Yes, We're Really Going.

It's 7:15 am, we've got 6 hours to make it to Glen Arbor ... should get there with plenty of time to get ready for the wedding ... goodbye Chicago!

Reminder to Self

Cleveland sucks. Ohio might entirely suck. It's one big hairy butt club!

RT4.3333333 begins

Hey folks, we're back after a few months of silence -- glad you're still with us. We started a mini road trip today, we're going to call this RT4.333 for the moment ...  we'd planned to go from NYC to Toronto (AKA TorTonto) to Detroit To Glen Arbor, but someone, who shall not be named here, lost his passport, so we made a detour this morning and headed towards Pittsburgh.

Turns, out there's a little town called Bellefonte on the way to Pittsburgh if you take Route 80.  Bellefonte may or may not be where a certain roadtripper's girlfriend hails from.  First stop: the American Legion .. this fella's got a big gun.   I'm sure veterans in this town wouldn't appreciate my fondling, but hey, whatever.

We may or may not have stopped at a certain Bald Eagle High School.

We may or may not have filled a certain superintendent's truck's door handles with Beef Jerky.

Anyway, we've just arrived in Cleveland and are cleaning up.  It's happy hour ... so later!

RT4: Zoo's Closing Thoughts

I've said this before, but road trips, like life, are unforgiving. You get one shot at a city, to make the most of it, and then you've moved on. Your mistakes and your successes are amplified. This was a pretty sedate road trip. I was more introspective than a good road trip partner should be, with long quiet stretches. Part of that was because I didn't really take that quiet time for myself in the weeks leading up to the trip. But Phaux was built with the emotional sense to let me be. Thank you, Phaux.

I've been to all the places we visited on our road trip ... this time we took a different path to get there. Even the drive to Whistler was repaved for our travels -- Fuck it, I'm sick of metaphor and aphorism. I can't even continue with that thought. Vomit.

The posts ... those events that reached some level of noteworthiness ... only tell part of the story ... these were my highlights:

I like your parts more than you like mine. The last time I was down this road ... I was in love. Who knew hairspray could provide so much amusement (read comments) Who knew I had worn those jeans for 7 days? Enjoy my awesome leather jacket .. it's yours now.

Phaux, thanks for being an awesome friend, for picking up the slack when I was letting it loose. Of any cohort (who I'm not going to have sex with) I could choose for a road trip, the mohawked sentographer is certainly the best. RT4 is in the books. Already looking forward to the Great Lakes.

Phaux's Closing Thoughts, Part 1

I am sitting in seatac airport with five'ish hours to go until I liftoff for home, and want to record some thoughts while they are fresh and juicy. First off, Zoo is a GREAT road mate. Words cannot express his huge contribution to the road trips being extraordinary, but I'll give it a shot..

He is unflinching about being alive and living life his way. I have great respect for him, even when I disagree. His travel is experience is deep, so having him along adds a layer of comfort, especially when he says, "Can we drive down on that iced over river?"  (unnamed rental car company, please do not read this). His encouragement of me and other people to go outside their boundaries and live a little makes life interesting and fun. There's so much more, but my point is sincerely that I appreciate you, Zoo. Thanks for the miles and the smiles, dude.

Places #1 Portland #2 Banff  #3 Vancouver 

I could move to Portland tomorrow and be a very happy man. I will visit Banff many times in the future. And Vancouver is a damn cool city.

Highlights Kennedy School - just plain awesome The Doug Fir and Rontoms are great bars with fun people. Always wanted to drink at the Doug Fir and I learned that the Indie Music scene in Portland is great at Rontoms. My beautiful skull Banff, the beautiful Best Road Biggest Unanswered Question Whistler Village, BC

Panoramas

Favorite People Photo  

Best Breakfast - Voula's (Sorry, Portland!) Best Lunch - St. James Gate Gangers and Mash Best Dinner - Tie between Slo Bar (burger) in Portland and Grizzly House (fondue) in Banff

Growth Every single road trip we make includes opportunities taken to plant seeds, leave room for gestation and let the new rear its head. On this trip, I was a lot more emotionally stable than prior trips, so instead my personal growth included being a bit more "one of the guys." My life prior to this didn't really have opportunity to ever be a wingman, play in bars, flirt outrageously, etc. It was a fairly "normal" path towards the American Dream of having the house, marriage and kids. Now I am living a new bachelor life and finding out that not only do I like being alone, but I also like learning more about what I may like in a relationship with each new gal with whom I spend a little time.

The result? I still believe in love and fidelity in a committed relationship. But it's not something I'll die over if I don't get it now... In the meantime I'm having fun.

As for Zoo, I know he had his own thoughts gestating during the trip. I won't presume to comment on them, but I do think they are going to stay underground for some more nutrients and water in the dark.

