Jonny Walker Adventures Blog

Posting on a Whim

2011-09-01T10:53:00.000-04:00

I am currently sitting in Arica, Chile eating a late hostel provided breakfast and slowly memories of posting to this blog started coming back to me. I just finished 2 weeks in Lima, Peru of general chaos and now I am on my way to see a lady in Vina del Mar, Chile once again.

(ARICA is all the way on the top of the shaded in yellow.)

If you look back to my trip last year it should note that I rode for over 60 hours on a bus; this trip is being broken up. A 20 hour bus from Lima to Tacna Peru, climbing into a group taxi for 5 dollars and crossing the border with strangers, and now staying overnight in the border town of Arica (I have been here before) before flying out at 3PM today for Santiago Chile to avoid another 40 hours on a bus.

I have photos of Peru I should post as well and should get back to that once I get to my new apartment and "procure" internet.

(Here are some shots inside the hostel. I would post pictures of my "gourmet" breakfast of a bologna-like sandwich but being as how I am a bit southern I used the sandwich maker to fry my bologna so it was delicious and long gone.)

Home

2010-11-22T18:43:00.000-05:00

ummmm... so I am home now (AKA back in the USA). I realized I haven't posted forever and sort of fell off the map but my trip home took 2 weeks and involved Lima, Peru and Florida, but I am now back. I will post some details and photos soon. Right now I am just adjusting to life back here and recovered from drinking Peruvian water.

The Apartment in Chile - Leaving shots.

2010-10-26T16:08:00.000-04:00

Since my time is coming to an end here in Chile I thought I would post some shots of where I have spent the better part of the last 3 months. THE APARTMENT IN CHILE.

It is nothing fancy but it has served a purpose with the only issues being a slight "old lady" smell near the front door, the cable that came with the place turning out to be illegal so it got turned off the last month here, a shower-head that had to be replaced to make the showers last longer than 45 seconds of low pressure warmth, and the overabundance of fake flowers that were in the place that are currently hiding in the cabinet waiting to be redeployed on the last day I am here.

Bed

Bathroom

Living Room

Front door and Refrigerator

Little Kitchen

Attempting to Return to the USA

2010-10-22T16:20:00.000-04:00

My funds have dwindled to what is surely to become a new low so having failed to find dependable work here in Chile I must accept a temporary setback and return to the USA. That being said, it will not be without a little bit of mystery and adventure.

The first step of my trip will be a flight to Lima, Peru on Halloween. All flights from Chile were extremely expensive so in an attempt to add more fun (and maybe save a few dollars) I am making up the trip home as I go.

Right now the options are:
Fly to Washington DC from Lima
Fly to Fort Lauderdale FL from Lima
Fly to Bogota Colombia from Lima and then to the US from Colombia
Fly to San Juan Puerto Rico from Lima and then toe the US

Bus to Ecuador and Colombia (80 hours) from Lima and then fly home

or magic carpet.

I am sure there are other options that I will have to just make up as I go. wish me luck.

Gringo Burning in the South American Sun

2010-10-20T13:45:00.000-04:00

In an attempt to return to the states tan (the return info will be in the next few days on here), I have hit the beach here in Vina. The other day though I will admit to turning a nice state of painless red for a day or so afterward.

Being as how it is the Pacific Ocean down here the water is not something you want to stay in for a very long time unless you are strapped to a surfboards so I just get in to cool off a bit and then back to the beach. Maybe next time I will roll over instead of napping on my back. One side tan.... the other side white.

Sibaritico for Completos in Vina del Mar

2010-10-19T16:25:00.000-04:00

In a recent post I linked to the video of Anthony Bourdain during his time in Chile. I live just a few blocks from the site of his "Completo" consumption here in Vina del Mar so the other night (after a few of the necessary liquid appetizers) I rallied some ladies to go partake in some Hot Dog overkill.

If you have not watched the Anthony Bourdain video (a few blog posts back at MY BLOG) a completo is a footlong hotdog with Saurkraut, mashed avocado, tomatoes, and artery clogging of mayonnaise, that I like to top with ketchup.

Needless to say it was a good night and the next morning I woke up a little rough. I am still not sure whether it was the appetizers or the completo but I would definitely repeat the process.

Football (soccer) here in Chile

2010-10-18T17:13:00.000-04:00

Sometime in the past few weeks of my time here I went to see the local football club Everton of Vina del Mar play a game. The stadium is small for the fact that it is in the top league of its country (more notable teams would be Colo-Colo, U Catolica, and U de Chile).

Ladies and children got in free to the game and there was only one full section (AKA the end where the tickets are 6 dollars)

The game ended in a high-scoring 3-3 draw but the real entertainment was the fans themselves. Apparently Chileans are not trusted with alcohol at any event so it was dry but I found out why in no time.

Fans came marching in with drums to play while they all sang songs. There were also massive banners hung all over the place. Honestly this place had more decoration than any college dorm room on the planet.
As for the fans appreciation of the game itself is another matter entirely. Mostly young people sang songs to the drums and smoke weed the entire time without any care about the game itself. The home team scores - keep singing the same song... the away team scores - keep singing the same song.

I have noticed this trend before and it is not something I understand. I enjoy the game and find it easier to get into when the crowd also understand it and follow along. That being said, once I moved over away from the main cheering group I enjoyed the game a bit more.

Maquinaria Festival 2010 Santiago Chile

2010-10-18T16:56:00.000-04:00

Rage Against the Machine - CHILE 2010 VIDEO

2010-10-15T14:25:00.000-04:00

Rage Against the Machine - CHILE 2010

2010-10-08T19:16:00.000-04:00

This could be one of the more cruel posts I have made (if you are a fan of rock music that is). Rage Against the Machine will be playing this Monday and I have picked up my ticket... that said (as if jealousy weren't already brewing), I start the weekend with a festival on Saturday featuring Incubus, Queens of the Stone Age, Linkin Park, The Pixies, and more.... life is rough.

Beach and Big Ass Sandwich

2010-10-08T19:02:00.000-04:00

There isn't really a clever theme to this blog post as much as there is a take-no-prisoners title that has obviously drawn you in. With the weather getting nicer here I am spending more and more time on the beach and out in the sun. If I make it back to the States in late November I fully expect to look out of place this winter with my epic tan that is starting now.

And to not disappoint I will show you an example of the late-night (drunk person) food that is readily available in Chile. This sandwich is simple in construction but the size is what make is. For about 4 dollars US you can get this sandwich which is larger than a human head. I used a starburst to show size but you really don't understand until you buy one at 2 in the morning.

It was delicious.... I think.

Bourdain was here in Vina and Valpo

2010-10-07T23:33:00.000-04:00

Just to show more of where I have been living here is a clip of Anthony Bourdain's time in Chile. I live near where he at the completo at the beginning and a 5 min bus from the rest.

Where I worked (notice that it is past tense)

2010-10-07T13:57:00.000-04:00

During my time down here thus far i have managed to pick up a few hours working at an English School. Given that I am without a work visa and the school is a bit behind on processing one I am separating ties to the school and going back to being blissfully unemployed.

It also appears that my time in Chile will come to an end when my 3 month tourist visa does. Things are more expensive here that most places in South America and I fear it could bankrupt me to stay until Christmas (plus Christmas is in the middle of their summer so it would just feel odd).

