"I am Cosmo. I've walked away from a nearly six figure gig as a corporate drone to embark on a full-scale exploration of America. What started out as 365 days and 74,169 miles across the first 48 states to join the Union, plus 7 Canadian cities, 7 other countries--an average of 203.2 miles per day. This trek yielded 69,078 photographs--having spent 99 minutes or more (running time of Reservoir Dogs) inside 641 different cities/towns. I swam in 157 bodies of water, toured 274 colleges, experienced 273 museums/art galleries, took in 223 National Park units, 61 breweries/distilleries, 27 zoos, and every professional sporting venue (minus 4 NHL arenas). Aboard a Prius-V named Calliope Falcor "Open Arms" Magdalene--my never ending journey turned into a five-year hiatus from society and an 1/8th of a million miles traversed. The craft was converted into a roaming studio apartment with the backseats removed to fit a dorm twin bed and makeshift kitchen/storage section. I stuffed as much stimuli into these baby blues as humanly possible for less than $20-a-day ($7,811), not counting gasoline ($6,489). But the real story lies between the numbers."
My Venmo is [cosmodionysus] for donation purposes.
5-day side trip practice run to Seattle, down coast and back to Portland
Green Lake, WA--futon
Kirkland, WA--floor
Capital Hill, WA--couch
University District, WA--couch
West Seattle, WA--Falcor
5-day journey back to Prescott, AZ for the retrofit
Sacramento, CA--bed
San Francisco, CA--bed
(Falcor broken into, backpack stolen)
Oakland, CA--bed
Huntington Beach, CA--couch
Los Angeles, CA--bed
The Road Trip
(April)
0 Prescott, AZ - Falcor - Departed at 7:43AM (my birth time, my hometown)
1 Winslow, AZ - Falcor - [Flagstaff] Grand Canyon NP {NAU}
2 Oro Valley, AZ - Bed of HS friend - Biosphere II - (The Keg)
3 Guadalupe Mountains NP, TX - Falcor [El Paso] - {Arizona} {UTEP}
4 Monahans, TX - Falcor - [Odessa/Midland] - Carlsbad Caverns NP
(first replica of Stonehenge)
5 Lubbock, TX - Couch of Couchsurfing (The Crafthouse) {Texas Tech}
6 Austin, TX - Bed of Residence Inn - rodeo in Coleman {Texas}
7 San Antonio, TX - Bed of HS friend - The Alamo and Riverwalk {Texas-San Antonio}
8 South Padre National Seashore - Falcor - Corpus Christi
9 Houston, TX - Bed of college friend (West Alabama I.H. and tacos)
10 Allen, TX - Bed of college friend (Freebirds) - Branch Davidian complex in Waco {Baylor}
11 Dallas, TX - Couch of college friend (Slice by Sfuzzi) - Two Door Cinema Club show {SMU}
12 Grapevine, TX - Bed of college friend (Bone Daddy’s) - JFK book depository, Cowboys, and Rangers tours
13 Fort Worth, TX - Futon of college friend (In n’ Out) - FC Dallas vs. NY Red Bulls {North Texas and TCU}
14 Shreveport, LA - Couch ofCouchsurfing - [Natchitoches]
15 Lafayette, LA - Bed of LM friend (Olde Tyme Grocery and Frozen Sun) {Louisiana-Lafayette}
16 New Orleans, LA - Couch of HS friend (Cochon Butcher) {Tulane}
17 Alexandria, LA - Falcor - [Baton Rouge] (Chelsea’s Cafe) - LSU vs. Grambling State {LSU, Grambling St., and Louisiana Tech}
-first speeding ticket of the trek-
18 Jonesboro, AR - Bed of Couchsurfing {Arkansas State}
19 Memphis, TN - Mattress of college friend - Beale Street, Lorraine Hotel, and Graceland {Memphis}
(drunkest night of trip. Locked out. First break-in of trip)
20 Marianna, AR - Falcor in St. Francis National Forest
21 Crystal Springs, AR Falcor in NF of Lake Ouachita - Hot Springs NP
22 Eureka Springs, AR (Lake Leatherwood) Falcor - Walmart {Arkansas}
23 Buffalo River, AR - Falcor
-second speeding ticket of the trek- (and final one - FUPD)
24 Brownsville, TN - Falcor - Shiloh NB
25 Chattanooga, TN - Falcor - Jack Daniels tour
26 Cosby, TN - Bed of Cub Inn (first safety stay) - Great Smokey Mountains NP
27 Russellville, TN - Bed of friend of a friend [Knoxville] {Tennessee}
28 Antioch, TN - Bed of college friend [Nashville] (Loveless Cafe) {Vanderbilt}
29 Murfreesboro, TN - Mattress of college friend - Stones River National Battlefield {Middle Tennessee State}
30 Franklin, TN - Bed of friend (Patterson House and Hattie B’s Hot Chix) - Carnton Plantation and Grand Ole Opry
Falcor: 11
