Well, I guess the corner of a field seems like a nice place to camp. I must have gone through a time change, cause I somehow lost a hour... The sun just set and it's 9:40... Weird. I ended up doing 335 miles, and Franke did marvelously. I think she's thanking me for the lack of hills and mountain passes :). It's definitely taking a bit of adjustment going from a house with lots of people and constant happenings to being by myself out on the road again. At least I do well when stuck in my own head :). Today was pretty uneventful... Saying goodbye, music, French lesson, a couple chapters of a book on CD... And lots of flat fields with half deserted towns here and there. Not that I'm complaining, cause it was a good day,

Oh my flat and straight great plains... Miles and miles of the same. At least Franke doesn't have to work hard :). She's purring right along... And getting a steady 22-23 MPG :) It looks like I'll get about 300 miles in today, so I should end up landing in MPLS sometime Wednesday.

And into the great plains I sail... Again, so glad I spent time in Denver :)

Effing cold!

This one will be quick, because for some reason this Starbucks thinks that 60 degrees is a suitable indoor temperature. Grrr... So anyway, today is my last day in Denver, and again I met new friends and had views challenged in certain ways. I really like the people I’ve met here, and I think I will have to come back sometime in the not too distant future. Maybe I’ll just keep traveling when I get back from Europe... I could work from place to place under the table. I’m sure that there are farms or small businesses that could use my skills...
I really like this lifestyle, and I think the more time I spend out on the road, the harder it’s going to be to plug myself back into the daily grind. So much in my life has been turned upside-down... and I love it.
I keep getting the sense that my story needs to be told... what that looks like exactly, I don’t know yet, but I’m feeling a new purpose to my life right now that is hard to explain.
OK... Like I said, COLD... so I’m stopping now. Thanks Starbucks.

Dazbog Coffee

I finally found a really good local coffee spot. Picture an old repair shop converted with big garage doors making inside and outside mesh seamlessly, and sitting amidst leafy trees and flowers in a historic neighborhood. Now picture 75 degrees in the shade, an almost perfect iced mocha and chill, relaxing music. This combination makes for one happy vagabond :)

Yesterday I drove to Boulder and spent the afternoon walking the shops in downtown. Pearl street is brick with countless specialty and art shops... a perfect place for people watching. Boulder would be to Denver what Bellevue is to Seattle, or what Lake Oswego is to Portland. An overpriced but nearly perfectly beautiful town where most of the upper crust suburbanites choose to live. I picked up a real estate magazine where I quickly realized that 600k-1 million was the most common price range... and this was for pretty average houses. A run-down 1200 square foot rancher was being advertised as a ‘starter home’ for $325,000. Something I really like about this area is that bikes are almost as common as cars, and the streets are very bike friendly for the most part.

This leg of the journey has introduced me to the art of ‘dumpstering’. Most people I know, just like myself, would cringe over the thought of getting food out of a dumpster, but I’m blown away at how much perfectly good food is thrown out for the sake of being too close to the expiration date. I was shocked to learn that the wasted food from grocery stores totals almost 50% of their inventory, yet most of them have policies against it going anywhere but the locked dumpster! With the amount of starvation in the world this makes me rather sick to think about. It is illegal to dumpster in Denver, but with various food producing corporations located here, Terese and her housemates take the risk and subsequently pay a very minimal amount on grocery bills. I ate a meal with all of them on Thursday night that was surprisingly good, and I was shocked to discover that only about 25% of the ingredients were actually purchased. Last night was a really cool example as well. There is a liberation outreach in Indonesia that they feel strongly about, and in order to be able to help them financially, they sold burritos at a fundraiser. I helped assemble the burritos... they tasted just as good as one you would get at many restaurants. It cost 30 bucks to make close to 50 good sized burritos! It’s amazing to me how we’re conditioned from birth to view things certain ways, and how much of those conditioned views really need to be questioned. These people live life totally on the edge of society, and it actually feels more right than being a part of the ‘norm’.
Here again there is community, much like that in San Francisco, but instead of it being a church, it’s togetherness for causes that their passionate about. The common thread would be several types of people and personalities all under one roof being stretched and forced to work through things. They are in a common practice of loving and supporting one another in daily life. I like this, and I think that more of this is needed in the world...

