Real life is never like a movie, there was no portentious background music, I showed my lack of understanding by failing to get baggage check, and mostly I was thinking of how bad I had to go pee... which I did after an "appropriate" wait on the bus, I even managed to have to have someone explain how to open the door, and finally the bus is going west, I will have to transfer in Knoxville before I go east.
Anyway, reality will hopefully sink in soon, I guess that surreal dreamlike quality life takes on is a defense mechanism, it unfortunately often leaves us wondering if we even did what we set out to do.
I am now probably as much on my on as I have ever been.
Moreso than my first solitary night in the dorms at Tech. I'll miss my parents soon enough I'm sure. Then it will just be me and God... and whoever he happens to put in our path between then and now.
I think that the unfortunate mark of postmodernism(And probably pride) in my is that annoying "self awareness" of what I'm doing.
....
Buses stop at railroad tracks and the last bus I was on that stopped here was high school band bus on the to a football game, hehe.
...
Until later.
Met Dr. Zhou just now in the bus terminal he's from near Beijeng and is a chemical engineering prof. He's going to Kentucky with his wife and is studying how to turn coal and its byproducts into gas or other useful compounds he has a daughter in VA and several(6?) postdoc students in the U.S.
We both remarked on the great diversity of people in races in the terminal. I sorta mentioned America as an idea more than a place and citizenship open to all.
waiting is.
On this trip I do not want to wish ahead to the next moments or be impatient in my travel becaue this trip is not a means(at least to travel) is IS the end. And by learning from this experience of not looking "forward" or "back" I might get closer to God.
I want to learn to not settle for worldly things and satisfaction but Heavenly and by this, maybe I will also improve the world.
The benches in the bus terminals are very comfortable(most things are at this time of the morning) unfortunately some smartalec realized the potential
for sleeping on them and put rails that divide it into seats and conveniently enough also prevent you from laying down.
Well managed to *sort* of sleep some, and managed to arrange the benches in Columbia, SC to take a 2 hour nap. At the greyhound station in Charleston I succumbed to exhaustion and got a cab to the Hotel. Anyway here's the balance sheet.
Well, I just got done eating at "Stick Fingers". It was good but I kinda gorged myself(easy to do with BBQ...) Anyway the waitress was nice, her name is Melissa, and she has a friend from Nashville, anyway I'm still in the restaurant to do some journalling.
I went on a carriage tour earlier(16 passenger carriage) the ticket girls and guide were all 3 cute blonds... Diedre(spelling probably wrong) was the guide. She's from Lexington outside of Columbia, SC. She lives in Charleston and does the carriage tour thing fulltime year round. She started school in private college but finished at the College of Charleston. I think she might have been a school
teacher at one time. She said she loves her job(especially being outdoors).
Her horse was Barny(Barnabus). He is a French Perchin the tour company saved from being killed for meat in Canada. He only works 2 to 4 hours a day and gets a few weeks on/off tour of duty. They're "vacationed" on an sland(Johnson?) and the guides occasional trail ride them there. The horses are well taken care of(i.e. spoiled) and worked well under their capacity(10x weight under rolling weight 10 hours a day 200 days a year).
Tonight I think I'm going to take a haunted walking tour and tomorrow hike the city if its sunny(the naval base if its raining) and tomorrow night check out this "Spoleto Festival" if I can figure out where and what it is.
Lots to talk about. The waitress was from Rhode Island and was on a soccer scholarship here majoring in P.E. and Psychology entering her fifth year.
The walking tour was pretty cool and the guide kner her stuff. Lots of stories involving pirates, evil spirits, duels, people seeing missing/killed children.
I met a girl named Mary Morris from Lexington, SC. Apparently she was up here with her mom, aunt, grandma and maybe another relative for the day(her grandma was visiting). She just graduated high school and didn't know where she was going to college yet(I didn't ask about a major) She was quiet and had a sweet disposition. Originally born in Western NC she's lived here for 6 years. She's been to Gatlinburg and thought Morristown was a cool name(same as her last name). We bumped into each other in the store
waiting for the tour, I think she thought I was someone else and made a comment about some soap on a string that hit her head. Anyway after walking a while on the tour I introduced myself(the soap incident was awkward, I think I must have had a really weird look on my face). After the tour she asked about me and I told her I was backpacking around the country, and she and her relatives thought that was kinda cool. Also, I think Mary is Catholic.
On the way back to the bus stop I found a group doing Tango(argentine) in City Market. They are a group that meets at Medical University of SC. I met and David and danced(very poorly for all the lessons I've had, I'm glad Mr. Bradshaw wasn't there) with Nina and Betty.
I talked to my parents tonight and tomorrow I'm probably going to go to the naval base time to and meditate. Oh yeah, Turkey vultures are "Charleston Eagles".(learned that on the carriage tour).
I consider 7:50am pretty early, but the bus schedule to the naval base didn't a lot of time, so I suppose (sigh) I'll get up early tomorrow, and make it out there.
Of course today will be good. I'm taking a harbor tour at 11:30 and the guy there recomended an affordable place to eat breakfast, Kaspers, so thats where I am right now. I think I go to the First Baptist Church tonight for a service; its the first Baptist(and Southern Baptist) church in the nation. Time to eat breakfast.
The boat tour was fun. I met a girl from Germany named Carmen. She is 15 and lives near Stuettgart in the Black Forest and rides dressage horses. We swapped email addresses and talked about stuff, mostly what sorts of things she does. It must be pretty rural where she lives because she
said they go trailriding a lot.
Anyway, I know it seems like all the people I've met have been girls, but thats because I've ran into more girls around my age. I got of her too because it seemed like a good idea to get pictures of the people I meet for scrapbook purposes, but it is kind of an awkward thing to ask and it would probably be wiser to let that suggestion come on its on.
After the tour I walked along the sea wall until I got to White Point Gardens on the battery. I'm sitting next to the gazebo in the center.
Patriot Point bus leaves at 9:26am so I take the 7:45 Ashley River, must be back by 9:20pm.
Sad to say but I've done very little this evening. I ate dinner/lunch at the Charleston Pizza Grille. I walked over to the Independent Movie Festival that is part of the Spoleto Festival but I didn't watch anything. I came back to the hotel and walked over to the mall nearby(around 7:30pm) and just meandered, and when I turn on the TV I got sucked into the Miss Universe Paegent. Best of all I have to get up around 6:30am to make it out to Patriot Point and the Yorktown.
My parents called about 10pm and so we talked a bit and I am for sure going to Savannah on Saturday.
We all have our struggles with sin, and there were some that I hoped to avoid for the next forty day, but tonight I gave in. With the grace of God I will get back up though and He will lead me through in the end.
I woke up early but still managed to miss the early bus by only a few minutes, so I went to McDonalds, which left my stomach feeling bad(the grease, disgusting). I walked around downtown(lots of clothing shops) on King St. I'm still going to go to the Yorktown today, I'll get about 4 hours there and then I'll head to the Isle of Palms for a couple of hours.
Right I'm drinking a Hazelnut/Vanilla milkshake in a coffee shop on Market St. in the hopes that it will settle my stomach and make me feel better, today is kinda overcast and muggy and I just woke up feeling kinda blah. I'm sleeping late tomorrow!
How appropriate, they're playing "Sheep Go to Heaven" by Cake. I'm going to try to mail a postcard to my parents and Rebecca Hill today.
I won't say I hurried through the Yorktown, but I've managed to see most of it, the sub, the destroyer, and the coast guard ship. I guess its because I'm an engineer, but the engine room on the Yorktown was the most impressive part. The main shafts were painted in candy stripes, it let the crew easily tell the direction of rotation and if the shaft was actually stopped. The pragmatic, simple, and efficient solution.
I might add the Yorktown's hug, yet the Nimitz class nuclear supercarrier's dwarf this boat. I also realized I'm too big to ever be in the Navy(and probably Air Force as well) all these small passageways, stairs and doors.
I also managed to go in the wrong end of the sub and had to go against the flow of people in very tight quarters.
I'm sitting underneath an airplane at
the Snack Bar on the Yorktown in the Hangar. Its cool that snack bar doesn't have straws or lids because they don't want kids tossing them the ocean. I'm really tired but feeling much better than this morning. At 4:30 I'm heading to the Isle of Palms, I may eat there, but not here(too expensive). I'll probably putz around the Yorktown a little longer and then go back and check out the Vietnam Naval Support Base.
I am looking at the Atlantic Ocean right now. I went down and waded in(I took my shoes off first). Its been years since I've seen the Ocean. I'm sitting on the deck of Coconut Joe's where I'm eating dinner.
My parents called after I got back from downtown, after that I vegged until now. I need to get back on track with my readings. Anyway, this
evening was pretty cool. There were a bunch of street musicians in downtown as part of Spoleto(a one man band, drummers, a violinist, brass band, and others I'm sure I didn't see).
The ocean was really owesome too, I may go to the beach in Savannah to just swim. Tomorrow I'm sleeping in the only big thing I plan on doing is going to Fort Sumer. I saw part of the C.S.S. Hunley(a Civil War Confederate Submarine) and I'll check that out and go to Vespers at the First Baptist Church and then back here to pack.
I got up fairly late this morning and didn't get to downtown until noon, I walked around a while after getting my ticket to Fort Sumter(boat left at 2:30).
This Spoleto Festival is mostly local artists showing their stuff, I browsed through but didn't really look at most of it.
Fort Sumter is a manmade island and mostly a pile of rubble, due to the Civil War bombardments(14' foot walls post war, 50' pre war), I didn't know that they used it continuously until 1947 or so(when it finally became obsolete).
Seeing all the quotes and history has helped me realize how seriously some people thought slavery was okay or even a good thing. I also realized how... um... warped South Carolinians can be; you almost get the idea that they still have a chip on their shoulder about the Civil War. Lots of monuments to honor Confederates who died in the war(not a bad thing, but disconcerting).
I finished rereading "Mere Christanity at dinner(at Ruby Tuesdays). I am such a horrible Christian; some sins I do(willfully) no matter what; and then I don't let go the fact that I don't feel enough guilt. Rereading it only makes me more aware of my grave inadequacies(which I do despite having just read what I did tonight). I know that Christ was there ready in my time of challenge and I could have resisted and overcome. So far away from him and salvation.
Yet those emotions and moods are just that. I think that this is a good spot now. I'm closer to truly breaking through to the idea that apart from Christ, I'm screwed. I just can't do it. The Bible doesn't say you'll "feel" saved, but the only thing I can count on is
my rational belief that if I call out to God(even if it doesn't "feel" like I'm doing it right) he will answer and forgive me. That takes care of the past. As long as I Get back up and take up my cross daily.(and this is what I mean) Opportunities to submit to him will come, and by turning my mind to him I will resist and overcome temptation. By prayer and reading of scriptures and fasting I will seek his face. That takes of the present. The future? (quasiquote "Today has enough trouble, Tomorrow will come soon enough. Take no thought I take care of the birds and you are a heck of a lot more important than the birds...")