Bed/Mattress: 14
Couch/SofaBed: 4
Futon/A.Mattress: 1
Houses: 17 nights in 17 houses
Hotel/Motel: 2 nights in 2 hotels, paid for 1
(May)
1 Owensboro, KY - Bed of cousin - Mammoth Cave NP {Western Kentucky}
2 Owensboro, KY - Bed of cousin (Moonlite)
3 Elizabethtown, KY - SofaBed of Hampton Inn via college friend (Texas Outlaw BBQ) - Maker’s Mark and Heaven Hill tour
4 Elizabethtown, KY - SofaBed of Hampton Inn - Kentucky Derby
5 Cumberland Falls SP - Falcor - Jim Beam and Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve
6 Lexington, KY - Falcor - Kentucky Horse Park horseback riding {Kentucky}
-first broken toe-
7 New Albany, IN - Falcor (Little Caesar’s) - Louisville Slugger Museum {Louisville}
8 Shelbyville, IN - Falcor - Milan High School
9 Indianapolis, IN - Couch of Couchsurfing (Yat’s) - Indianapolis Speedway and Lewis Black live {Butler}
10 South Bend, IN - A.Mattress (double-ply) of Couchsurfing (Jimmy John’s) - Hoosier’s Gymnasium {Notre Dame and Ball State}
11 Terre Hautte, IN - Falcor (Triple XXX Burger) {Purdue, Valparaiso, and Indiana State}
12 Evansville, IN - Bed of Couchsurfing - Bloomington - Tibetan Buddhist Temple {Indiana and Evansville}
13 Cape Girardeau, MO - Falcor {Southern Illinois}
14 Springfield, MO - Falcor (Rolls n’ Bowls) {Missouri State}
15 Kansas City, MO - Love Seat of Couchsurfing (Gate’s and Oklahoma Joe’s)
16 Columbia, MO (Fulton, MO) - Falcor - Missouri vs. Kentucky {Missouri}
17 St. Louis, MO (Kirkwood, MO) - Falcor (Anthonino’s on the Hill) - Cardinals vs. Brewers {Saint Louis}
18 Deerfield/Northbrook, IL - SofaBed of Embassy Suites via college friend (Portillo’s) {Northwestern and Illinois}
19 Deerfield/Northbrook, IL - SofaBed of Embassy Suites via college friend (Giordano’s) - Cubs vs. Mets{Chicago and DePaul}
20 O’Hare, IL - Top Bunk Bed of college friend’s pilot’s crash pad - White Sox vs. Red Sox
21 Normal, IL - Falcor (Potbelly’s)
22 Springfield, IL - Falcor - Lincoln’s tomb and Dane-Thomas House (first Frank Lloyd Wright of trip)
23 Moline, IL - Falcor {Northern Illinois}
24 Dubuque, IA - Falcor {Northern Iowa}
25 Cedar Rapids, IA - Bed of college friend (Taco Bell...long story)
26 Des Moines, IA (Altoona, IA) - Falcor - Iowa Cubs vs. Oklahoma City RedHawks {Drake and Iowa}
27 Fort Dodge, IA - Falcor - Day the Music Died location {Iowa State}
28 Lawrence, KS - Bed of college friend - Brown vs. Board of Education {Kansas}
29 Manhattan, KS - Falcor {Kansas State}
30 Wichita, KS - Falcor (Pizza Hut) - Salt Mines {Wichita State}
31 Garden City, KS - Falcor
Falcor: 18
Bed: 6, 1 was actually a bunk bed
Couch/SofaBed: 6, 1 was actually a love seat
Futon/A.Mattress: 1
Houses: 9 nights in 8 houses
Hotel/Motel: 4 nights in 2 hotels. paid for 0
(June)
1 Hays, KS - Falcor - World’s Largest Ball of Twine and the Geographical Center of U.S.
2 North Platte, NE - Falcor - World’s Largest Porch Swing
3 Chadron, NE - Falcor - Scottsbluff and CarHenge
4 Norfolk, NE - Falcor
5 Omaha, NE - Couch of Couchsurfing (Anthony’s Steakhouse)
6. Alva, OK - Falcor {Nebraska}
7 Oklahoma City, OK - Falcor - Alfred R. Murray monument
8 Tulsa, OK - SofaBed of work friend {Oklahoma and Tulsa}
9 Lawton, OK - Falcor {Oklahoma State}
10 Mena, AR - Falcor - Talimena National Scenic Drive
11 Tupelo, MS - Falcor - Little Rock Central High School and the birthplace of Elvis
12 Never went to bed, one hour nap in Falcor at Bonnaroo - Natchez Trace drive
13 Bonnaroo Music Festival - Falcor
14 Bonnaroo Music Festival - Falcor
15 Bonnaroo Music Festival - Falcor
16 Smyrna, TN - Falcor
17 South Bend, IN - Bed of Double Tree via college friend (pizza by cat)
18 Cedar Rapids, IA - Bed of college friend ()
19 Ames, IA - Bed of girlfriend (sushi and Thai)
20 IA/SD border - Falcor - National Museum of Music
21 Aberdeen, SD - Falcor - Corn Palace {South Dakota}
-first dead battery--
22 Pierre, SD - Falcor
23 Badlands NP, SD - Tent camping - Wall Drug
24 Rapid City, SD - Couch of Couchsurfing - Mt Rushmore, Wing Cave NP, Wounded Knee, Black Hills
25 Bowman-Hayden Lake, ND - Falcor - Cosmos Mystery Area
26 Bismarck, ND - Bed of parent’s friend’s parents (Big Boy) - Theodore Roosevelt NP
