Please enjoy this very raw experience a life-long friend/family member and I embarked on, across the United States!
With planing and good faith, this trip worked for the higher goods, from Pennsylvania, we flew from Philadelphia international airport to Denver, Colorado. Where we had picked up a rental car and “sent it” all the way to L.A including 7 states on the way!
We camped for nineteen nights, twenty days, and drove 6,549 miles!
- All of of the Camping was free due to BLM maps.
Day 1
Denver- Searched street art
Colorado Springs– glorious views, hostility received from Air BnB.
Day 2 –Pikes Peak 14,115 ft elv.
Breckinridge
KeystoneSlept in Silverstone
Day 3
Moab— a lonely paradise, where I found myself miles down a dirt road, in the dessert, sleeping under a full moon; listening to the coyote’s cry, laugh, and howl at the moon until sunrise. (Imagine having to go to the bathroom and have a coyote bark at you from 350 ft away, I can. Was I scared? No it was then that I felt my strongest and most intuitive..
those coyotes harmlessly frolicked on.
Day 4
Canyonlands
Found the coyote tracks, did some yoga in the desert
Packed up camp
Heading to Arizona (Monument Valley)
Met some dooders all dressed in freedom heading somewhere in Utah in a fried out combie
Back to the coyote desert, been out of cell service going on two days
Although monument valley is a little more cold than Moab
The full moon was as big as ever, feeling blessed, set up camp next to white cap mountain tops
Also the next morning…
Day 5
“Hankering for a hunk of herb”
Mesa Desert — Although the sun setting is a wonderful hue of purple and pink, the sun rise is so much appreciated after two long cold nights in the deserts of Utah.
Mexican Hat is a hole in the wall town based off the Mexican Hat Rock where the four music stations waving only 3 talk shows biased upon religion and the only song able for listening to.. Elton John.
Driving through Arizona with no destination, trying to find a place to catch some z ..
Day 6
Ended up not setting up camp til 9 ish on the side of the road on some trail in the Canyon..
130 miles from the nearest Y facility, which means that how far the nearest “real” shower is for me.
Horseshoe bend is beautiful and although I could not afford antelope canyons I was happy to make it to Zion National park today and sleep in the canyons, Zion in the distance, and white caps.
Wonderful panoramic view
Day 7
“Only an angel could land on it”
What state do you live in?
“constant state of fear”
“Keep riding til the end and past the end you will be strong”
Zion — steep switchbacks and dizzying heights
Met two wonderful souls like us (Korey + Claire) who we camped with in the outskirts on Zion. We hiked Angels landing as a team
Would not have made it w/o them!
Day 8
Decided to camp again with Korey and Claire in Bryce Canyon
Leaving for Vegas, heading to Tahoe for St Patties
A long wonderful night in the Desert, Positively it was hard to leave them two, felt like I lost apart of
Myself.
Here I’am back on the road listening to Bobi Slam on the gui’s
Can’t wait to see Claire and Kory again…
Having a sense of Cedar City and beginning another journey to the road to Cali.
Las Vegas strip was a sight, now here in Death Valley Cali where its lowest point is -140s
Returning to negative ground after high elevations is nice, considering I can bask in the sunset an evening warmth left from the sun.
Next stop Lone Pine + Mammoth lakes to Tahoe
Day 9
Rose up next to white caps and salt tops, my body feels great from a good nights sleep. I can breath and my inflammation is low, salt flats are great.
Topaz- passing through Reno, next stop Tahoe city ..
Tahoe was a breath away from heaven
–We found public lands out of luck unfortunately its next to a California state prison was creepy.
That night I heard a guard yell over the PA system.
“Get back in line you maggot”
Grateful to have camp and dinner before dark.
Day 10 + 11
Heading to Oregon
Well it rained and we witnessed snow that went feet over the side of the car.
What a few days..
We’re close to Portland (20 miles)
West coast it is.
My hair was so heavy from grease that when I washed my hair it was so light I thought I was balding.
Showering my hair after 12 days. The experience has made me appreciate the small things greatly.
