I pulled into Madison Wisconsin About 9:00 pm on Tuesday night as the Red Sox were finishing of the Cleveland Indians in a beautiful pitched baseball game 1 – 0. The trip to Madison is a quick hour and a half jaunt from Milwaukee. One of my first images of the capital city was a dude fondle ling the breasts of his women under her shirt on a bench in the heart of the main st. They both seem to be enjoying the experience with little attention from the steady stream of passerby’s.
Madison is the capital of Wisconsin, built on an Isthmus. An Isthmus is a narrow strip of land that is bordered on two sides by water and connects two larger land masses… from Wikipedia.com. The campus of the University of Wisconsin is spread through the downtown and along Lake Mendota. The capital building is built on the highest point in the city and the roads fall off on all sides where the central business district lies. It’s a lively center with much youth, culture and activists. Madison claims to have the largest amount of bicycles per capita in the country which I believe! The city is chock full with miles of bike trails and in the future you will be able to bike from the Canadian border into Illinois right through Madison.
On Wednesday I rode my bike to a small town of Peola. Starting through an arboretum along Lake Mingra it quickly shot me out through a series of back roads lined with farms and rural living! After a swim in Lake Monona I called on my friend Matt, I hadn’t spoke to him in years but received updates from his big bro Dave. Matt and his lovely wife Julie both educate young adults and have a nice home in a great little neighborhood about 2 miles from the capital building with two cats Joplin and Butterscotch.
They showed me all their favorite haunts, including the Willey St. Co-op the finest Co-op I’ve shopped. A Thursday night pub crawl to The Weary Traveler, Crystal St. Bar and Mickey’s where we met some local folk and talked about how fat Michael Moore is, how we are going to create peace, and other life altering concepts! Matt and I biked around Lake Monona most of the 13 miles on bike paths! I got a flat tire and we were giving water and a ride to a bike store by an older man and his wife, huge Green Bay Packer fans!! We went to the Madison farmers market, which is renowned; I gorged myself on free samples and purchased a bag full of fresh produce for the road! I enjoyed our passionate conversation with two men setting up shop to debunk the concept of evolution. I found out even if I live the highest of moral existences’ but I do not confess to believing in their god I will go to hell, shit.
Matt’s first book Sudden Anthem, won the 2007 American Poetry Journal Book Prize, and will be published by Dream Horse Press in Winter/Spring 2008. We had conversations ranging the gamut of politics, stool, religion, children, education and cheese curds. He kicked my buttocks at chess and made the finest goat cheese pasta dish, his wife Julie bought me Ice Cream and they allowed me to shower in there bathroom.
A theme of our time together was my unfortunate lack of experience with the Cheese Curd. Cheese curds are little-known in locations without cheese factories. They promised cheese curds and they finally delivered Cheese Curds the night before my departure. After a viewing of the movie titled Talk to Me at the Sundance Movie Theater we went to a local pub where a waitress resembling Christine Ricci delivered a basket of piping hot deep fried Cheese Curds with a marina sauce. Fried cheese! For more info on Cheese Curds go to: CHEESE CURDS as they are seriously a delicacy.
Thank you to Julie, Matt and Madison for a great experience and your friendship! I’m off to Minnesota…..
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Mil Wau Kee
Peace begins with a gentle smile…. Thich Nhat Hahn
When I pull into a new city I love to haul my bike out of the Astro and hit the streets. I Look for some local intheknower ‘s (could be a new word?) and start asking questions. I base my assessment on the city on 3 key measuring tools. I feel these three will give me everything I will need to know and how long I will stay. Well maybe not everything but it’s a great start!
1. Music Scene
2. Burrito Joints
3. Buddhist community
Because I was famished when I got into Milwaukee I started with Burrito’s. The first guy I asked just returned from the Brewer’s game and was hammered; he pointed north and mumbled something about a Q. The next girl said I’m a vegetarian I don’t eat burritos??? The 3rd kid went to Marquette and gave me spot on directions adding “they are open till 3am!!!” The path led me down along the waterfront of Lake Michigan where there is a huge park and museums. The burrito shop, Qdoba is a regional chain with a pretty stale environment, but the burrito was huge and with a plethora of hot sauce it hit the spot and it was only 5 bucks not bad.
The Music Scene is strong and it seems like it is getting stronger. Over the weekend it hosted The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Zappa does Zappa, Galactic and has a huge list of local clubs, major venues and outdoor shows. Looking at my budget I opted for a free show at the Jazz Estate with Matt Hendricks. A cool little joint, dark and smokey with a bunch of local hipsters. Matt played an old steal acoustic that was signed by Honey Boy Williams and John Hammond. He played some covers and originals, he reminded me of Tab Beniot from Louisiana. He played one instrumental he called serenade that he wrote on his honeymoon but now is a sad song because of his divorce. I asked him at the break why he got divorced; he said she wanted kids and walked back on stage and started playing again… woops.
I visited two Buddhist centers. One was the Milwaukee Mindfulness Center. Their teacher happens to be Thich Nhat Hahn. It was a group of about 20 folks. We did a seating meditation for about 20 minutes then a walking meditation for 10 then back to a sit. The center is on a major road and I listened to the traffic whizzing by, I didn’t stay for the discussion as I had tickets to see the Brewers play the Giants! Barry Bonds was, in Milwaukee could he hit 2 dingers and tie the record? Nope he didn’t even play. But it was a good game and I got a chance to talk to Bob Uekers body guard! Your know Bob from his part in Major League and Mr. Belvidere.
