just the facts

We arrived in Cali on the 16th around 10 PM
Just in time to watch a beautiful meteor shower
We stayed a night parked at Denny's in Needles
Our R.V. had battery trouble the next morning, temporary setback
Quickly fixed
Resumed travel and headed towards Venice Beach
went through LA, landed on a side street next to the beach
spent the night there
amazingly eclectic mix of people
wonderful art
not all sunshine and daisies though...Dr. Dre wasn't exaggerating the danger of some parts
ha
next day we went to the Santa monica pier
Gia picked us up, brought us to the University of Redlands
fun times, stayed the night
and here we are.
now you are all up to date

Here We Are

Here We are, some say far ta come
exit; us,exodus, one way martyrdom
call it what you will,
what you will, call it
pronounce and produce your desire
let action follow thought into the fire
for
the best flame of life smolders
unless breath of strife bolsters
say who you be
be who you say
conviction from the convicted
prescription for the constricted
let loose and just do
just look at us two.

Travel Inspired Urge to Write

I was talkin' to Ethan earlier today while he was charging Adam's phone in a Denny's. They were waiting for triple A to come because the RV they were in broke down (I'm pretty sure he showed up before we got off the phone).

Anyways, he was telling me how he was about to go back to the RV and just write because that's what he really felt like doing. I'm applauding this because not only should we soon have some new material posted up but also because his inner human expression is being led out in such an avenue that enables him to record it, all the while figuring out what all that is inside dieing to come out. When you are just writing, and it comes out as poetry, passionate and decisive and convincing it is a truely self identifying experience- and I think this has a great deal to do with the trip these two have just been on.
And, ofcourse, you are all a big part of that. (pat on the back)

Anyways, in all of the excitement, Ethan revealed to me one of his tricks of the trade, telling me to check out www.couchsurfing.org which is this ridiculously cool website they met a fellow traveler on.

In minutes I was reading profiles of people all over the globe, from Amherst to China to Australia who just offer up their couch and host travelers, mostly for hopes of learning (whether culturally, spiritually) and sharing good experiences with others.

Its awesome

Californ-I-A!

Just got a call from Adam to tell me (and you) they've made it to Cali!

He wasn't sure where they were, just that they crossed the border into California today. They went to Arizona from New Mexico earlier today to see the Grand Canyon, and then headed North into Cali, where according to Adam, the weather that greeted them was much, much warmer:).

It has been a month and 2 days since Adam first contacted me from Virginia (the first leg of the trip).

I'm not sure how much this trip has cost them financially, but I gather they have spent a good amount of money on gas, food and rides.

Hopefully one or the other will be online soon to give you a more accurate update, I have papers to write!

But congratulations guys, you made it!

So.. what's good?

New Mexico!

Ok, so according to my mom, the Winnebago took route 40 through the top of Texas and Adam and Ethan are now in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They're not all the way across the country, but I'd say they're getting warmer!

Right now, they're kickin' back just "chillin, chillin" taking in the beautiful south west sights of the country while waiting to pick up another traveler.

Adam said they stood on the side of the road and held a sign that said, "ran out of money, California bound" for an hour today with a girl and they made 140 bucks, "not even trying, we were just chillin."

Tomorrow they're leaving for Flagstaff, Arizona, staying west on route 40, to go see the Grand Canyon.

Final Destination: Venice Beach, CA! (About half way up the California coast).

Almost in Texas

In the back of a winnebago owned by some people they met through craigslist, Adam and Ethan are about to be arriving in Texas. They left Tennessee to travel south west through Arkansas and Oklahoma. The next stop ( I think ) is the Grand Canyon!
I got a text message image of ethan writing and one of adam cracking a cold canned beverage, and they told me to tell ya'll they said "hi..!":)

Where We Went

From Soldier to Hotel, intently content on new content;

we didn't care

Then left to wander from on patch to another, grassed and paved;

we didn't dare

Stop, wait to see if this patch was greenest only to be found unwelcome;

we didn't wear

Followed a bus to it's origin, then begins the distant travel;

we didn't stare

Arrived in TN 2C KT not much warning, but;

she didn't care

Shocked by the acceptance of propaganda, question;

she didn't dare

We must have stressed the frame of the house, yet;

she didn't wear

Left as we came, a flame extinguished as sparked;

she didn't stare

Met online and introduced through the phone, open new alley of trust;

they didn't care

Out of money and abandoned by crew, go broken thru valley of dust;

they didn't dare

So it is doubly lucky that we fit the cause, "hopIN 2 Cali or bust";

they didn't wear

Win a bagel only if you take the chance, joking about me or us;

they didn't stare

Hello Hallowed Eve

In a night of misfits and tricked tricks, Adam and I found ourselves amidst throngs not of ghouls and goblins but rather scantily clad women and costumed prowlers. Ironic how the holiday which once represented youthful joy and trust in strangers has become one in which we must watch our backs and there are those who prey on the naivety of others. Ha, I laughed as one group of girls blew a whistle every time some guy went to talk to them. Now that I look back on this I realize how precautions such as this aren't quite as funny as I thought; for in some cases it is a necessity to lose trust in those around us. I guess the lesson is that we must all learn to keep our wits about us and our guard up even as we enjoy ourselves; don't shut yourself off to the world, but don't open the door too wide either.

With Adam dressed as "white trash" ( donning a trashbag in a poncho-like manner) and myself laced up with cards, we got dropped off on Broadway St. in Nashville; we had set out to look for a mansion party we had been invited too. We walked around asking for 4th St. and after getting turned around on the bridge which would have led us there,(Adam changed direction to talk to a man with his fingers to his lips) we found ourselves back where we started. Stopping to talk to a man with a guitar in the doorway of a local shop we received our best advice of the night; "whatever you do, don't cross that bridge, there isn't no mansions over there"-J.C. James

Apparently this ManOnTheSideOfTheRoad had been there and done that, and what's more, he was willing to share his experience with us. He had been a cab driver in his former life and knew all about the other side. We were about to willing to walk blindly into a part of the city full of "drug dealers trying to get to you, and undercovers trying to get them";

Once learning this, we abandoned our quest for mansion magic and decided to wander the street we were on; which happened to be teeming with people.

What set us apart from all those around us, besides our cheap homemade costumes, was our Patriots hats which covered our out-of-place heads. The comments began early, ranging from simple statements such as"that's cold, man." and moving onto the confrontational (and false) hollerings of "Patriot's suck"

Of course, Adam simply took these moments as just another chance to strike up a conversation and managed to turn (most of) these comments into an excellent chance to tell anyone he could an abbreviated version of our story. It went something like this "We're from Massachusetts, headed to Cali. We just happen to be in Tennessee for Halloween."

On top of spreading our story, Adam also volunteered me up for magic tricks at every turn; and people were loving it, those willing to take the time to watch any ways.

We ended up being video taped and given money by the third group of people that observed us in our "act" enjoying it so much that they said they were going to put it on youtube. The rest of the night followed the same rough format. It was the best Halloween either of us have experienced thus far.