Finally: An Update

Alright ya'll, I figure it's probably just about time to update everyone (I mean, it has been a good long 3 weeks since I headed out, and I have yet to actually write anything about what I have been up to!).

So, there is so much to say, and then even more than that. But what I think I am going to do is, instead of going in depth about what I have been thinking and feeling, just give a rundown of the places I have been, some of the more extraordinary things I have done, and what some of my upcoming plans are. That should keep the length of this post more manageable, and really, who wants to talk about feelings and all that junk anyways! Also, I have to save some stories -- later on I might start trading them for food!

So, on July 11th, I left Austin in the middle of a storm and drove 3 hours to Houston, staying w/ Daniel and Lindsey. So much fun! Then, the next day, took off early in the midst of a colossal storm and flooding and drove 11 hours to stay w/ Ruth and  her housemates in Atlanta. In Atlanta we climbed a small mountain and went to the Black Arts Festival (where, among other things, we talked to a professional Kalimba player/collector -- don't forget, that's the legit name for an African Thumb Piano).

A few days later, on the 14th, I left Atlanta and headed North. I had intended to find a place to camp along the road at some point and get to DC the next day, but I found out the hard way that the East Coast is not like the West Coast. There are constantly cities, and no logging roads or anything even similar!! So, not finding anything but ritzy, expensive RV parks, I ended up driving all the way to DC that night; got in about 2 o'clock in the morning.

However, how awesome is DC!? I was able to see so many monuments and museums; truly amazing stuff there. Also was able to spend some good time hanging out with Matt (and grilled/devoured the two biggest steaks I have ever seen).

Next, I drive North into New Jersey to stay w/ Brady and Carlee in Princeton. What a cool (and insanely great-looking) city. I was able to check out the magnificent architecture of the college and also drive down to Philadelphia, where I was able to see Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Benjamin Franklin's grave, and eat a giant, greasy Philly Cheesesteak.

A few days later and I was off to New York. Driving into New York during rush hour was definitely an experience, but I made it. New York was absolutely wonderful; spent some great time with Jake and Rachel and their friends/roommates, saw Times Square, the Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, etc. etc. (I don't think there was a single neighborhood in Manhattan I left unturned) as well as going for runs every day in Central Park and spending 8 hours in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I am in love with the city.

After that, it was up to Boston and staying w/ Madi and Colin. We packed some good sightseeing into there too, seeing Harvard and the Freedom trail, but also did some other wonderful things: we went to the beach, which was so cool! To be standing in the Atlantic ocean was pretty awesome. Even more importantly, we went to a Red Sox game at Fenway!!! Words cannot express how awesome it was to sit and watch a game in that historic park; the same place Babe Ruth and Teddy Williams used to play; the great green monster; the rowdy Boston fans. Also, it was a great game and the Sox won! Definitely one of the highlights of the trip!

Then, today, drove West to Syracuse, NY. Now the next steps I am not so sure about. I will wander around a bit I guess. I plan to go back South a bit and do some camping and bass fishing in the New River Gorge in West Virginia; it's supposed to be some incredible fishing there, and pretty secluded too. I might also head up to Canada... waiting to see if a couch materializes.

After that, going to Ohio, spending some time in/outside of Chicago, stopping by Milwaukee, and finally, the grand finale, mountain climbing in Colorado. It will be great, and I am very excited to have so much left to do!

So that is it; the  basic Sparks Notes on the trip so far. I guess this turned into a rather long post anyways...

Well, I will wrap this up by mentioning that, on this date 4 years ago, I returned from a 6 week stint of backpacking in Europe. Now I am neck deep in a North American Car Adventure. I have to say, not only have I been incredibly blessed to have these opportunities (and the right amount of crazy to pull them off), but I hope this pattern continues (and maybe even becomes more frequent)!

Wednesday is the Day (I hope)

Well, plans are starting to come together! I have couches lined up and a couple dates figured out. There's gonna be some art festivals and some Appalachian Trailin'! I'm gonna check out some caves and hopefully be able to hit up the Maine Lobster Fest (supposedly it's a big deal?). Everything should be great, provided I can leave Wednesday... which means some stuff needs to get here tomorrow! Namely, the license plate for my car. It is supposedly in the mail. Here's hoping it is in the mailbox tomorrow...

