Califorina

Researching and deciding on the the backpack I will be using has been one of the most important aspects of gathering my gear. Considering that I will be “living” out of it when traveling I wanted to get the correct size and one that fits my body perfectly. Most backpacks are top loading internal frame [...]

Today I thought of sharing some ideas on ultra light gear. The best company I found regarding ultra light gear is Mont-bell.com. Very durable, well made, and very light gear with a price. The ultra light inner down jacket that I bought for $140.00 is well worth the cost. It weighs 13 oz only, and [...]

I received my new Camera today. I ordered it from Ritzcamera.com, free shipping and free sales tax. I went to the store to look at it first, but why pay sales tax. I would just rather wait and order online and have them ship it ground to me. Here are a couple of pictures of [...]

I have been exploring all the different options and features that are involved with my camera. If I would get into the hobby I would buy a much bigger camera with a tripod and all. Plus I would rather have a view finder. Some Canon’s still have the view finder, although most digital camera’s don’t [...]

Meet Kuttles my cat. He very much so lives up to his name. This is one cat that loves people food. He will eat anything, popcorn, pizza, even green pea’s, and loves dairy such as ice cream. Kind of a strange cat. I rarely give him people food, basically he eats dry cat food and [...]

Here are a couple of pictures of Natural Bridges, this place is on the very west side of Santa Cruz. Butterflies migrate here starting in September and by October there is a grove in the park which is the destination of their migration. They have it set up so a person can lay on the [...]

The man who goes alone can start today, but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.- Henry David Thoreau I like this quote, Several people have asked if I am traveling “alone”. Many are surprised that I am traveling “all alone”. Based on nature, humans sometimes have the perception that [...]

Flock together as the saying goes. With my camera I have been using the feature that allows me to take a close up picture from a distance to capture a fast moving creature that can fly or run away in a quick hurry. When I lived in Ohio I got into Parrots. I did some [...]

I just couldn’t resist from not posting these new pictures. Like I was saying Kuttles lives up to his name. His favorite sleeping position is on his back and legs spread apart.Do you notice his saber tooth tiger quality ?Life is to good, although I have to admit if I had to choose what animal [...]

There are many concepts I have found by having the correct perception can aid a person’s longevity on their adventure. Having the opportunity to drive many tourist, travelers, and business people through an airport sedan service company for awhile proved to be a complete learning experience. The most comical observation was noticing how much stuff [...]

Lifestyle and a Travel Lifestyle is another subject I feel that needs to be addressed by the long term traveler. From past experience related with observation and listening to what others talk about, I have experienced that willing to change and accepting a certain lifestyle can prove to be valuable and beneficial by accepting the [...]

The coastal area of highway one between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay in California is a fifty mile stretch of beautiful coast land. It’s an area of serene peacefulness. Spending a night on the beach is a wonderful experience on the coast of California, the sound of the waves is one of the most [...]

California is truly a beautiful place. Most people, from my experience, draws their perception about California from southern California most notably L.A. The different regions of California are diverse in culture. L.A. has the strong influence of Hollywood and the energy that involves that lifestyle. The unique concept of California is for the most part [...]

As the saying goes at least, Santa Cruz is Weird. Living in Santa Cruz California since June 10th 1999 is certainly a place to be mentioned. Basically Santa Cruz is a big community with the small town flavor and mentality in certain circumstances. Here in Santa Cruz you can find just about anything and everything. [...]

Here is a movie I made as kind of a test. I guess it was easier to load on the blog then what I thought.I was taking some short video clips with my camera around town. Then added some pictures with a burn affect, added some transitions and that was about it. Through Google video [...]

Expectations can be a snare in many ways for any type of short or long term traveler. I, like most people fell into the expectation of fantasy in my younger days. Planning something to do or somewhere to go and in the mean time fantasize and build expectations, which you really don’t know what the [...]

The most popular preconceived idea I can think of was the concept of Y2K. This idea was based on the change of 1999 to 2000 regarding the time and date of computer systems. The concern was based on the idea that the computer would not communicate like they should regarding checks being printed on time [...]

