Saturday, August 18
I am way behind on pictures.
It's tough to get pictures sorted and uploaded.
I'm working on it now.
I have to go to sleep now, actually.
But first, a few relatively arbitrary selections to make you wish you were with us:
I'm working on it now.
I have to go to sleep now, actually.
But first, a few relatively arbitrary selections to make you wish you were with us:
I have witnessed the Pacific
Today Jason and I slept late. We didn't leave the house until around one.
This was sad for me because I wanted to meet my friend Brenda for lunch. I will ave to meet up with her later, now.
We headed out to the Exploratorium which is probably the best museum. I have wanted to go there ever since I got the Explorabook (made by the Exploratorium and Klutz) when I was in maybe fourth grade. It's everything I could have hoped for. It's huge and in a gorgeous building that was made for a purpose I have forgotten. Inside it's essentially one giant room filled with a dizzying amount of mind-blowing stuff. It's a science museum made by artists. Everything is hands-on and everything is great. There wasn't a single let-down. Also the shop where all the pieces are made is in the same room, separated by gates and big windows, and you can watch the machinists at work, which is incredible.
Jason and I blazed through everything, getting a feel for the place and then going back and investigating a few things further. Trefor did everything all the way, and only made it about a third of the way through. We were there from about one thirty until they closed at five. When they closed we walked about three blocks to the Wave Organ, an art piece made of tubes that connect the depths of the Bay with some stone benches above it. When you sit near a tube you can hear vaguely pitched huffing and wheezing and splattering emerging from it. It's rather relaxing.
After the Wave Organ we headed back to the Exploratorium for the Tactile Dome, the one exhibit that stays open late, and one that costs an extra three dollars which is provides more than enough entertainment for. Essentially it is a moderately large geodesic dome with tunnels running through it and no light sources. You walk, climb, crawl, and slide your way through it and touch various surfaces and items. It's nice. Although, once I did get separated from Trefor and Jason and it was a little bit terrifying.
We then got dinner with Garrick who took us to a Chinese place which was exceptionally nice of him. Now we are back and sitting within a few feet of each other but not conversing because we're all absorbed in the internet.
It has been a nice day. Tomorrow: the desert.
This was sad for me because I wanted to meet my friend Brenda for lunch. I will ave to meet up with her later, now.
We headed out to the Exploratorium which is probably the best museum. I have wanted to go there ever since I got the Explorabook (made by the Exploratorium and Klutz) when I was in maybe fourth grade. It's everything I could have hoped for. It's huge and in a gorgeous building that was made for a purpose I have forgotten. Inside it's essentially one giant room filled with a dizzying amount of mind-blowing stuff. It's a science museum made by artists. Everything is hands-on and everything is great. There wasn't a single let-down. Also the shop where all the pieces are made is in the same room, separated by gates and big windows, and you can watch the machinists at work, which is incredible.
Jason and I blazed through everything, getting a feel for the place and then going back and investigating a few things further. Trefor did everything all the way, and only made it about a third of the way through. We were there from about one thirty until they closed at five. When they closed we walked about three blocks to the Wave Organ, an art piece made of tubes that connect the depths of the Bay with some stone benches above it. When you sit near a tube you can hear vaguely pitched huffing and wheezing and splattering emerging from it. It's rather relaxing.
After the Wave Organ we headed back to the Exploratorium for the Tactile Dome, the one exhibit that stays open late, and one that costs an extra three dollars which is provides more than enough entertainment for. Essentially it is a moderately large geodesic dome with tunnels running through it and no light sources. You walk, climb, crawl, and slide your way through it and touch various surfaces and items. It's nice. Although, once I did get separated from Trefor and Jason and it was a little bit terrifying.
We then got dinner with Garrick who took us to a Chinese place which was exceptionally nice of him. Now we are back and sitting within a few feet of each other but not conversing because we're all absorbed in the internet.
It has been a nice day. Tomorrow: the desert.
Friday, August 17
Spots of mystery: a discussion
I have just realized that we have been neglectful in our duties of talking about our most recent mystery experience.
Let me start by saying that there are a great many mystery spots in the U.S., but only a few are vortexes. Of this I have been assured. Our most recent, in Oregon, is the oldest and largest of these vortexes, and I believe that Cosmos was also one. I am also assured that this is meaningful and not just a word applied, but I'll let you visit and judge that yourselves. My purpose is merely to contrast. Possibly also compare.
Cosmos is a wacky experience. There are myriad jokes and little fun quirks. We were lucky in that our tour guide (Peter, look for him) excelled in them. We were also lucky to be in a small group made primarily of that most extroverted and secretly nerdy subset of the population: bikers. Our whole experience there was rowdy and fun. It was not, however, convincing.
The Oregon Vortex, on the other hand, was a relatively more sombre experience. It was peppered with scientific or pseudo-scientific theories. We were given dousing rods and there was a lot of measuring. Both spots use so many levels that the Carpenters doubt their vocation, but only Oregon also uses varied measuring implements. Our guide here, Alex, was on his last day. He had us, then two more tours, and then he was out of Oregon, presumably forever. He did not care. And yet he did a great job. He did reference other mystery spots quite frequently and seemed to be up on the mystery spot scene. He also was very tall, which he seemed amused to point out frequently on height-changing demonstrations. Our group was very quiet on this tour and mostly in some degree of awe. The explanations offered were... well, they were explanations of some kind. Which is nice for believers. Trefor and I feel that we have debunked everything but the dousing rods, but this is neither the place nor the place.
