How it all began...

The idea had been circling in my head for years. But the time was right and I could no longer fight the wanderlust that had built up. I bought a 1977 GMC NuWa motor home, threw a solar panel on top and started getting it ready for the open road. My main goal: to wander around North America, catching up with old friends, visiting new places and experiencing things I haven't before. This is my story...

Monday, February 20, 2012

My Life as a Procrastinator

Adelanto, CA - Yikes.  That's all I have to say, really.  I have no good excuse for my 8 month sabbatical from writing.  Certainly things have occurred, life has been lived, roads have been traveled...you get the picture.  I could blame it on writer's block or lie and say I've been too busy.  But I think I will just fall back on the good ol' standby of Procrastination, a lifelong companion of mine.  After a month, I thought "wow, I should really write some of this down".  After two months, I didn't know where to start and what to include...it's not easy condensing one's life to a few paragraphs.  After six months, the task became so incredibly daunting, that I just ignored it.

Yet, after meeting up in the desert with 90 other like-minded people for the 2nd Annual Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, I felt somewhat reinspired to jot things down, if for no other reason than to document where I've been and who I've met.  At the very least, I can look back 20 years from now and say "I did what?!?!"  So that's a plus.

So how does one sum up life for a period of seven months?  Certainly not well.  Maybe one day I'll come back and write more about each of these, but for now, here is a quick list:
  • Backpacked the Lost Coast Trail in Northern California - a 4 day, 26 mile point to point endeavor that had me witness some of the most gorgeous scenery I've seen
  • Started training for a Search & Rescue Team in Fresno, CA
  • Returned to Lake Edison in the Sierra National Forest for another summer of campground hosting
  • Backpacked 5 or 6 more trips during the summer months in the forest
  • Had several friends come visit me at the campground, including a visit from my parents, who drove their truck camper out from Michigan and stayed with me for almost 3 weeks (yes, my parents have a truck camper...clearly this is where I get my wanderlust)
  • Volunteered on a WWOOF farm near San Luis Obispo in October (Carrizo Lavender Farm) and helped build an EcoDome (similar to rammed earth home)
  • Traveled to Baja, Mexico for some relaxation and community work (helping Santa deliver toys, medicine, food and clothing to almost a dozen remote villages)
  • Met up with friends in San Luis Obispo for the New Year
  • Attended the 2nd Annual Rubber Tramp Rendezvous in Quartzsite, AZ
  • Visited Slab City (some call it "The Slabs") in California
OK, that is about the lamest summation I've written, but for now it will have to do.  I simply wanted to post something to help jump-start me into writing mode.  I'll see ya down the road...