God is the perfect artist. He let me capture some breathtaking shots tonight. I just put them on my computer and am blown away. I think I may be discovering a passion in landscape photography. Yay for that :)

Well, here I am. In an overflow parking lot at a camground just south of the touristy Big Sur villiage. All the campgrounds are full around here, but I'm not complaining about my spot, as I am on the edge of a woods with the Big Sur river running through it. Very peaceful actually... The coast in here is absolutely stunning. The perfect stretch to process the last few days. I really wanted to get more miles in, but I have to remind myself that I didn't start driving until noon. 155 is a decent run for the day. I think now might be a good time to call some people and let them know that I'm coming :) Until tomorrow.

Santa Cruz

This is not going to be extremely long, but I’m in Santa Cruz and it’s a beautiful city. Just north of here I stopped and watched kite surfers for awhile, and man, it’s intense! It’s like some sort of art form or something... definitely takes courage and passion to get out there and do something like that. You could tell they were all adrenaline junkies... reminded me of something Blake would do if he lived in the area.
It’s nice and warm here, and I’m going to have to remind myself to put sunscreen on my left arm or I’m really going to look lopsided! My music for the day would have to be a worship CD that my friend Paul recorded... Awesome stuff. The kind of raw music that opens up your heart and pours into you.
Definitely a good day so far. I need to scoot to try and get 100 more miles in before sunset... prayer for the right place to park for the night? Oh, and Franke is doing great still :) She is sporting a new bumper sticker that says “I have no idea where I’m going.” I thought it quite fitting for the both of us :)

I am on the road again :) This morning was breakfast with a group from the community, then some great worshiping with guitar and percussion instuments. It was a great send off.
I've made it about 30 miles and I'm hoping to do 175 by days end, which should put me past Carmel. So I need to get boogying if I want to stop in Santa Cruz!

Ahh... Perfect time for a cold beer :) Gotta love two dollar happy hour! The main thing that I've learned from this leg of my trip would have to be this: hanging around this church community has totally expanded my views on what it means to love others. I like to think of myself as a pretty loving person, but being here has caused me to re-evaluate the motives behind how I love. I've realized that I still have many areas that I need growth in. What a great few days.

Sunshine

The sun is definitely a good thing today. The last couple of days have been rainy and cool, and last night was downright cold. Alan and Tim are some great guys that I chatted with last night. Both love the Lord immensely and live in the church community here, and both are openly gay. Tim is a committed celibate, and Alan chooses not to date as well. They live their lives to bless and encourage others, and their family is their church community. It was a blessing to be able to connect with people that are wired the same as me, and share the same passion for faith.

I’m starting to get anxious to hit the road again, which will probably be first thing tomorrow morning. I can’t wait to see the Big Sur coast, and there’s a few places that I want to check out along the way. Next stop is Los Angeles, and who knows what that chapter will hold, but I pray for Gods will to be done in me and through me... whatever that may look like.

Heavenly father guide my thoughts and my words, and use me to bless others so that your light be shone into dark places. Keep me humble as I am in constant need of your grace. Help me to feel your love for me so that I am able to love others better, and thank you for your son so that I can come to you blameless despite my wretchedness. You are so good to me.

it's been a slow and quiet morning to myself, soaking up the sun and amazing views. Got laundry done and now it's time to move franke again... The parking here is kinda retarded. One of the downfalls of being in a big city I guess. Last night was really good. I had some beers and great conversation with guys that understand where I'm at internally. It was good times. Anyway... Im off for coffee :)

27 and Castro

My sweatshirt is still soaked from the downpour I was caught in, but I’m starting to dry out. 27 years ago at 3:57 AM I was taking my first breaths in this world. It doesn’t feel like my birthday. I’ve been calling myself 27 for the last month to get used to it, so today just feels like any other day. It probably has something to do with the fact that I’ve never spent a birthday without my family until now, and it’s just not a birthday without mom cooking and the family sitting around the dinner table. Today is the first time I really miss home. Call me weak, but I’ve teared up once or twice today... I think I’m turning into even more of a softy. I don’t really mind... I figure it takes a bigger man to be comfortable showing emotion anyway :) I LOVE MY FAMILY.

So my coffee is halfway done, and I’m supposed to be on a mission to find good walking shoes. There are some amazing thrift stores here! All lightly used designer stuff of course :) The rain stopped my search, but now the sun is breaking though again, so I need to venture on. Two side notes: The people that I’ve met here are AWESOME! Some of the most warm and accepting people I’ve ever crossed paths with... and I’ve tried to upload new pictures on here 3 different times now, and a error message keeps coming up, so until I figure that out I will keep posting pictures to my Facebook.

Rain and Valencia St.

