Unforseen Obstacles

As is often the case in life unforseen obstacles appear before an anticipated clear path. Whether it be a Tsunami, a melting down of a nuclear reactor, or a family crisis one must adjust, cope, and hopefully make the right decisions to move forward.

As of now I’m sticking with my original travel plans but I’ve been navigating obstacles. Things haven’t been going as smoothly as hoped. I’ve bascially got two weeks to get it together and all in all I’ve got the important stuff covered such as managing my resources, obtaining visa’s etc. I haven’t been particularly efficient but chores are getting done.

The trip I am about to embark on will be fairly lenghty and upon my return I’ll most positively be headed a different direction. Once I get going I’ll definitely be in store for an exciting ride upon the ongoing adventure of life. If your life doesn’t feel like a cool adventure then your missing out. That is unless you don’t much care for adventure. Live now, you never know what can happen.

The other day I found out that a man I worked with for two and a half years in Aspen is currently in the final stages of ALS. We are the same age. The last time I saw him he was a healthy athlete but now his life is almost done. I read a blog that he wrote with an optical system. He wrote about how he was at a party and everyone was talking about problems at work etc.,. He couldn’t talk but wanted to say, “Geezz, What would you rather be doing?” Naturally you can’t have everything the way you want it all the time but I can totally relate to what he said. My personal mantra has always been, “live life now.” Once your born the clock starts ticking and no one knows how much time they have. Life is gift, use it wisely and live it fully.

I cannot finish this post without addressing how bothered I’ve been by todays current events. The recent tsunami, Japanese nuclear crises, and uprisings in the middle east add to an uneasy feel to the world in which we live. There’s really nothing good about what’s happeining in Japan and whether or not the changes in the middle east will amount to a better sitiuation is open to debate. Personally I’m sick of war. Sometimes it’s justified but more often than not I believe there’s a better way. As far as the nuclear crisis goes I’ve always been anti nuclear and what’s going on in Japan is the reason why. The more I travel the more I feel connected to world events beacause ultimately it affects us all.

The world is getting smaller and smaller. People really need to learn how to get along and we need to quit going against nature. I’m really feeling like an idealistic Greener these days. If you don’t know what a Greener is, its someone who graduated from one of the more unusual American Universities. The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Wa. Me? Class of 1989...

Booked A Ticket , Dropped Off The Passport

Busyness is a demon that devours time like a lion. Unfortunately it's a necessary evil that everyone must battle at some point or another. Balance can be an elusive concept when so much to do becomes the focus. Work, taxes, things to be done, gotta go and see you laters add up to a rapid passing of time. Where has the last two weeks gone?

I booked a ticket, dropped my passport in the hands of foreign consulate, and fell asleep with my nose stuck in a Lonely Planet Guidebook. My plans are ambitious, resources barely suffice, but in a little less than a month I'll be on my way to places with names like Yangshuo, Lahsa, and Ulaanbaatar.

I'll start my Journey in Hong Kong then make my way across southern China and if possible Tibet. From there I'll travel north and east to Beijing. In Beijing I'll take a train to Mongolia then Russia. Once in Russia I'll make my way across Eastern Europe into Western Europe and back to France where I intend to do some more walking.

All of this will have to be done on a tight shoestring budget with my biggest expense likely being the train from Beijing to Moscow. The intention is to travel for 5 months but finances will dictate whether it will be possible or not. I've booked my flights with airline miles which gives me a lot of flexibility, without added expense, if I need to cut things short.

In the meantime I'll continue along with a hectic pace but hope to more or less wrap things up a few days before I leave so I can catch my breath before the long flight over. For now its back to work...

Plans Emerging - A Post From The Black Hole

I'm still plugging away here in Texas but things are about to get more interesting. I was hoping to make a trip down to Central America during the winter but due to some good money making opportunities and more ambitious travel ideas I’ve chosen to stay Houston bound.

I’m currently sitting in funky Houston coffee shop located in a small mid century side street shopping center. The floor is concrete and all of the furniture is of 1950’s and 60’s design. My mini laptop computer sits on a long thin dark wood grained “garage sale special” coffee table with a fishbowl containing a blue fish named Sally Marouge. I thought for sure the person sitting across from me was a 20 year old young man but now I think he’s a girl. It appears as though I’m one of the only ones who doesn’t have a Mac laptop. Dreamy steel guitar laden music fills the void at just the right volume. They call this place the Black Hole. Neon sign on order, due to arrive soon……. It’s a delightful venue for planning the next journey.