When I get home I'm going to construct a timeline of Christ's life by putting the four gospels together
so you can see what they have in common. I'm sure its been done but hey, there's nothing new under the sun.
Anyway, I'm about as much packed as I can. I've got to figure out the bus route to get to the Greyhound station(one cab is expensive enough).
Tonight is my last night in Charleston, Its been fun, but I need to work on patience, on how to savor each moment for all its worth, otherwise the remaining 35 days will go to quick).
Woe be unto you, ye sons of men for life is short and hard and sins wearying the heart
And yet each breath, moment comes of God a gift. It is enough. I exist by your will alone.
Glory be to God, for one is in
this place who holds heaven and earth in his hand.
Rejoice, though life is hard and short for this present beauty is enough as the light of him who holds my breath comes closer every day. Amen, even so come Lord, Amen.
I do not understand the buses in Charletson(although they do not compare to the confusion of the Paris Metro). It seems like they're always late, until I get there at the wrong(right?) time; then they're early. Most of the drivers are nice though.
So I checked out and Tara and another girl at the front desk try and help me figure out what/when routes to ake.
I just barely miss the(for once) early Ashley River Rd bus, so I hike over to Citadel Mall(not fun) to catch the 10:17 North Bridge.
I saw a bus a leaving the stop while I'm too far away to run, and I presume it was the North Bridge early as well, but then about 10:30 it comes by again and so I make it. After that it was smooth sailing, and I got to the Greyhound station about 11am. So I went to Hardees for lunch.
I've discovered a big part of my overeating problem: Boredom. I eat when I get bored. Now, I haven't been bored on this trip, but its incredibly easy to turn around and find a place to eat, or get candy or junk food. No wonder Americans overeat its so easy.
I might also add, in downtown anyway, there are lots of girls, attrictive, and dressed decently skimpily and most are roughly my age. I know its the heat and vacation locale, but compared to Morristown and Cookeville, its quite different.
I told my dad lots of things about Hostels. How they're safe, clean, minimalist places designed for someone travelling like this. I really hope I wasn't lying.
Oh, I stayed in a hostel in Toronto, but the other five bunks were occupied by other Wesley members, and we were such a large group that we didn't really "get" the whole hostelling experience, so tonight will be my first real night in a hostel.
We're off. I'm excited, more roads I've never been down. I also have to go to the bathroom. Anyway some cool ideas just came together. C.S.Lewis's description of a more complete Christian so unencumbered by the world, by his "needs" seems remarkably close to Maslow's description of a self actualizing person. Both discuss how you might be lead to believe all these
would be alike, yet both point out they would be more truly individuals than others, and I understand a lot more of one of Ulysses gripes in the Illiad & Odyssey. "O this cursed belly" my appetites and physical needs(including going to the bathroom) want to reduce me to a creature of reaction, an automaton whose only goal is to fulfill its most current most pressing need(computer game AI's have implemented this and while interesting the behaviour is often quite stupid). Alwys giving makes you less human, not more.
I should fast more on this, maybe, just daytime fasts(until sundown). I also thought an interesting devotion to try sometime would be to count each breath in a period of time and to thank God for them at the end. (guess about number of breaths per day 6/min x 60min = 360 ~= 400/hour x 24 hours = 9600 ~= 10,000 breaths/day).
I am an idiot. Way too trusting, but God protects me. I walked maybe 10 blocks to the Hostel, and rather than take a bus; I was guided by a black man named David, who said he was 43 and had 6 kids. After we got here he also told me he just got out of prison, whether he intended to mug me or what I'll never know, but I gave him a $5 tip. I would have done something(or at least offered) but I realize I should have been more careful. I will pray for him though and perhaps I am in the wrong for casting aspersions on his motivations after the fact. He did get me here safe and sound.
Anyway, I guess I'm going to try to get into downtown for a few hours. Tomorrow I'll take a grayline tour I think.
The river walk is really cool, and feels very authentic, but since I don't get into shopping and don't have enough if I did, its not quite as fun as it could be. Savannah has really neat architecture but it feels less refined than Charleston... definitely a lot meaner and more dangerous.
I think I'm going to mass tomorrow, the cathedral is the easiest and most obvious church I can find. Then I'll probably take a tour and take another good walk around.
I'm eating at the Fiddler's Crab and getting the "Low Country Boil" bot Bud and Julie Myatt highly recommended the dish, the restaurant is just the most convenient one I could find. I think they suggested a certain restaurant, my dad said it had a pirate in front it, but I didn't see it.
The hostel is interesting, its an old house built in the late 1800's. There are about 7 beds in the male dormitory, and the whole thing is fairly small. The people seemed pretty nice, and the guy running the place was much nicer in person than over the phone.
At the same time I checked in another guy who said he was biking around the country checked in.
I'm going back to the hostel as soon as I'm done eating; I kinda think I want to meet some of the other people if they're around. Well my food is here.
I like being in the moment and open to experiences. As I walked back from dinner past the cementary, a group was getting ready for a ghost tour so I ended up going too. Apparently Savannah is the second most haunted
city in the country. Since New Orleans is the most, and I was just there, I feel pretty secure about things.
The guide was a very nice college student named Naomi going to a nearby technical school majoring in Marketing. She said she was a Christian but didn't go further. Her boyfriend is a Southern Baptist and she goes to church with him and his parents(I found that out when I asked about a good church to attend).
She said she was from San Antonio, but only because she lived there the longest. Her dad is a government employee and they have moved up and down pretty much the whole East Coast. I mentioned that she must be pretty well travelled and she said she was ready to settle down someplace.
Dave also came through just
now(I'm sitting in the hostel common room). He's bicycling around the country(starting up the east coast) for four months, he said he quit his job to do this. He's originally from Michigan and he's planning on being there the fourth of July.
The Low Country Boil was pretty good. It had shrimp and I remembered why I always get popcorn shrimp(too much work getting those shells off). It kind gave me gas though(polish sausage, red beans and rice, boiled potatoes, and cole slaw, go figure). It was descent, but basically a southern dish not unlike what I would have have at home(add sea food because this is a port city).
Savannah is a pretty city. I almost think I like it better than Charleston even though there's less to do and perhaps less historical significance.
I am going to have to check out some sights tomorrow. Apparently John Wesley was here for a while and that makes for an interesting connection with the Wesley Foundation.
I also realized I need to do better finding out who the people I meet are. I want to find that uniqueness God gives to everyone. To see the wonderful diversity of people God has made and appreciate them for who they are, where they've been, and their hopes and dreams. The longer I live the more I find myself liking people and trying to know and care about them. I know that this is from God.
Sidenote. I also got a lovely blister on my right foot on my second smallest toe. I hurts, but I busted it with my knife. I hope it doesn't get infected, or happen again.
Way too much to say. Last night I meat a woman stay in the hostel named Connie. She's an artist from California living in Orlando Florida now to be close to her daughter who lives on St. Thomas island. She was supposed to come here with a Korean friend who was going to tour some before heading back to Korea.
This morning I wandered around for a while looking for a church until some ladies in Forsyth Park directed me to Welsey Monumental Methodist Church.
I went to the College and Careers Sunday School class, which was pretty small since schools out and everyone went home. It was by a man named Pat McGlone and the only other people were a couple named Mike and Cathy. The leasson was about pathways we use to communicate
with and worship God. The sermon was based out of Like 9 and about Jeses fedding the five thousand. After church I also met a student of Svannah College of Art and Design named Ted. He was doing Masters work in computer graphics(from the art end) so we talked a little bit of shop, and then we were all going to go out to eat but the wait was real long and several of them had to leave town pretty quick this afternoon.
If Charleston is big for Baptists; Savannah is bigger for Methodists. John Wesley was the pastor of this parish for a while and I think he even gave a sermon from the park I'm sitting in.
I'm currently sitting beside the fountain in Johnson Square, which is basically the center of the city. Savannah was a planned city and the plan included lots of little green,
tree filled parks(or squares) and each one of these parks is filled with history, folklore, and monuments and lined with historical buildings, churches and shops.
There is not quite as much in Savannah as in Charleston(I'm glad I elected a shorter stay here), but I really like the atmoshpere, I think the planning lets it have a more free and "open" feeling than chaotic bustle and jumble of Charleston which is ironically more quaint and more cosmopolitan that Savannah. I wish I knew more of the history. I'm definitely going to pick up a copy of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".
I saw the "haunted" house of one of the principle characters last night when I also learned Haint Blue paint resembles water(which ghosts won't cross) and glass fragments on top of a brick wall are techniques the
Gullah builders used to keep the ghosts in the house.(more frequently used to keep them out.)
Althought the people in church seemed impressed by my trip, having met several people engaged in similiar ventures has been a profitably humbling experience. Although the spiritual dimension of my trip does seem to be a little less common(sffice to say I'm pretty sure I was the only person in the hostel that seemed to be planning to attend church this morning). Next time, I may invite some fellow hostellers(correct term?). I figure being out on my like this I basically have two options. Either I'll rely on myself or be forced to turn totally to God and rely on him for my every need. I also think Psalm 27(last nights readings) has a lot of bearing on my goals for this trip.
I just finish three post cards. One to Honey, Julie Myatt, and my parents.
I decided to call my parents early tonight. Everything was ok at home and I told them where I went to church and what I had been up to.
Well, I just met Simone from Indiana. She was looking for advice about guys(and she came in here and found me, talk about bad luck). Anyway we're both Christians and this guy she met isn't, so she wanted to know about dating nonchristians. Now I consider marriage to be a separate matter, and so I see nothing wrong with it. Now that I think about it, I figure if you stick to your morals(e.g. no sex before marriage) the matter will resolve itself eventually(prayer helps too). She apparently just came down here via Greyhound for a few days vacation. She is 25, works for Estee-Lauder(I know I spelled it wrong, the perfume company). She
majored in Theatre and French.
Back to whatever I was going on about. Oh yeah. I stopped by the Cathedral and went through the stations of the cross. The receptionist(an older gentleman) explained the windows for me(a couple of Irish Saints, the Assumption of Mary, and Jesus giving Peter the keys to the Church, I think we know why I had to be told what those were).
Anyway as I trudged back to the hostel(I think I might have another blister but I don't want to know so I haven't checked) the free CAT Shuttle(Chatham Area Transportation?) came by and she let me ride the last loop, which conveniently enough dropped me off at the Krogers across from the Hostel.
I came in and called my parents then found an English couple watching soccer
and just kinda vegged out. England and Sweden in the World Cup tied and the couple left so I came to journal which brings to the present.
