Three month mark in Hawaii

Honestly, it doesn't at all feel like I've been here three months. I've been filling my off time with reading, beach trips, hanging out in hammocks and general relaxation. It's currently coffee harvest season so I've been doing that after work some days; $15 for a 25-lb bucket of beans. I intend to use that money to supply food during the few weeks of camping I have planned for December.

I changed my departure date from the WWOOF farm to Dec 13th; for a number of reasons. I feel I have not learned anything in my stay here and I feel somewhat like an indentured servant. I still would have visited this farm if I had known what it was to be like, but only for a few weeks not several months. I feel as though I could of learned so much at another farm - although the living condition would have been less luxurious. So on the 13th I will head south to Green Sands Beach and camp there for a few days. Hitchhike to Volcano National Park from there and spend about a week taking in all the trails, craters, lava tubes and lava flows. I have a few contacts I've made in the Puna area so I'll probably check them out and I have a WWOOF stay 'planned' for two weeks starting around the solstice. The farm is basically a survival camp; no work quota or leaders - only need to gather foods to feed ourselves. It's located on a road which is well known for communities, survival camps and the like. So, if I don't like it - I'll walk to the next place. If I don't fall in love with a community there and end up staying I'll head to Hilo and check out some of the touristy sights; the waterfalls, caverns and camp on some beaches. Then further north and trek into Waimanu Valley for several nights. There's a few farms I'd like to check out for a few days in Waimea and Hawi before committing to a longer stay. One is a paint (type of horse) ranch that also installs solar panels; which is 8 miles from the highway. Another is a hatha yoga/raw food/detox/hare krishna place - I've always wanted to visit one to see what all the fuss is about. If none of those places pan out I'll arrange a stay at the Kona hostel for AM work and get a part time job in the evenings. After a few months I should have enough money to spend a few weeks exploring the other islands before flying to New Zealand or Australia.

Aside from all those plans I want to go with the flow. That's my basic outline so I feel like I have a purpose. Although it is liberating to not have a plan at all - it sort of causes me a bit of stress. I like to have something to anticipate. Shaheen, another WWOOFer whose been on the farm with me for almost 6 weeks is leaving Sunday, Ian will be here until January and we have a newcomer, Doris, who arrived last night. All are great people and I'll be sad when we separate paths.

I've been doing great! Trying to do yoga, meditation and eat vegetarian. Although, Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I've started writing a journal-type thing in a book; although I can't say whether I'll actually write in it. I've been trying to live in the present as much as possible (besides all the above planning). Enjoy the wind, smells, sounds and the contact with my fellow humans. I actually feel a lot better when I do not think and only absorb the moment. It's freeing and comforting. And no mom, I'm not turning into some Hare Krishna person. Actually this thinking started while reading "Dharma Bums" and then "A New Earth" (which is that book that Oprah talks about - remember when you told me to get online and do something with her program or something). Not to ruin a surprise but that will probably be your Xmas present.

Well, today's my day off and I don't know what to do. Probably go read and catch a ride into town to buy a camp stove and some propane. It's hard to believe that I leave in two weeks. Very exciting though!

Click them to make them bigger!

Another day in paradise

After fighting an urge for chocolate for a few days I made the walk with my meager tip earnings to the gas station down the highway. A long walk up the driveway lined with avocado, guava, coffee, lime, macadamia nut, bananas and beautiful flowers of all kinds. Once on the highway it's a narrow, crushed lava shoulder and a two-lane road. The clerk at the gas station is the same aged but always cheery Hawaiian women who's always one duty. I make a mental note to ask if they need help on my next visit. She smiles, as always, as she counts my change and starts conversation with the man, a transplant who seems to know the clerk very well, in line behind me. Crossing the street and turning down the driveway, I notice the vog (volcanic fog) has let up enough to see the ocean. Today is the first day it has been clear enough to see the curve of the earth in the horizon. I sigh, bite into my chocolate, and think of spending my day off snorkeling with tropical fish, sea turtles and dolphins.

I'll be at Rainbow Plantation until Janurary. I'm entertaining several ideas for after that. I'll probably work for three months at a hostel in Kona while taking a parttime job in the evenings. That should allow me time to save money to fly to Australia and get through customs there. Though, there are so many great farms all over the islands that I could spend years here.

St Louis & Hawaii

I took a Greyhound into St Louis and my Couch Surfing host, Lindsey, and her guy friend, Jason, picked me up from the bus station. STL Greyhound has a nice new station in downtown, opposed to in the ghetto of N STL. However, the security is crazy - they wouldn't let me in the terminal without an onward ticket! I just wanted to go to the bathroom! I discovered Amtrak is connected and used their facilities instead.