Milwaukee is a great city! Blue collar feel, people are very friendly I met some real characters. Jim who’s band toured in support of the Meat Puppets back in the 90’s and Don a retired motivational speaker with a walking staff that is the mother of all walking staffs. The city has lots of local breweries, but I was dismayed when I saw the Pabst brewery in complete shambles, deserted and being torn down, sorry folks: PBR is now brewed at Miller. A sad day…..
On my way to Madison the capital of Wisconsin and home of the Badgers!
When I pull into a new city I love to haul my bike out of the Astro and hit the streets. I Look for some local intheknower ‘s (could be a new word?) and start asking questions. I base my assessment on the city on 3 key measuring tools. I feel these three will give me everything I will need to know and how long I will stay. Well maybe not everything but it’s a great start!
1. Music Scene
2. Burrito Joints
3. Buddhist community
Because I was famished when I got into Milwaukee I started with Burrito’s. The first guy I asked just returned from the Brewer’s game and was hammered; he pointed north and mumbled something about a Q. The next girl said I’m a vegetarian I don’t eat burritos??? The 3rd kid went to Marquette and gave me spot on directions adding “they are open till 3am!!!” The path led me down along the waterfront of Lake Michigan where there is a huge park and museums. The burrito shop, Qdoba is a regional chain with a pretty stale environment, but the burrito was huge and with a plethora of hot sauce it hit the spot and it was only 5 bucks not bad.
The Music Scene is strong and it seems like it is getting stronger. Over the weekend it hosted The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Zappa does Zappa, Galactic and has a huge list of local clubs, major venues and outdoor shows. Looking at my budget I opted for a free show at the Jazz Estate with Matt Hendricks. A cool little joint, dark and smokey with a bunch of local hipsters. Matt played an old steal acoustic that was signed by Honey Boy Williams and John Hammond. He played some covers and originals, he reminded me of Tab Beniot from Louisiana. He played one instrumental he called serenade that he wrote on his honeymoon but now is a sad song because of his divorce. I asked him at the break why he got divorced; he said she wanted kids and walked back on stage and started playing again… woops.
I visited two Buddhist centers. One was the Milwaukee Mindfulness Center. Their teacher happens to be Thich Nhat Hahn. It was a group of about 20 folks. We did a seating meditation for about 20 minutes then a walking meditation for 10 then back to a sit. The center is on a major road and I listened to the traffic whizzing by, I didn’t stay for the discussion as I had tickets to see the Brewers play the Giants! Barry Bonds was, in Milwaukee could he hit 2 dingers and tie the record? Nope he didn’t even play. But it was a good game and I got a chance to talk to Bob Uekers body guard! Your know Bob from his part in Major League and Mr. Belvidere.
Milwaukee is a great city! Blue collar feel, people are very friendly I met some real characters. Jim who’s band toured in support of the Meat Puppets back in the 90’s and Don a retired motivational speaker with a walking staff that is the mother of all walking staffs. The city has lots of local breweries, but I was dismayed when I saw the Pabst brewery in complete shambles, deserted and being torn down, sorry folks: PBR is now brewed at Miller. A sad day…..
On my way to Madison the capital of Wisconsin and home of the Badgers!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Life, Death and Kalamazoo
I’m in Battle Creek Michigan on my way through Chicago and up to Milwaukee. I left New Hampshire on Thursday after 4 days at home and paying tribute to the life of Amanda Ward. Please check out www.amandaforever.com and help celebrate her life, and send love to Derek and both of their families as they have lost a special person who made everybody smile. Though it was sad, intense and heart wrenching the overall experience was one of celebration and growth. Over 100 plants, trees and flowers were planted in a memorial garden that was built in 2 days by family and friends, over 200 people came and paid respects, tears and hope. I have felt Amanda’s presence constantly this past week and feel fortunate that I was able to know her and be of support to my friend Derek. He has been a rock and an inspiration as he continues to practice and follow his path of peace, love and compassion. I have grown closer to my friends and made new friends, I have witnessed what love can accomplish in the hardest of times and how amazing a hug can feel from a complete stranger. When I pass this life I request to have the same experience as Amanda, a celebration and a party!!
My departure and trip from MI to NH was smooth. I had the opportunity to spend time with Mary Savoie the Mom of my friend Ned and Bill and 6 other children. She gave me amazing tour of the greater Detroit area and brought me to dinner at the Royal Oak Grille in Royal Oaks. We shared stories about Ned, the secret of happiness, Napoleon Hill, her 19 grandchildren, her beloved Detroit Tigers and gardening one of her passions! It was an amazing evening and I could tell the host was anxious to get our table back in rotation as we had been there for hours. We went back watched a couple of innings of the Tigers game against Seattle and I spent my first night indoors in months in Mary’s guest room and though I missed my bunk I slept like a champ!
