Journal #2/ 10-17-02

Just got done feedin' about a million ducks at a water canal in Venice. We stayed up 'till about 6:00 in the mornin' & then crashed on Venice beach. We got up at about 9:30 or so. It sucked puttin' my bike together last night when we got here (not that I did any of the work)- but then we biked a little & ended up just comin' back & takin' a bus over here. We got off as soon as Brett noticed the library. The one he always went to.Then we biked to the beach, & then biked to a 24 hr grocery. We got some food & as we sat eating it, this guy gave us 10 bucks. He said he & his girl have "been there". He was real nice. (We also met a man on the train, he called himself T.R. He was a funny guy w/tons of stories. He gave us 6 bucks for food & an envelope w/his address & stamps to mail him the money back!) Then we biked around the marinas. SO beautiful! We found Augustino's boat! We sat by the marina Brett & Kit lived at w/their boat & talked about- well, first he reminisced for a while- & then we talked about all the **** we could do. Gettin' a sailboat, jobs, livin' on it, gettin' Runty out here, buyin' Inka (The female Rottweiler I had wanted at the time). My mom visiting. I hadn't seen much of the place & it was night & my first impression was that I loved it. It was a good first night here. This mornin' we signed up for a free meal tomorrow & we're goin' over to the library soon.

I emailed my mom 'cause she emailed me from a friend's computer. We went to the Marina Del Rey library instead & while I was lookin' at Andy Warhol books, & we were both waiting for the computer, I guess Brett overheard 2 men talkin' about a guy that's moving & needs to sell his sailboat immediately $2,000 or less. It's a 32' & so we went to go look at it- not talkin' to the guy yet- & it's huge! & beautiful. We're both ecstatic. (The picture to the right is what it looked like when we first saw it. Although it was basically used as storage for lots of garbage, we saw the beautiful boat it used to be...& wished to be again) Now we're at the showers by the marina. Brett remembered the code & he's takin' his shower now. I'll take mine next if the code is the same for the women's. We have to try & look our best & go some how find that man & talk to him. I'm worried we won't find him. Then- I have to call my mom. I have to tell her about it & ask to have the $600.00 that's in my/her credit union wired to me. We can safely offer this guy $1,600.00 & still have money for 1 month's rent. But we'll both have to get jobs right away & geez! This is happening way too fast! It's so good though. I keep remembering now & again that I'm hungry. We haven't eaten anything, but half a sandwich each this mornin'. I NEED COFFEE! Oh- & we don't even know if we can have a slip ( a place to "park" the boat) here, 'cause we're not residents. & who knows if that costs more!? All I do know is that I prayed, & I know that whatever happens, happens for the best. I just wish I knew what's supposed to happen!

We went back over to the boat & Brett talked to the man. He stepped out & I smiled. He was a big man, dark hair, Hawaiian-print shirt not buttoned up all the way, slacks, no shoes, & stogie in hand. Looked like he was in the mafia. Anyway, I'm gonna' try & make this real short- we don't have enough. The guy wants $2,000. But we could still offer him $1,600.00. We have to make sure the boat can stay in the slip, or I dunno' what. The engine's shot. So that sucks real bad & a lot of people are lookin' at it right now. Some kid was there while we were & he was waitin' to look at the boat. We left & ate & talked about what to do. The slip costs 320/400 or somethin', & we'd need insurance & a month's rent. The guy- Don- said if we come tomorrow & give him 1,000, he'll sign it over to us. We'd mail him the rest. Then we went over to Augustino's boat again & I watched Brett walk down & over & he was soon in the boat. I smiled & laughed to myself, imagining Augustino bein' like, "Come on in!" & he was. Brett came right back up to get me & we brought all our **** down & Aug. made us Chai green tea & fed us dates. We talked to him about the boat & he gave us some info. Now- our second day here- we're sleeping in a sailboat! It's one Aug. sold to a friend & it's across from his. The friend won't be here tonight. Aug. even offered to make a duplicate of the key if we need to sleep here more than one night. Of course, we won't let that happen. (We did) We want this boat so bad! I wish it could just work out. It's an amazing deal. Goodnight.

Wed. 10-16-02

Okay, well- we're sittin' at the Amtrak depot the next day! I dunno' really what happened yesterday.Of course, we had to run into some kinda' bull****. (Actually, this was obviously a blessing I didn't recognize. At least we didn't have to arrive at 2:30 am!) So we had to stay in Martinez over night. & we're takin' the train this mornin' at 7:30. It's about 7. So yesterday, after we found this out, we walked over a small bridge & sat on a bench that overlooked the depot. We were gonna' stay up all night. It was only 6:30-40pm or so. We got a little high & went for a walk. We found a park & some grills, but no wood or water- therefore-no oats! We lay in the grass for a while & then walked over to an old train surrounded by a fence. We found a hole cut in the fence & went in. We climbed up to the top of the thing & smoked more. Then we watched some trains go by w/graffiti on 'em. On our next walk to find a 24hr market or somethin', I noticed one of the only places open. It was a Thai restaurant. I stopped & looked at their hours (open 'till 10:00-another 40 min.) & then glanced at their menus posted on the glass. We went in. I wanted to treat us. There was no one else in there as we lugged all our **** in & sat down. The woman seemed happy. "Waiting for train?" she asked. Yep. It was hard to understand much of anything else she said, but ****! It was THE best meal we've EVER had! The food was extremely delicious! Brett ordered some rice & some peanut sauce & I ordered Roma Tofu. Pan fried tofu w/eggplant & coconut milk (red bell peppers, green peppers & onions, & real good coffee too) First of all- she gave us extra rice & put it on both our plates for us. Then another woman comes w/more rice-"No extra charge," she says. Then came time to pay. I took out my check card & asked if I could leave the tip on that. The she tried her hardest to explain to us that their machine wasn't working. I went to go to the Wells Fargo a couple blocks down to get 20 out & suddenly Brett's next to me. "Go! You can't leave her like that!" she said. Or somethin' I guess. We got mints w/the bill too! & then we come back & she brings us 4 more mints. The bill was 11 somethin' & I left her 6 bucks & all the change as a tip. We leave & she runs out after us seconds later. Handing me a dollar she says, "You left me too much!" & runs away. It was like we just stepped inside some one's kitchen & were fed. & it was amazing food. We were high on the food & the service for the rest of the night & couldn't stop laughin' & talkin' about it. (Jesus loves us so much! He took the time to make such an ordinary thing into such a blessing! We were served by angels!)

Then Brett found a path across from the depot, that went along some beat up old buildings. We slept on the side of the path, against a fence. Weirdest spot left- but we were tired! A couple times, a big-*** train would go by & wake us up, but otherwise we had good sleep once we got in our sleeping bags! Train'll be here soon. We 'll be in L.A. at 9:00pm.

The train guy just said we're in Berkley. Never knew we'd be goin' through here. I guess we're in Emeryville though or somethin'. While we were goin' through Berkley, we were supposed to be able to look to our right & see the San Francisco Bay. (which I guess I did.) & also the island of Alcatraz. He said we could see the city of San Fran or somethin', but all I could see were trees in the way. Oh well. I dunno'. I also saw an extreme amount of graffiti. & I think Brett missed it all 'cause he's takin' a ****.

