View from our camp
This is pretty much what we saw while camping in the middle of the University of Washington's campus. Apparently while we were sleeping a few racoons sniffed us over.
This blog started with the adventures of three former Peace Corps Volunteers and their Toyota Landcruiser, La Puta Madre, as they travel the Pan-American highway through the countries of Central America on their journey home to the United States. Unfotunately two of the original three have sold out to the man and are slowly turning into suits. Now, it chronicles the travels of the last of the original three. This would be Colin (the funny one)
This is pretty much what we saw while camping in the middle of the University of Washington's campus. Apparently while we were sleeping a few racoons sniffed us over.
So we woke up today and it started out a day like any other. We managed to find a relatively cheap hotel on the outskirts of seattle. The night before was pretty dead so other than a cute, friendly, yet suprisingly tough, bartender named Jenna there wasn't much going on. We did notice that Seattle is by far the bum-friendliest place at least I've ever been, the destitute are countless. In the morning I guess we were looking a little ragged with backpacks pegged us as wanderers. At least a few thought so, a tall, lanky black guy invited us down for a hot meal at the local soup kitchen and we figured why not (Wilson leading the charge of course, but with the car in the shop saving a few bucks really didn't hurt). He told us they served really good food at The Millionair Club. We entered the general population, doing our best to fit in and were served a warm bowl of chili and a rather tasty piece of corn bread with Seattle's finest. Actually for the most part just a group of people down on there luck without really a clue as to how to find it. After a bit of small talk about dry-walling not being a bad way to make a few bucks (something I really only know about in theory) I bused my dishes and met up with the others. We hiked back to the mechanic to find out it was going to take yet another day, so we condensed our bags down to one and struck out lacking any real direction. This landed us at the university of Washington with pretty much just the tent and sleeping bags hoping someone would be kind enough to let us crash in their backyard. It turned out the campus was a little denser than we anticipated, almost all of what we saw being dorms and other types of campus housing, so we settled for looking at the parks, trying to find a place we could tuck the tent out of sight. After finding a few spots and taking a good long nap by one, we headed to the bars in search of a simpathetic soul. It started out well enough with Johnny taking on the guise of Will Drain a rookie soccer player on one of englands club teams (a lie he performed masterfully I might add) and Wilson spouting his anti-government rhetoric and burning dollar bills, but by the end of the night our new found friends were all too drunk to bother with so we ended up back in the university next to the library tucked under some bushes and trees. When we woke up to leaf blowers and weed wackers around our heads we realized our little spot was a little more exposed than we first though. So we packed it up and moved back to our other napping spot and did our best to look as if we just got there (no sleeping bags this time) which, as far as we know, is where Johnny still is while we wander around feeling like were in the clear of our the villainous vagrancy.
So we rushed back to Seattle to get the car but it still wasn't ready. Still Hulet's Auto kicks ass, they really helped us out.
These bears were all over Vancouver and were going to get sold at auction for charity.
So La Puta Madre has run into it's first little snag. We knew it was going but the starter finally went on the 16th. We dropped it off at a mechanics place and are trying to do our best without our beloved means of travel. If you ever get out to the Seattle area there's a cool hostel on Vashon Island, the name escapes me right now but if you get to the island ask for the hostel with the teepee's, everybody is really nice. So after two nights living the way of the people that were here before the mass genocide we found a bus to take us up to Vancouver. The night before we left though we met this guy Jonathon from the island who, the next day, let us take a gander at the underground domes he was living in. Apparently some eccentric architect lost them in a divorce so there a little unfinished but he's basically living in them for free. So after about 4-5 hours on a bus we got into Vancouver and immediately hightailed it to the dirtiest part of the city we could find. Not really by choice, it just so happened that it was where our hostel was. Vancouver is amazing, other than our little area is was real clean and had some really cool architecture. Its amazing how some places you go you stumble upon an entire way of life where everyone is just entirely helpful and friendly. One in particular, to Karen our french siren and Johnny's favorite, thanks for the extremely bizarre good time. So after three nights there we rushed back to pick up the car only to find it still in pieces. So with the mother still down and out we forced to bum it in Seattle, which should be cool because our last time through all we really did was take some time to decompress in teepee's.
I'm pretty sure we camped up here illegally but all the crazy animals we heard in the middle on the night makes me feel like we earned it
We got into Yreka late, Thanks to Jen who helped to inebriate us and tell us a good spot to camp
This trip is going really fast, we're already past Portland and well into the great state of Washington. Probably planning on staying near Mount Ranier tonight. Portland was awesome and without a doubt the cleanest city I've ever been in (2nd to only Teguc of course). Unfortunately most of the friends we have along the way have been and are going to be out of town when we pass through, of course when I say friends I'm referring to the flaming trio of Gabe, Brandon and Pete. Anyway, as for places to see both Crater Lake and Mount St. Helens are gorgeous and three days in Portland was not near enough, but in the interest on actually making it back home (New Jersey) we must push on. Like I mentioned tonight its most likely Mt. Ranier, then onto Seattle and from there Vancouver. At that point what little plan we have promptly falls apart, so we'll let you know when we do. Parting Words of Wisdom: Dont talk to the guy with a weird stare and a bike on the riverfront in down town Portland. He'll eat your babies.
Something I just learned:
My brother and sister in law, Nate and Michelle were nice enough to put us up for a few days while we were there
So it's been about five months out here and I'm ready to go home. Thejob I just finished allowed me enough capital to rebuy the Puta Madre and I'm driving it home. Of course I haven't payed for it yet and I know Brendan and Darren are itching for this road trip I just started to come to a close. My buddy Wilson, from highschool, took a train out just to join me on the trip back, which should make the three weeks a bit more fun (as long as his ring worm doesn't spread). We also picked up this english guy Johnny that Wilson met on the train, so the Madre is doing another trip with three, at least for a little while. I think Johnny gonna go his own way around seattle. In case you haven't figured it out this means there'll be more photos and bullshitting to follow as we make our way accross the country. So while work was fun and all the people were great it's still time to go, I haven't been home but for a couple of months since I've been back in the states. Thanks to all the family, new and old friends that made work and my time in northern California bearable.