Jeep Mileage: 271 202 km
Happy St. Patty’s Day! Well after 3 days of waiting our Jeep is finally ready, we got a ride to the garage from another Couch Surfer, Medina at 7:30AM so we could be on our way right away. We headed out at 8AM and drove along I40 across Oklahoma, and Texas to Amarillo, then cut up towards New Mexico, and eventually Colorado, finishing in Colorado Springs at midnight. In total we drove for 15.5 hours covering 989 miles (1592 km).
It was a long day but we were eager to meet up with our friends in Colorado, and we felt recharged after our 3 day stay in Little Rock. We took turns throughout the day driving.
We recently found out that we will be doing a WWOOF in Utah near Moab on a Solar Powered Organic Vineyard. The farm is run by a 24 year old from California. I am hoping to help put the finishing touches on a solar powered cabin and help with the crops. We will be staying there for about 2 weeks, working approximately 6 hrs a day 5 days a week in exchange for room and board. This will give us a chance to settle down for a couple weeks after 2 months of travel, and learn new skills while doing something a little less selfish at the same time.
A few photos: Day 24 - The Big Drive
View Larger Map
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Day 21-23, Little Rock Arkansas – March 14th-16th, 2011
After a quiet night in Memphis, we headed due west on our way to another couchsurf in Oklahoma City. We had to cover a lot of ground in the next few days in order to meet Rose’s friends from Japan Steve and Aya in Colorado Springs on Thursday March 17th. I was planning to climb Pike’s Peak with Steve and his brother, while Rose was going to spend time with Aya. During the drive we decided to stop in Little Rock, Arkansas to find a grocery store and pick up a few things. In the city I took a hard left turn and because it had been lightly raining the roads were slick, the Jeep fishtailed out of control and boom, we hit a median with the rear passenger wheel. The impact was so hard it actually broke the axel, cracked the rim and laid the tire directly under the car. Luckily no one was hurt and we did not hit anyone else. We called AAA, arranged for a tow, the police showed up and stopped traffic for us. While waiting for the tow truck Rose got online and posted a plea for help from the couch surfing community in Little Rock. Before we even arrived at the garage we received a call from Kyle. He put us up for a couple nights and picked us up from the garage.
Full Album: Day 21-22
Day 19-20, Mammoth Caves National Park – March 12th-13th, 2011
Jeep Mileage: 270345 km
We checked out the short hikes available in the Mammoth Caves National Park and picked up our tickets for the 6.5 hour wild cave tour that we had booked for the next day. We spent the evening camping in the park, and enjoying the early spring weather we had. We spent Saturday night, around the camp fire reading, and updating our blogs, sorting photos and planning the next legs our journey. I thought about most of my friends back in Greenville, which were out enjoying the pub crawl. Part of me wanted to be back there with them, but I know deep down this trip is something I need in my life.
This would be only the 2nd time I had ever been caving, the first was in Budapest in 2009. This would be Rose’s first experience with caving so we were both very excited. We arrived and suited up in our coveralls, helmets, and headlamps. The guides took us on a 6.5 hr adventure called the Wild cave tour. We crawled, climbed and squeezed through some pretty tight spots. In fact a couple places we could only squeeze through by lying flat on our bellies, turning our head sideways and then pulling ourselves through with our arms. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun.
After a quick shower we got on the road late and headed for Memphis. We had a couch surf lined up there for the night.
Full album: Day 19-20
We checked out the short hikes available in the Mammoth Caves National Park and picked up our tickets for the 6.5 hour wild cave tour that we had booked for the next day. We spent the evening camping in the park, and enjoying the early spring weather we had. We spent Saturday night, around the camp fire reading, and updating our blogs, sorting photos and planning the next legs our journey. I thought about most of my friends back in Greenville, which were out enjoying the pub crawl. Part of me wanted to be back there with them, but I know deep down this trip is something I need in my life.
Full album: Day 19-20
Monday, March 14, 2011
Day 17-18, Nashville, TN
Jeep Mileage: 270475 km
Leaving Greenville, I headed for Asheville, NC to pick up Rose. She had been staying with a couch surfing friend. After much deliberation, we decided only to drive through the Smoke Mountain National Park and not stop and camp for 2 days, as we had originally planned. The weather forecast was for heavy rains, and possible flood warnings and snow, not exactly ideal camping weather. So we merely drove through the park on our way to Nashville.
We arrived in Nashville in time for dinner and met our Couch surfing host Todd. He is a semi professional photographer that lived in a small cottage, with a loft in east Nashville. He was very interested in Portland, as he is planning to make it his next home some, he and rose had a lot to talk about. I was battling a bit of a cold, so I took it easy.
The next day Rose and I got up early and ventured into the city for some sightseeing. We headed straight for Centennial Park and the Parthenon. The morning light and the blue skies made for some great photographs, next we walked over to music row, and then back downtown for some lunch and to check out all of the touristy music bars. Later we went to the State Museum, and finally the state capitol building before heading back to our hosts place for nap. In the evening we hit a local bar/restaurant with Todd for dinner, then Rose proceeded to school me on the great art of foosball. Final scores were 5-1, 5-0, 5-2, and 5-2. Rose won all of them. I am hoping over the next few months I can improve, otherwise she may grow bored of even playing me.