Tue. 10-15-02

We slept in the tree for the last time last night. It was extremely foggy on our way up. We couldn't even see the trees in front of us once we reached the park. It was foggy this mornin' too. We showed Seth the tree, so he can sleep there now, & we all smoked up. He's a "photographer" & he took a picture of the 3 of us & the 2 of us w/my camera. We're on the bus now-which I didn't think we would be. I'm real tired & we didn't say goodbye to Mariah & we won't see Kit. Getting my bike in the box was such a *****! It's pretty much completely taken apart. & both our boxes were too small, so they look all ghetto w/chunks of cardboard duct taped on 'em. We had to rush 'cause Brett took the time to walk & get the bike that's been sittin' at the Safeway for days - unlocked. But he couldn't get anything off of it, to fit it in the box. Anyway-my bike'll probably break by the time we reach L.A. Oh yeah-& we're arriving at 2:45 in the ******* morning! A short distance from Skid row. God protect us! Anyway- I guess this is what we're supposed to do- 'cause last night I prayed that everything work out if we're supposed to leave, & nothin' to work out if we shouldn't.

(Brett was up in his sleep. He had to pee real bad. He was REAL pissed & kept asking where the box was. I didn't say anything, 'cause I didn't know what the **** was goin' on & he's like, "Oh, so now we're all ******* silent!" Anyway-it was real funny.)

Mon. 10-14-02

Ate too much yesterday. But I was grateful. Went to Mariah's, got high & listened to her talk about the troubles she's havin' w/her roomies. Now this mornin' we're cookin' our oats on a fire this guy named Seth made. We're makin' enough for him too. Kit might be here tomorrow & we also might leave. After we eat breakfast we need to go find boxes so we actually have that option. Open mic tonight too.

I just bought the next notebook. A GREEN one. Yay. We smoked up this mornin' by some other kids (some girl who came from Manhattan & has a newborn black lab) one hit for us both & I was discouraged until a couple minutes afterwards & I was real high! They also had something which allowed 'em to make coffee. So I got free organic coffee too! Good morning! We've got boxes waiting for us for tomorrow mornin'. The people at the bike shop are lettin' us use it & store it there. So I'm supposing we're takin' the bus? I don't really remember, but I think I might have prayed for God to help us find boxes that'd work-if we should go straight to L.A., & not find any good enough-if we should bike it. Anyway, I'm gonna' go get 20 bucks outta' an ATM & see if we can't get more weed from these people who live in the big green bus.

We biked to Cassie's & I bought us half an 8th. We-I think-chilled at the marsh a while & then went for a bike ride & finally took a picture of our bikes all packed up near some cows. I recently read my poetry. I only read 3 though. I think I read 'em too fast & too quiet. Oh well! It's done. I went to the bathroom & knew that on my way back-Brett would be up there- & he was! ******. Anyway-it's real ritzy-lookin' here, but there's been real good poetry & cool people & free coffee (yummy too) & snacks. It's 9:30 & we're still still goin'. Still drinkin' coffee too!

Let's skip a day. Sun. 10-13-02

On Saturday, Brett got a pan! We hadn't been able to cook anything that whole time! Brett cooked us a meal w/our new pan at the park entrance on a park grill. We went to a farmer's market, & the night before hung out at Cassie's place w/ her, Mariah & some other girl. I wrote that it was gettin' real cold at night, but that it was still warm & cloudless during the day. Now we'll start w/Sunday...

We went up to the tree early. Like 3:30 or somethin'. I go down to pee & when I come back up, Brett & this guy are jammin'. Brett on his sax & this guy on his guitar. Actually, they had just finished jammin' 'cause some lady came & asked them to stop 'cause there were students tryin' to record the sound of the forest. Brett told her what she was askin' was wrong & that they were the sound of the forest then, but they gave the lady her 5 min. of silence anyway. This guy- named Heat or somethin'- he packed us both our own bowls & the three of us sat on top of the huge tree stump near our tree. After we got high- Heat didn't even smoke any- the three of us jammed, this time my viola involved. We took turns switchin' off w/the instruments. Then Heat left & Brett later went back down to cook more for us & I read my book 'till it was too dark & Brett returned w/the food. It's morning now & I'm sittin' w/our **** by one of the grills, gatherin' wood & just stopped to write all this quick. Brett went to get us some breakfast (oatmeal maybe? Soy milk!) Oh- & Brett really wants to at least try & bike to San Fran. I have to think about what I want to do.

I hear some ***holes yellin'. Some guy is shouting to another about - he's gonna' "kick his ***. Come down here punk*** "& **** like that. Sounds just like a ******' man! I think he even said somethin' like, "this is MY town." Anyway, I pull out my viola & walk in the field which is near the parking lot where this is happenin'. I play real loud & obnoxious so I don't have to hear this ****. These big boys tryin' to prove their ****-strength. As I'm playin', I stop once in a while & it's a little quieter now. I mean, this guy was just yellin' so loud & evil. I see him & two others walk out, like- "Come on man!" I yell to 'em-"BIG BOYS! Real strong!"- or somethin', I can't remember. They look at me wailin' my bow around. I walk back to the bench & put my arms, like I'm flexin' & go, "UH!" Brett's back w/the food.

After I come out of the grocery store from *******', Brett tells me some guy told him about the church that's right behind us (we never knew) that's about to serve a meal & coffee at 1:00. Sittin' at a table w/Brett & two other guys. One obviously sped. 5 other guys at the next table. No other girls. Drinkin' 2nd cup of coffee, eatin' an apple pie thing. Had 3 little chocolate doughnuts & the guy behind the counter's cookin' some spinach pie-type things. Yum. Only wish I had a joint.

Fri. 10-11-02

Brett & I sat in the hot sun yesterday, drinking coffee & writing poetry at the plaza. Then we moved to the marsh & continued writing & sharing it all w/each other. We're kinda' plannin' on doin' an open mic at Jacoby's Storehouse. I can't- oh yeah- it's on Monday. The day before we might leave. Anyway, I'm sittin' in the laundromat in this dirty hippie dress I took from Cassie (she was gettin' rid of clothes) & I'm gonna' throw it away soon. I've got a few pages left of my book,as well as in this notebook. So I've gotta' buy a new notebook & Sexual Politics & find room for it all. Brett's gettin' change for the machines to eat up.