27 Fargo, ND - Bed of Couchsurfing {North Dakota State}
28 Grand Forks, ND - Falcor (Pizza Ranch) {North Dakota}
29 Detroit Lakes, MN - Falcor - 36th Annual Scandinavian Hjemkost and Midwest Viking Festival
-tubed the Ottertail River-
30 International Falls/Ranier, MN - Falcor - Voyageurs NP
Falcor: 20
Bed: 5
Couch/SofaBed: 3
Futon/A.Mattress: 0
Never went to bed: 1
Tent: 1
Houses: 7 nights in 7 houses
Hotel/Motel: 1, paid for 0
(July)
1 Duluth, MN - Falcor - U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
2 Park Rapids, MN - Falcor
3 Hopkins, MN - SofaBed of girlfriend’s friends - Cleansing waters of Lake Minnetonka
4 Excelsior, MN - Bed of girlfriend’s friend’s moms - Mall of America {Minnesota}
5 Apple River, WI - Tent camping
-tubed the Apple River-
6 Madison, WI - Bed of Rodeway Inn via girlfriend {Wisconsin} - sushi
7 Whitehall, WI (Fort Larson Park) - Falcor
8 Gurnee, IL - Couch of college friend
9 Green Bay, WI - Falcor - Packers tour (brat tailgate prior) {Marquette}
10 Iron Mountain, MI - Bed of Motel 6 (second safety stay)
11 Marquette, MI - Falcor
12 Petoskey, MI - Falcor
13 Saginaw, MI - Bed of uncle and aunt
14 Plymouth, MI - A.Mattress of college friend - Tiger vs. Rangers (Verlander takes no-hitter into the 7th inning)
15 Plymouth, MI - A.Mattress of college friend (Lee’s Famous F.C.)
16 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti - Falcor (Zingermans) {Michigan}
17 Sawyer, MI - Bed of Super 8 via girlfriend {Michigan State}
18 Sawyer, MI - Bed of Super 8 via girlfriend (rehearsal dinner)
19 Sawyer, MI - Bed of Super 8 via girlfriend (wedding dinner)
20 Piqua, OH - Bed of uncle
21 Piqua, OH - Bed of uncle
22 Troy, OH - Couch of aunt and uncle (Spot)
23 Toledo, OH - Falcor (K’s) - Wilson football factory{Ohio Northern, Bowling Green, and Toledo}
24 Loveland, OH - Couch of college friend {Miami of Ohio}
25 Amelia, OH - Falcor - Cincinnati Bengals pep rally {Cincinnati and Xavier}
26 Athens, OH - Falcor (Hungry Harry pizza) {Ohio}
27 Columbus, OH - Bed of Couchsurfing {Ohio State}
28 Cincinnati, OH - Bed of college friend
29 Indianapolis, IN - Falcor
30 Cleveland, OH - Falcor - Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame and Indians vs. White Sox
31 Akron, OH - Bed of Couchsurfing (Penn Station) Cuyahoga Valley NP and Football Hall of Fame{Akron and Kent State}
Falcor: 12
Bed: 12
Couch/SofaBed: 4
Futon/A.Mattress: 2
Tent: 1
Houses: 13 nights in 11 houses
Hotel/Motel: 5 nights in 3 hotels, paid for 1
(August)
1 Beaver Falls, PA - Falcor {Youngstown State and Beaver College}
2 Pittsburgh, PA - Falcor (Primanti’s) - Pirates vs. Rockies, ToonSeum {Pittsburgh}
3 Punxsutawney, PA - Falcor {Penn State}
4 Montoursville, PA - Falcor (McDonald’s...long story)
-Falcor's first flat tire-
5 Bethlehem, PA - Falcor - SteelWorks
6 Kutztown, PA - Bed of family friend
7 Harrisburg, PA - Falcor - Hershey School and factory
8 Lancaster, PA - Falcor - Gettysburg {Villanova, Saint Josephs, Temple, Penn, Drexel, La Salle, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford}
9 Abingdon, MD - Bed of college friend
10 Owings Mill, MD - Falcor
11 Mt. Airy, MD - Falcor - Monocacy and Antietam
12 Centreville, VA - Mattress of LM friend {Maryland}
13 Bowie, MD - Falcor - Arlington National Cemetery
14 Sterling, VA - SofaBed of college friend’s hotel? - Nationals vs. Giants
15 Salisbury, MD - Falcor - Annapolis and Assateague National Seashore {Navy}
16 Cockeysville, MD - Bed of HS friend - Orioles vs. Rockies (got on Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight)
(http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_08_16_colmlb_balmlb_1&mode=video&content_id=29757475&tcid=vpp_copy_29757475)
17 Fredonia, NY - Falcor
18 Finger Lakes National Forest NY - Falcor {Cornell and Syracuse}
19 Buffalo, NY - Bed of Courtyard Marriott via sister {Buffalo}
20 Buffalo, NY - Bed of Courtyard Marriott via sister {Rochester}
21 Buffalo, NY - Bed of Courtyard Marriott via sister
22 Toronto, ON Floor of One King West via sister {Toronto}
23 Toronto, ON - Cot of One King West via sister
24 Tannersville, NY - Couch of college friend - Catskills
