after packing up my gear at van buren state park, i headed towrds Findlay, OH to try to find another camping spot for the next night...i got to findlay right around 4pm and biked around town a bit, snapping some pictures of the local sights, and grabbing a bite to eat at Wilson's , which was reccomended by a local as having good cheap food...the place was a bit odd i found, and felt more like a cafeteria than a diner, but the coneydog and fries were awesome and i had a great conversation about traveling with one of the patrons...shortly thereafter i found a great coffeeshop with wifi where i grabbed a red eye and hung out for awhile as i tried to find my next spot to pitch my tent.
i spent that night in a campground just north of findlay called shadylake campgrounds, and let me tell you what the name suited the place...i did manage to talk to owner of the establishment into giving me a discounted price, as i would be leaving first thing in the morning, and also talked him into selling me a couple natty lights to help me fall asleep. the place was not maintained at all it seemed and was filled with the variety of people that made me not want to leave my tent, as i had alot of gear that i was afraid may not be there when i returned..so i stayed in the tent all night, which i dont believe was a big loss as the campgrounds werent very much to look at in the first place...
leaving shadylakes the next morning i biked through findlay once again as i made my way towards Lima, OH for the next leg of the journey...this days biking was not as easy as the others had been previously...it seems as thought my body is not what it used to be and that my back was not agreeing with the weight of my backpack very much at all..i took my time to get to lima, and stopped at many a place on the way...i stopped at a farm , where a younger looking man was washing his John Deere tractor for a show he was going to the following day...i asked if i could bother him for some cold tap water to fill my wtaer bottles with, as i hadnt seen too many places up until that point..the man's name was josh and he was very kind and talkative and was more than happy to fill my water bottles. random encounters like that is what roadtripping is all about in my book, strangers doing kind things for strangers. after talking with josh for awhile and resting, i got back on the road and headed towards Pandora, OH which was on the way to lima..
in pandora, i stopped at a grocery store/gas station right on route 12 which was about 10 miles away from lima..
thats where i met rick morrison...
he saw me in front of the store resting and munching on some lunch and asked where i was heading...as it turns out, he passed me earlier that moring in findlay and felt as though there was a reason we had run into eachother again...he was a very religious man as i came to find out and sat and talked to me for quite some time as i rested. we atlked about a great deal of things, mostly pertaining to his faith and belief in jesus christ as his saviour...
he insisted on giving me twenty dollars, he said god put him there with me for a reason, and that he would never forget our encounter..i told him i couldnt take his money but thanked him very much for the thought..but rick was quite insistant..so , sheepishly and very thankfully i accepted his gift...he was a very good man with an amazing heart and i dont think that i will forget him anytime soon...i snapped his picture, as i had been doing with mostly everyone that i encountered along the way and gave him my name so he could find me online and follow along with my travels and snag the photo i took of him. after thanking him once again and giving him a nice man hug, i made my way down the road towards lima...
just before reaching lima, i saw a garage/mechanic shop open and decided to see if i could fill my water bottles once again...the owner of the garage was working on his son's truck with his son and was very kind and offered me a two liter of water which he kept in his fridge, this was very kind...i sat there talking to them for at least a half hour before i thanked them and made my way to lima.
about four miles south of lima , there is a campground called cody lake...this place is heaven.
i rode my bike into the driveway and walked to the office where i met the owner of the campgrounds, beth...she was a very cool woman who had bought the place from here parents in the late 90's from her parents, who had established the place in '72.
as soon as i enetered the campgrounds, i knew i was in the right spot...there were families everywhere and kids were swimming in the lake having a great time...everyone there was very friendly and welcoming.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Great American Quest!!!!!!!
well, im doing this! left wyandotte around 11am or so weds and arrived in toledo ohio right around 4pm where My good friend Fred Mundt came by to pick me up for the night..Fred and his wife , Kristy, were very gracious in accepting me for the night and showing me around town...toledo is a pretty cool place, Fred and i drove around downtown toledo til around 4am weds night...we had such a good time. it was very nice meeting his wife and his amazingly adorable daughter Riley, who is a very willing model i came to find out...