The next day we took advantage of the nice weather (high’s of 68F), and carefully repacked the car, while searching for my Iron Ring which I had lost a few days earlier. Unfortunately it did not come up but I am hoping it will turn up in the next few days, we’ll see. Once all packed up we headed for Mammoth Caves, Kentucky.
link to Photo Album: Day 17
Leaving Greenville, I headed for Asheville, NC to pick up Rose. She had been staying with a couch surfing friend. After much deliberation, we decided only to drive through the Smoke Mountain National Park and not stop and camp for 2 days, as we had originally planned. The weather forecast was for heavy rains, and possible flood warnings and snow, not exactly ideal camping weather. So we merely drove through the park on our way to Nashville.
We arrived in Nashville in time for dinner and met our Couch surfing host Todd. He is a semi professional photographer that lived in a small cottage, with a loft in east Nashville. He was very interested in Portland, as he is planning to make it his next home some, he and rose had a lot to talk about. I was battling a bit of a cold, so I took it easy.
The next day Rose and I got up early and ventured into the city for some sightseeing. We headed straight for Centennial Park and the Parthenon. The morning light and the blue skies made for some great photographs, next we walked over to music row, and then back downtown for some lunch and to check out all of the touristy music bars. Later we went to the State Museum, and finally the state capitol building before heading back to our hosts place for nap. In the evening we hit a local bar/restaurant with Todd for dinner, then Rose proceeded to school me on the great art of foosball. Final scores were 5-1, 5-0, 5-2, and 5-2. Rose won all of them. I am hoping over the next few months I can improve, otherwise she may grow bored of even playing me.
The next day we took advantage of the nice weather (high’s of 68F), and carefully repacked the car, while searching for my Iron Ring which I had lost a few days earlier. Unfortunately it did not come up but I am hoping it will turn up in the next few days, we’ll see. Once all packed up we headed for Mammoth Caves, Kentucky.
link to Photo Album: Day 17
Day 16 - Greenville, SC
Jeep Odometer: 269 547 km
Upon arriving in Greenville, SC I went straight to the hospital for a CT scan. Doctor Frazier reviewed the results and determined the cyst was growing on the end of the mastoid. He told me that he did not feel he was experienced enough to work on it. He said the risk was permanent damage to my facial nerve, which would mean I would look like a stroke victim for the rest of my life. We discussed my options, and he knew I was travelling for some time so he agreed to help me find a doctor in Colorado that could work on me while I was there.
I spent the evening catching up with friends at Happy Hour and dinner afterwards at Nose Dive. Although I had been gone for only 2 weeks it was great to see so many familiar faces again. I know this is probably the last time I may see some of them ever, or least for a long time. I will miss the friends that I have made, and hope that our friendships can span the distances between us. I also hope that many of them will make an effort to join me at some point, even if it’s only for a few days of camping in California, or sightseeing in a the city, it would be great to see them again.
Upon arriving in Greenville, SC I went straight to the hospital for a CT scan. Doctor Frazier reviewed the results and determined the cyst was growing on the end of the mastoid. He told me that he did not feel he was experienced enough to work on it. He said the risk was permanent damage to my facial nerve, which would mean I would look like a stroke victim for the rest of my life. We discussed my options, and he knew I was travelling for some time so he agreed to help me find a doctor in Colorado that could work on me while I was there.
I spent the evening catching up with friends at Happy Hour and dinner afterwards at Nose Dive. Although I had been gone for only 2 weeks it was great to see so many familiar faces again. I know this is probably the last time I may see some of them ever, or least for a long time. I will miss the friends that I have made, and hope that our friendships can span the distances between us. I also hope that many of them will make an effort to join me at some point, even if it’s only for a few days of camping in California, or sightseeing in a the city, it would be great to see them again.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
FTF Day 14-15 Fredricksburg, VA to Boone, NC
Monday we drove 400 miles from Fredericksburg, VA to Boone, NC. We had stayed with Rose’s friend Tamika in Fredericksburg and were heading to Boone to stay with another friend, Kelly for 2 nights. Along the way we tried to drive along skyline drive through Shenandoah National Park, but it was closed due to a recent snowfall. Later we stopped at the famous Foamhenge, a life size replica of Stonehenge, made from Styrofoam. Complete with a wizard to demonstrate one theory as to how it was made.
Once in North Carolina we drove the last 80 miles of the Blueridge parkway, this is where Rose took her first turn at driving the Jeep, she did well and I got a chance for a short nap. The weather was clear and cool great for driving. When we arrived we headed out for dinner, drinks and trivia at a local Pub with Kelly and some of her friends. The next day we headed out for a short 4 mile hike to the top of the 5520’ Elk Knob near Boone. Tomorrow I will drive Rose to visit a friend in Asheville while I head back to Greenville, SC for minor surgery on my ear to remove a cyst.
Complete Album: FTF Day 14-15
FTF Day 13 - Washington DC
Rose and I spent the day touring the City with our host Tiffany. We visited the National Gallery, Chinatown, the Jefferson Memorial and the Air space Museum. We knew one day was not enough to take in everything in the city but unfortunately our schedule would only allow for one day. Luckily I had visited DC about 4 or 5 years ago and got to take in most of the city then. So despite the rain, I felt we made the most of the day.
Complete Album: FTF Day 13 - Washington DC
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)