A few years back, ok, probably several years and closer to classifying it as a decade back, I decided that I needed to be more versed in, uh, classical verses? Actually, I just wanted to read more of the "classics", and felt my public east Tennessee high school education did not properly expose us to the vast amount of literature that was out there. I even was close to being an English minor in college, but most of that focused on Victorian literature and Greek tragedies. But when I was attempting to finish a crossword while at the parental's Chattanooga establishment, I was stumped by the clue "Silas _____". My mother and step-father both chimed in with "Marner" and looked as if I had just asked them to complete "Enola ___".** So off to the bookstore I went. I loaded up on a bunch of books I had never opened (not to say they weren't assigned at some point, but these were all books I had not read): War and Peace, A Confederacy of Dunces, Moby Dick, Franny and Zooey, The Quiet American, Candide, and a whole bunch of Vonnegut. I made a good dent in those books, but I didn't finished them all.
What does this have to do with the road trip? Well, I realized that 60+ hours in a car is going to need a little more than a good playlist. I'm gonna need some books. Books on tape. Or audiobooks as the kids call them these days. But I can't afford to buy 6 books at the going rate of $15-20 a pop! So, I tried to find some free books. And to what I am SURE is not a surprise to anyone but myself- there is a huge amount of "free audio books" websites, and mostly of them are straight up legal and legit. Of course, you won't find 50 shades of grey on here, but it does have all those "classics" I've been trying to read. Snap.
http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/
Looks like I'm gonna be all smarts when this trip is done too.
**Side note: Enola Gay is the plane than bombed Hiroshima, and is included is EVERY CROSSWORD WRITTEN. I swear it is. Just FYI.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
Road Trip 2012: Vancouver or bust!
I'm going to be eaten by a bear. I'm almost certain of it. Not entirely certain, as spending close to $50 for bear repellent seemed kinda stupid, but certain enough that I am going to state it here.
I'm taking a road trip. WOOHOO. Driving Ferris the red rider all the way to Vancouver. Ferris is my car, for the record, and not a herd of cattle. Anyway, due to money constraints, I am camping for about half of my two week trip. In the wilderness. Well, half in the wilderness, and half on some lovely beach front prime camping property. I'm not sure why this seemed like a really good idea when I came up with it. I'm not sure why I decided this HAD to be done. I haven't done anything close to "camping" since 2007 Bonnaroo. And I'm pretty sure if you can walk to a starbucks when you wake up, it's not really camping. But I'm doing it. And I'm doing it by myself.
The first question I've been getting when I tell people about the kick ass camping road trip, is "Who are you going with?". And then I get a wide eyed look when I tell them myself. Granted, I am stopping in major cities to see friends and family, and in some cases, calling on people I hardly know, but mostly, it will just be me and the road. I'm pretty sure it's the start of a great novel.
Some of my most fond travels have been by myself: The road trip I took on the east coast during the summer of 97 (similar to this trip but half as long in twice the time, and no camping), and traveling the English country side. It's fun. I'm not on anyone's time but my own. And for those of you who know how frustrated I get waiting for people, this is kind of a dream.
I'm attaching my kick ass itinerary. Ferris gets to ride on a ferry! Ideally, I'll keep updating this with pretty pictures and such- but I'm the worst blogger ever, so.... let's just keep hoping.
View Larger Map
I'm taking a road trip. WOOHOO. Driving Ferris the red rider all the way to Vancouver. Ferris is my car, for the record, and not a herd of cattle. Anyway, due to money constraints, I am camping for about half of my two week trip. In the wilderness. Well, half in the wilderness, and half on some lovely beach front prime camping property. I'm not sure why this seemed like a really good idea when I came up with it. I'm not sure why I decided this HAD to be done. I haven't done anything close to "camping" since 2007 Bonnaroo. And I'm pretty sure if you can walk to a starbucks when you wake up, it's not really camping. But I'm doing it. And I'm doing it by myself.
The first question I've been getting when I tell people about the kick ass camping road trip, is "Who are you going with?". And then I get a wide eyed look when I tell them myself. Granted, I am stopping in major cities to see friends and family, and in some cases, calling on people I hardly know, but mostly, it will just be me and the road. I'm pretty sure it's the start of a great novel.
Some of my most fond travels have been by myself: The road trip I took on the east coast during the summer of 97 (similar to this trip but half as long in twice the time, and no camping), and traveling the English country side. It's fun. I'm not on anyone's time but my own. And for those of you who know how frustrated I get waiting for people, this is kind of a dream.
I'm attaching my kick ass itinerary. Ferris gets to ride on a ferry! Ideally, I'll keep updating this with pretty pictures and such- but I'm the worst blogger ever, so.... let's just keep hoping.
View Larger Map
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