Other Side of the world

So I had an opportunity to move to the Maldives for a couple months to teach English, so that's what I did. I realize that a song named "home" makes little sense here considering I am as far from home as I have ever been, I probably should have included it in my last post, but I like the song so there you go. It does discuss home is wherever the person/people you love is/are, but I reckon that still doesn't apply. I am living with a couple of friends from Gunnison, so that's a nice bonus.

(trust me, I look tanner when I'm not standing next to Maldivians - not really)

The Maldives are an Islamic island nation south of India. The time change is exactly 12 hours ahead of California so I figure I am literally on the opposite side of the world from home. It is currently the end of Ramadan, which the whole nation celebrates, making it hard to find lunch for us ex-pats who are not interested in fasting with the rest of the country. Out of respect (and by law) if we eat or drink during the day we need to do it inside where no one can see us. It would be pretty cruel to drink a bottle of water in front of a bunch of people who have to go all day without (many of whom are working in 90 degree weather). It's a good time to talk to Maldivians about their religion though and I have learned a lot. Not surprisingly, some guys cheat on their fasting and some guys take it pretty seriously. The big difference from the States is you have to be Muslim if you are a citizen. So people who don't really believe have to pretend to for a month or so until Ramadan ends.

My time in the Maldives has been fun and interesting but I will admit it can be boring living on an island. Work keeps me busy during the week and there are a few things to do on the weekend, such as football (american or world), SCUBA diving, snorkeling and I've even given wind-surfing a try. However, come night time there are not a lot options.

Well, I'll post some more soon about the Maldives, but I thought I'd let people know what I have been up to since returning from my road trip.

(Pictures: 1) Post-dive picture 2) view of a resort island from a sea plane 3) me at Banyan Tree resort in front of rainbow 4) view of Male, capital of Maldives from a boat 5) a devil ray grubbing at Banyan tree)

The trip home and Game 7

On the way back home from St. Louis to Cali I decided to give couch surfers a shot. Couch surfers is a website where people open up their homes to weary travellers. The basic idea is that people who like to travel enjoy meeting other people who like to travel and if you can help out someone now maybe the favor will be returned later when you are on the road. It worked out pretty well and I'm glad I did it.

My first couch visit was Stefan in Tulsa. I arrived late afternoon, we grabbed a nice dinner and headed back to his house to watch the Lakers. Again, I'd like to thank everyone for allowing me to indulge in my obsession and not miss the Lakers' ride through the playoffs while on my road trip. I think I only missed one game (the Ron Artest put-back against the Suns (game 5 I believe), a good one) during my entire trip. Stefan works in the oil industry and was living in Tulsa for just a few months on a job. Good guy. However, despite Stefan's likeability, Oklahoma easily wins my vote for worst state in the union. I'm glad Stefan wasn't a native because it allowed me to vent some major trash. What is so awful about Oklahoma, well, first, the weather. I had the two worst days of weather of my entire trip in Oklahoma. And to add to the frustration the two days were extreme opposites. I first had my hottest day of the entire trip when I entered the state followed by a torential downpour on my way out of the state. I really can't begin to describe how awful the rain was (a picture is worth a thousand words). There were flash floods in Oklahoma City, including several road closures, which fortunately did not prevent me from getting out of town. At one point I had to stop at a gas station because my theory "it can't keep raining this hard indefinitely it has to start letting up if I can just get through this rough patch" was not panning out. While I waited with a cup of coffee I met a fellow rider who told me that he has been riding his entire life and didn't remember ever hitting rain this bad. That was good to know being that I was pretty inexperienced and couldn't decide whether I should just man up or go ahead and give the storm some time to pass. After about an hour it let up a little bit and I hit the road again. The rain picked up in spurts but not as constant as the first couple hours of my ride. Literally a mile before hitting Texas I saw the first ray of sunshine of my then 4 hour ride (who would have thought I'd be so happy to see Texas, certainly not me). So you may think, you can't trash too hard on Oklahoma because of bad weather. Well, I can and I will, but that wasn't all that made riding through Oklahoma a mess. Oklahoma was the only state I travelled through gracious enough to have toll roads. Yep. So while I was either sweating my butt off or shivering in flood-inducing rains I would have to occassionally stop, pull dripping wet cash out of my pocket and pay a toll. That did not sit well with me.

I also couch surfed in Alberquerque, New Mexico where I stayed with Bernice. Again Bernice and her friend were kind enough to take me to a sports bar so I could see the Lakers crush the Celtics in game 6. In fact, the Lakers played so well I made Bernice promise me to watch game 7 for good luck (she was kind enough to watch the game and I might add it paid off). Bernice is a student at University of New Mexico studying sign language, which was pretty cool to talk to her about. It was interesting to hear about some of the work she was able to do as an interpreter and she really enjoys the gig.


(Future rider? At least the helmet fits, even if she looks like Lord Helmet and can't keep her head up).