My return trip was not so smooth. I was due to arrive in Detroit at 10pm; I arrived at 2:30am. I posted up in the airport and Mary fetched me at 6 am. We went to Monty’s for breakfast and I was anxious to get back in my Astro. I made it about 20 minutes down the road when I was falling asleep so I pulled off in Livonia and jumped in my bunk in the parking lot of Ruby Tuesdays (they are open on Thursdays as well). When I awoke after my 3 hour nap I could not locate my phone so I went through my van like a Canadian Boarder Patrol office to know avail. So I drove back to Mary’s and found it. I got back on the road and drove down rt. 94 to Kalamazoo about 2 ½ hours! Kalamazoo is a great little city with an amazing library and great common.
I checked my email and realized that some person found my backpack lying on the pavement in the parking lot of Ruby Tuesdays. He went through my back and found my passport, and then he found a card with Amanda’s website on it. He sent a message to the site which was picked up by Ned in the world headquarters of Harborlight Strategic Marketing; Ned forwarded the message to me. I could see Amanda watching out for me and calling me a dumbass at the same time. So I turned around and drove back to Ann Arbor and waited to hear from him, where I promptly locked my keys in my van, I purchased a glass of lemonade (.25) and a coat hanger (.75) from two 8 yr old girls who looked at me with confusion and sympathy, but obliged my demands for a metal hanger. Ann Arbor was hosting a massive Art Festival so I aimlessly wondered around in a blank state, neither mad nor happy, neither frustrated or focused, just a bit numb and trying to be in the moment.
About 9pm I got a call from Nathan he found my pack and lived about 30 minutes away in Dearborn. So I was on my way. I pulled up into a nice little neighborhood and was greeted by Nathan who for the day was playing private detective trying to track down a guy from New Hampshire, with a map of Mt. Everest and a Thich Nat Hahn book and some running shows in a backpack in a parking lot of a chain restaurant in the suburbs of Detroit. We shared our stories from the day and then Nathan invited me in for some tea. I met his lovely wife Jen and his son Luka and 3 month old baby Kaz. 3 hours later at 1 am they finally nudged me out the door for fear that I was setting my sites on the spare bedroom for a long term stay. We talked about family, The Flaming Lips, Buddhism, hiking and being a stay at home mom. I felt like I had known them all my life, after so much weariness they were a beacon of light, they gave me two apples, a peach and a nectarine which hey have delivered every Tuesday from, who Luka calls, the “Veggie Man” a modern day super hero in his eyes!
Nathan carried my bag that had brought us together to my van we hugged like brothers and I headed west down Williams Ave. with a smile and organic fruit!
My departure and trip from MI to NH was smooth. I had the opportunity to spend time with Mary Savoie the Mom of my friend Ned and Bill and 6 other children. She gave me amazing tour of the greater Detroit area and brought me to dinner at the Royal Oak Grille in Royal Oaks. We shared stories about Ned, the secret of happiness, Napoleon Hill, her 19 grandchildren, her beloved Detroit Tigers and gardening one of her passions! It was an amazing evening and I could tell the host was anxious to get our table back in rotation as we had been there for hours. We went back watched a couple of innings of the Tigers game against Seattle and I spent my first night indoors in months in Mary’s guest room and though I missed my bunk I slept like a champ!
My return trip was not so smooth. I was due to arrive in Detroit at 10pm; I arrived at 2:30am. I posted up in the airport and Mary fetched me at 6 am. We went to Monty’s for breakfast and I was anxious to get back in my Astro. I made it about 20 minutes down the road when I was falling asleep so I pulled off in Livonia and jumped in my bunk in the parking lot of Ruby Tuesdays (they are open on Thursdays as well). When I awoke after my 3 hour nap I could not locate my phone so I went through my van like a Canadian Boarder Patrol office to know avail. So I drove back to Mary’s and found it. I got back on the road and drove down rt. 94 to Kalamazoo about 2 ½ hours! Kalamazoo is a great little city with an amazing library and great common.
I checked my email and realized that some person found my backpack lying on the pavement in the parking lot of Ruby Tuesdays. He went through my back and found my passport, and then he found a card with Amanda’s website on it. He sent a message to the site which was picked up by Ned in the world headquarters of Harborlight Strategic Marketing; Ned forwarded the message to me. I could see Amanda watching out for me and calling me a dumbass at the same time. So I turned around and drove back to Ann Arbor and waited to hear from him, where I promptly locked my keys in my van, I purchased a glass of lemonade (.25) and a coat hanger (.75) from two 8 yr old girls who looked at me with confusion and sympathy, but obliged my demands for a metal hanger. Ann Arbor was hosting a massive Art Festival so I aimlessly wondered around in a blank state, neither mad nor happy, neither frustrated or focused, just a bit numb and trying to be in the moment.
About 9pm I got a call from Nathan he found my pack and lived about 30 minutes away in Dearborn. So I was on my way. I pulled up into a nice little neighborhood and was greeted by Nathan who for the day was playing private detective trying to track down a guy from New Hampshire, with a map of Mt. Everest and a Thich Nat Hahn book and some running shows in a backpack in a parking lot of a chain restaurant in the suburbs of Detroit. We shared our stories from the day and then Nathan invited me in for some tea. I met his lovely wife Jen and his son Luka and 3 month old baby Kaz. 3 hours later at 1 am they finally nudged me out the door for fear that I was setting my sites on the spare bedroom for a long term stay. We talked about family, The Flaming Lips, Buddhism, hiking and being a stay at home mom. I felt like I had known them all my life, after so much weariness they were a beacon of light, they gave me two apples, a peach and a nectarine which hey have delivered every Tuesday from, who Luka calls, the “Veggie Man” a modern day super hero in his eyes!