I have now started the planning phase for a trip back to the states. Could be up to 120 hours on a bus... more info to come

“Stache” ing it

2010-10-06T18:30:00.001-04:00

I have seen some sweet moustaches and mullets during my time in Chile so I thought I would rock one for a bit. I did have a pretty solid mullet (between white trash and 80s hockey player in length) coming in but the lady cut that off in my sleep.

J Cruz a Valparaiso Mainstay

2010-10-02T11:18:00.001-04:00

I have been seduced by the Chilean chorilliana (a dish consisting of french fries topped with meat, eggs, and onions that can be dipped in aji(spicy) or ketchup(if the restaurant allows it))

There is probably no place better in all of Chile to get this dish than J Cruz. The restaurant is literally down a dark alley and tricky to find and yet it is pack all open hours

The inside is completely full of crazy amounts of junk that they use to decorate the place. It is sort of like Applebees back in the USA only amplified by 10 and somehow it works for the place.

The servings are massive and yet somehow this is how it always looks at the end of the meal.

To ride it… or to eat it

2010-10-01T19:48:00.001-04:00

So last week I was walking around and noticed a small butcher shop. It appeared to be like all the others but I was in the slightly poorer side of town. I then glanced upward and noticed that the large banners above the shop were of majestic looking horses. After asking around I found out that they were the product.

Before you judge me for this it should be noted: I travel to experience new things and abandoned my long-term Vegan diet to make sure I experience the cultures of the places that I visit. I ate Guinea Pig in Peru so why not.

I purchased the smallest size that they had available. 1 Kilo (2.2 pounds) of Churrasco (A very thin cut that comes between sheets of waxed paper). It is very common to use meat cut like this in sandwich form. It set me back about 6 dollars for the kilo.

Afterwards I enjoyed it (actually it was a lot like deer meat) on a sandwich with some local cheese and mustard. It is not an endangered species and it is not a penguin (they are too damn cute) so I am OK with my choice to try something new. Just thought I’d update the site.

Shopping the Produce Market

2010-09-29T14:14:00.001-04:00

The other day Rocio and I trekked down to the produce market to pick up some vegetables. Unlike the farmer’s markets of the USA everything is actually cheaper at these places. Some of the highlight purchases included:

2 pounds of Kiwis for 80 cents

8 pounds of potatoes for 1 dollar

2 pounds of apples for 60 cents

1 head of Garlic for 20 cents

All in all it was a good day and I have been living on vegetables since.

Nobody told me this…

2010-09-22T19:16:00.001-04:00

(WIKI) The Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea), also known as the Chilean flame tarantula, Chilean fire tarantula or the Chilean red-haired tarantula or the Chilean rose hair tarantula (depending on the colormorph), is probably the most common species of tarantula available in pet stores today, due to the large number of wild caught specimens exported cheaply from their native Chile into the US pet trade.

So I came back from work today and guess what I spotted walking on the front step of the building…. HOLY CRAP

I am not scared of many things but let’s just say that it was not the most comfortable thing to step over on my way in. I didn’t have the camera on me and the guy at the front desk scooped it up with a broom and moved it after I let him know it was there. Crisis averted.

Chilean have the freedom to Barbecue

2010-09-22T13:55:00.001-04:00

In honor of the 200th anniversary of Chilean Independence the regular festivities held on the 18th of September ran from Thursday to Monday. This all added up to a long long weekend of fun and probably about 10 extra pounds.

To start the weekend off right I headed to an apartment gathering Thursday night and imbibed in a few beverages and ate a ton of food.

Then to jumpstart the next day I headed to the Botanical Garden here in Vina del Mar for a massive cookout.

This is the appetizers of 3 full rounds of meat that were cooked on the grill not including the salads etc. (AKA the stuff I didn’t eat. Just meat for me).

Saturday brought a trip to the Ramada (Not the hotel but the area with amusements, food, and shopping)

This also led to Terremotos (A drink consisting of sweet wine, rum, and pineapple ice cream)

Then after a few of these we packed up and caught the fireworks that were directly in front of my apartment.

To wrap up the weekend I was taken to my ladyfriend’s parents house for yet another barbecue. I have yet to take a picture of my waistline but let it be known that I actually ate a salad yesterday by choice just to try and counteract some of the effects.

Over a Month in Chile

2010-09-16T12:44:00.001-04:00

It is hard to believe that I have been in Chile for over a month now. I remember my bus trip here vividly so it hadn’t really sat in until I went to pay rent on the apartment yesterday. It is over a month since I moved into my apartment and about a month and a half since I arrived in the country.

(picture of me with a very odd dog)

In update I am currently teaching a private instruction English lesson at an Institute here to a student who is studying for the American SAT Test. I am teaching him how to write the essay so if you are actually reading this try not to snicker at my inability to write because when it comes to writing for grades I actually try (a little bit).

The pay is under the table and so I have not secured a work visa to stay in the country. This is quite a problem because my visa is for 90 day and my apartment is for 4 months (doing math in head…). This means barring a work visa miracle I will need to ride the but to Argentina for a couple of nights (6+hours each way) and then try and convince the border to let me back in.

Getting back in the country could prove difficult because there is often suspicion that people staying longer are working illegally (now who would do that?). To counter this possibility I might have to buy a return ticket in advance to the USA just so they are certain that I am not leeching off their system (once somebody has paid for a ticket governments tend to believe they are leaving).

The lease on my apartment ends on the 15th of December and there is a lot of time before then but I could be heading back to the states before Christmas… of course I would love to bus the whole way there but we will see where the cheap tickets are at and go from there….

Until then I will just be living it up here in Chile….

BTW anybody know of some work I could start in the USA at the beginning of January or so???

Found a little work

2010-09-07T15:22:00.001-04:00

I have been trying to make a little bit of cash to help supplement the small amount I traveled down to Chile with and I have decided to use the English Instruction certifications that I picked up in England. I sent out emails to about 15 different places in the 3 months before I traveled to South America with very limited success but when I was in Peru I received an email from the Instituto Chileno Britanico

It has been an odd hiring process thus far that included a 2 part test on English skills and on Teaching skills in the primary interview and a call back that said they would set up an interview in the next couple of days that took 2 weeks and 2 trips down there by me to get set up and then over the past weekend I received a call stating that I would be needed to pick up a private lesson on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I was once again told that I would hear back from them on Saturday to confirm all the details (which turned out to be 11pm on Sunday).

Alas, I taught my first lesson on Monday at 10am. It was only supposed to be one hour 3 times a week but my student has upped his course-load to 2 hours a day so I am not on the calendar for 6 hours a week and there is a possibility of them starting a Saturday class for me from 9am until 1 pm.

Now if I only knew how much they were going to pay me and how….. (guess I need to focus on that now that I am working).

Big Budget Events

2010-09-04T19:31:00.001-04:00

OK so the weather isn’t perfect here so I have to find something to do when the beach is not a possibility so Filet Mignon and Open Bars serve as my backup to a day of sun and sand.

I recently crashed a wedding to keep it interesting…

Technically I was Rocio’s plus one but I was the only gringo in the house

I even cleaned up my act a bit for the affair…. (note: I borrowed a suit. I do not have one with me) ((Note to self: Buy a sweet suit))

This is just the desert table for the self service… the rest was all served

I even stole a dance with the bride. The gringo stole the show.

