Hello Saturday

Today is the Saturday market in Eugene.  It is a must see if you are in the area.  Food, music, and people, and my favorite, lots of hippies.  I think that festival goers reside here when not out travelling.  There is a drum jam worth checking out, along with people jamming on the street.  The folks we've met here are nice, and today should be a good day.  Much love
http://www.eugenesaturdaymarket.org/

lil homie~poem:" there are those who are peaceful and those who love war,
were kissin and huggin- there leaving bodys on the shore.
lives put to waste and young eyes filled with sorrow,
we need to find zion today not tomorrow.
hug not shove - one world one love"  RASTA

Chillin'

  Our friend Ian showed us an old shack tucked deep in the woods.  There was a ropeswing that kept us entertained, and an odd assortment of things left behind in the shack to look through.  After a good jam, we met a few more friends, and walking past Amazon I heard my name called.  It was Eliza and her little brother Merrel whom I had met my last visit.  She said she would be working a Thai food booth at the Country Fair, and could hook up some tasty food if I am there.  After that a lady got out of her car and asked us if we were skaters.  Her grandson was 15 and she complained that he needed to meet kids instead of playing video games.  She was almost crying, and felt so much better after meeting and talking with us, as it gave her hope that there are kids out there that are friendly. 
    Camping, Noah woke up with two spider bites, real close to his eyes.  He toughed it out like he always does, and walking back to the car in the morning, was given two big panini sandwhiches.  After a breakfast of french toast cooked out ofthe back of my car on the street, we skated Emerald, and then Amazon.  There we met a girl, who later saw us by the bakery she works at, and brought us a bag of delicious cookies.  We were so grateful, and we ended up seeing her again just a minute ago. 
    Playing music on the street we met an Italian who was in Eugene for the Olympic Trials.  He was a massage therapist for the athletes, and was checking out downtown, which we all agreed was boring.  All we have to do is wait for what life brings us, and go with what we are given.
  lil homie," If you like music- you feel music, If u feel music- you are music." (One Love)

Train Song

    We skated three spots yesterday in the Eugene area.  After shredding Amazon, our friend Ian showed us the way to a little skate park at the edge of town called Train Song.  It was a cement flat with metal ramps, the same company of ramps I've seen back in Morgantown, WV.  There a few older skaters drug in some wooden ramps to add to the fun.  They were jamming Sublime on some little ipod speakers, and one guy even had his little baby there in a crib while he skated.  We made some curry potatoes and Thai coffee for dinner.  Alas, we skated Emerald skate park until dark.  So it was a full day of skating, and then we went to sleep in some grass by a middle school, and awoke to the sprinklers soaking us.  So we jumped up, awake, and had to relocate.  I went up on the hill, and Trey slept in the car.  Today we want to go find an old cabin Ian knows of, and probably skate a bunch more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2JmZTb2msY          I found a video of Trainsong if u wanna look.



lil homie,"...... trainsong hurt my feet yo....."

Some mo' fo' ya.

  We all slept at Amazon Park, our little spot to hide.  I awoke to someone at the busstop asking me wht I was sleeping in the grass and where my family was.  I told him I stayed here because I don't have any friends to stay with, and my family is in West Virginia. 
  Yesterday we skated, as the clouds let the sun through.  I met a friendly kid who had just moved to Oregon, and we talked about shredding Mt. Hood.  I guess there is snow up there all year around, and he was going to ride for K2 soon.  That was cool, but even sweeter was lil' homey traded two decks for a little sharky board.  It is a little board that makes you feel big, and riding it is a blast.  Our friend Ian carved it down from a pre-existing skateboard deck. 
  Last night, after our chorizo and beans with corn pancakes, we went around town for a little, Noah playing guitar and us skating.  All cloudy here again, but hopefully skateable conditions all day.  Okay, see ya' later!