Nathan carried my bag that had brought us together to my van we hugged like brothers and I headed west down Williams Ave. with a smile and organic fruit!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Going Home, but not the Astro
I'm in Ann Arbor Michigan home of the Michigan Wolverines and the Fab 5. The Fab 5 was their basketball team back in the 90's with Chris Webber and Juwan Howard, we loved that team!! Ann Arbor is very vibrant community, last night they closed down all of downtown and had a antique car show. Must have been 500 cars from a 1927 jalopy to a 2007 ford one of a kind super something or other.
I went to the Blind Pig a famous music venue. There were 3 Indie Rock bands playing and I coul only make through 1 and 1/4 as it is one of my least favorite genres. But the place was very cool with a hipster scene and a big wall display of the night that Nirvana played there.
Tomorrow I fly home to Portsmouth as my friend Amanda was killed in car accident on Thursday. It is so sad and unbelievable and it has been tough to be away from my friends and her fiancee Derek. Impermanence is a powerful concept and one we must all deal with but when it happens it still strikes hard. I'm sending metta (love and kindness) to Derek and all who loved Amanda. I'm leaving my van at my friend Ned's Moms home outside Detroit and will resume my trip next week, when I will head Northwest to Wisconsin.
I went to the Blind Pig a famous music venue. There were 3 Indie Rock bands playing and I coul only make through 1 and 1/4 as it is one of my least favorite genres. But the place was very cool with a hipster scene and a big wall display of the night that Nirvana played there.
Tomorrow I fly home to Portsmouth as my friend Amanda was killed in car accident on Thursday. It is so sad and unbelievable and it has been tough to be away from my friends and her fiancee Derek. Impermanence is a powerful concept and one we must all deal with but when it happens it still strikes hard. I'm sending metta (love and kindness) to Derek and all who loved Amanda. I'm leaving my van at my friend Ned's Moms home outside Detroit and will resume my trip next week, when I will head Northwest to Wisconsin.
My short time in the Provence of Ontario was fun and beautiful. I made it to Manitoulin Island on Wednesday evening. The wind was howling off Lake Huron, I made a big salad from some veggies I got at a local farmers market and some more fakey hot dogs. I went for a walk around the park and through the small downtown of Little Current. Then I found a nice spot to park at a Yacht club! I woke up to torrential downpours, so I just kicked it in the Astro and read for a couple of hours and listened to the rain drops bounce of the roof of my ride! Very melodic and relaxing. I had the opportunity to meet the Dogfather. Dave was an 18 year old local who recently bought a hot dog cart and sets up shop on main street. On this day he was supervising his employee who he made sure everyone of his regulars new was his employee, must have been his first one. The Dogfather was insightful and entertaining as we had a good conversation about the metric system, Canadian economics and the hot dog business. He plans to have 3 carts by the end of the summer. The dogfather invited me to join his weekly poker game, but after much thought I declined for obvious reasons.
I decided to leave the Island as I wanted to get over to Madison, WI before a buddy left on July 15. I picked up a couple who were hitchhiking to Yellowknife in the Provence of Alberta. He was 6'7" and she was 6'1". They were heading to Yellowknife (my favorite name of a town yet.) because Dan beat the crap out of his sisters boyfriend who just got out of jail. Dan was bad mouthing the guy to his mother and sister because he was afraid his sisters was getting her cocaine supply from him. Anna had done time in prison for an armed robbery her ex b/f committed. She put her foot down and said I can't deal with all this drama and she was leaving so being homelessly in love Dan followed. They were with me for about 2 1/2 hours.
I decided to leave the Island as I wanted to get over to Madison, WI before a buddy left on July 15. I picked up a couple who were hitchhiking to Yellowknife in the Provence of Alberta. He was 6'7" and she was 6'1". They were heading to Yellowknife (my favorite name of a town yet.) because Dan beat the crap out of his sisters boyfriend who just got out of jail. Dan was bad mouthing the guy to his mother and sister because he was afraid his sisters was getting her cocaine supply from him. Anna had done time in prison for an armed robbery her ex b/f committed. She put her foot down and said I can't deal with all this drama and she was leaving so being homelessly in love Dan followed. They were with me for about 2 1/2 hours.
I jumped over the border back into the USA at Sault Ste. Marie and headed down the coast of Michigan where I stopped in Petsoky for dinner and listened to my messages and heard the terrible news that now sends me home. I stopped in Flint the home of filmmaker Micheal Moore but I just didn't have it in me to explore. His movie Roger and Me depicts Flint as a beat down dump, it looks like they are trying to revitalize the downtown but have a long way to go. The city seemed like a ghost town and I just got back on the road.