More photos on facebook

All my time on the beach

2010-09-01T17:23:00.001-04:00

When I walk outside of my place everyday this is roughly my view. Technically I live on the far left of this photo, but this is from the bridge I cross to make it to the beach. The weather here is winter but it has been ranging from 50 degrees up to the 80s or so.

A short walk from my place is the public beach that people are always out relaxing on and I have started to join them. If the weather permits I try and go relax for an hour or so and get some much needed sun… I can’t wait for the weather to heat up a bit.

There is also a boardwalk that runs along it and there is a park. If you are in Vina del Mar at any time and trying to find me…. this is a good place to start.

The Job Hunt

2010-08-26T15:51:00.001-04:00

I have been currently seeking a job here in Vina del Mar and have even went to a job interview. I am attempting to teach English down here at a few different Institutes and the first interview involved a 2 part test (English + Teaching). I received news last week that I passed both tests and I am still waiting for them to schedule another meeting. Hopefully picking up some work will keep me out of the country longer. Not sure where this urge to work is coming from but I guess if it allows me to play a bit more I guess I can work for it just a little bit.

I will keep you updated as more job news breaks.

The Apartment in Vina Del Mar - Outside

2010-08-26T15:50:00.003-04:00

I have rented an apartment here in Vina del Mar, Chile. Rocio set it up for me so I was thrilled when I finally made it to town and saw the location for the first time. It is winter here (South of the equator the seasons are reversed) but living so close to the ocean is enjoyable year-round and since I made it to town it has oddly been warm and sunny pretty much all of the time.

The apartment is located about 4 buildings in from the ocean on an river that runs through town. I do however live on the backside of the building so daily views of the ocean are not possible but walking out to see the water is great.

My building is the center one in this photo. This is a shot from across the river.

Here is another shot of the building from near the large casino here in town.

The beach next to the house pretty much looks like this but there is a place at the end of the river with some nice sand. A decent (but enjoyable) walk down the coast gets me to a larger beach that I am sure will fill up when the weather heats up a bit more.

Attempting to Learn Spanish… again

2010-08-26T15:50:00.001-04:00

Ok so I have stumbled my way around the globe for a while now and have spent about 6 months of my live in Spanish speaking regions and yet somehow I still don’t know the language well enough to actually claim it as my second so I am going to study for what might actually be the first time in my life. Granted, the Chilean accent could make someone born and raised in any other Spanish-speaking country to fell lost and confused in the conversation but I am going to attempt to at least make advances in it during my time here if not conquer it (barring understanding the grammar).

First Offline Post Attempt

2010-08-26T15:49:00.001-04:00

I realize that since I made it down to Chile I have been posting very infrequently so I have downloaded Windows Live Writer to try and set it up where I can just make create some posts offline and post them whenever I get around a solid source of free internet via (legal of course ;) ) WiFi.

Just to check if photos will upload as well I have included a shot of Rocio and I taken just across the street from the apartment and hopefully within a few steps of where I will once again find the free WiFi that will allow me to post the blog.

2010-08-22T00:34:00.000-04:00

I took a bus for close to 60 hours to make it down to Vina del Mar, Chile so you will excuse me if I have been taking a little time off now that I have set up shop in my new apartment. The bus ride was surprisingly easier that I thought it would be although the bus company I wanted to look into at the beginning that a friend talked me out of did turn out to be super-luxury (I saw one of them half-way through my bus ride).

Now I am living in a building that oozes West Virginia Mountaineer pride... so I will be supporting them from thousands of miles away this season.

Here is a shot from Vina del Mar of the city of Valparaiso at night. It is great living right on the water. It would be great to have a view from the apartment, but all I have to do is walk out the front of the building to see the water.

There are sand beaches but seeing as how it is winter it is great to go out and sit on the rocks when it gets nice outside.

Safely in Chile but NO INTERNET

2010-08-18T18:23:00.000-04:00

I have moved into my apartment here in Vina del Mar, Chile but have yet to allocate internet. Not quite sure when I will have it but for now I will be updating photos randomly on facebook and making limited updates here on the blog while I search for both internet and some form of employment.

Wish me luck

Peru Summary

2010-08-11T15:54:00.000-04:00

Peru was a quality month of my life spent with great friends and some small sense of party mixed in. I have now made my way down to Chile and will be settling into my new apartment down here tomorrow. I have made contact with a school down here and have and interview coming up that still hasn't been scheduled. If you want all the pics from Peru you can find me Jonny Walker on facebook.

Sadly I can't post them all on here.

While in Peru this time I did get the chance to try Cuy (AKA Guinea Pig) it was sort of like rabbit but not much meat.

I also got to spend some time outside of Lima with some ladies

and attend some great clubs/events

Watch Bob show off how Americans dance.

and then say goodbye as he left me as the only gringo still in Peru... I made sure that some of the TGIFridays sign was in the background seeing as how and American Flag could not be found.

Now after close to 60 hours on buses I am in Chile and getting ready to move.

PERU VIDEOS

2010-08-09T12:44:00.000-04:00

Leaving Peru

2010-08-05T02:42:00.000-04:00

I realize that I still have a lot of Peru to post about, but I have been a little bit behind with my posts and I am leaving the country early tomorrow morning.

In a brutal attempt to save money and to punish myself for my hedonistic lifestyle I have opted to forgo the plane and any attempt at sanity and take a nonstop bus journey close to 60 hours from Lima to Santiago.

I have loaded my bag up with my mp3 player and charged up the laptop to watch movies on the trip and try not to go insane. Wish me luck.... I start on Thursday morning and end my trip on Saturday in the afternoon so I won't be around much during that time.

Shots of Chaos

2010-08-04T17:45:00.000-04:00

50th Birthday in the Country

2010-08-04T15:14:00.000-04:00

A 50th birthday is definitely a reason to celebrate and in Peru you might as well do it big. An uncle of my friend Peke (who I am currently crashing on her couch) had a birthday party that I got to crash.

The party had some traditional Peruvian dancing...

Then they have a time called crazy hor that involves hats and balloons that oddly enough centers around a partying clown that is mostly enjoyed by the adults who are all dancing by this time.

I got some new clothes from the deal and graciously thanked the host and Peke's mother for bringing me.

I will not show a photo of the food because it will just make me hungry again if I reread this post.

Flame Exits Lima

2010-08-04T00:48:00.000-04:00

Of the 3 random Gringos that shared an apartment in Lima, Flame was the first one to return to the real world although from what can be learned from some mild facebook stalking he apparently ended up on a beach back in the US for a while so it is not like he was that upset about the return.

Flame (left) is gone and Bob (right) is next to go....

as for me, I make no plans.

Fountains of Lima

2010-08-04T00:35:00.000-04:00

I realize that my updates are a little bit behind schedule but I am going to chalk that up to being on Peruvian Time. This phenomenon automatically adds an assumed 2 and a half hours to whatever time that is said. (EX: "let's meet at 5" = "See you around 7:30 if all goes well")

These are some shots from the fountains of Lima. For the low price of 4 soles (1.40 US) you get to walk around great water displays and they even throw in some 3-D glasses for the laser show that is ultimately not in 3-D, but the glasses rock.

Photos from sandboarding

2010-08-01T23:49:00.000-04:00

Huacachina Sandboarding

2010-08-01T23:17:00.000-04:00

As a break from the usual gray skies of Lima, a group of us headed out to Ica, Peru and Huacachina to get sun for a few days and to do some boarding but this time on sand and not on snow. The main center of the tourist driven location of Huacachina is this desert oasis

Honestly, I think if the others hadn't needed to get back to Lima I might have stayed out there.