So I am in a window of time spent with my thoughts while walking around. Valencia is a nice street with great architecture and quaint shops. The colors and textures here simply blow me away, and I’m amazed at how much detail goes into every building. The city is like one big piece of artwork that has evolved and transformed with time. Even the graffiti is art, and when it’s not telling a story of beauty it’s speaking the magnitude of pain and upheaval that every city this size feels under the surface. This city explains life in all it’s complexity. It isn’t able to hide the ugly parts like most smaller cities. San Francisco wears it’s heart and everything else on it’s sleeve, enticing everyone that just wants to blend in and yet have their own little place in this masterpiece.

Yesterday was spent with Claire driving a route that covered Pacific Heights, Coit tower, little Italy, Chinatown, Financial District, Union Square, and Castro. Not much time was spent at any place, but the goal was just to observe the different people and landscape. Driving down Lombard was awesome! I am so glad that my mechanic insisted that I replace the brake master cylender... this is not the city to even slightly compromise on anything brake related.
I am currently in a Cafe waiting for the rain and fog to clear so that I can get some good pictures. Before I end this I just have to say that the place I’m staying until I leave ROCKS! It’s the top floor of a home that the church owns, and it’s usually used for visiting missionaries and guests. It has a balcony with stunning views of the city and is the perfect place to relax. I am blessed beyond measure. God is good.

Pancakes was awesome. We played UNO and jammed on guitars and percussion instruments :). Fun times.

So I wrote a long blog entry last night, but I was unsuccessful at connecting to the Internet, so today for sure I will find a spot to upload it. I have another one as well from Friday night... Sheesh I'm slacking In the whole blog department. So yea, need to wake up and head to a homeless pancake feed in the park :)

Wine and naked

I am finally in the city, and it is such a beautiful city. I’ve only been around the mission district so far, but there is art and cheap mexican food EVERYWHERE! So happy.

So where were we... oh yes, I need to recap yesterday. It started off with a walk and lots of good picture taking at the campground... I think Ocean Cove was the name of the place. Anyway, I ended up in Santa Rosa, where I picked up a few groceries (couldn’t resist stopping at a Grocery Outlet for dad’s sake) and then my foiled attempt to update my blog from Starbucks. So I hit the road and ended up driving too far north, but found a highway that was really pretty and that landed me in Calistoga. Calistoga was the perfect picturesque town loaded with two kinds of people. Wealthy city dwellers getting away for the weekend... and the hispanics that worked at all the shops. Spanish is more of a primary than a secondary language here come to find out. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But it does bring to the surface the fact that Spokane has almost no racial diversity, which has caused me to want to kindly tell some folks that they are in America, and they should go back to mexico if they don’t want to learn correct English. Not that I would ever say that, I just think it.

I drove north from Calistoga in hopes to find the Silverado Trail, which is a senic drive through wine country. The man at the glass shop didn’t give the best directions... either that or I am inept at getting around in foreign places. I think both might be true. Either way I found myself in Middletown, which is a small little town that probably wouldn’t exist without tourism, but it’s not really a tourist town. Kinda ugly actually... but the first town I’d seen with a carwash on the main drag, and seeing as how I had been needing to give Franke a bath, I promptly slammed on my brakes and pulled in. It was a 3 dollar minimum, and only having two ones and a ten, I headed down the road to get change. Wine tasting 11 to 8 read the sign, so I pulled in to kill two birds with one stone. I was in need of some wine at that moment. Martin was a super friendly guy, originally from the Chezch Republic, and he gave me loads of information on Napa Valley, wine in general, how everything comes down to the soil the grapes come from, and the whole organic growing process. It was a great history lesson. I still hadn’t found a place to stay for the night, so I asked if there was any place he recommended. He told me about a hot springs that was just up the road, and being a bit stiff and sore, I decided that was just what I needed.

The sun had set by the time I had washed Franke, and I headed up the road he told me to turn on. “Half to a mile up and you’ll take a right, you can’t miss it” were his words. When someone says you can’t miss it, I expect at least a large sign with an arrow. So 5 miles and a STEEP grade later, I decided to turn around and head back. Ends up the turn was only a few blocks in, and the sign wasn’t much bigger than the palm of my hand. It was dark by the time I got there, so I pulled up to register anticipating soaking my now stressed muscles in hot water. “Be aware that this is a clothing optional hot springs,” the man told me. Yeah, sure, fine, whatever, I thought to myself. My only other hot springs experience flashed in my head, and there were sections where people went if they wanted to be nude, but most kept their shorts on outside of the locker room. I parked the van and decided to take a stroll around. It was a very peaceful setting... in a buddhist, feng shui, new age-ish kind of way. I made my way to the pools, where I was welcomed by lots and lots of naked. There was not a single person with clothes on unless they were in the changing room. And we’re not just talking the wrinkled saggy types that usually frequent hot springs... there were many young attractive naked people. My tense muscles did not relax at this sight, and I promptly headed back to my van to drink the bottle of wine that I bought. After much contemplation and liquid courage I made my way back to the pools. Entering the changing room I quickly realized that there were no mens or womens section, but just a large well heated room where men and women casually conversed while dressing or undressing. What blew my mind is that most would delay the process of putting on their clothes, and just stand there talking... naked! This had to be one of the most foreign experiences of my life. I have a hard enough time being naked in front of myself... let alone a bunch of people. No sooner had I dropped my shorts, and my towel was wrapped neatly around me. Once I made it into the water I was okay, and glad to have some relief for my muscles. There was definitely a kind of creepy vibe about the place... I got the feeling that it’s the kind of spot where a lot goes on behind closed doors. Anyway, I’m going to end there because I’m really tired and it’s late and I need to process my day. Peace.

