From California Back to Washington for Cpt. MoonSparrow

Leaving California was especially hard for me. I was leaving behind people and land that I love and the spirit of my Babykitty whom hopefully is living the life I want in the Redwoods. My adventure alone was still great and I often asked myself how Babykitty would have traveled with me. I am sure she would have done fine. I left California after hanging out a few days in Arcata with my friend Jackalope. We had a blast!! We rented a room in a cute little hostel, got tattoos, I fixed my fixed gear and road the hills, and she went to the sauna. Our departure from one another was quite sad; thinking it would be a long time (at least a year) before we would see each other again. #travellife You never get to keep the ones you love. My new motto is "Love and Let Love." You cannot keep these amazing people to yourself.
My travel gear was my bike, an aluminum framed backpack, and a small booksack stuffed with pillow pets. :) They are Babykitty's. From Arcata I made my way to Coos Bay,Or in about 12 hours. Since my travels and meeting the  people I have - spending money on a motel was not in my plan. The street would have to do. First I would try to make a friend that would allow me to crash. The Tioga building was a locked apartment building with a bar called Captains on the bottom. This would be my hangout because it was directly across the street from the bus stop. I met an older retired lady named Valerie whom called me over to her and actually talked me into going to have a beer. She, I thought, may be the one. She was a tough cookie this Valerie, and was not going to allow me to sleep on her floor, but we hung out for the night.  There was a great covered stoop of a Tai-chi studio, next door to the bus stop, this was camp. Luckily my pack included 2 blankets and a ton of cat pillows and pillowpets, so I was probably the most comfortable to ever sleep on the street. HAHA It was slightly cold and definitely misting rain. There were two nights to stay in this town. The bus to Eugene,Or did not leave until Sunday at 6am. My time in Coos Bay was well spent riding around town in the mist, hanging out in a christian coffee shop with wifi, and eating some thai. Saturday night in Coos Bay led me back to the Tioga, maybe Valerie would let me in tonight, but not so much luck. Valerie did connect me with Bill who lived on the edge of town alone in a neighborhood. Bill said I was welcome to stay the night with no funny business. I tried to refuse because I was already at the bus stop, but he said he could bring me back in the morning. How could I refuse "go with the flow right" who knows what could happen to me on the street.  Bill was nice his dog Bud was even nicer. Bud was not fixed. :/ Everything went well I slept with my switch blade in hand and the next morning went outside to pee - as his only bathroom was in his bedroom. I came to learn Bill had little girls that were close to my age and that he was a genuine kind heart. Bill awoke and delivered me to my bus stop - I gave him a hug goodbye he said next time I pass through I have a place to stay.
The bus ride to Eugene allowed me to sleep most of the way. The sleep that was gathered in Coos Bay was not sufficient. Grabbing breakfast in Eugene at a cute little diner by the bus station and ironically across the street from a bar called The Jackalope. (the same name of my Arcata friend) There were a few signs like this on my journey that kept telling me you are on the right track and being looked after. In this diner having coffee and toast I waited for my bus to Portland, Or. On that bus I met a character name Michael. Michael lives outside of Eugene, but was on his way to visit his son and grand kids. This guy was hilarious saying things like "Yeah Adam and Eve were Spearing T-Rex's." and telling jokes about strawberries. It was quite entertaining. Our bikes cuddled under the bus for the ride. Michael also offered me a place to stay next time I pass through. I need to actually send him a card. Portland was scary because a man on one of the rides told me he was held up a block from the bus station, with a gun. This told me not to sleep on the street. No time to waste, it was getting late. I checked my bike in to be loaded on the train the next day and bought my ticket. Luckily unlike Coos Bay; Portland had Hostels, but the Hostel is about 25 blocks over the river and through some hoods. My luggage was not that light, but my stride remained steady, and with the advice of my friend Bean I just kept a mean face on, so no one would fuck with me - switch blade in hand. I also kept an ear behind me. Arrived and got some dinner my train would leave for Spokane tomorrow around 5pm.  That night I called Jor and Bee and caught up with there adventures and asked for some good vibes to get me through Portland. I was only scared because it was finally realized that I am alone and at the time vulnerable. There was contact made with our Caravan of Glam friend Johnny (Lincoln City Coastal Pride), but he responded too late, but also said I was welcome next time.
The train ride was glorious as was the 25 block hike back to the train station. Unfortunately my ride was mostly in the dark otherwise the scenery would have been to die for I am sure. There of course were friends made on this train ride. Nick a young talented artist from Wisconsin whom was visiting family in Oregon. He will travel more in his future he says. Gary from Montana. A state I LOVE and will hopefully visit this summer. Gary of course said I could visit and gifted me my first straw farm hat as good luck. There also needs to be a card to him. Pulling into Spokane I became frantic to reach my things and then my new roomate Thom.
Thom was waiting for me and helped me get my luggage and bike to the truck. Thom and Torie are a WWOOF farm the girls and I stayed on. [Thom and Thow and Footie Farm are the blogs about our stay] This DYNAMITE couple is cool enough to allow me to crash on their farm until I figure out what to do next. They are actually cool enough to allow me to come and go travel as I please. The best thing besides their lax and hilarious personalities is their farm and interest are everything a girl could want. They fill me with education daily and we even learn new things together. We have group projects going and have a few personal projects to keep us busy. Footehills Farm is part of a Permaculture Guild for Spokane and LINC Foods, which supplies local grow produce and beef to Schools and Restaurants in the area. COOL right?
Farming is great the season is just beginning. There is tilling, mulching, seed starting, and fixing up what the snow weighed down. Building compost, bird/bat houses, fences, steps down into the garden. The weeding has even started already. There are a mess of snow berries to be pulled (they are the devil nothing eats them). We hope to have a few WWOOFers join this summer and  I have purchased a bike with gears in hopes of taking a couple months to bike back to California by some route that is undetermined and hopefully meet back up with my partners in crime there. Well until I travel again my friends. In May to Sasquatch Festival to Portland to Olympia and back to Spokane.  Oh The Possibilities!!!!!!!!!