upon waking up thursday, Fred and i decided to do some more sightseeing around town during the day...he drove me all around the toledo area as we caught up and had some great conversations. sometimes, it doesnt matter how much time has passed between friends...things just pick up right where they left off. Fred has a great family and life in toledo, and i was very thankful and happy to share that with him while i was there.
after Fred and i toured around town a little bit more , he had to get to work...so i started getting my things gathered and packed up, when he told me he was going to take me as far as bowling green, so that my days bike ride wouldnt be that bad, which helped tremendously, a half hour car ride is a two to three hour bike ride, so any rides i can muster are always appreciated greatly.
upon arriving into the van buren state park just south of bowling green, i discovered a family camping next to my site with several horses whom i quickly struck up a friendship with...Rick, Tina and Britney Brand were traveling around with their horses and enjoying riding them around the state of ohio..they were very kind to invite me to hang out over a campfire later that night...an offer that i definitely accepted...when traveling, i find that i talk to as many people as i possibly can. i like the interaction...and, most of the time i find some extremely good people in doing so...i enjoyed a very nice night with the Brand Family over a couple beers and a nice campfire...it was a great night.
upon waking up, the sounds of rain and nature overtook me...it was amazing. there is alot to be said of being amongst the elements of nature, at least for me there is...i started to get myself together and woken up, and was invited over to the Brand Family campsite to enjoy a nice cooked breakfast and some very appreciated coffee(as i only brought tea bags with me, coffee is too much hassle when you are travelling unfortunately, so that seriously made my day.) we all enjoyed a very nice morning with french toast and ham and some great conversations. the rain eventually passed us by for the moment and the sun and the sounds of nature resumed...and i started to head towards Lima, my destination for day 3 of the great american quest.
more to come as time passes......much love, as always!
upon waking up thursday, Fred and i decided to do some more sightseeing around town during the day...he drove me all around the toledo area as we caught up and had some great conversations. sometimes, it doesnt matter how much time has passed between friends...things just pick up right where they left off. Fred has a great family and life in toledo, and i was very thankful and happy to share that with him while i was there.
after Fred and i toured around town a little bit more , he had to get to work...so i started getting my things gathered and packed up, when he told me he was going to take me as far as bowling green, so that my days bike ride wouldnt be that bad, which helped tremendously, a half hour car ride is a two to three hour bike ride, so any rides i can muster are always appreciated greatly.
upon arriving into the van buren state park just south of bowling green, i discovered a family camping next to my site with several horses whom i quickly struck up a friendship with...Rick, Tina and Britney Brand were traveling around with their horses and enjoying riding them around the state of ohio..they were very kind to invite me to hang out over a campfire later that night...an offer that i definitely accepted...when traveling, i find that i talk to as many people as i possibly can. i like the interaction...and, most of the time i find some extremely good people in doing so...i enjoyed a very nice night with the Brand Family over a couple beers and a nice campfire...it was a great night.
upon waking up, the sounds of rain and nature overtook me...it was amazing. there is alot to be said of being amongst the elements of nature, at least for me there is...i started to get myself together and woken up, and was invited over to the Brand Family campsite to enjoy a nice cooked breakfast and some very appreciated coffee(as i only brought tea bags with me, coffee is too much hassle when you are travelling unfortunately, so that seriously made my day.) we all enjoyed a very nice morning with french toast and ham and some great conversations. the rain eventually passed us by for the moment and the sun and the sounds of nature resumed...and i started to head towards Lima, my destination for day 3 of the great american quest.
more to come as time passes......much love, as always!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
video blog 7-19-2011
link to the FaceBook invite for the get-together at
My Place Bar and Grill
Friday , July 22nd 2011:
Friday, July 15, 2011
ok, Blog time....
So, for those who do not know, I am displaying my artwork and photography at The Grind Coffeeshop (in Wyandotte on Biddle Ave) for the Art Fair this year. I am very happy to be doing so, it has taken me 20+ years to get comfortable with the idea of showing it publicly, and as well - to be confident enough in my work to be able to do so. I am very proud of the work I have on display and feel as though it is an excellent representation of my creative endeavors. If you haven't already, please come down and take a look and let me know what you think, as I am very eager to get feedback on it all.