Made it to San Fran! With Claire at her church for an evening service :). Yay for huge cities! Boo for franke and steep hills :(

I'm on the road again! I'm heading into the bay area today by way of senic napa valley :). No service again last night, and last night was... Interesting. More on that later.

Calistoga is beautiful! 75 and sunny. I'm drinking a tangerine wheat microbrew at a local spot to get out of the sun, then I'm going to take an even more senic trail to catch some views at sunset. I have no idea where i'm going to stay tonight, so I'm praying I run into the right place/people. I am still writing more detailed blogs in my computer, and I will post them when I decide to search for Wi-Fi.

Helioo traffic

K... So I haven't had cell service for the majority of the last 24 hours. I got into Santa Rosa to find a starbucks to update from, and I'm in starbucks, but it's part of a barnes and noble, so unless I want to pay $25 for a years membership, no Wi-Fi for me... And I already have my coffee! Grrr. K, I'm done throwing an internal fit. I'm still updating, just from my phone.
California costs more... It's actually almost hot out, and the people definitely have a sharper edge compaired to oregonians. Everyone is wearing an attitude. Alright... I'm taking my lack of connection to mean that I should press on, so until next time.

Mendo to Sonoma

I think I made about a hundred twenty or so miles today... but I didn’t really keep track. That and the amount of curves and hills along California 1 made it feel like much more distance was being accomplished than actual results. I was somewhat torn while driving... knowing that I could make it to San Francisco today, my mind went goal oriented... but what goal? It would be easier taking things more slow had I a traveling companion, but alone I found myself wanting to push and having a hurried attitude... Don’t get me wrong, I took lots of time to enjoy this stretch, but it’s an under the surface current in me that fights letting go of a familiar world in constant motion. For example, I am currently typing into my journal on my laptop. I am only doing this because there is no phone signal and no Wi-Fi. Since the sun set, I’ve already uploaded my new pictures to my computer, backed them up on my flash drive, played solitare, and now I’m writing... and yet there’s the void of being connected to the ‘live’ world despite all the technology that surrounds me. Anyway... just some random thoughts.

I am soo bummed right now. I just found out that I bought ‘no salt added’ green beans, and I have no salt... Grrr. I need to re-think some grocery items soon... I have chili, refried beans, nasty green beans, granola bars, some almonds and jerky, oatmeal, and top ramen. Of course the first thing to go was the tuna salad and the crackers, so I need more of those... Chips and salsa sounds so good right now... and CHEESE. Wow... distracted. You can probably tell my brain is in my stomach right about now.

Today was another day filled with beauty. Mendocino is a magical little town sitting out on an ocean pier... a great place to retire if art, music, nature, good food, and little hippie shops are your thing. (it tops my list of favorite towns so far) I actually picked up my first purchase there. (aside from gas, food and coffee) My white plaid zip-up hoodie is my only form of warmth aside from my work jacket, and seeing as how white is not the most travel friendly, I got myself a local brand black zip up hoodie :)

I’m only 80 miles from San Fran, so tomorrow is probably going to be spent in wine country, but first exploring my campground a little more. I just hope it’s not as windy as tonight. It is a really beautiful place, and I stumbled upon it when I pulled over to look at my map. It is probably the cheapest campground in the area, and my expectations were really low when I first drove in, but after walking around a bit, I realized that it’s a really awesome location. The wind is HORRIBLE though... I’m talking 40-45 mph gusts, so I’ve only been able to be out for about 20 minutes at a time before my hands and face are frozen. Oh yea, that too, it’s about 10 degrees cooler here than it was 100 miles north... isn’t the south supposed to be warmer?

Blown away by Mendocino... What an amazing town. I definitely wouldn't mind retiring here! I'm eating a wild rice cranberry mango salad from the local market that I wish I could get the recipie to! So different and yet so good...