Hoopoe reporting live with all the Birds of Paradise!!!

After much hiking an talking with the lovely boy tripod we picked up we decide we were all heading to the same town before our next move in our chess game of a journey!  Finally reaching the town we decided we would call it a night. The boys went there way an we went ours. With only 40 bucks to our name we had no clue how we were going to make it to our next farm that was another six hours away. So after hours of ideas an options we decided to call it a night an start fresh. The next morning getting up was one of our most silent mornings ever not know what was going to come next. It's now a couple hours later an the boys text us insisting they buy us a beer before heading out. We had nothing to lose an a free beer to gain what could it hurt. We pull up at the very same spot we dropped them off at the day before. After getting out an barely making it to the stop sign before crossing the road and I see a friend of mine! We were both completely lost to how we are both in this small town at the same time an the same corner. So after talkin with her an telling her what we have been doing on our journey she offers us a job on a large CSA farm. What a blessing we just had fall into our laps. We now had the opportunity to continue learning, growing and maybe make a lil money to continue once we left. So after further discussion we pass up the free beers, say good bye to the boys an head to our new farm.   Pulling up felt like a accomplishment after hours of gripping the steering wheel an riding the break for we were in a ex large tissue box barely making it around these sharp mountain roads. It was time to breathe and thank whoever up there helped us get there an simply smile from the  three hundred and sixty degrees of pure beauty - a paradise of not only birds but all  things  you could  imagine in it's  purest beauty. For the next few months we worked this land earning our keep. From watching the plants an fruits blossom to all animals coexisting like I've never seen before. We worked hard, never gave up an learned so much from the great plants to the history of the great people whom we will never forget. Though we were far from who we call family This one of a kind family there never let us forget what family was all about. From making sure everyone was ok an well to sharing  family holidays as if we had always been there. The greats of  this land made sure with left with memories, new love , and  just what we needed to continue our journey. Since it was the birds of paradise my bird name was Hoopoe - a South American bird with a kick ass mohawk. Waking up an hitting the trails to the garden every morning made you slow down an take in the beauty around you.  They had deer that would run in this shallow valley better known as "tick valley" (just so happens our dogs loved that same run which put us on tick patrol every day making sure our babies didn't end up with nasty lime disease!) They had a momma an baby bear that would do their morning rounds by our camp site every day waiting for us to slip up an leave something delicious they could smell an claim. One morning heading up just me an bray, my little one, I take note in her noticing something in a tree about 15 ft up in this amazing redwood tree. I decide I should freeze just like her an not take my eyes from where this odd noise was coming from. Next thing I know this bird about a foot and a half tall, black body, red head an a white patch on his chest comes from around this tree an stops an notices us he then makes the coolest noise I've ever heard come out  of a bird. So now I'm smiling from  ear to ear  an we stood simply enjoying this majestic bird. After a few times he  makes a circle around the tree then starts pecking so loud. Later after talking to the most epic man I know I learned that it was a rare western pacific wood pecker. Omg  how sweet is that!? Just think if I wouldn't have slowed down that glimpse of amazing would have passed me by. From then on I found myself listening a little more to nature an a little less to people, which is a feeling that not to many know. It's a respect you gain for everything  that really matters instead of just doing what we want with no care not even for the ones that know the most an get the least respect. No one hunted this land. They treated it just like the native amerians did an in return  the animals respected them sharing their land  and coexisting. What's really funny is I've heard of  this land, these people , an this farm growing up never once thinking I would be blessed to one day to experience it. While at  the CSA  there were wwoofers from France, Canada, NC, Utah , Oregon, Michigan, Alaska, an yours truly Louisiana. We have made great friends and have shared lots of stories. Hoping one day we will see them all again on our farm!!!!! Shout out to all the beauties we met! We love  y'all an can't wait to blow triangles again!!!!