So I promised myself if the Lakers went to seven games in the NBA Championship that I would cruise home and make it in time to end my time as a nomadic fan and watch game 7 at home with the family and fellow Laker lovers. It was worth the run as the Lakers eked out a tough win and Ron Artest had an amazing set of post game interviews. Sometimes crazy is good.

Well, there we go for the road trip blog. But, I'm not quite done yet with Newport Beach v. Gunnison. I am off on a very new adventure half way across the world (literally). I'm already almost done with that trip as well, but I'll be sure to post some updates about my time here.

Old Stomping Grounds

Following Chicago, I extended my break in St. Louis, my home during my teenage years. It was pretty chill and allowed me to catch up on some things (including this blog) and rest my body a little bit more.

(After BBQ at Mary's house (top center) guess what I did? Another Lakers' game!!! And no I can't keep my eyes open during pictures. Not a fan of flash photography.)

With my time in "the STL" I decided to take a ride to visit some places I frequented in my youth, including my home for ten years, church for just as long, my elementary school, jr. high and high school. Pictured are my church and high school.

I decided to go at night, which was a great idea because it made for a very pleasant ride, but it didn't help with the pictures. My old house didn't come out at all, but I'd like to report there is still a hoop out front in the drive way.

I was also able to hit up the famous (more than I had even remembered) Ted Drew's for some concrete shakes. Pretty tasty and draws a crowd.

Taking a break in Chicago

Chicago was a good chance for me to chill out for a few days and rest my butt (the bike can be unforgiving on long rides).

(Rachel and I on the el (train, subway, etc.) heading back after dinner at Piece, an upscalish pizza place that doubles as a karaoke bar)

It was also a great time for me to hang out with some good friends that I don't get to see as often as I'd like. From my days at Michigan, I was able to spend some quality time with Rachel, my buddy Rich, as well as pseudo-stars of this blog, fellow road-trippers Jeremy and Dom. I also got to see a good old friend, Kyle, who I met a ways back in Colorado while we were both working from my bro at Camp Redcloud. I was just a pup back then.

(Kyle and I finding a place out of the pouring rain to watch the Blackhawks beat the Flyers (making Kyle happy) but sadly also seeing the Lakers lose to the Celtics (shocking that I made time to catch another Lakers' game)

(view of Chicago from Rich's balcony, pretty solid)

(Below - smoking some primo stogies on Rich's balcony with Rich and Dom. Jeremy claimed to be in New York and thus missed out on the festivities)

Worth the wait...?

All apologies for the long lay off between posts. I'm going to try to spin through the end of my trip, which has been done for a while now, alas. I believe my next stop was Bariboo, WI, where I stayed with the legendary Wade Wandrey - life's only suriviving Hansons' brother (except for the actual Hansons). Bariboo is an odd town, but very likeable. It's like Vegas (Branson) in a way, a big tourist spot, but instead of Casinos they have waterslides. The most waterslides per capita in the world. Whoooooosh. But just outside of the downtown tourist trap, Bariboo is a quaint, chill town. Rivers, small shops and bars, very green. Summing up the odd Water-slide Vegas/Branson dynamic with small-town beautiful scenery was easily the oddest billboard sign I saw during my entire 5k plus trip, which read "Adult Superstore and Bakery, next left". Well, of course. They should have called it "Hot Buns". I am indeed hilarious.

I tried to find a similar billboard on google so you wouldn't think I was just making this up, instead I found this nugget (pun!!! pun!!!). Old school Mutumbo. Is that Oldyn Polenyce (sic) guarding him? The memories.

However, my time in Bariboo was much more fulfilling than merely reconciling varrying landmarks. I had a great time hanging out with Wade and his friends, whether it was the local pub to watch the Lakers play (the owner of the bar had a tatoo on each calf, one was the Chicago Cubs' logo, the other the Dallas Cowboys' logo, go big or go home), cruising down river in canoes sipping on the high-life, or grilling out at a bonfire and camping out on some Wandrey owned wilderness.

(Wade, Chrisy, and me post Lakers' victory)

Unfortunately, I did not have time to enjoy any waterslides but I did hit up the culinary delight that is Mr. Pancake.

Hanging out with Wade in Bariboo was certainly one of my favorite parts of the trip. If you are heading that way I'll give Wade a heads' up. I'm sure he'll be happy to treat you to some good times.

(Bariboo local, Wade)

Angels of Worthington Minnesota

So I lost (it was stolen!!! sort of) my wallet in Worthington Minnesota. 10-15 miles away from Worthington, MN I realized that I didn't have my wallet and this was a huge problem. No cash, no ATM, no credit cards, no ID, I even lost my SCUBA certification card (gasp). I raced back to the gas station I left it at hoping a Good Samaritan returned it to the gas attendants. Considering I was in the Bible Belt I thought my chances were decent. No dice. I took off back up the interstate hoping that maybe it dropped out of my pocket while I was riding. Again, no luck. Back to Worthington, once more I asked at the gas station if someone had returned my wallet and to cover all my bases I went next door to the KFC to see if somehow, somebody, had returned it there, nothing. I was getting exasperated (just wanted to get that word in).

