August 5, 2011

Twin Cities Minnesota

Looking to cross off another state off of my list of states to visit I head to Minnesota and the twin cities.

Not one to Miss out on all the hype I head to the famous Mall of America!

I feel patriotic just coming near this place. Big things and Shopping all in one place! How American...

But guess what? this isn't Just a big mall, no no no!

It's A big Mall with a theme park inside!



Sioux Falls, SD

After the twin Cities I head to Sioux Falls the city where I spent about three weeks digging through trash for the city. Not gonna lie, I miss it sometimes.

After doing some reminiscing about town I meet up with my old sponser Aimee and her husband.

Most definitely one of the best parts of this journey has been all of the people I get to see both old and new friends!

August 4, 2011

Barron, WI

Easy and relaxing ride up to Barron today. and got relax with another Americorps Friend currently working as a Vista for the town of Barron WI.

Had a few drinks by the river and then time to move again.

my plan hasd changed about 67 bazillion times by now you just gotta roll with it.

July 29 - Aug 4, 2011

Madison WI

Okay I'm back in Madison enjoying some time with my sister before I hit the road again.

It was a pretty easy ride from Grand Rapids to Madison and It was cool to see the Chicago skyline, though I wasn't quite prepared for how much noontime traffic there would be on the freeway.


It's good to be back in Madison. This time in the summer!

My sister and her boyfriend were excellent hosts as always, constantly making sure that I was entertained.

Madison from the State Capitol

We went hiking out on Devil's Lake one day. (I have never met a natural place with "Devil" In it's name that I haven't liked)

Devil's Lake





yeah It's like that

July 26 - 28

Grand Rapids, MI

So I'm in Grand Rapids enjoying some time with a bunch of my old teammates and friends back from my AmeriCorps Days.

Checked out the Sweet J Band (an offshoot of an awesome local band called Sweet Japonic.. check them out!)


Fooling around at the museum:

Now I just have to decide where I'm headed to next...

July 24 - 25, 2011

Cleveland, OH

After the poor day that I had yesturday, I'm happy to be staying with a friend here in Cleveland OH.

Got to do one of my favorite hobbies, Exploring!

Got to check out the Rock and Roll hall of Fame, The science center and the Ohio River



I thought Cleveland was pretty funny as most Ohioians and Clevelanders didn't really seem to care much for Cleveland. You could really see that home town pride with many people rocking pins, that say, "Cleveland, It's not that bad!"

I got to go the Great Lakes Brewery & thier Burning River Fest, Which is apperently named for the fact that The Ohio river is so Polluted that it caught fire in 1969.

In addition we went to the Melt Bar & Grill, featured on Man Vs. Food a little ways back.

We were gonna attempt the Melt challenge but due to time constraints I had a "Dude Abides" sandwhich, filled with Mozzerlla sticks and Meatballs.

Good times!

July 23, 2011

Kentucky

Okay so it's been 600 miles since I got my bike back which means it's time for an oil change. Looking to learn a bit more about my bike maintenance I attempt to do this myself.

Yeah, always make sure you have the right tools before you get halfway through a job....

But, with the help of some kind strangers I manage to get the job done.


    -Speaking of strangers, I have experienced numerous times what I like to call "Road Magic." People see my loaded up bike and my  Massachusetts plates and see to be willing to help me out along the way, many times just in exchange for the story of my adventure. It's an awesome thing and I'm gonna try to do the same for people throughout my life.

- One thing that's kind of a bummer on this trip is the fact that I can't pick up Hitchhikers on my loaded up Motorcycle. I would love to help a fellow traveller on the road and I often stop to talk to them. oh well when I get back to car riding someday.


So today was a rough day. I had lost my rain pants along the highway sometime ago and today was one of my first days facing a storm without them. I got pretty wet and was pretty tired and miserable. I was gonna try to make it up to Columbus, but it just wasn't in the cards.

I spent a couple hours at a Laundromat, drying my clothes and napping. and I ended up camping out on a trail in some state park in Kentucky.

July 21 -22, 2011 & #201 - Slide down a natural waterslide

Asheville, NC

Haha I'm back in Asheville. I guess I can't get enough of this place. I'm sticking around for two days, enjoying the local culture scene. Check this stuff out!

Hundreds of people!

So apparently every Friday, the town of Asheville has this huge free drum Circle down on the common. A lot of people bring drums or you are free to bring your own. Or else you can just enjoy the beats (as most do).

You can hear the circle from blocks away.

Maggie thought it was a bit cold

There is an abundance of rivers, waterfalls and mountains in the area. but while exploring we came across something a bit more unique.

A natural water slide!

Thus I got to cross off #201 - Slide down a natural waterslide
Boom!

July 20, 2011

Savannah GA

FINALLY, FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY  Back on the road!

time to work up those butt muscles again. Got my bike back and loaded up by 2:30 today. First goal of the day... get out of dodge... err Florida yeah!

Hello Georgia, nice to meet you!

had some time to check out the pretty sweet college town of Savannah today.

This pretty much sums up what I'm feeling like right now

Highlights of part one of my trip!

