16 August 2014
So here we are and another installment of this fun trip. I just settled into my hotel in Coos Bay, Oregon, and I’m a little awake after the Ice Bucket Challenge I just did, but we will get to that. Quicker recap this time of where I have been the past few days, and then we will get to the questions I have been receiving.
So the next day I woke up and went out to Goblin Valley State Park. Pretty cool the dirt formations that have formed there. You could spend hours playing Hide and Go seek there in these huge formations. When I drove up the gate, there was a family who had ran out of gas there. They said their daughter distracted them. The thing is at that place, we are almost 100 miles from the nearest station it seems. The rangers couldn’t help either. I offered if they could find a hose to siphon some out of my tank but no hose, and not sure it would have been enough. They eventually got AAA which was going to take a few hrs. This is when it started raining too! So I took off, and hide and seek is boring by myself and Batman anyway, and onto the Capital Reef National Park.
When I got to CRNP it had been raining there since the night before and many of the roads and scenic places were washed out. I got to see a little, and what I saw were towering majestic peaks, half covered with clouds. Absolutely beautiful in its own way though. Easy enough tho so I headed out since I couldn’t see much. I had lunch at the great little hole in the wall café on the way out to Salt Lake City.
So arrived in Salt Lake City and my Shark diving friend’s place. This couple is amazing. I meant them while diving with Great White Sharks last year, and I knew they would be lifelong friends. I flew out to SLC earlier this year to hang out with them and go BOBSLEDDING! Who does that?? This guy does! Had a blast, but then and this day I see how big of a heart these guys have. This is a couple who has everything they could possibly need, but continues to give and give and give. I’m not sure I have ever seen anyone give as much as they do. It is so inspiring! I’m already making a list of things I want to do or change when I get back. The Tiger Sanctuary I visited is one of those causes, but there are others. This inspiration and heart that comes from this couple is more than admirable.
The next day I took off, for my longest day of driving I think! Almost 12 hrs on the road. Stopped a few times though. Bonneville Salt Flats where they break the Land Speed Records was very cool. It was waterlogged from the day before but you could see some tire tracks from the highway. I could have but on a recommendation decided not too. Instead I got away from the tourists trap and found an open straight road of a few miles long that goes to another landmark, but not a lot of people goto. Speedlimit 45. HA Yeah right….. I cannot publicly acknowledge the speed I took Lexi up to but that’s ok. So I kept driving to the Base town of Crater Lake. This is the 2nd time, I have thought I was going to hafta sleep in my car. The life of not knowing where exactly you will end up in the evening tends to be like that. I should have bought a tent by now for that security, but the challenge is fun too.
Crater Lake the next day. This day started off as very ambitious. Crater Lake and then a 3 hr drive to Redwoods and seeing all the trees. That didn’t happen. A part of the rim road was closed, so to see the lake, you had to go all the way around, and then back. That took a while, and midway through I felt like I was rushing, so I had another moment of pause. Then as I was driving back and I thought to myself, how can I say I have been here if I don’t go for a swim…. So down the 800 ft in a mile trail to the bottom. Not bad. Water was freezing, did some cliff diving. Met some cool people. 2 that had just graduated from O and were on a post graduation vacation of sorts. Great people. Came back up and I knew before I went down the day was shot... so rolled with the punches. So I took off for the redwoods to at least get the drive done.
Pulled into Crescent City in the northern corner of Cali. Sketchy town, haha took me a while to find a hotel there too that was safe. Finally found one and down for the night. When I woke up this morning I took off for the forest. As soon as I pulled out of the parking lot I saw a car cut off a motorcycle, both were doing the speedlimit (30 MPH)and no phones were involved. The motorcyclist almost saved it but he went down. Crazy to see, and this is why I got rid of my bike. HE WAS WEARING BRIGHT YELLOW. Well I was the first over there, and then we had someone run across the street to help as well. I think the biker was mad, but we kept him calm and he kept his cool. Good thing too, but he had so much adrenaline going. We calmed him down, and he let us check him, sure enough a few scrapes he hadn’t felt with the adrenaline. The other guy was actually pretty shaken too. I was a witness so stayed till the police came and then off I went.
Redwoods were very cool. Another place you can hike all day but I saw the main things. The clouds over most of the mountains kept visibility low, but still got to see the power of these trees. AMAZING! Then drove up to Coos Bay for the night, with a sunset stop on the beach on the way!
So thoughts first.. I lose Cell reception a lot on this trip. Heck half the drive the past few days I haven’t even had satellite radio. Sorry everyone who may be reaching me, but its kinda nice. I need to disconnect some more I think.
Simplicity in all things, to include relationships. Enjoying sunsets, simple drives, meeting people knowing you may never cross paths again is pretty cool. I am meeting some many warm people from all over. Just tourists mostly. Some have convinced me to stay and relax another few hours, and given me insider tips into other trails. That’s why this trip has been so freeing. Just kinda go wherever. I do have a general plan though, and am starting to feel like I am pressing on a timeline, but ill handle that in the coming weeks. I just had a recent change to the plan, that helps me get back on track a little, so that’s good. At the end, simplicity. Whatever I don’t get done this time, I will later in life, and maybe with someone. I am afterall doing some pretty superficial looks at some of these parks. Enough to be competent later I guess. I would definitely spend more time at any of these, but maybe more fun with someone next time too.
