New Orleans

When looking at the lead guitarist's face you'd think it must really be painful to hit those notes so perfectly. The bass player has a look about him that says he's the smoothest cat in New Orleans. At the break don't be surprised to see steam rising from the drummers head as he steps outside. These guys are pouring out their souls on stage - and the locals flock to these joints like moths to a light. The music was so good even I wanted to dance all night.

Just before the show they lined up 5 tables and dumped several pots of shrimp boil on them for the crowd to devour and enjoy. Everyone was standing around these tables peeling shrimp, attempting to wash away the fire in there mouth with large gulps of beer, and sniffling their running noses with their recently cleared sinuses. All you can eat shrimp and wonderful music for an $8 cover. As you walk towards the back you'll see an artist inspired by the musical notes hitting his ears and with his canvas illuminated by his headlamp he goes to work creating his next masterpiece in the back of the bar he lives across from. There is just no other place like this in the world.

The house I'm in has massive ten foot solid wood doors. The ceilings of all three stories are 12 feet high, and many of the rooms throughout the house are haunted by very active and rambunctious entities. The 100+ year old floors creek just as you would assume. I'm in a castle made of stone - rare amongst the many wood and brick homes that are native to this area. With 13 bathrooms throughout the house almost every room is vacant and when taking the initial tour I definitely felt the strange electricity in the air... a sense that we should've ended the tour before opening the last few rooms on the third floor. As much as I like doing things that make good stories you won't find me staying up there overnight.

It's an amazing house though, as I'm typing this I'm looking out the window by the desk. I'm looking down at the swimming pool of the Real World New Orleans house. Just beyond that is St. Charles Ave, a famous route for several of the Mardi Gras Parades. Every 10 minutes the street cars screech to a halt before accelerating past Loyola and Tulane Universities ending at Canal Street and the French Quarter. Horse drawn carriages roll by continuing the guided tour of this historic area.

Just this morning I heard someone walking in the living room towards my bedroom... I'm a deep sleeper and it was loud enough to wake me up. I figured it must be Joe so I called his name and the footsteps stopped. I thought haha he's hiding behind the wall connecting the living room and bedroom so I got up to catch him. No one was there.  This was a bed and breakfast for a while and there have been many documented accounts of paranormal activity here. Google "The Castle Inn of New Orleans"

I've never lived in a city before but New Orleans is so different and unique that I'm considering moving here. The food, music, festivals, family, and saints games are very enticing.  Not to mention I sort of work here in the summer time. It's tough because I don't think I'd be able to find such an amazing group of friends as I have up in Washington. Time to roll out though...

Life in St. Louis

For those of you who know Joe, you must know I'm on the craziest road trip of my life. He's the kind of character that can captivate crowds with his charm, personality, and endless stories. Extremely quick witted - he's rarely outmatched by any verbal exchange. He joined me at the end of 2006 for a road trip from Seattle to New Orleans via St. Louis and this trip is sort of a ride down memory lane for us.

We made our way across Kansas on I-70 stopping in Hays for a night of debauchery... somehow trouble finds us. I'm finding it very difficult to get people to believe me when they ask what I do. That night we were stars in such a small college town... at one point we decided to change bars and we drug almost everyone with us for some dancing and drinks at a club up the street. The after party always ends up at the road house - and sleep is a luxury that I'm learning to live without while on the road. Waking up the next day we realize we can't leave until we recovered Joe's debit card which he has a knack for leaving at bars. Of course that bar didn't open until 5PM so we spent the day at the Wal Mart parking lot emptying and repacking every storage hatch to get a little more settled in.

I knew when we arrived at St. Louis that we'd be spending a lot of time with Joe's family - and it turns out he's rubbed off quite a bit on his younger brother and younger cousins. They really look up to him and have tried to prepare for a crazy few weeks while we're here. St. Louis is just about lawless when it comes to drinking - Pops is a bar that serves 24/7 and we're here in the midst of Halloween season... The roadhouse is equipped with all kinds of crazy wigs and costumes and I'd find myself wearing almost all of them at some point during my stay here.

Eric is Joe's younger brother and on his days off we kidnap him as our newest roommate driving off to give him a taste of the road. He always arrives with his rent; a suitcase of beer and shots at the bar of the night. I've never laughed this much in my life and if you want to see the best dance moves of any white kid ask Eric to bust out his invisible frisbee! Every time we walk into a place we seem to be the center of attention - but maybe it's cause we're all wearing sports coats and at random times in the night someone yells "SWITCH!" and we make a big scene of trading our jackets. What can I say we're fashionable guys... I like that we manage to make every ones night around us better. I was given a silver coin when I was out diving and I've attached it to a silver necklace that I bought - but at the time I fully intended to wear it under my shirt just as a nice reminder of how much fun I had out there; but it has now taken a life of its own when we're out making me look like a cheesy porn star who claims to be a treasure hunter... haha at least we're entertaining!

Joe's cousin Zach is about as shameless as they come and he knows how to have a good time. He's an equal opportunity employer of his dance partners and doesn't disciminate in any way... With "Call G Ma" written on his hand in permanent marker you immediately get a sense of how kind hearted he is, however he's notorious for getting kicked out of every place he goes... what can I say he knows how to drink.

I love everyone I've met here in St. Louis, they've truly taken me in as family and I'm sure a few will be life long friends. I just don't think I could keep a job if I lived here. My liver is crying and I feel like everyone here is waiting for the Road House to pull out so they can get back to their day to day life. With our extended visit reaching an end we'll head south to Tennesee for a quick stop before driving to New Orleans for some more crazy adventures with my friends and family.



Peace and Love,
Jon

PS... If you've never seen a Micro Wrestling Federation match I highly recommend it! These midgets brawl WWE style smashing trash cans on each other and flipping off the top rope of the ring - it's totally worth the cover charge at the gentlemen's club they'll be at.

Addicted to travel

Feeling the wheels touchdown at an unfamiliar airport, jumping on a train before the doors close to debark, cruising around with friends in their cars, rocking and rolling on a shrimp boat headed offshore, walking to the back of a motor home as it speeds down the interstate, toasting with home brew in the back of a limousine, navigating my way around Denver on the network of buses, and using a compass to navigate underwater while diving - all in the last few weeks! I'm officially addicted to the traveling lifestyle! It took a major adjustment to living without my own car but it has now been six months since I totaled the white rhino and I am extremely pleased at how easy it has been for me to get around. I'm traveling more with less expenses... I'm not sure how long I will choose to stay without a car but at least now I know it can be done!

