hiker friendly (Mayor's house/Outhouse) in NY, but the trail is still in NJ. Jersey has been beautiful, who would have known? Pennsylvania was rocky, my shoes are about to be done, but the trail magic was awesome, a truly hiker-friendly state.

So, a little change of pace from the normal blog. I have the computer to myself for more then 15 minutes this time. Lets begin with this: Fuck all of you who have never tried being Vegan for a day, let alone 2.5 years. I am tired of other hikers who think that my dietary restrictions, aka my moral objection to the way most of our food is produced/murdered, or lets use a better word "harvested." Should I apologize for being a bit short with a server at restaurant who has nothing but meat on the menu. Guess what, its a free country. Does it do much for the cause? Never in my wildest imagination do I think that overweight Americans will give up their guns or buffalo wings. For some reason it makes me sleep better at night not consuming animals, or products of animals, or going to a zoo/aquarium to watch caged animals who goes to visit there local prison?

Bottom line, it has been hard walking 1,335 miles, and the 800 some miles I have left will be harder. It has been difficult being Vegan. I would love to eat a big cheese pizza, or eat a big omelet in the morning. But I can't, and I won't. It really sucks to believe in something so deeply, and to live it, because you know its right. I know people on this trail and even people I know back home, "I used to be Vegan, or I used to be Vegetarian." Well, why aren't you now? That's right, here comes the judgemental asshole that we all love so much. See, I am not in it for the scene, or to score women, just better sleep. But sleep doesn't come. Especially if you give up the Animal right, health concerns, or whatever reason you do/did it for, because you thought you couldn't make it on a silly trek through the mountains. YOU aren't eating bear, you are eating Spam and canned cheese. I am not sure where to go with this, but watch this documentary, it might be a wake up call.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW3gunMSCu4

Or not, life is all about being oblivious. I wish I could have gotten the photos to paste at the end to give this some type of optimistic spin, but just scroll up.

Here's the deal. I will finish this trail, eating vegetables, fruits and seeds. I will do the triple crown, again as a vegan. If you don't like my attitude, sorry, I am tired of trying to please.

Linus Cloudbuster

Mispell "trailor" and you are a burnout...

2009-06-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

So as of June 29th (yesterday), I have been on the trail for 3 months. What have I learned? If you mispell "Trailer", then you are a burnout.

So the shelters are full of dialogue.... just like the men's bathroom. So I am currently back home... again, and I have been wearing a skirt for almost 2 months.
....actually its a Mountain Kilt (you like them blue socks too)

Georgia is leaving to Tasmania for a year, so I wanted to see her before I left.
So she picked me up Sunday night from Port Clinton, PA. So 1207.5 miles so far, woop woop. So the miles I have to go are 971.5, and that actually make me happy. Why you ask? Because I am back in the triple digits, which actually seem attainable. So I slept a bunch, ate a lot of food, made me a vegan Chai Un-cheesecake. And the ole call customer service lines, which is my version of hell. So Jet-boil is sending me a new ignitor, therma-rest wants $20 to fix my pad (fuck thermarests, aka puncture-rests), and finally I am getting my camera repaired.

So I am listening to Street Sweeper Social Club, sounds pretty good. I uncovered some pictures from Kincora Hardcore Trail Maintence we did back in Tennessee so check out this ganster face:

I painted that blaze :)

1012 Miles and I got the Runs

2009-06-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

So, I made it to Harpers Ferry yesterday evening. 1012 miles, the psychological half way mark. I was going to take a day in Harpers, eat food and then attempt the 4 state challenge, but then I got the Hershey squirts. So my father picked me up at 6:30pm and I am taking a few days in Baltimore. My appetite has been non existent, which isn't a good sign, as well as my other issue, but I hope to be back on the trail by thursday/friday. What am I doing now? Resting? Eating food? Chilling in the hot tub? No, I got sucked back into life and have been trying to get my cell phone repaired and still trying to get my fucking car fixed by Subaru.... ho hum. I do have ice cream though.

So, pictures are always more fun:

Waynesboro, V.A.

