Hiking

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:

1. Trekking Pole
2. Bug Net (keep an eye on his hand)
3. Motivation
4. 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

So life is full of them huh?

Broken Spoke

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

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!!!

http://i545.photobucket.com/albums/hh379/turbodrabbit/17bc9c8b.jpg

It starts in Texas with this...

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

Where I have been

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

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!