So after diving offshore with the gentleman of fortune I flew up to Denver for Levi's wedding. Levi, Joe, and I were roommates back when we were in the Navy. Joe would be arriving via his 29 foot R.V. from Seattle; and as soon as he picked me up at the airport I was home sweet home. The R.V. didn't fit under the maximum clearance sign at the arrivals area, but as he had cars behind him he cautiously continued and inevitably scraped the top of the R.V. and caused a little damage. After putting my bags in the back and then climbing in the navigator's chair to catch up with Joe and help get us out of the airport, he asked me to inspect the back for damage... that was when I learned the R.V. was carrying very special cargo...

(Insert Video)

Obviously I was excited to see Tavo! I was getting a bit homesick for Seattle and I was stoked to get to share this adventure with two of my best friends! After a delicious breakfast and a few makeshift repairs to the R.V. we headed west to meet up with our old shipmate Nick and shower at his work - a 24 Hour Fitness. He sent us on our way with with directions to his place; Left on Long Ave. Right on Long Dr. and right on Long Cir... who named these streets! Confusing to say the least... We managed to get focused and find the place and after the R.V. screeched to a halt it was finally time to crack open a home brew! After a month of withdrawals I was excited to see 50 wine bottles full of home brew (10 Gallons!); a perfect wedding gift for Levi.

We didn't have long to relax though as Levi's bachelor party was that night followed by his wedding the next day. We moved the R.V. to a shop in Loveland, CO that Levi's family owned which was where the bachelor party would get crackin' in a few hours. It's nice bringing our home with us everywhere we go; just plug in and we're good to go! We swapped stories with all of Levi's family and friends and tried to finish off the two huge coolers of beer that was supplied for the party. We presented Levi with our home brew but lacking a corkscrew we ended up driving a bolt into the corks and used pliers to pry them open... Many bottles were passed around the crowd and even though this is definitely a Coors Light town our dark porter was a hit! I didn't sleep the night before so I thought I could sneak off to the RV for some shut eye - but soon found Tavo laughing as he poured water on me and even after shaking that off and returning to my beauty rest I awoke to a rack of fireworks exploding on my chest... Good times guys; I'll get the last laugh!

So when everyone else was hurting in the morning I awoke refreshed and ready to tackle the day; Nick's wonderful girlfriend Ericka arranged dates for Joe and I so I wanted to be able to function at a semi-decent level. At breakfast Nick took one sip of his orange juice and soon found himself jumping up and rushing to the bathroom; returning with a sweaty brow and pale face... He would have to recover quick because the partying would continue for several more days while Joe and I are still in town. Luckily the wedding wasn't until the late evening which gave everyone plenty of time for the well known remedy 'the hair of the dog that bit ya'.

As I was in the best shape I dawned the coveted captains hat and hit the gas til we arrived at the Country Inn near the University of Northern Colorado where the wedding would commence. All of the groomsman were wearing their snow white collared shirts and cracking jokes on each other while waiting in their room to be called for the wedding pictures. The limo arrived and started shuttling everyone to the campus, and giving our respect to the wedding party Joe, Tavo, Nick and I would be the final four to arrive; while our tastefully dressed dates waited patiently for the crazy sailors they knew very little about. We smiled and introduced ourselves to our special lady friends and even dawned matching lei's... I happened to be sporting a backpack full of clinking wine bottles and rushed in as everyone was waiting for us to start the wedding. Literally 10 minutes later they were hitched and we were on our way to the reception! Levi's new wife Christine was radiantly beautiful in her dress; and they make such a perfect couple.

This was a wonderful start to an incredible trip ahead of us. Joe and I will continue on to St. Louis, New Orleans, and then back to Seattle with numerous stops in between over the next 6-7 weeks. Who knows what the road will bring next!

Frozen Grand Central

Just Thought we would share this, it's really cool and interesting!

Cheers,

Hammock Brothers

Treasure hunting: Salvaging the Steam Ship New York

Have you ever dreamed of what it would be like to find sunken treasure? To swim down and pop open the treasure chest filled with silver and gold coins that haven't seen the light of day in ages? Though it could never be that easy, I felt extremely fortunate that I was invited by my Aunt Renee and Uncle Gary to help crew for them on board Night Moves, a real life treasure hunting - scratch that - treasure finding ship, an incredible opportunity that inevitably will change the course of my life.



Gary is the capable Captain of Night Moves who has been an avid diver since he received his diving license at age 16 (the age minimum). In second grade his Aunt gave him the novel Treasure Island, which his Mom thought he was too young to read so he had to prove her incorrect, and ever since his dreams were filled with adventure and treasure. Raised in southern Louisiana on a sugar cane farm that he would eventually find himself running, many of his diving trips led him to the Gulf of Mexico in search of sunken ships that intrigued and utterly fascinated him while fueling his passion even further. The best way he found to locate these spots (sunken WWII vessels, huge oil tankers, merchant ships, and many others) was to coerce the hot spots out of commercial fisherman (where they would inevitably snag their lines and nets repeatedly over the years), and the easiest way to do that was sharing a few drinks with them at many of the local pubs. The fish congregate to ship wrecks like a natural reef, and undoubtedly fisherman would be very reluctant to part with such valuable information... he had to convince them he wasn't a fisherman but a diver in search of ship wrecks and often times offered his own prime fishing spots in return. With the coordinates to a possible new diving location in his pocket, he'd set out with friends on his sailboat with the difficult task of trying to locate the ship in the vast Gulf of Mexico by using primitive tools such as a depth gauge, fish finder, and a nautical map. They'd always hope to find the new spot but even if they didn't they still were on a boat, sharing beers and stories, and they loved spear fishing at the base of the oil rigs if they came up with a scratch. If it went well they'd succeed in locating the new vessel and often times returned with very cool artifacts like brass port holes, gun sights, compasses, builder's plaques, and other nautical treasures.

My Aunt Renee married Gary after many exciting dates where he taught her to dive, spear fish, and she quickly learned the navigation, communication, and seamanship skills necessary for her to become a capable crew member in her own right. She changed careers into drafting around the time she met Gary, and those skills would prove invaluable as she would be the one to not only dive but plot the most detailed site survey map I've ever seen... a real treasure map!