• Waking up in the early morning to be one of the first people in the united states to see the sunrise on top of Cadillac mt. in Arcadia National park
• Bonnaroo - Worth a trip by itself
• Seeing Ron Jeremy at a Mumford and Sons Concert
• Arriving in Birmingham AL to get hives for the second time when I have been there
• Drinking a beer at the oldest bar in America in New Orleans LA
• Seeing Wee Man at the beaches of Florida
• Sweet Tooth trip - visiting the Ben & Jerry's Factory, The Saltwater Taffy Company, and the  Hershey Chocolate factory

Trip Stats page

Added a Trip Statistics page ... check it out on the side bar & here.

If you think of any stats I should add just let me know.

#401 - Go to disney

DISNEY

So apparently Gator wrestling is extremely dangerous.... Who knew?

But I did have a Chance to visit the World famous Disney World while being stuck here in Florida.

I also got a history lesson on Disney from one of my hosts. (Hats off to Matt Rossi for reminding me to do my SLI work)

A giant Golf Ball....?

Disney is like it's own little country down here. Kind of Scary!

Rockin Roller Coaster!

I made it to west coast! .... oh

#113 - Learn to Surf

While being stuck in Florida what else am I gonna do than head to the beaches?

So we picked up a Surfboard and start trying to conquer those waters.

The waves weren't huge but it was a good place to start.

The hardest part for me was getting the timing down.  After being push around a bit, I looked the Atlantic in it's of the hurricane and told it what I though.

After that it was easy

June 21 - ?, 2011

Stuck in Florida


After staying at another hostel for the night, and lugging my bike bags around town, I hop on a greyhound to Winter Garden Fl.

I'm staying with a friend that I met at Bonnaroo, Whose family has been extremely kind and agreed to put me up until my bike gets fixed.

I had to fight with Suzuki to get them to cover my bike under its warranty. They claimed that it was not a manufactures defect (despite what the actual shop was clearly saying). But after listening to a lecture or two about keeping my receipts, they eventually agreed to cover it.

Now just waiting for parts



Time to bunker down and wait. Updates to come.

June 20, 2011 & #6 Hitchhike

Breakdown


I get an early start and head down I-10 from Tallahassee to Jacksonville.

After about two hours on the road, I notice a small clicking sound coming from the engine of my bike.
This clicking quickly turns into a clanking sound, and i notice a drop in RPMs.

Not looking to damage my bike I pull over on the Florida highway and grab what little shade I can in the 103 degree heat. After doing a bit of searching on my droid and making a few phone calls. I get in touch with the closest Suzuki dealer (my bike being under warenty). However It was about an hour away in Gainesville.

With not many options I call for a tow truck.

Not wanting to wait an hour in the blazing sunlight of Florida, I thumb a ride back to the last exit, which I seem to remember being not that far away.

This turned out to quite a bad idea.

I caught a ride back to the truck stop quite easily. Actually the very first car to pass pulled over and a middle aged man, told me to hop in, and then explained he stopped because he saw my bike and he used to ride; (Yet another example of the community of bikers out there in the world).

I get the gas station, grab some oil and a few other things, and then with the confidence that I would soon be picked up, started hiking it back to my bike.

There have been many times on this trip that I wish I were driving a car just for the very fact I could pick up hitchhikers and help them out.

The way I figured It, I had 45 minutes to get picked up to make it down the few miles back to my bike before the tow truck turned up.

Not one single person would stop for me. hundreds of cars went flying by without a second thought.

I also tried to get a ride from a couple work release prison crews and one van with no brakes stuck in the same situation I was in.

Anyway, I ended up running along the side of the highway for miles.

I don't think I have ever sweated so much. Eventually off in the distance I see my oasis; There was the tow truck. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, I arrive to be greated by mechanic with an, "You were lucky man, I was about to leave ya."

He kindly offers me some A/C and his left over Iced tea, and we head back to deal with the bike.

We drop it off at the shop, and a few hours later I find I am gonna be stuck in Florida, for quite some time.

Time to get used to the heat...

June 19, 2011

Florida

Long hot ride today on my way to Tallahassee.

I have to stop multiple times to take breaks.

When I finally get to Tallahassee, my place to stay for the night falls through.

I head to the Apalachicola  National Forest, Hitch up my trusty camping hammock and fall asleep to sounds of the forest.

June 15 - 18, 2011 & #7 Stay in a Hostel

New Orleans






I woke up feeling much better.


After the Events of the day before, I was quick to get out of the city of Birmingham, AL.

and get to NOLA!

I check into my first Hostel: India House (Thus crossing off another item of my bucket list!)

An excellent place to stay if your ever in the city: clean, cheap, thriving & all around awesome. (a 10 out of 10!)




I instantly fall in love with this city. New Orleans is a mixing pot of people & culture. Everywhere I go I can feel the heartbeat of the city. The music, the food, & the history all combine together to make something special and unique. I haven't yet seen a city anything like NOLA.

I meet up with a friend working in the city and we head out on a tour of the town!