Also, a recent development has made it possible to have my artwork and photography on display all year round at The Grind Coffeeshop. It will also be available for sale year round. The work there may rotate as time goes by and as things get purchased...so pop in from time to time to get the best coffee and espresso in town, and take a gander on the walls for my stuff.
Here are some pics of what is currently up on the walls at The Grind:
So, for those who do not know, I am displaying my artwork and photography at The Grind Coffeeshop (in Wyandotte on Biddle Ave) for the Art Fair this year. I am very happy to be doing so, it has taken me 20+ years to get comfortable with the idea of showing it publicly, and as well - to be confident enough in my work to be able to do so. I am very proud of the work I have on display and feel as though it is an excellent representation of my creative endeavors. If you haven't already, please come down and take a look and let me know what you think, as I am very eager to get feedback on it all.
Also, a recent development has made it possible to have my artwork and photography on display all year round at The Grind Coffeeshop. It will also be available for sale year round. The work there may rotate as time goes by and as things get purchased...so pop in from time to time to get the best coffee and espresso in town, and take a gander on the walls for my stuff.
Here are some pics of what is currently up on the walls at The Grind:
(SOLD!!!)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
blog 6-29-2011
In this world, we have so many things fighting to control everything we do, everything we think, every emotion we feel. From the religions to the governments, the media and the entertainment....the people who have a desire to control and manipulate us for their own gains fight hand and tooth to control us all. And these people range from Presidents and Popes, business CEO's and economic advisers, newscasters and marketing strategists, to everyday people like you or me...those people who strive to be one of those in control, and fall in line to the programs, world views and systems that instigate a 'get everything you can, while you can...and don't worry too much about the next guy' mentality. But you can't necessarily blame them for their behavior...they are just trying to win the game that they have been presented with as life. The world seems to reward this type of behavior.
But that doesn't mean that you have to fall into it if you don't want to.
We all have the choice to make our own worlds by what we do and what we say and the places and the people we chose to surround ourselves with. The world is what the world is, and we can only control what we chose to look at and the way we chose look at it. We all make our own lives. No matter what anyone tells you, we are all gods. We are all the gods of our own lives...to say anything otherwise belittles us all. We all make the decisions that constitute our lives and get us wherever we find ourselves to be. Now, that is not to say that many things won't influence our decisions (faith, outside uncontrollable situations, other people's actions, etc)...but ultimately to say that anyone or anything else is responsible for your actions and/or your decisions is nothing more than to say that you are a slave, at the whim of an outside force, and I, for one, do not favor that opinion in the fucking slightest.
Live your life. This is the best advice that I could ever give my son. Live your life and don't fucking ever let anyone tell you how to do it any differently than you would chose. That is what freedom is. We all know what is best for us, most times...and the mistakes that we will always make along the way teach us to better live and to make better decisions.
Go with what your heart tells you, and never allow anyone to make you do otherwise.
...that's what I am doing. Because talk is only good for so long...and then you have to start doing.
But that doesn't mean that you have to fall into it if you don't want to.
We all have the choice to make our own worlds by what we do and what we say and the places and the people we chose to surround ourselves with. The world is what the world is, and we can only control what we chose to look at and the way we chose look at it. We all make our own lives. No matter what anyone tells you, we are all gods. We are all the gods of our own lives...to say anything otherwise belittles us all. We all make the decisions that constitute our lives and get us wherever we find ourselves to be. Now, that is not to say that many things won't influence our decisions (faith, outside uncontrollable situations, other people's actions, etc)...but ultimately to say that anyone or anything else is responsible for your actions and/or your decisions is nothing more than to say that you are a slave, at the whim of an outside force, and I, for one, do not favor that opinion in the fucking slightest.
Live your life. This is the best advice that I could ever give my son. Live your life and don't fucking ever let anyone tell you how to do it any differently than you would chose. That is what freedom is. We all know what is best for us, most times...and the mistakes that we will always make along the way teach us to better live and to make better decisions.
