This time I headed west. The desire to be near the ocean griping my heart. I found her near Tillamook in Cape Lookout State Park. Everything my heart was looking for was there. And I had the privilege to indulge her.
The softest earth.
The bluest sky.
The brightest sun.
The greenest trees.
The tallest cliffs.
The biggest ocean.
The warmest heart.
One thing I love about motorcycles is how exposed to the world you are when riding. Unlike cars you're not safely locked away in a big steel cage. Being exposed to the dangers of the road on a motorcycle forces you to be aware and focused on the present moment. This does more than help you dodge errant cars. Ride past a herd of cattle and the smell of manure and rotting steak will invade your nostrils. I got to experience this sensation many times riding through the Tillamook dairy land. Ride under a canopy of leaves and feel the cool air whip about your bare neck.
Riding west I was constantly aware of my proximity to the ocean due to the smell and temperature of the air. Cooler and oceanier. Some would say 'saltier' but I'm not sure I can really smell the salt in the air, but there is definitely an oceany scent about it.
On my way down to the beach I stumbled across a camp. There were many wooden platforms nestled in a stand of trees just above the most ethereal beach I have ever visited. I figured I would make this camp my own for the night, but upon further exploration discovered it was the property of the Boy Scouts of America. I thought I'd play it safe and find a legitimate camping place this time.
I continued on to the beach. The ocean was not visible at the moment as it was obscured by a haze of fog blowing in from the south. It was still perfectly sunny out, however, and the sky perfectly blue. The fog's brief veiling of the beach added a certain air of mysticism to the scene. I spent the next few hours engaging, exploring, experiencing, playing with, and existing at the beach. I frolicked in the surf. I ran on sand wet and dry. I peaked into tide pools and was bitten by sand fleas. Lastly I took a long nap and gazed out into the vastness of the pacific.
My decision to find a legitimate place to camp lead me on a wild goose chase which eventually landed me at Whalen Island. It was late and getting very dark. I paid $15 dollars to string my hammock up between a fence post and picnic table. I endured a cloudy and clammy night alone at the most dismal campsite on the Oregon Coast.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
excerpt from journal. August 24th, 2011
Appropriate disclaimer: the following is a verbatim transcription of what I've written in my journal. Posts with similar titles will contain equally guileless writing. Judge freely.
I left the store around six today and road my motorcycle up the country roads to Estacada. I stopped at a gas station and quick mart to fuel up my bike and grab some canned food for my night in the woods. Chef Boyardee ravioli and canned peaches. I've been planning on doing a solo ever since I moved out of my previous house. It was my home for a few months.
I plan on bouncing around for the next month, but my friend Cat has offered me a place to stay. Cat is nice.
Anyways, here I am, camped out next to Fish Creek, a tributary of the Clackamas River. I feel a playful, loving respect for this river. The Clackamas is fun. It's the river equivalent of your always smiling, slightly chubby (in a comfortable way) friend who's slightly older than you.
I feel like a Kerouac-esque character at the moment. Writing in my moleskin notebook by campfire light whilst my motorcycle sits patiently on the road above me, and a creek rushes a few paces below. My hammock is all set up and I'm tired. I'll only be up as long as there's enough fuel within arms reach to feed my little campfire.
I'm gradually starting to see why friends of mine are so drawn to writing. It's not about the finished product; writing helps you perceive the world in a beautiful way. Or many different ways and through different lenses. Writing because it helps illuminate things in the world. Helps you think about things in various ways. Feelings, emotions, experiences. Perhaps it's because in writing we want to show others the beauty we see in the world, but in the process find it truly for ourselves.
Now, a reflection.
It's funny how I feel sometimes about my self and my attitude towards what I do. For instance, calling myself a Kerouac-esque character. I am drawn to the lifestyle lived by characters such as Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise. But at the same time I feel my desires are so cliche. For some reason I feel cliche is bad and demonstrates a lack of originality. I'm not copying, idealizing, or romanticizing these lifestyles, but merely being inspired by them. I assume that's the way I should go about it.
I left the store around six today and road my motorcycle up the country roads to Estacada. I stopped at a gas station and quick mart to fuel up my bike and grab some canned food for my night in the woods. Chef Boyardee ravioli and canned peaches. I've been planning on doing a solo ever since I moved out of my previous house. It was my home for a few months.
I plan on bouncing around for the next month, but my friend Cat has offered me a place to stay. Cat is nice.