Hey everyone, its trey a.k.a "lil homie" here to tell u the daily rhyme:
         "..... i wake up in the mornning ive never feel't better; i look to my left and theres morgan the shreder.I lean back and say chipmunk get up; its time to go skateing- time to wake up. step into amazon and killed the spot; i carve so much people ask me "do i surf alot".BBOOOOMMM- SHREDER shoots out the bowl, thats all for now peeps- time to roll:) ...."

    We met some people who are going to the Country Fair...they said it is a great time.  We will find a way to attend this event.  In all possibilities, we will find a way.

Misty Oregon

    We got a soak in at Terwilleger Hot Springs.  These series of pools are fed by hot mineral water that flows out of a small cave. 
  In town we skated most of the day, talking with kids and enjoying the cloudy day.  IN the evening we drove up to Cougar Resevoir for some mountain time.

  There at the parking lot near the hot spring we talked to Derek, a man I met with my brother the last time I was at Cougar.  He is a preacher in Eugene, and after finding out we were low on money, graciously gave us 40 dollars.  We paid $18 to get into the hot springs, and the rest goes to food or gas.  Last night we erected a small shelter out of the big piece of plastic I have, pulled the back of the car up under it, and cooked pasta with tofu and soyrizo marinara.  Trey slept in the dry car, and Noah and I braved the wet ground.  I lay my mountaineer blanket down, then our pads, and finally our sleeping bags.  In the morning Noah complained of being on the wet side of the hill, and said he blocked all the water from soaking me.  I thanked him and proceeded to make breakfast; one bananna pancake each and a cup of coffee shared between us.  We broke down camp and arrived in town, enjoying more coffee and a butterhorn pastry.  Next door we bought day old blueberry bagels for a snack, and are watching the sky for sun so we can go skate.  
    The Oregon forests are wet and green, so I feel right at home.  If we can, Washington would be cool to visit, but it looks like the journey might start heading East.  We are thinking of going to the Country Fair, a music and arts festival.  We are in need of funds, so  may the universe provide.  Special thanks to Beth Hestick for the donation.  Much Love! 

Pacific Northwest

    I am back after some adventuring.  Cool northern California weather allowed us comfortable travel over to the Yuba, where we were given three skateboards by my friend.  Thank you, gracious donors of skateinthesun.  After two nights on the river, sleeping under the stars listenening to the river murmur, we left behind the hidden canyon we called our home and travelled north towards Shasta, where we camped below castle crags.  A light rain forced us to put up a shelter out of a piece of plastic I keep in the car.  After eating an early dinner I awoke from a nap to a man talking to lil' homey.    He was walking, and before dark he stepped back out into the drizzle, leaving us to sleep.  About the hour before dawn I awoke again to his voice; he was shivering, and he had turned back after hiking up the road through the dark.  In the morning we all had coffee and pancakes with an egg.  We filled the gas tank and journeyed over the mountains, driving up into the clouds, till the road turned into gravel.  We plummetted down the valley and back up another mountain.  After an hour or two we were on a little roadthat winded down the salmon river to Forks of Salmon, a most secluded place deep in the wild.  Over the Salmon watershed right into the Klamath watershed.  These rivers are surrounded by steep green slopes, the whitewater crashing down carved rock into serene pools.  All day we drove, until at last I had to pull over to make a dinner of rice and beans.  After a dusk cup of coffee, we drove into the night, until we were deep in Oregon.  I slept for the remaining hours of the nightnear Amazon Park stretched out on a bus stop bench near Amazon Park.  Now back in beautiful Eugene, at the coffeeshop I sat at some weeks ago with my brother, I am writing, Noah with his head down after a crappy night of sleep in the car.  We are broke as a joke, but at least we landed in a cool town.  We don't have much, but we have eachother, and sometimes a friend is more valuable than any riches.  We are at eachothers throats sometimes, learning to respect eachother.  Knowing we are together, we choose to help out, out of many we are one.    