Fort Bragg

I am quite proud of myself today! I woke up, made some coffee and oatmeal, then filled a bowl with hot water and washed my face and my hair and my armpits! All all while looking out at the ocean... I think it was the best shower I’ve ever had :) I brushed and flossed my teeth and even shaved, so I feel alive AND non greasy right now.
I am in Fort Bragg, at yet another Starbucks that puts the ones in Spokane to shame. I awoke at 7:30 to the park ranger knocking on my door. The cost of the campsite last night was $25 and I only had $10 cash on me, so I filled out the registration, put the 10 in the envelope, and a note that I would pay the balance if they would call and give me an address to send it to. Gene was a friendly retired man and woke me up just to tell me not to worry about the difference and glad that I got to enjoy his campground. When he was 27 he owned a ‘61 VW bus that he took around the country, and was happy to see a young guy doing it. From here down to north of L.A. is the largest concentration of VW vans in the nation... Happy days :)
I think I’m going to hit the road and spend some time in Mendocino, so I’m off for now.

Thank you holy spirit for whispering to my soul the life that the father has for all who let go and trust in his son. May you be glorified in this age and In ages to come. Your sweet breath of creativity energizes the weary and brings color to the winds. May the winds paint a story of a life so lost without the father that the father is all that is sought. Use me to the purpose that you created deep within my being, and purge me of myself so that your glory be shown. I no longer want to live life on my terms. Hold my hand in this. In your sons beautiful name, amen.

Mendocino county is gorgeous! I just took a side highway that was the most windy road I've been on. It went over... Not through, over two passes that held more beauty than words could describe, then suddenly broke through to the ocean. I have never had a sight take my breath away where I actually gasped until that sight. It was like driving straight into a storybook painting. Now I am at a campground where the ocean is literally right outside the door. The crashing waves make the most soothing sound. Today was a good day :). It never ceases to amaze me what a beautiful work of art God gave us in his creation. Franke was an amazing trooper today, knocking 200 miles off without a hitch. She even pulled up a really steep grade going 45 mph in 4th gear... Holla at your homegirls Franke, cause you rock. :)

K... 6:30 and I still have to drive 60 miles before dark... Can I do it?

Eureka!

Eureka California is a nice town. The old town area is full of historic buildings and little speciality shops. The weather has finally warmed to the point where I’m considering breaking out the flip flops, but it’s not quite there yet. This is a very windy part of the world, and it’s quick in making warmth not so warm. Fort Bragg is most likely the area I will be finding a place to camp tonight... and I just found out that it’s another 130 miles, so I best make this short... either that or I will find just find someplace else :)

I’m having the itch for more adventure... Coos Bay got me going early in that department. Not that this isn’t adventure, it is, but I want to meet some people that stretch me in a different way. I think I’ll pray for that. I could use some conversation today. I can already tell that when I return to Spokane I will not be returning as the same person that left. I feel that this is a jump off point for what is yet to come in my life. I’m pretty sure that God is wanting me to get used to travel and being mobile... and I’m not quite sure what that means yet, but at this point it’s simply being ok trusting God with all that’s out of my control. Part of being alone through this is learning to love myself as God loves me. I’ve never been good in that area, but my distorted self image is slowly starting to clear up. My feet are becoming more firmly planted in the core of who I am... and it’s a good place to be.
Still a long road ahead, but each day brings something new to light.

Ahh... V8, peanut butter crackers and applesauce. Lunch of a traveling bachelor :). I can't help but think of the Donald miller book Through Painted Deserts as I travel... Definitely one to re-read. Song of the hour would have to be Ride To California by the Paper tongues.

Wow it's windy today! I just came out of the redwoods... And I actually got to experience them :). Such staggering beauty takes my breath away. Franke is still doing great.

Well franke is chipper today... Just went from 0 to 3000 ft elevation no problem :)

Well, surprisingly, I got 9 hours of sleep last night! Yay for that :). I hung out with some camping neighbors last night that informed me of a high population of meth heads in the area, as well as a prison 5 miles away. So needless to say, I wasn't expecting to sleep well in the mostly empty dense and dark campground I was in. I'm about to hit the road and venture another 150 or so miles today, so we'll see what today holds.

Lord please keep me safe tonight.

The info center was awesome. I just got done driving on a backwoods single lane road through amazing redwoods. It was an amazing 10 mph trek through steep and curvy terrain, and I got to take a couple short hikes into the forest. I'm now at an outlook on the side of a mountain eating chili and a granola bar. The view of the coast is breathtaking, and I think I'll park here for the sunset. I've seen some great antique stores and an art gallery today, and with all my stops and side roads franke still acts like she could go another hundred miles. :). This is the moment of the day that I wish I had someone here to share to share a sunset with... But this is great anyway. God is good.