Be Well.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A Prostitute, Bullet Proof Vests and Bobby Orr
I was able to dig deeper into the City of Buffalo on a 3 hour bike ride around the city, It’s got great parks, waterfront on Lake Erie, dilapidated neighborhoods, sprawling roads of empty storefronts, beautiful homes from the turn of the century and I did find a few Martini bars and a sign for some luxury condos on Elmwood Ave. Elmwood Ave is an “up and coming neighborhood”. It was a Monday night and their wasn’t much happening in town except Dark Star Orchestra at the Town Theater (Dark Star is a Grateful Dead cover band who has a national following and headline many festivals due to their quality of the performance and the recreation of shows start to finish. Say Nov 12th 1985 at the Worcester Centrum.) I rode my bike over to check out the scene. Lots of tie dye, 50 yr old dudes and 18 year old kids wearing shirts with Jerry Garcia’s image on them. It was interesting people watching, I decided to pass and head back to Nietzsches for their open mic night. As I was riding away I witnessed a black dude getting busted but the BPD for selling marijuana to white dudes going to the show. I know many white dudes sell pot as well but it made me think about the statistics of black men in prison for majiuna related charges. So I went down to my adopted neighborhood parked my bike and headed to see some local talent.
I arrived to Nietzsches and saw about 10 – 15 singer songwriter type of folk hanging out smoking butts and carrying guitars. But what really caught my attention was this blues, soul, rock band playing above the Allen St. Liquor Store. Come to find out their name was Ms. Vicky and they practice every Monday night. Well the windows were open so I just grabbed a fence post and did a lean. They were rocking but I could tell they were just starting out. But man they had it going on. I looked down the way and this woman with a cowboy hat and pumps was grooving to it as well so I made my way over to say hi. Her name was Wonder Woman and she called me Peter Cotton Tail. We small talked for a bit and I realized what profession she was employed at and she realized I wasn’t in the market for her “special services” as she named it when I asked what she did for work. For the next hour or so we listened to Ms. Vicky and talked about love, god, forgiveness and the lessons we need to learn from life. She was insightful and vivacious and I spoke to her like I new her all my life (maybe I did?). When the band stopped and it was time to move on down the way we didn’t hug or exchanges email addresses but we both knew that we had given each other a gift. Friendship, it continued to cement my believe that we have the opportunity to learn from every individual that comes into our lives, some for 5 minutes some for a lifetime, but if I’m open with my ears and eyes I can learn and grow. And I’m hoping someday that I get a chance to see or hear on the radio the musical offerings of Ms. Vicki, my liquor store heroes and I Ms. Wonder Woman reaches her goals.
I finished my night with Tom Stahl the featured artist he sang his heart out. He had on chuck taylors, cut off camouflage pants, a flavor shaver and a pork pie hat, as I could tell it was about 3 different fashion trends at one time but it worked for him One line that I remember from his tune about self pity was “your been found guilty of living too long”. I went back to my back yard (park adjacent to wear the astro was residing for the night) did some stretching, watched a family of bunny rabbits taunt the local hounds that were out to do their daily business before bed time and jumped in my bunk feeling more like a local then the night before.
I arrived in Niagara Falls around Noon. Truly an amazing sight to see that much water flowing and falling. Just as amazing was the amount of Indian restaurants and that the area can support not just 1 but 2 Hard Rock Cafés. I got in line to cross the Canadian border in Ontario, Canada. I knew something was up when the young Canadian women in the booth started pelting me with questions about my job, home and purpose of driving my Astro Van into her beloved country. She gave me a yellow slip and said the turn left into immigration where another young Canadian women greeted me with the exact line of questioning. Then she put on her disposable gloves and jumped into the Astro to take a better look while I waited off to the side. I had a hard time not laughing when she asked me to come around the vehicle to give her the past word to my laptop. Their she was with her bullet proof vest sitting on my bunk with my computer open up. After about 20 minutes she said everything checked out and said to go inside with my yellow slip. An older Canadian women greeted me with an advanced set of questions but along the same lines. I guess a guy from New Hampshire driving a 1995 Chevy Astro with no job no real destination or reason for being in their country was alarming to them. But she stamped my slip and sent me on my way! All in all in was an entertaining experience as they were all very polite and attractive to different degrees especially the one with the bullet proof vest!
From there I stared my journey to Manatoulin (sp) Island which I know little about except for my friends Dylan and Lynn spent time there mountain biking and said it was one of their favorite spots on their travels west! I made a drive by in Toronto, a city 2,500,000 and I felt it for sure. Someday I would go back for a weekend… seemed like a lot of action and very clean! Then North West! A little side bar… A dream of mine is to journey to French Lick, Indiana. It’s in central Indiana and is the birthplace and home to the living legend… LARRY BIRD!!! I could write a book about this man, but I will leave it at this… Another major influence in my life. A true team player, put your nose to the parquet, dive for the loose ball, go toe to toe with Dr. J and Kareem and keep your blue collar, humbleness when everyone in the world wants a piece of you. Anyways I was driving by the hamlet of Parry Sound and saw a sign the Bobby Orr museum. Well Hockey is not my 1st love but I know enough that Bobby Orr who is ranked the 2nd best hockey player of all time behind Wayne Gretsky and won 2 Stanley Cups for the Boston Bruins. I pulled in around 8 pm to the most magnificent display of thunder and lightning all on the banks of Lake Huron! I fired up my grill ate some fakey hot dogs with red beans went for a walk around town and crashed out in the municipal parking lot. I woke up this morning went for a 1 hour run along the waterfront, took a $2 shower at the Chamber of Commerce info booth, yup very cool, and then hit the Bobby Orr Museum! A great interactive place that any sports fan or casual fan or hockey would enjoy!!
