We left for California determined that we would finish the trip properly, and assuming our muffler problem would cause no serious future damage. During the drive, I compiled a playlist celebrating death: particularly Jon’s. I was mad that I couldn’t cry. I wanted to mourn. So, I dug through the hours and hours of music to find some song that might elicit some emotion. It didn’t really work. It all felt contrived. I wanted to feel sorry and remorseful–those feelings can, in their own cathartic way, be so pleasurable, but I only felt a little bit sad. In the midst of piecing together these songs, we stopped to refuel around 2 a.m. in Utah. I was amazed at the smell of the air. We were near SLC, and it smelled like the ocean. I wished at that moment that we could teleport to the Pacific through some sort of olfactory wormhole. Anyways, after I put gas in the car, and returned to the driver’s seat, “I turned the engine, but the engine didn’t turn.” So, we called AAA, and asked for a jump. The tow-truck guy came over and hit our battery with some ungodly amount of voltage to get it started. He said that the battery was shot, and that the car wouldn’t be able to start itself without a high-octane jump. He said we couldn’t turn off the car until we got to where we were going. I told him “that’d be the California coast.” He replied “Good luck,” jumped in his truck and left us with our engine running in a dim gas station parking lot with a 21 hour drive in front of us. The weather was rainy, icy, and/or snowy for the majority of the remaining drive.
The expanse of the Nevada outback blew me away. It was as immense as looking out over the ocean, and seemed just as lifeless. It was decorated with sparse wild dogs, rabbits, and birds hiding among the cacti and sagebrush. That place filled me with wonder. My serene moment was abruptly interrupted when the narrow road on which we were driving took a sudden hard right. We had been steadily climbing a mountain and watching the precipitation transform from liquid to solid. So, when I tried to hit the brakes and turn, the new snow caked under the tires opposed that effort. I tapped the brakes, as I looked ahead seeing a cliff directly in front of us. The more we gradually slid up the mountain, the more I could see the height of the potential fall. Finally, the vehicle stopped about 5 yards short of complete tragedy. Britton snapped awake, and exclaimed “we almost just died didn’t we.” I continued slowly down the western side of the mountain which tapered down the edge of the cliff. The adrenaline kept me awake for at least 8 more hours. We later filled up our gas tank with the van running as we were told, and eventually made it to the Pacific ocean.
We had to book a hotel that day. After we all slept for a bit, Rachel and I walked out to the docks at Crescent City to look at the boats, water, and sea lions. I asked her if she thought it was possible if some of the water molecules in which we swam in the keys could have made it all the way to northern California. She said that was an interesting thought.
I love that area of the country, and I could probably verbally unpack our experience there for 2000 more words, but I will give you the short of it: we had to replace our starter, and found a few mechanics with a pack of wolves, and a bundle of stories to do it for cheap. Another mechanic replaced our exhaust system, but forgot to call us with the quote, so we got it done for super cheap. We stayed with a lovely family for one more night in Crescent City, and I cannot recall their names at the moment. (I’m writing this almost a year removed from the time.) They taught us a card game called nerts, I think, and took us to visit Redwoods. I will come back to that place. If I had to move to any of the places we visited, right now, I would choose Redwoods. It was spiritual. It was perfect. We only stayed there for a short while, and quickly left, wishing we could have stayed longer.
We drove straight to the Wick’s household, where we were greeted by Melissa: a friend of Krissy’s from boarding school. Our stay there was relaxing, and somewhat short. Oregon is such a beautiful part of the country, I could’ve stayed there for a year (especially with Melissa’s kindness and hospitality). We explored Corvallis and enjoyed the city very much. Britton and I got our buck hunt on big hime! I explored on my own one day across the street from Wick’s home, and enjoyed my time of solitude. There was a woodpecker who immediately greeted me upon entering the woods. He was about a foot long, and I exercised my ninja skills and was able to get within 6 yards of the beautiful creature. I was lucky enough to see many more birds, fish, amphibians, etc. that day while traipsing through some old swampy pond and woods.
We spent a few enjoyable days with Melissa, and left for Portland. I didn’t like it. Its ripe with yuppies and egocentric hipsters. I’ll go back and give it another chance, but I don’t like places that don’t seem to value children. Voodoo Donut was neat, so was that bookstore, and the arcade that serves beer–other than that, it was C- at best. (Yes, I’m being unfiar because we were only there two days.)