Nothing makes you look at life differently more than hanging out with a group of anarchists... These people definitely live life outside the norm... And they all have such cool stories and life experiences. I'm just having fun taking it all in... What an experience :). I'm very glad I stopped here for a bit! Plus, I found a connection to some places to stay in Italy and Germany :)

Denver

My music does it’s best, but still doesn’t drown out the background murmur of many lives colliding under one familiar and social roof. The little green and black Starbucks symbol spells comfort for me. It’s the one constant amidst scenery that has been changing every day. Sometimes I feel guilt when I feed the corporate giant, but it’s quickly justified with the fact that it has gainfully employed two of my sisters, and it got it’s start as one little coffee shop just a few hours from home, so I feel the right to say I’m supporting my local coffee shop... even though it happens to be the most successful coffee shop in the world. The northwest is still the coffee capital though... in other places I’ve been, you can tell that people don’t take their coffee nearly as seriously as a northwesterner. We mean business when we walk into a Starbucks. It’s treated as more of an art form at home versus most other places I’ve been. You can also tell by the lack of independent shops... don’t get me wrong, there are independent shops, but we’re talking maybe one or two in a square mile radius, where in Spokane, Seattle, or Portland there would be at least 10 in that same square mile radius. Not only that, but I’ve visited many independent shops along my journey, and for the most part have been disgusted with my drink. Maybe it’s different with hot drinks, but most of the time I don’t drink hot coffee unless it’s free. Anyway, enough with my coffee rant.

So here I sit on the corner of 18th and Franklin in Denver... and it’s a beautiful and very diverse city. Evidently it’s a melting pot for many forms of activism, and there seems to be a big hippie/artsy/grunge scene. I would say it reminds me of Seattle... but before Seattle’s head got too big for it’s own good.
Last night I went to a Speak Easy with Terese that one of her roommates was putting on. This was the first time I had ever heard of the term, and basically it means a chill house party with a bar that serves drinks for money. The term ‘Speak Easy’ comes from the need to keep it on the down low, because it’s illegal in any state to charge for alcohol without having your liquor license.
Anyway, the setting was really nice actually, in a back yard with white lights and a fire pit, and lots of nice down to earth people. Definitely in a different chapter than Montrose, but it’s all a part of the journey. I’m not sure how long I will be here, but it will take a max of 3 days to get to Minneapolis and I’m a bit ahead of schedule, so I’m figuring a couple of days here would be nice.

So I made it over the last of the passes before the great plains, and franke is putting right along :). Monarch Crest was 11,312 feet and still had snow on the ground. Doing pretty good for the day, already putting away 200 miles. I'm in a windy river canyon heading towards Colorado Springs. About 40 miles back my French lesson was inturrupted by a loud BANG as a bird collided with my windshield... Poor guy... I still have some guts and feathers to clean off, but thank God it didn't break the glass! Anyway, just a quick update while Franke cools off. Time to keep on truckin!

Well, tomorrow I leave Montrose headed for Denver. It will be bittersweet leaving here... This has been a chapter filled with things that my heart really needed. My feet feel more firmly planted in my authentic self. It's amazing how I've come to feel at home being on the road... So many fears have been faced, and God has seen me through every one :) I'm so glad to be out here living a better story with my life... It's almost like this has been engrained in me for years, and I'm finally living it out. I realized today that it's already been 7 weeks and 3100 miles on the road... WOW.
Franke seems ready for the road again, running like a top and got washed and vacuumed today :). Denver should be interesting... I get to see Terese, Evan and Cheri's other daughter. She's involved in a lot of activist type stuff, and it looks like I might get to be a part of my first protest :). YAY for new adventures! I also booked my flight for England today, and got a relatively good deal. Ok, that was a big yawn, so I'm going to peace out.

God is good. Simple is good. Being here has calmed the noise in my head and hepled give my life needed perspective. I think I could be quite happy living in a van down by the river :).
Today was a window into my childhood... Hearing stories from the church Evan and my dad started when I was too young to remember, and reliving old memories through distantly familiar songs. I am so greatful to have such a rich inheritance from my parents... One that is built upon faith and good character and one that money could never buy.
I am blessed to now be friends with Evan and Cheri... People who have stood by my parents in friendship throughout the years, and now know my life story.