Now I sit in a coffee shop in Sudbury, Ontario getting ready for the final push to Manatoulin Island and to hopefully unleash my mountain bike for the first time on this trip….
I arrived to Nietzsches and saw about 10 – 15 singer songwriter type of folk hanging out smoking butts and carrying guitars. But what really caught my attention was this blues, soul, rock band playing above the Allen St. Liquor Store. Come to find out their name was Ms. Vicky and they practice every Monday night. Well the windows were open so I just grabbed a fence post and did a lean. They were rocking but I could tell they were just starting out. But man they had it going on. I looked down the way and this woman with a cowboy hat and pumps was grooving to it as well so I made my way over to say hi. Her name was Wonder Woman and she called me Peter Cotton Tail. We small talked for a bit and I realized what profession she was employed at and she realized I wasn’t in the market for her “special services” as she named it when I asked what she did for work. For the next hour or so we listened to Ms. Vicky and talked about love, god, forgiveness and the lessons we need to learn from life. She was insightful and vivacious and I spoke to her like I new her all my life (maybe I did?). When the band stopped and it was time to move on down the way we didn’t hug or exchanges email addresses but we both knew that we had given each other a gift. Friendship, it continued to cement my believe that we have the opportunity to learn from every individual that comes into our lives, some for 5 minutes some for a lifetime, but if I’m open with my ears and eyes I can learn and grow. And I’m hoping someday that I get a chance to see or hear on the radio the musical offerings of Ms. Vicki, my liquor store heroes and I Ms. Wonder Woman reaches her goals.
I finished my night with Tom Stahl the featured artist he sang his heart out. He had on chuck taylors, cut off camouflage pants, a flavor shaver and a pork pie hat, as I could tell it was about 3 different fashion trends at one time but it worked for him One line that I remember from his tune about self pity was “your been found guilty of living too long”. I went back to my back yard (park adjacent to wear the astro was residing for the night) did some stretching, watched a family of bunny rabbits taunt the local hounds that were out to do their daily business before bed time and jumped in my bunk feeling more like a local then the night before.
I arrived in Niagara Falls around Noon. Truly an amazing sight to see that much water flowing and falling. Just as amazing was the amount of Indian restaurants and that the area can support not just 1 but 2 Hard Rock Cafés. I got in line to cross the Canadian border in Ontario, Canada. I knew something was up when the young Canadian women in the booth started pelting me with questions about my job, home and purpose of driving my Astro Van into her beloved country. She gave me a yellow slip and said the turn left into immigration where another young Canadian women greeted me with the exact line of questioning. Then she put on her disposable gloves and jumped into the Astro to take a better look while I waited off to the side. I had a hard time not laughing when she asked me to come around the vehicle to give her the past word to my laptop. Their she was with her bullet proof vest sitting on my bunk with my computer open up. After about 20 minutes she said everything checked out and said to go inside with my yellow slip. An older Canadian women greeted me with an advanced set of questions but along the same lines. I guess a guy from New Hampshire driving a 1995 Chevy Astro with no job no real destination or reason for being in their country was alarming to them. But she stamped my slip and sent me on my way! All in all in was an entertaining experience as they were all very polite and attractive to different degrees especially the one with the bullet proof vest!
From there I stared my journey to Manatoulin (sp) Island which I know little about except for my friends Dylan and Lynn spent time there mountain biking and said it was one of their favorite spots on their travels west! I made a drive by in Toronto, a city 2,500,000 and I felt it for sure. Someday I would go back for a weekend… seemed like a lot of action and very clean! Then North West! A little side bar… A dream of mine is to journey to French Lick, Indiana. It’s in central Indiana and is the birthplace and home to the living legend… LARRY BIRD!!! I could write a book about this man, but I will leave it at this… Another major influence in my life. A true team player, put your nose to the parquet, dive for the loose ball, go toe to toe with Dr. J and Kareem and keep your blue collar, humbleness when everyone in the world wants a piece of you. Anyways I was driving by the hamlet of Parry Sound and saw a sign the Bobby Orr museum. Well Hockey is not my 1st love but I know enough that Bobby Orr who is ranked the 2nd best hockey player of all time behind Wayne Gretsky and won 2 Stanley Cups for the Boston Bruins. I pulled in around 8 pm to the most magnificent display of thunder and lightning all on the banks of Lake Huron! I fired up my grill ate some fakey hot dogs with red beans went for a walk around town and crashed out in the municipal parking lot. I woke up this morning went for a 1 hour run along the waterfront, took a $2 shower at the Chamber of Commerce info booth, yup very cool, and then hit the Bobby Orr Museum! A great interactive place that any sports fan or casual fan or hockey would enjoy!!
Now I sit in a coffee shop in Sudbury, Ontario getting ready for the final push to Manatoulin Island and to hopefully unleash my mountain bike for the first time on this trip….
Monday, July 9, 2007
Buffalo New York! yup!!
Hey Everybody,
Here I sit in the Quaker Bonnet Eatery in Buffalo New York. I left Ithaca around 1pm yesterday after taking a swim, shower at 2nd dam, where local kids were hucking themselves off 50-70 ft cliffs, I not wanting to show off my central Massachusetts asskicking style I opted for the 5 footer! I drove through hours of back roads through mostly farmland and a occasional 4 corners with a gas station and a farm stand! I got a box of fresh strawberries and ate them listening to the Red Sox loose a nail biter on XM radio channel 177.