Final decision: both entertaining. I liked Oregon more.
Let me start by saying that there are a great many mystery spots in the U.S., but only a few are vortexes. Of this I have been assured. Our most recent, in Oregon, is the oldest and largest of these vortexes, and I believe that Cosmos was also one. I am also assured that this is meaningful and not just a word applied, but I'll let you visit and judge that yourselves. My purpose is merely to contrast. Possibly also compare.
Cosmos is a wacky experience. There are myriad jokes and little fun quirks. We were lucky in that our tour guide (Peter, look for him) excelled in them. We were also lucky to be in a small group made primarily of that most extroverted and secretly nerdy subset of the population: bikers. Our whole experience there was rowdy and fun. It was not, however, convincing.
The Oregon Vortex, on the other hand, was a relatively more sombre experience. It was peppered with scientific or pseudo-scientific theories. We were given dousing rods and there was a lot of measuring. Both spots use so many levels that the Carpenters doubt their vocation, but only Oregon also uses varied measuring implements. Our guide here, Alex, was on his last day. He had us, then two more tours, and then he was out of Oregon, presumably forever. He did not care. And yet he did a great job. He did reference other mystery spots quite frequently and seemed to be up on the mystery spot scene. He also was very tall, which he seemed amused to point out frequently on height-changing demonstrations. Our group was very quiet on this tour and mostly in some degree of awe. The explanations offered were... well, they were explanations of some kind. Which is nice for believers. Trefor and I feel that we have debunked everything but the dousing rods, but this is neither the place nor the place.
Final decision: both entertaining. I liked Oregon more.
Meet Sam Fredcisco
I tried to start writing this last night, but I was plied with beer, sake, and a movie away from the computer. The beer and sake were very good. The movie (Lucky Number Slevin) was very not. There were large sections that were awesome, but in such a way that I could not tell if the filmmakers understood why what they were doing was awesome. I believe they were trying to be clever, and were instead unintentionally ridiculous. And whenever the movie was not unintentionally ridiculous, it was merely stupid.
Anyway, here's what I started to write and then what I'm writing now. Bet you can't tell where one ends and the other begins!
Our first day in San Francisco went well, despite getting off to a mildly rocky start. Our plan was to head down to the Asian Art Museum, look around for a couple of hours, and then meet a friend of mine downtown. My friend is a native Franciscan and we were looking forward to getting the inside scoop. Just as we reached the museum, however, we received the bad news: my friend was called to an emergency meeting in Berkeley, and wouldn't be able to meet up with us at all. We were on our own.
After discovering that the Asian Art Museum was cheaper after 5 PM, we decided to ad-lib a trip around town as best we could. We made our way to Golden Gate Park, where we looked at but did not enter the Japanese Tea Garden. Then we walked through the park and exited at at the notorious Haight St., finding ourselves right next to Amoeba Records, which I'd been told not to miss. We each proceeded to spend way too much time and money in Amoeba Records, which was overwhelming in both its size and its attention to both good and alternative music (and movies). Leaving Amoeba Records we happened upon a test-drive booth for the Toyota Scion, so we took a test-drive. We were rewarded for our efforts with a $15 Gift Certificate...to Amoeba Records. So we went back in and bought more stuff. Good little consumers are we.
After Amoeba our wallets went into anemic shock and we decided to just walk for a long time. We headed down Haight St., crossing Ashbury, where Trefor and I had to explain to Jim the significance of Haight-Ashbury, because his high school history classes apparently ended with JFK's assassination. We decided to hoof it all the way back to the Asian Art Musuem, but crossing Divisadero I realized that we were only a block away from Comix Experience, a comic book store of great renown that I'd been wanting to visit for ages. So we went, and I bought a few comic books, and to thank Trefor and Jim for indulging me I bought them each a comic as well. Yay comics!
The Asian Art Museum had two special exhibits: one on the woodblock prints of 19th century artist Yoshitoshi, and the other on 20th century manga genius Osamu Tezuka. The Tezuka exhibit was very good, but my favorite by far was the Yoshitoshi, in which I had my breath taken away at least thrice by the stunning beauty of the compositions and the elegance of the colors (which have resisted fading very well over the last century or so). I lusted for the two books of prints the museum had, but they were around $100 apiece and I could not justify that expense. Oh, but I tried. I tried so hard. There was also an amazing Tezuka "Astro Boy" wallet design, but the wallet was poorly constructed, so I did not buy anything. Which is fine, because I buy too much stuff.
Dinner was on Trefor's brother, who took us for sushi, which was delicious. Then the aforementioned beer and sake and craptastic movie. And then sleeping, which I woke from to a phone call to say that my car's alternator has apparently died, and the car will not start. Which is a bummer, because Lucy and Laura were supposed to take it to the beach today. Sorry girls!
Off we go now, to a late start of another day in San-Fran. I'm going to try and let California soothe my worries about dealing with my stupid car when I get home. Maybe we'll go look at the Pacific Ocean.
Anyway, here's what I started to write and then what I'm writing now. Bet you can't tell where one ends and the other begins!