The bonus to my day was that Franke got a clean bill of health and an oil change, and Evan gave me a history lesson on the great schism of 1054 over coffee and bear claws :). I also got some reading and a nap in, and played with the goats.

Montrose

Yesterday we went to the ranch, which was actually a lot of fun. I never thought repairing fences would be relaxing, but was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! Went to an anglican church this morning and met some very nice people and had a very different church experience than what I’m used to, but it was great to be a part of a more traditional service. Evan and Cheri are GREAT people, and some of the most understanding and non judgemental people that i’ve met. Their love for others overflows from God’s love for them, and it’s very refreshing to be here and have another great example of how I can learn to love better.
I just got off the phone with my mom and sister, who called from my cousins wedding. Congratulations Bryce and Joselyn, I wish I could have been there to celebrate with everybody.

The highlight of my day was playing with the goats... I really want one now actually. They have so much personality! It’s amazing how the simple things in life bring so much joy. With that said, I need to get to bed, as Franke has a doctors appointment first thing in the morning. Nothing seriously wrong, just need to have a thorough check-up before heading into the midwest where good VW mechanics are much harder to come by.

Heading up to the ranch to repair fences!

I made it to montrose :). I am so glad I'm here. I can already tell that this is going to be a good visit. Cheri made a great dinner on their old fashioned wood stove, and we had homemade ice cream made with goats milk for dessert :). There is much to be said for simplicity... I am curious as to how I'm going to grow from this stop in my journey.

I am exhausted. It's amazing how going up steep mountain passes at 25 mph in 2nd gear will wear you out! I have a bit of a stress headache as well. I am currently in Ouray Coloroado, which happens to be the most beautiful mountain town I've seen, so I'm camped here so that I can look around and take some pictures tomorrow. I'm only about 35 miles from my next destination :). I can barely think right now, so sleep is the priority!

They don't call it the million dollar highway for nothing! These mountains are HUGE! I can't believe I've gone from near sea level and 95 degrees to snow at 9000 feet in less than two days. I'm definitely more mountains than desert... I'm lovin the lakes and rivers by my side again :)

The 4 corners monument was closed :(. But I met some really great people :). I'm in a new state! Cheers to the smoother highway in Colorado!

Sedona to desolate

It's amazing what is spoken to the heart on a long, desolate stretch of desert... So far this journey has tested my trust in God time and time again, and it's amazing to me how ingrained I am in trusting fear more than God. Fear paralyzes, then causes us to rationalize, then pride causes us to justify our rationalizations. I know that was a loaded senence, but break it down... It's the truth! I dealt with this head on today... On a very lonely stretch of desolate highway. At this point I'm already struggling with the fear of breaking down in the middle of nowhere, and while passing a 1960's gas station, I caught a hitchhiker out of the corner of my eye. I kept driving. "I want you to give that person a ride". The voice in my heart was very clear. I can not fully sum up the internal battle that went on in the 5 minutes following, but i was paralyzed, then rationalized, and when i realized i was rationalizing, pride was right there to justify. Inturrupting the noise in my head were words I heard very clear: "You cannot trust me if you keep letting fear win". I turned around. I didn't see him at first and my heart leaped with joy thinking that someone else had picked him up. I pulled into the station and there he was sitting down behind some tall grass. He was burly and well worn... Shirtless with a bandana on his head, and not a very friendly looking fellow. I kept thinking about how easy it woud be to hide a body out here... But I knew God had my back, so I pulled up and started conversation. Matt was a very friendly man, who was just trying to make it out to the emerald triangle in California. The emerald triangle is the northernmost 3 counties in CA that happen to produce the most marijuana in the nation... I knew this from my camping neighbors in Crecent City. Anyway, we chatted a bit, and he told me that a lady stopped earlier and gave him two apples, which he had no use for due to the lack of front teeth. I traded him ten bucks for the apples, gave him some cigarettes and wished him well on his journey.
Facing into my fear through trusting God was very humbling... Because it forced me to look at how much I let fear win... And how much better it is when we just trust.