- I'll skip just a bit here. As a small note for this day, I wrote ("Funny how freaked out we were of the giant crickets!) These things would only come out at night. We never saw them in the tree during the day. But whenever we woke up at night to go to the bathroom, they would be all over the inside wall of the tree. Just sitting there, looking at us. I always thought they were wondering who in the world we were & what we were doing in their home! I described them as spider crickets. They looked like a mix of the two, & they were very large, with very big back legs. Brett always chose to climb the inside wall of the tree & pee off the top. I would hold our flashlight for him, so he could be sure not to touch one! I chose to crawl out the little doorway. Ya had to get down on yr hands & knees & really crawl for a bit, to squeeze yrself out. Brett would then hold the flashlight for me, to make sure I wasn't rubbing my back against the things! They were polite hosts though, all they did was look at us. They never hurt us or came near us. At least not that we know of! -

Some guy at the laundromat starts talkin' to us about our instruments, music & I let him play my viola a little. Then he shares somethin' w/us that has just blown his mind. A buncha' **** about how life is a never ending cycle. Okay- no ****. That's cool. He's talkin' all this crazy science ****, that- yeah- is knowledge- but he's missing the main *******, important thing that ******' links it all together. GOD! & he's cool. We tell him that no-God isn't a ******' 3 letter word, you know? Words are words, & sometimes they can't explain ****! I tell him I'd rather read the bible. Just so he knows where I stand. You know? Um... & yeah, Brett's right. He's lookin' for God, but he just doesn't know it.Well, God's lookin' for him too. & I'm just frustrated that we couldn't be those messengers for God. That I don't know my bible well enough, to open it up to something that'll let him know. That'll blow his mind.I mean, I just feel so bad for the guy. & he tells us, when we're leavin', to spread the word. SPREAD WHAT ******' WORD!? The only word we should be spreadin', is GOD"S. Not pointless **** that only leads up to God.Spread the raw ***** man. But he kinda' got it. I mean, the three of us weren't arguing w/each other or anything. No, no yellin'. Anyways, I just bought my book. 3 bucks & 78 cents. We're goin' to Mariah's later, so Brett's gettin' some food to cook. & some blank tapes so we can record some good music she has. I'm gonna' read.

We're at Mariah's. I came back from going to buy some fruit & Brett's on the phone w/Kit. He had called for Mariah, but she's not here. Kit's supposedly gonna' be here on Tuesday- the day we plan on leaving. So Kit tells Brett he dropped out of school & is deciding between a million things things to do w/his life right now & that he's gonna' go back to be a lawyer or some ****, even though he loves writing & he's got like one semester left of English. & that no! we shouldn't go to L.A. & live on sailboat. -Kit!- you've done that w/Brett already! What do you mean don't!? Huh? He says what Brett & I are doin' is good. Somethin' strange. So Brett says, "Dude, then get a bike & do it w/ me & Cristy." "No man, I gotta' go back to school."

& he's renting an apt. w/ Eric. & he tells us we should come BACK! WHAT KIT? I'm sad because I think he's losing his mind. Turnin' into somebody else. I'd like to think that if we stayed a while longer- which would just suck to do, I wanna' move again!- I could sit him down & talk w/him. But Brett says there's no common ground when talkin' to him (which I experienced w/ their last little bout). Unless maybe you tie him to a chair & put a rag around his mouth. But I think I could get SOMETHING through to him!

Wed & Thurs 10-9 & 10-10, 2002 Just a Summary

We never stayed up all night. The next day I finally got a throw away camera. I wrote about how late it was to have a camera, because of all the beautiful stuff we had already seen. But I figured it was all in our heads...we could paint or draw it all if we ever wanted to share it. The next day Mariah talked to Kit & he said he didn't have Augustino's number. That was the guy in southern cali that bought Brett & Kit's small sailboat when they were out there the first time. I don't remember exactly why we wanted to get a hold of him at this time. I don't remember already wanting a sailboat. Although I always had some strange passion for sailboats that was always very vague.

Tue. 10-8-02

Just woke up & went out of the tree for a pee. I've got my toilet paper buried everywhere. Last night when we got in here, before we smoked up, Brett pulls out a snickers. Yay! A yummy surprise. Then he says, "too bad we're eating this now, 'cause we'll want one after we smoke," as he pulls out another one. Yay! (writing this now, I can't believe how much of our time was spent "smoking up!" Thanks Lord, for freeing me from this waste of time!!)

We got our free bread for the day & go up the hill to the bus stop to fix my tire, 'cause the thing's ruined. Brett decides to go get his tire that he left by the school to use on my bike. He comes back & tells me about the real nice tire he saw for 10 bucks. I hand him money & he goes to get it. Then the tire pump breaks, so then Brett busts it over his leg & he's on his way to get another one I think. I'm sittin' here drinkin' the jug of juice we bought. We still gotta' go to the library, which is right next to us, & we got a late start this morning anyway. Oh well. We're gonna' see how much Amtrak tickets are from here to San Fran., & from San Fran. to L.A. & then decide what we wanna' do. 'cause we're not waitin' around for Kit anymore. Maybe not even the Lou Barlow show in Eureka.

We went to the library & figured out that, well, actually, we've got a reservation #- so um, if we want, we can leave a week from today (the 15th) on a bus to Martinez (above Oakland) 36 bucks each & $36 more each from there. Then take a train to Bakersfield (which is 2hrs & 45 min. away from L.A.) but then, we could also take a bus to L.A. from there, or just bike. So if we do this, we might be able to still see Kit & go to the show this Sunday. So- we still don't know! We're not even sure if there'd be room for our bikes. 90% chance? But I'm down. We found some abandoned building that's got some people livin' in it & smoked some. Now we're sittin' by the Safeway, drinkin' soy, coffee & eatin' bread. Maybe stay up all night??

Continued writings from the marsh on 10-10-02

Basking in the sun so long
Writing, writing, spewing
Getting up & riding my bike
Completely numb
From the continued warmth &
Deep gold that seeped
Into my brain
Through my lips & burnt lids
I'll taste it all at
Any moment & sporadically
Throw it away, on whims, on some
Accident of
My mind. & I'll still
Knowingly suffocate myself in this
Life of being. I'm scared to death, & I'm
Overwhelmed w/joy.

Finally...I bought a throw away camera!

Me ready for bed! Brett climbed to the top & took this pic from the opening of the tree.

Beautiful morning in the redwoods!

This is where we climbed in & out. The piece of wood you see to the right, was placed over the opening once we were inside.

Brett & I at the entrance to the redwood forest. A friend we met (Seth- who will later be in our story again) took this picture. This was actually our last day in Arcata. Notice the mace on my belt loop!

This is how we traveled. Mine is the bike in front. I was usually the "bag lady". Everything we had with us is in this pic. Except Brett's saxophone, which he kept in his Timbuktu, over his shoulders. The National Redwood Forest is in the background. This was the day we biked forever, looking for the ocean.

High at the marsh on a stump 10-10-02

I'm in some surreal world
But really I'm not
It's still called October here
The leaves are still burning
Orange, yellow, red
Burning & reaching my nostrils
I'm calling from some other place
But the sun & the moon
Are still sharing the sky
I feel I'm out
But am still surrounded
In warmth, in green
& also
The air thick with too much evil
Too little love

I left & am now
Living
Like you said
So much more
Everyday

Day?
What's in a day?
My day's the dirt & rare coffee
Flying down the hill every morning now
So fast the air
Whips by & I'm
Bawling
The air has blinded me, me laughing hysterically

& you're here
We've left. We're gone
But still there
'Cause it's God
& God is always there

In the bugs & the tree &
The gold on yr skin. The
Life in your eyes
Never failing
Like the sun always eventually
Making it's appearance

But wait. Wait!
Let's be still
Not move for hours, for
Anyone, anything
Let's be here but be gone
Minds entwined
To create

& love God

Some writings done while in Arcata....

This writing was done at the free food place. The first time we went there to eat.