25 Burlington, CT - Bed of brother-in-law’s father - Lake Compounce and Bristol (ESPN)
26 Burlington, CT - Bed of brother-in-law’s father - Gillette Castle
27 Burlington, CT - Bed of brother-in-law’s father {Army}
28 Oneonta, NY - Falcor - Baseball Hall of Fame and what’s left of the Soccer Hall of Fame
29 Saratoga Springs, NY - Falcor - Lake Placid and Adirondacks
30 Putney, VT - Futon of friend (rehearsal dinner) - ferry into Burlington and Vermont Teddy Bear Factory {Vermont}
31 Putney, VT - Falcor
Falcor: 16
Bed: 11, 1 was just the mattress and 1 was really a cot
Couch/SofaBed: 2
Futon/A,Mattress: 1
Floor: 1
Houses: 9 nights in 7 houses
Hotel/Motel: 6 nights in 3 hotels, paid for 0
(September)
1 Bennington, VT - Falcor
2 Hinsdale, NH - Bed of work friend
3 Manchester, NH - Falcor
4 Fly to Prescott, AZ - Bed of parents - Fantasy football draft
5 Prescott, AZ - Bed of parents
6 Prescott, AZ - Bed of parents - High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony
7 Prescott, AZ - Bed of parents - Sedona and Jerome day trip
8 Delta Aircraft during a Redeye - Jack Kerouac’s grave
9 North Reading, MA - Falcor
10 Framingham, MA - Falcor - Walden Pond {UMASS}
11 Springfield, MA - Falcor - Hancock Shaker Village and Basketball Hall of Fame
12 Billerica, MA - Bed of Courtyard by Marriott via college friend
13 New Haven. CT - Futon of HS friend - Plymouth Rock
-first parking ticket-
14 Brentwood, NY - Couch of HS friend - Mets vs. Marlins and Ghost Hotel show
15 New York, NY (financial district) - Couch of HS friend - 9/11 Memorial and shotgunning of beers near the Statue of Liberty {Columbia and NYCC}
16 New York, NY (financial district) - Couch of HS friend - bicycle ride over the bridge into Brooklyn
17 New York, NY (flat iron district) - Couch of HS friend (Milk and Honey)
-first towing of Falcor-
18 Truro, MA - Falcor
-first expulsion from a sleeping area-
19 Weymouth, MA - Falcor {Boston College, Boston, Northeastern, Harvard, MIT}
20 Boston/Framingham, MA - Falcor (Bar Louie) - Red Sox vs. Blue Jays (AL East clinched, celebratory champagne tasted)
21 Williston, VT - Falcor
22 Montreal, QC - Falcor {McGill}
23 Quebec, QC - Falcor- Saint Lawrence River
24 Sussex, New Brunswick - Falcor
25 Halifax, Nova Scotia - Falcor (Battered Fish) - World’s Largest Covered Bridge
26 Presque Isle, ME - Falcor {Maine-Presque Isle}
27 Calais, ME - Falcor - {Maine} (Sea Dog Brewery)
28 Ellsworth, ME - Falcor (Joshy’s) - Acadia NP, Saint Croix Island, and mud bath at Cobscook Bay SP - Stephen King’s house
29 Rockland, ME - Falcor (lobster club)
30 Brunswick, ME - Falcor (Red’s Eats) - LL Bean headquarters
Falcor: 18
Bed: 6
Couch/SofaBed: 4
Futon/A.Mattress: 1
Houses: 10 nights in 6 houses
Hotel/Motel: 1, paid for 0
one night spent on a redeye flight, with a nap in Falcor as a supplement
...HALFTIME STATISTICS: After 182 days on the road and just over 36,000 miles logged.
93 nights were spent in Falcor the Prius, including 71 nights at 70 different Walmart parking lots.
68 nights were spent at 60 different houses, plus 19 nights at 11 different hotels (all but 2 were comped) .
[A total of 16 repeats over the first 6 months due to family reunions, weddings, Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and Kentucky Derbies]
(October)
1 Biddeford, ME - Falcor (Augusta-capital and Portland)
2 Mexico, ME - Falcor (Kennebunkport and Ogunquit)
3 Littleton, NH - Falcor - Mt. Washington Auto Road
4 Conway, NH - Falcor - Kancamangus Highway and Freconia Falls
5 Concord, NH - Falcor (18th straight night in Falcor)
6 Putney, VT - Couch of friend (second visit, different sleeping structure) - Basketville
7 Berlin, VT - Falcor
8 Berlin, VT - Falcor
9 Williston, VT - Falcor - Ben and Jerry’s tour
10 Williston, VT - Falcor - Smuggler’s Notch
11 Lebanon, NH - Falcor - Oktoberfest at Harpoon Brewery and Long Trail Brewery
12 North Smithfield, RI - Falcor - Providence
13 North Smithfield, RI - Falcor - America’s Cup Hall of Fame
14 Newport, RI - Falcor - Tennis Hall of Fame and Millionaires Row Cliff Walk
15 North Kingstown, RI - Falcor - Moonrise Kingdom tour
16 Windham, CT - Falcor - Mark Twain House
-in the last fiscal month, slept indoors only once-