All I can say is WOW. Sedona has to be one of the most beautiful places on this earth! I am blown away at the red rock mountains... I don't think that I could ever take enough pictures of this place. I really wish that I was here at sunset, but alas... I really need to put some more miles on the day. Amazing... I have to come back someday when I can spend more time :)

It's gotta be 10-15 degrees cooler up here than in Phoenix. Yay for that!

And the freeway is at a standstill due to roadwork... Woo hoo!

Here we go again! Can we make it more than 60 miles this time?

Well... Franke is fixed for now :). It actually was the coil, but it shorted out causing the points and condenser to melt inside of the distributor. So even though i correctly diagnosed the problem, it caused a domino effect. So the question is whether to drive for a couple of hours tonight, or hit the road in the morning...

Phoenix and tow #3

So Jay got out there with the part last night, and after a few minutes we realized that the coil wasn’t in fact the problem. I didn’t really want to leave Franke, but Jay talked me into coming back into Phoenix with him, so I hid the spare key, grabbed the valuables and came back here.

I’m having a hard time not being mad at God right now... I’ve been throwing an internal fit for hours because this doesn’t seem fair to me. I checked and tested so many things under the hood and felt like I had made progress and narrowed it down to the correct problem all to end up back at square one. GRRR. If only I had just had Franke towed first thing, I might be back on the road by now, but instead today will probably be spent waiting.
Ok... enough pity party. Looking at the bright side, the place I got the coil from actually specializes in air cooled’s and they seem like pretty honest guys, so that is where Franke will be towed to. Plus Nick said that I could use his car for the day, so at least I won’t feel stuck while I’m waiting.
There is a silver lining... albeit a pretty thin one...

So here I am... A rest stop 60 miles out of Phoenix. Jay, the friend of nicks that I stayed with, is driving the coil out to me... God bless him. Such a kind and generous man. I pray this is the problem... If not, I have to deal with towing again, and this one will cost me due to the fact that my insurance only covers the first 15 miles. Regardless, I've already paid for almost my entire insurance premium from the first two tows :). So glad I got roadside assistance! The coil won't be that hard to replace... Already got the old one out. Ugh... This whole hurry up and wait thing is testing my patience yet again... Probably a good thing, as that is the first thing that love is, but I'm not gonna lie, it sucks ass! I should have made 200+ miles today, and here I am wondering what god is doing behind the curtain of my existence. I'm sure I will know eventually... But this is hard for me right now. Thank god for iPods!

Well... Shortly after praying for a miricle, a man named Scott who knows more than I about mechanics spent 30 minutes with me trying to diagnose the problem. Franke still isn't running, but it was really awesome of him to help :). We did eliminate some of the 'what-iffs' too. Then I called my mechanic chris and he walked me through several other tests. It was either a fuel or a spark issue, and after testing the fuel pump and making sure the injectors were getting gas, fuel was ruled out as being the problem. So I checked the cap and rotor for heat damage and everything in there was still like new, so we moved on to making sure the coil was getting power, which it was. Anyway, after much eliminating, we came to the conclusion that the coil is probably bad. Chris is about 90% sure that this is the problem... Evidently a common one in the air cooleds. So I searched for parts places in Phoenix and the first one I called had a used coil that works for only 20 bucks (vs. 120 for a new one). Plus the parts place was only a few blocks from where I was staying :). So I called nick, and his boyfriend drove over there and picked up the coil, and now he's trying to find someone to drive it out to me. If he can't find anyone, he will drive it out when he gets off work at 8. So even though I didn't get the instant miricle that I prayed for, things are working out :). I still need lots of prayer that the coil is in fact the problem... And I still have to replace it... Here I go playing mechanic again.

Lord teach me to trust completely in you. Circumstances out of my control are ways that you draw me closer... Help me to see your hand behind trials on the road, and show me what I need in this moment. I'm sorry for the times that I've ignored your voice. Thank you for your mercy and grace. In your sons name, amen.

Yay for higher elevations and less heat... Although after a few long grades I pulled over at a rest stop and franke is not wanting to start. I'll give her some time to cool off... Probably a bit overheated.