More people pilin' in but I just wanna' stay in my box gettin' louder now tryin' to keep to-with-in-myself coffee gettin' a little cooled off drink it up & get some more they've all obviously been here before maybe every day wanna' be sittin' amongst warm colored trees with leaves flyin' down next to me playin' guitar & still inside my box my mind now I hear a piano didn't know there was one 'cause I've never been here before someone playin' it around the corner can't see but can definitely hear drink it in some guy is overwhelmed by the saxophone it seems & I want more coffee now on my third cup & the man around the corner is unfortunately playin' **** I've heard a million times before smells stale rotten lovely some other man is singin' loud beautiful deep dark man don't know where the one person I know has gone but I continue to write as another man joins in the vocal sounds oh- the one I know is back & for some reason the people across us are kissin' on eachother sun shinin' through the curtains for some reason I suddenly smile.

Sun 10-6-02

Chilled at Mariah's from like noon-4 (she had to work), made our last box of Annie's & got high a few times. Our breakfast this morning was apples (not yet ripe) from some tree. After Mariah's, we went behind some building to see if we couldn't set up the tent for a second try. We had tried the night before. Then I bought us some "herbavore" pizza. Mushies, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, peppers. It was **** good. We waited half an hour for it & right as I was going to get it, Brett says he's goin' for a walk. So I get the pizza & start eating. I thought maybe Brett was just goin' to pee, but it was takin' forever, so then I thought maybe he went to get some soy to drink. Anyway, he came back & I guess he was on the building we were sitting under. So he was right above me the whole time. But um, while I was sittin' there by myself, eating, I imagined someone (or some people) comin' up to me & asking for some pizza. I imagined how much I would not want to give any up, because I was enjoying it so much. Then, whaddaya' know- some kid walks up & asks for a piece in exchange for a tape or something! I gave him a piece of mine & we took up his offer & he gave us a tape of live Grateful Dead. As he left & said, "Well, I gotta' head up to my camp," I thought- wouldn't that be ****** up if he was the dude that took the tree!? Cause I had a feeling he was. Then Brett says somethin' like, "That was the guy in the tree yesterday." & we both freak out & head up to the tree as fast as we could. But we also stopped at a grocery & Brett got some soy & bought us a banana & 2 candy bars. We got to sleep in the tree! We listened to that tape & it was SO nice for a while, 'cause we haven't listened to music all that much lately. We freaked out earlier, listening to Goo at Mariah's.

Just saw some weird **** as I was waitin' for Brett to get our coffee. Some kid posted some **** on the door of the building & me & some woman were readin' it- now I'm over hearin' some girl talk about it.- Anyway, the students (to register) have to have their fingerprnts & photographs taken & something else, for international security reasons. & if they don't comply, they get punished- loss of financial aid & somethin' else. I can't remember. Then there's like 3 seals on it. One of the white house & president Bush is the signer. Although it's typed. The woman was like, "I'd see if it's legit." Whatever. I think the end MIGHT be beginning!

I guess we're ******* bombing Iraq! ******! No!!! It ******* sucks & I feel rotten for living in America. I guess also, that one of the reasons Bush gave his national televised speech, was that, well, he (or one of 'em-or some ****) tried to kill my daddy once. WHAT THE ****!? That's THE most selfish reason for going over & bombing, KILLING a million innocent people. In God we trust my ******* ***! Mariah ran into us & I guess there's gonna' be some rally at noon. A lotta' ******' good that's gonna' do. Brett & I were just about to smoke a bowl, but he had to go to the bathroom, so now I'm waitin' in between some trees, watchin' our things. I hope my mom ain't freakin' out. She probably will once I call her. She'll probably want me to come home. I'm not.

I just finished praying. I'm watching our stuff again. Brett said he had to go back. He had something to say. "What if you don't come back?" I ask. "Just pray," he says. So I did. We went to the rally. Good poetry. A bad band. Brett commented on a poster that read: There's a terrorist behind every Bush. Then he laughed & said, there's 2 of 'em behind us. I looked at the 2 men that didn't seem to fit in. All suited up & ****. A girl walks up to the mic. Brett says, "see, look at 'em." & he starts to walk up to the mic. I follow. One of the men tries to move the woman. To shove her over. She gets on the mic. The man does too. Brett walks up & turns off the mic. He says something but I can't hear him. The man says, "I'm the FBI." Brett looks at the crowd & points to the man & says "FBI, FBI!" I shout, "We're not gonna' listen to you!" Some hippie man grabs Brett like, "NO! Let him speak. Let him dig his own grave." We turn around to leave, me shouting "Blah, blah, blah!" Now we're sitting in the woods & Brett's pissed because he says he didn't do what he was supposed to do for God. He says he heard one of the dudes behind us doin' a mantra. Sayin' the **** under his breath. He says we were there in that same corner of them 'cause he was supposed to **** w/him. Which he did spiritually. Tellin' him he's gonna' burn in hell forever & how does it feel? The guy heard him spiritually. So now Brett's freakin' out & I'm kinda' scared & this town is TOO small! Brett said when he went back there, there were cops all over & the people weren't even talkin' about it anymore. They were talkin' 'bout lesbian rights or somethin'. Brett says the girl they stopped probably had a mark on her. Was probably on their list for other reasons & that gave them the reason to stop her. The **** the one guy started saying... "This is a theatre group, it's all staged..." Brett says he's heard before. Anyway, I gotta' stop writing now.

We're back at the marsh. The place w/all the trees to sit on. We got high & now Brett's playin' some crazy sax & I just got done pickin' blackberries & havin' a treat. On our way out of the woods, some guy walked by us. We had changed shirts. (Well, Brett did. I just took my glasses off & put a scarf on my head.) Anyway, this guy looked just like the youngest cop in this town. & he was walkin' like a cop & had the glasses on. & now I'm just hopin' I can take us out soon, to the vegetarian cuisine place.

Brett came & picked berries w/me. He kept callin' 'em blueberries & so I kept correcting him. We smoked more & left. On our way to the veggie place, Brett stopped to see the hours of the place we get free food from. They were open, he got bread. I got bread. Then we biked to Safeway & got some **** to put on the bread. Bread, bread, bread! Blah blah------weeeeeeeeee! (& we had snickers) :)

Sat. 10-05-02

Well, we're kinda' sad 'cause our place where we get SUPER good coffee at for $.75 is closed Sat.'s & Sun.'s. Yesterday when Brett came back out , he said that Mariah had told him the Food not Bombs people were down at the plaza. Free food!! Yay! We bike down there & see all these people w/signs about No War! No Blood for Oil! & ****. We bike in & through & notice another group of people all in black on the opposite side of the plaza, facing- I dunno'- facin' somethin' lookin' the other way. In complete silence the whole time. Don't know exactly what that was about. Anyway, we got super yummy veggie soup & treats & salad & bread. We sat down & listened to the drum circle near us. Soon we left for the tree & smoked some before we went to sleep.

Brett didn't tell me, but I guess Mariah told him about the Framer's Market goin' on today. It's extremely sunny- no clouds & we're sittin' on the grass now. We already walked around & looked at ****. Including the pastel art people are doin' all the way around the plaza on the sidewalk. We had coffee & some good **** that was left over from yesterday. There's lots of people here & a band playin' cheesy-happy music. I feel high. Gonna' read my book.