It’s nice to be into June. The summer always goes by quickly and by the time we know it football season will be here. I am not really into football, although once the season starts by the time we know it the new year is here. Since time slows down during the holiday season once [...]

Hello everyone, so it’s been a whole week since my last post. I have been trying to get some good video shots of the pelican’s feeding along the shore. It is a great site to see, they fly over head, looking down for their prey, eying for the best catch. Then all of a sudden: [...]

Here is an all time classic video clip of some very difficult tap dancing just before color movies came out with Fred Astaire at his best. I started to dance late in my life at the age of 35. The few years that I did dance I found out I was given talent. Dancing is [...]

Here is a clip of the wonderful movie, Singing in the Rain, staring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds, singing and dancing to the song Good Morning. A classic wholesome movie of the 1940′s. Watching classics on DVD becomes a whole new experience, next to VHS. If I would have enough time, I would [...]

In a past post, I mentioned I was taking a few days off, and I was heading up to San Francisco. The situation came up that I was able to leave Monday night. I thought I would stay at the Montara Lighthouse Hostel, which is 25 miles south of San Francisco. From the pictures you [...]

The time I have spent out and about has proved to be a note worthy, eye opening, experience. By bringing my backpack fully loaded, staying in some hostels, dealing with the details of my gear, has forced me to do a reassessment. The Backpack itself is great. The detachable day pack will be an essential [...]

I thought of writing about a few subjects that I am faced with and have to deal with. The most important subject is that of lifestyle change. Gearing up to do what I am going to do, certainly will demand a change in lifestyle. I have been in the same life routine since 2004. Of [...]

I got some close ups shots of a couple of pelicans hanging around. This area is on west cliff drive in Santa Cruz. The weather has been wonderful lately and is warming up, although it really never gets all that hot in this area. A person really needs to wonder what it’s like having such [...]

Last night I was able to catch a few shots of the sunset. This first picture I was able to catch with a flock of pelicans flying through the sky. For a person that does not, or cannot, acknowledge an Almighty Divine Source; must have a hole in their head. All living, reflects the personality [...]

Here are some more beautiful pictures I took at the lighthouse hostel. I used the closeup feature on my camera to get these three pictures below. Truly flowers are of beauty. Beautiful different shapes, sizes, and color. Certainly flowers has the power to affect an atmosphere, affect a person’s mentality, charm your life partner, flowers [...]

The hostel at the Pigeon Point lighthouse is the very best hostel I have stayed at. Each hostel is different according to layout of the situation. At Pigeon Point, the hostel is a home setting, which has four homes on the property. Each home has one private room and two dorm rooms which sleeps six [...]

I thought of sharing about my travel out to Oahu back in January of 2006. Due to the fact that I lived in Honolulu, I kind of knew the ins and outs of the area. Within Waikiki there are many hostels to choose from, although there is only one Hostelling International Hostel in Waikiki. Hostelling [...]

This morning has started out with blue clear skies. The mornings I find to be wonderful; it is nice and quite. Getting up at six am and going for a walk is an enjoyable, awakening experience. An interesting concept: in the morning, everyone I walk by says “good morning”, although if I walk in the [...]

I thought of writing about the concepts of planning ahead, disappointment, and attachment, and how they relate to one another. Several people have asked me if I am excited to leave? I can understand, it is a common question when someone is leaving on a trip. Basically I really don’t to excited over anything. It [...]

I was able to catch a bee on this flower. If you click on the picture and enlarge it, you can see how clear his two tiny wings sit on his back with a glass look.Here are a couple of pictures I took up at Pigeon Point in the area of the cove. Very nice [...]

I have come across an excellent resource which I found out from another blogger living in Rome. Couchsurfing.com; Basically people from all around the world on this site offer travelers a couch. Of course each situation is different. The site is based on ratings of each person and a description of the area they have [...]

Ninety days left until I leave the country, although I am really leaving my home situation October twentieth. I am in the process of getting rid of everything. I have a strong prospect considering buying my truck just before I leave. I am feeling so good about not having anything in my life, except for [...]

