Portlandia and Beyond

So I arrived at Portland and stayed with a man named Peter Glenn. Peter himself was a world traveler, and designed his own home amongst other things. Interesting guy. He did my horoscope. Though I'm quite the skeptic, it was fun to see what the planet's effects on me were. Apparently I'm supposed to be coming into a large inheritance later in life... looking at you Mom and Dad...

So the first day I hit downtown. That was pretty cool. Went to Powell's bookstore, one of the largest in the world. I then went to a fancy clothing department store and skyped in front of the Gucchi section, classing the place up with my dirty travelling clothes. The thing about Portland is it is so fast-paced. If Colorado Springs felt smaller than it was, then Portland felt bigger than it was. And the stereotypes about the plethora of coffee shops and bicycles are true.

The next day Peter took me to the coast, and I got to see the gorgeous Oregon beaches and sea rocks. And finally made it to the Pacific Ocean. Touched the end of the continent!

I also visited the Tillamook cheese factory, which was pretty cool.

The next day I helped Peter cut some firewood on some property he has. Got an up close look at the local flora. Tried to keep up with my math class which didnt go quite as smoothly as I hoped. But hey I'm in portland, young people come here to retire anyways. 

Later I went to the Sunday Market. Plenty of cool trinkets. Plus I saw this performer, which was cool

As far as all the extreme quirkiness that has been so lovingly stereotyped by the show Portlandia, I did not really see that. It definitely had some neat features, but not to the extent I was hoping for.

I did take a run around the Nike headquarters, and that place is nothing but a white-collar, urban paradise.

Peter later took me to see Mt. Hood, a popular ski destination with a historic lodge built by the CCC during the depression. It also happened to be the place where they shot the opening scene from the Shining, which is kind of disturbing. We then drove up the Columbia River Gorge, checked out the wind-surfing mecca of hood river, and saw some beautiful, but loud tourist-ridden waterfalls.

Hood River

View of Columbia River Gorge from the historic scenic Highway outlook

Later, I headed back downtown and stopped at an Iranian food truck. I'm not exactly sure what I ate, but it wasn't bad. 

I then  said my goodbyes to Peter, who generously showed me around town, and went to stay a few nights with a sister of my former economics teacher, Mr. Brogan. This gave me a chance to put a dent in my math and relax. The family was very hospitable, and it was good place to recooperate. When my craigslist rides flaked on me three times (I begining to wonder if Craigslist isn't 100% reliable) they generously bought me a plane ticket to Denver.

 The night before I left, however, I stumbled upon a house party down the street. It was pretty cool. They rented a taco truck, so you know it's legit. I walked in and they welcomed me. It was supposed to be western themed, but I dont think people in Portland know how to dress like that. It looked more like a gathering of hipsters listening to weird techno-country than a gang of cowboys and cowgirls. Other than being significantly younger than most, it was pretty fun. I just chilled by the fire and tried to tell how I got where I was to drunk people. They seemed to enjoy it. The property it was on was also super cool, kind of like an urban oasis.

After that I went to Denver and stayed with some friends of Mr. Brogan's, Shawn and his wife Carolina. Turned out Shawn was a landscape architect, which was cool for me since I had seriously considered pursuing that myself. They showed me around the Denver night life which was pretty cool. Would have been more fun had I been 21 though. The next day Shawn took me to Boulder, and I got to see what everybody raved about. It was pretty cool, but maybe a bit overrated. Lots of Tibetan shops for some reason. Also the rain probably put a big damper on the weather-sensitive Colorado crowds.I'd like to go back sometime and try rock climbing there. 

Then I hopped on a Greyhound that evening and headed out to the ranch in South Dakota. Feels good to be here.

Thanks Peter, Raney and Brett, and Shawn and Carolina for putting me up!!

Off to Portland

I had a good time helping Rick and Karen move out. A gorgeous house for sure. I also got the chance to go sailing with thier son chad, which was fun. But now I have to keep looking west, to the direction of adventurers, wanderers, and dreamers. Jack Kerouac describes goodbyes as the to huge world vaulting us into the horizon. So this morning I leave for one of the most unique cities in the world, Portland, OR. I have a feeling I'm going to love this place. Farewell Idaho, it's been real.

Burgdorf

So i finally finished stacking the massive pile of wood at Burgdorf

I also ended up meeting some really interesting old hippies from Nashville. My first experience was them asking if I was okay with clothing optional. lol I got to talking to them, and I found out they were professors at a small college in Ashville, NC. Later that night, the older guy got out his guitar, and I got my harmonica and flute, and we jammed by the pool. I found out my flute is about in the A minor scale. It was very fun. I got thier contact info, so hopefully I can stay with them when I go to Ashville.

I saw some elk, which was interesting. I also met Rick's wife, Karen. We ate dinner together. They are moving houses, so now I'm staying with them in a little town close to Burgdorf, and helping them move. I plan to be in Portland by Wednesday.

Burgdorf Hot Springs

So after a restless night staying in a rainy park behind some bushes in Lewiston, I found my way to McCall, ID by bus. Upon arrival, I found out no one was available to pick me, so being the diligent hard-working young man I am, I bought a hamburger and sat down. Then I started hiking up to Burgdorf, only 35 scenic miles.... Luckily I was picked up by a guy named Luke, who used to hitch around the country himself.  After driving me up there he even gave me $11 to boot. Pretty nice.