I kinda' feel like I could be here forever. Brett & I are exploring the Redwoods. A million parts of it we haven't seen it seems. At first we were on the paths (because this is the community forest) & came down to the valley of the woods & walked over 3 bridges that were built over the small creek. & because the trees are so overwhelmingly big, I felt like we were in another world. So surreal, like Brett said. Fairyland I thought. & it was so strange, while we were walking, to look up & see the familiar sun in the sky. Like it didn't belong here. We sat down & noticed the whole ground we were on was covered in webs. Spots where the sun hit, it sparkled like the sea. I think I might be enjoying it a bit more maybe, then I would if we hadn't smoked that hash w/some girl- Sara I think- near the entrance of the forest. W/ others. It's so strange, the homes the trees seem to make w/ their hollowed out trunks. It's beautiful. I just wish I could paint them. Brett's out exploring the valley area a little more while I sit w/ our things. Some one's in the tree as of now, so we might need a new sleeping spot tonight.

I went up to the tree, opened the "door" & asked if they were gonna' be in there all night. I asked twice w/no answer returned. So we walked together some more looking for a spot. We're assuming maybe the person in the tree might be there all night after Brett saw them poke their head over. Now I'm sittin' w/our **** again & just wanted to write about how the roots of these trees pop up to the surface of the paths like snakes & bones. I hope we find a spot soon. The sun's leaving for the night.

i'll summarize...

So the next day we found the ocean after about a 2 hour bike ride. Brett also got busted by the cops doing a tag at the bank. I was so mad. They made me empty my backpack out while I yelled at them. They probably thought I was a crazy girl, & regretted bothering us. I fumed at them. The day after this we hung out at a girl named cassie's ( Mariah's friend), found a free food place & met a woman in her 30's or 40's named Sunflower who was going around carrying a big 'ole chunk of cardboard, askin' people if they wanted to sign Janis Joplin's B-day card. Sayin', "I got her picture in there too." (In where!?) This day we just moved from spot to spot drawing & playing music, sittin' in a cove of trees in the marsh area.

Wed. 10-2-02

It was dark when we finally got in the woods. We slept kinda' out in the open, but we were safe. This mornin' Brett found- out of many- a dead redwood trunk. It either is, or was someone's home. (I'm sure it was just used as a smoke out place. When we first entered, there was nothing but an ashtray inside) It's ******* huge! & there's a small piece of (what looks like) driftwood covering a small opening to enter it by. We're gonna' scope it out tonight from about 6 to 8 or so.

It's afternoon sometime & we're back in the redwoods w/our **** & some food. Brett's goin' down to check out the tree, 'cause I saw a sweater by it (that's gone now) & heard some noises when I went to the bathroom. On my way up, this little boy asked if I wanted to play guns & Indians or somethin' (cowboys & Indians maybe). & when I told him that I had to meet a friend, but that I'd think about it (after he just wouldn't leave me alone) he told me "Okay. But we're gonna' start in 10 minutes." & "You don't know what yr missin' out on. You have no idea." This little like, 7 or 8 yr old. Anyway- we did some **** today. Tried to get a hold of Mariah & went to her house- hopin' to get some weed, but she wasn't there. So we chill at the University for a while. They're havin' this anti-hate thing (this town has pretty much brought us back to the 60's, 70's) & we get free chips, cookies, pop & we heat up some soup I bought in their food area. (Where we also got free soy milk) After that, we start on our way to the redwoods & meet a girl named Cassie. We sit w/her in the woods & she smokes 3 or 4 good bowls w/us while we talk. We tell her what we're doin' & she talks comfortably about what she's doin' & would like to do. Finish a semester & sail to either Hawaii, New Zealand, or South America & work on an organic farm & live there. She gave us hugs & was real nice. She came from NY & just loved it here. In hippie ville-haha.

Sitting in the redwoods w/the sun on me from a beam & lookin' up at the sparklin' green of the redwoods that when lookin' at 'em, force you to strain yr neck the same way you do when you look up at a tall-*** building. We just ate an early supper or late lunch: split pea, tomato, onion sandwiches & 2 big organic carrots. Brett went to get some more water & I'm sittin' by our ****, scopin' out the tree, seein' if anyone enters. It's beautiful in here- the big, old-*** stumps make some awesome-lookin' nooks sometimes. I think I'm gonna' read my book some more.

Tue. 10-1-02

We got Mariah's # from Andrew & Brett called her. (Half the students here bike or take the bus- I looove it) Anyway, she gave us directions & we chilled w/her & a friend out on their porch drinkin' beer & smokin'. We haven't gotten high for about 3 weeks. She let us sleep on her bed! We felt bad, but BRETT accepted. I took a shower this mornin' & played some music w/Brett & now all the girls are at college & we're cookin' our noodles we've had for a while & listenin' to Bob Dylan. I think we're meetin' Mariah at noon for lunch. I guess Andrew's comin' here to live w/Mariah in 2 weeks. & Kit is supposedly comin' in 2 weeks too. I think we're gonna' camp out somewhere in the redwoods until then at least.

We had really good vegan corn soup w/bread & Mariah went back toward the college. Brett's buyin' some reeds & a cleaner for his sax. The guy at the store, after seein' my viola, told me they were rare/hard to find, & wanted to trade me it, for a new violin. But it's only $150.00, so it's probably a crappy one. To get it restrung costs too much for me, & they wouldn't even be using viola strings. Anyway, some one's playin' real beautiful violin up in the top part of the music building. I hope to play that well some day. But Brett's out now, so I'd like to go to the bookstore(s).

I bought a book! Bad, bad...good me! Women of the Beat Generation. We're gonna' try & find a cheap place to buy some food I think, before we go into the woods/hills. I think we might chill at a spot for a couple days? So we need some food. No more traveler's cheques left! Just a little cash & my check card! $2,186.00 or somethin' like that, left in my account.

? Next day

It was a sunny day. Curtis bought us veggie sandwiches & we ate them on the beach, then we biked around & he gave us a tour of Crescent City. We stopped & bought a couple innertubes & then went to his house. He ended up buying us 2 super good veggie pizzas (we biked to get them) & let us sleep in their extra room. We did more bible study & Brett took a shower. Curtis & his parents gave us a ride to a little past Klamath I think & we biked to Trinidad. Then we took a bus to Arcata! We're here!! I'm sitting on a hill on the campus & Brett is walkin' around to see if he can spot Mariah & find a phone. Oh- Curt's dad made us these extremely good-for-you smoothies & some breakfast. (Note- If we wouldn't have met Curtis, & they never gave us a ride, it would've been a very dangerous ride out of there. The road had no shoulder, it was all up hill, & it was a major timber trucking route. Thank you God! Thank you Curtis!)

Sun. 9-29-02 ?

We biked to Crescent City, California yesterday! & we slept back in a section of "nature trails". Brett got a flat tire, so we walk out this morning & set all our stuff down & sit outside a theatre place. Waitin' for our stuff to dry 'cause we got rained on pretty bad. We drink some coffee we know we can get for free from this grocery outlet place we shopped at yesterday. We go to the bathroom & stuff & while Brett's buying us some cheap organic juice, I'm reading my bible & the guy who works at the theatre bikes up & says hello. Then, as he walks in, he says to have a good day. Brett comes back & I go to the bathroom again & as I walk back I see the guy talkin' to Brett & there's two bags full of popcorn by him. I sit down & the three of us talk about God & scripture for about a half hour or so. & as the the man leaves to meet a friend, he asks if we'll be here in an hour to have lunch w/him. "Sure", we say. So now Brett has to fix his tire & we have to get all our stuff packed away. & it suddenly looks like it's gonna' be a sunny day!

