Happy solstice!

Today in honor of the summer solstice (and the longest day of the year) I will take some time out of my day to post on our severely neglected blog site.

Kyle keeps promising he'll post and I know he's got lots up his sleeve, but this will just have to act as a fill in for the time being. 

So in order to update anyone who is still checking in on us we are okay! Actually more than okay, we are fantastic! 

We have been in the city of Mt. Shasta California since about June 15th and are loving it. 

We spent a few days getting to know the place, shopping at thrift stores and the natural grocery store Barryvalle which we've frequented many times since then :). One of the kind strangers on the street told us we had to check out Castle lake and the beyond hike to Hart Lake on the west side of town. Here's a glimpse of what we saw-

Beautiful views of Mt. Shasta and black butte and the view of castle lake from above. Just behind me from this vantage point was Hart lake which looks like this ....

On our way down the trail we ran into a very warm and friendly group of hikers named David, Carol, Peter, and Beth. We immediately hit it off with them, and started talking about sustainability, apirituality and exploration. Carol had just moved to town and asked us to come stay on her property. She has a beautiful home which is decorated with masterful tile work designed by its previous owner with breathtaking views of the mountains all around. Carols brother Pete lives on about 6 acres just down the hill from carol and is also a very spiritual and sharing person. He has a lot of land that he has been wanting to utilize for a long time but has not had the time or the resources. This is where we came in. We offered to help Peter create an organic garden on his property and help with an existing garden, in exchange for parking our trailer on a piece of his land. He was more than willing and very gracious and we all hit it off immediately. We feel very happy, free, and at home here. Pete even has a barn in which we can park the trailer in for the winter which can get very snowy in Mt. Shasta. 

It is hard to explain how great it is here and why we have chosen to stay. I guess it was an unspoken feeling we both had that this place just felt right, and why keep looking if we felt home here. The surroundings are beautiful, there is a giant spring called the Headwaters in the middle of town where people fill jug after jug of liquid conciousness and sit around drinking 50 year old snow melt and smiling at one another with peace in their eyes. There's a farmers market, an ecology center, a yoga studio, a wholesale solar company, coffee shops, mountain climbing, alpine lake swimming, hiking, spiritual healing and so much more.

 If you've never gotten the chance to visit Mt. Shasta I could not reccomend it more. It's a bit of a journey though, the largest airport being in Sacramento over 2 hours away by car. But that's part of the over all allure to this place. It feels like a hidden gem, like the beacon of light we were searching for all throughout California on this trip. We weren't sure we'd even find a place like this in California, but this place feels like a whole other universe in itself. 

Promise we'll update again soon :) time to go hike the mountain! 

Love! 

Holy Shasta!

Greetings from Mount Shasta! What a beautiful place, words cannot describe the energy here. I will post a few images from our journey until we can reflect and write some more! Northern California is great. Best wishes and blessings to you all :)

The beautiful Castle Lake where we went swimming! 

If you're going to San Francisco....

So here we are sitting in an overcrowded coffee shop just off of Ocean Beach in San Francisco. The ocean fog and the steam of the coffee and tea dance and mingle seamlessly in the air around us. The caffeinated barista yells orders over the chatter in the room in an animated voice "A-dam, I gotchya non-fat mo-chaah". Luckily we arrived on a weekend where there are no events going on. The city is apparently much less crowded than usual. Yet the line is still out the door in this cafe.

Last night we went to a local spot, a fire-pit birthday celebration on ocean beach. My mom's college friend Cristi lives in Oakland and invited us to this relaxing celebration on the beach. It was nice conversing with these very smart and kind people. They seemed to understand our intentions and us theirs. We shared laughs, good food, and drink. Cristi pointed out how interesting it is that even in our modern, fast paced day and age, at the end of the day, we all end up around a fire by the ocean... such a natural feeling :)

We drove up North from Santa Cruz yesterday along the "Great Highway" next to the Pacific coast. Passing through towns like Half Moon Bay and Pacifica gave off good vibrations. The area where the cliffs meet the ocean stirs up a nostalgic yet new feeling of exploration, excitement and happiness.