The riding on sand was a little bit tricky and the boards werent exactly made by Burton so the wax would get you about 30 feet or so before it started to stick but it was still a good ride.

The apartment in Lima

2010-07-23T19:48:00.000-04:00

Here in Lima I have been staying in the area of Miraflores for the past 10 days now. To make this time more enjoyable 4 of us rented and apartment. The accomodations weren't amazing by any standard and the elevator was a bit on the slow side which made the 12 story stair run a daunting task, but for these past few days the place has been home.

Only now that we are leaving the place to travel a bit around Peru do I look around the 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment and try and remember it for posterity.

If you count very short term apartment rentals I have now had a places in Peru, Argentina and England aside from my time in the USA.

Regardless of the amount of time spent, each of these places has felt like home while I was there. I enjoy staying in hostels but there is something calming about knowing that at the end of the night the people you are sharing a space with is not randomly assigned.

As an added bonus to the 12th floor height was a view that is rarely seen in Lima due to the normally gray conditions. You can actually see the water in this shot. Well I am going to go pack for the trip that lie ahead tomorrow.... wish me luck.

People in the casa

2010-07-22T01:27:00.000-04:00

This is a shot after we prepared some food tonight. From left to right is Sofia, Bob(owning the picture), Rocio, and Peke. Tonight we made a bunch of food and stayed in(I think). I only think this is the plan because it is only 12:30 and apparently we have people stopping by before going out on the town. Lima never sleeps.

Livin It Up Down in Lima

2010-07-19T22:24:00.000-04:00

Having rented an apartment here in Lima has kept me from taking up work in a hostel so I have had more to see the city. Of course that has translated to sitting in the apartment a lot of the time and enjoying a few beverages but it has been fun.

It is always odd to travel and not stay in hostels but I am considering this adventure a move so I guess I can change it up.

Here is a picture of Bob on top of Sofia's house after a great meal with her family. I only wish I could have ate more. (Sadly, the aforementioned beverages from the night before slowed me down a bit).

Lucky for me I checked facebook the other night and found out that a friend of mine that I had worked with in the Loki Hostel here in Lima over 2 years ago was celebrating his birthday so I got to go enjoy a drink with him to celebrate his birthday. He never expected to see me again and especially not to celebrate his birthday.

In a recent development Bob and I decided that they need to make the show Jersey Shore here in Lima so we broke out our "Stunner" poses at a concert the other day. Let's just say our Gringo essence was noticeable.

Lima Update

2010-07-16T16:58:00.000-04:00

Apparently, I have not been posting enough to appease my nephew so I will just let everyone know that I am in Lima safe and sound. My flight left from DC at 7am and I was dropped off by friend of mine that live outside DC. A definite thanks go out to Desiree and Brandon for all of their hospitality.

I then flew to Fort Lauderdale where I noticed a familiar girl sitting across from me in the terminal. Turns out it was a friend of mine from Snowshoe Mountain who was on her way back to DC after spending some time in Lima.

I have taken a total of 5 pictures so far so here is pretty much everything. I just snapped the last two from the window at the apartment that was rented for the 11 days that I will be in Lima before taking a short road trip. I am staying in the Miraflores area of Lima and have been on a steady diet of street vendor sandwiches, ceviche, and cheap beverages.

Hopefully this update will keep my nephew happy for a day or so...

Leaving the country

2010-07-12T23:27:00.000-04:00

THE BLOG

I understand that I should be better with my pictures and posting them on here but I am finally ready to leave the country again and there are definitely pictures to come.

Currently I am in Woodbridge, VA staying with my friend Brandon and his amazing wife Desiree and she is taking me to the airport tomorrow. I have been hesitant to disclose my travel plans thus far because everything was tentative and like any traveler I did not want to set myself up to fail.

In terms of lateness on disclosure I really couldn't be closer. I take my first flight tomorrow morning at 10am and I have been packed for a week now. My first destination is Lima, Peru where I will meet up with my friends Robbie and Flame who are down there currently on different trips but the three of use will unite in the same apartment (just like at Snowshoe) for the first week I am there for some light imbibing at social gatherings (partying) and taking in of the local culture (more of the same).

After the month of July ends I will be slowly migrating south (although unlike the birds I will be heading into winter conditions) down to Chile. Hopefully, as of tomorrow my apartment will be booked and I will be living near the ocean in the resort town of Vina Del Mar until at least December of this year. Granted, I will be there illegally after 3 months so before that happens I will have to cross the border for over one night before crossing back in.

Well now that my travel plans have leaked out I guess I should sleep because it is nearing 12 and I leave for the airport at 5am to catch my first flight down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where I will wait for my 5pm flight to Lima Peru. Wish me luck.

Dumpster Diving - A Work Story

2010-06-15T22:52:00.000-04:00

THE BLOG

So as a few of you may know I am currently working 3 jobs or so that I can gather up just enough cash to flee the country again (headed to Peru and Chile again... details to come). One of these exciting and sexy jobs is at the local GNC selling vitamins and 24 hour detox drinks for people who don't smoke marijuana.... ;)

Normally I wouldn't talk much about work but tonight was exciting to say the least. I only worked a few hours but volunteered to run the trash out to the dumpster before I took the deposit to the bank. Of course I sat the light bag of paper product trash on the passenger seat and drove to the dumpsters behind the mall (OK so it is only a few stores but the walkway is inside so my small town calls it a mall) but someone was using the one I normally use so I went to the next one.

I got out of my car and threw the bag into what I discovered was the Mexican restaurant Carlito's dumpster. I then got back in the car and headed toward the bank when I realized that the deposit was no longer on the passenger seat. Apparently, the adhesive that seals the plastic bag had stuck to the trash bag. Needless to say, I was going dumpster diving.

I actually had to jump down into the dumpster and stand in a small semi-clean area and reach into the old onions and re-fried beans to fish out the 300+ dollars in a bag submerged in some odd brown sauce that I could not place. I have decided that I am not making enough money. Good thing I am fleeing the country in July.

Dixonstock

2010-06-09T13:44:00.000-04:00

THE BLOG

I just realized that I had only posted about work but somewhere over the past month or so I have actually managed to take at least one break. The Dixon's farm is a staple for Memorial Day fun and also the site in which a few beverages are "partook" (responsibly of course).

Some time honored traditions of games were practiced

and this year we went down to the river to hit up the rope swing... or in my case recover in the cool water...

As always it was a great weekend and also served as the last time we will see Bob for a little bit. He flew off to Peru the day after the weekend. With any luck I will be seeing him there in a month.

Smashed Thumb

2010-06-04T22:44:00.000-04:00

Apparently starting a lawnmower can be dangerous. It has gotten a lot more purple since the pic was taken, trust me. I busted the vein that runs along the top of my thumb with the grip that is tethered to the cord on a lawnmower. It hit a catch and snapped back out of my right hand onto my left thumb.

I guess it is all my fault for trying to make a little cash mowing grass to try and fly out of the country again...

If only there were some way to work safely online from another country I could give up the lawn mowing hustle... oh well.

Working Toward My Escape

2010-05-27T13:24:00.000-04:00

I am currently in the process of looking for the cheapest method of getting myself to Chile. I have decided that I will be moving there (if all goes according to plan) as early as this July.