Life is starting to get a little more exciting as I’m putting a plan to paper. By the end of the week I should have a ticket and a new adventure will start to take shape. I plan to be on my way at the beginning of April. Between now and then I’ll be incredibly busy but by time I leave things should be in good order so I can surrender to the serendipity and flow that travel tends to create. I’ll reveal my general plan once a ticket is secured. I’m also considering what I’ll do once I return to the states. By the end of the week I intend to have a good idea as to what I’m doing for the next year or so. As always, nothing is set in stone in order to allow for unforeseen obstacles and/or possibilities.

My life is somewhat split between two lives. One is the stay put head down worker in pursuit of fuel for freedom otherwise known as money. While in this mode I can be more or less content living within a relatively predictable day to day twenty mile radius. The other side of me is a world traveler backpacker flying on the wings of loose plans. Regardless of whichever side I’m on I eventually get tired so I jump to the other side. Needless to say the bank account often dictates the when this will happen. In the in-betweens that fall between I wrestle with the issue of higher purpose and meaning but I think I might be getting a better handle on it. As always I feel very fortunate to have the freedom to pursue my zeal for experiencing new things. I think this puts me in a unique position to be available for something bigger beyond myself. I can’t say I’ve gotten there yet but I feel like I’m getting closer. Just don’t ask me about it.

On another note I’m still abstaining from alcohol which has been remarkably easy and refreshing. I think I just kind of tired of it for awhile and don't need the distraction right now. That along with doing Yoga on a regular basis has been really good for my mind. The Yoga center I go to takes a fitness centered approach towards Yoga and aside of closing with a Namaste doesn’t touch on the spiritual foundation but it seems to be having a spiritual affect on me in a number of subtle ways. The yogis of India say practice, practice, practice and things will happen. Simple as that. It’s all a mystery but very positive in my experience.

Now? Back to work....

The Path Ahead

Mild warm weather after a couple of rare wintry days inspired me to drive to the coast this past Sunday. From Houston I drove an hour or so down to Surfside then along the shoreline for about 45 minutes to Galveston. It was a great day for it. The photo above I took while walking on a jetty at Surfside. There are a two long jetties built there to break surf so oil tankers can safely access a canal to a couple of coastal refineries. With the Gulf of Mexico flat and calm the long jetty extended like a thin walkway disappearing into a serene oceanic horizon.

This blog has been very quiet as my life has been consumed by narrow focus and distractions of work. For the most part work has been going well and as usual I really can’t complain, however, I only go for so long before once again contemplating deeper questions concerning life’s purpose and living up to my full potential. These are two area’s where I know I’m falling short and blame nothing but myself. It’s becoming more and more of a riddle that deeply confounds me.

Since the New year I’ve totally given up alcohol and got rid of the TV. I’ve never had a TV or drinking problem but the two can be a profound distraction in my opinion. I don’t have an addictive personality so it’s been easy to abstain. The fun thing about having a couple of beers with friends is letting off steam after a busy work week etc.,. I’ve had many good times sharing a few beers with friends and at some point will resume appreciating the malt beverage but the truth is alcohol is a drug. It changes brain chemistry. Even one or two have an affect. The short term high is usually followed by a little bit lower low etc. thus leading to more significant ups and downs in my opinion. People are different when they drink. I don’t care if it’s only one drink. People act differently under the influence. In some cases it might be a better different and possibly even therapeutic because of it’s stress relieving affect. At the same time though it can add to confusion and/or enable one to just fall into a way of blocking and avoiding issues that should probably be dealt with. I think alcohol can stunt ones growth just as much as any drug. Ultimately real change has to come with a clear head, a clear mind. Obviously heavy drinking is never good.

For the month of January I got on a regular Yoga routine which has proven to be very positive. The science of Yoga isn’t about stretching and tying yourself into a knot. It’s about how energy flows through your body. Energy is the electrical spark that fires the heart, the blood that flows through the veins and the oxygen that feeds the blood. Yoga is about getting everything to flow correctly and efficiently. It’s obviously good for the body but it’s but it’s even better for the mind. Lately I’ve found it to be especially beneficial.