I guess all the stress and fretting over leaving made me a tad anxious and I got sick for a day. After they picked me up we headed to a sweet bar called Atomic Cowboy where a Burner (as in Burning Man) meeting was taking place. Caught a bit of fire spinning before I decided to pass out in the car. Basically I ended up crashing on Lindsey's couch while Jason attempted to make me eat for the next day. I did wake up in time for us to venture to the City Museum, The Loop, and hang out with some of their friends. The next morning the amazing pair drove me to the Metro so I could catch the train to the airport. Both were amazing hosts and I hope to see them next time I'm in STL.

The flights were not that exciting. Both weren't that packed and I got a window seat for both (sweet!). I arrived in Hawaii at 2pm and found out that there was not a public bus that made the run to Kona. Taxis cost $25 (the cost of a hostel stay). I sat around for a while thinking I could ask some kind looking folk for a ride but that didn't happen and I was getting antsy. I watched a backpacker looking guy walk down the road and figured I should hitch. I walked for a bit along the airport road to the highway to no avail and then realized I probably looked like a male with my hair tucked in my hat. With hair down the second car that went by stopped. SUCCESS. The guy was really nice and worked for the airport. He drove me to an internet cafe in town where I found a cheap hostel to stay at. I walked around for a bit since it wasn't opened yet and ate dinner.

MORE LATER.

Missouri

I'm back at EW for two weeks. Well, I guess another 9 days then I'll be heading out actually. Preston drove me to Chicago last week so I could catch the bus to Springfield to meet with the EW trip that comes into town every two weeks. I took Megabus from Chicago to St Louis for $27, caught a taxi to the Greyhound station ($10) and then the dog to Springfield ($38). It would of cost me $120 and taken 6 more hours had I taken only Greyhound from Elkhart.

It was really nice to spend some time with Preston - he's thinking about ways to come travel with me. We'll see how that panes out over time. We took a drive to South Bend before I left to see Notre Dame, which was nice. A real ritzy campus. We also visited some of his friends down state a bit and played croquet - which I won. Drank some nice beer and what not. I'll miss him a lot.

EW has been nice. It's good to see my friends and spend time with them. I know I won't be back this way for a while so I'm trying to soak it up. The creek is back to normal, pretty much anyway. Swimming has been amazing. I've watched a few of the kids and it's so nice to have them back in my life. The youngest has gotten so much older since I last saw him - it's so neat to be able to see him grow. I've been eating good food (the garden is amazing), pooping regular (for mom), and basically relaxing.

I'll be heading to St Louis on the 26th and spending two days there couchsurfing with a girl who works with an urban farming co-op before catching my flight to Kona on the 28th at 6am. I'll have a layover for a few hours in Phoenix. After that I start work at the WWOOF farm/B&B on the 1st. I'll be working 8am-1pm, 5-6 days a week (depending on number of guests) with the rest of the time off. The website for the B&B is here if you want to take a look.

Indiana and Michigan

I got into Indiana last Tuesday after an 11 hour car ride with Ben, a 30-something from Colorado. Yet another successful rideshare from Craigslist! Four for four! The drive was pretty uneventful, only three stops for gas/food. Lots of corn fields.

Staying with the guys in Indiana has been pretty fun. Lots of movies, drinking and general mischief. Well not too much mischief - but a moderate amount. We drove up to Empire, Michigan this past weekend for Sleeping Bear Dunegrass & Blues Festival. A very fun little festi. moe played two nights and Cornmeal played nearly everyday. Bump also played, although we missed them. Lake Michigan was only about a mile from our campsite so we went swimming a lot. All in all, a good time. Well, minus the over abundance of cops. Twice we were shaken down by the local sheriff. Once during the day for a hand rolled cigarette (meh). And again during a big drum circle that broke out in the road next to our tents. The cops came to break that up after a few hours but being 3am, everyone's blitzed and there are 3 cops roaming in the dark. Pretty scary and annoying.

It seems the flights I'll be getting on for Hawaii are pretty open - success! I'll be heading out August 28th - I believe. I'm leaving for Missouri in the next few days - spending two weeks in Missouri before heading to St Louis airport. I'll probably couchsurf there for two nights before my flight. Then Hawaii! How awesome?