17 New Haven, CT - Couch of college friend (C.O. Jones)
18 New Haven, CT - Futon of HS friend (Apizza) - Yale vs. Fordham
-first parking ticket- (saw Stephen Colbert...twice)
19 Milford, CT - Falcor
20 Saddle Brook, NJ - Falcor
21 Secaucus, NJ - Bed of Red Roof Inn via work friend...half of the night in the parking lot....long story
Giants vs. Vikings MNF
22 East Rutherford, NJ - Bed of college friend’s Hilton Suites
23 Deptford Township, NJ - Falcor
24 Baltimore - Des Moines, IA - Bed of girlfriend
25 Des Moines, IA - Bed of girlfriend (Zombie Burger)
26 Des Moines, IA - Bed of girlfriend
27 Des Moines, IA - Bed of girlfriend (Up Down)
-invented fried chicken and waffle breakfast burritos-
28 Des Moines, IA - Bed of girlfriend
29 Abingdon, MD - Bed of college friend (second stay)
30 Neptune Township, NJ - Falcor - Quick Stop from Clerks
-second parking ticket-
31 Atlantic City, NJ - Falcor - Jersey Shore tour
-day ends with a pregame tailgate for the Halloween Phish show-
Falcor: 20.5
Bed: 8.5
Couch/SofaBed: 2
Futon/A.Mattress: 1
Houses: 9 nights in 6 houses, though I’d already stayed in 3 of those houses earlier
Hotel/Motel: 1.5 nights in 2 hotels, paid for 0
(November)
1 New Castle, DE - Falcor - Wilmington and Winterthur Estate
2 Middletown, DE - Falcor - Dover
3 Milford, DE - Falcor - 2013 Punkin Chunkin
4 Georgetown, DE - Falcor
5 Washington DC (Friendship Heights) - A.Mattress of college friend - Capitals vs. Islanders - (Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza)
6 Washington DC (Glover Park) - A.Mattress of HS friend - National Cathedral
7 Alexandria, VA - A.Mattress of college friend (loft via spiral staircase!) Mount Vernon
8 South Hill, VA - Falcor - Tobacco Farm Life Museum of Virginia and Train/Doll Museum
9 Charlotte, NC - Bed of Omni Hotel via girlfriend's girlfriend - (Moe’s Southwestern Grill)
10 Christiansburg, VA - Falcor {Virginia Tech}
11 Altavista. VA - Falcor
12 Waynesboro or Staunton, VA - Falcor {Virginia} Monticello
13 Richmond, VA - Couch of Couchsurfing {Richmond and VCU}
14 Virginia Beach. VA - Bed of uncle and aunt
15 Virginia Beach, VA - Bed of uncle and aunt {Old Dominion}
16 Harpers Ferry, WV - A.Mattress of college friend
17 Morgantown, WV - Falcor {West Virginia}
18 Huntington, WV - Falcor {Marshall}
19 Weston, WV - Falcor
20 Mt Airy, NC - Falcor
21 Weaverville, NC - Falcor
22 Charlotte, NC - Bed of Hampton Suites via friend's father's gift -
23 Durham, NC - Falcor {Duke and North Carolina}
24 Myrtle Beach, SC - Bed of college friend {NC State} Raleigh
25 Wilmington, NC - Falcor
26 Central, SC - Falcor {Clemson}
27 Cedar Rapids, IA - Bed of girlfriend’s parents
28 Cedar Rapids, IA - Bed of girlfriend’s parents
29 Greenwood, SC - Falcor
30 Columbia, SC - Falcor - #6 Clemson vs. #10 South Carolina
Falcor: 18
Bed: 7
Couch: 1
Futon/A.Mattress: 4
Houses: 10 nights in 8 houses
Hotel/Motel: 2 nights in 2 hotels, paid for 0...though both were in Charlotte
(December)
1 Charleston, SC - Bed of college friend (Pearlz Oyster Bar)
2 Beaufort, SC - Falcor - Hilton Head
3 Savannah, GA - Falcor
4 Toccoa, GA - Falcor - Augusta and Athens {Georgia}
5 Smyrna, GA - Bed of college friend (Lassiter’s) {Georgia Tech} {Georgia State} Bodies Exhibition - MLK Jr Day - Atlanta
6 Dawsonville, GA - Bed of cousin’s RV (Varsity) "clothing optional" Paradise Valley
7 Macon, GA - Falcor - SEC Championship Game
8 Albany, GA - Falcor - Columbus
9 Jacksonville, FL - Bed of HS friends
10 Daytona Beach, FL - Couch of college friend {ERAU}
11 Doral, FL - Falcor - Miami {The U}
12 Key West, FL - Bed of Banana Bay Resort "clothing optional" - (third safety stay) - Biscayne NP
(3rd and final safety stay)
13 Palm Harbor, FL - Bed of family friend (with Leah)
Everglades NP (Sake Sushi)
14 Palm Harbor, FL - SofaBed of family friend
15 Cruise - off Florida coast
16 Cruise - Fun day at sea
17 Cruise - Cozumel, Mexico
18 Cruise - Belize City, Belize
19 Cruise - Roatan, Honduras
20 Cruise - Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
21 Cruise - Fun day at sea
22 Palm Harbor, FL - Couch of family friend {University of Tampa}