Our first day in San Francisco went well, despite getting off to a mildly rocky start. Our plan was to head down to the Asian Art Museum, look around for a couple of hours, and then meet a friend of mine downtown. My friend is a native Franciscan and we were looking forward to getting the inside scoop. Just as we reached the museum, however, we received the bad news: my friend was called to an emergency meeting in Berkeley, and wouldn't be able to meet up with us at all. We were on our own.
After discovering that the Asian Art Museum was cheaper after 5 PM, we decided to ad-lib a trip around town as best we could. We made our way to Golden Gate Park, where we looked at but did not enter the Japanese Tea Garden. Then we walked through the park and exited at at the notorious Haight St., finding ourselves right next to Amoeba Records, which I'd been told not to miss. We each proceeded to spend way too much time and money in Amoeba Records, which was overwhelming in both its size and its attention to both good and alternative music (and movies). Leaving Amoeba Records we happened upon a test-drive booth for the Toyota Scion, so we took a test-drive. We were rewarded for our efforts with a $15 Gift Certificate...to Amoeba Records. So we went back in and bought more stuff. Good little consumers are we.
After Amoeba our wallets went into anemic shock and we decided to just walk for a long time. We headed down Haight St., crossing Ashbury, where Trefor and I had to explain to Jim the significance of Haight-Ashbury, because his high school history classes apparently ended with JFK's assassination. We decided to hoof it all the way back to the Asian Art Musuem, but crossing Divisadero I realized that we were only a block away from Comix Experience, a comic book store of great renown that I'd been wanting to visit for ages. So we went, and I bought a few comic books, and to thank Trefor and Jim for indulging me I bought them each a comic as well. Yay comics!
The Asian Art Museum had two special exhibits: one on the woodblock prints of 19th century artist Yoshitoshi, and the other on 20th century manga genius Osamu Tezuka. The Tezuka exhibit was very good, but my favorite by far was the Yoshitoshi, in which I had my breath taken away at least thrice by the stunning beauty of the compositions and the elegance of the colors (which have resisted fading very well over the last century or so). I lusted for the two books of prints the museum had, but they were around $100 apiece and I could not justify that expense. Oh, but I tried. I tried so hard. There was also an amazing Tezuka "Astro Boy" wallet design, but the wallet was poorly constructed, so I did not buy anything. Which is fine, because I buy too much stuff.
Dinner was on Trefor's brother, who took us for sushi, which was delicious. Then the aforementioned beer and sake and craptastic movie. And then sleeping, which I woke from to a phone call to say that my car's alternator has apparently died, and the car will not start. Which is a bummer, because Lucy and Laura were supposed to take it to the beach today. Sorry girls!
Off we go now, to a late start of another day in San-Fran. I'm going to try and let California soothe my worries about dealing with my stupid car when I get home. Maybe we'll go look at the Pacific Ocean.
Trefor is not a guitar hero
We had a long day of walking unguided around San Francisco. It was good. We thought a guy was going to show us, but he got called away. It would have been nice, but we did okay. Jason keeps making us go to places where I will buy things which is unfortunate. The other day we went to a used book store and I got some books and today we went to a used record shop and I got some cds and a couple dvds. I need to be not spending extra money. However, we did get fifteen dollars apiece (in Amoeba Records gift certificates) for riding in a Scion for about six minutes and filling out a sheet of our opinions. Totally worthwhile.
We also looked at some really nice art at an Asian art gallery. They had a section on manga and a section of woodblock prints buy a guy named Yoshitoshi. There was also a lot more to the museum, which we totally ignored.
Garrick, Trefor's brother who is housing us right now, took us out for sushi, which was really nice of him, and now we're back at his house and Jason and I are doing computer things while Garrick plays Guitar Hero and Trefor tries to play Guitar Hero.
It's a nice leg of the trip here.
PS - I have not even tried Guitar Hero but I bet I'd be way worse at it than anyone.
We also looked at some really nice art at an Asian art gallery. They had a section on manga and a section of woodblock prints buy a guy named Yoshitoshi. There was also a lot more to the museum, which we totally ignored.
Garrick, Trefor's brother who is housing us right now, took us out for sushi, which was really nice of him, and now we're back at his house and Jason and I are doing computer things while Garrick plays Guitar Hero and Trefor tries to play Guitar Hero.
It's a nice leg of the trip here.
PS - I have not even tried Guitar Hero but I bet I'd be way worse at it than anyone.
Thursday, August 16
Imaginary conversation between myself and a lizard
Jim: Hey. I used to have pets just like you.
Lizard: Really? I'm just a guy around here.
Jim: Yeah, where I come from you can't survive so it's really exciting when I see you in the wild.
Lizard: The wild? Why there's nothing wild about this palm tree I'm chilling on.
Jim: I think it's pretty wild that it lives here. This is a place where a thing like that or you can grow and be. That's wild.
Lizard: You know what else is wild?
Jim: What?
Lizard: You're a nerd.
Jim: Ouch.
Lizard: Yeah.
Palm tree: Did someone say my name?
Lizard: Really? I'm just a guy around here.
Jim: Yeah, where I come from you can't survive so it's really exciting when I see you in the wild.
Lizard: The wild? Why there's nothing wild about this palm tree I'm chilling on.
Jim: I think it's pretty wild that it lives here. This is a place where a thing like that or you can grow and be. That's wild.
Lizard: You know what else is wild?
Jim: What?
Lizard: You're a nerd.
Jim: Ouch.
Lizard: Yeah.
Palm tree: Did someone say my name?
