hangovers, body bags, trail running shoes and Europe here we come!

So I've partied like a rockstar, done little planning, and now with Europe just 5 days away things are getting critical! Time to get to work!

I've figured out a few things though like what I'm bringing. I'm going super lightweight. Just my mission workshop backpack and my (friend Erik's) surly cross check bike. I still need to buy some trail runners (all around good shoes), and I've found a sweet, bright red pair, but I'm so reluctant to spend $110 on fucking shoes!! although my last pair lasted quite a long time and served me very well. ahhh maybe it's worth it.

so, where do body bags fit in? Well, I'll be using two army surplus body bag liners for my personal shelter if it rains. The actual body bag would have been perfect....if it were waterproof!

Now, why do I need two liners? Because these liners are sized for a person about 4'5" tall...With two of them I can juuuuuuust keep my feet dry.

As far as hangovers, well....I haven't seen y'all in a while, so I went a little overboard. Plus, when I have no place to stay I tend to hit Prost! and then try to find a couch to crash on. Problem is I get too ridiculous, then I just want to ride my bike, and then I end up passed out in my car...of course now I have my body bag liners! ($3.45 each!).

I have a basic route planned once I leave Italy, but still need to determine my route from zurich through the swiss alps and then through the Italian Alps to Chiavari. Kind of a big blank to fill in, but I have found some cycling routes and what not. Just not exactly where I want to go....but very beautiful routes!

I've got the car taken care of. A friend will take it on who needs a car. When she can pay me, she will, but for now I'm just making sure someone is driving it. I still need to store important papers and all that stuff, but I've had some offers for that too. My instruments are all being stored or used. I've given away the bulk of my clothes. I'll keep a small duffel for when I return, but thats it. Kind of exciting, but I also feel like maybe I should be putting all this energy into a business or a band or standup comedy. But who knows where this may lead. I may not come back! That's right, if I like I'm going to find out a way to stay...or bike my way to thailand or something.

With that I will sign off and see you all later! It's late and I need my rest!

used car salesman...

...albeit with a giant beard which probably doesn't help in gaining anyone's trust!

I need someone to help me pay for this while I'm gone. Drive it all you want, just pay for oil changes, and anything you break. It is fully insured though. She is in perfect shape mechanically. I'll get an oil change for her before I leave as well!

Here she is and she is beautiful!!

Look! She attracts gorgeous traveling girls!

She is fast like this car!

At home loaded with stuff in the desert!

The subie enjoys camping as well!

stuff to sell, borrow, giveaway, etc!!

i have lots o stuff to get rid of! some for sale. let me know if theres anything u need or can store. some stuff u could just borrow/use til i get back if u want. here's the short list: my subaru forester, laptop with case and accesories and external hard drive surfboard, wetsuit, two acoustic guitars, small electric tabletop drum kit, lots of size 13 shoes, fancy/professional clothes, vacuum cleaner with attachments, metal art, notebooks, books...all must sell or be donated asap

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503 998 8994

bikes, rain, cold, food carts and vodka!

ahhhh....welcome back to Portland...

It's cold as hell, rainy, I worked on bikes AND rode them to eat some "wiffies" at food cart. And we took down a fair quantity of Vodka of the Gods Trader Joe's vodka.

But yeah, it's friggin chilly here and I'm glad I'm headed someplace warmer in a week or so.

I'm daunted by my mountain of stuff to get rid of, and I may have to sell the car too...that would be a bummer though, so I'm trying to find someone else to take over payments essentially so I can have it when I get back.

I'm also excited to get a new camera and figure out what I'm bringing over to Europe. Apparently Dan has basically secured me a job for when I get there! Woohoo!

Most of my stuff has either found a home and I've got to go drop it off, but I'm sure a lot of it will end up at goodwill/dumpster, so if anyone wants to accompany me to the storage facility you're free to go through it!

Other than that, just sitting at the most super eco and techie friendly laundromat in Portland. It fucking texts you when your wash is done!

annnnnd here's some pictures

floopy eared cocknobber and Molly

Whiskey Jack and the floopy eared cocknobber

Karl Brumblebeard and Whiskey Jack!

Bear harbor

Karl Brumblebeard - dan has given my beard a new nickname....

almost back...to pdx

So I just learned my ex was held at gunpoint in nicaragua and robbed...not cool. Apparently she and her "drunken australian boy" were robbed, gagged and had almost all their shit taken. I'm thinking, "so soon? we just split up." But I don't really know that, and honestly its none of my business and I'm just glad she's ok. Regardless...it's a double whammy of bad news for me and the song "Mr. Brightside" by the Killers pops into my head!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrkeWsQZNyU

The good news is I slept in a BED last night! Somewhere near Roseburg. Leaving soon for pdx.

So I dug out someone's house for the last week or so...that dirt is taller than me and that wall is about 15-20 feet long.

Pictures do NOT do it justice! But this was probably the craziest and one of the prettiest roads I've ever been on.

I made everyone write all funny quotes on the fridge...which has given rise to a new saying: (which is preceded by copious amounts of laughter) "Put that on the Fridge!"

The legend of whiskeyjack!!!

crazy amounts of hail!!

surf spot shelter cove

sunset at the neighbors house

getting excited!

Well life has been good, but also very rough. I've made a tiny nest egg with which to fund my trip to Europe!!

I fly into Zurich on 4/20. I'm headed back to Portland in a few days.

I've been in the area of Norcal near the "Lost Coast" which is beautiful and extremely rugged. Hwy 101 is washed out juuuuust north of me, so that I'll have to take a detour, albeit extremely beautiful one, and I may even camp out for a night!

I'm going to start the bike/urban/fun shorts business I've spoken of with people. My first step is to have my friend Risa helped me build a couple of pairs. When I'm biking around Europe that will be my test bed.

Other than that I'll just have to get rid of, sell or stash all my stuff somewhere when I'm in Portland, as well as prepare/plan for my trip.

I'm getting nervous about actually cycling over there. I don't know if I have enough money to really do everything I need to with regards to shipping the bike and outfitting it with gear. However I also think I may shoot myself if I don't make it happen! So in the fashion of this already shoestring, on a whim, jumping in feet first adventure (I bought the ticket to europe before having the spending cash to go! haha wooo!), I'm gonna make it happen!

Ok...I gotta hit the sack...more hard labor tomorrow.

See you all in pdx soon enough!

shake...yer...europa!!!!

I just booked a ticket to EUROPE for the 20th of april through august!!!!!!!!!!!! And now I'm headed deep into the woods for work in order to pay for it...so radio silence until then.......