I'm sure some people must question why such lavish resources are devoted to building a pretty building rather than ministries and missions. Its a valid question. Some men of God must praise him with the work of their hands. David wanted to build a temple. Others do works, but the majesty of a Cathedral and all the artistry of windows, altars, and statuary combined with the arching heights and spires leaping toward heaven are an attempt to express the ecstasy and majesty that many believers must feel. God gave men the gifts and abilities to build these structures and so men build them, not because God will love them for it
or that it will be worthy of God, they build it to use their skills to lift up an expression of praise to the most High God
Oh yeah, after leaving the square this afternoon I bought a good(but *cough* expensive) lemonade from a street vendor in the park. I explained I was journaling. He said he didn't do anything creative and I better not say making lemonade, but it was good one and I compliment him on it anyway(it was fresh squeezed, and its fairly hot around here).
I might add the Hostel only has AC at night, and I'm sweating just sitting here in the common room. At least they have ceiling fans and windows.
I don't feel like looking at my watch. Anyway, I spent the evening watching TV with Sam and Alan. Sam is originally from Birmingham, AL but has lived all over and work in California during the boom(for a newspaper, a recycling place, a bakery, etc.) Apparently he met a lot of weird people on the West Coast and has moved back to the South to Atlanta, GA.
Alan is from England and he's touring the states similiar to what I'm doing. We talked about politics and culture while channel surfing through a Larry King Live 45 year special, a western, and a reality TV cop show(which prompted a lot of discussion, especially about stupid people). Most of the people in the Hostel are very well travelled.
Dave got cooked on the beach today. This morning he biked by while I was waiting for church. I suggested he
try the Low Country Boil, which he said he enjoyed.
He just gave me the thumbs up. We have a new(female) guest named Tamara whose from Ohio. She was very inquisitive about who I was and where I was from. I told about what I knew about to see and do in Savannah as well as Charleston(she's going there next). Tamara's looking for a job. She's just graduated with a degree in Education, she's certified to teach English grades 7-12. She travels a lot and just came from Atlanta(where she had several offers). Last semester she spent in Austrailia where she did her student teaching and also toured New Zealand(Alan mentioned going there as well earlier in the night). Anyway, she came in while I was doing my nightly
readings.
Dave is listening to the news and just informed me the temperature was 101 degrees today. What more can I say?
All the guys left this morning, I left before Dave and said bye to him while he was in the shower. Sam left before me, but I caught up with him at the Greyhound station. We talked for about an hour before his bus got here(politics, travelling jobs, West Coast "dilletants" who apparently don't actually have jobs, and even a tad bit of philosophy). Why is it that saying good bye is so hard to bring proper closure too? The real world is always so much meassier than fiction.
Alan left before any of us were up. Last night I explained some
of the spiritual nature of my trip to him. He asked me if I expected to be tempted. It's a question I've asked myself... I guess I'll know in 32 more days(although Charleston had its difficulties and moments of weakness).
I have decided I like hostelling. While not the most comfortable way to travel, its a lot more socialable. You meet interesting people and it doesn't have the same lack of emotional depth that chains of hotels have(ironically we prefer that mass produced aspect and the compromises are what it takes to guarantee that "standard" which is comfortable and unsurprising).
The bus is moving, there was an earlier bus to St. Augustine than I had planned(but I also was going to sped just one night instead of two).
Two hours later...(1:05am) There are several people from England, a guy from Ireland, Tucson, and two girls from East Tennessee here(Emily and Amy). I went to dinner at a pretty good Mexican place(Alcapolco) and basically talked with the all the people about absolutely everything. Two girls from England have been working their way around the world for fourteen months. One of the girls from East Tennessee is from Rutledge and knows Jonathon Beckwith, Pepper Spradlin's mmom, and Eric Stallings and is Carol Rouse's cousin. I may hang out with them tomorrow. Anyway, I'm tired and will have opportunity to tell more later.
I spent the morning with Amy and Emily. Emily is from New Orleans and owns horses.
We went to the Lighter Museum which had a lot of glasswork and stuff from the period in which the building was hotel.
We went to the Presbyterian chuch which was built by Henry Flagler in memory of his daughter. He was a very rich man who built the first resort hotel in Florida, the Ponce de Leon, which is now a private liberal arts school(Flagler College).
We took a tour of the college led by a student named Amy. Very intricate artwork and 24k gold
was used for some of the ornaments. He was a very superstitious man and made them add an imperfection in the floor.
The girls made me pick a place to eat lunch(since I was the only guy). We ended up at the Florida Cracker Cafe. My stomach is giving me some trouble. I think its the heat. Anyway we came back to the hostel and I've napped for the past hour or so.
I spent the rest of the day with Amy and Emily. We had seafood for dinner and walked to Eckerds and then ended with ice cream. Emily used to be a vegan. Amy and I talked a lot about home, people, and East Tennessee culture.
The two girls from England have been travelling 14 months as of today. They had a little celebration tonight and grilled out. They've been in Europe, Egypt, Asia, Austrailia, and the U.S. Elaine(her sister is Judith) made the comment that travelling so much more accelerated, you meet people and get to know them and get attached to people quicker, but then you have to say goodbye, and it never gets easier.
Bob(from Ireland) cusses, but he is hilarious doing it and the accent makes it incredibly entertaining to listen to.
This hostel is a million times better than Svannah. Its amazing the mix of foreigners, there's maybe 4 Americans in the hostel now.
I think Amy and Emily are
going to the beach tomorrow so I'll get to hit the tourist stuff pretty hard.
They have free pancakes here for breakfast but you have to cook them yourself.
Bob just told about Fabio getting his nose broke by a goose on a ride in Busch Gardens at Virginia Beach. Earlier he saw a dolphin and told a guy it was a shark and how he's going on about going to Disneyworld later. He bought a car and has been driving down the East Cost.
My stomach's doing better, but its cooler now.
None of the girls think Fabio is attractive. I guess there is hope after all.
No one here has good things to say about the Savannah hostel, but we all chipped in info to the Irish girl who came this morning and is heading there next.
Bob left this morning. A few days ago they saw a dolphin and told a guy it was a shark. Yesterday CNN had a headline about a frustrated dolphin trying to mate with swimmers off the British Isles, we told him it was his dolphin and he was looking for him.
Last night me and Emily ended up talking till about 5am about anything and everythig.
This morning I got up late and so missed pancakes, but thats okay. I set out on my own and check out the oldest house. The tours weren't that expensive, but I didn't go in.
I went to the wax museum. It was kinda creepy. Several of them looked incredibly likelike. I watched their little movie, but iwas targetted at kids and not
very informative
After the museum I started up Saint George Street which is basically a shopping mall. They have a store that sells swords, chainmail, and other medieval stuff. I ended up in candle store where they hand make and carve candles. They had cheaper postcards(5 for $1.00). I watched to woman make a candle. Her name is Sarah and she went to Savannah Art College(SCAD).
The drips off the bottom of candles have several colors so they can't usually remelt the waste so they make these little psychadelic looking mushroom candles from the waste and sell them for .99 cents. She gave me one just for watching and talking(I explained to her about my trip). The really neat thing is they have to do all the carving in about 8 minutes before the candle cools too much and becomes brittle.
I spent most of the afternoon in the Colonial Spanish Quarter. Basically its a bunch of artisans doing crafts and construction with authentic 1790's tools, techniques, and materials.
I talked the guys about what they did and Appalachians and a lot about horses. I explained my trip, and one of them had been on a similiar trip when he was in his 20's.
From there I drifted over to the "Castillo de San Marcos" which is the fort guarding Saint Augustine. The Park Ranger on duty had a long discussiong about horses too.(I work my Show Horse Times t-shirt today).
Elaine and Judith went to
Cape Canaveral today to watch the shuttle launch. In hindsight I should like to have seen it. Anyway, when I came back to the Hostel they were back. Emily had also left a note under my door requesting to learn how to dance.
I went to eat dinner with Amy and Emily tonight. It cooled off a lot this evening so we ate on the ratio rather than inside. I parted ways to get a ticket for the ghost tour.
My stomach has been bothering me. I think its the heat, tongiht I've had diarrhea.
Anyway, on the ghost tour I met Scott and his wife and daughter(Heather age 11) and mother and aunt I think. They're from Knoxville and Jefferson City. Scott also happens
to work with Allison Gosnell.
I still feel kinda ill, but since I was a little constipated I'll probably start feeling better. There's also only one other knapsack in the room right now. Lots of people checked out today.
I've also discovered other people aren't nearly so gungho about seeing the city as I am(Amy and Emily have spent a lot more time in the Hostel than I).
In some ways I'm being very touristy, but at the same time I also like to get perspective on a place and see its history and understand it. Its so much easier alone. I'm not actually in a hurry(I spent 3-4 hours talking in the Spanish Quarter). I'm just into history more I think and I study a place more like an anthropologist.
Just about everyone leaving today was headed to Savannah, I gave them all directions to catch the free shuttle and which stop to get off at.
I had a discussion with Elaine and Judith and an Austrailian lady about iced tea, and I think they're going to try some(although there was some skpeticism)
I left my stuff in a locker and hiked up to Ripley's, which was pretty neat. Its the original, but it was basically like the one in Gatlinburg(a couple of the neater exhibits were matchstick sculptures)
I hiked even further to see the Fountain of Youth. It was in a park and was basically even cheesier. The Fountain itself was filtered to EPA requirements but they left all the sulphur in. They passed out cups, what can I say? It tasted like sulphur water.
In East Tennessee we have squirrels. Here they have lizards instead.
I sat in the hostel a while reading. I just missed the 3pm bus so I had to wait five hours.
A guy named Roy(I think) from Israel checked in. He just got out of the army and its tradition that Israeli's travel between getting out of the army and starting college. My pens are dying. I'm going to get new ones, they wouldn't sell one at the Jacksonville Greyhound Station, not enough employees.
Roy and I talked about politics, terrorism, and culture. He keeps kosher but is not a practicing(or Orthodox) Jew. We talked overweight Americans and all the fast food joints.
At the bus station I talked with Greg the station manager. As a parent he liked the fact that I'm calling my parents. He likes to meet people and loves his job. We talked about the crew that all headed to Savannah this morning(and how I gave them all directions).
He used to be in the military and loved parachuting. He's always wanted to ride a horse and milk a cow. He has yet to milk a cow though. We also talked about travelling and poverty. He was a really neat guy.
I broke down and used the internet this afternoon to check the bus schedule and ended up checking my email just to delete some spam. Oh well, only Christ was perfect I've succumbed to temptation several times on this trip.
I'm getting tied and unfortunately a little impatient and cranky.
I think Emily was kinda getting interested in me. I think temd to "fall in love" on exotic vacations, its a kind of romanticism.
I mailed all my postcards today. I sent one to my parents, mamaw, and Honey.
The bus ride has been more stressful this time. Lots of weird people. In Tallahasse the bus to Texas was full the first time so several of us got bumped to the 2:35am bus. That pushes me back getting to 8pm. The other bus is still pretty full, I had to sit with someone until Pensacola. That wasn't so bad, but because I couldn't stretch out, I didn't
sleep at all. I'm pretty tired, and I know its made my patience wear thin. I also have to do laundry in San Antonio.