Question time:
How do you have this much time off: As some of you know I am not a photographer full time. It is something I love doing, and when you love what you do, you don’t hafta work a day in your life. My career path is changing, so before I left my current career I had to burn all my vacation time. 75 days of it! So that is how I have the time off, while I am waiting for my next chapter. Don’t worry, I will continue to bring you photography aligned with Imaginistic Photography’s mission statement that you can read on my page
How do you pay for it all? Good question. Since it’s just me, all I need is a bed at the end of the night and food. I don’t need to eat at the fanciest places, just the cheap ones, while trying to keep it healthy. Some days I have tried to stay vegetarian even, but this is a difficult trip to try large diet changes on. I could have camped, but being by myself for so long, I still need watch my safety and security. Also as some of you know, I recently started a travel business. It is going very well, and I am out using the business on the trips. It gives me an opportunity to give my clients a personal experience and where they will need help or not later on. The free National Park Pass I have isn’t too shabby either. So yes a lot of this trip then becomes a business expense. This brings me to a great point that I have been asked over the years…
How can you travel so much? Well its easy its because I have prioritized travel very high in my life. I would rather experience the world then go drink and party the nights away. That is just me. I have been doing that for a very long time. Everything is to set up or create the next adventure. That is one reason for the career shift too. I want to experience the world and get out. What better way for your kids to learn about Normandy, not from a book, but on the beaches bc you could take them to visit it. Or seeing the 7 Wonders of the world and experiencing them. Those who have seen the northern lights, know that there is an electric sound to them as well. This is what experiences are all about, and to me, feeling those experiences is what lets me know I’m alive. The things I do are not adrenaline junky things, but an opportunity to feel alive. So much more here, but ill jump off the soapbox. And don’t get me wrong things have been sacrificed for it, but that’s what life is all about sometimes right. Sacrifices now for the life you want later.
How did you pack for this trip? (LAUNDRY specific) Very simply. Backwards, inside out, then backwards inside out is 4 days right there. I am kidding of course. When you travel you see there are laundry places in most hotels. Makes that simple. My awesome friends in Utah, invited me to do laundry there. Easy enough. I brought laundry/ dryer sheets so it makes it simple. And in plus, a dive into Crater lake and the ice bucket challenge cleans that pair as well.
How do you plan where you are going to go? So I have been thinking about this trip for a while. There is a web page and App called Roadtripper.com. This is amazing. I put in the general route, and then it brings up points of interest in a 20-50 radius of my intended path. This gives me all my side trips and off the beaten path ones, that you may have seen already. Great program and highly recommend, although it has its quirks still overall useful.
Navigating around? Come on, who doesn’t have GPS in some form these days. Google Maps on my iphone, to my car both have GPS. Funny thing is I have lost reception on both the past couple of days. Paper map to the rescue! I never thought you could lose satellite reception but I guess so.
Do you get lonely? Fascinating question. This trip is a reset of sorts in my life. While I have been on this trip, I have actually cut a few people out of my life that were negative, and I have even added a few that I hope stay around a while. Simplicity in all things, right? I have the flexibility to divert or reroute my trip if I want, but I do have a little timeline I need to keep, b/c I need to be back by labor day still, and the goal as to knock out national parks, and states I don’t have (only 8 left). I have made some modifications to this trip as I went, but generally I kept to within a 100 miles or so. I wanted to reroute to southern Cali and Yosemite and some other stuff, and then do the Grand Canyon as well, but I can save that for another time I guess. That would be an almost 1000 miles divert anyway, and would completely throw out the 2nd half of this trip, but it was considered. I still do have September off, after all. As for the lonely part, well sometimes solitude has its perks I guess, but as the invite has been open for anyone to join me on a leg of this trip at anytime, they just need to keep up with my schedule and pace, and not divert me too much. This trip was about a reset of sorts. After being glued to my phone awaiting a call or something else, I can walk away from that and open the next chapter. That’s what Epic vacations are about. Its about closing one chapter and opening the next. Things wont change in your life to get the life you want, unless you are willing to step into some unknowns, and sometime go through traumatic experiences or emotional ones. A new friend also reminded me of some political aspirations today. I love that stuff and always have, especially my time with mentoring the High schoolers last year in DC. Maybe when things calm down in my new life, maybe that is the next chapter as well, or who knows, I could always be the rock behind someone else too. Just be involved and make a difference in the lives of others.
On a last note, I was challenged today for the ALS ice bucket challenge. Its funny going to complete strangers in the night at a hotel, with a garbage bin full of water and a plastic bag full of ice, asking for help! Thankfully the couple helped, and held the camera, so the challenge is out there for my 5, who are all people who have impacted my life recently and I will always be thankful to them. Also 1 represents all our brothers and sisters overseas still. If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be here.
In closing for this chapter, I have met a lot of different people and seen a lot of the country just recently. I have put over 3000 miles on the car, and I’ve only driven from Arkansas to Oregon. But it was never a straight line. What has really caught my attention is the universal love for our country. I have seen people thank vets, flags flying high and proud, 2 lovers sharing a kiss when they can on a hard hike, or just resting in each others arms on the beach. This is what makes this country great, and never lose sight of that. Be there for each other, help each other, serve each other. Nothing is beneath you. Although my beard is starting to make me look a little sketchy, no one knows who I am or that I have deployed 9 times in service to this country, and none of that matters. The decency of strangers prevails a lot of times with a simple smile and hello. That opens up doors, and allows people to communicate.
Well that is all from here in Coos Bay, Oregon. Up the Oregon coast tomorrow, and then starting to head East finally! I am at the furthest distance I will be from home, in the next 24 hrs, and I have about 2 more weeks to go! Can’t wait to see where this takes me, and I hope you stay with me on this tour. Have a great weekend America.