The end of July

A year ago I was living in Costa Rica. I've been traveling, or bumming around, for over a year. A YEAR! Here's a brief run-down for those who haven't been on the band wagon:
One and a half months working on an organic coffee farm in Rivas, Costa Rica
A week or so working at a hostel in the rural highlands of Chirripo National Park (one of the last buildings before the wild)
Seven months (off and on) at an intentional community in rural Missouri (meeting people who I will forever consider family)
Months/weeks here and there visiting Delaware and igniting travel bugs and dreams when I could
Went to five festivals without paying a dime after working/volunteering them (Langerado in FL, Summer Camp in IL, Wakarusa in KS, Bonnaroo in TN and All Good in WV)
Worked an a sheep farm in Lawrence, KS for two weeks
Spent two weeks with one of my best friends in Columbus, OH
Had numerous Greyhound/Craigslist ride share adventures
Met so many people that have to buy handfuls of post cards

The biggest thing is that I've gotten used to being alone and taking care of myself again. My health is much better than it was when I worked 40+ hours a week and was living the stress-filled American dream. I used to get sick every month, like clock work. I felt over-whelmed, closed in and sort of like a trapped rat. Now I am so much happier, healthier and fulfilled. Even if I was to go back to a typical job tomorrow my outlook would be totally different. I know what life is about. It's about enjoying it to the fullest. Our world is full of sadness and destruction right now, why not change it starting with yourself. Realize that all those pills your doctor throws at you aren't the answer. GO OUTSIDE and away from cars! Sit down under a tree and breath. Take off your shoes and feel the dirt. And no, you won't get a disease (well, maybe, here in Delaware). Breath, relax, listen to the birds, feel the wind shift, feel the connection of your body to the earth and breath. Our current society is running at a break neck pace...which mains sooner or later you are going to break your neck. Many of the illnesses and disorders that plague our society weren't even a issue until this last century. In this same time we've gone from horses to cars as transport, from hand written letters to email, from cherishing family to isolation via television. Why not give slowing down a chance instead of popping happy pills? But you need money to pay the bills right? Gas is too high to ask for an hour cut? I'm not saying you need to quit your job and be a vagabond. Take a sick day when you feel a little down. Ask yourself 'What do I really have to do today?' Take the long way home. Hand write a letter to a close friend instead of emailing - so it will take a few days longer, but I guarantee they'll love it. Enjoy life and don't fret. Life has its ups and downs, lefts and rights, u-turns and roundabouts. Just breath while you do go through with it.

I guess I am a hippie.

Delaware & Ohio

My time in Delaware was cut in half because I found a Craigslist rideshare to Columbus a week earlier than planned. The woman I rode with was very nice and good conversation was had when I wasn't passed out in the passenger seat. She had a sweet ride, an old 5-speed Saab. She dropped me off at my friend's work in the Short North (south of OSU campus in Columbus). The past week has been a lot of fun. I've been relaxing a lot, borrowed someone's bike, had dinner with WWM and Jenny, drank with my friend's parents, went bar hopping, went to ComFest (hippie type festival Cbus does every year), fell in love with a thrift store that had many things in my size, and many more things I can't recall. I've been trying to get a ride to Nelson Ledges to no avail. My CL ride that I had arranged last week canceled and I haven't had any luck since. Oh well. I'm heading to All Good Festival in WV next weekend. Volunteering with Clean Vibes again, always a great experience. Probably ride back to Delaware with one of the friends I have going. Stay there for a week or two and hang out. Then probably up to Camp Bisco in NY and Gathering of the Vibes in CT. Then to Hawaii. I have a farm stay arranged on the Big Island starting on Aug 30th.

My new tattoo

Kansas, Tennesse & Delaware

I stayed in Lawrence, Kansas for two more weeks since my last entry. Most of the time was spent working on the farm. I helped plant over 60 tomatoes and did the prep work for a half dozen more rows. The owner was trying different techniques on mulching around the seedlings to see if the crop could be planted earlier, produce later or produce better. Some of the rows were previously tall grasses so we mowed the rows and put down a line of damp, poop hay that had been used in the sheep pens. We raked the tall grasses back over top to provide a cover. I'd love to go back and taste the fruits of my labor. Also, I went to Wakarusa on the other side of Lawrence. My farm's owner dropped me off and I asked at the volunteer check in if they had any openings. Next thing I know I have a shiny blue wristband attached to me. I had to work two-8 hour shifts on Sat and Sun - but the shifts were just as fun as enjoying the festival. Two of the nights were canceled because of strong thunderstorms (it was Kansas - tornadoes are common - with lots, lots, lots of lightening). Two of my EW family were there and I had a blast spending time with them. Lots of skinny dipping and slight craziness! I hitched out of the festival to get back to the farm as the rain died out Sunday. Enjoyed a hot shower and nursed my wounds from walking barefoot.