I thought we might go through New Orleans, but we go through Baton Rouge instead.
One of the people who got bumped is a guy from Columbia going to visit his father in Houston. We haven't talked much, I'm not sure how good his English is but he seems nice.
Oh, in Saint Augustine, the park ranger told me they have tons of plain clothes policemen walking the streets and thats part of why its such a safe city.
Also Roy told me if you leave anything sitting in Israel, someone will call the bomb squad and they'll come blow it up(his sister lost her guitar that way).
Well, I'm on Central time now. My mood has gotten better, but the buses have been full. In Baton Rouge we crossed the Mississippi River, I don't think I'll cross it again until leaving St. Louis(although with Greyhound routes you never know).
Daniel was the guy from Columbia. He's a civil engineer. He really likes being able to travel so freely and safely here. In Columbia its dangerous. He lives in the capitol city and we are both from mountainous areas(and both of us probably have neighbors who grow pot as well). Anyway he really liked seeing our bridges and road construction(especially this long low raised roadway through the swamps and bayous west of Baton Rouge). There is also a dearth of females in engineering in Columbia. He's also Catholic, and I explained
a little about what a Baptist is(there's not a lot of other options in Columbia). He also gave me some Columbian coins. He was really nice although there were times that the language got in the way, he spoke fairly good English but his vocabulary was sometimes limited; he seemed like the kind of guy who became an engineer to make the world better.
Apparently customs and immigration are hard on Columbians trying to enter the U.S. he said it took several hours and searches to get in. We traded email addresses, so I hope to keep in touch with him.
Hopefully I'm only 1 bus stop and less than 3 hours from San Antonio. We're in Houston now(where Daniel's father is). So we're less than 200 miles now.
I finally got to the hostel just before the front desk closed at 10. Lots of interesting people in the hostel. Joe from Austrailia has basically been around the world in parts. He hitch hikes, buses, or whatever. We talked about religion for a bit. He grew up Catholic but doesn't practice anymore. He's got the travelling bug bad, and its neat to hear about the rest of the world.
Well I'm really tired, I may talk some more, but I need sleep. I'm glad I did my readings earlier on the bus.
I didn't get up until 10 and then I took a nice long hot shower. Two girls staying in the hostel were already at the bus stop. I can't remember their names, but they are sisters from Wales. One just graduated college and the other quit her job. They actually lived in California for a while because of their dad's job, so this isn't their first time in the U.S.
We had a discussion about tipping, in the U.K. people don't tip unless its good service and they had run into the fact that here we tip all the time.
So we were wandering around just happened to find the Alamo. I told them all about Davy Crockett and Tennessee's contribution to the Alamo. What was really cool though, was the fact that there was even a guy from Wales in the list of defenders.
Quite by accident we got separated in the museum. I waited and looked for awhile, but I didn't see them. I'll have to apologize tonight at the hostel. The visitor information center was across from the Alamo(and after finishing off an icee slushee or whatever from a street vendor) so I went in there to get a map of the city and wait there(they were looking for it as well).
After that I went down to the River Walk which is below street level, there were stairs next to the Alamo. The River Walk is beautiful. Its mostly restaurants and bars, but there are lots of huge old oak trees and such and tones of neat little fountains. I bought a Hard Rock shirt, but decided I wanted Mexican(this is the closest I'll get to Mexico). So now I'm eating at "The Original Mexican Restaurant & Bar" on the River Walk
There was a street preacher in front of the Alamo. I didn't listen to him, but partially because there was this woman near him running around with her hands in the air doing the whole "Praise Jesus, Hallelujah, Amen" bit, which kinda set some kind of warning off in my intuition.
A guy from North Carolina named John took a picture of me in front of the Alamo. He's living in Austin now(I think) and ironically his boss is from Morristown.
Anyway, now that I'm awake I should mention some about the bus ride. The landscape stayed incredibly flat the whole ride, but it ever so gradually "dried out" between Baton Rouge and Houston. Although its greener than I expected it didn't look like I thought Texas would until halfway between Houston and San Antonio. It actually reminded me a lot of middle Tennessee. The
land around San Antonio is noticeably different though. It also has a gentle roll to it rather than the more total flatness east of here.
My mom asked about laundry last night. I told her not to ask questions she doesn't want to hear the answer to. Suffice to say after my visit to the Hard Rock Cafe I now have1 clean t-shirt.
The waiter just came by. His name is Bill. He explained that this was the first Mexican Restaurant aroudn here, founded in 1899. They still serve the food the same way. BAck in the day, my meal would have cost 35 cents. He thought the travelling was pretty cool the way I'm doing it. He also said to visit the market square and the folk festival going on right now.
579 feet or 58 stories, that's how high I am right now. I'm in the Tower of the Americas which overlooks San Antonio. Its only half as high as the CN Tower in Toronto, and no glass floor, but its still enough to take your breath. Heights always make me nervous; its very easy to visualize falling for me. I looked over the edge on the outside anyway. They also took my knife, I guess thats a post 9-11 thing(even though its only a swiss army knife... I guess they watched MacGuyver too). If you look down the crack between the elevator and the buidling you can see all the way to the ground(now THAT is unnerving).
I've explored pretty much the whole River Walk at this point. Very beautiful, its mostly Restaurants and very few shops. Apparently many people thought it wasn't possible to build it due to flooding, I need to find out more.
I went to the City Market at the suggestion of the waiter in the place I ate lunch. It was pretty neat, lots of "junk" though. It was different than say Charleston or New Orleans. It had a lot stuff oriented at Catholics, Mexican imports, traditional Mexican/Texan clothing, and more leather products.
I tried to see the Cathedral, but there was a wedding the first time(on the way
I wrote some postcards while I was up here. One to Jacob, Julie Myatt, Rebecca Hill, and my parents. I've not felt so good this afternoon. I think its a combination of the heat, lunch, and maybe too much caffeine. I've felt faint, and had a headache. I also had some diarrhea just after lunch. I also didn't eat much yesterday, maybe that is at fault too. More water in the future anyway.
Well, I must be about my father's business and its a 24-7 job.
Anyway, I went back to the River Walk via the World's Fair park, and saw some kids swimming in a fountain. Didn't seem like a bad idea, but not today.
Went to get an ice cream at Justin's on the River Walk. The guy working there had a Texas Engineering shirt on. Turns
Afterwards I finally found a mall and a bookstore. I bought a book about the River Walk for myself and a book called "Horse Traders" for father's day and had them both shipped home.
Then I caught the bus back to the Hostel. Ironically, the two Welsh girls got on shortly after I did, and so I apologized. Anyway they got off near a Snoic(which they really seem to like), and its walking distance to the Hostel, so I got off. We ended on a conversation about the metric system(which hasn't been as smooth a transition as some lead you to believe). They still think in pounds and feet.
After we got back to the hostel, Stuart(from England) and his girlfriend got back. Apparently some stuff was stolen today. I haven't checked yet, but all my valuables were on my body so I'm not too worried.
The conversation split into girls and guys and I ended up
talking about culture with Stuart. He's somewhat of an agnostic, and so I started talking about Christianity. He was very inquisitive and looked like
I had five cellphone messages so I didn't even check them, I figured it was my parents. I still haven't checked but they said it was Doug about an apartment.
Well, I'm going to bed now. Hopefully I'll find a church in the morning(there's always Mass).
I got up kinda late this morning but I still managed to make it to a church. I went to the First Baptist Church and got there about halfway through their 11am service. They were renovating their sanctuary, so it made it even harder to find where the service was. A really nice guy finally showed me where to go.
After the service, I went and found the pastor to get him to sign the bulletin, and he liked that idea. He said they were having a lunch for single adults
and invited me. It was nice, but I met such a flurry of people I can't remember names or faces. I explained my trip, including the spiritual dimension, and they all thought it was an interesting thing to be doing.
Its awkward going into a church, you don't know the people, and it feels awkward to just barge into their business. I tried the strategy of looking profoundly lost, coupled with my attire(shorts, t-shirt, and backpack) and long hair I suppose I looked suitably out of place. They were very friendly though and welcomed me with open arms.
Afterward, I hiked back to the mall, and ended up at the IMAX theater. They show 3D movies, and the technogeek, I was pulled right in. I even explained how the glasses work to the poeple behind me(these were polarization filters).
In a lot of respects 3D movies are still in the early stages of cinema. Wowing people, camera "tricks", and spectacular views to impress, but they have changed, this was a little more plotted. I watched one which was a documentary on construction of the space station.
I could never do a space walk, I would probably freak out in fear. However space still has the call its had from youth. The same spirit of exploration and adventure drove me to this trip. I see a big division among people on stuff like space exploration. The pragmatist who ask "Why", and the people like me who ask "Why not?".
Yes, there are benefits and useful things to learn, but space IS the final frontier. That yearning to go beyond and reach out to the
stars is a divine impulse, a gift from God. It is a similiar drive that causes us to yearn for God, someone larger than us. We go into space and do "frivolous" things because this is what makes us distinctly human.
Well, I'm going to call Doug about apartments and Jackson about tomorrow. 931-529-2102
I called Jackson, and everything is ready, they were expecting me. I really don't want to inconvenience the, but I'm looking forward
I also bought a book by Stephen King, just in case I have a lot of downtime next week.
I ended up talking to one of
He also talked about the less "idealized" story of the Alamo. Most of them had a drinking problem, Bowie was a psychopath, and Crockett no saint. Some of them actually gave up(Crockett included). Although it is
important to know the truth. The ideas represented are important, and besides, only God will never let you down, even martyred patriots are only human.
Anyway, I just finished eating dinner at a place overlooking the River Walk. I'm going to get some supplies at the drug store and head back to the hostel. I may go swimming this evening.
I ended up at a dance recital at the amphitheater on the River and got delayed there. It was actually pretty cool. They did traditional latin folk dancing from Mexico, Spain, and Texas. Unfortunately I had to leave early.
I still haven't got hold of Doug but I left a voice mail. My dad is going to Atlanta tomorrow, so I'll
have to keep in touch pretty good. My parents said Sierra sang an awesome solo at Church today. 8 kids got saved during Bible School last week.
On the bus back to the hostel I met Jerry from London. He's a high school woodworking teacher who took off for the past nine months and has basically been going around the world. I also keep getting told that because of the high value of the dollar and pound it is cheap for Americans and British to travel.
Well I'm going to do my readings and pack up for tomorrow. I also need to clean out my backpack.
I checked
I also read on the book I bought yesterday. It's kind of a fairytale(told in that tone). It's pretty good.
In Killeen, the bus got full and Vicky from Decatur, Alabama sat down beside me. She came to see her son graduate high school and now they're both riding back to Alabama.
My mind has wandered today. I've thought about ballroom dancing, Wesley, and the coming school year.
A bus driver is riding as a passenger and him and the driver have bantered about all day.