Lizards and Whackjobs (Quick Notes from the Road)
Crater Lake is just about the bluest lake I have ever seen.
Chipmunks are adorable.
Blueberry pie is delicious, especially with Ice Cream.
You know what sucks? When a dude in a huge black SUV is driving erratically, and then gets mad when you pass him and guns it around you on the right on a single-lane highway with no guardrail, and then hits his brakes and makes you stop behind him and then gets out of his car and you think "Uh-Oh." But then he's clearly a drunken hick who sees the line of cars behind you and gets back in his car and starts driving again only to pull over on the side of the road a minute later and try to get out of his car but this time you just zip right past him and so does another car so you have no trouble leaving him far behind and you'd really like to call the police and tell them to get this crazy drunken hick off the road but your cell phone is dead. Yeah, that.
Also, playing mini-golf, I saw a lizard!
Chipmunks are adorable.
Blueberry pie is delicious, especially with Ice Cream.
You know what sucks? When a dude in a huge black SUV is driving erratically, and then gets mad when you pass him and guns it around you on the right on a single-lane highway with no guardrail, and then hits his brakes and makes you stop behind him and then gets out of his car and you think "Uh-Oh." But then he's clearly a drunken hick who sees the line of cars behind you and gets back in his car and starts driving again only to pull over on the side of the road a minute later and try to get out of his car but this time you just zip right past him and so does another car so you have no trouble leaving him far behind and you'd really like to call the police and tell them to get this crazy drunken hick off the road but your cell phone is dead. Yeah, that.
Also, playing mini-golf, I saw a lizard!
Video Podcast Eight - Hell's Canyon Night One
Wherein Trefor monologues about the situation in which we awoke after our first night in Hell's Canyon.
Link
Link
Trefor forces fun down the throats of others
Today started with the Oregon Vortex and its famed House of Mystery. Heights changed, water ran uphill, brooms stood on end and Jason felt nauseous in the swirling energies.
Afterward I decided (admittedly after much hemming and hawing) to take the suggestion of the gregarious KOA campsite caretaker and go to Crater Lake. It was about three hours out of the way altogether, but I thought it would be nice to actually do something today so away we went.
We stopped at Beckie's for lunch and pie. Fresh peach pie with ice cream is delicious.
Crater Lake has the bluest water I have ever seen in real life. I have seen pictures of tropical beaches with water this blue but it was incredible to see for myself. And in a mountain no less.
Probably it was not actually worth the three hours extra that it added to the trip, but it was nice. Looked like it would be a good place to do some hiking if I ever go back...
Then we drove.
Entered California and drove more.
We stopped briefly in Redding, CA at the Oasis fun center. We played some wicked hard mini golf (Jim won again). Threw some ski ball then hopped back in the car.
Drove some more. Got to my brother's place here in San Francisco and now is the time when we sleep.
Explorating city tomorrow!
Afterward I decided (admittedly after much hemming and hawing) to take the suggestion of the gregarious KOA campsite caretaker and go to Crater Lake. It was about three hours out of the way altogether, but I thought it would be nice to actually do something today so away we went.
We stopped at Beckie's for lunch and pie. Fresh peach pie with ice cream is delicious.
Crater Lake has the bluest water I have ever seen in real life. I have seen pictures of tropical beaches with water this blue but it was incredible to see for myself. And in a mountain no less.
Probably it was not actually worth the three hours extra that it added to the trip, but it was nice. Looked like it would be a good place to do some hiking if I ever go back...
Then we drove.
Entered California and drove more.
We stopped briefly in Redding, CA at the Oasis fun center. We played some wicked hard mini golf (Jim won again). Threw some ski ball then hopped back in the car.
Drove some more. Got to my brother's place here in San Francisco and now is the time when we sleep.
Explorating city tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 15
Conversation between myself and a boy on a motorcycle shaped bicycle
Boy: Pizza guy!
Jim: What?
Boy: You're the pizza guy.
Jim: No, I wish I was. I wish I had some pizza.
Boy: Oh. I made a new friend.
Jim: Yeah? Who? The other kid on the bike?
Boy: No... you see him in the blue shirt?
Jim: Yeah.
Boy: He's my new friend.
Jim: Good. He seems really cool.
Jim: What?
Boy: You're the pizza guy.
Jim: No, I wish I was. I wish I had some pizza.
Boy: Oh. I made a new friend.
Jim: Yeah? Who? The other kid on the bike?
Boy: No... you see him in the blue shirt?
Jim: Yeah.
Boy: He's my new friend.
Jim: Good. He seems really cool.
Tuesday, August 14
Special Guest Star
(the dying light of Oregon fades behind the campsite of our heroes)
Oh my. I've always wanted to be part of a group-blog. I find the whole idea of them thrilling.
Hi everybody. I'm Jason, and I have joined up with the Americana Blitz for the west coast leg of their campaign. I got into Portland late last night (thank you JetBlue, for providing a cheap and painless flight), crashed in a cheap hotel room, and waited for our heroes to make their way from Cascade Locks. Then, armed only with an old tent, a new sleeping bag, and an eight-pack of some energy drink called JetSet, I set off to see one side of America with the intrepid Jim and Trefor.
Observations and anecdotes, in no particular order, shall follow:
Oregon is full of hills and dirt and trees and is quite lovely. In the flatter areas one could observe a phenomenon called a dust-devil, which looks like a miniature tornado and also looks awesome.