I have many hopes. My hopes at the moment are that we are sufficiently documenting this experience. It is somewhat difficult to truly live it and reflect on it simultaneously. This is such a profound exploration of cultures throughout our country. Everyday is new. The people are new, the places, the feelings, problems, successes and even gas prices change constantly. The gas prices are mostly expensive but we're always in search of the elusive number just below $4.00 a gallon.

Its refreshing how progressive the people in California are. Its not a matter of being "liberal" or "conservative", its just a matter of doing something of change and of importance. People seem to understand our intentions here. They see the value in sustainability and social change. Although there are still problems. The inequality is still very clear, as with everywhere in America. And although they charge .25 in every grocery store if you want a bag to carry out your items, they don't even give you a re-usable cup this coffee shop i've been loitering at all morning. Every person sitting around me is drinking out of a disposable cup that will surely end up in a landfill as there is no recycling bin in site... Oh well. At least I don't have to explain myself here every time I mention I don't eat meat.

I realize that this is becoming quite a rant and i'm not really coming to any conclusions but sometimes it just feels nice to express these vague feelings and put them into form. One feeling that is very strong in my heart is the feeling of change. Something big is going to happen soon, and it is happening already. It has to, literally to save our lives. Its so apparent through our travels and talking to other people our age, and older, throughout California. I recently watched a new film called "Dam Nation" at the Patagonia outlet in Santa Cruz. Its all about the demolition of detrimental and old-fashioned dams throughout the U.S. It talks a lot about the environmental problems these dams have created and how little energy they actually create. Many of these dams throughout Washington specifically have nearly wiped out the entire Snake River Stockeye fish population, and how the amount of power this dam produces is equivalent to only 3 wind turbines. Renewable energy is so clearly on its way in. Its the most exciting time in our country right now! With Obama's executive actions and the changes in our country and the EPA. It's so exciting and it really is great to see our money going to things like changing the health of the world and ourselves, rather than a war in Russia or something... Anyway now i'm really ranting and getting into political stuff that will surely get someone talking. But hey, maybe thats what I want to do. But just think about this, if we can't even breathe because of all the pollution in the atmosphere, do any other issues even matter? If theres no air to breathe it doesn't really matter if gay marriage or medical marijuana are legal does it? This is the number one issue and somehow people can't see it.

Alright i've sufficiently talked about all sorts of things probably no one wants to read about, so i'll just do what I do best and post some pictures ;) these are some new film images I got developed in Santa Cruz!

 This is a view from a view tower on the top of a very long road through the desert of California. This picture was taken on some of the first days of our trip, just outside of Yuma. We were so happy in this moment because the car didn't break down going up-hill in the 100 degree weather with very high winds!

 This is an older image taken on one of our last days in Tucson before we took off. All the cacti were blooming as if to send us off with a fond farewell.

 One of my favorite images. The watchtower at the top of the hill looking out over the California desert.

 Walking along the beach with friends outside of Camp Pedleton in Southern California. This is where we learned how to surf!

 Rocky beach, waves, and light leaks :)

 Sunset over the ocean. These images were taken on Film that was cross-processed using different chemicals, thats why they look so funky! I love the effect.

 Another image at the beach where we learned to surf.

 California Poppies double exposed with the lake outside of Julian, California.

 A double exposure of the road, our car/ home, and the desert.

Thanks for reading :) We are heading to Northern California and Oregon very soon. We are really looking forward to seeing this part of the country, we've heard such great things! We will surely have lots to post about and inspirations to share.
Much love from your favorite vagabonds ~

Photos to go with Kyle's previous post.

Kyle's quite the creative writer, eh? ;) Here are some pictures to go with our unexplainable times in Sequoia National Forest and Yosemite National Park. We are in Santa Cruz now and absolutely love this town!! 