At first I was grumpy that someone sat down beside(she was a portly black lady). I realized though that I'm not nearly as patient or as humble as I think, but rather than simmering at not having two seats, I took the effort to talk to her, and that made all the difference in my attitude(after all she probably as displeased as I was), but she was nice and it worked out. She's now sitting
Lots of interesting, weird, different, and even senile people on the bus.
Also, just outside of San Antonio, we passed over "Woman Hollaring Creek."
I made it to Dallas without incident. As I got off the bus, I had left a compartment on my backpack unzipped, but a very nice girl picked up my stuff and
told me about it.
Jackson drove me around the city and took me by his campus. Its very beautiful. It also has a wonderful library with lots of old manuscripts. I also just missed Zahn Holmes of Disciple Bible Study giving his last "official" sermon.
We went to a steakhouse that doesn't allow ties(they cut them off with your permission). It also had a slide for little kids. I got a 20oz T-bone, but they had steaks as large as 50oz. It was one of the best steaks I've had.
Me and Jackson came back to their house and I met their dog Ellie, today was her first birthday, she's a very sweet golden retriever.
I checked the Greyhound schedule for Thursday, and I'm probably going to take the 6:45pm bus.
Jackson and I had a good
talk about theology, drinking, multiculturalism, and homosexuality. We talked about baptism too(infant baptism). He loaned me a book to read on for the next few days.(Baptism: Christ's Act in the Church, Laurence Hull Stookey). He also showed me his new guitar(its a nice classical guitar).
I caught him up on current events at Wesley.
His wife, Katy, came in. We sat around and watched TV for a while and talked. Come to find out Katy is distantly(well not really, I'll have to get her to explain again) related to Henry Flagler of Flagler College in St. Augustine.
Well, I'm tired and tomorrow is laundry day(courtesy of their washing machine), and I still have my reading to do(I also finished that Stephen King book today, "Eyes of the Dragon")
Today was a pretty good relaxed day. This morning I Finally did laundry while Jackson mowed their yard. After I got done we set out.
I toured through the Church of the Disciple where Jackson is music minister. I mailed my San Antonio postcards.
We spent most of the afternoon at the Sixth Floor Museum in the Dallas Book Repository, and saw all the stuff from the JFK assassination. I think I got some good pictures from the outside, including one from where Kennedy was shot looking toward the window.
The seventh floor was a gallery of Pulitzer Prize winning photos. It was a very solemn experience. Most involved inhumanity, massacres, starvation, trauma, and violence.
There was a picture of an Iranian execution in progress, the prisoners all lined up, some already dead, others falling, and only one still standing. All because their religious beliefs were considered heresy. Very few pictures were of positive topics. It concluded with a shot from 9-11-01.
After that we went and got some ice cream at the Marble Slab. I had a bannana split. It was good.
Katy cooked dinner when she got home from work, and then we went to spend the evening with some neighbors of theirs that go to their church. They have a pool, so we played around for a while, and played a good game of keep away with a ball. I stil remembered how to dive and even did a flip. I haven't swam for fun in years.
When we got back, Katy got caught up on her soap opera Guding Light.
A couple of notes. I got Jacob a postcard which shows the view from the window where Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK. He was reading the Warren Commission on choir tour, so I figure he'll enjoy that.
Jackson said to get some kind of custard dish from Ted Drews in Saint Louis. He also suggested that Wesley get a supplement thats been published to the Methodist Hymna, so I'm going to mention that to Jacob as well.
I've also beeing reading Psalm 27 at both my daily readings. In some ways it captures my trip.
I also used the internet today to find where the museum was, and to clarify where Id Software is. I also deleted some spam and looked for any urgent newspaper emails I might need to forward. I kinda wish I hadn't, but it did need to be done. Over 500 messages.
We went to id software this morning. The first address I had was right but we ened up at both buildings. A guy at the second building corrected me.
Very discreet. They weren't on any directories or signs in the building. There wasn't even a plaque on the door. It was only by peeking through the window and seeing the Quake 3 logo that I was able to determine which room they were in.
The policy is no tours according to id mom, Donna Jackson, so no tour. I did manage to get a picture with one of the guys, and a t-shirt. John Carmack hadn't come in yet anyway(to early in the day). I got to hear about how John Carmack freed John Romero from his office by hacking through the door with a battle ax. Mrs. Jackson said they were all really quiet and nice boys.
She thought they ought to do tours(people come by like this all the time). They seemed to think that there's no reason. Oh well. It was cool. I have pictures to prove I was there.
We then met Katy for lunch at a really good Mexican place in the Hispanic part of town. It was pretty good. We all had fajitas.
After that we came back. I read for a minute, but the benedryl I took this morning(an allergy attack) finally kicked so I napped for a little bit.
I just woke up, so I decided to write my postcards. I'm sending Jacob and my parents a postcard. Jacob's is the view from the snipers window in the Book Depository. I figured he'll get a kick out of that one since he was reading the Warren Commission on Choir Tour.
I'm going to Jackson's Choir Practice tonight. So that should be cool.
I went to choir practice tonight. The music was good and it was neat to see how Jackson has improved at being a choir director. He introduced me to the choir and told them what I was doing, and that we had gone to college together. I met Becky who is from California and the wife of the church's intern. The couple from the other night was in the choir too.
We came back and I ate but neither one of them was hungry. Katie talked on the phone with her mom a while. We talked about pet discipline and watch Katie's Soap Opera. Jackson and I talked about 9-11, and then ended the evening talking about salvation. Its been a good visit.
I'm feeling better, but I'm afraid I might have a head cold. Oh yeah, Ellie(the dog) attempts to "dig" out of the kiddie pool they got her.
Actually, its technically day 19 and the 14th, but I haven't really slept yet. Katie flew off to Cancun today so this morning we watched "Vertical Limit" while waiting around. Mountain climbing is NOT for me.
We all loaded up and dropped Katie off at DFW airport and Jackson took me by this semi-famous statue of mustangs. We ate at this burger joint near SMU campus and got to see some stupid rich kids. We talked a lot of theology.
Jackson dropped me off at the greyhound station around 4:40pm. I called my mom to let her know what was going on. Flagstaff is before Williams, and there's a hostel there, so I may change plans in Flagstaff.
The true irony and surprise of the day happened when I got on the bus. Just behind me, Alan from Savannah
hostel got on. He's going from Austin to Denver. So we sat together. He's decided we're not so weird and that there's reasons why we all have vehicles. Everyone (myself included) is amazed at the size and diversity of this country. We talked about other cultural differences, ahd had a pretty decent time of it. He told me about the hostel in Flagstaff(he's headed there after Denver).
Well, we're both waiting for our buses in Amarillo, so I guess I'll write more tomorrow.
Oh yeah, its ironic that my assumptions about always having to merit or earn love from others is an impediment to earthly relations as well as a roadblock to my ability to accept God's grace.
Another sleepless night on a bus. The bus out of Amarillo was so full, they put two buses on the same route. I'm sitting beside a fairly nice guy. But my seat keeps going back and there are lots of noisy, rambling babies(which really can get frustrating when you haven't slept).
At daybreak, I got to see mesas and desert. The landscape is weird out here, but its more like what I imagined. The trip for most of the morning was through a flat wasteland.
We're leaving Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the only thing I can think of is that I hope I didn't make a wrong turn like Bugs Bunny. We're now in a beige wasteland with occasional hills(it was more pink, purple, and read). We came down a canyon or hollow off a plateau I guess to get into the city. I'm getting close to Flagstaff. Only a few more hours.
I have officially deviated from my schedule. I got a room in the Grand Canyon International Hostel in Flagstaff, AZ. I think this will be a better though. The bus ride was like a day care this afternoon and I was greatly relieved to get off the bus. For most of the afternoon the terrain was the same with minor variations. Then we went straight up the mountain just outside of Flagstaff. I found the Hostel in the phone book and made sure they had a vacancy before hiking over. Its a pretty nice hostel, and with the climate, I would say better than St. Augustine.
They have a Grand Canyon tour package tomorrow for $43, so I figure thats the best way to get there. I already got more film and I'm finishing dinner at
Presto Brothers restaurant which is across the street from the Hostel. Tonight I'm going to hike up to Lowell Observatory.
The girl who checked me in(Dallas?) is from Louisiana, she liked my accent. I guess I have truly left the South(Arizona, well duh!) She was cute though.
It was a good long hike up to the observatory. You can tell you're closer to the sun, the altitude(~7000') left me winded.
The observatory was pretty cool. I got to look through the big Clark telescope. Its neat to actually see the stuff and not just pictures.
I met a girl who works there named Halley. She's originally from Iowa, but her parents moved out here and so she's in college here for elementary-education.
We talked awhile, and I told her what snipe hunting was. She's into something called Slam poetry(I never quite understood, she didn't really explain it).
Several people I talked with about astronomy were impressed with the whole backpacking thing.
I ran into two foreigners who are also staying at the hostel. A French guy(who can barely speak English and doesn't like our food), and a German guy named Joe who didn't talk a lot. We used my flashlight to get down the mountain. It worked really good, and it was very powerful.
I'm staying in a coed room, which is different. I also got in touch with Doug today, and I have to decide if I can afford the house.
My dad got his father's day gift according to my mom and really like it.
"Be still and know that I am God." I have no words. The guide made us cover our eyes until we got to the edge. No picture can do it justice. It took my breath. My mind could not even comprehend the view for a few seconds. 12 miles across. It is immense. I regret calling it a big hole in the ground. Even the rocks cry out at your holiness.
I'm crazy. We're about 1400 feet below the rim of the canyon. The trail is steep and there are lots of drop offs. At lunch we all went out to the rock for a picture and it was a pretty good drop. Lots of overcoming fears. We're at Coconino Saddle. I'm dreading the hike up. It's time to go. The view is awesome though.
I guess this marks halfway. The canyon tour was worth it. Its so sudden and dramatic, rolling pine forests, and then you step out and there it is. The hike down and back was exhausting, with a steep drop off. It wound its way down. Its so odd, I'm used to going "up" the mountain but the flat plateau is up and the canyon down.
I met a bunch of neat people on the tour. A girl from Taiwan studying biomedical engineering. Two guys from Sweden named Sam and Michal(I think?) A pretty cool guy from England named Mark. There was also a Matthew Moore on the tour, but he was from England and not the guy I knew in high school.
When we got back I took a shower and ate dinner at the hostel.
Dallas suggested a good ice cream place for desert when I asked, so I'm here right now eating ice cream.
I explained the interstate system to Sam when he asked about mile markers.
Mark and I may go for a beer later. Of course, I won't drink alchohol, but I want to go hang out, maybe some people will go. I think it would be fun. Mark has travelled through Southeast Asia and is headed for Central America next.
The two Swedes(there's actually been quite a few here), are watching the World Cup match tonight for Sweden. They've been through southeast asia as well, and now they are riding through the U.S. on an Ameripass(like me) before heading home in July.