I flew to Portland, OR from NYC which is both cheating and missing most of the point of the Americana Blitz trip: to drive through and experience "flyover country" from the ground level. Instead I, well, flew over it. My apologies to the Dakotas.
I travelled fairly light, bringing only clothes, a tent (packed small) a couple of books and notebooks, my phone and a small camera. Once in Portland, I acquired a sleeping bag (the one I already owned was old and ragged and in no shape for proper use). I also acquired energy drinks - these are to be of paramount importance in the days to follow.
Campsites do not always have coffee, and even if they do have coffee it is not always drinkable. Neither Trefor nor Jim drinks coffee, and so they haven't brough a portable kettle or any such device to ensure coffee. I, however, average about three cups a day, and if a suitable caffeine alternative is not available, I will go into hideous withdrawal symptoms and kill Jim just by staring at him via the power of my headache. So into the grocery store we went, to locate canned energy drinks for the poor lily-livered city boy.
The only energy drink I could find on the shelves was something called "JetSet", which I'd never heard of before. It came in "Original", "Tonic", "Club Soda" and "Ginger Ale" flavors. I opted for "Club Soda", as it had no sugar in it. I would always buy sugar-free energy drinks, except that most energy drinks feel obligated to provide a flavor, and use aspartame or "Splenda" to compensate, and I can't stand either taste. "Club Soda" flavor is not obligated to taste like anything. I may end up scouring NYC looking for cans of this stuff once I get back. We'll see how the first can goes tomorrow.
We stopped at two eateries along the way south through Oregon. The first was the "Gay 90's Ice Cream and Deli". Trefor and Jim were confused and amused by the sign (which featured a man on an old-timey bicycle, the kind with the big front wheel), and I had to explain to them that the "Gay 90's" is a common (or at least used to be) way of referring to the 1890's. The ice cream was very good, made even better by Trefor's amazing discovery (which he's blogged about before) of putting apple-based hot sauce on the ice cream. The ice cream perfectly tempers the spice, so you get the pleasure without the pain, and the apple is not as sweet as a candy apple sauce would be. Excellent discovery.
After ice cream we went across the street and browsed Used Books. I didn't buy anything. Anyone who knows me well is now either doubting my word or worrying about me, but I really didn't find anything I was desperate to buy. So I left empty-handed. Which may be the first time I've ever left a non-Christian bookstore like that. I feel a little dirty. And a little scared.
We stopped for dinner at a place called "Heaven on Earth", because it's highway sign promised "free samples". We didn't know of what, but we knew they were free, which was enough of a deciding factor.
We also tried to stop at an amusement park called "The Enchanted Forest". Jim and Trefor's research had led them to believe that this was a handmade amusement park carved out of trees. This looked to be sort of the case. But it also looked really boring if you did not want to ride rides and were not under 10 years of age. And it also cost 9 dollars admission and then more if you wanted to do things. So we just held up the line for a little while deliberating and then shoved our way back to the parking lot and split. The parking lot was probably the best part anyway - it had a huge wooden painted castle face and blasted fakey-renaissance music from poor speakers. Also, the sign in front of the Enchanted Forest was clearly one of their old highway signs which they took down and put back up in front of the park itself, because at the bottom of the sign it read "NEXT EXIT" and had an arrow pointing away from the Enchanted Forest. It was very confusing and caused us to miss the entrance to the parking lot on the first try. The Enchanted Forest is basically stupid.
Heaven on Earth, on the other hand, was the exact opposite of stupid, which is GENIUS. The free samples turned out to be of their desserts, which were delicious. Pumpkin pudding, various cookies, and a marionberry jam (made from marion blackberries, but called marionberry, which of course just made Trefor and I ponder for a moment if it was named after the felonious and omnipresent former mayor of D.C.). There were also many, many other desserts that were not being sampled, such as cinnamon buns literally as big as my head. The food at Heaven on Earth was equally brilliant, mostly southern comfort food but with enough vegetarian options to make sure that Jim ate well. (He got the neverending tomato-vegetable soup in a sourdough breadbowl, Trefor and I each got a chicken-fried steak). To top it off, they brought us even more free dessert at the end of the meal. If you're ever headed through South Oregon on Interstate-5, Heaven on Earth is officially Highly Recommended.
Though the day was great from beginning to end, the best moment came early. Leaving the "Taste Tickler" in Portland (a hole in the wall eatery specializing in sub sandwiches and Japanese Bento boxes), we came face to face with this idling at the red light out front:
The picture is a little blurry, but that's a dog in a jean jacket in a bucket on the back of a motorcycle. Which is exactly the kind of omen I like to see at the beginning of a trip like this.
Ride, doggie. Ride.
Oh my. I've always wanted to be part of a group-blog. I find the whole idea of them thrilling.
Hi everybody. I'm Jason, and I have joined up with the Americana Blitz for the west coast leg of their campaign. I got into Portland late last night (thank you JetBlue, for providing a cheap and painless flight), crashed in a cheap hotel room, and waited for our heroes to make their way from Cascade Locks. Then, armed only with an old tent, a new sleeping bag, and an eight-pack of some energy drink called JetSet, I set off to see one side of America with the intrepid Jim and Trefor.
Observations and anecdotes, in no particular order, shall follow:
Oregon is full of hills and dirt and trees and is quite lovely. In the flatter areas one could observe a phenomenon called a dust-devil, which looks like a miniature tornado and also looks awesome.