Fri. 9-27-02

I've skipped the entry for Thurs. We biked 20 miles, & made it a short day. We made it to the next campsite.

We woke up 'cause some guy woke us up & made us pay. We fed him some bull****, payed & bought ourselves some espresso drinks & a muffin & scone. All our **** is soaked! It didn't rain, it just poured mist on us. We got woken up at 8:00 & now it's 9:30 & our **** is still wet 'cause the sun isn't out. We're plannin' on bikin' about 35, 36 miles today.

Well! We just rode the bus to Brookings for 6 bucks each! It's sometime in the afternoon & we're about 5 miles or so to the border of Cali!

Brett & I just pulled a John & Yoko. He wrote a song & I helped.

(Song)
Dreamin' of a world that has changed for the worse
Unfriendly visitor in my slumber, kicks at the tarp
He's got a badge, clipboard & a truck
Tellin' me I need to pay for the dirt where I slept
It's Mezcal in the morning & all my **** is wet
Borrowed some paper to make my dream into a map
Every day is me & my bike
The Holy Book is my yawn & stretch
Readin' at the top of my lungs
Cause there's this horrible music in my head
The people underground are playin' it
Last night's supper was pure chocolate
Same as today's breakfast & lunch
Brush the sand off my sleeves & the guitar
When the R.V.s get fired up
Mezcal in the morning & all my **** is wet
Is it me, or am I a bum w/good luck

Wed. 9-25-02

Brett says his tonsils are worse & he wants to go to the hospital. Hopefully he won't change his mind.

**** the hospital here. We got there a little before- well, got there around 12:00-12:15. They got his paper work done & we waited some more. Oh- & a doc gave him a throat culture. Anyway, finally a doc comes out & brings us back to a room. He looks at us & all our luggage like we don't belong there. He has me wait outside as he prepares to give Brett a throat culture. "Have you ever had one?" he asks.
"About 20 minutes ago," says Brett.
Then the doc's like "Oh". & he leaves the room & tells me, "Okay, you can go in now." & mumbles something like, "but it's crowded as it is," or "There's little room already." Or some ****. So I go in & there's plenty of ******* room. The next hour & a half- close to 2 hours actually, we're waiting. No one comes. Finally some doc steps up & says "yr in no hurry right? We're just gettin' bombed." We're like ah... So soon I go out & ask if they take people in the order they arrive, & I guess they don't. He says "A sore throat is pretty low on the list. Sorry." I wanted to spit in his ugly face. We're dealing w/more than a sore throat. Brett might need his tonsils out right away. But anyway- I just said thanx & go back in to Brett. We decide to leave & by this time it's 3:00 & we still have a bike ride ahead of us. I'm way too pissed to just leave w/out saying anything- so I walk back in & tell (w/ tears) the lady at the front desk that we waited for 2 hours w/out any help from anyone & that it's more than just a sore throat & is there a hospital in Bandon? 'Cause we're on bikes & that's our next stop.

Anyway- enough of that bull****. We stuffed ourselves at a Mexican restaraunt & biked to Sunset Bay State Park & we're campin' out. Brett got us some Red Hook ESB- 6 pack- & some Mezcal con Gusano 100% Agave (Monte Alban). We're CHILLIN!

Tue. 9-24-02

We stayed at a campsite w/some Austrians. Got high on Vicodin & crashed. This mornin' Brett woke up & after lookin' at his tonsills, decided to call his mom. They were huge, red & puss was comin' out all over 'em. (They're still lookin' the same.) They talked for a while. Even discussing whether or not we'd need to return home & have them removed, because the doctors there (his mom was workin' at the hospital) were sayin' it was life or death. & Brett has no insurance here, so he's be $30,000 in debt if he got it done at some hospital here. We decide to bike to Coos Bay anyway because Brett doesn't want this to stop him. He says he doesn't care if he dies. & so I cry all mornin' until we leave because I don't want him to die & I know I can't change his mind. (I also went into the biff at the campsite & prayed over & over that Brett would be okay. I don't know why I didn't write this in my journal. I remember it very well)

So we biked today, about 30 miles (& Brett got a flat tire!). We stopped in Coos Bay & Brett bought us a pizza & I called & talked to my dad- who is now MARRIED! & now, although we got about 2 miles from the Sunset Bay campsite, I bought us a motel room again 'cause it's wet out tonight & I want Brett to get good sleep & to stay dry. Goodnight.

Mon. 9-23-02

We found a campsite & stayed for free again. It was about five miles south of Florence. We met some other bikers (from Vancouver) & a guy maned Lee. They were all real nice. My cramps had gotten real bad on the way to the campsite, but I didn't want to spend money on a motel again. So once we got to the site, I took a nice, long, hot shower. It made me feel a little better. That night Brett got a lot sicker though. He was burnin' up real bad & had the shakes. I think he thought he was gonna' die. & I was real worried about him. So we walked slowly to the showers & he took one in the girl's bathroom as I stood outside the stall. I tried to make him take a cold one, but he wouldn't. Afterwards while we were layin' in our sleeping bags again, I kept a cold hanky on his forehead that I put cold water on. It warmed up so fast! (slugster was all curled up on it in the mornin', like a little puppy! -eeeu!)

The next day we decided to get a motel & have a rest day. He definitely couldn't bike anywhere. We ended up back here in Florence. I bought him some warm food & a bunch of Gatorade & some vitamin c cough drops. We watched cartoons & then I walked all the way down the street on both sides & checked every single restaurant & none had soup w/out meat. Of course! All we wanted was soup! So I got some other **** instead. After a while his fever got real bad again, so we went to the doctor. It was right down the road! They drew blood, gave him a throat culture & gave him a shot in the ***. Some Penicillin & Vicodin. He was real happy about the Vicodin & when we got back to the motel, we took some & lay on the bed, watchin' some movie & feelin' good.

Anyway, he prob'ly has to get his tonsills out when he returns home. It's Monday mornin' now & we might take a bus to Coos Bay! Hopefully they have a bike rack. Oh- my dad got married yesterday! ****!! It's so weird to think! I'm SO happy for him!

Um, well, we had to bike because the bus (that we never saw) had no bike rack. So now we're in Reedsport & we tried to get free food at a place a guy on a bus once told us, but it didn't work. So now we're lookin' at a grocery store. I think we've only got 5 miles or so to a campground. Although it's still early.

Sat. 9-20-02

Yesterday we rode the bus to Yachats. But on the bus we had to transfer on, there was already a bike on the bike rack. Room for one more. The bus driver worried about puttin' 2 on the one rack w/ bungees, 'cause the man who made the thing was on the bus! But our other bus driver helped us & I prayed & all was good. I sang songs all the way here.

When we got here we checked out a motel that lady told us night be the cheapest, but the guy only had 2 bedrooms left- & they were 59 bucks. So we said thank u & started bikin' around lookin' for a spot to sleep. We couldn't. & so we decided, it was either head down 101 & look for a spot, or check out a motel again (the man had told us about another one to look at). It was gonna' be dark soon & we were a little frustrated or whatever, 'cause we didn't know what God was tellin' us to do. So we were tryin' to figure it out. Brett was mostly worried about our safety & I suddenly strongly felt like spendin' any amount of money didn't matter. So we decided to look at the Dublin House motel.