I still need to mail some postcards. I'm going to write my parents, Honey, and Rebecca Hill.
Last night Mark and I went to a couple of bars; I of course had root beer and water. We listened to a band in one, and once we got bored of that(they were pretty good, but a little too loud) we went to another place to play pool. The first bar had a wall covered in one dollar bills with people's names written on them.
Mark taught me how to play pool, and we played three games. I lost all three, but I didn't do so bad. Pool is actually a lot more fun than I thought. Mark paid for everything because I'm a student; I tried to offer once or twice, but he wouldn't let me, so I decided I wouldn't say anything else in case he might have taken it as an insult.
When we got back I sat around in the common room. Several people
were there telling jokes. They made me tell one, so I told the one about 3 engineers and 3 business majors getting train tickets.
I got up around 8 this morning and checked out. The hike to the bus station seemed longer. Mark was going on another tour today, and I saw him as I was leaving and said goodbye.
Well these two guys on my bus were accused of smoking dope in front of the bus station (not too bright to smoke it there). The polic came and got them without incident, they said it was just a cigarette. On the plus side, I have a seat all by myself(I prayed for those boys).
Since I missed Church this morning, I read the book of Jonah in addition to my normal reading. I wrote Jackson & Katie a thank you card last night and mailed it and the post cards.
Our route takes me through Williams, AZ and eventually to Las Vegas before heading to Salt Lake City, since its a 4 hour layover, I'm going to probably look around a bit.
Viva Las Vegas. I'm not impressed. The people aren't very friendly, and everything has a sleazy undertone. Yeah, its not expensive if you don't gamble, but I haven't seen any of these dramatically cheap prices you hear of. I think Hotels aren't real expensive.
I met a guy on the bus from Prescott(?), AZ named Dean. He doesn't gamble, but enjoys the shows and large amounts of stuff to do. He was a really nice
the bad part of town. I've stayed on Fremont St. which is near the Greyhound Terminal. Its a covered street lined with Casinos, and it has air conditioning if you'll believe that. He said there are laser light shows once it gets dark.
I've seen a lot of advertisements for naked women and a few strip clubs. I think alcohol is pretty cheap too. Of course these are all reasons to like it less. I even saw the cops arrest a guy who was acting pretty crazy.
Oh yeah Dean went around the country like this when he was younger. I called Doug and got Mike instead, be he'll pass on the message that I'm up for being roommates and that I got Doug a Grand Canyon golf ball. I'm writing Trey and my parents a postcard.
I ate dinner at the snack bar of the Golden Gate Casino. It was good, but again, I was greatly underwhelmed.
Last night was crazy. The bus was late, and then it filled up, and so we had to wait until they could arrange a second bus, and we didn't leave until 3 hours after we were supposed too.
You might think this was bad, but it actually wasn't. I met some interesting people. Everyone on the 2nd bus had a seat to themselves, and we were only an hour late(the first bus made all the stops, so we were an "express bus").
A sidenote. The altitude, humidity(actually lack of it), and heat have torn my sinuses up. I've not had a bloody nose, but
lower elevation, so that helps. I'm also still stiff and sore from the Grand Canyon hike.
I met a guy from Belgium in the bus station. He was backpacking around, but on his way home. His wife is a school teacher and 3 months pregnant with their first child. He got delayed because of forest fires in Denver. I hope Alan is okay, thats where he was headed. The guy was also reading a Dutch version of Lord of the Rings.
I also met a woman named Stana from Echo. She's a Mormon. We talked about theology. I didn't argue or accuse her of not being a Christian. I tread very carefully. She told me some about their beliefs. They believe the head of the church is a prophet and receives authority from the Apostolic Succession that was revived with Joseph Smith. The book of Mormon, which details
Jewish exiles coming to the New World and the revelations Christ brought to the New World. Lots of lifestyle stuff(which is actually pretty sensible); no alchohol, caffeine, tobacco, drugs(non medicinal). Also, you should have a year's supply of food(which isn't unlike the reccomendation you have a few months salary on hand). They think people should get married(no one is called to be single), but you don't go to hell if you remain unmarried. They think a woman is to be a wife and mother. They, of course, don't accept baptism outside their church, and I suspect they have strange ideas(and very concrete ideas) about the afterlife.
I wouldn't be surprised if ther are Mormons in heaven, but it isn't because they're "right".
Most of the people here are incredibly nice, they are cult like, but I think they are too big to be cult, and so I guess
I would say they are a "religion". I wouldn't say Christian, but they would. I would also say it takes a specialist to talk to a Mormon to really get at the differences, because they have a lot of stuff jumbled together in a really complicated way.
Anyway the public transportation here is a combination of light rail and bus service. I found my way to the hotel easily enough, but then had to wait until 2pm to check in. I talked with the clerk, Nellie, from Hawaii, who is of course Mormon. She was nice and gave me lots of info, and even helped me look up some Hostels for NCHC. I steered away from religion.
I finally got a shower and hiked about a mile to a Quizno's on the map I got. The guys here are cool. One is a nonpracticing Mormon. I told them about my trip, and they thought it was pretty cool. Oh yeah time wise, I'm all screwed up. Arizona doesn't use Daylight Savings Time, so they are Mountain Time
part of the year, Pacific the rest. Utah, however is on Mountain Time, so I went East Coast, Central, Pacific, Mountain, and then tomorrow Pacific again.
Well here in a bit, I'm going to head downtown and check out the Temple Square, get a tour, probably get prosyletized(after making one too many comments), and then escape. Actually, I'm behaving. Oh yeah, Mormons have to do stuff in a temple, but there is more than just the temple here. Stana pointed out the oldest one in St. George last night(you can see it from the intertstate).
Sidenote, my neck is killing me from laying in awkward and weird positions.
I'll probably also head to the Hard Rock Cafe and get a shirt. I'm taking a tour tomorrow of Bingham Copper(a strip mine visible from Space) and the Great Salt Lake.
I also wrote my parents and Rebecca Hill a postcard. Today is kinda a down day as
well. I'm tired and disoriented, and I've got a guilty conscience over some stuff, part of it is sleep induced delusion, the rest is an opportunity to trust in God's grace and mercy and get back up again. I'm also worried about saying the wrong thing to any Mormons, because I doubt I'm going to convert any of them, but I don't want to poison the way for anyone who comes after me.
At least I've got some downtime, and I can get caught up on journalling and stuff. I also took the notion to number the pages in my journal just now. I'm really stiff and tense too.
It's about 4:15, I'm not in a huge hurry, but I probably should head out. There's a Mailboxes etc. nearby, I'm going to mail my postcards from. Man, I'll sleep good tonight.
I made it to downtown just fine. I met a girl named Emily who is a Mormon and had a short conversation about religion. I got off at the Temple Square.
There was a Christian missionary giving out a paper on Mormonism. He was with a group of friends. They all told me to take a tour and ask tough questions. An Elder came up and engaged the guy in a "vigorous discussion" about differences.
I went in for the tour, and it was three guys, and two female missionaries. Very interesting, huge, beautiful. They have massive works to demonstrate their faith, which is based on works. Anyway, I felt really uneasy and I tried to ask some good questions, but overall it was a weird experience.
The two guys, Mark and Dan, were from New Jersey, and they're on a road trip checking out national parks. Dan is Jewish and just graduated from Brown in biochemistry(I think). Mark just graduated too, and was planning on Med School, but isn't so sure now. We all went and got something to eat and talked awhile about travelling, our plans for the future, religion, and other good stuff. Mark mentioned writing, I suggested a travel book based on their experiences with room for exaggeration.
After we went our separate ways I set out to find the Hard Rock Cafe. I passed a street musician who was playing Baroque pieces on an old Cello(or something similiar, maybe a little smaller). It was good, with a very moving, despondent, longing character. I thanked him and left two dollars. He seemed sad that more people weren't listening.
I went about a block but I felt God calling me to go back, and I thought I didn't really have anything to give him, but I thought of Peter and the beggar and realized I have faith in Jesus to share. I went back after lots of trepidation. I asked him if he was hungry(I had half a sandwich in my backpack). He said no, and that the playing was harder emotionally than financially. He was very into his music, but he didn't seem to be altogether there. He said most people who leave a tip thank him. I said music puts me in closer touch to God, he nodded. I asked he had religious ideas, he said he did and that was enough about that. He then started playing again because people were coming out. I thanked him again(and touched my hand to his shoulder).
I left feeling confused. I almost think God has taken care of that man and
the lesson and gift was for me. I really felt how horrible I've been to God at times. Peter wept bitterly at his betrayal of Jesus. I went down the street crying too. That man was like the wind. You heard him, but where he came from or went was beyond me.
A man was angry with a tree because it had no shade. The teacher said to him, "Apologize to the tree, and forgive it." "But it is only a tree," he replied, "It has no intelligence." The teacher replied, "Why then are you angry?". Upon hearing this the man was enlightened.
I finally found the Hard Rock Cafe. The planned city blocks here are huge. I walked a long way. The girl at the counter was nice and helped me pick out a shirt. She just got married and has only been in town for three weeks or so. She thought the backpacking was cool. She wants to go around the country on a moped.
After a lengthy walk and a train ride, I had to face the fact that the buses had basically stopped running at this time. A driver was nice enough to take me as far as he could(bus driver). He used to be a trucker and has been up I-81 a lot and know the vicinity. I told him a little about my trip and thanked him for the ride. I still had to hike about a mile. BUt this is one of the better neighborhoods in a fairly safe city.
I called my parents. I didn't even check the 3 voicemails. We talked a bit, and then I journaled, and I've still got to read my Bible, but hey, I'm sleeping late.
I got checked out just fine and made it to downtown without incident. There was this new ager on the bus reading a book of spells.
I talked with her for a minute(she started the conversation when she noticed me checking out the title). I told her we differed in view of the world, and that I would not be surprised if they worked, but that I wanted no part of the being who made them work. I got a dirty look.
Anyway, I checked my bags and put them in a locker. I went to a shopping center across the street to the food court and ate chinese, and got two books at Borders. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Lila(the "sequel" to Zen and the Art of of Motorcycle Maintenance).
I hiked over to the Hotel where the tour left from to wait. There were only 3 others on the tour; a couple and their friend, all from New Hampshire. One spoke really nasally, and probably said every single though that entered her mind.
The reason the city is so far from the lake is more obvious now.
The land beside the lack is unsuitable to development, and is subject to spring flooding. The lake is about 25% salt and has tons of brine shrimp, hordes of alkali flies(an annoying species of fly that swarms thickly at the edge of the lake, they don't bite though), and algae. I got covered in flies when I went to waters edge. I gave up a few feet from the edge though. The lake has no outlets and lowers by evaporation only, in the spring snow melts are responsible for its rise in level. Its deepest is about 30 feet. The ocean is only about 3% salt for reference. We stopped at a place that was a replica of the Saltair, a waterside place where big band concerts were held in the 40's. The original burned down. The river that feeds the lake is, ironically, the Jordan river.