I flew to Portland, OR from NYC which is both cheating and missing most of the point of the Americana Blitz trip: to drive through and experience "flyover country" from the ground level. Instead I, well, flew over it. My apologies to the Dakotas.
I travelled fairly light, bringing only clothes, a tent (packed small) a couple of books and notebooks, my phone and a small camera. Once in Portland, I acquired a sleeping bag (the one I already owned was old and ragged and in no shape for proper use). I also acquired energy drinks - these are to be of paramount importance in the days to follow.
Campsites do not always have coffee, and even if they do have coffee it is not always drinkable. Neither Trefor nor Jim drinks coffee, and so they haven't brough a portable kettle or any such device to ensure coffee. I, however, average about three cups a day, and if a suitable caffeine alternative is not available, I will go into hideous withdrawal symptoms and kill Jim just by staring at him via the power of my headache. So into the grocery store we went, to locate canned energy drinks for the poor lily-livered city boy.
The only energy drink I could find on the shelves was something called "JetSet", which I'd never heard of before. It came in "Original", "Tonic", "Club Soda" and "Ginger Ale" flavors. I opted for "Club Soda", as it had no sugar in it. I would always buy sugar-free energy drinks, except that most energy drinks feel obligated to provide a flavor, and use aspartame or "Splenda" to compensate, and I can't stand either taste. "Club Soda" flavor is not obligated to taste like anything. I may end up scouring NYC looking for cans of this stuff once I get back. We'll see how the first can goes tomorrow.
We stopped at two eateries along the way south through Oregon. The first was the "Gay 90's Ice Cream and Deli". Trefor and Jim were confused and amused by the sign (which featured a man on an old-timey bicycle, the kind with the big front wheel), and I had to explain to them that the "Gay 90's" is a common (or at least used to be) way of referring to the 1890's. The ice cream was very good, made even better by Trefor's amazing discovery (which he's blogged about before) of putting apple-based hot sauce on the ice cream. The ice cream perfectly tempers the spice, so you get the pleasure without the pain, and the apple is not as sweet as a candy apple sauce would be. Excellent discovery.
After ice cream we went across the street and browsed Used Books. I didn't buy anything. Anyone who knows me well is now either doubting my word or worrying about me, but I really didn't find anything I was desperate to buy. So I left empty-handed. Which may be the first time I've ever left a non-Christian bookstore like that. I feel a little dirty. And a little scared.
We stopped for dinner at a place called "Heaven on Earth", because it's highway sign promised "free samples". We didn't know of what, but we knew they were free, which was enough of a deciding factor.
We also tried to stop at an amusement park called "The Enchanted Forest". Jim and Trefor's research had led them to believe that this was a handmade amusement park carved out of trees. This looked to be sort of the case. But it also looked really boring if you did not want to ride rides and were not under 10 years of age. And it also cost 9 dollars admission and then more if you wanted to do things. So we just held up the line for a little while deliberating and then shoved our way back to the parking lot and split. The parking lot was probably the best part anyway - it had a huge wooden painted castle face and blasted fakey-renaissance music from poor speakers. Also, the sign in front of the Enchanted Forest was clearly one of their old highway signs which they took down and put back up in front of the park itself, because at the bottom of the sign it read "NEXT EXIT" and had an arrow pointing away from the Enchanted Forest. It was very confusing and caused us to miss the entrance to the parking lot on the first try. The Enchanted Forest is basically stupid.
Heaven on Earth, on the other hand, was the exact opposite of stupid, which is GENIUS. The free samples turned out to be of their desserts, which were delicious. Pumpkin pudding, various cookies, and a marionberry jam (made from marion blackberries, but called marionberry, which of course just made Trefor and I ponder for a moment if it was named after the felonious and omnipresent former mayor of D.C.). There were also many, many other desserts that were not being sampled, such as cinnamon buns literally as big as my head. The food at Heaven on Earth was equally brilliant, mostly southern comfort food but with enough vegetarian options to make sure that Jim ate well. (He got the neverending tomato-vegetable soup in a sourdough breadbowl, Trefor and I each got a chicken-fried steak). To top it off, they brought us even more free dessert at the end of the meal. If you're ever headed through South Oregon on Interstate-5, Heaven on Earth is officially Highly Recommended.
Though the day was great from beginning to end, the best moment came early. Leaving the "Taste Tickler" in Portland (a hole in the wall eatery specializing in sub sandwiches and Japanese Bento boxes), we came face to face with this idling at the red light out front:
The picture is a little blurry, but that's a dog in a jean jacket in a bucket on the back of a motorcycle. Which is exactly the kind of omen I like to see at the beginning of a trip like this.Ride, doggie. Ride.
Themes on the trip
Noah's Ark
Hot girl sightings
"This is how I look"
Pieces of a mysterious cyclotron we think must be enormous and being constructed in the middle of the country
Jim spills food on himself almost every meal
Hot girl sightings
"This is how I look"
Pieces of a mysterious cyclotron we think must be enormous and being constructed in the middle of the country
Jim spills food on himself almost every meal
Tensions that have arisen between Trefor and myself so far on the trip
Trefor won't let me call Radio Disney.
Sometimes one of us is slow to point out a real hot girl and the other one doesn't see her.