Brett walked in the office waiting patiently for the woman to finish dealing w/ the other people. & I sat outside, not so patiently. He waved me away, 'cause he wanted to say 1 person to get it cheapest. But a man who worked there, walked in & told the lady there were 2 of us (after Brett had said 1) while Brett was waitin' outside. They didn't think he heard them, so when he went back inside, the lady asked him again..."Okay, now did you say 1, or 2 people?"
Brett was like, "Well, there's 2 of us, but we sleep together, so I count it as one."
She said, "Okay. Well, I've got the perfect room for you." Starts tellin' him, stove, showers, fridge, t.v., kitchen, bathroom, bedroom. Brett's thinkin' damn! I'm not tryin' to spend a hundred bucks! She says, "40 bucks."
"Oh that'd be perfect," he says. "We didn't make it as far as we should've & I'm on a real tight budget."
So he pays & comes to get me, 'cause I'm hidin' behind the pool area.

The room was like a ******* small apartment! We got settled & went to the grocery store to get some food to cook. Hot food! :) Yay! On our way out (we got noodles, tortillas & bananas), Brett asked this girl where we could score some bud. She had rode the bus w/us. She had some. Her & her friend saw we didn't have much money & they'd smoke us up for free. We walked w/them to this girl's house & then walked w/a bunch of kids to some woods & smoked about 3 or 4 bowls of nugget. On the way there, we see some graffiti on the street & find out one of the girls we're w/did it. Brett was happy!

So we got high, said thanks & returned to cook our food. Brett got pretty sick during the night, but he took some IB Profen & he's a little better today. Oh! & we got free coffee to make at the motel! We bought some breakfast this morning, ate, checked out & now we're leaving the beach after playin' music. I think we're on our way again.

We've reached Florence. We biked about, well, almost 30 miles so far. The scenery was the best so far. All along the ocean. Cloudless sky. Sea lions below. Big grassy hills like Scotland. The Pacific sparkled like snow sometimes! Not THAT bad of a bike ride. At one point while we rested, I got my period. Kinda' sux. My cramps are just startin' now, but they ain't so bad, 'cause I haven't eatin' any sweets. But I did have coffee! Oh well. Brett's still sick & he has athlete's foot, but he still bikes 30 miles w/out a complaint. Unlike me!

Oregon, Thurs. 9-19-02

We're doin' our laundry finally! It's goin' on 11:00 am & we're in Pacific City, OR waitin' for a Mexican restaurant to open. We got here mostly by bus yesterday. But we also biked 15 miles or so. Once we stopped at a scenic overview & a few hippie kids our age gave us some real good weed, & a bunch of organic food. 2 bananas, orange, apple, carrot, & a vegan wrap. They were from Portland.

I called Lynz from Astoria & my dad from here. We slept for free again last night, under a patch of small pine trees on big sand dunes right by the ocean. We set out our beds & I go pee & come back & Brett has a box of veggie thins & a bottle of Chardonnay laid out. Yay! We smoke, drink & eat & when it's all dark go out on the sand dune & look out at the ocean & the huge rock that pierces through it. It was foggy & beautiful. Brett tells me about when he & Kit lived on the sailboat. Tells me about Augustino & how they learned to sail it. & how something drew him back home & he never went back (to Kit & the sailboat). Then he says sittin' on the bus today lookin' out the window was worth not goin' back. Just half the day was worth it. Anyway, Kit ended up gettin' rid of it & comin' back too. I tell him hey, yr on yr way back now. & he says, no, I'm not. I nod. & I know exactly what he means.

Then he told me about his grandpa who died & then we start talkin' about God. & soon go to bed & wake up to the Pacific Ocean again this morning at 8:30. Anyway- I guess we have to bike far again to reach the next bus. Hopefully no more than 50 miles! (Brett wrote) -The Mexican food was the best. (I paid cause Cristy is my special lover girlfriend super duper space cadet pal).

Part of a Journal Entry, Wed. 9-18-02

We biked almost 53 miles yesterday & I had 2 asthma attacks. But anyway, we checked out one campsite & it was too much, so we bought some food. Then we headed back down the street & stayed at a different campsite that also has showers & it's pretty much free, 'cause no one's on duty. We watched the sun go down over the ocean as we sat on a cliff eatin' p.j. sandwiches & drank milk. It got cold last night & it's chilly this mornin'. Maybe we just need to get in the sunshine. We're less than 50 miles from the Oregon border already! I think we're gonna' bike halfway today. Brett's a ******* freak. & I gave him a cold sore! HA HA. & I just went to get my coffee at the kinda' cafe where they play country music outta' their boom box & the woman who works there has a long cigarette hangin' outta' her mouth. & Brett played his sax, as some old people came outta' their homes to listen.

Tue. 9-17-02

Well, we didn't get poured on & we never had to pay the 6 bucks. We just biked over 25 miles. I had a short asthma attack. I've never had one like that. Actually, I've never really had one I don't think. But anyway, before we left, we went over to the Pacific Ocean. My first time seein' it. We both walked topless. The only other people walkin' were too far away to really notice. The scenery along the way (we're in Raymond now) was ******* beautiful! The ocean, huge hills covered w/ trees, big puffy white clouds & blue sky. Now we're sittin' in some small park, drank tons of water, Brett's eatin' again & I'm done writin' for now. We're gonna' try & bike another 20 miles. (side notes)- As we ate our breakfast at some small grocery (bread, jalapeno chips, olives, cheese, kidney beans- all together) some man w/2 little dogs, Chomper & Julie, talked w/us & gave Brett 10 bucks! - Called my gram. Gonna' try to call more people. - Biggest slug I've ever seen on our tarp at the campsite!

Mon. 9-16-02

Yesterday we wasted time (not by choice) & by nightfall we just couldn't find anywhere to sleep. So finally- I don't even know where we were- I bought us a night in a motel. We got to take a couple- or a few?- hot showers! Now it's rainin' a little bit & cold & we're on a bus to Olympia. Our bikes are on the bike rack. It's almost 1:00pm. We had some cereal this mornin'.

We found out we could take a bus to Aberdeen. So we did! We biked over the Wishka- & the banks are muddy! Then we got a large cheese pizza at this small joint. First hot food in a week! It was SO good! Then we found out we could take a bus- for 50 cents each- to Westport, which is right by the coast. So now we're in 2 Harbors State Park, campin' out. Costs 6 bucks. But the lady didn't have any change for my traveler's checks, so we didn't have to pay 'till mornin'. It's real wet here, 'cause it poured out last night. & we'll probably get poured on tonight. We need a tent! The past 2 days have been full of ghettos & incest victims!

Sun. 9-15-02

I'm hungry. & my back tire is goin' flat kinda' fast. We started on our way again down highway 5, but they were doin' road work, so we lost the shoulder. We found a little spot through a few trees to get off & started goin' down back roads & now Brett's inside an Albertson's we found gettin' some food. & I recently found a deer tick on me. I'm quiet today so far. Not really tired I don't think. I mean, I got really good sleep. I'm just quiet today.