I went through and decided some of the things I am bringing on this trip today, and thought I might share my giant list of things (I know, it's not at all necessary, but what else am I going to talk about without having left yet?).

I have a MASSIVE pile of books to bring. Let's look at what there is:

• Paterson by William Carlos Williams (I have read it, but it's too good not to bring)
• Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (again, I have read it, but it seems like the sort of thing you want to be able to read on big trips like this)
• Selected Poems of Carl Sandburg
• Selected Poems of Ezra Pound
• La Vita Nuova by Dante (I just got and have just started this, holy cow it is amazing though)
• A Sport and a Pastime by James Salter (Also just got and started this, but it could very well become my new favorite book. Some of the best prose I have ever read)
• A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
• Black Box by Amos Oz
• Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau (Although I don't really agree with Thoreau, he is interesting, and it seems appropriate reading for Appalachian hikes...)
• The Last River by Todd Balf
• Eiger Dreams by John Kraukauer
• Drums Along the Congo by Rory Nugent
• No Mercy: A Journey into the Heart of the Congo by Redmond O'Hanlon 
• Travels in the Congo by Andre Gide
• Raga Mala: an Autobiography by Ravi Shankar
• Mao: the Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday (about 2/3 of the way through this, I think it's time to finally finish it off)
• The bible, the Hebrew Bible, and a Hebrew Lexicon (just for fun)
• Beyond Formula: American Film Genre by Stanley J. Solomon
• An Introduction to American Underground Film by Sheldon Renan
• Underground Film: a Critical History by Parker Tyler

Wow. OK, maybe that is too many books? Who knows. We'll see how far I can get through them...
Feel free to suggest more books if you are looking at that list and it seems like it's missing something :)

Also clothes...  obviously. 
A Guitar! and a Harmonica!
Computer and ipod of course.
Ice chest with some food and water.
An atlas.
Oh, and all four of my cowboy hats of course...

That's about it! A ton of books, not much else, really... it still feels a little extravagant (a computer on a road trip? come on...) but also everything seems pretty necessary.
So, provided that license plate comes in, I head to Houston Wednesday. So excited. So ready. Lets do this!

I'm already broke and I haven't even left yet!!

Holy cow... making a movie is expensive!!! I mean, of course it is, right? Everyone knows that. But... wow. I was kind of hoping making a 'no-budget' film would involve... no budget! I bought a camera; then I needed to by an SD card for it; then I needed to buy a tripod; then a shotgun mic; then an adapter to hook the microphone up the the camera! I have spent more on this camera setup then I was planning to spend on the actual road trip part of the road trip!!

That being said, this is a really nice set up. Definitely the best set up I have ever been able to use! Even though it is not a pro setup, it should give me pretty close to pro quality footage!

Even though I won't at all have enough money to get a computer and program to edit the footage... but I'll deal with that when I get back.

Right now I am waiting for all the equipment to get here (I ordered it online so it might take a few days). That means that, rather then leave the 9th, I am going to push the date back a few days I am now thinking of leaving the 11th (next Wednesday) but that kind of depends on whether or not all of the stuff gets here.

Anyways, I am so excited! Every day at work I just dream of this trip. It is gonna be great. I just hope my money doesn't run out (although if it does I'll figure it out) and Wednesday gets here quickly!

OK! I have never tried blogging before, so I am not sure if people actually read it, or care, but I figured this would be an appropriate time to start.

In the section to the right you can see the purpose of both the trip and this blog which is for documenting it! (Maybe I'll even put some footage up when I have it... but I'm not sure).

I am very excited to get out on the road and start this! Only two more weeks of work, and then I should have enough money to quit and head out! That means I am set to leave on July 9th, and return... who knows when!

I am mostly relying on people to help me out with couches to crash on during this trip... so if you are in an area or know of someone who is and wouldn't mind my company, let me know! Specifically right now I would love to be able to find a place to stay in New Orleans, Vermont, and Chicago, although I will definitely be able to make do if no one is there.

I just bought the camera I will use... it cost more than I wanted to spend but it is so nice and was highly recommended to me by someone who makes commercials for a living (he uses the camera for that job, so... it should certainly be good enough for my low-budget dreams). I am so excited to get it (it's shipping here from New York, so it will be a few days) and start filming in Austin!

Well, here's hoping that work isn't too miserable, and these two weeks are fast and (relatively) painless!