(with any luck this will be my plane)

Of course I have been to Chile before.... that is how I got to make the flight to Easter Island to see these guys.

Right now it appears that the best (most fun and cheap combo) is for me to fly from Washington DC to Lima Peru, Where my friend Bob will be for the next 2 months and staying with him for a while and ultimately renting and apartment in Vina Del Mar, Chile starting in August.

Where am I getting the money for this trip you might ask? OK so I still haven't got that ironed out yet, but I am working on it. I have taken up 4 jobs or so that have been going on for over a month now and with another month or so to go I figure I will at least have a start. I am also certified to teach English as a Foreign language so maybe that will pan out down there. If not the plan is live cheap and try to make ends meet. Wish me luck.

I fell into a Red Ring of Death

2010-05-26T14:17:00.003-04:00

Click here to access the BLOG

After 4 or 5 years of faithful service my Xbox finally flashed me the infamous Red Ring of Death... this is odd because my brother's unit and one of my friends system just crashed in the last month (conspiracy theories to follow)

Apparently you can send it back to XBOX and they will pay to fix it, but with my urge to leave the country in a hurry I have sought out a short term fix with the "Towel Trick". This involves wrapping the Xbox in 3 towels, setting it upside down, and turning it on for 25 minutes. This overheats the system and somehow gives the user about a week of gameplay before the process has to be repeated.
Surprisingly the first attempt to do this actually worked and it allowed for me to play FIFA 10 for another week. I will probably send it back to Xbox right before I leave the country so it is finished by the time I return (if I return that is).

It should also be noted that with the lack of time spent on the XBOX it should be easy to notice that my blogging increases steadily in the near future.

My summer

2010-05-26T09:58:00.003-04:00

OK, so I realize it is still a little early to actually talk about my summer thus far, but the weather jumped from a foot of snow to hot conditions. Granted, the last week of straight rain and humidity has not been the greatest but to me it is only summer and winter which is sad because I like the cooler air of the spring and fall.

I really haven't documented as much as I should have, but here is a quick summary of what I have been doing (excluding the work aspect of the whole thing).

I have been trying to spend some time outdoors

I did spend some time in my vacation house...

and relaxed in my backyard...

I have been hanging out with some friends...

and focusing my efforts on getting back in shape.... (just note the arm workout and balance training)

So far this summer is a flying by, but not like the last couple I have enjoyed in South America and Europe respectively. I have been working, which "work" is still my least favorite four-letter-word, but I hope to have enough funds pooled here shortly to head back out again on the travel. Wish me luck.

Adsense takeover

2010-05-26T09:49:00.003-04:00

I have finally decided to put a few ads on my site. I realize that with the small amount of traffic that I generate this will not actually pay me anything, but I figure if a few clicks on the ads here and there actually net my 15 cents over the next three years or so I will consider it a great sucess.

So if you aren't feeling to busy feel free to click on a few ads to hopefully get me up and traveling again. With any luck I could be back on the travel as early as July of this year.

Joining the Workforce - Update

2010-05-20T19:50:00.003-04:00

So I have officially joined the workforce and I am already seeking my escape. I have just wrapped up my acting gig (OK so I realize that pretending to be sick so that medical students can practice is not really a big hollywood deal, but I can always just take the moral highroad and say that I am helping prepare the doctors of the future... that is if I really cared about appearances). Two weeks of pretending to be a character known as Jon Sickly (I know, the joke is hysterical) has now passed and I will be focusing on the US Census, my job at GNC, and my new-found passion for mowing grass.

As for my escape, I have been submitting applications to teach English abroad once again. Hopefully I can put away enough money to help back out traveling again even if I do have to work while doing it this time.

Why work?

2010-04-29T17:10:00.003-04:00

So I am entering the workforce again after my 2 year vacation... this sucks. I am not sure any other words can fully encapsulate it better than that. Of course, as I do with all things in life, I am not just getting one job but technically 4. I know what you are thinking (He is crazy) but I figure that if I work 4 jobs I can get back to my vacationing 4 times faster.

The jobs are as follows.... I am doing lawn work (mowing 3 lawns, mulching, painting doors, weed eating, trimming hedges), Working at the local GNC, Working for the US Census as a census taker, and picking up some hours acting (as a patient for the medical school so they can practice). I have been mowing for a few weeks now but the others all start in the next week. Speaking of which, I am due to start at GNC in 10 minutes and I am not ready.... hope they don't mind it if I am late for my first day. Gotta run....

Possibility of more content

2010-04-20T18:24:00.004-04:00

I have realized that my blog here has gone greatly untouched this weekend but breaking my laptop, sketchy internet connection, and general laziness added up to fewer and fewer posts. I wish that I was still on the travel in many ways although I do have to admit to enjoying my time near home. The section of time from the time I returned to from England to what is now April has been spent relaxing and doing some minimal amounts of work. That said here is what I am looking into now...

I realize that I am going to have to actually stash a few more dollars into my bank account to actually afford the vagabond lifestyle that I have grown to love so I am currently mowing grass and doing yard-work to make a few extra bucks. Along with the yard-work I hope to be working for the US Census during the months of May and June. I am sure it will be odd to be back to work (granted I did work for 2 weeks this past winter at a pizza place.... not fun).

Other than that I am planning my escape from the country again. I doubt I ever mentioned this in the past because it was in the works but I had a job lined up for February of this year to Teach English in South Korea, but that fell through at the very last second so now I am looking for more work abroad. I have started dropping applications to South America and spending some time boning up on my Spanish repertoire.

Hopefully I can try and post some of my adventures around here to regain my knack for blogging and get on the road to somewhere with "international" flavor by July.

That said, wish me luck and thanks for reading.

Jonny Walker

VIdeo of Snowshoe Total

2010-04-20T18:11:00.003-04:00

So here is the compilation video from the 30+ minutes I got this season.... just remember that all the best stuff is never captured on tape.

Riding with some folks

2010-02-05T10:59:00.002-05:00

Sunset at Snowshoe

2010-01-25T01:46:00.004-05:00

I shot this clip the other day and condensed 5+ minutes of video down to about 35 secs. The clouds were actually in the valley so the view from the apartment was great.

Driveway terrain

2010-01-25T01:07:00.003-05:00

Now that rain has set in here on the mountain I can post this video for the other week when we didn't even need the slopes to pass the time. 3 guys, a driveway, and some shovels.

Jumping off the 3rd floor balcony

2010-01-25T00:21:00.004-05:00

I realize that I have rarely posted this winter but the internet connection is iffy at best. Actually I realize that this is a horrible excuse but I have also been taking care of a lot of business. It appears that I am actually going to have to go back to work after 2 years of traveling and nursing a broken leg.

Luckily this video did not cause another broken leg...

Video from the Shoe

2009-12-21T23:35:00.003-05:00

I just left the mountain for Xmas in Florida but here is an update.

POWDER!!!!!

2009-12-20T16:35:00.004-05:00

The other night I could barely sleep... I was ready to go but sadly it was 4 hours until the mountain was ready to open and I was riding out the alcohol in my system from the night before. The snow had been pounding the mountain for almost a solid twelve hours and I couldn't wait for the mountain to open for an epic powder day... life is good

DAY COUNT THUS FAR FOR DAYS ON MY SNOWBOARD.... 12

number should continue to grow drastically after New Years.