Rested and Ready

    After a few days of resting, good food, and company we are bighting at the bit.  Working for a few hours the past two days spreading spy rock (composted manure) around the garden in the back yard and the flowers and bushes in the front yard has put us back in motion.  After saying our goodbyes to our gracious friends we will make for Tahoe.  There we will pick up a few skateboards my buddy has been collecting.  This will be nice because all we have now is my cruiser board, which is a bit big in the vert.  Anyways, I am glad you are reading, as I like writing, knowing these words are meaningful.  I hope you have a blessed day.  Thank you. 

Yippy Ukiah!

  In the great city of San Francisco we were sitting on a beach near the Golden Gate Bridge, playing music under a bluff.  As we played our instruments we all three felt pebbles hitting our backs.  As I looked behind me I saw a scree of loose dirt funnelling down the steep bank.  At first I thought it was simply the wind blowing dirt down onto us, but looking further up the slope I saw a kid, of around 10 years old, sliding swiftly on his butt , with amazing agility, towards the ground below.  I had enough time to set my mandolin down, and together with lil' homey, got ready to catch him, or at least soften his fall.  Luckily, for the bank was not totally vertical, he came to a halt after his sudden journey off the bluff, without either of us helping him.  He landed hardly on the rocks, but on his feet, and kept walking.  I asked if he was okay, and he shook his head yes, and kept walking on his way, down the beach, as if nothing had happened.
    Upon arriving back in Ukiah, our day was blessed with new friends.  Hanging out at the skatepark, a lady liked Noah's music so much, that she invited us over to the birthday party happening nearby to play happy birthday to a 1 year old, Orion.  So we learned Happy Birthday real quick on the mandolin and guitar, and presented ourselves before them.  They fed us delicious enchiladas and rice and beans, peppermint tea, and chips and sandwhiches.  When the candle was lit we did our ditty, and began talking to the family.  One particular guy told us he was a guitar player and singer in a rock and roll band in Mexico.  The name of the band was a Spanish word that I can't remember, but translates to someone who can't sit still.  We had fun meeting such friendly people who were willing to open up to us.  After that, the sun sitting high in the sky, we drove to the creek and cooled down, and made our way back to town for cold drinks and friends.
    We are setting our sights on Oregon, with the instruments in the back, our fair share of stinky socks, and the ever going search for something more. 

Back in Baker

    I am in Baker Cali, with two friends, Noah and our new buddy from Vegas, lil' homey.  After dropping off the train hoppers, we checked out the strip, which was full of rich people out to party.  One night spent sleepin in the desrt, and then the next we did some urban camping.  Our friend Alex whom I met the last time in Vegas, and ran into at the Desert Breeze Skate Park, showed us a tucked away spot with a table and privacy.  So we cooked and slept under the street light behind some office in Las Vegas,one of the most interesting camping spots I've yet to experience.  The next day, the four of us and Alex's girlfriend hiked Mt. Frenchmans, in the blazing sun and heat.  After the long hike, us four boys drove up and up to Mt. Charleston, an amazing alpine desert full of cliffs and caves.  That night we slept, freezing in the cool mountain air, which we forgot to prepare for.  But the next day was sunny and warm, so we hiked with our instruments up to Mary Jane Falls, a trickling waterfall that fell like rain from the cliffs.  I got fully soaked in it, as it was the only natural water I had seen for days.  It was ice cold, as its source was  melting snow.  We jammed up in the mouth of a cave, and met some nice folks.  After our dayhike we drove to the ski area at Mount Charleston, which was of course closed, but very steep looking.  After seeing the area, we stopped to ask a man walking where a good camping place would be.  After asking where we were from and looking us up and down, he told us what I think was the best hidden campsite ever.  We found it down the road by pulling off where he told us, and parking under the road where an arroyo cut under.  So our car was hidden in our own little garage, and after dinner, we hiked up the dry creekbed through a crag, and camped on a flat spot.  We were surrounded by desert, in the night, playing music to the dancing fire.  All the time up in the mountains was sweet, but we had to go back to Vegas, driving through the valley in temps of 100 degrees.  NOW On My Way To the Coast!  ONE LOVE