There are 10 islands in the lake.
Flooding covers 3 of them. One is called Antelope island, and due to several freshwater springs has lots of wildlife including a herd of antelopes and wild buffalo.
The mine and its attendant buildings were impressive. The smelter doesn't use it anymore(all exhaust is caught and recycled or cleanly disposed of), but it has a smoke stack 1000' tall and 40' diameter at the top. The waste rock is mised with
The mine itself, however, deserves to be called a hole in the ground(that used to be a mountain). A really huge hole, visible from space, with the unaided eye. Its okver a mile wide, and over 4000' deep. It will only get bigger and deeper
for the next 30 years. They constructed a 17 mile conveyer through the mountain to deliver preprocessed ore to the smelter. The equipment used is as massive as the mine; trucks that can carry 240 tons of material. They do try to be environmentally conscious, but the limits are there, after all, this was the world's first strip mine, and they pioneered the technique. They did modernize in the 90's, which made it possible for them layoff half their workforce, and run dramatically cleaner. it cost 2 billion for the effort. They provide 15% of the annual copper used in the U.S. They also get gold, silver, and molybdium out the ore and sell that too. The sulfur released by smelting is captured and used to make sulphuric acid.
On the way back to the city,
the bus driver explained that the rooftop AC units(called Swamp coolers) work by drawing air through the filters that have cold water circulated through them. The valley averages 25% humidity with bounds around 10% and 40%.
I got dropped off at the bus station and got my stuff. I got a sandwich in the snack bar and headed for the line. Everything was fine about time, and of course we left an hour late.
I called my parents and left a message saying that all was well, and I got on the bus without incident.
Morton's Salt is located out here on the salt flats, we just passed them on the bus. On the tour we passed the yoplait yogurt factory.
The bus ride will have no transfers but we're going to Reno, NV and Sacramento first. The little girl in front of me
seems like a real chatterbox. She's with her grandmother, who is the bus driver's wife I think. I also think he's the same driver I had from Vegas. It should be a good trip. Right now I have a seat to myself. I'm going to check and see if we go through Donnor Pass.
I also called the Salt Lake City Hostels to make sure they exist and are open year round, they are. I'm going to email Dr. Barnes and let her know about them for NCHC.
I did spend a lot today, and I got a t-shirt at the mine, but it will all work out. No more Hotels unless something comes up. I may try to go to Yellowstone park. The guy I met yesterday was named mike, not Mark, and the weird thing is he kinda looked like Mike Murray and had planned on being a doctor.
We passed through the salt flats this evening. It was like driving through a field of snow. At one of the stopsa guy named Kyle moved up to the seat behind me. No one was sitting there, and he had been sharing a seat. He is from Wyoming and graduated high school in 97 even though he's 24. He's bounced around a lot, and isn't sure what he wants to do. We talked about books and movies for a bit. He's reading A Clockwork Orange. We also talked about religion; he said he tries to be spiritual, but doesn't go to church. He said he's going to San Francisco for a vacation. This is horrible, but I have the vague notion he might be gay. Its unimportant though, he's nice enough and it was a good conversation.
It stay light a long time now. At 10:20 it was still light. Psalm 115 was really neat. I wonder how this journalling discipline is going to affect me after my trip is over.
I read in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" for awhile, but still no sleep, so I'm going to be insightful.
One of the most interesting phenomenon on Greyhounds are the smokers. If the bus halts even for a second out the door they go cigarette in the mouth and lighter ready to go before they get out of their seats.
I'm also profoundly arrogant. You can see this mostly in my motivation and habit of signing and dating things. Oh, I do it to make it more personal, but there's also the though that one day I'll be famous, and that those things will be valuable or studied or both. It's really sad in fact.
A cool thing about my trip is the way it follows history(however unintentional) from the first colonies on the East Coast I've kinda followed the westward
migration; by tomorrow night I will have climaxed part of that by having travelled from sea to shining sea, when I hopefully look upon the Pacific Ocean.
Maybe one day I'll even learn to sleep on a bus.
On the tour, I found another case of my ill temper that arises against other people. Those older people thought my trip brave. But I also wondered if they were thinking about me being a dumb hick. I wondered this because a couple of times I found myself thinking damn yankee.
And of course, if I write up a book about this trip, even though I didn't go to Hoover Dam, I will probably have a section titled "Another Dam Tour."
Oh yeah also, "Donnor, Party of 50" because the driver said outside of Reno, we do go through Donnor Pass. And I may start the book like this;
Jesus once asked the people, "What went ye out to the wilderness to see?" And I find myself asking that about this trip, and if you, dear reader, haven't asked that question, you should, because thats what this story is about.
And before we start, I'll even tell you the answer. To seek the face of God. That's, at least, the simple Readers Digest Version. The reality, as everything else, is much more than that...
I also don't think tonight will be the night I learn to sleep on a bus. On the other hand, I'm feeling good, a little indigestion the past few days, but my bowels are working good. Probably the cashews. Well, until the morning.
Back on Pacific time. Its been a wild day. At 4am we entered California, at 4:30am we crested Donnor Pass, but it was too dark to see anything. We finally got here about 2 and a half hours late. The bus terminal did not appear to be in the best part of town, and there were lots of homeless. San Francisco is not the worst for obvious poverty, but its certainly more noticable here than lots of places. After several confused starts I finally found the bus stop and made it to the hostel, two old ladies on the bus figured that was were I was headed and gave me some good directions from where I got off the bus.
Of course the hostel wouldn't let me check in until 2:30, so I went and got some lunch and read on my book. Its pretty good, but it constantly reminds me of
the differences between the East coast and the West coast. The street performers and hucksters are pretty diverse. I got accosted for not smilling, and informed I would be pardoned for a small donation to charity(I took my chances and didn't pay). I finally gave in to a somewhat talented magician, and gave him a dollar. I also got tickets for an Alcatraz tour on Friday(none were left for today). I may try for the beach tonight and watch the sunset(as opposed to rise) on the ocean. I also need to figure out time to get to Palo Alto tomorrow.
The hostel is in a decent part of town walking distance from the Fisherman's Wharf area, where I ate and got the tickets.
I finally got checked in and used the bathroom and took a shower. I feel a lot better now; although the lack of sleep and sinful thoughts are getting to me(there are lots of cute girls here).
Well, I never was upset about the heat, but I am officially out of it now. Its probably in the 60's here, and I'm glad I finally have my blue jeans on. The climate is nice and the fog hasn't rolled in(yet).
I'm going to write a postcard for my parents, Honey, and Julie Myatt.
On day 4, I looked upon the Atlantic Ocean, I'm pretty excited that tonight I'll see the Pacific if all goes well.
Oh, I forgot to mention most of Utah is a wasteland... owned by the government. Only 22% of the state is held by private interests. No wonder they have all the nuts and conspiracy theorists.
From sea to shining sea, I've seen both, touched, and waded. I saw the purple mountains majesty above the fruited plains.
I also met some people on the way
to the beach. A guy from here, who went to college in Boston and is now some kind of broker for stocks and bonds. His dad went to Vanderbuilt. He was on his way to a birthday party.
I also met two Scottish girls who are staying in a different hostel. They were nice, and talked a lot about how the little things were different here. Emily and Adyll I think.
I walked along the beach for a while and even waded in. People were running or playing with their dogs(including a tipsy black man who tried to talk to me incoherently). I din't watch the sun set, it was too cold and getting too late.
When I got back to the hostel, I was told to go down Lombard street for Chinese(they said there is a better place, but it was too far for me this late).
I went in the first open chinese
place I found. It was pretty decent food, but I was the only dine in customer; they delivered too though. I like the place a lot, I don't know either. I liked my fortune cookie. Its kind of ironic, "Good news will come to you from far away."
When I finally got back to the hostel, I talked to the clerk awhile. Her name is Joyce, she's an environmental studies major. We talked about cultural differences; she's originally from Conneticut but moved here for the climate. I told her about snipe hunting, and the environmental foibles of east Tennessee; Oak Ridge, the Frozen Lake, the cunstruction of the Secret City and its prominence in the Manhattan project, or rather participation.
We talked about snow, 4 wheel drive, and why me owning a truck is still environmentally sound(unlike all the SUV's out here).
She and a friend took a roadtrip
around the country too. I told her about mine, and showed her the result of being an engineer with my travel folder.
She was in Palo Alto for a while, and even got to play around in the dotcom boom(which relates to why she is now back in school). She also informed me that PARC is a good 10 miles from the train station, so I'll gave to get another bus or shuttle from the station.
There are a lot of big groups here, including a group of girl scouts. Its a pretty decent hostel. I emailed Dr. Barnes about the Salt Lake City hostels this afternoon too. A guy just asked me the day of the week, how ironic, I'm as clueless as he is. Actually, we figured out its Thursday.
The Pacific Ocean was also incredibly cold. My feet got numb and stiff very quick. Well, time to go to bed.
Oh yeah. I told Joyce about the "Primer", she thinks its a wonderful idea.
I forgot to mention the Mormon missionaries I met on the bus ride home. They were really nice; we talked a little about religion; mostly to explain the purpose of my trip. They seemed to think it was really cool. I wonder if "How to Win Friends and Influence People" is part of their missionary studies. They seem genuine enough, but you could tell they would love to proselytize. They offered me a copy of a the Book of Mormon. One of them is aspiring to the NFL, I wished him luck.
I had a spot of weakness with the internet yesterday, I browsed $5 worth.
I got up at 8 this morning, and after a shower, went to the ATM at the Safeway, and now I'm finally at the SF Caltrain Station for an 11am train to Palo Alto
The Caltrain was uneventful to the point of boring, just one big suburb. Anyway, thanks to several nice bus drivers, I made it out to PARC, which was nestled in the middle of several high tech companies, including an HP facility.
The trip to PARC was... unfortunately a bust. The receptionist informed they don't do tours, and really don't do anything at all without an appointment. She tried to phone someone who handles stuff like that, but no answer, so I left my information. As I sat waiting at the bus stop across the street(almost glaring at the place). I got a return phone call from a Tracy. Even if I did get in, they don't do much, because, well, its a business, and someone would have to donate time out of their projects, and they are very
busy.
I know this sounds bad, but after they hung up(and I have sounded pretty sad, she apologized a couple of times) I cried. I don't know why. I do thow this, I don't want to work at a place that doesn't have time to entertain guests, who think they're cool enough to come and see them uninvited. Maybe its because I've been raised on the idea of Southern Hospitality. Anyway, Xerox PARC is much less cool in my eyes now.
So I went on my merry way, shook the dust off my feet, and bus hopped my way to Stanford.