I prefer Hot Yoga. Probably because I like to sweat and have been an athlete all my life. It’s done in room that’s heated to around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. For some the heat may be too much but an hour and a half session doesn’t bother me. It enhances focus and allows the muscles to be a little more flexible with less risk of straining anything. What I don’t like about it is that it requires a specially designed hot room and can be kind of expensive to attend classes regularly.

Aside of specific exercises the yoga lifestyle includes meditation to quiet the mind and a well balanced healthy diet. When I worked at the European Yoga festival last summer no one drank, smoked, or ate meat. The attitude was why would you want to? An interesting yet understandable by product of consistent yoga is that my running pace has increased quite a bit. Markedly so in a very short period of time without any kind of speed oriented training. Running continues to be a regular part of my life as it has been since I was 10 years old, however, I have no competitive interests at this time. Been there, done that.

So, the road ahead? What’s next? Between now and early April plans are really up in the air. There are things that need tending to and decisions that need to be made. It might be best for me to hang tight and continue plugging away for just a little while longer even though the itch to travel is really starting to get to me. What’s different this time is the necessity to better grasp and solve a riddle that I really can’t be put off any longer.

Long EZ Over the Rockies

Riding the Colorado Wave in a Long EZ

When your talking wind shear, rotors, and the wave some pilots might think it’s a good time not to fly but the rare few see it differently. Staring at the hand built ultra light aircraft with toy like propeller, fuselage marked experimental, and just enough room for two, I was hesitant about flying over the continental divide at 18,000 feet.

Sometimes a rare opportunity presents itself and you either take it or not. I’ve flown in glider, biplane, and skydived but I’ve never been in an ultra light aircraft designed by world famous aerospace engineer Burt Rutan. The aircraft of interest is called a Long Ez and piloted by Ian Huss. Although I had just met Ian about 30 minutes before squeezing into the passenger seat I sensed a coolness only seen in the most experienced of pilots.

Perhaps it was the 1,000 hours he had already logged on the Long Ez, his experience flying over the continental divided in a hang glider, or, his otherworldly tale of icing up in a cumulus cloud while flying a hang glider in South Texas. Ian is an anomaly of sorts. Kind of like one the greatest pilots you never saw. He posses an element I’ve seen in high level mountain climbers and others who not only have a sixth sense for what they do but also a boatload of experience to back it up. Flying in the Rockies is pretty much as dangerous or safe as the pilot. You really need to understand and know the wind.

Ian is a machinist by trade whose eye for detail transfers nicely into maintaining the hand built aircraft. Considering the Long EZ ultra light can handle up to 12 G’s and we would be following a route he’s flown approximately 400 times I let go of my fears and accepted the opportunity to fly over Rocky Mountain National Park, Indian Peaks, James Peak and Winter Park, Colorado. I would have been a fool to let this one slip by.

The opportunity presented itself as I was visiting my friend Corwin in Eldorado Springs outside of Boulder. I had just arrived when he received a call from Ian. Partway into the conversation Corwin asked if I was interested in a flight. My initial reaction came with reservation but I felt it wouldn’t hurt to take a drive out to the Longmont airport and at least look at the aircraft. Corwin is a pilot himself and fly’s a motorized hang glider contraption of sorts known as a Trike. He’s known Ian for awhile and has utmost trust in his ability.

It took me a good half hour or so of talking to Ian, looking around the his hanger, and inspecting the aircraft before I could finally decide. Ian doesn’t believe in talking people into going up with him. He’s straight forward, gives you honest answers to your questions, and allows an individual to make their own decision as to whether or not to fly. As is usually the case, I often times go through a process of weighing the pros, cons, and questioning whether or not I really want to do a particular activity before moving forward. I knew I really wanted to go and was convinced it would be safe enough for my liking. All I really had to do was squeeze into the seat behind the pilot and trust in his ability so I did. Once belted in, anxieties turned to excitement.

You never really know what the ride into the mountains is going to be like. Since there was a large cloud formation known as a wave, resting along the front range, Ian expected it could be pretty rough for a portion of the flight but more or less promised calm winds once over the divide.

The take off was very smooth and the plane felt remarkably solid and robust. As expected we hit some turbulence and one air pocket in a wind rotor got my attention but for the most part it wasn't bad at all. It was calmer than Ian expected. We then entered into a nice updraft and ascended rapidly, as smooth as an elevator ride, into serenely calm air. At this point we were riding the wave around 17 to 18,000 feet. When flying at such an altitude, in a non pressurized cabin, Ian has an oxygen system to insure mental alertness.