Paradise of Birds Call

Our arrival to our new home for the next 5 months was a treacherous climb in ole Teddy boy. Bee had all of the faith Jor and I were FREAKING out. When I looked forward to leaving in him it was not pretty - can i be shuttled off. Thanks. Teddy made it over and 'round them mountains through them woods - to birds of paradise we go. Surrounded by hills and mountains and still looking down over a valley where the cows moved. Some nights the coyotes howl in a circle as if there is one on every peak surrounding your camp.There are no city lights just you the stars and the moon - when it was there. When  there were clouds and fog we were usually above it and it was the most beautiful sight I will never forget. Sitting on the boulder formation looking down on a cloud filled valley floor - watching the sun come up lifting the humidity with it. A cool breeze passes and you are glad you are wearing your bathrobes. The crows calls off in the huddle of trees to the northeast where the moon would later rise. The rest of my life could have been spent on this boulder formation so many of us loved.
We were Brought to this farm in an emergency need for vegetable harvest. This was a giant CSA operation with huge fields and orchards. There were many days of relentless weeding on your knees back and neck barred to the very hot, dry sun of northern California in August/September. There were also just as hot days of harvesting, but they seemed less terrible because you are reaping the benefits of your hard work. In our case we thought of all of the hard work we put in on our other farms; along with this one, and the benefits seemed even juicier. Finally pulling something out of the dirt other than weeds!! Don't get me wrong we thoroughly enjoyed plowing and planting, but although i miss it the weeding got old. packing up CSA boxes for pick up/delivery was a fun group projects. This is when we really got a chance to meet the other WWOOFers. We had a small family of Utopians from Utah. A friendly traveler fellow of the Carolinas whom has a farm of his own we look forward to visiting. Our close friends from Louisiana shout out to Kite and Maddy!!!! Some friends from Oregon popped in for a quick visit. And one day the circus joined us then the party started. We had like 20 something friends to play with all day. Really it was hard work, but we helped eachother hang in there and push through the days.
Not only did we have fun human friends, but our human friends came with animal friends also not to mention the one that came with the farm. A beautiful golden like copper, but a girl; named Paloma. A beastly beauty of a black pit named Emma. A scrawny but intelligent rescue named Bean, the cutest other than Brayzli. The sisters Finnley and Sugar, they are lovely. Atlas a giant old bear who would lay around all day not moving, too big to i assume - sort of like the sandlot dog, but bigger. We had 5 cats out there we only lost two RIP Babykitty and Blue, may they run those hills for us while we are away. I may be forgetting dogs there were a lot of them I am a cat person and at some point there were too many damn dogs I ignored them all - most of the time.
Oh those sunrises, moonrises, hills, storms, trees, boulders, winds will be with me forever. Someday I will go back and then I may not leave. In loving memory of My Babykitty.