Time for a haircut and coffee, then off to Sedona and flagstaff. I slept like a log last night :)

Cooking for the boys after a long night and one too many beverages... I think i'll leave tomorrow... Today calls for a couch and air conditioning.

Goodbye Tucson!

I'm such a dork...

Girls of my blog! Download or buy Avalon- testify to love :). It's a great song that is needed to be heard by more people. Teresa, Cheryl, Tiff, Sarah... listen to this at the beginning of your day... Let it guide you to Gods word for your day. I love my girls and miss each one of you so much. Hugs to my good friends back in the NW, my mom and my sisters.

Dad, you know your place in my heart :)

Currently in east Tucson visiting with Teresas sister Trina. Her and her husband steve live on probably the only body of water in the area... A creek that runs through a valley behind their house. I can definitely tell the family resemblence... She has the same eyes and cheeks as her sister :)

Tucson

So here I sit, drinking a margarita and eating chips and salsa. Rich is playing Resident Evil, which looks like an interesting kill everybody type of game, and Becky is in the other room making RV park reservations. It seems that she is almost always stressing out about something, and it makes me wonder what the root cause is... I'm in sycho-analyze mode I guess...

So good news is I found my camera! Nick found it by the bed where I slept in Phoenix Sunday night. Bad news is that I have no camera to capture my Tucson leg of the journey. I’m trying to take some pictures with my phone, but it’s just not the same.

Probably the biggest observation that I’ve made thus far in my travels would have to be this: The simpler the persons life, the more peace and joy that person has, and the more ‘stuff’ that people attach their identity to, the more unrest and discontent they portray. I have seen all walks of people and many different settings so far in my adventures, yet this remains true time and time again. I’ve also been on both ends of this spectrum, so I’ve realized it from personal experience as well.
If we can’t take anything with us when we leave this world, than why do we fear letting go of what we have? From a spiritual perspective, by all means it doesn’t make sense. The world teaches us that all we have is what is tangible, which runs contrary to what the bible teaches us, which is that all that is tangible will turn to dust, and faith alone is really all we have. I have to ask myself, how can I continue fearing the loss of what is in the physical when I know that faith in God is all that matters in the end? The key word is FEAR... because it paralyzes people, and keeps us clutching to what we own, because it’s easier to fall back on that than to trust in something we can’t see. Anyway, just some ramblings. I swear I’m going to get somewhere with this at some point in the future...

So we just went to the San Xavier mission, and now were in Tuboc looking at some art and shops. The mission was awesome :)

The way the mountains change color around here is simply amazing. From the prettiest blue, to oranges reds and purples. Yay for being alive.

So I'm out with Larissa and her boyfriend John... Having a few drinks, and about to go see an 80's cover band. Fun times :)

A free slideshow by Smilebox

Totally bummed right now. Either I lost my camera, or it got stolen out of the front seat of my car :(. I took pictures on the drive to Phoenix, but haven't seen the camera since... Hopefully it turnes up somewhere.

At least the flat desert is good for 23 miles per gallon :)

So I made it to Phoenix. About 9 hours to do 375 miles, which in my book is pretty damn good. Before this leg I've only been averaging 150 miles a day, which in large part had to do with the beautiful coast line. I almost wish that I would have found a campground near Joshua Tree and slowed this leg down a bit. Oh well... I have plenty of time to make random stops later. It definitely makes me think that I would love to do this trip again in the future... Only take more time :) Im tired... But one last thing. I love you mom! You are the most amazing woman I know. Thank you for giving your children gifts that money could never buy. This day exists because of people like you :)

Desert sunsets are amazing!

Wow... The desert is actually quite beautiful :)

In palm desert heading into the vast desert between here and Phoenix! Got my water and spare gas :). Cheers to life.

Yesterday was another fun day :). We went to La Jolla where we walked around the shops and the park by the ocean, then had dinner and drinks at this amazing 1920's hotel overlooking the ocean at sunset. Then we ended the night back in Laguna at an Italian place that had live jazz music. Ann and Robert are an absolute riot... My face hurt from laughing so hard.
It's funny to me how different life is here compared to the other places I've been so far. I can understand why people are drawn to the So Cal life, and I can understand why people leave it just the same. To each his own I guess.