23 Palm Harbor, FL - Couch of family friend (Hooters)
24 Palm Harbor, FL - Couch of family friend (Mazzaro’s Italian Market)
(Dali Museum)
25 Palm Harbor, FL - Falcor {South Florida}
26 Gainesville, FL - Falcor {Florida}
27 Tallahassee, FL - Falcor {Florida State}
28 Panama City, FL - Falcor - Pensacola
-third dead battery--
29 Mobile, AL - Falcor (USS Alabama)
30. AL
31 Birmingham, AL (Homewood) - Falcor - Civil Rights Institute
{Alabama State} {UAB} (Legion Field) (Rickwood Field) Montgomery
Falcor: 13
Bed: 6
SofaBed: 8 (7 were on a cruise ship)
Couch: 4
Houses: 9 nights in 5 houses (5 nights in one place for the holiday season)
Hotel/Motel 1, my third and final safety stay of the trip
RV: 1, first night in an RV
Cruise Ship: 7
(January)
1 Huntsville, AL - Couch of friend’s cousin - Space and Rocket Center - Fort Payne
2 Tuscaloosa, AL- Falcor {Alabama}
3 Starkville, MS - Falcor {Mississippi State} Natchez Trace
4 Sardis, MS - Bed of girlfriend’s friends {Ole Miss} - Oxford - William Faulkner tour
5 Vicksburg, MS - Falcor - Jim Henson tour
6 Hattiesburg, MS - Falcor - Jackson (17 deg night = record low for sleeping in Falcor)
7 Gulfport, MS - SofaBed of friend’s grandparents - WLOX - Biloxi {Southern Miss}
8 Houston, TX - Bed of college friend - Lafayette {Houston and Rice} (Fezzo’s)
9 Round Rock, TX - Bed of college friend - Austin
10 Brownwood, TX - Falcor - Dallas - Fort Worth - Big Bend NP
11 Roswell, NM - Falcor - Artesia fallout school
12 Mora, NM - Bed of sister’s former coworker - Las Vegas
13 Mora, NM - Bed of sister’s former coworker - Santa Fe - Taos
14 Albuquerque, NM - Falcor
15 Grants, NM - Bed of Travelodge hotel via parental gift
16 Page, AZ - Bed of HS friend
17 Prescott, AZ - Bed of parents house
18 Prescott, AZ - Bed of post-college friend
19 Scottsdale, AZ - Bed of college friend
20 Green Valley, AZ - Falcor
21 Slab City, CA - Falcor
22 Death Valley, CA - Falcor
23 Encino, CA - Couch of HS friend
24 Huntington Beach, CA - Falcor - sushi
25 El Segundo, CA - A.Mattress in garage of HS friend
26 San Diego, CA -Bed of Courtyard Marriott via college friend - sushi
27 San Diego, CA - Bed of Courtyard Marriott via college friend
28 Anaheim, CA - Bed of Hilton via college friend - Wild at Ducks
29 Dinuba, CA - Falcor - Kings Canyon NP and Sequoia NP - Fresno {Fresno State}
30 Oakhurst, CA - Falcor outskirts of Yosemite NP
31 Oakland, CA - Bed of HS friend - Yosemite NP
Falcor: 13
Bed: 14
Couch: 2
SofaBed: 1
A.Mattress: 1
Futon: 0
Homes: 14 nights in 11 new homes (1 in Houston from March, 1 in Arizona from September, and 1 repeat in New Mexico)
Hotel/Motel: 4 nights in3 places, paid for 0
(February)
1 San Francisco, CA - Couch of college friend - Muir Woods - sushi
2 Big Sur, CA - Falcor - [Salinas] Pinnacles NP
3 Walnut Creek, CA - Couch of college friend {California-Berkeley}
4 Trinidad, CA - Falcor - Arcata - Eureka - Redwoods NP
5 Reno, NV - Falcor {Nevada} Carson City
6 Las Vegas, NV - Falcor {UNLV} Red Rock Canyon
-third parking ticket-
7 Mesquite, NV - Falcor
8 Elko, NV - Falcor
9 Klamath Falls, OR - Falcor - Crater Lake NP
10 West Linn, OR - Bed of sister {Oregon State}
11 Kirkland, WA - Bed of college friend
12 Sequim, WA - Falcor
13 West Linn, OR - Bed of sister - Olympic NP
14 West Linn, OR - Bed of sister - Portland - sushi
15 West Linn, OR - Bed of sister -
16 West Linn, OR - Bed of sister - Multnomah Falls
17 West Linn, OR - Bed of sister - Gladstone Toyota - Falcor’s birthplace
18 Bend, OR - Falcor
19 Baker City, OR - Falcor (Oregon Film Festival)
--40 Days and 40 Nights of nearly zero purchases begins--
20 Pendleton, OR - Falcor - Eastern Washington Film Festival in Le Grande
-4th dead battery-
21 Yakima, WA - Falcor {Washington}
22 Kirkland, WA - Bed of college friend - Ellensburg - Snoqualmie
23 Centralia, WA - Bed Great Wolf Lodge via sister
(purchased a breakfast and a box of apples)
24 Bellingham, WA - Falcor - Anacortes - Deception Pass
25 Vancouver, BC - Falcor
26 Squamish, BC - Falcor - Sea to Sky Highway - Bungee Whistler - Olympic Village -
(Falcor stuck in snow for 2 hours--purchased one bungee jump, jumped twice)
27 Wenatchee, WA - Falcor - North Cascades NP - Leavenworth