Ferel Farm Agroforestry

Picking up Jordan's sister at the Seattle airport was a journey in itself. Seattle if no one knows is like a Mini New York City there is so much concrete, people, and buildings. Add super steep 10% incline hills to the equation in Teddy equals lots of  "Oh shit" moments. Being we had an addition to our crew for the next three weeks an wanted her to some what enjoy her stay we decided on exploring Seattle seeing all the great things people talk about an slowly preparing Mckenzie for what it is that we actually do. So after a long day in Seattle we hit up the food bank to prepare for our trip up towards the northern cascade mountains.  Not only did she get to see the magic in free food an amazing people but she knew now that we had food to eat on for a while an how big of a help it was to us being we have no permanent job to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on over priced gmo filled foods. We knew Thursday would be a long day on the road so we found a safe league place to park Teddy for the night  so we could prepare food an get some good sleep. Thursday back on the road head up towards our new farm we made it up to Arlington which was about an hour from our farm an decide to sleep there for the next couple of days  relaxing an redoing the seal on Teddy's roof for we were going in to a rainforest an wanted Teddy to stay dry. While we did manage to do the entire roof in a park there was also this awesome beach area off of it that we enjoyed for those couple of days. Saturday came so fast but we were ready for the new farm an the new people..

Tripod Transformation.

During our incredible West Coast/Best Coast experience we have grown and learned so much about ourselves, each other, and so much more. Together we have traveled over 5,000 miles through 7 states in 9 months for under $1800 a piece (that does magically include our gas expense for our very thirsty 1983 mountain climbing Coachmen). We've done it leisurely and pretty efficiently, I'd say. What we have experienced though cannot simply be given a price tag, that was just a fun fact to blow your mind. What we have done is something unique and beautiful just like us as individuals. We have lived life to the fullest, conquered our fears, and most importantly we never gave up. What we do every day is exactly what you daydream about while you sit in your not so comfortable computer chair Googling cute kitten photos. We live your dreams and ours. You're welcome for that. ;) 

We started this journey with hopes of interpersonal growth, understanding, education, and adventure. Let the record show that we have accomplished our goals! As someone who's never been terribly good at following through, this is undeniably monumental. When we first decided this was what we were doing I was probably the most skeptical (go figure, right?) about how we would really manage. I was like you. Thinking, man, that sounds fun, but completely unrealistic. I mean, how would we get money and food? Oh, god, what about the pets!? We figured out the food and pets situation when we found out WWOOFing feeds you and bought Teddy for the animals. (Yes, it is true we bought our RV to double as Animal Daycare. Call us crazy, it has definitely been said before! Haha!) As for the dollar dilemma we kind of just closed our eyes and hoped for the best, which worked out obviously.

Let's jump ahead to the more recent stuff, shall we?

In December we shared the hardest day of them all - the day we separated. Dun dun dunnnnnn. It was that dramatic, guys. We had literally spent every day, all day together for NINE months. Holy cow. You could say we are close. Lol. So that morning was quiet; I think Logan avoided eye contact and I'm sure B and I are guilty of the same. When it came time to leave once Teddy was ready for take off, B and I took our last walk up that hill too slowly -
to say bye to all of the people we had grown so close to. I went around and talked to everyone, stopping to cry to Emma, the most wonderful pit bull lady dog ever, about how sad it was to leave and how much I loved her. All that was left was to say farewell to my third leg, my fixie chick sister, my dreadheadboobuttpookiedoo, (please try not to choke on my dramatics, hehe). We totally had a tripod movie moment that involved a tearful group hug/singing circle and ended in a unanimous "this is stupid." We gathered the pups and headed toward our next adventure.

Leaving is always so bittersweet.
We love you, Lo.