Avery is the dreamer of the group. I've never met him but from the stories I've been told I can tell he's very charismatic. I was told how he'd gotten his hands on a metal detector when he was very young with his friend Craig, and they'd dig up hole after hole on the back of Craig's property. After finding a civil war musket ball he was infected with the treasure hunting virus to which there isn't a cure. He became an avid scuba diver early in his life, and after spear fishing with Gary they planned future adventures exploring the gulf. After many successful ventures with Gary he decided since they were putting all this effort into finding these ships he'd start researching for ships that were documented going down with something worth finding. One of the ships that interested him was the S.S. New York, which when it sank in 1846 carried an estimated $30,000 - $40,000 in gold, silver, and bank notes (millions today). It was his years of researching articles, marine surveys, and interviews that focused the search to a general area where they believed it could have sank - which Gary was able to quiz the right fisherman who coughed up the coordinates to it's correct location!

Craig, a childhood friend of Avery since the age of 2, was easily convinced to join Gary and Avery on these adventures as well. As he was new to diving, often times he let the crazies go down on the really deep dives with the wrenches needed to unbolt the port holes and keep sakes - visibility in the gulf is often poor and no artifact is worth your life. He enjoyed his career as an engineer - and his intellect proved necessary in helping design the prop wash system needed to redirect the ships propulsion down to the seabed to blow the top layer of sediment away; thus revealing the surviving artifacts. It's also a very difficult thing to try and understand the events that transpired over 160 years ago by looking at one small blow site, but he knew they were clues that could lead them to an understanding of how the ship sank which is necessary to determine where the safe would be located which carried what they all called the 'motherload'. If you think golf is hard putting a ball in a small cup a few hundred yards away at least you can see the flag on your target - try locating a coin or safe in the endless bottom of the seabed which is covered in a couple feet of sand and mud...

These four characters, after discovering the vessel in 1990, used every bit of wit, persistence, time, and resources they had to become a successful treasure hunting operation - and they named the corporation 'The Gentleman of Fortune' after the pirates from Treasure Island. It didn't happen overnight - many, many, obstacles were hurdled when others would have given up - and any given factor could have shut down their dreams (like the Court Decision on claiming the site - which has very tricky archaeological implications) Countless artifacts, along with extremely valuable gold and silver coins were recovered and have financed the operation to the point it is today in hunt of the safe.

Due to medical reasons Avery had to leave the group, and I (along with other friends at various times) was given an opportunity to help crew, and if I wanted, to learn to dive and help in the salvage operation.

We use four anchors to hold us on location - and blow the prop wash for 30 minutes which pushes the sand and mud off of a 20-30 foot hole exposing the hard clay bottom. The sand collects onto the outer edges of the hole creating a berm ranging from a foot to sometimes 4-6 feet if we have been pushing the same sand in a single direction over the course of a few blows.
I hear the engine rev down, indicating the hole is ready for us to explore... So now I find myself walking awkwardly toward the dive ladder in my fins, with 14 lbs of weights strapped to my waist along with the already heavy scuba tank and gear - and I have to convince myself when I jump I won't sink like a lead weight directly to the bottom... With my mask pressed against my face I take my first plunge followed shortly by my first breath underwater - a whole new world is about to present itself to me! I grab the down line that is tied to the boat leading to the weights sitting in the freshly blown hole - and I begin my descent into the abyss clearing my ears as often as I could all the while wondering how much further I have to go to reach the 60 foot depth - probably 5-6 times deeper than I've ever been before. Stay calm... Don't panic... Upon reaching the bottom I clip my reel to the down line as I was trained - and with a visibility of around 6 feet I wondered if I could see the light of the sun shining on the surface - so I looked up...

Water started flooding into my mask - DON'T PANIC! I could taste the salt water in my mouth - and I knew I could neither panic and try to resurface or afford to do anything that would cause the mask to flood further as I'm not sure how to clear the mask... I pressed the mask back against my face and realized my straps were loose and when I looked up the buoyancy of the air in my mask was pulling it away from my face allowing the great pressure of water surrounding me to enter my mask... I called Gary over for his assistance and after a few pulls on my straps to tighten them I was breathing, stable, and ready to start exploring this underwater world. I passed my first test!

I followed behind Gary and I saw him pick something up - it was a knife! I quickly realized that I'll never find anything by following and feeling more comfortable already I decided I'd take my reel and swim ahead... it didn't take but maybe another minute and I found my first treasure! Another knife! The blade was covered in barnacles which acted as a natural sheath. Most people's first dive is in a pool and here I am on a shipwreck riddled with artifacts! Upon surfacing I learned these knives were special indeed and were built with ivory handles. Another artifact, a marble plaque probably attached to the wooden crate the knives were originally contained in, said they were imported from Germany by Henderson and Gaines operating out of New Orleans on Canal Street! How crazy is that! To know that I was the first person to see this in over a 164 years was chilling in deed...

My first dive definitely tested my nerves - but as I continued to take the plunge I'd become more and more familiar with the equipment and overall process used to complete these dives safely. I began to hear Gary tell the dive boat "found another coin" and I couldn't have been more jealous that he had that underwater metal detector aiding his search! Completely unfair! I was hoping to pull my weight on board - and while I felt I've done a good job crewing on the surface I hoped I could prove myself as a diver as well. I knew it would take time to get comfortable with the gear and process - but it was my wish that I'd find something valuable enough to at least cover the expense of having me on board. So after my first 7 trips to the bottom, visually finding broken wine bottles and nails, I'd get my chance to start using a metal detector on my own - yet another item to learn and get comfortable carrying and operating.

Everything has a technique. Something that would take Gary, Craig, or Renee 1 minute would take me 10 if I didn't apply the techniques they were teaching me properly. For example, when finding a metal detector hit it's important to find the center not only horizontally but vertically as well. This should pen point the item, but if it's covered in sand you should fan the water above it to reveal it. Don't fan in both directions either - that will kill your visibility and if the item does move you won't know which direction... fan down the sand berm towards the hard clay field so the item can be recovered. I've had to learn not only diving, but treasure hunting 101 as well. In low visibility swimming around will get you disoriented very quickly. I've learned to use my compass to keep me straight on which direction I'm facing and to help me visualize my work area better. These coins can be worth suitcases of money, so leaving any behind isn't an option. After we dive a hole - we need to have a reasonable amount of assurance that we didn't leave anything behind - because no one wants to dive a hole that someone else didn't clear.

We've started finding some very interesting items; one's that most assuredly were located in the pursers office... and if they had eyes I'm sure they must've stared at the safe for years... but with seas starting to roll in from a hurricane in the south western gulf we reluctantly lifted the prop wash so we could motor back to port.

I'm taking diving lessons this week while seas are rough - I just hope my instructor doesn't think I'm crazy when I tell her this story!

My first coin!