Camera low on battery

2009-12-17T14:47:00.002-05:00

I have been up here on the mountain for a while now and hitting the slopes daily. Sadly I have misplaced my camera charger and have been conserving batteries to make a video at the end of the season of all my days on the slopes. I think I the number is around 8 or 9 days on now.

Here is a map of the slopes up here. More open up every day and my couch is still as comfortable as ever. No break until after this weekend for the X-mas holiday so at least 3 more days on the slopes to get the most out of my season pass.

My Video Project

2009-12-12T11:47:00.001-05:00

The era of "guy on couch" begins

2009-12-11T17:02:00.002-05:00

In setting up shop on the mountain, Robbie and I took some of his stuff up to the top and I slept on the couch for the first time. I think I am going to like it there.

The Transition to "guy on couch"

2009-12-10T18:32:00.003-05:00

I have staked my claim on the couch up on the mountain and already have my season pass now to "sneak" some of my stuff up there. It has been recommended that I can only have the shirt on my back to not take up too much space but I think if I take my television up life will be a little bit better for all.

I am considering writing a list of laws that all "guys on couch" must follow and as I collect data on this process I might begin to piece some of it together.

First Days On My Snowboard

2009-12-08T20:43:00.002-05:00

I have already picked up my season pass for the year and I spent the past 3 days breaking myself in for the new season at Snowshoe Mountain. My friend Aaron moved up to the apartment the other day and as the official "guy on couch" I accompanied and managed to make my first runs of the season.

There was some natural snow out and the crowds were minimal which was great due to the fact that they had cut it down to 2 runs (that they call six but using the terms upper, middle, and lower don't fool me... I know what two options look like) and one lift but it was enough to start building up some confidence for the coming season.

Here is a shot of Aaron clipping into his board "The Lightning"

Needless to say I was enjoying myself.

If you have read my blog for any amount of time you might ask yourself, "How does he pay for this?" Sadly my funds (which I have saved up myself... if you want to sponsor me however I would be open to the idea) have run short and I am in the process of setting up some work abroad towards the end of this winter. Posts are sure to come soon as I get more info.

Winter Begins - I am back

2009-12-08T18:55:00.004-05:00

Now that snow has replaced rain here in my part of the world my life is suddenly back in full swing. My friends have returned after hiking the entire Appalachian Trail and I am looking forward to a winter of snowboarding and remaining unemployed.... impossible you say?

Not when I have been deemed "guy on couch"

I have purchased a season pass already and can't await an endless winter of snowboarding.

These guys have hiked the trail and will now allow me to crash on their couch... (not the one pictured)

Here is a vid of the first snow of the season here in town.

Taking Time Off

2009-12-02T18:28:00.002-05:00

I realize that I haven't posted in a while but to be honest I have been doing a whole lot of nothing. With a few options of what to do in the future I have been in limbo. It is just about that time of year for me to head to a mountain and do some snowboarding so I am sure there will be some updates in the near future...

Playlists to pass the days

2009-11-09T15:59:00.003-05:00

I have grown addicted to listening to random playlists online at playlist.com with my free time (That I seem to have an abundance of recently). Please let me know any additions I should make to this one. It really has no theme to it so any track could be added. WARNING: Some Explicit Lyrics.

Dancing Halloween Style

2009-11-03T02:03:00.001-05:00

Halloween - Northern Virginia Style

2009-11-03T01:36:00.002-05:00

In my constant pursuit of fun I shot up to Northern Virginia to visit some friends and by the look of things carve a pumpkin. (this took a whole 3 minutes to clean and carve in time for the trick-or-treaters.

This was the gang... the Mystery Gang

I brought the douchy-frat-boy out of retirement.

The night was an epic success and I actually survived the trip.

What a fun time... Happy Halloween.

Hiking the AT - 15 more miles

2009-10-28T14:36:00.003-04:00

For some fun I went and caught up with the guys for the night... actually they stopped through again almost immediately after some more freak feet incedents and we shuttled them back.

We hiked in roughly 10 miles in to the shelter and the next morning another 5 to the shuttle vehicle. I enjoyed it but then realized that I am now up to approximately 95 miles of hiking so it looks like I might have to go back and meet up with them before they finish to get over 100 miles on the Appalachian Trail. Granted I have done over that if you count the River Trail here near town, but I can always use and excuse to road trip.

Caving - Lost World

2009-10-27T12:35:00.002-04:00

I realize that I haven't really been updating this but life at home seems different than it used to so I am still trying to re-acclimate a bit to it while still keeping up my sense of adventure. Recently my friend Ashley invited me to do some caving at Lost World Caverns here in Lewisburg and I couldn't pass it up.

Basically I spent the day living like a spider monkey (one that lives in caves that is)

I did manage to see some cave geckos, crickets, and bats while I was down there.

I blindly charged into compromising situations and luckily didn't find out that I was claustrophobic halfway through.

I also decided that a nice relaxing bath in sub 50 Fahrenheit water miles away from the entrance was a good idea to clean myself off a bit. Ashley told me that this was the first time she had ever heard of anybody doing such a thing.

Bath or no bath, I still needed a shower after over 3 hours underground... maybe I will take one someday.

Goodbye Beard and Hair

2009-10-18T22:43:00.002-04:00

Beards and Blazers

2009-10-18T18:40:00.002-04:00

The Video

T.O.O.T Lewisburg (Taste of Our Town)

2009-10-12T11:14:00.002-04:00

Annually my hometown closes down main street and one other for a day of food and celebration of local businesses. With live music going at multiple locations and vendors selling samples of their cuisine either to draw in new potential customers and to raise funds for Carnegie Hall.

Music is a staple

There is always someone manning a grill

It is just a time to eat, relax, and mingle.

80 Miles Out On The Trail

2009-10-09T19:45:00.007-04:00

80 MILES

In an attempt to reconnect with the country that I grew up in after a long time abroad I went to meet up with some friends on the Appalachian Trail. My friends Robbie (Below Middle) and Russell (Below Right) have hike over 1200 miles thus far down from Maine while en route to the finish in Georgia.

After spending a 80 miles of terrain with these two mountain men I realize why one would set out on such a journey. Much like my lust for discovering new countries these two pound out miles just as I attempt to add countries to my list, but that is not the only reason one does it.

By pushing one's body past the regular day-to-day routine can only be classified as spartan. The last 3 days of my adventure with these two consisted of 3 days of 20 miles of hiking mountainous and rocky terrain. Needless to say it was all I expected it to be and so much more. The climbs never seemed to end and a simple misstep could injure your ankle, foot, or knee with ease. That being said even the slightest injury could throw off you stride and lead to problems elsewhere.

Luckily for these through-hikers friends and family regularly come and get them off the trail (and drop them off to continue at the exact location of departure) and give them evening or daylong excursions that include copious amounts of food and often some beverages that ease the pain.

The picture below really encapsulates what it is all about. The trail gives one little rest but does give a true sense of accomplishment when one can look out over his surroundings and take it all in.

Also there is the addition of some truly great beard growing opportunities. Granted there are also females on the trail who I am sure compensate with some leg hair of epic lengths. I actually encountered a couple who were doing the entire hike for their honeymoon.

As for the packs that are carried along the trail they range from ultralight to quite heavy. My pack came in about 27 pounds with water (light by through hiker standards) while Robbie and Russell's both came in near or above 40 pounds.

Wildlife is also abundant on the trail. I saw a few snakes, a black bear, and a small mountain lion (or a bobcat) the verdict is still out while on the trail.