My four day excursion was very nice and relaxing, in actuality it was four in a half days. I was able to leave Sunday afternoon. I drove down to Nipomo, which is just north of Santa Maria. I had planned only Wednesday and Thursday night with reservations, which was in Cambria and Monterey. Decided to [...]

Here are a few pictures of Santa Barbara. It is a truly beautiful area. Lot of tourism during the summer. Very much like Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz does have a nicer wharf though.The picture was taken from the wharf which gives great views of the city. One thing I was very surprised over was the [...]

When I was down in Cambria staying at the Bridge Street Inn, the owner reveled an incredible resource, which will be key, at longevity; living the life of a nomad. I have been wondering for awhile now, about working on farms, for an exchange of room and food. I know myself quite well, I will [...]

This is the beach at Cambria. During my four in a half day excursion, I stayed at four different hostels. The Bridge Street Inn Hostel in Cambria is the best of the best. Within the network of hostelling international, and half way between San Fransisco and Los Angeles, this hostel is the perfect stop during [...]

This is a picture of a van art I shot down in Santa Barbara. Everything is winding down fairly quickly for my departure into a lifestyle of a nomad. I have decided to leave my housing situation October 16th. I am going to visit Yosemite from the 16th through the 22nd. The HI-Midpines hostel is [...]

Here are a couple of more shots of the van art. I thought of writing about a few concepts of what people have said, based on perception, regarding my plan to travel for so long. Considering that everyone does have their own perception, using a listening ear, I have found it to be very interesting [...]

Two weeks to go and I have everything sold except my truck (I started to write this post 9/30/07). The lady that bought my bed for her daughter is interested in my truck. At the moment she is in need of transportation and is willing to wait until November ninth for the sale. Selling things [...]

Getting down to the nitty gritty in life. I find that smaller items are ending up in my backpack. It’s OK for now because I know that I will just decrease when need be. The biggest problem is packing books. I must limit the number of books; two should be the max, one travel book [...]

Today a person left me a note on my truck having an interest in buying it – I don’t have a for-sale sign on it. A young lady in need of a truck, I called the number and they were over within fifteen minutes and left me a deposit for the truck and will pay [...]

The day has arrived and everything I own is in my truck which isn’t much. I am off to a great start, at Pigeon Point I am in the dorm by myself, it’s wonderful for my first two nights. If anyone asks “what do I do”? Answer – I’m retired. I am now a traveling [...]

The Yosemite Bug is an amazing place to stay for $15.00 a night. It’s a whole resort. They have a serving kitchen-bar lounge room. There are many private rooms and also tent cabins. The private rooms range from $55 and on up and the tent cabins range from $35 and on up. Although the dorm [...]

Life is like a deck of cards, you never know what will be dealt, or is it like a box of chocolates? So far starting out has been better then expected here in the USA. The first two nights at Pigeon Point I was in the dorm myself. Out here at the Yosemite Bug, the [...]

I have been having a real good time in Minneapolis. Much of it has changed from the time I move in 1994. Lots of new buildings and such things, but of course there are a few things that haven’t changed. Minneapolis does have a lot to offer, theater, music, dance, within the area of the [...]

Here is a picture of Minneapolis, taken from Fort Snelling, south of the city on the Mississippi river. I am at Sierra Hot Springs and on my last leg of transition before I leave the country. Everything has been going great. I flew in from Minneapolis Monday night and drove to Sacramento and stayed for [...]

Sierra Hot Springs is my favorite place in California. They do have a small room of dorm beds in the main lodge or very nice private rooms, there are three shared bathrooms for the whole lodge. If a person can not get a room at the main lodge, the historic Globe Hotel is available in [...]

Just to let you all know, who ever might be in the area to visit the springs; starting this month they have a deal, if you stay one night you get the next free. Only Sunday through Thursday from now until April. They just started this deal this year. Very nice surprise, I got two [...]

Tonight I am in San Francisco. I took public transportation all the way from Santa Cruz which proved to be an interesting experience in itself. I know one thing I will be getting in very good shape with carrying my backpack around. Arriving on the BART into downtown San Francisco was a rush in itself. [...]