28 Spokane, WA - Bed of college friend {Eastern Washington} Moses Lake - Portland Winterhawks at Spokane Chiefs in minor league hockey
Falcor: 16
Bed: 10
Couch: 2
Futon: 0
SofaBed: 0
Homes: 11 nights in 5 homes (5 repeats in sister’s Oregon home and 1 repeat in Washington)
Hotel/Motel/Lodge: 1, paid for 0
(March)
1 Post Falls, ID - Bed of HS Friend - Sandpoint - Coeur d’Alene
2 Grangeville, ID - Falcor public parking lot
3 Boise, ID - Bed of HS Friend {Boise State}
4 Pocatello, ID - Falcor - Twin Falls - Sun Valley - Hailey
(purchased Arctic Circle meal)
5 Rexburg, ID - Falcor {Idaho State} Idaho Falls - Craters of the Moon
6 Missoula, MT - Futon of girlfriend’s friend {Montana}
7 Whitefish, MT - Floor of girlfriend’s boss’ friend - Glacier NP
8 Great Falls, MT - Falcor Sip and Dip (mermaid bar) parking garage
9 Bozeman, MT - Bed of HS friend {Montana State}
10 Miles City, MT - Falcor
11 Dickinson, ND - Falcor
12 Gillette, WY - Falcor - Devils Tower
13 Laramie, WY - Falcor - Cheyenne
(purchased Taco Johns meal)
14 Cody, WY - Falcor - Casper
15 Jackson, WY - Bed of 49er Inn via parental gift - Thermopolis
16 Riverton, WY - Falcor - Yellowstone NP and Grand Tetons NP
17 Flaming Gorge, UT - Falcor National Recreational Area
18 Moab, UT - Falcor street - Canyonlands NP
19 Sandy, UT - Bed of college friend - Arches NP and Capitol Reef NP
20 Sandy, UT - Bed of college friend - {Utah} {Utah State}
21 Provo, UT - Falcor - {BYU} {Weber State}
22 Zion NP, UT - Falcor street near NP entrance {Southern Utah}
23 Valley of the Gods, UT - Falcor - Bryce Canyon NP
24 Montrose, CO - Falcor - Mesa Verde NP
25 Glenwood Springs, CO - Falcor - Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP - Woody Creek - Aspen
26 Frisco, CO - Falcor - Leadville
(purchased marijuana...legally)
27 Granby, CO - Bed of college friend’s cabin - Denver - Winter Park
28 Fort Collins, CO - Bed of friend - {Colorado Springs} (Colorado)
29 Denver, CO - A.Mattress of HS friend - Rocky Mountain NP
30 Colorado Springs, CO - Falcor {Air Force} - Olympic Training Center
31 Durango, CO - Falcor - Great Sand Dunes NP
Falcor: 20
Bed: 8
Couch: 0
Futon: 1
A.Mattress: 1
SofaBed: 0
floor: 1
Homes: 10 nights in 9 homes
Hotel/Motel: 1, paid for 0
(April)
1 Prescott, AZ - Bed
Swam in a body of water in all lower 48 states and this includes the penetration of the following: ocean, sea, gulf, sound, bay, bight, basin, harbour, lake, hot spring, pond, river, stream, creek, brook, fork, culvert overflow, reservoir, artesian well, cove, bayou, natural spring pool, swimming pool, jacuzzi, mud bath, fountain, apartment pond, and the beach from Moonrise Kingdom
Epilogue
Prescott, AZ to Des Moines, IA (non-stop by Corolla named Ishtar)
Two additional fortnights of travel: (8,794 additional miles)
Prescott, AZ
Payson, AZ (Waterwheel)
Oklahoma City, OK
Des Moines, IA (42)
Cedar Rapids, IA
Waukegan, IL
South Bend, IN
Cincinnati, OH
Nashville, TN
Dallas, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Sumner, NM
Acadia, AZ
Peoria, AZ
(Reds at Diamondbacks)
Fort Worth, TX
Arlington, TX
(Marlins at Rangers)
Manchester, TN (4) for Bonnaroo 2014
Nashville, TN
Des Moines, IA
Lubbock, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Grand Canyon NP
(add-on to reach 1/8th of a million miles in a half decade--and the second 365 away from social media and the blogging obsession)
Des Moines, IA (2)
Las Vegas, NV (2)
Huntington Beach, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
Oakland, CA
Medford, OR
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA (4)
West Seattle, WA
Fishhawk Lake (3)
Ashland, OR
Sacramento, CA
Oakland, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Grand Canyon NP
Phoenix, AZ
Chaco Canyon, NM (2)
Scottsdale, AZ - TPC Phoenix Open
Glendale, AZ Super Bowl
Austin, TX
Round Rock, TX
Arlington, TX
Lubbock, TX
Santa Rosa, NM
Prescott, AZ
Marble Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon (6) - 6-day Father & Son rafting adventure
Huntington Beach, CA
Hollywood, CA
Inglewood, CA - Falcor Hollywood Casino--across from the Forum
Santa Barbara, CA
Oakland, CA (2)
San Mateo, CA
Portland, OR
West Linn, OR