There are also huts to stay at in some areas, but these can also be a problematic if problem animals find them. All food has to be hung up away from shelters to keep it away from sleeping hikers in case bears try to find it. Rats living in and around the shelters can also raid the sleeping area and steal stuff. Russell managed to pick this one off with a rock. In his defense the log left at the shelter had numerous reports of it eating through packs and stealing stuff. (For reference it was as large as a nerf football).

The camaraderie on the trail will be remembered for a lifetime. Below is Robbie and Russell and their friend Crash who is also on the same journey.

Not to be left out I also wanted to show off my beard.

Speaking of Crash the issue of trail names should be addressed. Through Hikers are given a trail name by his/her peers. It normally comes organically and comes with a story. Robbie goes by Tumbleweed due to his tendency of falling on a regular basis early on in the adventure and Russell goes by Fisherman's Friend due to his early fits of coughing on the trail. I was given the honorary name of "No Deal" by the guys but that is a story for another time. Looking at the picture below you could see why I might think that Robbie's name be Woodland Ninja.

I don't have any pictures of the truly hard terrain because the thought of taking my camera out or even carrying it in my pocket was an epic chore at those times so I instead have a picture of one of the few easy moments of my adventure.

By the time I was leaving my feet were falling apart and yet I had just completed another 20 miles with a lot of bandages on them. This sign alone came within a mile of the end of my adventure and I was happy to see it, although reluctant to leave.

As for the guys, (Crash, Tumbleweed, and Fisherman's Friend) they were left in a small nearby hotel by my father nearby the trail for one of the rare nights of luxury they will have. Granted it is only luxury for a short time because hours later they would ultimately be hitchhiking back to the spot they departed the trail to continue the long walk to Georgia.

Enjoy the trail guys and I might see you again once my feet heal,

No Deal

ON THE TRAIL

2009-10-02T12:27:00.003-04:00

I am heading out here in an hour or so to hit the Appalachian Trail to meet up with some friends. I will try and take some pics on the way but I am uncertain when I will be posting next.

VIDEO - Gameday in Morgantown

2009-10-02T11:29:00.002-04:00

GO TO THE BLOG TO SEE THIS

Vital Trail Training - Bearditude (Tude of the Beard)

2009-09-30T15:02:00.005-04:00

I have been studying the pictures from the Appalachian Trail recently and have noticed that any training I may have done previously may have been focused on the wrong area. I stole the next 3 pictures from facebook to demonstrate my point. The 3 individuals pictured below from left to right are Fisherman's Friend, Crash, and Tumbleweed. They have all hiked from Maine down to Virginia thus far and I will be meeting up with them on Friday. I realize that they have grown into hardcore endurance athletes over the course of the trip but that is not the growth that I believe to be most crucial... they all share one common element that fuels their success.

Look here at Tumblweed (AKA BOB). Before departing he was incapable of any facial growth except for that small patch under the lower-lip now his beard required 2 quarts of 10W-30 every month to keep him running.

Don't even get me started on this guy. He has spent a 2 seasons up in Alaska perfecting the shore-to-shore beard but without the cold winds of the ocean I was uncertain if his beard would follow him down into the lower 48 but it has only grown more enchanting. One can tell from the photo that it now has the ability to control snakes.

In realizing my efforts up to this point have been on physical endurance and not beard awesomeness I have resorted to searching the past for signs of hope for my bearditude. The beard photoed below was captured last year but it has become my new focus of motivation for my current attempt.

Knowing that I hit the trail on Friday I have focused all of my efforts on starting a beard that will fuel my adventure and this morning I awoke with beginnings show below. I fell asleep clean shaven but with a dream of the future and after great physical exhaustion I now have a chance of survival on the trail.

Training for some hiking

2009-09-27T20:50:00.003-04:00

Apparently I will be heading to do some hiking on the Appalachian Trail at the end of this week for an undetermined amount of time. I have a couple of friends that have made their way into Virginia and I am hoping not to slow them down too much so I have upped my game running and riding the bike here recently.

Sadly this means a little less of practicing my curls...

Hopefully a little sacrifice now pays off in the long run...

Shopping... wastin more time with the camera

2009-09-18T14:14:00.002-04:00

To pass a day I accompanied my mother out for a day of shopping. It is a definite culture shock after spending most of the last year plus traveling around the globe to set foot into a humongous Sam's Club like the one pictured above:

I also got the experience of going to arts and crafts stores.... I recommend hiding from any place called the Hobby Lobby...

I actually chose to hide inside of the Hobby Lobby... yes, the plants were fake.

I was then asked to leave.... how was I supposed to know that these signs were to take home and hang up? I can read French and they reserve these signs for certain locations. Clean up on aisle 5.

They did recommend that I head back to the adult diaper aisle though... yes there was an entire aisle at Sam's for them.

Artsy Bar Pics - Sweet Shop

2009-09-17T19:10:00.002-04:00

So nights at home can be a bit slow so I took some pics while out. Let it be noted that I am not capable with a camera.

The pour
yup
locals

Cheap pitcher of Amber Bock
Live tunes by this guy...

Del Sol - Worst Wings on the Planet?

2009-09-17T18:32:00.003-04:00

Recently I headed out in my hometown on a Wednesday to hit up wing night at a local bar. I have long know that a wing night existed at Del Sol Lounge here in town and hot (buffalo) wings are one of my favorite foods on the planet, but this was my first trip down there for them due to my lack of interest in spending too much time there.

I ordered 12 of their traditional buffalo wings (no choice of hot or mild) and found myself yearning for the pieces of celery and carrot that sat near the edge. The meat itself was good but the sauce was terribly disappointing. It carried only a slight smell of spice but only managed to make the chicken feel oily. 12 wings were also discount priced at $6 so it really wasn't a special when you consider that you can get them around town (normally in the sacrilegious boneless variety for cheaper). Needless to say I will not be doing this again

There were 2 business travelers parked next to me and they ordered the wings before asking my recommendation. I actually felt bad when their order came out. I finished mine because I refused to waste the food but they finished maybe 3 of their 12 and then decided they would do dinner somewhere else.

So wing night is not worth it and on Friday's they want to charge $5 for entry to pay for the DJ. Just to put this in perspective... a DJ in WV can only be compared to going for a nutritious and pleasing meal at a strip club - enjoyable at first but at the end leave you running toward the door (a bathroom door in the case of the strip club).

Trail with Padre - Bald Eagle

2009-09-11T20:15:00.003-04:00

In my new pursuit of fitness I hit the trail with Padre to log a few miles on the bikes. Why join a gym during the summer around here?

Of course I took the faster/lighter bike because he logs a lot more miles a year than I do.

At mile marker 8 on the trail we looked across the river and spotted what we believe to be a bald eagle. There are a few that live near here though neither of us have spotted one here before. I managed a quick if blurry pic from where I was at before he flew off but he definitely looked the part. (On the rock in the center... click on the pic to blow it up).

Here are the stats from the ride. I logged 16 miles in total and dranke1.5 bottles of water (I am a little out of shape still).

I did manage to post the fastest speed of the day with 24.62 mph so that was a plus.

Sadly Hector couldn't make this trip but I might have him out again tomorrow...