Storm rolling in at Wakarusa


Sheep at the WWOOF farm


A few days after the festival I caught a Greyhound to Manchester, TN for Bonnaroo. About 4 other people were on the bus with me the whole way - good festi family. The finally bus to Manchester was nearly full and half was for 'Roo. Three of the guys rented a car and I caught a ride into the grounds with them. A note for those who Greyhound into 'Roo in the coming years. The owners of the gas station chase off any cars offering you ride and ask you to take their shuttle in for $5 a head. It's not such a bad deal but the guy was a douche. He said in past years people have offered rides, had the rider throw their shit in back and sped off with it. Personally, I trust my gut. I believe that if a Greyhound rider simply waited for a car that was obviously going to 'Roo and asked if they had a spare spot that it wouldn't take that long to get a ride. Anyway, I camped with my new friends way back in the boonies. I didn't mind though. Quiet at night - I had a nice sleep all nights. Alas, I slept through every late night. Still on farm time you see.

'Roo was 'Roo. Getting way too big, dirty (not just the dust), unfriendly and unfestival-like. So many first timers there! I wanted to take them all with me so they could see other festivals. They'll learn! I guess I am a snob when it comes to certain things; festivals and traveling mostly. It's just because they're my life at the moment.

Shakedown at Bonnaroo 2008


I worked clean up after 'Roo for two days. Met awesome new friends and had a blast working and playing. Clean Vibes is always a great experience. I highly recommend it. One of my fellow volunteers was heading to NYC so I bummed a ride to Delaware. My plan was to head to IN to see a friend but it wasn't in the cards that time. I've been here a few days and I'm hopefully heading out Thursday with a ride share from Craigslist to Columbus. Then to find a ride to Nelson Ledges Quarry for RythmFest. Oh, the joys of the vagabond life.

Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois & Kansas

Way too much time in the mid-west if you ask me! Spent a month back at EW in Missouri. The last week I was there I went on a float trip in Arkansas for 5 days. Canoeing the Buffalo River! So we only made it 10 miles, but we had a hell of a good time! Caught Greyhound to Peoria, IL. Met a kind guy working at the bus station there who offered to take me in for the night & let me tag along to Summer Camp Festival (about 20 mins north) the next day. Hung out with some of his friends and had a lot of fun.

Summer Camp was AMAZING. Such a great festival! Good music, multiple sets for most bands, nice camping, not too many people, kind folks all around. Got to take my photo with one of the guys from Umphreys (I was working right next to the Main stage one day). Good fun. Met so many interesting, fun people. Got a free ticket into one of the late night shows with Ha Ha the Moose, two of the guys' from moe's side project. Amazing set. Watched the Flaming Lips & Umphreys with a 18-year old who was at his first festival! Danced so hard to George Clinton & P Funk that my entire body ached. Stayed up late the last night jumping to Cornmeal (Allie with her sexy fiddle). Spent the night in my tent while they attempted to evacuate the campgrounds because of 70 mph winds and tornado warnings. My small kid's $20 Walmart tent withstood!! Ba-ha! Caught a ride back to the bus station with the guys who gave me the late night pass.

Dancing in the mud at Summer Camp

The Flaming Lips at Summer Camp

OAR at Summer Camp

Passed out (drooling-style pass out) on the whole 12 hour bus ride to Kansas. Was in Iowa for a second but I was out like a light. One of the first bus ride where I didn't talk to a single person. Note: Always make sure it's your stop. I almost got off at the wrong city twice! Yeah, I was passed out.

Got picked up by my WWOOF host right as I arrived in Lawrence, KS. Been on the farm here for four days or so now. One of the house mates is a massage therapist and bought a vendor booth at Wakarusa. She may have an extra ticket to sell me on the cheap. She's out of town so I won't know until next week. The farm is nice. Long hours, harsh heat and sun but varied work and kind folks. Today I harvested green onions, lettuce, spinach and eggs. Washed a huge amount of tubs for market tomorrow. Collected seeds from the invasive weeds in the pastures before they start to spread. Yesterday put up two lengths of fence for the sheep. Learned how to winch, put up h-bars, and secure fencing for a herd of sheep and a llama. I'm working with Luna, one of the border collies, to have her respond better to commands. I got her to bring the sheep to me from the far side of the farm yesterday (with some help from the owner).