The S.S. New York sank after going thru an eye of a hurricane on September 7, 1846 - and while most passengers were able to survive on make shift rafts, nearly 20 lives were lost in this tragic accident. Thru the artifacts we find I hope their legacy can continue and that I can share with you times of a different era...

Series Of Fortunate Events, Victoria BC

(Jason)

Vancouver Island on the west coast of British Columbia Canada is where I was headed equipped only with my backpack and my wit. Almost, I also had my Washington State accent, mammoth hair, and contagious smile all in full bloom. This trip needs to be shared because it shows how by putting ourselves out there in the world not having any expectations for what is to come allows the manifestation of the most powerful experiences of our lives. During my travels I have come to realize just how special and important I am to the world, just as everybody is. Doors have been opened so wide they have put holes in the theoretical walls that I have created and challenged the many different facets of the beliefs that I have held for what is possible in life, this trip is no exception. The adventure begins with me getting picked up in Everett Washington with just my backpack, driving to the boarder of Canada to my mom's house in Blaine, and spending the night hanging out with my brother and drinking home made wine with my cool aunt and uncle. Family first, literally on this trip. Morning time came and so I made my way to the ferry terminal across the boarder in Tsawwassen Canada. Boarding the ferry I felt as though I was taking off on the grand voyage on the Titanic, but hopefully with a better ending. The sun was out, the seagulls were flying above, and soon I was off headed toward Vancouver Island on yet another adventure full of more characters then I could count, good times to remember, and random events I felt as though this article should be called a series of fortunate events.

As I walked onto the ferry, I noticed a cool looking girl next to me and as usual I began flapping my lips being friendly and before long I had made a new friend. Liz I soon realized was a really interesting girl traveling across to Tofino, a small surf town on the Island. Following her closely was her new friend Braden, who she had met at a hostel in Vancouver the day before. Before long Braden and I were comparing Hammocks seeing who's was better, it felt like we were establishing who was the Alpha in the newly established pack. By the end of the ferry ride we had had an epic harmonica jam, we tried setting up the hammocks with no success, and had decided to all go drink beer as soon as we got to Victoria. Victoria is the biggest city on the Island, full of history, and character. Arriving to the port, we got in line for the bus and then I noticed a guy extraordinarily pouring out sweat for no obvious reason behind me and so naturally I couldn't help to point it out to him and we all began laughing. He replied saying it was hot out even though it was cold and rainy. Nothing like some in line humor to make a bus ride better. We got dropped off in town close to the hostel, checked in, and then we learned of a local place called Big Bad Jon's. A rustic looking pub with cheap beer and good laughs. We spent two nights hanging out for hours on end, drinking, telling stories, admiring the hundreds of bra's above our heads, and getting in trouble every time we didn't tip from Jerry the manager of the bar. Or as I called him Denim Dan due to his unnecessary over sized coveralls that he wore as part of the theme of the bar. Big Bad Jon's was a mix between the wild west, and Canadians attempt to re-create the wild west, they did a fair job. It was good times, I highly recommend it for whoever travels to this great place they call Victoria.

Waking up the next morning, the goal was to get out of Victoria to make it up to my friend Amanda's place up more north on the island, but after finding out how expensive it was to get around the island by bus and train as well as missing the train that morning it just didn't seem like is was working out. Liz, Braden, and I tried a few times to rent a car, but every time we tried something wouldn't work right, like it being way too expensive. I could have hitch hiked probably very easily but my leg still wasn't completely healed from my snowboarding accident on Mount Hood back in August, and so I really didn't want to risk having to walk a far distance with my backpack in case I got stuck somewhere. As well as I didn't bring my sleeping bag so I wasn't wanting to sleep outside in my hammock with the unpredictable September weather. Meandering my way around the city for two days straight I did a little bit of the tourist thing, well more like the tourist that doesn't have much money with him thing. I did try to shake the hand of the wax figure of Barack Obama in a wax museum. He was standing next to George Bush, and Bill Clinton and I was thinking what a party that would be. In trying to shake his hand I crossed the laser beam and an alarm went off, oops, I felt like a little kid getting caught in the cookie jar. Also, I spent some time hanging out at the parliament building, learning how the very important Canadian building was designed by Francis Rattenbury who was only 25 at the time, and how he had lied about his age saying he was much older. Actually he had lied about  more then that, like how he lived in Victoria when in fact he really lived in England at the time, as well about how had constructed a few building that were built before his time all for his credentials on his Resume. I like that idea, it worked out for him he went on to be a celebrated architect. After I learned of this, I shared it with probably 10 people in the next couple days. For some reason, that is just what I do, I learn and then teach, even if I don't really know what that much about what I'm talking about, at least I can admit it, that's the first step in recovery as they would say in AA. Board of the building itself I set up my hammock in the hundred and something year old Sequoia tree in front for a while before getting kicked out by three security guys. I was entertained for a while though as the older tourist type passed by pretending to be interested in the tree as they clumsily looked at me swinging in my hammock in the branches wondering what I was doing, I felt like a monkey!

I slept in a hostel the first night next to an immensely loud guy snoring underneath me and a tremendously foul person who smelt like he didn't deem showers important across the room. I can go a couple days without a shower but come on dude, take a shower, it feels good I promise. Try going back a forward between hot and cold it stimulates the blood circulation in our bodies as well as feels great. I love hostels because how cheap they are, but after waking up in the morning with my mouth tasting like body odor, I was looking for an alternative for the next night, like outside in the rain if I had to, or even better yet under a bridge. I actually ended back up in the same room the second night but this time with ear plugs and the window wide open. As I continued to Rome around the city the next day I went to go ask a nice lady how to get inside of the Empress Hotel, and as I was talking to her I realized something, I realized that she had the exact same eye's I had, and as usual not having any filter I blurted it out and without hesitation, she agreed right back but with more excitement. Looking directly into each others eyes for the two minutes or so that we did, you would think it would be uncomfortable, but we were both really into it. Identical twin eyes, it doesn't seem like that big of deal until it happens and then it is thrilling. These are the things that happen to me on a daily basis as I travel, that's why I love it so much.