Driving my hometown... video

2009-09-09T13:57:00.002-04:00

Hittin the trail - again

2009-09-09T00:25:00.003-04:00

In the pursuit of getting into shape I headed back down to the Greenbrier River Trail today with my training partner (Hector) and got in 4 weighted miles of hiking and a nice swim in the river.

I really should try and come down here more often.

Now I just need to make myself do a little more in a day so that I can be in better shape by the end of the month even if I know that my training partner is far ahead of me.

College Football Kickoff - WINGS

2009-09-06T16:55:00.004-04:00

To mark the opening game of West Virginia University Mountaineer football I decided that some buffalo wings were in order so I make up 4+ pounds of meat.

The finished product was a sight to behold

I also had my own cooler to keep my PBR cold and refreshing

I took the food down to Joshua's where we demolished it

Here is Josh sitting in front of his massive television that we watched the Mountaineers beat Liberty on

Training on the Trail

2009-09-03T19:12:00.003-04:00

I am currently looking ahead to the end of this month when I plan on heading to the Appalachian Trail to meet up with Bob and Russell for some hiking. In the spirit of being bored and out of shape I have decided to train a bit here locally on the River Trail.

I took a training partner with me to keep me going. This is Hector.

We only put in 4 or 5 miles but I did load down my pack to 25 lbs and will build up the distance and weight over the course of the month to get myself a little bit more prepared.

It is easy to train where I live because this is the average scenery.

I am hoping to do most of the state of Virginia when I meet up with the duo of Tumbleweed and Fisherman's Friend (Trail Names) so every step I take preparing will have to buy me an extra day out on the trail.

Where I'm From

2009-09-03T18:20:00.002-04:00

Here are just a couple of shots from the small town life that I am back to. This first one is from the main stoplight in the center of town... the Brits should not that we drive on the right side of the road.
And here is one coming back from the main drag to the grocery store, banks, and fast food etc.

Back to the States - In Food

2009-08-30T12:16:00.002-04:00

I decided to document my trip back to the states with food so here it goes.

Early the morning of the 28th I found myself in the Birmingham Aiport settling for BK.

On my Aer Lingus flight from Dublin I chose the Beef and Pasta over the Chicken and Veg option.

My first meal back in the states was a moderate half-rack of ribs and loaded mashed potatoes from Chilis. (Oh yeah and a Coors Light)

Back at the house on the 29th I enjoyed some Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing and an ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon.

And later that day I attended a feast and pretty much enjoyed the best that the USA has to offer. I have missed the food here. Go Mountaineers.

Adios England

2009-08-27T06:20:00.005-04:00

After returning to England I spent some time in and around London with my friend Bex that I met while traveling in Argentina. Sadly I was all pictured out and didn't get any real pictures except for this one from the train station in Chorleywood (quite a happening locale).

Other than that I have spent my time here saying goodbye to my friends

I will miss that even on a Monday things can be busy (now back to WV) where things are barely busy on the weekend.

I am not sure what to type about this photo but I thought I'd throw it into the mix anyway.

I fly out tomorrow at 8am into Dublin and then from there to Washington DC.

Back to England

2009-08-25T10:33:00.002-04:00

I have now made my way back to Birmingham after a couple of great nights in London. I will be here until the 28th when I fly back to the states. I am sure I will post some pics sometime soon but right now I am just recovering and eating a lot.

I Played at the Park... now I'm going home

2009-08-20T15:33:00.002-04:00

Helsinki, Finland appears to be my last new stop on the EuroTour for now. I have booke my flight back to London for tomorrow and will be in England for 1 week before my triumphant return to the states. It will have been right at 7 months since I was on US soil and I think it is about time for me to take a little time off (wait I haven't actually worked in a long time).

That said I have tried to make Helsinki interesting and today while sightseeing some new friends and I found a park that wasn't being appreciated.

ON A BOAT

2009-08-18T12:21:00.003-04:00

Tallinn Estonia

2009-08-18T07:22:00.003-04:00

I am just now leaving Tallinn, Estonia after 4 epic nights. While in town I stayed at the GIDIC hostel in a "tube". The dorm I slept in had 16 beds all recessed back from the main hall and equipped with their own lighting, power, and curtain. This was needed because everybody was sleeping in due to the late nights.

I managed to actually get motivated enough to head to one of the local beaches (on a cold day) to look back at the city (pop. 400,000).

The city itself is great and conveniently small. I can't claim I did too much sightseeing but what I did see was quality.

This is me looking shocked that the rain actually held off long enough for me to take this picture. It started raining again 4 seconds afterward.

I would go back if I was given the chance but now I must look forward to Helsinki, Finland tonight.

Tallinn Estonia - PLanning my return to England and the USA

2009-08-17T04:35:00.002-04:00

I have been up here in Tallinn Estonia for a few days (a place where the local brew is A. Le Coq) and I am planning my trip back to England (from Helsinki to London on the 21st) and then back to the USA a week or so after that.

Ciao Riga

2009-08-17T04:27:00.002-04:00

Granted I have now been in Tallinn Estonia for a few days but I thought I'd post this pic from the sea in Riga. My host there (really it was hosts) were great and even reminded me to pack my plastic t-shirt (raincoat) when I went to town.

Decisions, Decisions

2009-08-13T04:34:00.002-04:00

I am currently in Riga, Latvia and I have some decisions to make. Originally I took this most recent trip to avoid high fares home from England in early August and hopefully make it to Spain but it is coming time for me to decide what to do.

Here are some of my choices:

Go to Tallinn, Estonia (THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF ALL THE CHOICES)

1. Head to Helsinki Finland and fly back to England en route to the USA
2. Head to Helsinki and fly back to England before going to Spain and then the USA
3. Slowly make my way back from Tallinn to Enlgland by land and extend the trip
4. Choose a major city or two and just go there before England and the USA
5. Work my way back to Spain and then England before the USA

Not sure which way to go but I should have it figured out by tomorrow. Oddly the thought of home is sounding good after about 7 months and if I can save a little cash I might get to go travel again a bit sooner.

Riga Latvia

2009-08-12T17:51:00.002-04:00

I have made it up to Riga Latvia and it a great change from Berlin. The city is so much smaller and more laid back.

I am also couchsurfing again so this has been a cheap trip to a new city

Like all the towns in Europe the architecture is great and the city is far more walkable than those in the US.

I have been in the city for a couple of days now and I am sure I will miss it when I head to some other large city in Europe with a faster pace.

At times it feels like my life is going from airport to airport and I am always looking up or down one of these ramps.

Stranded in Berlin - boo couchsurfing

2009-08-10T09:14:00.003-04:00

Last night I was set to meet up with the second couchsurfer in Berlin, Germany. She had told me that she would be available on the night of the 9th around 8pm to meet up in a well-lit part of town. I sent her multiple confirmations but got no other word back from her so I went to the location at 8pm and started the sit.

I saw the sun at first...

and enjoyed the park...
Then it grew darker and darker

In the end I left around 10 pm and found internet and sent out a message to let her know I would stay until 11:30 before giving up. At quarter until 12 I paid for internet to only to find that her plans had changed and that she was not coming back to town.

This so was not my fault because I had contacted her weeks ago and had been confirming the whole time. Luckily the second hostel I tried had a room for the next night so instead of a couch I got to spend about 50+ US Dollars to stay for 2 nights, plus I lost an entire night of going out.

The jury is still out on the couchsurfing thing but I have had 2 good experiences, 1 confusing one that turned out good, and now have been stranded once as well.

I