Post #21

Well folks, the great spirit quest/trek has ended, and I think ended well. A few facts...

-18,151 miles

-Approximately 50-60 cities (10,000+)

-67 days on the road

-3 hotels

-10 Walmarts

-5 gas stations/truck stops

-A lot of great friends and family

-About 3,000 pictures and 450 videos

-Too much fun

We had a great time, and thank you so much to all the people who were so kind to give us a place to stay and often a bite to eat. We saw just about as much of North America as we could in two months. So please be patient, Rog is compiling the photos and video and we'll soon have a collection put together. For those interested we'll be posting more stuff somewhere soon, but for now, thanks to all and to all a good night.

Post #13

I wear my sunglasses at night...

If you have not seen Carlsbad Cavern, please do. It is quite good. In the immortal words of David St. Hubbins, "these go to 11". Really, do go, extremely worth it. A few more tidbits below.

We've been busy the last week or so, basically made a tear through the south. Last friday we were in Gainsville, FL, went to Key West, decided on the way back to see the shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral, stopped and saw Skip and Debbie in Panama City, saw the Toms in Vicksburg (the Army Waterways Experiment Station is a civil engineer's playground), went to New Orleans, stopped and saw Daniel K. in Austin, visited the Alamo, had steak in Odessa (couldn't find the hotel from No Country for Old Men), and were pretty much blown away in Carlsbad.

Today is the Grand Canyon, then on to Vegas. Only one more week then back to reality. Been a great trip so far, and we're looking forward to sharing more with you all when we get get back. Few tidbits below.

Post #8

Better Nathan?

Not sure how they live with beards down here in the south. Humidity makes it awfully frizzy, unkempt, and downright unmanageable.

Let's all cheer for a moment of sublime whimsy.

Post #5

So Tennessee started off slow, but closed well. I honestly don't know how the state functions with only four workdays in a week. Apparently everyone closes on Monday, or at least three restaurants, a museum, and a multitude of other shops and stores were all closed today. Anyhow, the Jack Daniel's Distillery was neat, and the live music and BBQ downtown was good, so all in all, +10 points for Nashville and Tennessee.

Pics below...

Vid #7

Probably the most surreal experience so far, Hershey Chocolate World. Just wow. We pull into Hershey PA with a gigantic thunderstorm brewing, dark clouds looming, warm, sticky air threatening to undo our wonderful day in the Amish country, and take a step into Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Imagine 10,000 people all clamoring to fit into a Disneyland type ride with flashing lights, singing cows, chocolatey smells, and a bizarre narrator. Awesome.

Post #3

East Coast America...

Very cool. For those following the progress, we're in Philadelphia today, leaving for DC. We spent two days in Boston, a day in Hartford, two days in NYC, and 3 days here in Philadelphia. Lotsa neat things to see and do, so maybe I'll just post some pics.

Post #2

It turns out the bus is taking the same route that we are so I have a few more moments to spare.

Ummm, GPS devices can be devious little machines. For example, ours took us past Fenway at the same time as a Red Sox game was just beginning. Just devious.

Post #1

Posting from the road . . . literally.




We're somewhere between Providence, RI and Hartford traveling 65 mph and using free wifi from a bus, I'd love to add more to this post but wifi from a bus is a bit sketchy.

Till next post. :-D

Roger

Post #1

So if anyone ever makes it out to Freeport, Maine, you should check out the LL Beane giant shoe, and Pedro O'Hara's Irish/Mexican Cantina. Apparently Pedro O'Hara immigrated to Mexico due to the 1847 irish potato famine, and the cantina was born. Anyhow, shout out to Emily our chatty server (quite a nice young woman).

Since we left Chicago, we've stayed with an assortment of relatives and camped a few times at Walmart/Flying J/truck stops/parks. Did you know that Walmarts usually let you camp even if there are"no overnight parking" signs posted? True.

We also learned that the entire city of Toronto doesn't always smell like sewage, only when they're in the middle of a garbage worker strike. Not a good image folks, probably want to clear that negotiation up pretty quick. Though the CN Tower is pretty neat.

Tomorrow is the DeLorme Globe in Freeport, then the beach, then Boston with Scott and Miracle, and on down the east coast. Also any ideas on how to easily store the ever-growing collection of videos we have would be appreciated. We're running out of hard drive space. More soon.

P.S. (10 points for the first comment to correctly identify the appropriate math theorem embedded in our posts)

Post #2

Sorry folks, been a while since we've updated (Chicago I think), but the good news is that's because we've been busy! Today I write to you from the beautiful town of Truro, Nova Scotia (Canada for those who wonder). We've been spoiled rotten by our great aunt Sophie who ran a B&B for several years. Suffice it to say, she know how to cook, and we know how to eat.