All that was really exciting and cool but what happens next blows all of that out of the water for random coolness, and awesomeness. I was hanging out with Liz and Braden the third night and trying to figure out where I was going to sleep because the hostel that I had been staying at was booked. Subconsciously I didn't make it to the hostel on time to book a room because I really didn't want to stay there even though I had no other plans for where I was going to sleep. That's kind of the story of my mid twenty's right now and I wouldn't have it any other way, every day is a new adventure and journey into the unknown. most days I feel like a deep sea diver entering into a new undiscovered cave full of wonder and new creatures to study and enjoy. It's funny because Jon, the Hammock Brother is actually doing something similar as that in Louisiana . He's searching for treasure on his family's boat for a couple months. Anyway, back to the story. I learned of another hostel with a bed to stay for the night and so I began walking down the street headed off to find it before it was booked for the night. As usual I was walking down the street and a notice a stunning blond haired blue eyed young woman to my right hanging outside of a Starbucks enjoying a cup of coffee with a familiar book sitting on the table next to her. I jumped on the opportunity to engage conversation with her with a quick, "Hey, I've heard of that book, is it any good?" she replied with "I haven't began reading it yet, but yeah I've heard it's good." After a few minutes of small talk I learned her name, Demi, which by the way I have never met another Demi so it was hard to get right for a while. We began to realize that we have a bunch in common like rock climbing, snowboarding, living for the day, bare foot running, and a wanting to be surf bumbs. Being my modest self, I never thought that she would want to continue hanging out after our conversation outside of the Starbucks but to my shock when I realized that I probably missed my chance of getting a bed at the hostel for the night she said she wanted to come with me to go find out. Wow! I began thinking to myself, this girl might actually be interested in me, as we walked toward the hostel. After about ten minutes of looking at maps trying to figure out where the hostel was, it turned out we were one door down from the entrance, that's probably some sort of simple philosophy for life, being so close to a goal and not seeing it. We entered in through the door, learned that they had one bed left, and then it came to the decision to take it or not. Earlier in conversation outside of Starbucks she had mentioned that it might be OK to stay with her in her car for the night, and so as I stood at the desk about to book the bed, I figured what the heck might as well call her bluff about if she really would be OK with me staying with her. Enthusiastically and unexpectedly she says, "Heck yes, that would be fun!" Spending the night hanging out with a attractive girl not having to pay a dime for the night vs. having to spend 30 dollars sleeping probably next to a bunch of stinky, snoring travelers. Not much of a choice really, sort of like choosing between going to Hawaii vs. and going to Iraq.

Within minutes we were on top of the Yates Street Parkade building above the city getting kicked off the roof by a really nice security guard, and then getting kicked out by him again within a few minutes, this time he was a little more stern, as he should have been or else we would have probably just done it again. We bought some wine and beer, walked down to the water front in a park, and got invited to jam out with some really cool new friends. Rachel, Andy, and Cory turned out to be very interesting, talented friends and we loved their company very much. I actually played a washboard for the first time and it was a blast, way better then original intentional use, washing clothes. Soon we would make a mass migration like a family of birds headed south for the winter, well more like a group of hippies that didn't have anywhere to sleep for the night.  So down to a cool free camping spot on a beach looking toward Washington state we were headed with more crap then I could carry, we finally found a nice part of the beach that was ideal, now hopefully it just doesn't rain. We played a ton of music, watched the night sky, and I really got to know Demi through great conversation. These are the types of nights that the majority of people watch in movies and will only dream about never experience.

Waking up the next morning, we decided on to go for a barefoot run to the top of one of Demi's favorite mountains. We picked up a bunch of local organic produce, as well as Lot's of water, because we were dehydrated from the night before after a abundance of wine drinking. This was my first long distance barefoot trail run, which was great. I just finished a book called, Borne To Run, it's all about running with little to nothing on our feet and why it is great for us. Nike and other shoe companies agree with their newer type thin shoes that are coming out. This is another thing I tend to talk about when I meet people because I believe in it so much. It is a lot of fun, try it yourself and you will begin to see the benefits. As we paced ourselves on the trail I began telling Demi about what along with my brother Justin are working on back at home, which is gathering and preserving as much food for winter as we can as part of our lifestyle design that supports local, quality, organic food. Health and ethical reason's drive us, it should be common knowledge for better nutrition and not supporting the high environmental cost's of transportation because of the status quo regarding these things isn't sustainable hence the whole "green" revolution that is happening. We crossed over a really high train track on the hike that if we would had slipped we would die, that's what was going through my head anyway. About half way across we can up on a landing and then sat and enjoyed the panoramic view and scenery from about five hundred feet up. Not a bad day so far, and then we headed to another great place. I had never swam in a salt water pool until Demi shared it with me at her work after our hike. We hung out there for a couple hours, enjoying all of the pampering amenities, it's a tough life. Demi and I agreed that the Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes song, "Home" with lyrics like Hot and Heavy, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Candy, Jesus Christ, There Ain't Nothing Please Me More Than You, was our song. Next thing on the list, we were headed up to meet her parents. Wow, even though it had only been basically a day that we have known eachother, here I am hanging out with her parents Robin and Greg, both were very nice and accommodating towards me. Me, this random guy that their daughter had drug in through the door off the streets of Victoria. I love it! This day by far was one of the best days of my life, and not just saying that, it truly was. Without being to cheesy, It was truly magic, and will be remembered for the rest of my life. Everybody deserves to have days like these.

After spending the night at her parents house, I woke up to the sound of tranquilizing rain drops crashing into and cascading down the side of the house. Waking up for the second time to this stunning girl in a breathtaking dress, it doesn't get much better then this. We eat a great breakfast with Robin and Greg,  then I was off for another adventure. Demi had to go to work and so I decided to get dropped off at a book store in Victoria so I could finish my book. After a few hours of "Reading Rainbow" time as my good friend Frazier and I for some strange reason call it when we read, I headed off to find something good to eat. Demi had told me of a little place Called Café Bliss in town, so I tracked it down and had my first raw pizza which was made with only local organic ingredients as well as I took my first shot of wheat grass, which was expensive but very revitalizing. I have found that when i eat good quality food, it doesn't take as much to fill me up, and that's a good thing because it wasn't very much food at all. My time at bliss was great, once again I attracted a deep philosophical conversation with my new friends Wendy, and Ryan whom I had met while enjoying my food. Probably an hour or so went by in deep conversation and by the end of it once again I had two good friends in which I felt like I have known forever. The rest of the day was spent hanging out with more new friends that I met on the street of Victoria including a cool guy named Kris whom had hitch hiked across Canada ten times, as well as Landin whom is working on eliminating the need for money in the world, a noble goal to say the least! I also met a couple who have been living with what's on their back for years with many stories to tell as well as I had an epic jam session once again with two more new friends Fox, and Lindsey, they were very nice and full of jokes, as it seems most everybody is that I find myself associating and connecting with. I love people who don't have ego's and have interesting things to say. All of my new friends fit in this amazing category. That's what is great about life, we can chose to hang around with really good people, and in turn we ourselves become better. After one more day full of cool people, food, and stories I met back up with Demi as she got off work and spent the night watching a movie, listening to music, and talking about our future dreams in the back of her Acura before passing out. Raw, local, organic pizza 8.25 at Bliss, crashing out in the back of an Honda Acura on top of a tall parking building over looking Victoria with the coolest girl in the world, priceless....... As they say.