The Hitchhiker's Call To Paradise

Almost out of Oregon and Bee spots 3 guys looking for a ride. She hits the breaks busts a U and the next thing you know we have 3 hitchhikers in Teddy. Andrew and Joe from Colorado - I believe they were just hitching around to travel and see the West coast when they stumbled upon Brandon from either the Carolina's or Wisconsin. Brandon was hiking the Pacific Coast Trail, his time came to branch off from there and found Andrew and Joe. As we ride we keep seeing a billboard for a giant Paul Bunyan advertising the Trees of Mystery and eventually stumble upon the actual giant Paul Bunyan and Andrew falls climbing down from his foot and hurts himself, luckily we had a first aid kit. That night we make it to the beautiful Redwoods and find a decent campground. We drive a few circles - it is dark and the campground is kind of confusing without much light. The boys set up camp outside of Teddy and we call it a night pretty quick. The next morning we sleep in a bit have breakfast and pack up camp to go hiking through The Giants. The hardest part is deciding where you want to start. There are trail heads everywhere, but of course I choose one that does not have a map at the entrance, and later we find out that it was not even really a trail head. This small "trail" leads us  to a larger one. We find splits and take note of trails and such. We hike for miles enjoying the trees looking for the biggest ones - walking through hallowed out trunks and climbing anything we found. Eventually we come to a spot we think we have been to, but it is not. Then we find the highway; now we just have to find out where we are on the highway. We walk hoping we are headed toward Teddy and eventually reach a trail head with a map and they trust me to read it. I figure; after a while of going over the map and trying to decipher the path we took to lead us where we are, that we are indeed walking in the correct direction down the highway. I also find we hiked the most difficult trail in the forest!!! (Fun Fact) We finally reach the small entrance we used - we look up and there he is our trusty steed right where we left him. We load up and hit the road. It is around lunch time and we are starved - especially the boys! We find a little gypsy looking shack that acts as a deli for the boys to grab grub and while they do that we are cooking our goods we retrieved from the FOOD BANK!! Then it is back on the road and the boys would like if we could at least get them to Arcata and we don't see why not. We pull into Arcata it is a nice little college town in its' center sits a nice park. Like Lafayette but with more hills and larger buildings. We park on a corner adjacent to the park and unload to hug and tell the boys goodbye and good luck on their travels. Then we load up to find a place to sleep for the night. On The North end of Arcata there is a Casino we park in for the night. The next morning we find a Food Bank and we are running super low on money and gas, so low we are not sure if we can make it east to our next farm. I attempt at gas jugging, which is holding a gas can and asking people to fill it up, then the  casino security guard comes and fusses at us. We put in our last 40$ and take off to the food bank - if we run out of gas at least we will have food. After we finish at the food bank we get a call from the boys they would like to buy us a drink as a thank you- we have to pass back through there anyway. I know what you are thinking why not ask them for gas money, but some people you just do things for without wanting anything in return plus their friendships were enough. We park on our same corner; we are meeting them at the park, low and behold while we are standing on the corner waiting to cross the street, Bee just so happens to look down the street to see a familiar face. They are her friend Regina from the East coast all the way out here, she runs into the post office and meets us in the park. We sit with the boys in the grass and learn Andrew has fractured/sprained his elbow and will be flying back to Colorado leaving Joe and Brandon to finish the trip alone. Joe is going to Colorado and Brandon ultimately had to return to what I know was the Carolina's for school. Regina eventually joins us and we learn that she is working on a CSA farm very near to where we are now. We call the farm that is expecting us; to say the wind is calling and we are answering, so the tripod plus Regina load up in Teddy and head to the farm without getting drinks with the boys.

From Washington to California!!!!!

WASHINGTON !!!!! Zigzagging the coast from the top working down was the best decision ever.  Not only were we going opposite of all the "global warming" weather every one hates but contributes to, but also going the direction in which the culture was set on this beautiful pacific west coast. Our universe was putting things in place for us to enjoy the coastal ride only some dream of! We met amazing, loving, open hearted people. But after all of that we knew the road was calling us back and we had more people to see, meet , greet,  and simply coexist with.  Cruising again 101 bound places to go things to see wind in my hair  back on the roller coaster of mountains and ocean breeze  circulating thru teddy putting grins on all even the friendly furry friends who chose us not knowing they would some day be on the ride of their life. Back to the 101 making a few stops but zooming through not taking long.  Finally making it to Oregon we decide we need to find a place to sleep so we can see it in the blazing sun. Spent the night behind the church right on rock away beach best spot ever but funny thing is the sign we slept on the side of a sign that said "Jesus loves you but you can't sleep here". That's definitely a 20th century Jesus saying. But my universe gave me the thumbs up like the dude ya know. Waking up with a grin feeling fully accomplished, crashing waves on an empty shore roaring for us and our furry friends to come play. After Eleanor almost purring a lung out because they were in the largest box of sand to Bray and Copper drinking all the salt water they could to Babykitty adventuring in all nooks and crannies we were ready to explore more. Next thing you know we are hanging with caravan of glam and giving our buddy Harley a ride to as far as we could get him dropping him off and wishing him luck. Just before getting out of Oregon we see three guys hitching and I instantly pulled over to flip Teddy into a U. Now it's our tripod, their tripod, and the cast of homeward bound +1. The guys were all beautiful souls, two from Colorado and one from Wisconsin, all on the road for the same reason - to live, to FEEL what exactly that is. "Time is living" not what your going to do next at what time. So us, the new age Brady bunch, headed to the Redwoods in Cali to camp out for a night or few at the perfect campsite where we just soaked up this historical national park and to go on a few amazing hikes. Later Andrew sprained his elbow after a Paul Bunyan show down! All the while not knowing that the universe was about to put us right were we needed to be......Stay tuned for more!!!