Once we were over the mountains I really began to settle in and soak up the views. The peaks in the region are all around 12 to 14,000 feet. Many of which I climbed when I lived in Colorado. At first we made our way over Rocky Mountain National park and Longs Peak which was fully encased in winter snow. From there we worked our way south. I could see Grand Lake to the right and pointed summit of Spearhead to the left. Further along we observed Navajo, Arapaho, and Apache peaks. Winter Park with its ski slopes to the right and broad valley below Devils Thumb fondly reminded me of the hundreds of joyous kilometers I’ve skied there. Rollins pass came up to our left and Ian told me of the times he skied over it. When we got to James peak the sun was dropping low in the southwest. Spindrift was blowing off the summit cornice. The contrast of cloud and light bouncing of snow looked like a dreamy explosion of softness. No, we hadn’t run out of oxygen. I just lost myself in the moment. “So, this is why people do this”, I thought. Absolutely beautiful.

Needless to say, for me, flying in a Long EZ over the Colorado Rockies was quite wonderful and special. It’s rare that these kind of opportunities arise. Especially when your not a part of a flying community. You really need to know someone. As is customary, after flying with most private pilots, I happily chipped in for gas and thanked Ian for a great experience.

Thanks again to Corwin and Ian. Hope to meet up with you again at the Longmont hanger.

(Below are some photos. Ian is the guy with the funny red hat)

Checking In On The New Year.....

Since my last post about the November road trip things have been pretty routine. Just working a lot and mostly enjoying it. When I travel I travel and when I’m home I pretty much work all the time. It’s nice working for myself and although income is pretty low, in relation to time spent working, I greatly prefer being self employed. The only one I can complain to or about is myself. No office politics, rigid hours, or someone else telling me what I can or cannot do. I’m not saying I won’t work for anyone anymore but I’m hesitant to do so unless it’s a job that really appeals to me. I like working with people and being a part of team but I also like being the director my life. Work takes up so much time, that at worst, its best to be content with what you do. Fortunately I have the blessing and luxury to pretty much do as I please. Not everyone is as fortunate and this is something I constantly remind myself not to take for granted. At the end of the day I’m a very lucky man.

For Christmas I flew to Denver for a week to visit family and friends. It was a smooth and pleasant trip that highlighted an unexpected flight over the Rockies in an experimental aircraft. I write about it in length in the post above. It was far more pleasant than the commercial flight back to Houston where we circled above the city for almost an hour before navigating between thunderstorms to land. That was one of the more uncomfortable flights I’ve experienced in a long time.

Well, I’m getting ready for the new year. In 2011 I’m giving up TV and alcohol in exchange for a clearer mind. It’s not that I watch a lot of TV or drink all that much but I can’t say either one is really benefiting me. If anything they’re distractions that seemingly hold me back. Since most of my social life involves consuming a beer or two it will be interesting to see how things sort out socially. This year I intend to do more writing, traveling, and in some way volunteer to work in third world environment for a good cause.

Florida Then Home

I'm now writing from Houston. I arrived back home 3 days ago after a 16 hour drive from Clearwater, Florida. Since my last post I headed directly from Charleston, South Carolina to Hollywood Beach, Florida. I stayed there one night before dropping further south to Key West. After a couple of nights in Key West I worked my way up the west coast of Florida to Clearwater where I visited a friend and his family for two nights. Needless to say, I did a lot of driving and by the end covered a little over 4,000 miles for a loop tour.

The drive from Charleston to Hollywood Beach went well but I was disappointed to unexpectedly find my desired budget backpacker styled accommodation completely booked. In a post 500 mile road dazed state I spent way too much time locating an acceptable alternative at a reasonable price. Sometimes I spend too much time trying to save a dime when its really not worth the hassle. All said, I did find a funky cool inexpensive room just a skip away from the beach. I shook off the hassle and road fatigue with a couple of Bahamanian beers at a beach side bar with Caribbean rhythms and called it a night.

The following morning I went for a good run along the Hollywood beach promenade followed by a swim in the Ocean. I've been to Hollywood beach a couple of times before and find it to be a great alternative to Ft Lauderdale which is just a few miles north. It's less expensive and more interesting in my opinion.