The next morning came to quickly for it was time to start making my way back home. We woke up, enjoyed some great coffee together, got even more excited about our future dreams of rock climbing, snowboarding, being hippies in California surfing every day, and barefoot running together but now it was time to say goodbye. I didn't think it was going to be as hard as it was, but I really had a hard time letting go of her, I hugged her for a few minutes straight, I'm sure she was probably having a hard time breathing. I hoped on the bus, took the ferry home, met even another great person named Grace who invited Demi and I to come out with her in Vancouver some time, and then I got picked up in Tsawwassen. Nice, One more grand adventure was under my belt. It's hard to articulate in words all that this trip meant to me and to all the good people that I encountered along the way. We are all more connected to each other then most including myself realize. I prove to myself over and over again that every time I take the risk to leave home and enter into this big world the reward is much too great. This all means more to me then all the money in the world. I feel like I get a little closer to truly understanding why I am put on this earth, with travels like these. The world is our oyster, so butter it up and slurp it down! Metaphorically speaking of course.

A Good message From a Life Long Friend

How's it going guys?

Just thought I'd drop you guys an email, wanted to say a few things. 

I've been living in Edinburgh for a few weeks, a completely new adventure and lifestyle, a new place, and most importantly some brilliant and diverse new people. Being in such a beautiful place has led me to contemplate life a lot (as I constantly am ... my mind is a different animal since leaving home in November 2009 and is now filled with beliefs and dreams), and I have been reminiscing an incredible amount about my time with you guys in the States. So primarily, I wanted to say, on a really profound note, that I would like to thank you guys again for really, really helping to transform my outlook on life so much for the better, and would like to say that I am going to do my absolute, comprehensive utmost to come and adventure and live life with you guys next summer if you will have me. I am in a staggeringly fortunate position in life and I pray that I will not waste it, and indeed don't think I will waste it, largely thanks to you guys. Our outlooks are beautifully similar and I would love nothing more than to develop ourselves and maximise life and further the hammock brothers with you guys. 

Secondly, I would like to say that, if you think it a good idea, I would like to post continuous articles to the blog recording my lifestyle and adventures and beliefs as they develop over the next few months, because I truly believe in the Hammock Brothers and all that we epitomise. Furthermore, I will post photos and even a video of our time together in due time.

Finally, I just want to wish you guys phenomenally well in your immediate adventures, and vow to follow religiously via the website and Skype always. I wish I was out there living life with you guys ... and if I hadn't of got the Oxford place I would be with y'all now. 

You are the most brilliant people I have ever met.

Loads of peace and love,

Your friend and fellow for life,

Sam xxx

Mt. Hood Road Trip

(Jason)

Frazier is always coming up with spontaneous ideas about what we should do while he is back for the summer, and when he said, "Road Trip to Mt. Hood," I perked up like Pamela Anderson in a wet t-shirt contest and was on board instantly. Jon was soon to stepped up to the plate, like Ichiro about to hit a home run. I was Especially stoked when Frazier continued on, and I come to find out that not only are we going to be road tripping, but snowboarding on Mt Hood's glacier as well. We learned a few things during the trip. First, road trips must include cardboard signs that say random statements and questions. Second, there must have been a nuclear disaster at Windels snowboard and skateboard camp. Third, if you haven't been snowboarding for six months, don't attempt a forty foot kicker without looking at it first. Well, I learned that lesson!

Attached to hitting the road, come the feelings of freedom and adventure, both are of the highest regard in our Hammock Brothers lifestyle. As we hit the road, we decided that it would be a good idea to make signs that we could make people laugh with while driving down I5. At the first gas station we came to, we dumpster dove in search of the perfect cardboard canvas. Being in our mid twenty's the signs of course are going to include such things as "Will You Marry Me," "I Pooped Myself," and "I Love You," to name a few... This supplied a constant stream of laughs and a few snobbish, I can't believe you guys, looks as well. One lady was so disgusted from the "I Pooped Myself" sign that she refused to acknowledge our existence for the minute or so that we awkwardly stared at her, while pacing at the same speed. For the most part we saved our enthusiasm for the good looking girls, all of which laughed hysterically at our absurd signs. We were encouraged by honks, laughs, and upset looks. Sings were the best idea for a road trip that we have ever had, right after the "To Do" list of course.

It was about five O Clock and we were getting close to Mt Hood, and all sudden Frazier noticed a sign that read "Windells, The Funnest Place On Earth." A snowboard and skateboard  camp that has world renowned training with professional riders from all over. Naturally, we were very excited, but then we read that it was closed, and we felt as Chevy Chase did when he arrived at Walley World from the movie "National Lampoons Vacation." Frazier and I were determined to make something of being there, especially since Frazier had great memories of the place from earlier in his youth, and I had imagined what it would be like as a kid but never got to go. Looking around, there was not a soul in the entire place. We meandered around for a while, jumped on the in ground trampoline,  and then found and eat gummy worms, well I did. Then fully realizing no one was around  were now thinking we wanted to snowboard so Jon decided that we should flip a coin to see if we should use the grounds to snowboard on, always a good idea. Heads we do it, tails we don't, best two out of three. Tails, Heads, Heads, it's on! We grabbed our snowboards, and made our way straight for the artificial snow down ramp, which uses plastic for snow, and included grinding boxes and rails. Frazier and I attacked the grinding boxes as if we were Lions and the grinding boxes were our prey. As we finished our lines we all ran for our lives out of fear of being fined for trespassing, nothing beats a run when you feel you are being chased.

