Blog du Wren

See America!

I came across this postcard at the visitor's center at Lake Mead Recreation Area and I just couldn't pass it up. It fit so well with the blog post that's been brewing in my head over the last couple days that I promptly bought it and found a spot to scan it.

Why does it fit with what I've been thinking about?, you ask. Well, on my little road trip so far, I've been through about 10 or so National Parks, Recreation Areas, Forests, Scenic Areas, etc. I guess I never realized there were so many out there or how cool they are.

Take Crooked River National Grassland in Central Oregon. So cool. There are hikes, places to camp, view points, etc. I don't really know what the politics are of this particular one (e.g. who pays for it, who manages it), but all I know is that I am glad it is there.

A number of other such experiences made me really think about the National [Parks/Forests/Grasslands/...] and how lucky we are as a country to have that amount of land set aside. Sure it could be more, or it could be more accesible, or it could be better managed, but at least it is there, and this time, it served my purposes. In my internet meanderings, I came across this representation of the U.S. Budget. To see how little gets spent on public use lands like this compared with some of the other programs, it really makes me wonder how things could be...

Thanks Teddy*!

Tuesday May 1 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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Postcard from the Desert

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Sunday April 29 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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U.S. 395

When roadtripping, road selection is everything. Well, okay, maybe not everything. Who you are going with plays a big part too. But since I am stuck with little old me, road selection is key. The right road offers views, interesting local flavor, and something more than just McDonald's and 7-11s. When you are talking road trip on a scooter, add to that little traffic, frequent enough service stops, and slow speed limits, if you can manage. U.S. 395 between Carson City and Mammoth Lakes fits the bill perfects (except for the slow speed limits, but you can't have it all, eh?)

When thinking about this adventure and what routes I might take, Saxtor suggested 395. Not knowing anything about what I would be looking for in a route or road, I committed to nothing, but did commit the suggestion to memory. Through a funny occurrence of out of date maps, local suggestions, and weather, I ended up on 395. I can't say I've been on a more breath taking stretch of road.

Anyway, since I am sitting on a sidewalk in the town of Lone Pine, CA writing this with the most tenuous of internet connections, I'm unable to add the usual spice of wit and pictures. I'll write more soon.

Friday April 27 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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Harry, I Cant Feel My Fingers

Last night, I camped near Eagle Lake, just NW of Susanville, CA. Elevation: 5000 ft. Pulling in just at sunset, I set up under a juniper(?) tree and fixed some Frito chili pie over my hobo stove. As I sat watching darkness slowly fall over this weird and wonderful landscacpe, I reflected on what diverse I saw in just 1 day at 35 mph.

Flash forward to morning. Being able to see your breath while still in the tent isn't a lot of incentive to get up. Camping where you probably shouldn't be is. Lo and behold, it is even colder outside the tent than in. Heavy covers scoot scoot. Wearing almost every item of clothing I brought, I still had to stop every 20 minutes on the ride in to Susanville to warm up. Luckily, hot chocolate and hash browns were waiting at the local casino.

As the sun starts to rise and the elevation falls, it looks to be shaping up as a great day for my ride into Reno and beyond!

For those who don't get the picture or headline, listen to this

Thursday April 26 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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The Columbia River

The Columbia River is just awesome. Not "awesome" in a "totally tubular" or "Mom, those were some awesome potatoes" kind of way. We are talking "awesome" like aweinspiring, full of awe, etc. Driving along the Columbia gives you vistas around every turn. Driving along the Columbia on a scooter surrounds you with the vistas as well as the sounds, smells, and even temperature and humidity changes (which do add to the overall feeling.)

As I proceeded east, the sky ahead was blue and the sky behind was grey, which is quite typical of east of the mountains vs. west. Having that great weather made for the morning's scoot all the more enjoyable. I crossed the river at The Dalles and before I knew it, I was out of beautiful river gorge country and into beautiful rolling hills grasslands country of Eastern Oregon.

(Oh, but just before I crossed the river, I came across that I couldn't help but take a picture of.)