We left Portland for Ellensburg/Seattle. This was a great experience. We stayed with a family Krissy knew from boarding school: the Boothman family. They live in Ellensburg, WA. Our trip up there may have been the most beautiful drive we had. Columbia River Valley: We will return. They were kind enough to let us stay in a spare apartment they have on their property. Kent and Marie are the parents/grandparents. Crystal and children Nyaire, Gabe, and Dacia all live in Ellensburg on a beautiful piece of land. Our time there was one of healing and relaxation. The whole family was incredible. All of them loved us like their own, and left us wanting to return. Rachel stayed for a few days in Seattle with Kent and Marie’s other daughter: Leigh-Ann with her family. Rachel lives with them now (1/3/2012). The rest of us visited Seattle for one day, as Crystal offered to take us there. I really enjoyed our short time in the city, and was taken aback by the ferry ride. I will certainly return. Thanks Boothman family. We Love you guys!
After a great experience in Washington we drove to Montana to stay with our dear friend Lyndsay. She’s incredible. She didn’t really have enough space to host all of us, so she spent a healthy wad of cash to put us up in the hostel in Missoula. We loved the place, and the owner even got Britton and I situated with a job at an organic soap company for a day. I tasted my favorite beer of all time at Moose Drool Brewing Company: a chocolate coconut stout, and tasted some other tasty brews as well. We hiked around, explored the city, spent time with Lyndsay, met her man-friend Tony, ate a tasty burger, and did some other things as well. I really liked that place. I bought a wallet from an up-cycled shop there. I definitely want to return. We will.
After Montana we left for Minnesota to visit one of my best friends Kevin Snider. We went to the Como and Rachel Emerson, and I spent hours there, looking at the plants. Britton was pouting about how much time we were spending on the plants, so he went over to see the wolves and said he almost tossed some kids in the cage. He felt bad for the wolves, and wanted to howl out loud to give them a little sample of what freedom sounds like. We went there the day Kevin had to go work. While we were there, we stayed in the Snider’s near vacant house. His parents had just moved to Michigan. Kevin shared some of his homemade wine with us: “Side Boob.” It was delicious. Kevin is a very intentional person, so I wouldn’t have expected anything less. We recorded some free-style rap in their basement, after finishing our last bottle of peppermint schnapps. As usual, my time and conversation spent with Kevin was incredibly rewarding. I can’t wait to see him again. He has recently closed on a house, and I am excited to get back there to see him. Oh yeah, we also had a great time hanging our with his sister Jayne and girlfriend Marissa. They are both incredible people… and Kevin gave my beard a trimming. He left me with a powerful moustache and sideburns. I love all you folks dearly. See you soon!
After Minneapolis, we headed home to Chicago, Toledo, and West Palm Beach. I’ll never forget the feeling of heading back, and I’ll never know how to describe it. I was swollen with new experiences and Love. I felt like my tail was tucked between my legs, but my chest was high. I was stronger than ever before, and more resolute. At the same time, I never had so much uncertainty. I had been built up and broken down. I don’t know. Everything had changed. We all finally had some stories to tell.
Krissy and I decided to come back to Toledo…That conversation took place when we were in Colorado. Initially, we were fully intent on moving far away, and settling up in the mountains somewhere. But, we missed our friends and family so much that we couldn’t stay away forever, and now that we’ve been in NW Ohio for 8 months, I am blessed to be surrounded by such an incredible group of people. The tears and emotion I used to struggle to feel are now worn on my face as plain as my brow. For now, we are home: in the arms of the ones we love… and I still don’t know, just what I have…
You know how a heavy wave comes upon you: hidden behind a lesser wave in front of it, and you dive through the first one, and just as you open your eyes, you see a white cap forming a tube the diameter of your entire head and torso, and there is this split-second of fearful serenity, where you can hear nothing but your staccato gasps for air, and then you get swept away, and no matter how strong you are, or how experienced you are, you can only do what the wave wants: that was my traveling experience; and I am just now kicking free from that undertow. I wouldn’t change it for the world… and God! My feet are itching!
Until next time.
Love
Love!
LOVE!
LOVE You All!
~Scott~