I rolled into Buffalo to take a break around 6pm and it just happened to be the taste of Buffalo. They close down a huge section of downtown and all the restaurants and bars are there. The first thing I noticed beside all the Buffalo Wings, Pizza and Elvis impersonater was the diversity. Ah sweet diversity, I've been craving it like I craved Christmas morning when I was 7. It's not just racial diversity it is sincere diversity. People waking up in the morning and just walking out their door being themselves, talking about nothing and everythingI have not seen one luxury condo, not one martini bar but I have only been here for 17 hours and those establishments have their place I just can't afford them.
Last night I hit this place called Nietzsche's (yup) they have music 7 nights a week, and their motto is: Life without music would suck, or something along those lines. This band Space Cakes was playing, I got to tell you I've been blessed to have seen a lot of music, but this band ripped. The Sax player was a cross between Skerik and Karl Denson and the guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist band leading freaker was 1/2 Wavy Gravy 1/2 Frank Zappa. At the break I rambled across the street where a poetry night was happening, the place was jammed and the readers were top notch it held my attention for a while until I followed a cast of Buffaloians back to the Space Cakes show. After the show I walked up and down Allen Street, people were all over enjoying the last moments of a perfect Sunday night, I brushed my teeth, did some push ups, ate a banana, smiled for as long as possible then crawled into my bunk. It reminds me of a verse from a Dan Bern tune:
Tourist towns are a drag sometimes
But in non-tourist towns you can get beat up
Just for lookin a little different
I guess the thing to do is just stay at home
Yeah but sometimes I think the thing to do
Would be to get a place way out in Missouri
Put down as many months rent as you can part with
Tell everybody else you went to France
Well I think I might be in Buffalo for awhile or at least till tomorrow. I did promise the owner of this eatery that I wouldn't tell anyone how cool this city is so please keep it down!
Peter
Here I sit in the Quaker Bonnet Eatery in Buffalo New York. I left Ithaca around 1pm yesterday after taking a swim, shower at 2nd dam, where local kids were hucking themselves off 50-70 ft cliffs, I not wanting to show off my central Massachusetts asskicking style I opted for the 5 footer! I drove through hours of back roads through mostly farmland and a occasional 4 corners with a gas station and a farm stand! I got a box of fresh strawberries and ate them listening to the Red Sox loose a nail biter on XM radio channel 177.
I rolled into Buffalo to take a break around 6pm and it just happened to be the taste of Buffalo. They close down a huge section of downtown and all the restaurants and bars are there. The first thing I noticed beside all the Buffalo Wings, Pizza and Elvis impersonater was the diversity. Ah sweet diversity, I've been craving it like I craved Christmas morning when I was 7. It's not just racial diversity it is sincere diversity. People waking up in the morning and just walking out their door being themselves, talking about nothing and everythingI have not seen one luxury condo, not one martini bar but I have only been here for 17 hours and those establishments have their place I just can't afford them.
Last night I hit this place called Nietzsche's (yup) they have music 7 nights a week, and their motto is: Life without music would suck, or something along those lines. This band Space Cakes was playing, I got to tell you I've been blessed to have seen a lot of music, but this band ripped. The Sax player was a cross between Skerik and Karl Denson and the guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist band leading freaker was 1/2 Wavy Gravy 1/2 Frank Zappa. At the break I rambled across the street where a poetry night was happening, the place was jammed and the readers were top notch it held my attention for a while until I followed a cast of Buffaloians back to the Space Cakes show. After the show I walked up and down Allen Street, people were all over enjoying the last moments of a perfect Sunday night, I brushed my teeth, did some push ups, ate a banana, smiled for as long as possible then crawled into my bunk. It reminds me of a verse from a Dan Bern tune:
Tourist towns are a drag sometimes
But in non-tourist towns you can get beat up
Just for lookin a little different
I guess the thing to do is just stay at home
Yeah but sometimes I think the thing to do
Would be to get a place way out in Missouri
Put down as many months rent as you can part with
Tell everybody else you went to France
Well I think I might be in Buffalo for awhile or at least till tomorrow. I did promise the owner of this eatery that I wouldn't tell anyone how cool this city is so please keep it down!
Peter
Friday, July 6, 2007
Mindfulness, Vermont, the Adirondacks and Ithaca
This trip for me is about mindfulness. About being in the moment every moment. One of the major influences in my life is Thich Nhat Hahn. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, a poet, a scholar, and a peace activist. His life long efforts to generate peace and reconciliation moved Martin Luther King, Jr. to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. The basis of his teachings is mindfulness. My favorite quote is "Don't wash the dishes to get them done, wash the dishes to wash the dishes. So i'm working to be mind full in every moment. Every step, every turn of my pedals, every mile of the road, every dish I do, every smile from a stranger and every insect that lands on my head!!
I departed from Portsmouth and headed up to Vermont. I drove across rt 4. to rt 100 which winds up and down through the Green Mountains, a beautiful road and this is where I knew the Astro Van was up for the journey! I arrived in Burlington around 5pm. Burlington is one of my favorite places to hang out. Though like Portsmouth it has lost some of its edge it is still a great place right on the banks of Lake Champlain. I hung out a at the Dobro Tea House where a flamenco style guitarist and his band of friends playing bass, drums, spoons etc... performed. The Tea was $3.50 but it was well worth it. They have Teas from all over the world and the owner is a Howard Rourke man!! In the morning I went for a great bike ride along the lake and down through South Burlington. Then I went on to Church St. and got to hang out with 3 guys in there 8o's talking about the Red Sox, Howard Dean and the state of the City! It was amazing.
