Blog
Update on 4/30/12
For those of you who follow the
TCWPJ Blog, I will continue to post updates about my travels and adventures
even while I am some time away from hiking on the Appalachian Trail. As things
change and I adapt, I am able to see a bigger picture of what the Lord has planned
for my future.
I had a wonderful last week in
CO with my friends and family. My girlfriend and I were able to spend a couple
days together as well, which was definitely a blessing. I’m very fortunate my
uncle offered me a job with him during the summer in order to make more
preparations for the trails.
Part
1: New Mexico and Melanie
I left my parents’ house in
Monument, CO on Friday April 20th. I drove to Santa Fe, NM to spend
time with my older sister, Melanie, and her boyfriend, Blake. It’s a long
drive, but the last 2 hours are more enjoyable. The landscape on NM is
beautiful once you’re away from the open range. It is a very artsy and
free-spirit type of state.
In the late afternoon, I finally
made it to Melanie’s house. They rent out a studio type room in the basement of
a house. It’s not very big, but a full kitchen and bathroom provide everything
they need to call it home. They even have their own entrance so they don’t
bother the owners of the house. I was able to set-up the tent my parents gave
me in their front yard. It was nice to save extra money and not have to drive
between their place and a hostel every day. I was there for my 23rd
birthday and stayed until Tuesday.
Melanie and Blake live so close
to The Plaza of Santa Fe that we rode bikes to get around town and run errands.
The Plaza is a square with shops and restaurants surrounding a park. On
weekends, they host merchants, car shows, performing arts and entertain
thousands of tourists. Melanie and Blake work in the restaurants off The Plaza
and have made a lot of friends in the area. Melanie’s friend Lauren came from
Colorado Springs for a weekend visit while I was there. It was great to see to
see my sister show-off her “new” hometown.
Melanie and Blake stay in great
shape. They go on runs and long bike rides all the time. They cook amazingly,
delicious foods; like sushi!! They fed me very well. I’m excited to hear about
their next adventure; a bike tour of the Pacific Coast highway!
A few things that stood out in
Santa Fe were the image of no middle class, a Scottish Rite Masonry Temple and
museum (creepy), and a large amount of bums mixed with stores and prices
designed for upper-class citizens. The weather was beautiful and the town has
an old feel to it, which it is, while holding the appearance of being a modern
and humble city.
I recommend a visit there if you
haven’t already been. Just keep some
distance from the weirdos, drunks, and dark supernatural roamings of that
place. If you have a very good map or a cool local show you around, you’ll
enjoy the best of Santa Fe.
Part
2: Problems; The Texas Way
On Tuesday, I left Santa Fe to
head east. I was driving ten hours to a campground south of Dallas, TX. It’s a
long and boring drive. If you have never driven through Texas before… DON’T! I
have had to take a couple road trips across Texas before and even with a
passenger it can be miserable. I think I ended up talking to myself without
noticing and had to pull over for lunch to collect myself and remember my name.
Around 6 in the evening, I was
getting close to the campground. As I was changing from one highway to the next
in Fort Worth, TX, I came upon a “speed bump” in my journey. I had a few lanes
to choose from that would take me to different highways. I looked up to read
the road signs and when I looked back at the road, there was a giant block of
wood in my lane. I had three options before me:
1)Swerve right and have a 90%
chance of hitting another vehicle…
2)Swerve left into the concrete
wall that would total my car and probably flip me over…
3)Hit the block of wood and hope
for the best…
This all happened in about one
second and I’m very grateful for the decision I made. I could have hurt someone
else or completely lose my way of transportation and be stranded in Fort Worth.
The block of wood went under my front passenger tire and sent me off the ground
almost 2 feet. When I came back down, I hit the road hard and instantly had a
flat tire. By the grace of God, no one was close enough to hit me or the block
of wood, which got knocked into the median, so I slowed down, put on my hazards
and drove about 100 feet to an open median where I could get the car off the
road.
I checked my tire and found the
wheel (the metal that the tire is attached to) was bent in the shape of the
wood. My tire didn’t pop or get punctured; it just had nothing to keep it on
the wheel. Fortunately, there was no other damage to the car, axle, suspension,
transmission, or engine from an impact that severe, enough to instantly bend a
metal wheel.
Not far ahead of me was a truck
that had hit the wood in front of me. The passengers were changing their flat.
I walked over to them to see if they were okay or needed help. Now remember,
I’ve been to Texas before so I should I have known they were going to be
assholes. Anyway, after I received a few bad tempered remarks I walked back to my
car and figure out what to do next. I had no spare tire. Of all my preparation
and tools and supplies, no spare tire, the most basic item to have in your car
at all times.