LV is love

    My car was filled to the brim.  Noah in the front seat, and two very dirty street kids, who claimed to be train hoppers, in the back seat with their little dog.  We drove towards Vegas in the heat, slept at a truck stop in the Mojave, and arrived the next day.  Back in Santa Cruz is where I met the scruffy kids, and after feeding a bunch of folks with a stew we made, camped with them.  The next day they said they were gonna hitch hike to Las Vegas, and I altready wanting to go there, decided it was time to revisit sin city.  We dropped the soiled travellers off at the strip, and ran into them later, as we all played our instruments on the sidewalk.  Till about midnight Noah and I jammed, and only making a dollar and fifty cents, left the strip to the rich.  We gave one dollar to a kid who needed to catch a bus.  Up by Frenchmans Mt. we slept in the gravel, waking to another hot day in the desert.

Santa Cruz

    In my time of sitting blogging in ole San Francisco, my car got towed.  I got it back for a hefty fee, and decided I needed to get out of the city.  I drove south to Half Moon Bay, and camped on a back road.  In the morning I headed for the little city of Santa Cruz, a hip college/surf town.  Once there, I skated to downtown to check it out, then saw the boardwalk full of people riding rollercoasters.  On my way up the beach I met a German man who was bicycling up the 1.  He said the wind was strong and he wished he had started in the north and rode south.  He was headed for Vancouver, and had been on a boat in Panama with a friend working.  He told me to keep travelling, and then I made my way up the beach back towards my car.  At one of the beach parking spots I spotted three kids chilling under a tree, one playing guitar.  I said hello and we became friends immediately.  Noah is from Maryland, Angie from Delaware, and Teo from So. California.  So the four of us, all from different walks of life, hung out the rest of the day, talking on the shore and playing music downtown.  We met a kid that looked like our friend Sacco, only he was my age.  He talked constantly and had stories of jumping trains, working on boats around the world, and the Rainbow Gatherings.  He was a juggalo, his name Gypsy, and very intense.  After enough of downtown, we ate a grateful bowl of beans rice and kale all for donation.  At the bottom of the bowl were the words, "What are you grateful for?".  We were all fed for not much money, and then we ended up back at the ocean.  There we started talking to Bobnoxious, a talkative ex Navy Seal who turned out to show us something very interesting.  Over the edge of the cliff between the ocean and the bluff, he showed us a little cave that he lived in for years.  The moonlight shone into the cave, and reflected off the water beautifully.  The sound of the crashing waves shook the ground.  He told us about some neighborhood kids who were brainwashed by their parents to not like him and his lifestyle of living in a cave, so they bombed the caves with fireworks.  THey must have been big mortars because the cave was charred black and all the stuff that was in there had burned up, leaving melted objects and metal all laying in a heap.  He had started to live there again, and showed us that the whole cave was studded with crystals.  He shone his flashlight into one of the rocks, and the rock glowed after the light was off.  He had another cave down the shore he called the evacuation cave, which had also been "nuked", as he called it.  He was very talkative, and reminded me of my friend Justin.  Then there was a drunk there who mumbled and sang, until Bob yelled at him to shut up or he would kill him, but he never shut up and we left, with the drunk following us begging for cigarettes.  We went down the beach to a field, where we ducked into a grove with a small dry creek bed and slept, watching the moonlight through the interwoven branches and leaves.  All night we heard the crashing of waves, and also the occasional sea lion barking.  Upon walking into the dark grove Noah fell into the small ditch, and slept there for the night, thinking it was softest.  We all woke late and cooked pancakes, enjoying another sunny California day.