I have free roam of everything in the house. After I work some I can take the bike to downtown or what ever. The Kansas River is five blocks over and the storm surge is crazy right now. Downtown Lawrence is really nice. Heady library that I have a temp card to borrow. Biked to Sonic today for food; sometimes I get bored of farm fresh stuff (I am an American). Tomorrow is market but the owner said most weekends are relaxing but I'll probably go collect more of those weed seeds and reinforce one of the fences.

Red lettuce at Kansas farm

Ambroses

Swallow & nest

Dead Indigo Bunting

Langerado & Florida

Once again the value of the internet is proven on my travels. I check Craigslist randomly for rideshare listings depending on where my next destination happens to be. This time I lucked out with a group of 20-somethings heading to Langerado in a school bus from NYC. Nine Jewish people and myself, an atheist, on a 1000+ mile roadtrip. We averaged 55mph the whole way and the bus broke down three times. We left Delaware 2am Wed and by 5pm Fri we had reached Daytona Beach, just in time for Bike Week. Because six of the people practiced shabbat, which is a day of rest from sundown Fri to sundown Sat, the bus wasn't going to make it to the festival until Sunday. I talked the other three non-praticing people into renting a car and driving the rest of the way. All in all, I paid $65 for the whole transportation down to FL. We arrived at the Seminole reserve around 3am and were told we had to wait. The three guys wanted to get discounted tickets so they had to wait for 5am and I had to wait for on the work exchange people to wake up to get my wristband.

We set up camp near some of the guys friends and I wandered off to explore. I spent some time at EW's vendor tent and saw a ton of great performances. Because we didn't arrive until Sat I missed a ton of bands I really wanted to see on Thurs and Fri - but it's alright. I did get to see REM, Phil Lesh, 311, Govt Mule, Ani DiFranco, Keller Williams, Ben Folds, Disco Biscuits, Citizen Cope, Minus the Bear, Ghostland Observatory (which put on a sick light show), Railroad Earth, State Radio, Yard Dogs Road Show, and other bands I wandered for a few songs.

After the festival I started working for Clean Vibes, doing the clean up work of the stage areas and the campgrounds. In the process of this my tent, pack and everything was lost/stolen. The work exchange people told me the wrong place to camp so everything was gone when I went back to check on it. But got my passport and license back from the Seminole police. Meh, I moved on. Two days of picking up trash, groundscoring left and right, and getting nice warm home cooked meals - all for free. CV offered to pay us that wanted to stay longer but I had arranged for two kids from Orlando to take me to the Greyhound station. So we left and ended up skinny dipping in Ft Lauderdale - which was awesome. Since I really had no place to be I tagged along to Orlando and spent the night with Natasha. Had an amazing lunch of vegan beans and spices with rice and then caught a cheap flight back to Philly thanks to my mom. I spent a good chunk of my tax return on replacing my gear and I'm heading back out on the road on 4/21.

Into Fall We go

In retrospect, the past months have been a great time for me to shape who I am and come to terms with what I want from life. But during the past few months it's been a whirlwind of people, places, feelings, thoughts and moments. I can't begin to explain what I've gone though since Chris left. I can't, not at all. I stayed in Delaware for maybe a week and decided that too many memories and ghosts floated in my path there. My friends and family were/are so supportive of me, I cannot ask for more.

I left for an intentional community in Missouri, which is what some people call a hippie commune. Basically, I view it as an alternative to the materialistic world of work that America is known for. It is not a prefect picture of utopia by any means, but it gives a good example. Life without the worry of work, money and possessions is possible. And don't think it's a bunch of ex-Dead Heads getting knotted in the sticks. Internet, running hot water, a huge DVD collection, 1000+ acres of the most diverse woodland in the US, four swimming holes, a family of 50+ people who care deeply about your well being and your interests. And no, I don't have to sell my car, give my money or worship a guru. The only requirements are that I understand the social contract (basically no hurting other people), work 35 hours a week (childcare, cleaning, gardening, cooking, feeding animals, nut butter production, etc), one weekly kitchen chore (dishes), and 2-8 hours of required income quota (working in an area the community profits from). I usually work 4-5 hours a day, hang out the rest of the day with the 20-something crowd, hike/swim/ride bikes, drink a bit and maybe watch movies. Not so much different from the outside world but no one here frets about bills or medical care (after 6 months I get covered here). No need to worry about anything but enjoying life and getting your labor sheets in.

I have no plans as to when I'm leaving yet. I have ideas but I'd rather not share them until I'm certain. I tend to tell everyone my ideas in the past and I usually change them shortly after. So no talk until it is decided. Email or leave a comment if you want any information about the community or my plans. wheresamber@gmail.com