Since Chicago, we've visited

South Bend, IN
Canton, OH,
Niagara Falls, NY
Toronto, ON
Ottawa, ON
Montreal, QC
Quebec, QC
Moncton, NB
Truro, NS
Halifax, NS
Baddeck, Cape Breton Island

Quite good all. And for those who make it all the way to Cape Breton Island, we suggest going to Inverness and then turning off the main road to a trailhead called Sight Point. About 10-15 great hiking trails along the cliffs and woods with amazing views of the North Umberland Strait. Also nearby the only single malt whisky producer (can't call it scotch if it's not in scotland) in North America. Glenora Distillery (www.glenoradistillery.com).

More to come.

Vids #7

This is Chicago...

Vid #6

Roger tries to learn Japanese in Jasper...

(I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so)

Vids #5

This is what happens when you drive through North Dakota...

Post #3

This is the closest I have to a before picture.

-Roger-

Happy Birthday Doug, from Sioux Falls SD.

My handy carpentry skills! Thanks be to Hans Ashlock in the greater east bay area and his extremely wonky Skilsaw.

This post brought to you by Zionwifi @ Zion Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.

(yay high powered wifi-adapters!)

Post #5

A series of brief thoughts. Good writing takes time, of which I have much, but choose to use otherwise.

To date we have not been disappointed by any of the capital buildings we have visited. A note for other travelers, The titles of these capital buildings can be quite entertaining. Most have some combination of ministry, temple, justice, or other similar terms.

Pub food, tasty. The $10 French aperitif, unexpected. EAT Oyster Bar (www.eatanoysterbar.com), the Portland version of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia but without Devito.

The Multnomah Falls rangers are not terribly well trained in the art of counting switchbacks nor measuring distance. Their signs are noticeably different from the actual trail.

The easiest way to mortify your younger female cousin is to enter a local Grecian eatery at 7:57 PM only to discover that a previously unknown yet weekly belly-dancing exhibition is scheduled every Friday at 8 PM. Proceed to grin and wink.

Some jars apparently have right-hand threads, yet can still be opened by turning to the left with the appropriate leverage, such as a leatherman. Also a good way to prove manhood.

"Dull Women have Immaculate Houses." -Plaque in Wayne and Joan Thompson's house.-

Roughnecks do not fall short of the expectation said title implies.

Play the Japanese translation at the information kiosk at the snow trail in Banff. Quite existential for English speakers. (video forthcoming)

Trip Totem discovered and begun in the light of a semi-legitimate campfire.

The friendly misanthropic coffee barista in Calgary calls crisscut fries “waffle fries” and refers to everybody as “man”. She was not impressed by the sticker that the clerk with a wandering eye gave to me at the dollar store.

Jim, the permanent bar fixture of Lazy Ace Saloon in Beiseker, located between a truck stop and the middle of nowhere. Apparently personal friends with John Lennon and built the bassinet for Queen Elizabeth as I'm sure most aircraft mechanics from Liverpool have done. Apparently the ability to name the 5 US states that have a Pacific Coastline is fairly impressive to Jim right before last call (also deserving of a free round). Also, a pair of crows (I also learned that ‘crow’ is another name for a raven) in the Yukon are capable of lifting a cow bone in tandem.

Questions, comments, and rejoinders are appreciated...

Post #8

For those with an interest...

Oil drill rig :) 6,000 feet, 100 foot mast, supercool.

Somewhere in AB, Canada (location undisclosed).

Post #7

World's Largest Skis

100 Mile House, BC, Canada

Post #6

Houseboats - much like Sausalito, CA

Granville Island
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Post #5

World's largest clam (next to world's largest frying pan)
Also self-described

Long Beach, WA

Post #4

World's Largest Frying Pan (self-described)

Long Beach, WA

Vids #4

Part Deux...

Vids #3

A short chronicle of our adventures at Multnomah Falls in Oregon.

Post #4

Calgary, Alberta

We've spent the last few days traveling through British Columbia, and just as the billboards, license plates, pamphlets, and dinner menus inform us, it is beautiful. First leg was from Vancouver to Armstrong through the Okanagan. Yes, for us southerners, it is a weird name but believe me, very familiar feeling to it. Just like Tahoe, down to the casinos, wintertime skiing, summertime biking, and touristy areas with locals tending to live in areas not as frequently traveled. Biggest difference, it has wine grapes too. Basically combine Tahoe and Napa.

Then went to Kamloops and found a little campground and met up with our aunt lily-jean and her brood of kids. Pretty nice digs actually, and I have to say, the little plywood platform rog and I rigged up for the back of the truck works like a charm. Clean, dry, and comfy, though you don't want to wake up quickly...