Go with what your heart tells you, and never allow anyone to make you do otherwise.
...that's what I am doing. Because talk is only good for so long...and then you have to start doing.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
video blog 6-18-2011
made a video blog today. here it is....with some afterthoughts to accompany it...
ok first off, i watch this and i think "why am i doing this?" i mean, shit...i don't think of myself as anyone special, first off. i don't know why i feel the need to post shit like this...i mean, who the hell am i that people would watch this? wtf?!?
ok, now getting beyond that....
something i really wanted to mention but forgot to, was that a big part of wanting to do something like this is that, hopefully, i might be able to capitalize on it somehow, through trying to sell my photographs and possibly compile a book through the course of my travels....the main reason for this is so that i can leave something for my son. so that i can be everything that i always tell my son to be, and if all goes well, leave something for him as a legacy of sorts...i hope that makes sense.
as parents, we tell our children they can be anything they want to be, that they can do anything they want to do. we give them so much optimism and inspiration, as parents....but few of us really follow through with this as adults. it is the same message our parents taught us.
i am very thankful for the upbringing that my mother gave me. she made me the person i am now. she gave me all the right ingredients for me to be at the point that i am. i love her for that. she was strong enough as a parent to allow for a free, if not somewhat outside the box, thinker to grow up and truly follow what it is his heart tells him he should do.
as with everything in my life, i just go with it.
that's all i got tonight...hope the day treated you kindly and that life is smiling on you excessively.
much love
-kcl
ok first off, i watch this and i think "why am i doing this?" i mean, shit...i don't think of myself as anyone special, first off. i don't know why i feel the need to post shit like this...i mean, who the hell am i that people would watch this? wtf?!?
ok, now getting beyond that....
something i really wanted to mention but forgot to, was that a big part of wanting to do something like this is that, hopefully, i might be able to capitalize on it somehow, through trying to sell my photographs and possibly compile a book through the course of my travels....the main reason for this is so that i can leave something for my son. so that i can be everything that i always tell my son to be, and if all goes well, leave something for him as a legacy of sorts...i hope that makes sense.
as parents, we tell our children they can be anything they want to be, that they can do anything they want to do. we give them so much optimism and inspiration, as parents....but few of us really follow through with this as adults. it is the same message our parents taught us.
i am very thankful for the upbringing that my mother gave me. she made me the person i am now. she gave me all the right ingredients for me to be at the point that i am. i love her for that. she was strong enough as a parent to allow for a free, if not somewhat outside the box, thinker to grow up and truly follow what it is his heart tells him he should do.
as with everything in my life, i just go with it.
that's all i got tonight...hope the day treated you kindly and that life is smiling on you excessively.
much love
-kcl
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Google Mapping is fun
A friend of mine Google Mapped the walking and bicycling routes from here to Florida, just to get an idea of how crazy my idea is....to our surprise:
Biking:
Little Miami Scenic Trail
1,327 mi
4 days and 20 hours (nonstop bicycling)Walking:
US-27 S
1,244 mi
16 days 23 hours (nonstop walking).........now, these figures do not account for sleeping, eating, and in general 'walking around taking pictures time'...but, hell...if I were to bike on my journey around the country, I figure it might take about a month or so to get myself down there....maybe about five weeks...that would give me time to get from place to place, take my time and see the sights.....and take alot of pictures along the way.
Another good friend suggested that I treat it like a job , and bike from 7am to 3 or 4pm Monday through Friday , which was a good idea as a rough plan, but I also will allow myself plenty of time as I need it, to stop and enjoy my surroundings and meet some of the locals along the way. That's really what this is all about, the journey. It isn't a race. There is no schedule after I leave. I will be able to do whatever I want, with nothing to hold me back or to alter my path in any way other than what I see fit.
In the month or so, I will be going on several 'warm up' journeys to see what kind of crazy shit I am getting myself into. The first will be something relatively close...like Toledo or something...Toledo should take me around 4-5 hours to get to if google maps is in the least bit accurate. That should be a good warm up. 46 miles. That doesn't really sound like very much at all now that I am looking at it, but it will be a good run, if all goes well.