Some lovely understory beneath the redwoods. 

The trail of 100 giants in Sequoia! 

Madz and a massive tree! So much fun being around these living giants! 

Towering beauties. Kyle collected some fallen sap from the trees to create salves. 

Some type of squirrel nesting in a tree. 

The view from Dome rock in Sequoia. Trees for miles, just like we like it.

Collecting water straight from a mountain spring! Delicious. 

Skipper playing hide and seek. 

The iconic view of Yosemite valley. It was like a dream seeing this for the first time. 

Mirror lake in Yosemite. So peaceful.

Kyle reading and relaxing by the river. 

Half dome, vernal and Nevada falls from glacier point. 

Endless epic views. We are in awe of this place! 

A view from inside skipper.

Adios amigos! 

(I'll name this after I write the post)

List of expectations for this blog posting

Format:

1.) Start by answering families questions about our health, geographic, and social well-being

2.) Response to the lack of posting in our former 2-day pattern

3.) Questions about showers, happiness, scabies (just kidding), lack of paint on our trailer, roundness of windows (they haven't gotten less round), readings, ect... ect..

Note: Not all of these things have been yet asked nor mentioned, but we feel they should be addressed.

Answers:

Do either of us have scabies?

A.) Yes, both of us. B.) One of do, so we're wearing a permanent plastic robe to stop its spread C.) Neither of us have scabies and had to google search what it actually was D.) C is the correct answer.

Correct, D is the correct answer.

Phew, close call.

To all of our fans, our american and international followers, our compatriots, compadres, and co-conspirators (and those that somehow fall out of these categories, but still follow our blog), we are deeply apologetic for our lack of postings (and lack of waves to latch on to, not in a surfing sense...but actually, kind of.

We've been hugging trees, really big ones. I (the boy that rarely posts on this blog anymore, and have been suppressed to the point that I'm now making a mess all over it) declare that I stuck my hand in a pool of 1000 year old tree blood. It felt like I had stuck my hand into someones stomach. It was sensational!

What else...

Oh yea, we went to Yosemite! Wew! We actually HITCH-HIKED to Yosemite (I'll say it loud to belittle its importance). Hitch-hiking in or near yosemite is probably safer than taking a bus in any major city, and maybe even admitting that you hitched hike to a parent/guardian/parental figure/ Sign Here________________.

How silly. Anyway, I'm not wearing shoes and I'm in a coffee shop and I'm kind of conscious because my feet aren't that clean and the waiter/barista keeps walking by and glancing at them like as if she's imagining OSHA walking in and closing them down permanently and winding up on the streets selling spoonfuls of coffee grounds in 1 oz bags discretely behind trees with a baseball cap shading her eyes.

It's not like that, though. We'll shower and clean up nicely. Showers are abundant, it's just about finding one. Or hanging one from a tree and dancing under it. It's harder in the cities, especially when you're parked in front a middle school.

So, we'll probably pretend we want to join a gym and do a short membership thing, take a little tour, express a little interest, do a few bicep curls, and get naked and really get to know the community. The lengths people go to not smell like salt!

So, yea.

We've been enjoying the travels. It's been pretty darn fly, we've gone from sad, to happy, to sad, to happy. I think we're bi-polar. We might start taking pharmaceuticals. Ah shit, this is getting serious, now I've probably offended somebody and gotten someone seriously worried. Oh no. Honestly, I'd rather sit around and read, and pound down a quart of raspberries. Madeleine would too. She's okay.

Phew. Raspberries. Never noticed that hidden "p" there. I typed it like 5 times. Rasberries. Ras. Rasberies? No

Rasberries.

Raspberries?