Anyways, here I am, camped out next to Fish Creek, a tributary of the Clackamas River. I feel a playful, loving respect for this river. The Clackamas is fun. It's the river equivalent of your always smiling, slightly chubby (in a comfortable way) friend who's slightly older than you.
I feel like a Kerouac-esque character at the moment. Writing in my moleskin notebook by campfire light whilst my motorcycle sits patiently on the road above me, and a creek rushes a few paces below. My hammock is all set up and I'm tired. I'll only be up as long as there's enough fuel within arms reach to feed my little campfire.
I'm gradually starting to see why friends of mine are so drawn to writing. It's not about the finished product; writing helps you perceive the world in a beautiful way. Or many different ways and through different lenses. Writing because it helps illuminate things in the world. Helps you think about things in various ways. Feelings, emotions, experiences. Perhaps it's because in writing we want to show others the beauty we see in the world, but in the process find it truly for ourselves.
Now, a reflection.
It's funny how I feel sometimes about my self and my attitude towards what I do. For instance, calling myself a Kerouac-esque character. I am drawn to the lifestyle lived by characters such as Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise. But at the same time I feel my desires are so cliche. For some reason I feel cliche is bad and demonstrates a lack of originality. I'm not copying, idealizing, or romanticizing these lifestyles, but merely being inspired by them. I assume that's the way I should go about it.
what we call the hottest weekend of the year in portland.
Summer.
Since school ended I have been living in Portland working for eNRG Kayaking as a kayak instructor and river guide. That's one big ol' check on my list of dream jobs to have. I've been dreaming of being a raft guide for a long time. So a big "Thank You" to Sam Drevo for offering me a position at eNRG for the summer. Working for Sam at eNRG has been huge. Definitely the biggest part of my 'summer.' I say summer in quotations because this is a summer unlike any other I've ever had. I'm not going back to school in the fall, I'm not in Ashland, and it's not over 90 degrees everyday. Summer in Ashland is hard to beat: Waking up in a cool dark basement late in the afternoon to a 90 degree day well underway. Going on a hike and and taking a subsequent dip in the icy reservoir above the lush and green Lithia Park. Packing in a car with friends and heading out to the Illinois river for a camping trip. Bonfires and backpacking in the hills behind Ashland in the dog days of summer. Midnight snacks and videogames until four in the morning with friends. Getting everywhere by skateboard. Truly carefree.
Working this summer has been rewarding and I've met many good friends through eNRG. To name a few; Sam Drevo, Eric Adsit, Michael Gordon, Niko Peha, Aaron Paulson, and many more. We've all invested a lot into this new venture and have been taking lots of people out on the river, mainly with our Willamette Falls Kayak Tour. On this tour we talk about the history of the area surrounding the falls and get an unmatched view of the falls itself. If I ever get my camera back from my mom I might take it along one of these days and post some pictures of the falls.
I've been told most of my life that it is important that you love the work you do. I've never doubted that. With this job I'm learning that lesson firsthand. It would be nice to make money doing what you love, but earning money and fulfillment seems like a hard balance to strike. So fortunate are those that can make a good living doing what they love. Being a river dawg isn't the most lucrative business to say the least, but luckily for me I'm passionate enough about kayaking that the fulfillment I get from being on the river everyday more than makes up for it.
Initially I was planning on funding my adventure to SE Asia with money saved from working at eNRG this summer. I hope to still make a good amount of money at eNRG but I probably won't reach my original goal of $4,000. I was stressing out over this until I got word from my parents that I had inherited some money from my aunt who passed away a few years ago due to cancer. Barb's love is still blessing my life today as her gift alleviated that stress of not making enough money at work to fund my trip. Now I get to focus on having a good time at work and can look forward to spreading Barb's love all over the world!
I've learned some big lessons already in my time away from school. I've spent some valuable time "in the real world." I've had a job. I've payed bills. Real bills like rent, electricity, garbage, water, gas, food, etc. I've found that I had huge expectations for this summer. What a dream to be living in Portland driving my motorcycle to work. And by work I mean kayaking. :P And for the most part it's been great. Honestly a little lonely at times, and confusing. The world can be a confusing place at times. It can be scary, stressful, overwhelming and seemingly unmanageable. It's easy to lose oneself in big questions and big feelings.
Luckily there are places like Oregon Country Fair that remind us about the most important things in life. That is, that the world is first and foremost a beautiful place, full of wonder and awe, stimulation and love.