So I got to Burgdorf, and my initial thought was it was incredibly creepy and a good setting for a murder mystery. However, as I settled in, it became exponentially more warn and inviting. There is a large pool that is 106 degrees and two small ones that are 113 degrees. Everything is made in the authentic log cabin style building with Idaho pine. The resort itself was originally a stop in the late 1800's for miners, and has been a dairy farm, a hippie colony, and resort. The pools are surrounded by rustic cabins. The only electricity available is generated through a solor panel by the main office, with limited internet. Hopefully i can keep up with my online math class so I can please the great gods of academia at the University of Lousiville.

Rick is the main caretaker, a retired restaurant owner from Washington. He put me up in a little white cabin about 100 yards from pool, complete with a little stove and a little bed.

The first night, I became acquainted with the wood pile. My task was to stack this massive pile of wood. After stacking for a while, I headed to the cabin to pass out. However, hunger was calling my name, so I brought out the only thing I had...Spam...glorious spam. I tried cooking it over the stove, but as it turns out, Spam is disgusting. I ended up chugging an entire jar of apple sauce instead.

The next day I took a hike to crystal mountain, a huge quartz outcropping at the top of a mountain. The view was incredible. I felt like a nature valley granola bar model.

That night I saw some elk, which was pretty cool. The whole place is very peaceful for the most part, except the stray dune buggy or four wheeler. It reminded me of how John Steinbeck must have felt when he was writing his first novel. He was a maintenance man living in a cabin at resort in Utah.

Overall, fairly peaceful. Unfortunately however, I am living off the equivalent of gas station food, so hopefully that wont make me sick. Good stuff happening in the mountains of Idaho

Rainbow Gathering

Wow, what a trip it has been. We ended up spanging for a while in Idaho Falls, to get a full tank of gas.

After getting through idaho falls, Keith, krishna, and I finally arrived at the rainbow gathering. Rainwolf found a ride with some guys in a van. After the police hassled the heck out of us looking for drugs, we found a place to park. It was dark, and I just passed out on the ground next to the car, but in the morning I got a  stunning surprise

By the end of the week, this gorgeous valley held 10,000 hippies, and lots of organic food and controlled substances. It was nothing short of amazing.

So after I woke up, I hiked down to orient myself. Since it was set up as a commune, there were about 60 different kitchens that served free food (but asked for labor) I found a campsite at the end of a nice quiet meadow. I then met some people cutting wood, and decided to help. When nightfall fell, I found out we were cutting wood for a massive drum circle that contunued all the way to dawn. Of course, I did some hard  core shirtless tribal dancing to the 40 bongos and cowbells people brought. I also found chanting and singing very satisfying.

The next day I did some yoga on the hill side, and learned abouut lots of theories about the flow of energy through the body. It was also nice to be greeted with a "lovin you", which was the unoffical greeting of the gathering. I went to eat at main circle, which is the common dinner almost all the kitchens contribute to. Needless to say, I ate so many beans....so many...  I also got to meet a yoga girl from texas named christine, and some new neighbors on the meadow, Carter and Joelle. I also met a nice couple on the trail, Abbey and Noah.

Later, I went to a kitchen full of old hippies and heard the best reggae music in my life. When I closed my eyes, I fell into the famous euphoria of the jazz musicians, and that was amazing. All the music of the gathering was organic, and all of the musicians were amazing. I also found out what a zuzu is. It is a ganja laced desert, which will indeed make your head spin. Yea... that was a long night.

The next night at the same kitchen, called "lovin ovens" I met a man that made bio-gas, and alternative fuel. Since i'm into that kind of thing, I thought it was awesome to meet a contact. Later I went to this beautiful mountain stream and washed up with some people. It was gorgeous, and nudity was so common that no one cared (except the patrolling park rangers)

The next day i went to the trade circle. No money is allowed, only things to trade. I ended up trading an extra multi tool i acquired on the road for a handmade flute.

On July 4, about 4000 people joined in this massive circle and ohmed for world peace, with the children in the center. After the ohm, there was a wild drum naked drum circle dance, which i absolutely participated in. I also got a sun and seagull painted on my chest, since my Mom used to say my Indian name would've been lost seagull. But maybe the seagull found his home. There was generally tons of love and care. Of course there was the bad apples, but generally everybody genuinely cared and accpeted everyone else. And about a quarter of the people were travelling kids, and this really was their home.

Later I met more meadow neighbors, Andy and Carrie. This was a young couple who had been doing work exchange for an organic vegetable and cannabis farm in Oregon, owned by a college professor. So I ogt thier contact info, and am going to try to contact this guy near portland.

Finally, I found a ride to Idaho while chopping veggies for a kitchen. I ended rolling out with a car full of travelling college kids, most from Olympia. There was ten of us crammed in to this suburban, 5 laying down in the cargo area.

About half way through, we found a beautiful hot spring pool secluded on a forest trail.. It was late, and everybody stripped and jumped in for about two hours, scrubbing away the week of stinking body odor. We also did a massage train in the pool, which was super relaxing after being crammed into the suburban for hours. Eventually I was dropped off in Lewiston, ID where I got a motel room to clean up and get ready for the work exchange in McCall, ID.