Trefor likes to look at scenery instead of paying attention to driving while driving on tiny mountain roads.
I refuse to listen to anything but childrens' music for extended periods of time.
Sometimes one of us is slow to point out a real hot girl and the other one doesn't see her.
Trefor likes to look at scenery instead of paying attention to driving while driving on tiny mountain roads.
I refuse to listen to anything but childrens' music for extended periods of time.
The package has arrived
We breezed through Portland today and picked up our mutual friend Jason today. He will be joining us for about a week of our tour.
This is exciting news for everyone.
This is exciting news for everyone.
The Howling Trainyards of Cascade Locks
So remember when I mentioned that there had already been two extremely loud trains in our first ten minutes here? Well, they kept coming. I was woken up by roosters crowing at dawn and then kept up by trains that came through every twenty minutes or so.
Also, the internet died last night just before Jim could get his pictures uploaded. And the guy at the desk would not reset the router. Lame.
Also, the internet died last night just before Jim could get his pictures uploaded. And the guy at the desk would not reset the router. Lame.
Monday, August 13
In my defense
Standing on the edge of a cliff is kind of terrifying.
Also Trefor didn't pee off it, he peed onto it.
Also Trefor didn't pee off it, he peed onto it.
My favorite moments from the trip so far that were under ten seconds in duration
Moments after we entered Montana a tumbleweed blew across the road.
Once I kicked a dry leaf and it sounded like a rattlesnake and freaked Trefor out. Even though I am far more terrified of rattlesnakes than he is. Also bears. And rattlebears.
An ant we were watching fell off its leaf and it was both amusing and sad.
We found a tree that, backlit in the night, looked like Pa Berenstain.
In Wall Drug I spent nearly thirty seconds puzzling over what a "sale knife" was for before realizing that they were knives that were on sale. On our way out of that part of the store the clerk teasingly slapped me on the back and pointed out where the door was.
Once I kicked a dry leaf and it sounded like a rattlesnake and freaked Trefor out. Even though I am far more terrified of rattlesnakes than he is. Also bears. And rattlebears.
An ant we were watching fell off its leaf and it was both amusing and sad.
We found a tree that, backlit in the night, looked like Pa Berenstain.
In Wall Drug I spent nearly thirty seconds puzzling over what a "sale knife" was for before realizing that they were knives that were on sale. On our way out of that part of the store the clerk teasingly slapped me on the back and pointed out where the door was.
Pacab Hells Canon
Before we entered the Canyon we stopped at the visitor's center in Lewiston (right near Clarkston, no joke). There have been about 70 wildfires this season so there were places in the park that were still closed to the public.
We ended up driving for a good five or six hours looking for a spot. Finally we decided to try to reach a point that one of the visitor's center ladies had suggested. However, we weren't sure where it was. So we were driving along the Snake river at about midnight (though I am not sure because we kept going in and out of Pacific time) and Jim stopped in the middle of the road so that we could look at the map. A dude, his wife, and their young daughter pulled up next to us in their pickup and asked if they could help. They gave us directions to Big Bar (where we were headed) and drove off.
I love that we have just stumbled onto random awesomeness and great people throughout this trip.
On our way to Big Bar we puled off to the side of the road and set up the tent. In the dark. Not so bad with the help of the headlights on the car. But it did make it that much more awesome when we woke up the next morning. Hopefully Jim will post that video podcast soon.
That morning we drove up to the Hells Canyon Dam (and visitor's center). Took a short mile hike along the Snake River then chilled for a bit in the visitor's center.
At four we went down to the dock below the visitor's center to catch the tour boat. By the time we got there the boat had been purchased in its entirety by a German-American couple because they wanted to take their dogs along. We paid them and got to come along. By an interesting twist of fate the only other couple on board was from Germany. We toured the river for a couple of hours, saw a lot of the canyon, some good rapids (though we stopped before going down the class four rapids), saw some bald eagles, saw some early American pictographs, and Jim and I wet our feet in the water. Overall a very enjoyable time.
Drove the next couple of hours up some very winding dirt roads. We traveled through a town called Cuprum (science geeks will understand this because there used to be copper mining in the area). Jim snapped a shot of its sign because the sign was awesome. Also, they have a registered population of 12.
Made it to Sheep Rock late that night so we set up in the dark again. Again it was amazing to wake up to, though I don't think I shot anything there. We were 6800 feet above sea level and could see all over the place. There was a half mile loop out to a scenic overlook (that was amazing, Jim should have pics). I thought that Jim had started the loop so I walked the other direction figuring we would meet up at the overlook. He hadn't, so I ended up walking the loop alone. Oops. We went back after I got back but Jim was bummed I had gone without him. Oops.
Drove to a couple of other overlooks on the way out. At Horse mountain there was a fire watch tower manned by a fellow named Derrick. He invited us up to look around the tower, chatted with us for a bit and showed us how he did what he did. Very neat. Apparently he works there in the summers and then travels around for the rest of the year. I think Jim is trying to figure out how he too can do this.
Drove back down the mountain and went to the Hells Canyon Overlook in Oregon. We thought it was less exciting than the overlooks on the Idaho side, like Sheep Rock. But it was pleasant. I peed off the side of a cliff, while Jim became too scared to urinate. He claims that he peed off the cliff later, but I don't know.