Vancouver was quaint, but we are heading back the the mossy woods.
Day 12
On the road again, Cape Kiwanda was rained out, were heading South to NorthWestern Cali, Walmart parking lots and rain are not for us Oregon. We love you, but goodbye until another time.
Depoe bay is about embracing the rain for its beauty, and the strength of its adventurers
(‘This could be could be heaven or this could be “Hell”
Then she lit up a candle and showed me the way)
Devils punch bowl
Everything that’s broke leave it to the beach
Day 13
Spent the night in crescent city
Just made it to the redwoods
In the Emerald Triangle
SO delirious from Hiking in the Redwoods for 5 miles, with out water, because we thought it would be 2 miles.
Tall tree loop is a 5 mile loop in the redwoods with dizzying switch backs, like Zion.
Day 14
Heavy in Humboldt county
Slept at Flint Bridge, on a Pacific Cliff coast where the deep blue meets the sunny sandbars.
“Jude me I dare you”
With traveling you learn to appreciate the little things. You have no idea what’s in store for you and the beauty of that is taking each day one day at a time, and in each of those days you enjoy the little things.
On the way to Fort Braggs
+ San Fran
Skipped Fort Braggs for In n out burger
Heading to Bowling Ball Beach
Cruising to a California backcountry road, is amazing!
See you Sonoma Beach
Ukiah,ca
Bodega Bay
Sanfran bought Thai food
Woke up at Vista Point on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge the heavy sun and fog was the first in my sights of this morning;
Alcatraz was a beautiful view of the bridge, San Fran has to be my favorite culture so far.
SanFrancisco– Clean, colorful and full of love. Hyde and I found a spot on the top of the hill; set ourselves up with a Mexican Blanket and a young man on spring break, from Vancouver, joined us as we sat talking we shared a spliff. We talked about being in the margin in decision making, as well as point of view. We also shared the idea of egoism and a culture of people who basically are trying to live to a impossible standard..
Slept off a cove highway spot, in Davenport Cali.
Day 15
Went back to San Fran since the Big Sur was closed. The coast is wonderful though . Sight seeing, the Golden Gate.
Day 16
Now in Oakland, Bay Bridge is beautiful.
Twin Peaks
Day 17
It’s not about what you walk away from,
it’s what you walk away with.
Vista Point San Fran Golden Gate
Sausalito– quaint town, did my midterm in a Starbucks of the main strip.
Walked the strip and found a magical waterfall, and elephant shrines. Could have been Ganesha but .. new beginnings have already arrive After that we did San Fran one last time ( The Tiled Steps on 16th ave) I’m sure I’ll find myself in San Fran once again. Drove to Phil Lesh’s bar Terrapin Station ate, and watched a medium with a Phil Performance. Was an amazing night. Spiritual.
Made it to Bakersfield Cali and next stop the coast to see Venice, Malibu, and La. which is our last stop on the itinerary.
Day 18
Almost in LA driving to the coast, tomorrow I will be flying home and although I’m sad to leave, my family, friends, bed, and animals are all waiting for me to grace them with my spirited stories of a long twenty day adventure. In that time I feel like I’ve become a better version of myself, and what a great way to start 2017. Did not just meet a bunch of wonderful people along the way but I found the strength to find a part of myself that I will always cherish. Strength, and acceptance of myself.
A childhood friend of mine invited Hyde and I to crash at his place in Hollywood, it’s our last night here: flying out to Boston tomorrow.
Griffith observatory— watching the sunset, than Heading to Hollywood to hang with Justin.
Day19
Hollywood– being the last day, Justin made our trip! We got Fro-yo on the main strip of Hollywood.
Spent the day doing Hollywood Blvd, Griffith observatory, packed up and went on our way.
Day20
Single minded to the point of recklessness
Somewhere over UT
Some people want to show off their beauty so the world can see it others try to hide their beauty because they want the world to see something else! Aretha Franklin
Thankful for Courtney and Billy for picking us up! Finally home in Nova’s sweet presence. (My wonderful dog)