Alone Again

    I am a country boy in the city.  Having my brother here helped me feel at home, but now he is on a plane.  On this cloudy morning after dropping him off at the San Francisco International Airport, I watched the light of the new day come back.  I stood at the edge of the bay next to a fire ring that was still piping hot and glowing from the night.  As I stood there breathing, thinking, and praying I felt the world in a different way.  I thought of all the chances I was given to strengthen our relationship on our adventure, and how the time came and went.  I wondered about all the bums downtown and how they made it through, and wished there was something to do for them.  I remembered my dreams of travelling west and how I felt now that it came true.  The night before we stayed at a hostel in downtown San Francisco.  As I went to put quartes into the parking meter, I was reminded that parking on Sunday was free, and almost immediately two or three voices asked for the change.  I split the four coins between my hands and dropped it into two outstretched hands. Then in the morning these people were still roaming the streets, not sleeping, the crazed look still in their eyes.  
    At the hostel we met a cool kid from Toronto, Ontario, who had hitchhiked around the country with some friends, who, having already returned to Montreal, left him on his own.  He seemed to love travelling, and said that his next trip would be to India for a year.  I told him I'd like to visit Toronto, the biggest city in Canada, and he said I could stay with him.  I enjoyed hearing his hitchhiking stories and he asked about West Virginia.  I was going to spend the day with him but when I returned in the morning to check out of the hostel, the parking being too expensive, I had to move on. 
    I napped in my car, since we got up at 5, then got out to walk around.  I realized I was in the same part of town we had stopped at yesterday, in a Starbucks where we had met Kellog, a movie script writer.  Sure enough he is here, looking like he is trying to pull ideas out of the air.  One Americano and I feel awake, ready to explore. 
    So here I am, my first day alone in San Francisco, trying to flow with the city.  There are people from every part of the world here, and lots of them.  As much as I would like to be in the woods somewhere, I know I don't want to rush out of the city.  While I am here I hope to skate, meet people, and learn the city life.  The hardest part is finding somewhere to park, then finding some way to have fun without spending all my money.  I am going to a library after this to spend time reading, something I have not done much of travelling.  I know one thing; this city is full of life, and I have a new love for overpopulated streets and ethnic restaurants. 

San Francisco Bound

    After a nice break from the road, we got back on the trail on Rt. 1 along the California coast.  Mendocino County had amazing rocky bluffs on the ocean, and always a cool breeze.  Down in Sonoma County more beautiful coastline, until we ended up in Marin County at a big mountain on the sea just north of San Francisco. 

I P Freely

Just a little further...

A lot of this was seen along the drive on Rt. 1

There are flowers everywhere!

Pt. Arena lighthouse by Manchester.

Bush with a nice haircut.

We saw a few surfers...

Standing by the sea.

This was a nice beach we caught some sun at.

Camo man blending in.

Flowers atop a pillar growing out of sea bird guano.

Adam at the edge of the world.

The water is super cold, so we did not swim, just looked.

Shadow man makes a fist.

Big driftwood.

Cool building that offered food and lodging.  We just liked the looks of it.  Did not stay.

A small chapel.

Sunset in the Golden State.

A familiar sight; barns and fields with sun rising.  Only difference is if you turn around there is the ocean.

Sun sinking into the ocean.

Great Blue Heron

Deer, wow, so amazing!

Coyote on the rocks.

Russian River by a little town called Jenner.

Bald Eagle

Seals lining the banks.

Mule Deer

 All of these animals we saw one early morning.  The next day we visited Point Reyes National Seashore.  You drive out a big peninsula to one of the windiest points on the Pacific coast.



Wind over horse.



    Out on the peninsula were cattle ranches, and out on the point a lighthouse, but it was too foggy to see.

People in San Francisco have their heads in a cloud!

Brotherly love!

Thanks Adam for joining the Jomo tour.

I will miss you when you leave San Fran, back to the amazing hills of West Virginia.