I leave tomorrow to make the trek across the desert... Including the stretch of two hundred some odd miles with no towns or services. I pray that Franke does ok in the desert heat... And me for that matter.
It was great to see San Juan Capistrano today, which is home to the oldest residential street in California, and the oldest home, which was built in 1770. The catholic mission there was built in 1776, with the intention of converting native Americans to Catholicism, which was met with much resistance. It was a great little history lesson :). Anyway, I'm off to get ready for another night at some posh place that I should dress well for... Fun times :) I'm excited for the next leg of my adventure, and will post once I'm on the road.

Today was fun. I've been all over southern orange county. Went to corona del mar with Robert and saw some great shops and had lunch at a great natural foods type place, then Ann and I went to Huntington beach where I got to meet her sister Trisha and her nieces Paris, Hannah and Sasha. We then went to Newport Beach where I fell in love with Balboa Island. The day was finished with the Laguna Beach art walk, where all the local artists serve wine and have their art on display. It was a good day. This area is definitely a far cry from Spokane... In good ways and in bad ways.

What a good cinco de mayo... Forgive me if I didn't spell that right :) it's a beautiful night in sothern cal with my friend Ann... I am blessed. If your reading this, I ask for your prayers for my grandpa, as he is not so well. He fell and broke his hip and is not doing well. Pray that he will recieve gods grace for his life... He's a great man that I wish I was able to know better. Hopefully I will get the chance to spend some time with him when I get there.

It's official... This area is like a little slice of heaven. Perfectly warm climate, amazing native flowers and foliage, and stunning beaches with crystal clear ocean. Ann's son Robert took me around this afternoon and we got to see some amazing art and book shops in downtown laguna, and I got to hear some great stories and history of the area. Great day so far :)

Ok, quick update. I got the part, which ended up only being 5 bucks, and I was able to fix it myself in 30 minutes! Yay for that :). I survived rush hour LA traffic, and after two and a half hours I made it the 60 miles to laguna. Now Ann is showing me around and were headed to dinner and drinks at Dana Point harbor. Such a beautiful place!

I found the part! Now waiting for it to get here, then I get to play mechanic and get all dirty... This should be interesting.

Well, the second tow... My roadside assistance has definitely paid for itself! Nothing serious, just a throttle cable. It's something I might be able to do myself... But definitely need a part or two.

Cruising through Malibu :). Very posh... The landscape in northern Cali is definitely prettier though.

Amazing. Definitely a reason why i'm in this campground. Cameron and Aya are awesome people... Definite faith junkies, which is exactly why I am where I am. Amazing people, and great conversation. God is still good... Very good in fact. Thank you God for conversation that brings glory to your amazing creation. Thank you for thorns amidst the beauty that reminds us that there's still work to be done. You are beautiful to me. Your son loves you.

I am settled in Lompoc for the night. At a campground with some pretty cool young neighbors that sold everything and hit the open road. Can't wait to chat with them a bit more and share some stories.
I should get into LA at a decent time tomorrow, but definitely want to stop for a bit in Santa Barbara and Santa Monica. I'm kinda bummed that clouds rolled in before I could get any sunset shots, but I think I got some decent ones earlier in the day.
It was definitely another blessed day out on the road, and Franke is still plugging along without complaint :). God is good.

Los Osos

Hokay... So. I think I got some more good pictures in so far today... we will see tonight. Today has been a very good day so far, but the first part was distracted by a multitude of amazing views and pull-offs. It took me almost 3 hours to drive 40 miles! Part of that was running into some fellow Westie owners that drove Franke’s twin. Almost identical except a little older and not in as good of shape. Really nice hippie types from Victoria British Columbia, and we chatted for probably a good half hour or so.
I stopped at Sacred Heart hermitage as well, which was a winding very steep drive. The drive was worth it though, with amazing views and a killer bookstore where I scored a couple new reads. I’m currently in Los Osos, which is home to www.gowesty.com , experts on anything VW van, so of course I must stop. From here who knows how far I will get, but good sunset pictures are a priority :) Life is good.