Over the Next two day's we hammock camped, drank a lot of home brew, snowboarded, and relaxed. For two days we also enjoyed Timberline lodge's sauna, hot tub, pool, and ping pong table, even though we weren't actually staying at the lodge. We looked like we were though, especially since Jon and Frazier walked around for the most part barefoot. Jon, Frazier and I hiked roughly two thousand feet and about a mile and a half to make our way to the glacier field so that we didn't have to pay for a lift ticket. This goes back to my taking the summer off with not much saved, and the philosophy of "I'll do it if it's free," that I'm famous for. It worked out great until Karma said, "Everything has a cost," and I tore my meniscus in my right leg from casing it on the big kicker. Or in laymen terms, landing on the flat part of the jump while falling ten feet up from not having enough speed. This lesson for me is sort of like the annual sun burn that we all must learn not to do year after year. What made it worse was that not even five minutes before, Frazier and I were discussing how people get hurt snowboarding from being to excited as well as not looking at the obstacle first before they attempt to conquer it. Not us though, we know better, Frazier did anyway. This is the Law of Attraction at work, don't discuss what can go wrong, discuss only what will go right instead. A general rule of life. It was wasn't worth the risk, as we Hammock Brothers would say.

One last thing worth noting was when Frazier dropped and shattered the home brew growler, which is a jug we keep our beer in. This growler was special to our good friend Tavo, due to it being from his favorite brewery back in his home town in New Mexico. Tavo owns and operates the "Man Cave," which is where all us Hammock Brothers go and drink our beer that we brew. As well as tell our tall tails of adventure and exploration of the world. Tavo converted his garage into a fully operational bar with three TV's, a projector screen, dart board, massive kegirater, and much, much more. Arriving home, we had to break the news to Tavo that the growler was dead, and that it wasn't Frazier's fault, but all three of ours since I'm the one that came up with the idea to take it, Jon filled it up, and then Frazier actually dropped it. Our friend Joe was right there when we told Tavo and he exclaimed, "This one I had nothing to with  for once," passing the buck onto us as we all laughed.

The Mt Hood road trip was a great experience full of good laughs, good people, and good times. This trip was very inexpensive, especially because Frazier talked  his dad into allowing us to take his hybrid which managed get on average sixty miles per gallon, and because we camped two nights along a river in our hammocks for free. Not having to pay for accommodations when we travel is a huge reason we can do what we do. I will no doubt remember these grand days in my old age, especially when my knee is aching along with probably every other joint as well by that point. Here's our first video that we have edited of the road trip. We filmed it in high def but could only upload it in low quality because of YouTube's music copy writing laws, which we are going to break quickly. Not too bad for our first video though.

Meet The New Hammock Brothers:

Joe

Tavo (Proud owner and operator of the Man Cave)

Francis

The Shambhala Experience

Being invited to Christina lake for a week with my friend Frazier and his family was a dream come true for me, but I had no idea what was to come. When I left home I had no idea that I would be sneaking into one of Canada's largest music festivals with no money, tent, or friends and living for four days. Or how my family would be calling the Royal Canadian Mounted Police because I was "missing" and my mom thinking I was dead. Or that I would be hitch hiking with no money across Canada for three day's a beautiful girl by my side. It all started when my good friend Frazier invited me for a week of "relaxation," well a little of that, but mostly random. Arriving to the lake, I finally began to see what he had been talking about all these years, in the summer sun, Christina Lake is perfect in every way. Its warm, clean, with cliffs to jump, and beaches to lie. The lake is nestled within the Kootenay Rockies located in the South Eastern part of British Columbia, Canada. The Kootenay's stretch from the Okanagan valley in the west to the boarder of Alberta in the East. I was awe struck and fell in love with the Kootenay's by the end of my week and a half adventure, for many reason's, I want nothing more then to go back as soon as possible.

I spent five day's enjoying the lake with Frazier and his brother Jensen, and his Cousin Spencer spending our day's swimming, looking for cool girls to hang out with, and borrowing the Internet in the parking lot of the local cafe. We became idol's to the kids next door because of our diving board skills including dives and flips, and our willingness to watch them do their dance routines. They seemed to be able to bring out the kid in us, not wanting anything more then to enjoy swimming, running, and laughing. Our first night we meandered our way to one of the neighbor's houses and learned of a music festival called Shambhala, and how it was going to be taking place in the next few days. Instantly, I began to inquire about the details and try to figure out what it was all about. I soon learn that on the Salmo River Ranch a city of over eleven thousand people appears and goes on for five days. This planted a seed in me that was soon to blossom into a full blown plan on how we were going to get in. Over the next couple of days I learned a little bit more about the festival from their website and from the locals. Every time it came up I heard more, and became more and more interested.

Here's where the real story begins. The tickets to Shambhala had been sold out for some time, so we knew that we couldn't pay for tickets, that and they were really expensive even if we could scalp them. The festival was to begin Friday morning, so by late Thursday afternoon we had a plan. After a bit of research and studying the Google map, we decided on the best option. The plan was to drive the 100 kilometer's or so, bring a raft, and float down the river to where it connects to the festival, which I come to find out a few days later, is nearly impossible. We knew that there would be know way through the front gate with the super tight security on their AT V's patrolling. We had the plan and so now it was go time. We headed back to the cabin from the parking lot of Cafe with it's Internet, packed our bags, checked the rafts durability and we were off. Frazier opted not to go along on this escapade, even after I tried hard to convince him it being a solid plan. Next thing you know, Jensen, Spencer and I are headed toward Shambhala, not knowing exactly what was going to happen next.

We made it within a few kilometer's from where we needed to be to try to float the river, and then we hit a road block, literally! The Royal Mounted Police had a road block set up, looking for people with drugs and open alcohol. I thought we had nothing to worry about so I was very nonchalant and relaxed sitting in the back seat. That ended abruptly when the police man noticed an open beer can in the cup holder. "Oh no!" we had totally forgot that before we left the cabin Jensen had opened and drank a beer and accidentally set it in the car as we were leaving. To make things worse, Spencer had no proof of insurance, which we come to find out is a seven hundred dollar ticket if enforced. So here we are, within walking distance from where we wanted to go, standing on the side of the road while our car is being searched for drugs. After a few minutes the police decide they weren't going to give us a ticket for the no insurance, just the open container, which was two hundred and something dollars. Also, they decided that we couldn't drive the car until we get proof of insurance, this was a problem because when the Tow truck driver arrived he told us that he couldn't tow us to the town of Salmo because there was supposedly we couldn't be dropped off on public property, only private and he knew of no place in town, bunch of hog wash if you asked us. Luckily he didn't have the right truck to tow the car, and so another guy came along and told us we could be dropped off at his brothers mechanic shop in town. So here we are, headed to some town we'd never heard of, where hopefully they had and Internet connection so that we could print off the proof of insurance that we needed so we could continue on to Shambhala. By this point moral between the Spencer and Jensen was dwindling faster then Jensen's bank account. Between paying for the tow and the ticket Jens was now roughly four hundred dollars in the hole. I on the other hand, couldn't be more focused on what we were going to do next so that we could make it to the river before dark.