Canon Beach, OR
Tillamook, OR
Lincoln City, OR
Florence, OR
Coos Bay, OR
Ashland, OR
Eugene, OR
Portland, OR
Bend, OR
Beaverton, OR
Aberdeen, WA
Neah Bay, WA
Olympic NP
Renton, WA
West Seattle, WA
Seattle, WA
Vancouver, WA
Boise, ID (2)
Victor, ID
Jackson, WY
Yellowstone NP
Glacier NP
The Gorge, WA
West Seattle, WA
San Mateo, CA
Yosemite NP (2)
Eugene, OR
Lincoln City, OR
Redwoods NP (3)
Florence, OR
West Linn, OR (230)
Oregon Coast
Malheur - during standoff debacle
Bend, OR
Oregon Coast II
Portland, OR (25)
Medford, OR
San Mateo, CA
Oakland, CA - Falcor Hawthorne Avenue off Telegraph Street
Big Sur, CA - Falcor
Anaheim, CA - Sofa Bed Hotel (6)
Manzanar, CA - Falcor
Death Valley, CA - Falcor
Prescott, AZ (200) -
Las Vegas, NV
Grand Canyon
Valley of the Gods, UT (2)
Canyon de Chelly
Cordes Junction, AZ (25)
Cordes Junction, AZ
Tempe, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Sedona, AZ
Payson, AZ
Tempe, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Miami, FL (3)
Day at Sea
Amber Cove, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Willemstad, Curaçao
Oranjestad, Aruba
Day at Sea
Miami, FL (2)
Monticello, UT
Parachute, CO
Evergreen, CO
Kansas City, KS
Vandalia, IL
Piqua, OH (3)
Louisville, KY
Owensboro, KY
Piqua, OH (10)
Cleveland, OH
Toledo, OH
Chicago, IL
Davenport, IA
Omaha, NE
Evergreen, CO
Telluride, CO (2)
Prescott, AZ (100)
[North Rim] Grand Canyon (2)
Zion NP
Bryce Canyon NP
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Zion NP (2)
North Rim Grand Canyon
South Rim Grand Canyon
Flagstaff, AZ
Bombay Beach Biennale 2018:
Bombay Beach of Salton Sea
Joshua Tree NP
Coachella
Chiriaco Summit
Phoenix, AZ
Las Vegas, NV
Zion NP
Bryce Canyon NP
Grand Canyon NP
Grand Canyon NP
Payson at Waterwheel
Scottsdale, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Mesa, AZ
Laughlin, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Lake Havasu, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ (4)
Phoenix, AZ
Glendale, AZ
Utah/Nevada:
Las Vegas, NV
Cedar City, UT
Salt Flats/Fossil Butte
Park City, UT (3)
Cedar Hills, UT
Ogden, UT
Great Basin NP
Las Vegas, NV
Kingman, AZ
Colorado/New Mexico:
Prescott, AZ
Grand Lake, CO (3) - semi-massive injury
Rocky Mountain NP (finally saw a moose in the wild)
Colorado NP/Grand Junction, CO
Browns Canyon/Salida, CO
Morrison, CO
La Junta, CO
Las Vegas, NM
Los Alamos, NM
Santa Fe, NM
Albuquerque, NM
Fort Sumner NM
Horseshoe Bend, AZ
Phoenix, AZ (Agua Fria NM)
Moab, UT
Ludlow, CO
Lake Meredith, TX
Tulsa, OK
Bentonville, AR
Independence, MO
Des Moines, IA (2)
Iowa City, IA (2)
Cedar Rapids, IA (2)
Lockport, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Piqua, OH
Morgantown, WV
Chambersburg, PA
Cornwall, PA
Sterling, VA
Chantilly, VA
Nottingham, MD
Princeton, NJ
Hartford, CT
Windsor Locks, CT
New York, NY (2)
Mohegan Sun, CT
Peabody, MA
Windsor Locks, CT
Farmington, CT (2)
Windsor Locks, CT
East Haven, CT
Putney, VT
Keene, NH (3)
Lowell, MA
Danvers, MA
Webster, MA
East Hanover, NJ
Cornwall, PA
Winchester, VA
Charleston, WV
Waverly, OH
Saginaw, MI
Inn at St. John’s - Plymouth, MI
Plymouth, MI (2)
Batavia/Chicago, IL
Taylorville, IL
Land-Between-the-Lakes, KY
Murfreesboro, TN
Gainesboro, TN (2)
Asheville, NC (2)
Chapel Hill, NC
Virginia Beach, VA
Myrtle Beach, SC
Charleston, SC
Athens, GA
Ball Ground, GA
Peachtree City, GA
St. Augustine, FL
Auburn, AL
Tupelo, MS
Delta, LA
Carrolton, TX (2—Super Bowl)
El Paso, TX
Buckeye, AZ
Jerome, AZ
Perhaps it's the curse of being a "retired" pilot with all my friends constantly living on the road in every state, but it has recently felt like everyone is becoming more a citizen of everywhere and nowhere all in one breath. For those thirsty for juicy trivia, here's the complete breakdown of where I've stayed the past 1,470 days I've been on holiday from true work
528 in AZ
345 in OR
CA 69
IA 59
OH 30
TX 26
CO 22
UT 18
TN 17
FL 16
WA 15
MI 15
NM 14
Caribbean Cruise 13
CT 13
NY 12
VA 12
MA 11
PA 11
IL 11
NV 10
SC 9
VT 9
GA 9
NH 9
NC 9
MT 8
ID 8
IN 8
NJ 8
MD 8
WY 7
ME 7
KY 7
AR 7
MN 6
KS 6
MO 6
LA 6
OK 6
MS 6
AL 6
WV 6
Quebec/Nova Scotia: 5
WI 5
NE 5
SD 5
DE 4
RI 4
ND 4
AK 4
HI 4
DC 4
Ontario 2