Found a spot to camp while it was still light out this time. It was in the woods by a creek (read crick because that is how they say it here). There was another guy camping out there last night. Possibly drunk. He had a campfire going, though I was convinced that that was illegal as the fire warning level was "extreme." We didn't mention it to him though in case he was a serial murderer. We put up our tent on a dusty field that was full of holes. Jim tried to convince me that they were breathing holes for an underground rattlebear, the infamous cross between rattlesnake and bear.
We watched the Perseid meteor shower for a bit and then went to bed. Now we are here. The end.
We ended up driving for a good five or six hours looking for a spot. Finally we decided to try to reach a point that one of the visitor's center ladies had suggested. However, we weren't sure where it was. So we were driving along the Snake river at about midnight (though I am not sure because we kept going in and out of Pacific time) and Jim stopped in the middle of the road so that we could look at the map. A dude, his wife, and their young daughter pulled up next to us in their pickup and asked if they could help. They gave us directions to Big Bar (where we were headed) and drove off.
I love that we have just stumbled onto random awesomeness and great people throughout this trip.
On our way to Big Bar we puled off to the side of the road and set up the tent. In the dark. Not so bad with the help of the headlights on the car. But it did make it that much more awesome when we woke up the next morning. Hopefully Jim will post that video podcast soon.
That morning we drove up to the Hells Canyon Dam (and visitor's center). Took a short mile hike along the Snake River then chilled for a bit in the visitor's center.
At four we went down to the dock below the visitor's center to catch the tour boat. By the time we got there the boat had been purchased in its entirety by a German-American couple because they wanted to take their dogs along. We paid them and got to come along. By an interesting twist of fate the only other couple on board was from Germany. We toured the river for a couple of hours, saw a lot of the canyon, some good rapids (though we stopped before going down the class four rapids), saw some bald eagles, saw some early American pictographs, and Jim and I wet our feet in the water. Overall a very enjoyable time.
Drove the next couple of hours up some very winding dirt roads. We traveled through a town called Cuprum (science geeks will understand this because there used to be copper mining in the area). Jim snapped a shot of its sign because the sign was awesome. Also, they have a registered population of 12.
Made it to Sheep Rock late that night so we set up in the dark again. Again it was amazing to wake up to, though I don't think I shot anything there. We were 6800 feet above sea level and could see all over the place. There was a half mile loop out to a scenic overlook (that was amazing, Jim should have pics). I thought that Jim had started the loop so I walked the other direction figuring we would meet up at the overlook. He hadn't, so I ended up walking the loop alone. Oops. We went back after I got back but Jim was bummed I had gone without him. Oops.
Drove to a couple of other overlooks on the way out. At Horse mountain there was a fire watch tower manned by a fellow named Derrick. He invited us up to look around the tower, chatted with us for a bit and showed us how he did what he did. Very neat. Apparently he works there in the summers and then travels around for the rest of the year. I think Jim is trying to figure out how he too can do this.
Drove back down the mountain and went to the Hells Canyon Overlook in Oregon. We thought it was less exciting than the overlooks on the Idaho side, like Sheep Rock. But it was pleasant. I peed off the side of a cliff, while Jim became too scared to urinate. He claims that he peed off the cliff later, but I don't know.
Found a spot to camp while it was still light out this time. It was in the woods by a creek (read crick because that is how they say it here). There was another guy camping out there last night. Possibly drunk. He had a campfire going, though I was convinced that that was illegal as the fire warning level was "extreme." We didn't mention it to him though in case he was a serial murderer. We put up our tent on a dusty field that was full of holes. Jim tried to convince me that they were breathing holes for an underground rattlebear, the infamous cross between rattlesnake and bear.
We watched the Perseid meteor shower for a bit and then went to bed. Now we are here. The end.
Video Podcast Seven - Jim Entertains Himself
Wherein Jim and Trefor spend several hours in a park in Hell's Canyon which Trefor spends reading and Jim spends on a quest to amuse himself during which he realizes that he can record video on his computer's built in camera.
Link
Link
Entering Hell(s Canyon)
On the way into Hells Canyon Jim broke the inverter. And my car. Apparently he used too much power thus blowing a fuse in the car. Now we have to scavenge electricity wherever we can.
We tried to buy a fuse at a gas station but it was the wrong size. We drove by a Chrysler dealership and bout three at a whopping 75 cents apiece. We blew two of the replacements before we realized that the inverter was history. At least we get to keep the radio.
We tried to buy a fuse at a gas station but it was the wrong size. We drove by a Chrysler dealership and bout three at a whopping 75 cents apiece. We blew two of the replacements before we realized that the inverter was history. At least we get to keep the radio.
Priority number three
We are out of the woods.
I have showered and washed my clothes.
Now I am writing for you guys.
You guys are priority number three.
The people who love me.
We have a whole lot of video to edit and pictures to upload. We also need to eat some food and get a few supplies.
I'll give you more later.
I have showered and washed my clothes.
Now I am writing for you guys.
You guys are priority number three.
The people who love me.
We have a whole lot of video to edit and pictures to upload. We also need to eat some food and get a few supplies.
I'll give you more later.
And...we're back
We just rolled into Cascade Locks, Oregon. It is, apparently, on top of the railroad. We have been here about 10 minutes and two trains (both blowing their horns for extended periods of time) have already passed. We don't really have any plans for today so we are going to try to catch up on laundry, podcasts, and self-cleanliness. Expect to hear a lot from us. Soon.
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