Out of ideas (not really, I was just out of good ideas, I was planning on heading to a local bank to see if I could get some cash) I called pops, hoping he would have a better assesment on my plight. After letting him know what happened he responded simply with an expletive, not very reassuring. In his defense I had the same reaction when I discovered I had lost my wallet. I told him my bank idea, but he pointed out that they are not just handing money out at a bank to some guy without ID.

(probably the guy who didn't return my wallet. Most likely using my ID to buy cigarettes)

So I'm screwed right? I had about a half to 3/4 full gas tank and I was still 330 miles away from Baraboo, WI, my next stop. If I was able to get there I could get to a Chase bank or borrow some cash from my buddy Wade who I'd be staying with, but how on a bike with no cash? (Are you in a cold fearfull sweat?) Well, in the midst of the moment that I was aptly realizing the full extent of my sorrowful situation a lady who happened to overhear my crisis walked over to me and intervened. While I was still on the phone with my dad this lady with no name handed me $100 in cash. Naturally, I was in shock. I asked her if I could get her address and send her a check and she said no need and walked away. Another woman standing near by gave me a few bucks and offered give me a ride (not really helpful but her heart was in the right place). Still in shock and holding over a 100 bucks I told her I was fine and thank you very much. I mean wow. I don't even know what to say, what a blessing for sure, out of no where.

I just think its crazy how one person found my wallet and decided to keep it and the cash where simple decency would have led the person to returning it, meanwhile another person goes well above and beyond a simple act of kindness and saved me on my trip. Well thank you very much random lady. By the way, I included the Mary McDonnell picture (of Dances With Wolves fame) because the woman who helped me out looked like an older actress who I couldn't place. McDonnell was the closest I could find but the woman who helped me was a brunette. Regardless thank you very much.




The other girl was a bit younger, probably in her 20s and her name was Rachel. Unfortunately she didn't look like anyone famous. I would describe her as normal-looking-cute-brunette, sort of like the girl pictured. That's the best I can do to praise these two women who helped me out big time in a moment of crises. So thanks.

This was the only song I could think of with Angel in the title (just kidding, I'm just messin with my mom). But it does bring up a valid consideration; that girl your checking out across the room who you think might just be an angel is probably actually pretty shady (still kidding, totally kidding).

I think you missed a spot

I feel this is particularly appropriate here, I did a lot of of riding on the open road through Wyoming and South Dakota.

My drive and time in Wyoming and South Dakota were great, just a lot (emphasis a lot) of scenery. It's so green with rolling hills and some cool wildlife. I rolled through fairly quickly considering the mileage I covered, but that was mostly because I didn't have any friends to hang with in SD, so I just rolled on through. But I did see Mount Rushmore and the Corn Palace, the pride of Mitchell SD. (it's real. My favorite part is it's proud claim that it is the ONLY Corn Palace in the world). I have to pay compliments to Jeremy for this one who kept talking about it. I happened to stay in Mitchell and still would have likely passed on the opportunity to see the Corn Palace had it not been for Jeremy talking about it so much (admittedly, jokingly) while we were in Utah (I know, you thought we were done with Jeremy and Dom until Chicago, sorry).

(really, it's real)

(see, world's only. A lady working at the Corn Palace was ever so nice to take this picture for me, I feel kind of bad making fun of it, but it's a Corn Palace).



Unfortunately, my camera still wasn't working when I passed through Mount Rushmore, so instead of stealing a nice pick of Mount Rushmore, from the internets I've decided to post my favorite parodies of Mount Rushmore (I mean, if you haven't seen Mount Rushmore I don't know what to say).



Ok, I searched for parodies and that did not work out as I had dreamed, so here are some classic Simpson parodies, I refuse to put up a picture of Mount Rushmore:

See. Simpson paradies cover art, pop culture, movies, music and even politics, but alas no Mount Rushmore.

And, South Dakota (and a little bit of Wyoming) also offered me my first taste of riding in the rain.

About the last 30-40 miles or so of Wyoming and the first 30-40 miles of South Dakota I received my first taste of riding in rain. This picture may appear a significant exaggeration, but it really is just a slight one (and I didn't have the cool yellow rain suit). When the rain is coming down hard it feels a lot like white water rafting. Passing a semi coming in the opposite direction on a one lane highway feels a bit like rolling through a rapid, you get covered by water from head to toe. The spray covers you and makes a fairly significant physical impact. But for the most part the ride was pretty sweet. It's funny to think that you could have thrown me in a lake and I still wouldn't have been more wet.