It hasn't really sunk in yet that I won't be going back to LC in the fall. I still visit campus regularly and use the facilities there often. The library has been a great resource as well as the gym and outdoor pool :)
I'm at school now, in the library. I've been here longer than I planned but it's fine because it feels right.
Remember that last sentence because you might here it again in 10 months.
Since school ended I have been living in Portland working for eNRG Kayaking as a kayak instructor and river guide. That's one big ol' check on my list of dream jobs to have. I've been dreaming of being a raft guide for a long time. So a big "Thank You" to Sam Drevo for offering me a position at eNRG for the summer. Working for Sam at eNRG has been huge. Definitely the biggest part of my 'summer.' I say summer in quotations because this is a summer unlike any other I've ever had. I'm not going back to school in the fall, I'm not in Ashland, and it's not over 90 degrees everyday. Summer in Ashland is hard to beat: Waking up in a cool dark basement late in the afternoon to a 90 degree day well underway. Going on a hike and and taking a subsequent dip in the icy reservoir above the lush and green Lithia Park. Packing in a car with friends and heading out to the Illinois river for a camping trip. Bonfires and backpacking in the hills behind Ashland in the dog days of summer. Midnight snacks and videogames until four in the morning with friends. Getting everywhere by skateboard. Truly carefree.
Working this summer has been rewarding and I've met many good friends through eNRG. To name a few; Sam Drevo, Eric Adsit, Michael Gordon, Niko Peha, Aaron Paulson, and many more. We've all invested a lot into this new venture and have been taking lots of people out on the river, mainly with our Willamette Falls Kayak Tour. On this tour we talk about the history of the area surrounding the falls and get an unmatched view of the falls itself. If I ever get my camera back from my mom I might take it along one of these days and post some pictures of the falls.
I've been told most of my life that it is important that you love the work you do. I've never doubted that. With this job I'm learning that lesson firsthand. It would be nice to make money doing what you love, but earning money and fulfillment seems like a hard balance to strike. So fortunate are those that can make a good living doing what they love. Being a river dawg isn't the most lucrative business to say the least, but luckily for me I'm passionate enough about kayaking that the fulfillment I get from being on the river everyday more than makes up for it.
Initially I was planning on funding my adventure to SE Asia with money saved from working at eNRG this summer. I hope to still make a good amount of money at eNRG but I probably won't reach my original goal of $4,000. I was stressing out over this until I got word from my parents that I had inherited some money from my aunt who passed away a few years ago due to cancer. Barb's love is still blessing my life today as her gift alleviated that stress of not making enough money at work to fund my trip. Now I get to focus on having a good time at work and can look forward to spreading Barb's love all over the world!
I've learned some big lessons already in my time away from school. I've spent some valuable time "in the real world." I've had a job. I've payed bills. Real bills like rent, electricity, garbage, water, gas, food, etc. I've found that I had huge expectations for this summer. What a dream to be living in Portland driving my motorcycle to work. And by work I mean kayaking. :P And for the most part it's been great. Honestly a little lonely at times, and confusing. The world can be a confusing place at times. It can be scary, stressful, overwhelming and seemingly unmanageable. It's easy to lose oneself in big questions and big feelings.
Luckily there are places like Oregon Country Fair that remind us about the most important things in life. That is, that the world is first and foremost a beautiful place, full of wonder and awe, stimulation and love.
It hasn't really sunk in yet that I won't be going back to LC in the fall. I still visit campus regularly and use the facilities there often. The library has been a great resource as well as the gym and outdoor pool :)
I'm at school now, in the library. I've been here longer than I planned but it's fine because it feels right.
Remember that last sentence because you might here it again in 10 months.
Introductions.
Liminal Divagation is a blatantly intellectual, big wordy, and ridiculous sounding title for a travel blog. It's a bit pretentious, I admit. Perhaps a bit hubris as well. I'm not actually helping my case by describing my blog title with the words pretentious and hubris now am I? But what is my case anyways? Well, as you will see, I'm not entirely sure. But I can tell you what this blog is all about, and maybe that will shed some light on its title. This blog will contain a series of posts documenting my year-long leave of absence from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon (Disclaimer: not all posts will be mere re-tellings of my experiences. Expect to read about some mushy-gushy stuff too, like my thoughts and feelings, musings, etc. My blog may begin to resemble a diary or narrative rather than a play-by-play log of my experiences). I have opted to take a break from collegiate life (don't confuse this with academic, intellectual, or scholarly life, think Animal House) and travel the world in order to, well, have an adventure. More to come.
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