After making the Toledo trip, I am thinking I may take a week and bike west to Chicago to visit family as a second 'warm up' trip. Google Maps says it is 1,244 mi, which it says will take me 1 day and 1 hour to travel. I figure it will take me three days to get there...but that's with 8 hours of biking a day, which may or may not be feasible. The Toledo trip will be a good measure of my pace and stamina....I will go from there....
-kcl
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
is it weird that i am seriously considering actually walking or riding a bike around the country? i dont want to fly, or drive....i guess a train is an idea...as is a bus (well, lets be honest..a bus isnt really an option...fuck that shiot, buses suck ass)...but, the more i think about it, the more i really just want to walk or bike to wherever i might want to find myself next...is that crazy?
i guess i have always had this image of me just kind of roaming around, following my feet wherever they take me...in my mind, the journey is really what it's all about, more than the destination...when you reach your destination, thats when you 'lull'...thats when you settle....thats when the journey is over.
i dont want to settle. i dont want to 'lull' anymore.....i want to keep moving....i want the journey to never end. i never want to get to used to one place again...i want the feeling of 'newness' to fill my life as much as possible. i want to see and experience everything and everywhere. i want to meet everyone. i want to talk to them and hear their stories, and share their smiles. i want to take pictures of the world and everyone in it. i want to go to places nobody has ever been. i dont want to have a home. i dont want to have a place to hang my hat. i dont want an over abundance of things and objects that weigh me down. i dont want 20 pairs of jeans. i dont need 100 tshirts with beer logos on them. i dont need three computers. i dont need all this shit.
i just need to keep waking up.......and to feed myself from time to time....
...and i can do that anywhere i find myself.
and no matter what anyone tells you...life is different depending on where you find yourself....and i want to experience it all. i want to feel like the new kid in town over and over and over again. i want to polish myself up all nice like and re-introduce myself to the world.......
...i cant wait.
in all honesty...i may not last the rest of the summer....there are so many moments recently, now that i have concretely decided that this is what i am going to do, where i have wondered why i am waiting....why dont i just pack a bag and go tomorrow?
we'll see.....
..stay tuned...lol.
-kcl
i guess i have always had this image of me just kind of roaming around, following my feet wherever they take me...in my mind, the journey is really what it's all about, more than the destination...when you reach your destination, thats when you 'lull'...thats when you settle....thats when the journey is over.
i dont want to settle. i dont want to 'lull' anymore.....i want to keep moving....i want the journey to never end. i never want to get to used to one place again...i want the feeling of 'newness' to fill my life as much as possible. i want to see and experience everything and everywhere. i want to meet everyone. i want to talk to them and hear their stories, and share their smiles. i want to take pictures of the world and everyone in it. i want to go to places nobody has ever been. i dont want to have a home. i dont want to have a place to hang my hat. i dont want an over abundance of things and objects that weigh me down. i dont want 20 pairs of jeans. i dont need 100 tshirts with beer logos on them. i dont need three computers. i dont need all this shit.
i just need to keep waking up.......and to feed myself from time to time....
...and i can do that anywhere i find myself.
and no matter what anyone tells you...life is different depending on where you find yourself....and i want to experience it all. i want to feel like the new kid in town over and over and over again. i want to polish myself up all nice like and re-introduce myself to the world.......
...i cant wait.
in all honesty...i may not last the rest of the summer....there are so many moments recently, now that i have concretely decided that this is what i am going to do, where i have wondered why i am waiting....why dont i just pack a bag and go tomorrow?
we'll see.....
..stay tuned...lol.
-kcl
Good Morning, and Happy Saturday to you.
decided to make a little playlist for this saturday morning's blog post...a collection of good morning type music to start the day...enjoy.
ben harper - burn one down (live)
led zeppelin - traveling riverside blues
dave matthews and tim reynolds - two step (live at radio city)
the pack a.d. - making gestures
counting crows - anna begins
the eels - things grandchildren should know
enjoy.
much love.
-kcl
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