"Do the two of you have any money?" Not normally what you expect to be asked when you sit down at the local diner for breakfast, usually it's more along the lines of "how are you?" or "can I get you something to drink", but on this particular morning in the hick town of Bridgeport, California,
Keeping Busy Not Being Murdered On The PCT
"But aren't you afraid of murderers?!" It is the question asked most often by people picking me up while I am hitchhiking. It is also common to be asked this by people in towns whilst discussing the Pacific Crest Trail (and on a related note, people love telling you about the most recent bear
An Afternoon At McDonald’s (on the PCT)
I don't think I have ever been more content just sitting in a McDonald's watching obese Americans hasten their impending biological failures. I myself put down a double quarter-pounder with cheese, a Big Mac, a 10 piece chicken nuggets, a large fry, and a gallon of Dr. Pepper, so I don't know
The New Worst Day On The PCT
After taking my first zero in Idyllwild, I felt it necessary to make up for lost time and go from Idyllwild to Cabazon in one day: a 33-mile trek (spoiler alert: this was a terrible idea). Armed with new socks, new insoles, and a freshly laundered wardrobe I felt rather invincible (especially
Yes, I Was Assaulted and Robbed in Rio
I opened my eyes and there was a man standing over me. "Are you alright? What happened?" he asked me in Portuguese. I looked around incredibly confused as to where I was or what was going on. It was almost four in the morning and I was sitting in the middle of the street, my head hurt, and
Taxi to Petra: A Love Story
It isn't every day that one finds (or makes) love in a taxi, but fortunately for myself and one lucky cabbie, that day was about to arrive for the both of us. Our story begins one night in the city of Eilat, Israel. I was determined to see the ancient city of Petra (in Jordan) and had elected
The Day I Dug Up And Emptied A Septic Tank
Fire Island's noted absence of Domino's, 24 hour convenience stores and strip clubs has made me realize that, unfortunately, this cannot afford its visitors all the luxuries of the mainland. However, beyond the obvious there exists an entirely separate layer of absenteeism that plagues