From Hollywood my next destination was Key West. I've always wanted to drive to Key West and have been greatly interested in checking out the long thin Island Chain that extends off the tip of Florida.

I first had to pass through Miami which turned out to be a real pain until I figured out how to access a turnpike which made it dramatically easier. The turnpike led me directly to Highway 1 at the very bottom of Florida. From there it was a 130 mile drive to the end, Key West.

Highway 1 is two lane most all of the way but it moves pretty well. The first Island is Key Largo which is the beginning of a series of bridge hops from one small island to another. At times the drive is very scenic. Especially while crossing some of the longer causeways. Some sections of drive are cluttered with businesses and buildings in various states of disrepair. After about 2 1/2 to 3 hours of traversing from Island to Island I arrived at Key West, the southernmost point of the contiguous United States. Just a 90 mile swim from Cuba.

Key West is a small Island that's roughly 4 miles wide and 7 miles long. It's packed with homes and businesses that revolve around tourism. It's well known for diving, sailing, beaches and partying but most importantly the sunsets. Well, I'm not sure about the diving, the sailing seems pretty good, the beaches are nothing to write home about but the partying seems to be set at full throttle, all the time, if that's what your interested in. Something about an Island way down south and a Jimmy Buffet song have made Key West an idyllic location to just drink and eat to your hearts content. Out of the numerous bars and restaurants Sloppy Joe's is a favorite. At its current location, since the 1930's, it was once frequented by Earnest Hemingway and is where he gave up one wife for another before moving to Cuba. The large gay population adds an extra dimension to the atmosphere with tidy gardens, quaint shops, B&B's, and female impersonator shows. Everyone is from somewhere else and many have a distinctly unique take on life. I could easily see a person waking up one morning in Key West and wondering what happened to the last few years.

Interestingly enough I didn't have a single drink during my two nights in Key West. I was more interested in seeing the sights and hoping on a schooner for a sunset sail. For me, I greatly enjoyed visiting the home Ernest Hemingway lived in for ten years while he wrote some of his finest works. Something about visiting homes of creative greats really appeals to me. I'm not sure why but I definitely feel an impression of sorts when I visit such places.

I would have loved to stay in Key West for a few more days but I was on a schedule and accommodation on the Island is not cheap. Despite Key West's flair for debauchery there's a certain charm to the place. Everyone is relaxed and for the most part nice and friendly. The majority of raucous activity is centered around a mile long stretch of Duval Street and the piers. Side streets are much more serene so the party atmosphere is relatively easy to avoid. I could definitely see spending a season there but after awhile I think it would be a bit too much... Oh, the sunsets? Incredible!

From Key West it was a long but fairly easy drive up to Clearwater near Tampa. I spent two nights crashing on the couch of my friend Greg who I use to run with while living in Boulder, Colorado during the early 90's. It was a relaxing visit and great to catch up with him and his family. He's a mailman and still looks the same as he did 20 years ago. Really no change. It's quite remarkable actually. By the way, Clearwater has really nice beaches.

Not wanting to spend money on a hotel on the drive from Clearwater to Houston I decided to drive straight through. I really don't mind long drives and have always been good at them. For a 16 hour drive it really wasn't bad at all. There was reasonably little traffic and great weather the whole way.

For now I'm back home until Christmas when I'll be off for another short excursion. Between now and then? Work, work, work....

...Below are some Key West photos of Hemingway's home and an evening sail...

South Carolina Photos

I didn't spend much time in South Carolina but I will definitely go back. It's a beautiful state whose coastline I'd really like to explore more. South Carolina marks the 48th state I've visited. Here's a sampling of photos...

Couch Surfing In Charleston, South Carolina

I’ve been rollin. From Asheville, North Carolina to Charleston, South Carolina then down to South Florida and the southernmost point of the 48 contiguous states, Key West. The days have been full of activity with plenty of driving in between. Here's a segment from November 12th through the 13th. The Americana Road trip continues.

After a week in Asheville I bid farewell to my good friend Tim and his family. The condo his mother’s friend allowed me to use was awesome and greatly appreciated! As always it was great to catch up over a good hikes, meals, beers, and stories. A very fortunate aspect to my single traveling ways is that it allows me to keep up with friends, scattered about world, easier than most people can. It's difficult to maintain long distance friendships along with busy careers and familial obligations. In my situation there’s lots of flexibility and it’s not as hard to get away. Whenever traveling, I always consider whether or not I’ll be passing near someone I know.