I talked to the admissions people, who basically said check for details via the web and apply there too. They told me I could walk around the comp sci building and talk to people. I got to see the digital Michealangelo project, and I talked to Steve Marschner(I think) who's doing his postdoc there and heading to Cornell in the fall. His work in rendering translucent material was the cover for this year's SIGGRAPH. I told him about my graphics class in the fall and how I hoped to do work on oversampling and he thought it was an area with plenty left to do(although a lot has already been done).
Back to the train station. I read the whole way back. As I was bussing back to the hostel. I decided to get off near Chinatown, Joyce had recommended a place on Kearny St. called House of Nanking.
I ducked into the Union Bank of California to check my map(windy & cold here, plus it seemed safer). The guy at the desk, Tom from Virginia, helped me out, and after a bit of confusion, realized the place, and said it was good too(all the locals go there), he also told me about an execellent Vietnamese place thats renowned too.
Well, the House of Nanking was really good. It was small and tight too, from the outside it was a hole-in-the-wall place you could miss... except for the huge line to get in. There wasn't a line when I got there, but it was probably 30 people long when I left.
I walked over to Grant St.(the main brag through Chinatown) and walked down to the gates. I bought a t-shirt on the cheap, and then went to get back
on the bus
I met a woman named Daniella who was waiting on the bus too. She's a broker for Morgan Stanly. She was born here and came back after college, she's only been a broker for a little less than a year, she orginally majored in political science with the intent of being a lawyer, but after school decided she wanted to do something else and ended up doing this. She said its mostly a saled job, building up a client base. She seemed to really like it, except right now, business isn't booming.
After she got off the bus, the girl scouts got on. There is a troop of girl scouts in the hostel, all entering the 9th grade next year(except one). They're from south of Los Angeles. I talked to their
Oh yeah, I have a rash on my elbows. I have a suspicion I got into something at the Grand Canyon, it doesn't itch a lot, but if it doesn't clear up in a few days, I'll do something about it.
Anyway, they were planning on walking across the Golden Gate bridge this morning and the leader recognized me when we all got off at the hostel. They said the walk was good, and I think they mentioned catchinga bus back across the bridge. One of the girls saluted me.
I dumped my backpack in my locker and walked over to the Safeway, I ran out of film again, and I needed something to drink so I got a coke and a donut too. I ran into Joyce on her way out of the store, and told her about Palo Alto,(the weather was warmer and minus the fog there). I also told her that I
had gone to the House of Nanking and really liked it. She's working again in the morning, so I'll get to talk to her some more.
Back in the hostel the girl who saluted me asked me where I was from. I misunderstood and told her all the stop of my trip, but anyway, her name is Jamie, and she was born in Nashville, so thats kinda cool.
I called my mom,(my dad was asleep) and finally got the number of my cousins in South Dakota(she's been trying to get it for me for a few days now.
I think I will go to bed early tonight. It probably won't happen. Oh well.
My biological clock is blinking 12:00. Oh I had a good nights sleep, but between the time zone changes, odd hours, and overnight bus rides I can't really tell the time of day or day of week without help.
I checked out this morning, but left most of my stuff in the Pack Room. Joyce was working, so I talked with her awhile. She said she liked my stories I told her, and said they were interesting. SHe suggested I check out the Maritime Museum, and it was pretty cool when I walked through this morning. I got a picture with her, and we swapped email addresses. I got a hug when I left.
So I walked down to Fisherman's Wharf and I'm eating brunch at a deli in Ghiradeli Square.
San Francisco is definitely not the warmest place in the world, it has been windy and foggy today.
Alcatraz was actually pretty neat. It was used as a fort during the Gold Rush and Civil War. In the early 1900's it became a prison, but it had always been used as a military prison. In the late 60's, while its future was being debated(it was closed in '63), some Indians took over the island and offered to buy it for $24 and some beads(as Manhattan had been bought). The also said its starkness and unsuitability to occupation made it the perfect Indian Rseservation, as it was very much like the others. They stayed for 19 months.
On the boat over, I met a couple from Pacifica, which is just south of here. They had never been to Alcatraz, so they are taking each of their 3 grandchildren, one at a time. It turns out though they have a neice who
went to Tech for a few years. I didn't know her, but it was cool.
Well, I decided to eat lunch on Pier 39. I got a Ghiradelli Chocolate bar for dessert. IT was really good, but I'm not into chocolate that big. Honey would probably like some, but I really doubt any of it would make it home.
Of course, I had a somewhat embarrasing incident too. I went into a shop for some postcards for my Mamaw and the preacher at my church. The guy claimed he was having a slow month, and by my repeated telling him I had no money(he thought I was bargaining) he ended up dropping a $300-400 lens to $150 even(no sales tax, he paid it). I felt bad, and it was a nice wide angle lens with a low light enhancing coating and a protective "filter". So I called my dad and said it was ok to buy it for our digital camera.
Well, I finished Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It was a pretty good book. It involved Voodoo though, and stuff like that always makes me feel funny(I get indigestion from discomfort at it, .. that could be lunch thuogh...). As a Christian, its actually easier to deal with though. Christ will protect our souls . You can actually not be forced to dismiss their claims; you instead assumed it works from either some unknown physical principle or evil spirits(although they like neither idea, but as C.S. Lewis said, the devil is just as happy with a humanist as a magician, either error is fine so long as its not the truth).
I guess I'm going to head up to the hostel now and work my way to the bus station. I may try to play with the route to get closer to the coast. We'll see though.
Mark Twain once said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a Summer in San Francisco." I'm not complaining mind you. It's the kind of cold that leaves your face red andhot when you come in and makes you want to curl up beside a fire in a room with the lights low, and someone you love. I'm alone though, and thats good too. I've realized I like hotels more than I used to. People are nice in hostels, and very friendly, but hostelling has its mores, and you can find space if you need it. Its what you pay for in a hotel though, that quiet, indifferent, anonymous, isolation. Space.
I stated reading Lila this afternoon. Phaedrus is talking
travelling alone.
I like meeting people too, but I'm curious to see how many will email me without me sending to them first. It will be interesting. I mean sometimes you trade stuff like that to be nice, knowing or at least hoping they'll never cash in the promise of future relationship.
I walked the back way into the hostel. It was a very nice walk and a good view of the bay. I also bought a fleece vest, partially for the cold, partially to do something different. The woman who sold it to me said they sell a lot to tourists who thought all of California is a warm, sunny beach.
At the bus station there was a large number of odd people, but I ended up behind this really neat black girl named Lucky. She thought my trip was cool. She graduated
high school a year ago and was in college, but she has decided to do massage therapy instead. She seemed to think the religious element of my trip neat as well, and said SF was the wilderness, and due to all the gay people Sodom and Gomorrah as well. She insisted I sit by her on the bus, and I would have enjoyed it, but she was on the 7:30 and I was on the 8:00pm bus. She's from Sacramento and was going to visit home.
Instead I ended up in line beside a couple from England, Chris and Amy. They're from Manchest, and they've both graduated and have been travelling for about 5 months. They went to southeast Asia, Austrailia, and here. We're on the same bus until they get off in Portland at noon. We've talked a lot about sports, football and soccer. They're also agnostics, and we
talked a little about Christianity for a minute. We also talked about politics. A black Muni bus driver accosted me for letting Bush win Tennessee(he was sitting in front of the English couple). We also talked about guns and why Americans can own a gun before they can drink a beer.
So its been fairly interesting. I still have that rash on my elbows, I'm probably going to pick something up in Seattle. I've had a lot of gas lately too. Thank God I've been mostly healthy so far on my trip. Its mind blowing I only have 4 stops left. I kinda think (hope) the rash is something I picked up from a mildly irritating plant in the Grand Canyon, and that a steroid cream will clear it right up.
I actually did sleep kinda decent on the bus, maybe 3 or 4 hours worth. At our breakfast stop I got some hydrocortisone for my rash, and it seems to have made a difference already. I've drifted in and out of sleep all morning, but the terrain in Oregon is very pretty and green, its similiar to the foothills at home. We've basically been Interstate 5 the whole way, which is disappointing, I wanted to be closer to the coast, but it will all work out.
Yesterday, on the way back to the hostel I got surprised by a black man on the sidewalk. He had two big handfuls of tree limbs with lots of leaves, so it just looked like a bush. He would scare people as they walked by. I asked him if people actually gave him money for that. He said for 22 years, so I dropped some pocket change in his bucket.
I read a little more of Lila last night. Its interesting to compare changes in me since I read Zen and the Art 4 years
ago. I've actually been a little nervous about Lila, and questioned whether I should read it on the trip or not.
Phaedrus is working on a book and he's putting all this thoughts on notecards(one per notecard). He's also treating code as data, and written his instructions on his system down on notecards as well. All this ties back to me. We're both Journalling so we can forget. My earliest journals seem like "junk"(not neccessarily from this trip), but I realized by getting it down on paper it let me get it the "junk" out of my head, and now like Phaedrus it lets me get the good stuff as well, so it can manipulated, organized, even better, forgotten to make room for new ideas.
His system also gave me ideas on to implement Alexandria. A system of notecards(hypercards, although not like the Apple program of that name).
The cards will be able to be hyperlinked by other cards. Some will contain code to provide whatever you want(transformations and views on the data). Also, any "fields" will allow for declarative and procedural semantics to be defined for them in code(again on a notecard).
Hopefully this will let me create a huge "public domain" database as well as several smaller private "thought" databases and then mix the two or not at will and have queries work on different sets and mixes based on what I want.
I've been reading in Lila again, and I'm on the dockside so its very ironically appropriate. We're on the subject of values and objective vs. subjective. In some ways, thats what Alexandria is to work with, a system to let you work mechanically with subjective insights and store and use them.
I also think Phadreus is on the Gordian knot of AI. He's also talking about American Indians being the source of the plain, free, democratic character of the White American. Even in our speech. I've thought about this. The roots of our "Indian" heritage have been at every stop of my
Well, after Chris and Amy departed in Portland I met another Amy. Her family is from Laos, but they live in Fresno now. She's 17 and will start her senior year in the Fall. Her brother lives near Seattle and she's going to live up here and finish school here. We talked about college some and I told her my freewheeling thoughts on how grades and "knowing what you want to do" are overrated, and its the free, cultural experience of college
that is important. Her parents are apparently non-practicing Buddhists and Mormons. I explained Christianity as best I could.
She seemed to be very aware of pop culture, but we do have similiar tastes in music: techno, rave, etc. She liked my accent which she picked up pretty quickly as being country. We talked some about travelling, and she's probably going to get to see her remaining grandmother sometime when they take a family trip to Laos.
I walked to the hostel, it was only about 12 blocks. Its a bigger one, and pretty nice as they go. Seattle seems pretty laid back. After showing, I tried my cousins in South Dakota, and got no answer. I talked to the Waterfront and ate outside on the dock at a Red Robin. I think I'm going to head to the Space Needle after this, and maybe watch Minority Report later.
Well, I guess I'll say more later, the weather is good. Clear skies, sunshine, and a mostly clear conscience.