Oldest Bar in America!

June 14, 2011

Birmingham AL

I set out today in high hopes. It felt good to be back on my bike after my weekend festival hiatus.

I got in contact with an old teamleader from AmeriCorps and was hoping to get a little volunteer work in with Nechema before the end of the day.

I get into Birmingham around 3PM, a little to late to volunteer, so I go check out the local library.

I notice a little itch.

The Itch gets bigger.

Then I notice the Hives.

Popping some Benydryll, I head to the local urgent care wich promptly denies my insurance.

Not feeling so hot I head over the Emergency Room.

I remeber feeling so cold and tired.
After what feels like forever, my name is called. They say I have a temperature of 101. I decide to check into the hospital for the night.


The really weird thing is, I have been into Birmingham AL once before in my life when I was a kid, and while there I had a unexplained outbreak of Hives as well.

I'm Allergic to the Freaking City!




Also This was on the TV in the hospital room:

yeah.... I'm not moving there anytime soon...

June 13, 2011

After a very hot, dusty and rough weekend, we drive the five hours back to Ashville late at night.

I crash for the night and use the day to recover.

June 9 - 12, 2011 #43 - visit Bonnaroo, #62 Mosh

Bonnaroo Music Festival

Waking up early, Jade and I jump in her car and drive the five hours out to the farm in Manchester TN.

We knew coming in that there might be some traffic and a long line, coming into the festival, so we grabbed some tunes and bunkered down for the wait.

After the not so bad wait, we park our cars like sardines and fight for a little breathing room in the packed campgrounds of Bonnaroo. Being first time festival goers and with the limited supplies that I had on my bike  it was a little obvious from the beginning that we were slightly unprepared Amidst the sea of canopies, flags, card tables and lawn chairs, our little two person tent seemed sadly minuscule.

After Setting up camp we begin our long trek into Centeroo and to meet up with some friends along the way.

June 9: Thursday

-Futurbirds

-Wavves

-The Walkman

-Beats Antique

Grace Potter Rocked that Stage!

June 10: Friday

-Bela Fleck

-Grace potter (in the pit!)

-The Decemberists (in the pit!)

-NOFX

-Arcade Fire

-Bassnector

-Lil Wayne (almost got our asses kicked there)

-Ratatat

Oprah approves!

June 11: Saturday

-Deer tick

-Alison Kraus

-Mumford and Sons (sooo good!)

Mumford & More!

June 12: Sunday

-Iron and Wine

-Gregg Allman

-The Strokes

June 8, 2011

Blue Ridge Parkway

Tired of Interstates, I head down the Blue Ridge Parkway down to Asheville, NC.

A beautiful twisty road through the mountains, with many breathtaking outlooks. I have to stop a least a few times to enjoy nature's majesty.

Stopping at one of the outlooks on top of a ridge, I realize that I'm hungry. Pulling out the trusty camping stove, I start Making the every delicious and nutritious Ramen Noodles.

Out of seemingly nowhere. I hear a huge crack of thunder, and downpour starts. Burning myself on those last bites of noodles, I jump on my bike and slowly head down the twisty curves of the parkway. Within five minutes of riding the sun is out again and the clouds just disappear.

Despite the Odd weather, I make it out of the parkway and in to:

Asheville NC

Asheville Is a beautiful college town nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. Someplace I wouldn't mind Living at some point in time.

After playing some phone tag, I meet up with a few more Americorps Alums and Jade, one of my partners-in-crime for the Bonnaroo Music Festival.

June 7, 2011

Sights of DC

Waking up early I head out to take another quick tour of the National Mall In DC.

Virginia

Long ride today, I eventually arrive in Galax, Va. Just beating out a storm.

Being Incredibly Tired I pass out for the Night.

June 6, 2011

Oddities of PA & The Nation's Capitol

First Stop in today is a little place called Intercourse PA.

After traveling through some farming communities I arrive.

 Being a sucker for roadside oddities, I had to snap a picture of the sign.

Right next to sign, in an odd juxtaposition was a large group of Amish girls, playing volleyball!

Heading deeper into Intercourse, I surprised by how much the Amish community was commercialized. Everywhere I went I saw signs proclaiming "Visitors Welcome" or "Buggy Rides!"


After Intercourse I decide to continue my food explorations by heading to the Chocolate Capitol of the USA, Hershey PA.

Chocolate World was a huge tourist trap but I nabbed a free Animatronic history ride of the Chocolate factor that evoked memories of those love boat rides.

The Singing cows were the best part

Having had my fill of roadside attractions for the day, I head into D.C. to meet up with Victoria and Brian, a couple of awesome people that I met while Serving in NCCC.

Craving Some variety in my diet, they recommend Ethiopian food, which I quickly agree to.

The Meal is served communally with everybody sharing one large dish. The food is eaten without utensils and using only hands and bread upon which it is served Injera Bread.

Injera Bread can only be described as a soft, Spongy sour dough flavored bread which was quite tasty despite my initial misgivings.

After grabbing a few beers at a local bar, we grab some much needed shut eye.