Back on 101

I am sitting at the first Real Starbucks I’ve been to since Portland, so I can finally get some good writing in! Franke is doing amazing... after 160 miles she’s still purring with plenty of power after two pretty steep grades. She’s plugging along at 55 mph and hasn’t even smelled hot yet :)
I am currently in Crescent City, CA. I made it to a new state!!! California opens up a new chapter of adventures, and I smiled big when I crossed the state line :D I am probably going to research some place really cheap or free to park Franke tonight, seeing as it cost $1100 for my stay in Coos. I think I’ll stick around the redwoods area seeing as the weather is supposed to be pretty nice tomorrow.
It was bittersweet saying goodbye this morning... I quickly became a part of the McRae family, and I promised them to visit again sometime in the future. Last night was good and I’m glad I decided to stay. We sat around talking about spiritual warfare and the realities of how much goes on above our heads. Mark is a great guy to listen to... so many stories and he speaks with conviction that is rare in this day and age. I most definitely have new friends for life.

Two total air head blondes and a flaming homo. I am definitely in California! The people here have a different attitude than Oregonians... and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. Hmm... k, done for know. I need to get some research done and I gotta pee REALLY bad.

Peace out coos bay! It's been real.

I am the happiest camper in the world right now :D. Franke is running like a top and purring like a kitten. My first thought was to hit the road and get to the border before dark, but seeing as how I didn't get franke until 4 and would have stayed in a rainy rest stop for the night, I decided to stay with the McRaes for one last night. I will hit the road early tomorrow for a good day of driving and sight seeing. My San Francisco leg of the trip is being a little rearranged, because of some prior arrangements that Claire had, so I have until Sunday before I need to be there... And I'm trying to figure out what will fill the time until then. Maybe god has another door he wants to open? It's anybodys guess what's in store at this point. My LA leg of the trip is going to probably bumped out a few days, and likely the same for Phoenix/Tucson. As much as I like to be planning this in my head, I now know better than to plan more than a day In advance :). So bring on tomorrow.

Frankes engine is going back together... A couple more hours and she should be back to life.

So hitting the road tomorrow hopefully? The mechanics kinda suck at communication... Ugh. At this point I might drive through the night to make up for lost time. At least I will have two thirds of a new engine. I really don't like being in the position of out of towner totally reliant on mechanics that can do and charge whatever they want just because they're the only ones that can work on franke. Oh well... I trust god in this, and that needs to be enough. Hopefully the next time I blog it will be from the open road.

Walking around with Andrew trying to get sponsorships for the national welding competition... He is a very skilled welder... Won best in the state! This is fun.

I am drinking WAY too much coffee on this trip :)

Well, Marty just called and the valve seats wore into the heads, causing them to need to be replaced, so the heads and valve seats will be completely redone... to the tune of about $1000. Hopefully this causes franke to be in good enough health to make it the next 5200 miles.

Drinking coffee, watching the boondock saints and waiting word on franke. I pray and hope that it miraculously ends up being not the worst case scenario.

Another sunny day in Coos bay. Life is so interesting... I'm learning trust and patience in ways I never thought possible. We're never guaranteed tomorrow, and I'm learning to let go of future worry in exchange for simply making most of the day that's given to me. Talk about unravelling the layers of ones self... I am starting to view the comfort zone most of us adhere to as one of the greatest tools Satan uses to prevent us from owning our true calling in Christ. Wherever we find our greatest fears and uncomforts, I believe god is calling us to, so that he can strengthen us and grow us in ways that comfort won't allow. The Christian church in large part has conformed to the stagnancy of comfort... And I keep getting the feeling that we are in a time where things need to be shaken up a bit. Just some stuff rattling around in my heart... :)

Life is good if you see the good in it. Spent the day with Angeleah at the coast, and now were bbqing burgers for dinner. I'm good... But can't wait to be on the road again :)

Wow this walk was more intense than I thought it would be. Now I know why mark chuckled when I told him I was just gonna walk... I've gone up three excruciating hills and I'm only halfway there. Oh well... Gotta get used to this. At least I know I'm burning all the calories I'm consuming :)

Praise you in the storm by casting crowns is my song of the hour. The mechanic hopeful that I had lined up to look at franke didn't want to mess with it, so I am officially here for the weekend. Best case scenario is hitting the road late Monday. Mechanically I am faced with a large hurtle... The #3 cylender is pretty much shot, so I'm possibly looking at having to have the heads done, which is a worst case scenario. Any case, it's likely to cost a decent amount more than what I planned, but when your car is the only way out of town, what do you do?