On another topic, I have some more thoughts about authenticity. It is a slight paradox that I choose to use a pseudonym on this site, but firmly believe in transparency and authenticity. This is brought into relief by one of Zoo's posts where during that evening I gave out personal information, but not info about this site. It turned out for the best, because the fun-poking from Zoo could be hurtful should the site be found. Nothing terrible, just not entirely nice. And here is the crux of the matter... What Zoo posts is not my responsibility, but I do share the site with him. Do I reveal what he posts by revealing the site, or do I let it pass? That question lies unanswered at present. So I also have something that needs more time to grow before I can make a decision.

It's also apparent that I am still learning the fine art (snicker) of being a wingman. It's foreign to me, and my beliefs. In parallel, I also believe that it's far easier to condemn something without every trying it. Greater understanding comes with experience. Easier said, I'll try anything once. In this case, if everyone is out to have a good time then it's a part of the "game." My gut feeling is that I am far too sincere to be a wingman. ;)

Compare to before RT4

Biggest personal disappointment: Ummm... being a little naive about 'signals'

2nd biggest personal disappointment: Not actually engaging in deliberate Sentography, only holistic.

Biggest personal success: Frankly, enjoying myself with unfamiliar women on short notice. I've been removed from that world for a long time... I usually work into relationships over a long period of time. Bars and dating are almost a foreign language to me.

Wrapup Every road trip is a potent reminder that we have to choose to enjoy our days, not wait for enjoyment to find you. Make the things you want happen, but don't expect to be able to plan every road between here and what you want, leave that to chance - it's more fun that way.

And finally, get yourself a mohawk. It's the tits.

Sleeping in is sooo good.

Sequim, WA and the ferry back...

On our way out of Portland, I decided that I wanted to check out the rumor that Sequim (pronounced "SQWIM"), WA was one of the most wonderful places on earth to live. It was a helluva long drive to get there but the reports of it being sunny when all else is rainy were.. True. They apparently get less than 15" of rain each year. But it is a strange town. We stopped at the Hi-Way 101 Diner for lunch and I had the Dungeness Crab n' Cheese sandwich. Holy Yum.

Back out and headed for Seattle, we decided to take the Edmonds/Kingston ferry. There was a line, so we got bumped back one. It was pouring rain... Anyhoo, we made it on the 5:50 (quite huge) car ferry and I went upstairs to snappy-snappy.

Stumptown Coffee and Voodoo Donuts

I was headed out for an early breakfast with Reggie and Boo when I realized I hadn't gotten my two pounds of Stumptown Coffee yet! Fortunately, it was only 8 blocks from the hotel.

Saw some interesting art on the walls - crocheted portraits!

If you like, here is how to contact Jo Hamilton about the work.

I moseyed on over to Voodoo Donut (map) next...

And for the first time in my life, I was confused by donuts. The gal behind the counter guided me through this.

"Do you like bacon?"

"Yes."

"Do you like Maple?"

"Yes."

"OK - have this. It's a Bacon Maple Donut."

It was no joke. It was also delicious in a very hedonistic way.

Road Trip Worthy: Slow Bar in Portland, OR

Burger: Yes

Beer: Yes

Slow: Yes

Good: Yes

This was the Winter Burger: 1/2lb. Strawberry Mountain natural beef, Rogue Creamery Blue Cheese, Pancetta, grape tomato relish and butter lettuce

Yes, medium rare it was the most delicious burger I've had in many months.

Check out their menu for the other burger. Find Slow Bar on a map.

Atoms Rearranged at Rontoms in Portland

We switched streams to another bar, called Rontoms, where Phaux immediately engaged with Matt Brown and discovered Matt's passion for music as ACTUAL indie music label owner. 

While Phaux was having a conversation of actual substance, I was pointing at this girl's cleavage.

Not sure what this is all about.  I think I thought her nose was cute.  Maybe.

Her friends pick me up ... this is going well ...

I can't resist looking at the cleavage some more ...

The Carrie Underwood look-alike shows some tongue.

Matt and the cute bartender pose ...

Soy el campion del mundo! I'm wearing  her friend's jacket right now.

The cleavage girl tries to nibble on Phaux's ear.

At this point, Phaux ditched me (and opportunities to photograph me molesting cleavage girl) because the blondes from the Doug Fir showed up and dragged him off to a lesbian dance party. Kelsey shows off her extremely strong thighs, dancing around the bottle of lotion.   Don't ask me, I wasn't there, I don't understand, either.

Cathleen revives dance moves from 1994:

Kelsey rests ... 

Kelsey starts looking at our website on her iPhone.   Phaux suddenly leaves ...

This is "The Tallest Man On Earth".  I saw him open for Two Gallants the day (or was it two days) after Christmas 2008.  He was royally fucked up.  Woo.  Anyway, I am taller than "The Tallest Man On Earth".