Who knows. Now my computer is even confused. I've confused my computer, but hopefully not you, the reader, who should know that this is all for fun, to enjoy life and its complexities, to sit here and have fun thinking about all the experiences we've had. To reflect, internally, and publicly. But really, I believe, we should all adventure, and if you are envious, then that's because you have every ounce of reason in yourself to venture into the unknown, and yet, you have decided not to. But that's okay, because we are all on a way. A path, that is inseparable from our being, and if we all went out at once and lived in travel trailers, it'd be a very weird sort of world and probably wouldn't be all that better then it is now. It's the diversity and the uniqueness of each and every one of us that makes it all so beautiful. So, in the love and light of this day, and the next, I hope you have the courage to smile and love one another with the fullest of heart. If you do not, which I do not always do,  that is okay too.

Whatever works for me.

For you, the reader:

Line 26: Brilliant and endless love.

Format: Ending statement above. Hope that's good enough. Sorry for any mis-understandings, questions of well-being (still) and other concerns. Questions can be written and postmarked to

Airfloat Skipper
Somewhere between Mexico and Canada (for now)
eight oh eight oh eight
get here someday (just text us if you want)

For now, till next time ...

(Ending line now marked arbitrarily Line 26)

Oh be joyful!

Here I am lying in the sun in the stifling desert heat. Taking it all in. Sometimes the desire to pull over on the side of the highway and explore is undeniable. The air is thick with the smell of creosote and I am taken back to my elemental roots. The desert is a magic land of twisted plant bodies and glittering sand. There is no where I'd rather be in this moment. We are just outside of Valyermo (spell check) California on the "Big Pine" highway. Indeed the road was full of sprawling hills and pine trees as far as the eye could see. But we've dropped in elevation and now head north back to the land of the ancient giants, the Sequoias. Their name precedes them. I cannot wait to hug one of their big red trunks and get lost in their history. Only looking up at the stars at night can make you feel so small. I am feeling very inspired at the moment but I must digress, as we have not spoken in some time ;)

We had a wonderful time in Southern California. It was full of learning and growth. We got to hang with one of the kindest people we know, who showed us around in style. We went to a full moon drum circle, swam in the ocean, learned to surf, ate some delicious food, and met some beautiful people along the way. 

Later, we went on to San Juan Capistrano, which I've told you a bit about in a previous post. It was very nice to see some family and feel the comfort of being around them. Keith taught us so much when it came to installing the solar panel on our trailer. We had no idea what a huge endeavor we were getting ourselves into! He literally stayed up all night helping us instal it with new batteries, wiring, inverters, the whole 9 yards. We are pumping in more energy than we can use right now and we are so happy to be truly off the grid! We cannot thank Keith enough for his determination, patience and general know-how! 

We even got the delight to go to Disneyland while we were in Southern California. Sue works for the horticulture department there and was kind enough to sign us in for a day. It was a once in a lifetime experience and the people watching was top-notch ;) we rode lots of rides and had a blast. 

Then we went to Santa Monica for the night where my friend Kristin happened to be visiting an art school she got into for grad school called Otis. She will be one of 12 students in her department. We're so proud of you and happy for you Kristin!! It was so nice seeing her and going back to our old sense of humor, taking pictures in a photobooth and laughing so hard that beer came out of my nose! Much love and luck to that sweet girl. 

But here I am writing when I should be dancing in the desert. I hope you understand, and I'm sure we'll talk again soon :)

Kyle feeling small in a bugs world at Disney land! 

Screamin' roller coaster. Yep we rode it. The flip gave us a mild case of whiplash.

Kyle under a cool sculpture at a park in Santa Monica. 

View of the pier. 

 

Some silly photobooth pics!

Kristin being cool

One of the best antique shops we've visited ever- in Wright wood Ca! 

The beautiful forest town of Wrightwood. They are used to young travelers as this is a stop on the pacific crest trail. Very friendly people here!

The road goes on forever. 

Desert dreams 

See you in the Sequoias! 

Travel does the soul good!

Here's a link to a short article about happy people! ~ 

http://elitedaily.com/life/10-things-that-the-people-who-love-their-lives-are-doing-differently/598934/

And here's an inspirational quote that spoke to me this morning...

And here are some sweet baby succulents in Sue's backyard :) 

Much love from California!