The McRae's

Mark and Radeen... What a great story. I was taken into their home last night. A home shared with their 3 daughters and one son, as well as a friend and her 3 children. Some of the most genuine people I’ve met. Mark’s story went from youth pastor, to cop, to drug cartel, to jail, and now to minister. Some of the details of his story nearly brought me to tears. His family was held hostage behind a drug deal gone bad and he didn’t even know if they were alive. When his family was delivered to him alive he hit his knees weeping... that’s when God changed the story of their family, and they are such beautiful people. He was born into a christian home, with parents heavily involved in the church, and being a stubborn rule breaker like me, he carved his own path until he finally broke the barrier to a true relationship with God outside of religion or performance. You can tell just by meeting him that he and God are close. His wife Radeen saw him through all of this... never giving up on him and never leaving his side. Now that’s what I call love in its purist form. The daily choice to stand by someone and love them through the dark times. Isn’t that how God shows his love best to us? Their girls made pumpkin pie, and a discussion of our favorite foods led to homemade tortilla chips and salsa and sloppy joes. Due to a full house, I was on a couch for the night, but I’ve never been so priviliged to sleep on a couch. Angeleah made us hash browns and eggs for breakfast, making sure to send me off on a full stomach.

As for right now, I’m sitting in a coffee shop downtown simply processing the last 24 hours. I didn’t come out on the road with the intent of writing a book, but I have a feeling a book might come out of this... and I’m really starting to wonder where I’m going to end up next. I am definitely going to have to let my future stops know that I have no clue when I will be there... my only deadline right now is to simply make it to Minnesota by the 9th of June. As for what will happen between now and then, your guess is as good as mine. :)

Wow. David is the best full service tow guy in the west. He called the mechanics he knew and drove me around to different places until we found a guy that knows his air cooleds that can look at franke tonight. He picked up maps for me and told me of several places that I can't miss on my journey, and He also told me that wherever franke needs to go, he will tow her for free because my insurance will only pay for the first tow. All I can say is wow. This is not my journey... It's Gods.

David and I are on a quest to find someone that can re-seat frankes valves... All I'm hearing is that it's not going to be cheap. I'm holding out for a miricle :)

Hmm... I don't know if I could put this evening into words if I wanted to. I'm staying at a ministers house... Amazing people. Quite a lot of spiritual conversation... Some depths I didn't think I would get to this short into my journey. And I think I'm going to leave it at that for now... Most of tonight will go into my written journal. There was definitely more than one reason why god wanted me here.

I all of the sudden found myself at a political tea party... This is fun :)

Ok. So. Here's the earth... It's a sweet earth. ROUND. Haha... I just needed to make myself laugh :). No luck with franke today, but I met the coolest kid! There I was stressing myself out and I heard this guitar playing... I just stood there and listened and it totally calmed me just to hear something so simple. We ended up talking about music and life and randomness. He reminded me of the 13 year old version of myself, so impressionable at that age. I got to share some stuff that I hope he takes to heart... It was like hanging out with a 13 year old me... And I don't know why, but I'm crying as I write this. This interaction with another soul was unexplainably profound for my journey. I feel like a piece of my puzzle just clicked into place. I am blown away right now. You rock Seth! Stay strong buddy. Well, I still need prayer... The shop is now closed until Monday, and I really need to figure out a way to get on the road sooner... So pray that I would run into some air cooled nut that might be able to figure it out. To all my mothers that are worrying... Don't. I've never realized how big gods hands were until now. I've been invited to the home of my tow truck driver and his wifes for the night. I hit it off with him as well, and can't wait to hear his story. God is so good.

So I'm waiting to see if she'll be done today... So far no luck...

This is a really upscale mcdonalds! I don't feel like I'm in a fast food joint...

And now I wait for a tow truck... So glad I got roadside assistance!

Scratch that... I stopped for an energy drink, and now franke won't start. Hmmm... I'm not ok right now.

Franke and I are on the road again! It was the massflow air sensor, which cost me 100 bucks used, but if he wouldn't have had the used one, it would have been 400 bucks! Thanks for your prayers :). Franke still has a limp as the #3 cylender is only firing at about 35%. So I'm hoping to make it to ureka California... Keep the prayers coming!

Well, I'm sitting in the shop waiting for word of frankes ailment. I had a great coffee at a local shop, and got some needed reading and writing in. Monica was sweet and very helpful. I told her about my travels and she directed me to some sights around town that I couldn't miss. It feels so good to sit... I've probably been walking for a few miles in not the best shoes. Plus I've had a jacket and backpack on and the day is getting much warmer. Marty is pretty sure the mass airflow sensor is the problem, and he actually had the part on another vanagon that isn't running, so he's testing it out and I'm anxiously waiting. I can't wait to be behind the wheel again :)

It's stunningly sunny this morning in Coos Bay... And I am on a mission to find a quaint little coffee shop, since the only starbucks is of the grocery store variety. The guys at second street foreign cars seem nice enough... Let's hope for the best! :)

Break... down.

So here I am in my van using WiFi :) Life is rough, right? I figured now would be a good time to post some pictures of my last day and a half. God is good.