2009-06-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

So loyal fans,

I am in Waynesboro, V.A. I cant believe it was 4 years ago I was here. So me and Blessed hiked in this morning, got a ride first thumb out. It was great. I have showered and now I am onto the Chinese Restaurant. 850 miles and I am at the gateway to the Shenandoahs, I am so excited.

So I heard my lil sis graduated, if you even read this, Congrats.

Anyhow, no link cable still, but I will have pics up soon.

Nima

800 miles and well fed

2009-06-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

McAfee Knob (total poser shot)

Hey Faithful Followers,

So I have made it over a third of the way, which feels good, but I feel like I have been hiking for ages. I hit the two month mark on May 29th, but that includes the week of zero/nero days I have had. I still don't have my camera cable, after two months, my mom can't seem to find my cable. So I am at the mercy of card readers and the like, which sucks. My screen is still broken on my camera, so the pictures aren't great anyhow.

The most exciting thing is that I got to a Kroger Grocery and got some good bread, a nice organic loaf, all crunch and fresh. What is with Americans and shit white bread (read worse then wonder bread). I got some soy margarine and was in bliss, they had such a great selection of whole food and nice produce.... ho hum.

We also got some great trail magic from some really great ladies, actually we went back for a second helping the next day. It was great, marinated tofu, veggie quesdillas, tons of fruit. Totally worth the push to make it there. I passed the 800 mile mark yesterday, and I am about 40 miles from Waynesboro, then into my favorite section of the trail. If anyone wants to hike with me, you better do it soon. The Old Rag trail in Shenandoahs is supposed to be amazing,

-L.C. out.

Pearisburg and 625 miles

2009-05-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

Somebody shoot me... or burn all the trees..... My allergies are killing me. I have tried many remedies, homeopathic, essential oils, benedril, even sucking it up, but I am still dying.

So where to start with this update. So I hiked north to Bland, VA where me and a few friends hitch hiked back down to Damascus for Trail Days.

It was a pretty good time, lots of drinking and stinky hikers about. I got to see a few hikers I haven't seen in ages, especially Wheels, I haven't seen him since the second day. Georgia came down to visit me on friday night, and is hiking with me for another few days. Here is a pic of the hiker parade. Wish I had one of those Super Soaker from the '90s that had a 1" stream that could take out an eye....

Me and Georgia have been taking it easy, doing a hostel tour, as we wait for Liz to come hike. Then I have to bust out some 20-30 mile days to catch up to some friends. Oh yeah, I wanted to give a shout out to all the vendors who helped me out....

Catch you on the trail.

Pony Sex and Marion, VA<----- Details inside

2009-05-11T17:02:00.000-07:00

526.7 and pony sex. HOT pony sex. So we are up in the Grayson Highlands after a hellacious storm in Thomas Knob Shelter. There was a hurricane warning in the area, and Thomas Knob (Mt. Rogers) is known for bad weather. The rain (or hail) was hitting the roof so hard that we had to yell to hear each other. The rain and hail quit around 10pm but the wind picked up.... and I didn't sleep. I thought the roof was going to lift off the shelter, and it nearly did. It didn't help that we were in the loft (the second floor for you non hikers out there), and yes there are some nice shelters out here on the trail. Google picture search, also picture search Dicks Dome shelter and pony Sex. Let me know what you find.

But anyhow, the pony sex. We were hiking and everyone, especially the boys were gitty about the ponies. There were three females ponies, one mustang, and about eight gitty hikers. The females came up and let us pet them and they licked the salt off of our arms. Then Blessed approached the male who had been keeping its distance. We didn't know it was a male, until he started making horsey noises and turned to show his package. He was in full swing and proceeded to mount another horse and, brown chicken brown cow. Everyone was laughing and getting pictures, Schooner even got some close ups.... We now know what he is into.

Anyhow, we just got some amazing food at John and Becky house. I am so full, potato/salad/chikin strips (vegan), and broccoli. I will leave you there.

Miss you all. See you soon.