Since I was under an overpass,
my phone was not getting a signal. I climbed around barriers and went up an
embankment to the bridge above my car. I was in the ghetto. Everyone I saw
either said they weren’t from the area or ignored me, with the exception of
bums who looked “local” and knew I wasn’t from there. After walking around for
a bit, I realized staying by my car was the best thing to do. Eventually, a tow
truck showed up after I made several calls. The driver and his girlfriend were
very friendly. We talked for a bit while he loaded my car on the truck bed. I
guess his girlfriend’s son works for a “wellness center” in Alma, CO. A small
town between South Park and Breckenridge if you go the back way to the ski
resorts. She really liked me and I guess my story touched her enough to
convince her boyfriend to give me a FREE tow to a better or “more safe” part of
town. After all my rude impressions of Texans and my prayers to why God would
allow a speed bump like this, he reminded me to trust in Him and all would be
well.
I ended up sleeping in my car
since stores were closed and I had to save my money for a new wheel and tire. The
gift card I was using for gas was down to $5 because apparently, if you use
them at the pump, you’re charged $99 until they credit the money back after a
few days. So down to only the cash I saved for the campground fees and to buy
me food until my first paycheck, I had to cut my losses and focus on getting
the car back on the road.
My car was backed into a spot
near a tire store, no wheels available for me though. There was a busy road
behind where I was and I didn’t want a cop to see me and kick me out. I had
nowhere to go. I spent a good hour clearing off my back seat and getting it
ready to sleep on since I had to duck every time a car passed by. Call me
paranoid, but I had enough anxiety already. No cops bothered me anyway. Only a
sprinkler system that got through my window and all over me, and a street
cleaner that kicked dust all over my recently drenched car. I welcomed
everything that didn’t conflict with my safety.
The next day, I walked to Home
Depot to buy a hammer to try to bend the wheel back myself. Unsuccessful. I
walked the tire a mile to Wal-Mart where a TLE employee said he could try to
bend it back. Unsuccessful. An employee at AutoZone gave me his spare wheel
that needed a tire, but also cause he clipped a curb and bent it. The Wal-Mart
TLE employee said he could try to bend that one back. Unsuccessful. I spent all
morning walking around town trying to find someone who could help.
Unsuccessful. I used my phone to get on Craigslist and find “tuners” with spare
wheels. Unsuccessful.
Finally later on, one of the
numbers I tried on Craigslist got back to me. Success!! He had a solid spare
wheel with a new tire!! He over charged me for it, but I had no other option.
Such a blessing I was given more money for my trip than just for gas. I was
wondering why the Lord gave me more than I knew was needed. Anyway, I drove the
car around a bit and except for a slight pull to the right, it had no problems.
My nana used some reward points
and got me a hotel room at a Marriot in downtown Fort Worth. She also provided
me with some money for meals. Almost 20 hours of stress and fatigue after
hitting the block of wood and I had a hot shower, a warm meal, and a nice bed
for the night. I was able to figure out my new budget and get back on the road
Thursday morning.
Part
3: Almost There
The eastern side of Texas had a
few more trees and was more bearable. Then Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
until I got into Florida. No troubles, just a long day of driving. I made it to
Pensacola, FL that evening where I went to a couple Wal-Marts. During my drive that day, the money on my gift
card I was using for gas was credited back. Another blessing.
I got some food at the deli and
went back to my car for the night. While I was preparing to get some rest, the
parking lot patrol noticed me sitting in my car and parked with his lights
right on me. I had asked a customer service employee if over-night parking was
allowed, but because I didn’t have an RV, the patrol guy didn’t want me there.
I got back on the highway and drove another half hour to a rest stop. Nice
thing about Florida is that their community supports the idea of rest stops. It
was very clean and big and had its own night-time security.
Except for an annoying bird at 2
in the morning, I slept great and had no problems. When you’ve been driving all
day, curling up on the back seat isn’t that bad. You do what you have to. At
this point, I wasn’t going to complain about anything. The Lord had already
pulled me out of Texas and let me make it this far.
Friday morning I slept in, and
then jumped back on the highway. A short 6 hour drive, compared to my previous
12 hour day, to my grandparents’ house near Ocala where I’d get to spend a
couple days. I was about ten minutes from their house when I decided to get
lost. I’m not sure why I did that because I had my GPS and their directions
telling me where to go. For some reason, I turned around and drove further
away. I got really, really mad too. I cussed at the other drivers, found
reasons to be mad at everyone I knew. Drove like a maniac for a little while. I
went about 20 miles out of my way, but kept going.
I think my mind was trying to
tell me to vent before I got to a place of comfort. I needed a little extra
time to sort things out in my head.