Wow. Corner bar down the street turned out to be a dive. The cops came in looking for the owner... And that was my que to finish my beer and leave. The good part is that the RV park I'm at has nice bathrooms with showers :). I think I might need a hot shower and shave before bed :)

Carolina liar- show me what i'm looking for. Song of the hour.

Well, I had a breakdown moment... Frank has a doctors appt in the morning. I was a few miles past town, but was able to limp her back into an RV park for the night, so don't worry, I'm not on the side of the road anymore :). I love my mechanic chris... He truely cares about how I'm doing, and did some research and calling around to find a mechanic that I could trust. It's crazy how this breakdown paralleled a breakdown of other sorts... I had a breakdown right along side of franke. I'm facing some ugly stuff in myself right now, and trying to clean up a mess I made. God is speaking some things to my heart that bring pain, but truth. The layers of me are being peeled back so that I can deal with some ugliness. Not a fun place to be, but at least franke and I are on the same page.

Franke is not so well again... Just keeps loosing power. I'm in coos bay and trying to figure out what my next step is.

Well here I sit. It took 2 hours to get 68 miles under the belt. I forgot how slow going 101 is. Franke just made it up and down about 5 windy passes! Woo hoo! Go franke :). I was able to talk to my mechanic this morning, made a few adjustments and she perked right up :D. She still runs a bit rough when hot, so I'm giving her a needed break. I chatted around the campfire with a lesbian couple from Florida last night, and we had some wine and good food and some laughs. Then I met my first westy couple this morning and had some great talk
about how much we love our vans :). I need coffee... My stove worked fine right before I left, but wouldn't work this morning :(. So I'm going to OWN the first starbucks I see. Until next time.

On the road to california!

standing here with the sun on my back and a vast ocean of nothing and everything before me. Again I am taken aback by a simple moment. I don't know how someone could could be subject to such beauty and not believe in God. Now to try and wake franke up... We've gotta try and make it close to California today.

I'm staying at Beverly beach campground for the night. Only got about 130 miles in today... And that's ok. Franke is not so good... Running really rough, and I have to almost mash the accellerator to the floor before she clears up. Maybe she has a little sore throat from being back out in the elements and will be fine tomorrow... Who knows. Prayers would be welcome right now. Nothing gives me more fear than car troubles, but I have to let go because it's in gods hands.

Theres Something about the ocean air that breathes life into your soul. This kind of beauty never ceases to take my breath away :)

Give me your eyes... Great song. If you don't have it, get it :)

Salad

I just ate some really good salad. Why am I telling you this? I don't know. The organic romano cheese, almonds and organic balsamic vinegarette just hit the spot. Well, it's mid-day, I've had coffee with my cousins and I think I need to chip some miles off the map. After some studying, I think I'm going to camp near florence on the coast. It's about 160 miles, so not to much, but just enough to make me feel like I'm making progress. Mentally I am already at a better place... it's so hard to find trust in the unknown, like unraveling the layers that the world wraps us in from birth... like turning back time. Time to pack up and keep on trucking.

Portland

So I made it to Portland in one piece. The drive was absolutely stunning, and aside from the wind the weather was great. I was reminded of why spring is my favorite season today... there is nothing quite like driving through the gorge into Portland on a sunny spring day. The waterfalls along the senic highway were awesome and there were shades of green that I swear I’ve never seen before.

I appreciated things about the drive that I never have before, so I am glad that it’s slow going. It’s just really trying sometimes... so it’s still going to take some getting used to. I’m usually the guy going 80 and passing everyone, and now I’m getting passed by EVERYONE... including two “oversize load” trucks... on a hill. FML. But I’ll get over it. I love Franke and will stand by her even when she’s wheezing. She half runs on love anyway, so I was encouraging and praising her when she made it up an incline at 47 mph in 4th gear. Now most would think praising a car is absolutely absurd... and 6 months ago I would have agreed, but ask anyone that has owned an air-cooled VW, and most would say that sometimes an owners love is the only thing holding them together.

With that said, she is having some oxygen/gas mix issues I think. Bogging down at lower RPM’s, but doing fine if my foot’s into the gas. I might have to tinker around with it a bit tomorrow. Even so, i am happy to report 19.5 mpg on the way down here, which is the best Franke has ever gotten :)

Franke is feeling a little tired... Prayers needed

I stopped at a view point that I've never stopped at before. Franke needs to rest. It's so beautiful out! Probably 65 and sunny in the gorge. Franke and I are fighting the winds though... Nothing like piloting a breadbox on wheels for life experience. :). My mechanic told me that the engine works twice as hard in windy conditions, so 52-53 mph is the tune I'm cruising to... And that's ok. I'm already appreciating the drive more than I ever have.

I love these rows of trees

You know, being passed by everyone isn't all that bad when you have no reason to keep up :)

It's like I'm tweeting from Twitter... Only different. I'm glad I got the iPhone ;)

Just so you all know, these short updates are from my phone while driving. ;). For the betterment of your enjoyment.