Well, we're in Tacoma! 5:00pm. Brett's going insane & we're still dealing w/my flat tire & the bike pump broke. We're gonna' try & find a bike shop I think. But it's Sunday & they'll be closin' soon anyway. We're sittin' in a small park & all Brett's doin' is screaming.

Tacoma is the *********, most ghetto city I've ever been to. It's all about sexual exploitation, trash & alcoholics, junkies, etc. We- I just walked FOREVER! Seems like miles. I'm beat. Brett walked too though for a while. We just FINALLY found a gas station w/ air (first gas station's air was out of order. I wanted to give up. Are we in hell?) & now we've gotta' deal w/my flat tire. AHHH! We want OUT! Keepin' my mace at hand!

Sat. 9-14-02

While we were unpacking our bikes, a man (40's, 50's?) & a woman (late 20's?) stopped to talk to us. We told them what we were doin' & they saw our instruments & told us we should join in (they were gonna' play). & the man- after asking us where we sleep- told us they have an extra room in their house. Anyway- we stayed, drank coffee, ate a little & watched- I mean listened- to them play for 4 + hours! It was wonderful- but I was getting so tired! Afterwards we took them up on their offer. Their names are Shannon & Karl. We got to sleep on a bed! Indoors! Our own room & a bathroom that one other roommate shares. We just had some cereal & now we're gettin' ready to leave. We're gonna' try to work our way to Vashon Island today.

We're in Burien, WA now at a Safeway grocery eating some food. We're not doin' the Vashon Is. thing anymore. We called twice & the guy was an ***. So now we're just ON OUR WAY DOWN!!

We started bikin' today without even thinkin'. From the time we got up, till about a quarter after 7. Mostly along highway 5. (Lots of hills- or was it one big hill?) Of course we stopped a couple times. & I called my mom & talked to her & Zeus. -Brett just said that our Seattle map is officially of no use to us anymore.- Anyway, we just set up camp in some woods off the freeway. (During this night, Brett woke up freaked out because something was pushing his head up from the ground under our tarp-we had no tent. He woke me up & I laughed saying, it's probably just a mole or something. We also saw a pure white cat once when we got up to pee. We joked it was a guardian angel.) Tomorrow we reach Tacoma & hopefully right on to Olympia. So I guess now we can say we lived in Seattle for a week. Brett's playin' sax now & I'm flinging strange- looking spiders off my sleeping bag. It's goin' on 7:30. We'll probably smoke our resin soon & chill.

Note on the pic- this is a recent picture I took of the spot where the coffee shop/bookstore was. It is no longer the same place.

Part of journal entry, Fri. 9-13-02

There was no food bank. They got rid of it. I like the Fremont area. Brett got us a can of split pea soup, corn, artichoke hearts & mixed it all up in some soup cups I got & ate it all cold. Very good though! Oh- & crackers crunched up in it. We had a can of chunky tropical fruit for dessert. & drank the juice! & some guy named Dave stopped to talk to us. Some 20 something hippie guy. He was all smiles & very amused at what we're doin'. Bikin' south & all. Anyway- he gave us some organic, outside, nug-yummy weed- & now we're layin' under the Arora bridge stoned. Brett's playin' guitar & it's another completely clear day. Yay!

We went to a coffee place/bookstore/tea place & read there's gonna' be a free folk music jam at 7:00 tonight. I wanted coffee so we went across the way to park our bikes & we found the food bank! Brett went in, but they said they were closed or whatever, but told him of another one that they thought was open till 5:00. It was almost 4:30. So we go all the way up the hill to the place & they closed at 2:00! But we got super, super yummy samples of food at this one place. One was apple stuff wrapped in a sweet bread & one had yellow rice & stuff in it. & Brett bought some really good, sweet, soft bread for 65 cents or somethin'. Then on the way back down, he bought a 40 & now we're under the bridge. After we finish the 40 we'll probably go up & get coffee, read books & wait for the music.

Summary of Journal Entries...

The Lord took great care of us while we were away from home. There are going to be many entries I skip of course, because I don't plan on writing all of them! I just want to quickly share where we ended up sleeping every night. The first night in Seattle, we biked to the university & sneaked into an unlocked door after hours. We climbed the stairs & slept in a classroom. One of the windows was open, & it was a beautiful view, although it got a bit chilly. I was a little worried about waking up after the class was filled with students! But that never happened. The next day Brett found us some free showers near Green lake, which we then used during our stay in the city. The 2nd night we slept on the rooftop of a building directly bordering some one's yard. I believe it was used as storage units or something. Again, the view was beautiful. It seemed we were right under the space needle. The 3rd night we slept on the beach, hidden by some bushes, right next to a path people were walking on all evening. We were in a nice little clearing & read the bible together when we woke up the next morning. The next night found us on the rooftop yet again. Stoned & paranoid about helicopters flying above us with their spot lights grazing us. But nothin' bad ever happened. For food we usually shopped cheap at grocery stores & ate very simple meals. We didn't even bring a pan to cook in. So we mostly ate sandwiches & the like. The first day we were there, we were relaxing near a big park where a family & some friends were celebrating something. Brett walked down the hill to the park & helped himself to some food, as if he were part of the gathering. When he came back I took my turn. No one ever asked us anything. We often collected lots of blackberries. They were perfectly ripe that time of year & were delicious! we also once tried to eat at a food bank, only to find after biking quite some way to get there, that it was closed. The next entry I'll do will be of our last night in Seattle. Peace.

Note on the pic- This is a recent picture I took of the spot on the beach area we slept in. Living in Seattle now, years later, I'm trying to get pics of all the spots we slept in.

Straight from My Journal 9-7-02, Sat.

It's goin' on 11:00pm, & Brett, my ma, Lee & I are all waitin'. We got here at about 9:00pm. I go up to the lady at the desk & ask how/where we get the boxes for our bikes. She says, "We don't have any." & goes on to say (while I'm slowly startin' to flip out) that they're out of them, but that they ordered some & we find out, well, we can come back a different day to leave. On a day they have boxes.

Well, isn't that just wonderful. I almost start to cry. We have 2 hrs to come up w/our own boxes big enough to fit bikes in. Brett says he can go through the dumpsters around here & find some boxes & they'll get some duct tape. My mom says that's wishful thinking. Brett & my mom leave, & Lee & I go to sit down. 2 men were putting their bikes in boxes & Lee was wonderin' how they got 'em. "Cause some man brought them out for them. So I say I'll go ask.

They were from Victoria, Canada & were here for a biking commute or something & they were headed back to Seattle also & takin' a ferry to Canada. (The train has just started moving)-Anyway!- Um...the boxes were theirs. & they already overheard we had none. So I tell 'em- yah- they're lookin' through dumpsters right now.

I go back to sit down, knowing I need to pray soon. So eventually I get up, tell Lee I'm goin' to pee, lock myself in a stall, plug my ears to completely zone out, & pray. Pray that everything works out. & this & that & this & that. Then I pee, come back out & sit down w/out a worry or care. Knowing that soon Brett & I will be on the train talking about how freaked out we were (& we recently did just that).

Brett & my mom arrive soon after & from then on, the 3 of us, plus the other two biker guys from Canada, are puttin' together our own boxes. & now we're sittin' down w/ everyone else in the car asleep, hittin' some Jack Daniels.