A couple years ago, I moved with
a roommate from Colorado Springs and drove to Hoquiam, WA. I spent 4 months by
the Pacific Coast in a small city that saw sunlight maybe once a month. But I
felt nothing. I barely missed my family and friends. I was just living and
trying to find my place in this world. I wasn’t happy or sad; I didn’t care
what happened or where I went. I was numb to everything that went on.
This move to Florida was not
like that. I knew this was the beginning of the rest of my life. This would
open doors and opportunities to excel in life. This is where God was calling me
and where my heart cried out to go. This was important and personal. But I
missed my family terribly, I wanted to be with my friends one more time, and I
really wanted to hold my girlfriend in my arms again. The stress of the last
few days not working out as planned hit me hard and I had to release all my
feelings. I was so close to a place of peace and familiarity, but the things
bottled inside were not welcome. It took
me a while to work things out in my head, but as soon as I saw my grandparents,
it was all gone.
They were very welcoming and
warm to me. They made me feel at home and didn’t judge me. They wanted to know me;
they expressed support for who I was and what I’m trying to do. Peace. The
chaos of a road trip and leaving everyone I know and love behind seemed to be
okay. It was okay to have troubles, rough waters and make mistakes. The Lord
knows we’re going to carry stress and anxiety, He watches over us while we feel
defeated and just when we think we’re lost, He reminds us of His peace.
I spent 2 days at my grandparents’
house. I’ll have more time to see them during the summer, which was comforting
as we said our goodbyes. Then 3 hours back on the highway and there I was…
talking with uncle in Sarasota. It was Sunday, April 29th, 9 days after leaving home.
Part
4: Love of the Ocean
I’ve been away from home for a
week and a half. I’d seen Melanie, Blake, their friends in Santa Fe, my
grandparents in Ocala and my uncle in Sarasota. I met jerks in Texas followed
by a blessed encounter with a tow truck driver and his girlfriend. I met dozens
of strangers at gas stations, the hotel, from walking around downtown Forth
Worth, at Pensacola Wal-Marts, and random interactions with rich snobs and
friendly homeless. In a week, I had over 2,400 miles put on my car. I drove
through 7 states, about 20 different highways and saw countless road kill. I
went days with hardly eating and days with eating too much. I slept in a tent
for 4 nights, the backseat of my car for 2 nights, a fancy hotel 1 night, and
my grandparents’ guest room for 2 nights.
My first morning at my uncle’s
house, I headed for the beach. In Sarasota, you have to drive to one of the 3
islands, or keys, to find nice beaches. I started on the north island, Ana
Maria, and spent an hour at a busy beach. Then I drove south to find another
beach with fewer people, but just as beautiful.
I miss the mountains of CO, but
nothing else compares to the ocean. White soft sand, calm tide and warm days
are ideal for therapeutic relaxation. I sat on my towel and watched the low-roll
waves. A slight breeze mixed with seagulls and the ocean was all that I could
hear. After diving in the clear water and swimming for a bit, I remembered why
I can’t be away for the ocean for long. Everything seemed perfect.
All the troubles of the world,
the problems, stress and worries wash away. This vast body of water touches all
the corners of the world. It’s a friendly reminder of the Lord’s amazing gift
to us, Earth. We’re all here, sharing in her treasures. I may be thousands of
miles from my girlfriend, but the beauty of this sea was a comfortable reminder
I was somewhere safe and worth the all this effort. I’m not off living a life apart;
I’m working for a better life. I’m here to begin my journey of hiking over
7,300 miles, to learn how to be a man of God, to mature in all the right ways.
This is my college education, my degree to obtain the career of my dreams, and
a way to provide a life for those I love.
I’m tired of “getting by,” and
each day at work went towards the next month’s bills and maybe a day of fun
activities. I’m burned out working for people who don’t appreciate hard work,
who don’t see the bigger picture. I don’t HAVE to work a shit job or struggle
through life. I don’t HAVE to pay tens of thousands of dollars for an education
that will be obsolete after a few years. What is a life worth if you work for that
paycheck, but don’t enjoy the air you breathe. I will not be 65 with a fat
wallet and no memories. I will work for a life full of adventure and memories
that put a smile on your face. That’s worth more than gold.
The ocean speaks to each of us
in different ways. I hate the salt on my lips, the sand in my hair. I hate
sunburns, being dehydrated and worrying about sharks or riptide. But I’d gladly
accept all of those for just a few moments at the ocean. With the stress of
driving for days in car with no A/C, power steering, cruise control or
comfortable seats, God washed it all away in one day on the Gulf of Mexico at
Ana Maria Island, Bradenton, Florida.
There’s no surfing in the area,
but I should be able to find a few places to go not far away. Work starts
tomorrow, it’s going to be hot and dirty, but spending the evenings watching
the sun drop into the ocean is going to be worth every minute.
And so it begins…
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