Next leg was to Fort Saint John, about 12 hours of driving and 1000 km later, back to the land of our birth. We stayed with the Thompsons (Wayne and Joan) and met a bunch of folks who knew our family when we lived on a grain farm there in the early 80's. Overall, pretty neat to see and I guess I can understand why our folks might have chosen to live there. Great weather and Fort Saint John was actually a bit bigger than I thought it would be. Course, in winter that's another story.

Then spent a night near Grand Cache (thanks to the camper shell again), and the last two days in Jasper and Banff. Amazing scenery but kind of pricey, especially for road trippers trying to save some dough. Our meals have been an eclectic mix of homemade from friends (oh, so good) and PB sandwiches, with honey and hot sauce. Really good and cheap, believe me.

Anyhow, in calgary now, and will see some more relatives soon. Only 12,000 miles to go...

Vid #2

I think we've got a system that will work for video now. Had some issues getting files in a useful format, but it may be good now. Anyhow, video from our first morning below.

Post #3

Vancouver:

BC is beautiful... everywhere we look there are license plates and bumper stickers that tell us so. I do have to admit, there are many aesthetic pleasures to be experienced here. Lots of beaches, water, bridges, tall buildings, parks, restaurants, crowds, open spaces, art and artists. Cool stuff.

Staying with Joe and Heidi White briefly before heading out towards northern BC. Old friends from Fresno, quite hospitable, and Heidi makes a mean lasagna. Wish we had a bit more time here, but if we want to be in Chicago by the 25th, could be a bit of a push.

Seattle was quite good, spent yesterday evening on Bainbridge island and got pizza with Cousin Erin and Aunt Jo. Erin has a condo in Poulsbo, small community on the other side of the island from Seattle proper. Her cat Dakota has some sort of weird thing going on with attacking guests, but who am I to judge? Though it is a bit disconcerting to be clawed through the back of a chair unsuspectingly. Also spent the morning exploring Discovery Park. Highly recommended for those who visit. Former military base at the west point of seattle peninsula north of downtown and a bit west of the Fremont district. Now it has a great hiking trail loop (about 3 miles) with beaches and trees and old buildings, etc. Though there is a wastewater treatment plant that tends to disrupt the pastoral setting somewhat when the wind blows the wrong way, though for the most part, relatively benign.

Anyhow, big thanks to Joelle for putting up with Roger and I. We are indebted.

Vid Attempt

First attempt to post a video. Hope this works...

Post #2

Seattle is a bit sprawly. We got here on friday and spent all day saturday walking around downtown and the water front with some of the hills thrown in. Probably about 10 miles total. Good workout after eating a dozen doughnuts among the two of us in Portland. We also went to the experience music project which seems like a bit of a shrine to Jimi Hendrix. Paul Allen is a very rich guy. When you can create a shrine to your favorite musical artists and charge money for people to see it, you're probably financially independent.

We're staying with our cousin Joelle who recently moved into a new place near the Fremont District just north of downtown. Feels much like the east bay, perhaps it's the bigger than life statue of Lenin...

Yesterday was beautiful weather and today is a bit more of what you might expect in the northwest, overcast, rainy and a bit gray. We'll probably visit Bainbridge island today and perhaps wander a bit around the Fremont district. Lots of good eateries and whatnot. The plan this evening is to make chili with Joelle and family and hang out a bit at her new place.

Post #1

Finally up and running on the interwebs. The last week has been a bit of a scramble going from work to packing, to the road. I (Doug) spent the 4th of July holiday in Fresno with family and enjoyed a bit of a respite before having to push everything into storage and get out the door. Sunday and monday were spent packing and rearranging and generally hoping we've got everything covered. Tuesday was the great embarkment. 9 1/2 hours on the road later we pulled into Portland, a bit tired, but glad to stay with an old Santa Cruz friend. The accommodations were magnificent, as was the beer.

Along the way, we stopped to get pictures in front of two state houses, scared off a trucker who thought he was more secluded than he was, and had a friend Erwin join us for this short leg of the trip. For those interested, activities in Portland included Voodoo Doughnuts (they have a maple bacon bar), hiking to Multnomah Falls, the Oregon Zoo, trail running up to the Pittock Mansion, an oyster bar (EAT, an Oyster Bar - www.eatanoysterbar.com) owned by my friend's cousin, and general exploration. Portland is beautiful and feels very much like the east bay, lots of little shops and restaurants with districts very distinct from each other.

Today we head to Seattle, will stop to see the world's largest frying pan, and get another state house pic. More to come.