Along with keeping up with friends one of the best things about travel is making new friends. When I left Asheville for Charleston, South Carolina I decided to try out Couch Surfing. Couch surfing is an old vagabond term used for traveling from one friends place to another seeking a couch to sleep on for a night. More recently this concept was taken to the internet and a collective of travelers and people simply interested in hosting travelers was formed. Couchsurfing.org was created as a social networking site to put the concept into action. When I first heard about it my reaction was the same as most any normal persons reaction, “What, show up and sleep at some strangers house?” Well, if you’re a backpacker traveler like myself and step beyond the initial reaction you might see that it can be a pretty good deal.

I had registered with Couch Surfing in mid October and took time to search profiles and all. The site has a number of ways of verifying a hosts identity and legitimacy. Once people have surfed a few times, and gain friends on the site, credibility improves as people leave references and vouch for each other. I had talked to others who had used the site and heard nothing but good things. I think as long as an individual approaches Couch Surfing with good discretion and common sense there shouldn’t be any problems. Also, I’d say it’s good to arrive early and meet the host first before finally moving in for a night or two. In a sense it’s not much different than finding a roommate through the internet or paper. Also, Couch Surfing is in no way intended to be a dating site. This is clearly stated when a person registers. Parameters are set to keep it in line as a way to meet and help other travelers who share common interests.

After searching the profiles I put in two requests for a couch in Charleston. One declined because he was busy but the other enthusiastically accepted. My host would be a Park Ranger / Archeologist by the name of Rebekah.

Since I was passing near the park that Rebekah works at, on my way to Charleston, I decided to drop in an introduce myself. First impression was very good as she instantly reminded me of other people I had worked with during my Wilderness Ranger days. She was super nice, friendly and gave me a tour of the park as we exchanged stories and got to know each other a little. After a nice visit we planned to meet again later at her place. I then took a slow drive into Charleston stopping at a couple old plantations along the way.

When I met up with Rebekah at her home she called two of her friends and we shared a couple of beers before heading into the city to partake in a Mac and Cheese festival for peace. Just like that I was in local company hanging out with locals. We joined the Mac and Cheese fest with 1500 hundred people and Rebekah seemed to know most everyone. If she didn’t know someone and they looked interesting she would just go up and introduce herself.

If you went to a Mac and Cheese Festival for peace in Colorado or California you would probably see a good deal of hairy hippies clad in funky clothing doting dreadlocks while reeking of incense and essential oils. In Charleston I saw none of that. Instead, a woman's attire consisted of sporty yet styli leather boots up to the knee, tight fitting designer pants with understated yet flashy shirt coupled with ¾ length jacket topped off with a well done natural hair doo and just the right amount of makeup. Women in Charleston know how to look good while raising money for peace and I took notice.

We followed up the festival by sampling local brews at a brew pub and riding a replica of the Civil War Hunley submarine like Slim Pickens rode the bomb in Dr. Strangelove. At the end of the evening Rebekahs friend, Amanda, offered to show me around Charleston the next day.

The following morning I met back up with Amanda and her sister for a tour of Charleston while Rebekah ran off to work. Amanda was very nice to share her vast knowledge of Charleston’s history as we spent the first half of the day looking around. By early afternoon Amanda had to go so I hopped the boat to Fort Sumter for the remainder of the day and toured the Civil War Fort that guards the entrance to the Charleston bay area.

That evening I caught up with Rebekah. We were both tired from the previous nights Mac and Cheese fest so we just hung out swapped stories.

I couch surfed at Rebekahs for two nights and was provided a camping cot in my own simple room. It was perfectly suited and very comfortable. The best part about the whole experience was simply getting to meet Rebekah. She’s a great host and an awesome person with a vibrant spirit. I feel like I’ve made new friend whom I’ll cross paths with again somewhere along the way.

From Charleston I planned a long drive south to Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood Beach. I put in a couple of couch requests for Ft Lauderdale but no luck. From there I planned to go to Key West. Searching profiles for a couch in Key West didn’t look good. There are a number of strange birds and obvious alternative lifestyle types listed so I wasn't sure what to think. I did put in one request but more or less figured I’d splurge on a reasonable accommodation of my own while there….. But first… I had to get to Florida….