Then it was time to jump the 1 hour ferry over to New York. It was beautiful ride and dropped me in Port Kent. I drove through Lake Placid (the home of the 32 and 80 winter Olympics!) and the Adirondacks. I slept in a wonderful parking lot and got up the next morning and headed south west! After a quick stop in Munsville to see if the famous Koonrods was open for lunch (not) I arrived in Ithaca, NY. I picked up a hitchhiker named Rich who was coming from his friends sons funeral. The kid was 17 and overdosed on Nyquil. Really sad and disturbing. Rich gave me a good lay of the land, my first stop was the Ithaca Farmers Market, which was lively and huge. I picked up supplies for dinner and headed out for a bike ride! An up and down ride through the country side into Drysden NY and back. I hung in the commons (an open air market with restaurants, coffee houses, glass shops, and confused citizens wearing yankee paraphanilia. . I went swimming in the Cayuga Lake and made up my first real roadside gourmet dinner of... Eggplant, Garlic, Summer Squash, Onions, Tomatoes, Spinach over fresh salad greens with some Annies Olive Oil and Vinegar dressing!
I woke up this morning on the banks of the lake, spent some time in meditation, practiced on my bass, had some eats and now I sit sipping a peppermint tea enjoying a glorious morning........ Today I will check out some waterfalls and then head west with the eventual next goal to see the Niagra Falls!!
P
I departed from Portsmouth and headed up to Vermont. I drove across rt 4. to rt 100 which winds up and down through the Green Mountains, a beautiful road and this is where I knew the Astro Van was up for the journey! I arrived in Burlington around 5pm. Burlington is one of my favorite places to hang out. Though like Portsmouth it has lost some of its edge it is still a great place right on the banks of Lake Champlain. I hung out a at the Dobro Tea House where a flamenco style guitarist and his band of friends playing bass, drums, spoons etc... performed. The Tea was $3.50 but it was well worth it. They have Teas from all over the world and the owner is a Howard Rourke man!! In the morning I went for a great bike ride along the lake and down through South Burlington. Then I went on to Church St. and got to hang out with 3 guys in there 8o's talking about the Red Sox, Howard Dean and the state of the City! It was amazing.
Then it was time to jump the 1 hour ferry over to New York. It was beautiful ride and dropped me in Port Kent. I drove through Lake Placid (the home of the 32 and 80 winter Olympics!) and the Adirondacks. I slept in a wonderful parking lot and got up the next morning and headed south west! After a quick stop in Munsville to see if the famous Koonrods was open for lunch (not) I arrived in Ithaca, NY. I picked up a hitchhiker named Rich who was coming from his friends sons funeral. The kid was 17 and overdosed on Nyquil. Really sad and disturbing. Rich gave me a good lay of the land, my first stop was the Ithaca Farmers Market, which was lively and huge. I picked up supplies for dinner and headed out for a bike ride! An up and down ride through the country side into Drysden NY and back. I hung in the commons (an open air market with restaurants, coffee houses, glass shops, and confused citizens wearing yankee paraphanilia. . I went swimming in the Cayuga Lake and made up my first real roadside gourmet dinner of... Eggplant, Garlic, Summer Squash, Onions, Tomatoes, Spinach over fresh salad greens with some Annies Olive Oil and Vinegar dressing!
I woke up this morning on the banks of the lake, spent some time in meditation, practiced on my bass, had some eats and now I sit sipping a peppermint tea enjoying a glorious morning........ Today I will check out some waterfalls and then head west with the eventual next goal to see the Niagra Falls!!
P
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Leaving in an Astro Van.
Thursday July 5th! Today I start my drive west to California. I have about a month and a half to get to San Francisco where I will meet some friends and check out the Burning Man festival. My route will be North! bouncing up and down through the Canadian border. My 95 Astro Van is in amazing shape and ready to roll... And I just hooked up with XM radio which I'm excited about.
The past two months being back in Portsmouth has been wonderful. Spending time with my parents and good friends talking about life, growth and horseshoes!! Making music, riding the roads and trails of this beautiful stretch of New England, being outside working with my hands and watching the giant tankers carve their way up the Pisquataqua has made me so grateful for this time and a place I can always call home!
So I'm going to keep this going and journal who I meet, what I see and what I'm doing! Let me know whats going on with you and if you have any good leads on a shower in Minnesota!!
Peace!
Peter
The past two months being back in Portsmouth has been wonderful. Spending time with my parents and good friends talking about life, growth and horseshoes!! Making music, riding the roads and trails of this beautiful stretch of New England, being outside working with my hands and watching the giant tankers carve their way up the Pisquataqua has made me so grateful for this time and a place I can always call home!
So I'm going to keep this going and journal who I meet, what I see and what I'm doing! Let me know whats going on with you and if you have any good leads on a shower in Minnesota!!
Peace!
Peter
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Welcome!!
This is my little space on the web to write about my daily experiences, thoughts and ideas!
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