Tuesday April 24 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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The Civilized Leg

Three days in with about 500 km down, I'm starting to get into the road trip mentality; equal parts of extremely tangible logistics (Stop for gas? Left or right? Is it going to rain?) with the extreme intangibles (illogistics?) (I am where I am. Neither "left" nor "right" is better.) These first 3 days have been wonderful; relatively few miles per day, a comfortable place to sleep each night, and a chance to figure out the newness that is long distance scooter travel.

Today, however, the civilized leg of the journey is over. No more comfortable places to stay. No more frequent service stops (which are so handy for my 1.3 gallon gas tank.) No more semi-familiar terrain. Today, I take off on the wilder side. The "plan", as such, has me following the Columbia River east out of Vancouver to the east side of the Cascades before heading south on the back roads of Oregon. I'll eat when I'm hungry and I'll camp when I'm tired. This "wildness" is going to be an adventure. But that's what I in it for, right?

Tuesday April 24 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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Road Trip!

"Road Trip!" Those words have always evoked a spectacular sense of freedom for me. In my day, I've gone a few doosies. There was the high school road trip to mythical South Whidbey. And who can forget Duck Itch Lake up in Canada? Both the eastward and westward Marilyn roadtrips were not to be forgotten as well.

The time has come for a new page in my road trip history. Much like the road trips of yore, this one is about the journey as much as the destination. What makes this one different, however, is that there will be no sleeping in the back of the car, picking up hitch hikers, locking the keys in the car, or blasting the stereo full blast. This road trip is just me, Scoot Scoot, and the open road. So with my sleeping bag bungeed on, a shiny new for my laptop (can anyone say "internet addiction"?), and perhaps an unrealistic sense of enthusiasm, I embark. Stay tuned to BdW for reports from the road.

Sunday April 22 2007

File under: travel, road trip

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Public Water Features

As far as public art goes, I would have to say that water features are my favorite (with the exception of maybe functional art like bus shelters, etc.). In my meanderings around and about, a good water feature will always stop me in my tracks. One of my favorite attractions in Rome was Trevi Fountain. The Bellagio's fountain in Vegas captures me. At the mall in Pattaya Thailand, I sat and watched a funky little water feature for hours (while I ate $0.65 oreo blizzards by the dozen).

It isn't just in far away places that water features add to the interest of an urban landscape. Just the other day in Seattle, with a couple hours to kill, I thought I would do a quick tour to see what I could find. Pictured to the right is a calm little fountain next to Key Area at the Seattle Center. Also at the Seattle center is the famous which, esp. in the summer, doubles as functional art keeping . Downtown has a couple neat little fountains like at the Baimbridge Ferry Terminal, this at the birth place of UPS (privately maintained), and one of my at 5th and James. Also vying for a top spot in my favorites are some of the at Amazon.com. I didn't get a chance to trek up to Cal Anderson Park to snap a picture of that great fountain.

So next time you are scurrying through a city with your head down, look up and enjoy some of the public water features!

Friday April 20 2007

File under: misc, pics

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Dating a Jeopardy Writer

I often wish that I was more artistically inclined. I've known people in my life who can whip out the coolest sketches in no time. Give me enough time and art supplies, I will just end up with a bunch of paper cuts. Luckily, in lieu of art skills, I was blessed with at least functional skills of persuasion.

So when I got the idea for a comic, I applied those powers of persuasion to convince my very talented neighbor to collaborate* with me. The result turned out very nice, if I do say so myself. See for yourself.

Wednesday April 18 2007

File under: comic

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Rust In Peace

Good cars—I mean cars that we really love—don't come along very often in our lives. It is with great sadness that I had to let Marilyn go this past weekend. She lived to a ripe old age of 309,811 miles. Now she has gone to a better place, the vehicle donation program at KUOW. Hopefully someone out there will find a use for some of her parts, so she can continue to live on in one form or another.

But instead of focusing on the sad, let me look back on the good times she provided. We shared accomplishments,setbacks, learning experiences, and confusion. She took me on adventures and was always patiently waiting for me when I came home. Marilyn, you will be missed.

Monday April 16 2007

File under: transportation, pics

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