Luckily, we made our way to a local grocery store owned by the nicest family that I have ever met, whom helped got on the ball and printed off the insurance that we needed. The owners son actually called his sister who was at home down the street, had her print off the insurance info, and road her twenty one speed mountain bike at high speed to the store where we met her with complete gratitude. After about an hour of learning about the town of Salmo and being entertained by this family and their enthusiasm, we headed to a local restaurant where we could get some food. Sitting at the table talking with Spencer and Jensen I realized their focus was gone and they were thinking about turning around. As usual, I got into my persuasion mode and began my speech trying to change their minds around. I enthusiastically begin, "We have made it sixty miles, spent four hundred dollars and are within two miles of the festival and you guys are thinking about turning around?" I exclaim disappointingly. I knew that this was the crux, and we had to push forward. I go on, "This is that moment where one makes a decision, a decision to push on and see where it will take us, or time to give up home!" I was not about to give up, not after coming this far. After a few more minutes of convincing I had finally got them both to agree that we should at least try to make our way to the parking lot of the festival to hopefully hang out at least with some other people that didn't have tickets and were trying to make it in just as we were, this included going back through the road block, but now we were legitimate. It was getting dark quick and therefore was to late to try float the river so this was the next best option I determined.



Here we go, we were back on the road and I was more determined to get into Shambhala then George Bush was to to invade Iraq in 2002. We take the turn to drive down the long gravel road to take us to the festival which is where the first security check was. Spencer had come up with the genius idea to tell the security guard that we got pulled over and towed back to Salmo to make him feel sorry for us and then Spencer continued on to explain that we were meeting our friends at the main gate at the end of the road because we were running late. It worked, we couldn't believe it! One more bullet dodged, which would be the first of many. As one could imagine, we are excited, and I'm high is a kite on sheer adrenalin. Arriving at the gate was like landing on the moon, and now all we had to do was figure out how to get past the tight security. We park the car, walk up to security, and explain our situation. We go on to tell the guy on the ATV that our friends are in the festival and that we tried calling them but had no service. He then let us continue on to wait for the "friends" to arrive to give us our tickets. By this time I had already began befriending the next security guard knowing that it couldn't hurt. Spencer and Jensen became bored and soon wanted to head back to the car for the night to wait for the next day so they could try floating the river so then they left. I wasn't about to give up, I wanted in. Next thing I knew I had made friends with a whole group of people that had for some reason left the festival and were hanging out by the gate. They took me in as one of their own and when I explained that I had no ticket and no idea how i was going to get in, they felt bad. As they got up to go back in, I followed like a lost puppy dog, in the hope that maybe there was a possibility I could just sneak in unnoticed in the group. The security guard I was talking to earlier wasn't paying attention so I slipped pass her, and now I only had one more guard in between me and the time of my life. As the guard checked every body's wrist bands, I strategically walked on the outside of the group and then it I heard a, "hey!" geared toward me, but I kept walking. It was late and so the guard lazily assumed that I must have a wrist band because everybody else had one, genius. Almost in slow motion, and complete shock, I was now walking towards the loudest bass I have ever heard along with the coolest lasers shooting in the sky as if they were directed to me beaming me home. I had made it in. Sheer determinism, luck, and sneakiness were to thank.



As I walked toward the music I thought to myself, I need a long sleeve shirt and quickly or else I would be caught because I didn't have a wrist band. Thankfully, my new friend Ryan, who looks like a mix between Jerry Garcia and Tommy Chong let me borrow his long sleeve shirt, perfect! I was set, sort of. All I had was what I was wearing- a shirt, long sleeve shirt, swimming shorts, and sandals. I would be wearing this for four days, by the end of everything was a little dirty to say the least. I stayed awake the whole first night meeting people, discovering new places within the festival, and dancing. A lot of dancing. There were five main stages, the main two were the Fractal forest and Village. Between these two stages lay a maze of trails that were easy to get lost in, mentally and physically. I spent the next four days living in this new place with a ton of new great people. I became a local over a couple days, and by the end of it I was sharing some really cool spots that I had found, like the Water sanctuary, and trails for running. On the last day I had a bunch of fruit that had been gifted to me and decided that I should give some of it away so I began walking around giving apples and oranges away as gifts. I just so happened to offer one of the Oranges to Amanda who within minutes we had decided it would be a good idea to hitch hike together west together toward Vancouver BC.



Shambhala and the eleven thousand residents really changed my view of festivals like these. Over the years I have known so many people that have been very dismissive and not understand why these "hippies" go to big festivals like these, but I now understand in a big way, maybe because I am more of a hippie now myself, I feel hip anyway. For four days I lived in my swim shorts, tee shirt, and a sweat shirt which was getting a little old. I had to wear the sweat shirt even though it was hot because I didn't have a wrist band, but once I got a wrist band that my friend Ryan gave to me from one of his friends that was leaving I instantly was revitalized and ready to party. Instantly, I jumped off a ten foot embankment into the river, which was only a few feet deep, started playing jamming out everywhere I went, and danced for hours painted from head to toe. I would have to say this was one of the highlights for sure, I love dancing, and this was the first time but not the last that I would be painted from head to toe, it was great. I am what they call a Shambhalifer because I will go probably every year here on out As the festival ended, I didn't want to leave and thought about trying to get everybody together to try to figure out how we could live off the land and not have to go home. These are the types of thoughts that enter into my head as a result of living at Shambhala for five days, a little crazy, but cool non the less. The whole time I never met one bad person, and connected with many new friends that I will remember forever.


Amanda and I were ready to start heading west and so now we were off. We got picked up by a guy who was coming down off of MD MA and was being a little to forward with Amanda, so I put him in his place by being like, "Dude, you are coming down from ecstasy and need to calm down it's not cool!" he replies with, "I know, I just messed up my chance with a girl that I met and I'm a little sad about it, sorry man." and just like that he was cool again, and we were all good. By the time he dropped us off at a town called Roseland which is a major winter skiing destination we had another good friend and he actually gave us forty dollars for a hostel for the night because he knew we didn't have any money. I actually ran out of money about a week before all this when I was back in Christina lake, so I had nothing. This is what I do while I travel, I only bring a certain amount with me because I don't want to spend a bunch of money while I travel, this way it's more of an adventure as well. We ended up staying in a hostel in town which was perfect because it poured that night and we would have been drenched if we would have slept outside. It was nice to take a shower in the hostel as well because by this point it had been probably six days since I had taken a real shower. This is what happens being a vagabond and not having any money.