Mmm... Diet coke... And a mind blowing 53 mph.

Patience is a virtue... I'm already learning more of that in more than one aspect.

And I'm on the road! Franke is smiling, and so am I :)

Lack of rest

I am tired. The last night of deep sleep I’ve had was 6 nights ago. I am sitting in my bed at mom and dads for the last time... and wondering if the thought of leaving in the morning will prevent deep sleep yet again.
I have had the most blessed and love filled send off that anyone could ask for, and one thing I can never doubt is the fact that I am loved by many amazing people. My goodbye party at Tiff and Tony’s was AWESOME. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many chapters of my life all in the same place at the same time. I definitely consider myself a rich man... rich in a way that no amount of money could ever buy.

The level of unpredictability in the coming months has to be the main reason for loosing sleep. I think it must be easier for me to sleep while in a daily routine of simple motions. Knowing what to expect, and knowing 90 percent of what each day will hold in it’s different variations brings much comfort for me. It’s going to be a difficult transition to all the new-ness and question marks of being on the road. And then there’s the deep rooted part of me that wants to know what to expect at the end of all this... will recently opened chapters continue when I return? Will I be back at home? Will I have my old job back? Do I want my old job back? Will I even be the same person? Will I go back to school when I return? Will I return? AARRGGHH. All these damn questions float like meaningful nothingness in the realm outside of my control... Lord, please help me learn to live a day at a time, and help me rest.

Stuffed

I am so full right now I could explode. We had our book group tonight and ate manicotti, italian bread, millenium torte and ice cream. I regret the second helping of ice cream.

Today was stressful. You know the point where everything comes to a boil in your head and emotions and you feel like only one small event or word stands between you and a chaotic meltdown? That kind of stressful. I will be the first to admit that I’m not good at preparation... or maybe it’s just the fact that I way over-analyze it. Sometimes I spend way too much time with the little details... and loose sight of the big picture.

I decided to buy basic groceries for the road today. It didn’t help my already high stress level to find myself in a packed Wal-Mart full of screaming children and people that looked like they haven’t made it out of the house in the last year. I had my basic list of necessities in hand, but kept on thinking of the ‘what ifs’ and ‘I might’ needs, and my basics quickly turned into a $100 cart full of crap. Immediately after leaving the store I power smoked a cigarette to try and ease the stress filled shame I felt from falling for another consumeristic blunder. At this point I’m thinking it would have been a much better idea to have not purchased anything in preparation for my trip, and to just leave with the clothes on my back. I have no idea how I’m going to fit all of this into Franke, and if there’s any official bandwagon of hippies out there, I’m sure my application would be promptly rejected.

So here I sit... only a few more days left. The van is in the shop... and for the first time today my head is quiet, and right now quiet is good.

Grapefruit

I am looking at a grapefruit... hence the title. Not a good grapefruit either, so I only ate half. I felt like writing just to write, and when that happens I tend to be a little random. Like the coffee across the counter beckoning me to come pour a cup :) Ahh... my morning is now complete.

So I feel kind of like I’m in an alternate reality right now. What does that mean exactly? I’m not quite sure. I feel alive and numb at the same time. I feel caught between two parallel universes. I feel awakened to the sickness of the human condition, but I am very much in it and a part of it. I will elaborate more on this later when I have more time to turn inner mush into words. For now I must do something productive to give me a sense of accomplishment... I think I will tackle Franks ‘saggy ass syndrome.’

Starbucks

I am currently sitting at my favorite Starbucks sipping away and using their wi-fi for the first time. It’s a scene that I should get used to what with needing free wi-fi spots for updates on my trip. AHHH... I quit my job yesterday!!! Holy. I am officially temporarily retired and 9 days away from living in a van down by the freeway.

I feel quite cooky right now. My sister sent me links to old songs by the Gaylords that we used to dance around the house to as kids. I couldn’t have been more than 5 or 6. Listening to these songs has given me perma-grin for the last 20 minutes... so I promptly purchased them for my trip :)
I’m in a place of child like simplicity right now... and It’s a really nice feeling. My obligations for the next several months are just what I feel like doing in the moment. I might never get this again, so I plan on cherishing every moment of simple freedom to just live life.
I am officially stoked for my going away party! There are going to be lots of people there... all very dear to my heart in one way or another. It is going to be a very special night for me.
Well, my list is getting smaller, Franke goes in on monday for the last minute stuff, and I still have some basic groceries and odds and ends to pick up. I still need some silverware and cups/plates type stuff... I think it’s time to raid mom and dads camping stuff. AND I need to go look at flash drives and jump boxes. I know I’m going to end up forgeting something... let’s just hope it’s not too important. Until next time...