463 Miles: Gary Coleman told me dat....

2009-05-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Well, It has been a while since I have updated, sorry to keep you in suspense. I am alive (obviously), and no uncle corkey I don't have the swine flu. We can thank meat mouths and agribusiness for this one. http://www.avaaz.org/en/swine_flu_pandemic/?cl=225349020&v=3271

Anyhow, I am in Damascus Virginia. I have successfully completed 463 miles and left Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee behind me. I have 500 miles of Virginia to look forward to, which is also known as the Virgina Blues.

The weather has been wet for the last 6 days, and lots more of it to come.

Well, here are some pics: Wise words on the side of a shelter...

Me at the 400 mile mark.

Tennessee

2009-04-12T16:21:00.001-07:00

So, the adventures of Linus Cloudbuster a.k.a Stale Bagel a.k.a. Titanal has brought me to Fontana Dam, and the zombie Jesus has risen. So all is well, and all is not well. I have been withough my hiking partner Warhero for several days, he flew home in Franklin after bad news from the doctor. He is resting in NY, and hopefully will rejoin in 2 weeks. So, tomorrow is the start of the Smoky mountains. Me, K Bar, and Nature's Child are taking it easy at a nature's aunts for the night (in beautiful Tennessee). So 162.6 miles and two weeks later.... and it's been a blast. The last two days have been truly great for the spirit, like this was what I was meant to do, I love the mountains, the climb, the aches and pains, all of it.

So a few things that stick out in my mind:

I was unable to find any fucking real apple cider in the south, all hot water mix. I got some decent hard cider at the NOC.

Fuck stale bread, don't eat at the NOC restaurant, they vegan buger sucked (but at least they had one), and more stale bread. I might bake myself a loaf tonight

Oh, and my favorite Bill Cosby quote: "You can't say Fuck on tv".

Anyhow, rant off, I hope the weather improves. Today was beautiful. I have attached a photo of me and K-bar, that I pirated of her blog, because dummy forgot his usb cable. Rafting at the NOC was good, but we should have done that class 5 at the end. Life is to short.

107 Miles and Snow

2009-04-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

Well,

So end of day 9 and we had 3 or so inches of snow. We got back to Franklin N.C., where we spent the weekend for a hiker bash, that was very unfriendly to anything other than a meat mouth. And currently I have to shit... how nice. I just ate a whole pizza by myself... I shall call it man mountain.

Anyhow, my hiking partner is having foot problems, so he is seeing a doctor in the morning. If not I might be on my own again. But overall things are going well, appetite is getting bigger. And I finished my last stale bagel from the Neel's gap outfitters, wherever you guys are.... fuck yourselves.

Here are some photos:

Me in the snow today

Crossing into N.C. from GeorgiaSpringer Mountain

5 days and soggy feet

2009-04-02T13:31:00.000-07:00

So I am in town, on a computer, and booked into a hotel. 67.5 miles down, too many more to go. The weather has been shitty, today it was nothing but fog and rain. My ankle hurts because we did a 18 or 19 mile day yesterday to give someone their food they left behind, only to find out they were heading the other direction. I have met some really cool people so far, and I have been hiking with Lucas Warhero for the last 3 days or so. There is a big hiker meet in Franklin, N.C. so we will be hitch hiking there tomorrow if all goes well. There is a huge storm coming in and it doesn't look like it is going to stop raining for the next few days.

Oh and that bastard outfitter at Neel's gap sold me some stale bagels, fucking bastards!

So thanks to Mother Nature (she really exists and is from Clarkesville, GA), here is the only pic I can provide at the moment of Linus Cloudbuster and Lucas Warhero.

2 days....

2009-03-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

In two days I take the train to Gainesville, GA to start my hike. I don't often get nervous about traveling, but I am fucking nervous. The kind of stomach butterflies that I get when I have to speak in front of an audience. Anyhow, this is my blog, my trail journal, the walk about of LinusCloudbuster.

And for those who know what my blog name is about: 10,000 Kola nuts wrapped in brown paper, Midnight behind the box, I will be the Hyhina, you'll see.

Two of my favorite hiking photos from the overland track: