Stream of Consciousness

Okay, so I am here in San Marcos, Texas, between Austin and San Antonio. I slept at Patrick Rougeau's house last night in Austin--Patrick is Christian Rougeau's brother, and Christian volunteers at the Mt Rainier Bike Coop sometimes. The day before I left Austin, Christian emailed me and told me that his brother lived there, and I needed a place to stay that night so I had Christian connect me with his brother. It was fun to hang out with Patrick, meet his and his girlfriend's dog, a pug named Rocky. I got to play lots with Rocky--he is very smart with lots of energy. Very fun to play with. He knows tricks, like he can stand on his hind legs, and turn around, he can roll over on the ground, he can beg, he can shake with each hand, and I even taught him a trick--to jump into my arms. He did that this morning when he was very excited to see me after a night without seeing me.

I also got to meet Patrick's girlfriend Gloria, and Gloria's two sisters Mari and Gabbi (Patrick please correct me if I have one of the names off). Gloria's parents are from Mexico, but they all grew up in Austin. They are "Austinites". Gloria and her sisters went out to a club last night because one of Gloria's friends owns the club and she is reopening it after being shut down for a while. It now has a new name and new feel. And Gloria got VIP tickets for last night. I would have gone but I wanted to get a good night's rest since I planned to bike 70 miles today or more.

Well, this morning, on my way out, I stopped at Fedex Kinkos to finalize my route using computer maps. When there, I remembered that earlier I had submitted a design for some business cards and they should be ready. Indeed they were, and I bought the design at half-price (the manager agreed for charity purposes). I took the design and had the copy center print off four sheets (card stock) for 20 cents a sheet, and then I cut the cards. This was much less costly than having them do the cutting. So now I have real business cards that say, "Undo Global Warming" and they have a map of the Americas and a little picture of a cyclist on his way to somewhere. And of course they have my blog address and other contact information.

Getting all that done, plus talking to a professional actor on the way out of the store, plus eating lunch at "Veggie Heaven" on 21st and Guadaloupe got me on the road at 1:30pm, and this did not leave enough time to arrive in San Antonio before dark. I met some guy on the way at a gas station who told me that the roads between there and San Marcos were great for biking with shoulders all the way. He drew a map for me of the route to San Marcos, and he mentioned that he used to live there. He recommended stopping here, as did the pro actor I met at Kinkos. I needed a good place to stop anyway, so I made it my goal. I made it to San Marcos, and then I went into another gas station and asked some young guy where the center of town was, where all the activity is. He directed me to downtown, which he mentioned was pretty much near the center of campus. I said, "Campus? What University lies here? He said, "Haven't you ever bee here? Where are you from?" I told him DC, and he understood. "Texas State lies here," he said. He told me the business program was good, but they basically have everything.

Okay, so I made it to a college/university town. Now I need to find a place to crash.

Dream about Speaking to George W. Bush

So I had this dream last night that I lived in this building with George W. Bush, and I was campaigning and others were campaigning to do something about Global Warming, and Bush would make pronouncements about terrorism and wars we needed to fight, and he would make announcements discrediting the need to do something about global warming.

One day, we had a meeting, a bunch of friends, relatives and community members were in a room and George Bush was present. Towards the end of the meeting, after some of the people left, it was just me, George W. Bush and some of my brothers, and some girls from the community. I remember just engaging Bush and getting his attention and emphasizing my questions by swatting him on the forearm with a long rubber band I was holding, asking, "WHY, WHY, WHY don't we do something about global warming????!!!! I mean, if we don't do anything, we might be completely F**KED!! But if we do something, and it turns out we didn't really have to, we will at least have saved some fossil fuels and developed the technology to continue our lifestyle when fossil fuels actually do run low." He said well he was interested in doing something, but he didn't really know what. He said, really all that matters is humans, that humans survive and that they can eat.

Then, I realized his face was painted with monarch butterfy across it. And I told him, that monarch butterfly is endangered because of global warming. I told him that perhaps humans can survive global warming, but monarch butterflies and millions of other species might not be able to survive. I said, "Do you want to live on Mars? Do you want to live on an earth that is just like Mars? Just humans, and no wildlife?" I told him our existence depends on the ecosystems around us that stabilize our food systems, our water, and our air.

One of the many holiday displays at Zilker Park, Austin, Texas. Tomorrow, I will take off for San Antonio, where I will visit downtown, the Missions, the Alamo, and some of the other parks north of downtown.

The capitol building, and Congress St. decorated for the holidays.

One of downtown Austin's signature buildings.

Limestone quarry at Barton Springs. Just next to this is a pristine, clear spring you can swim in. It remains at a constant sixty-four degrees year-round.

Man (Jamis) and his handsome dog (Sam), on 6th St. in Austin, Texas. These guys have been all the newspapers and local TV stations. Thousands have taken pictures of/with them.

cool blog

Check out this cool blog I just happened upon: non-terrorist persian It has a beautiful video in it.

Biosquat

Today, I visited the Canadians where they were living: in the Biosquat. Now, this was a truly awesome place. Some folks bought a plot of land a while back, and they began to create trails among the trees and build structures and walls and stairs out of earthen materials and salvaged materials. They have solar panels and rechargeable batteries, they have wifi wireless internet throughout the property, they have created "domociles", which are structures for sleeping in--some of which are movable, on bicycle structures and wheels, and some are stationary. They have a composting toilent, they have forts and hangout structures, they have an earthen stove, and then they have the "Mother Ship", which is more of an enclosed room, perhaps it was part of a trailer, and it has a stove, bookshelves with naturalist books and cookbooks, and it has a cutting board, large windows, and a large porch for hanging out in. It has shades for the summer. Inside the Mother Ship is a sleeping board, as well.

The whole project, the whole property has a definite plan to it. It has well thought-out trails, and one of the forts has a beautiful view of the Austin skyline! Dogs and cats filter in and out of the property through its artery network of trails. I hung out with Andy and Shelagh and we discussed anarchy and how it is practiced.

A raft some of the members made, that they plan to use down the Columbia River to Mexico--sometime in the future.

This is a "yert", or a domocile with Finnish design origins. Shelagh and Andy were residing here.

One of the hangout structures constructed of clay, bottles, bicycle frames, bicycle wheels, corrugated metal, political yard signs, and love.

One of the Penthouse forts, with a view of the Austin skyline.

The view of the Austin skyline!

Another biosquat domocile!

The dishwashing station.

The shower station.

Another domocile, on wheels!

The composting toilet, taken diagonally.
What creative use of bicycle parts, to say the least. An amazing creation.

Bike Coops

Bike Coops and Bike shops have helped me tremendously throughout my journey. These images are of the Mt Rainier Bike Coop, a coop I helped form. Other coops I have visited include the Sopo Bikes, Atlanta, and Plan B, New Orleans. Links to other bike coops can be found at BikeBike.org. Bike Coops allow you to come in, work on your bike using the tools available, ask for help from volunteers, and buy cheap used, and sometimes new, parts. Coops need volunteers to run them, and sometimes volunteering is the requirement for participation, as is the case with the Mount Rainier Bike Coop. They are a great way to learn how to fix your bike, interact with other bikers from your community, and help others with their bikes, or just help the project operate.

Update

So I am in Austin, still, though I plan to head out to San Antonio, then Brownsville, then Matamoros, San Fernando, Tampico, Poza Rica, Vera Cruz, Coatzacoalcos, Villahermosa, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Brasil...soon, in the next couple days.

The Canadians will head towards San Antonio as well; one has already departed for Mexico. Perhaps I will attempt to catch up with her.

I have been researching Mexico and contacting people in Mexico. Those in Mexico City have said that things are peaceful there, but probably not as much in Oaxaca. Overall, throughout Mexico, I expect that along the border will be more sensitive because of the immigration as well as the drug-smuggling element. All throughout Mexico, though, I expect that perhaps an increased motivation to obtain posessions from travelers is present. In the very Southern state of Chiapas, which I may pass by to the North, heading towards Belize, because of the ongoing countryside struggle, a higher prevalence of weapons may lead to increased chance of getting assaulted.

However, if I play it safe and smart, I think that risk can be minimized to a reasonable level.

I am trying to contact churches along the way. I contacted one in the city of Matamoros, just across the border from Brownsville. They said to come by when I arrive in town and they will be able to accomodate me. I am also using myspace to get in touch with people my age there in Matamoros and other cities.

Cycling in Austin

One day, I visited Nelo's Pro Cycles in North Austin. Nelo is, what do you know, Brazilian, from Sao Paulo, and I think he has Italian ancestry. (Many Italians, as well as Germans, and Japanese live in Southern Brazil.) Nelo was happy for my trip, I was "doing a good thing", but he wouldn't go about such a journey himself. He has helped lots of pro racers in his day--Italian, Brazilian, American, and others. He had a big display of Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France winner, who grew up in Austin. Nelo hooked me up with three water bottles with his logo on them for my bike (I had left mine in a parking lot in the last city). Above is a photo of Nelo and me in his shop.

Austin has been impacted tremendously by Lance Armstrong's success. Bike lanes are common throughout the city, and bicyclists of all types are prevalent. Commuters, roadies, racers, BMX'ers, and mountain bikers cruise the streets, hills, and parks of Austin. The driving public, since the advent of the success of Armstrong, has become very used to, and accomodating of bicyclists, often over-yielding for cyclists--deliberate signs of respect and acknowledgement. But it has almost gone too far, with cyclists in some cases abusing that respect and acting like they own the roads, ignoring the road rules, and expecting extra treatment. Some drivers have become incensed and have written editorials about cyclists disobeying laws. On the other hand, some bicyclists have been killed in accidents and sometimes drivers are drunk and other times drivers hit and run--these incidents, of course, have been followed by many editorials criticizing drivers. But cyclists do need to retain motorist's respect by obeying the road rules, learning their rights on the road, and asserting them. I again recommend the book Bicycling Street Smarts--what a tremendous boost to my confidence on the road this manual gave me. And I just realized it is all online!

Times in Austin

This is a parrot hanging out in the garden of the Cafe Mundi in Austin. There, I hung out with Andy Blum, Canadian of "Chain Break", and I also met a couple of girls traveling the country in a "Straight Veggie Oil" vehicle "with bikes on top". They get their fuel from restaurants getting rid of their used vegetable oil; the girls filter the fry grease, and put it in their modified diesel motor fuel tank, and off they go. They are living art. Their acronym is LAF--Living Art Fully. They will do singing telegrams, they sing their own songs (they performed at an open mic at "Trophies" in South Austin, and they do random acts of kindness! Go LAF--that is Kitty and Vanessa (Vanessa once wanted to be called Zoe or PJ because it made her feel like a little child who could do no wrong--interesting).

I also met Ezra there at the coffee shop, and we all talked about the "Barton Springs" natural pool that stays at a constant sixty-four degrees, located in South Austin. Andy went to swim there that evening.

At the coffee shop, I met a woman who lived near Corpus Christi. Andy wanted to know where Camp Casey/Bush's ranch was (it is just west of Waco) and she asked why we wanted to know--so we could go burn it down? Andy wasn't around to answer. I wasn't interested in visiting--though I heard Bush was making some bike trails out there on his property. Waco is north of Austin, so it would be far out of the way, anyway.

I saw a movie with one of the priests here at St. Austin Parish residence, Fr. Ed. We went and saw "Shut up and Sing" about the Dixie Chicks and their recent struggle with folks banning them for criticizing our president. They are now coming back strong as ever and are playing here in Austin on Monday night. Cheapest tickets are sixty bucks--anyone want to send me to the show?:) I have their song now playing on the Dixie Chicks myspace page. Check it out. The film was also good--get to know the Dixie Chicks, their struggle, and their rebound--the long way home.



So one day I visited the Austin Table Tennis Club, and got to play a loved sport that I hadn't played in a while. One guy, John Kim, shown in pick playing with his wife, is 77 years old and he still kicked my butt! He is going strong, rated at 1700 for those familiar with the rating system.

I played the manager there, too, Joe, and I took a game from him, even though he is rated over 1900. I also showed a thing or two to each of three highschool boys who came into the club for the first time--they weren't bad for first timers, though.



So one day after I visited my college mate's aunt and uncle to pick up some t-shirts that were sent to their house (thank you John and Mary Claire in Houston), I stopped at Austin Tricycle. Besides feeding me, they told me about their friend Drew who wanted to bike to Argentina. Everyone told him he was crazy, that it was impossible, and so when he heard my story (I called him right there from the bike shop), Drew was overjoyed as he had just had this idea like two weeks ago, he couldn't find anyone to join him, and now here was someone passing through town doing just what he wanted to do, (well, aside from the fact that Brazil isn't exactly Argentina). Drew (pic above right) works as a manager at a Tex-Mex restaurant, so he invited me over to the restaurant to enjoy a meal, and anything else I wanted, so we could discuss how to go about such a trip.


Wait, here's the image of the folks at Austin Tricycle and I.

Well, I had a great meal at Maudie's (pronounced "Mow-" (rhymes with "cow") "dees"), and I went with college mate Rebecca and her Aunt Mary Anne. (picture follows--you can see how full I got!--and she's wearing our Alma Mater's sweatshirt!)

Mobile, AL

Back when I was in Mobile, AL, I met some homeless folks in one of the parks downtown. They were tremendously engaging, receptive, and interested in my story. And they shared much of their stories as well. At one point, a van pulled up from a church offering bag dinners to anyone, a lined formed, and once we had our dinners, we sat down on the benches and discussed everything from how I would camp out, miles per day, etc, etc, to how to ride on the road, and directions to places in Mobile, etc, and one man began telling me about his adventures traveling around--trainhopping, mainly. He used to live in Miami, where he "lived like a king" with many other homeless, just living on Miami beach. But Hurricane Katrina hit (it was not as powerful when it touched Florida), but this man endured the storm in a bus shelter! He just watched as the wind blew the rain in horizontally, and whipped things around.

He moved from Miami, but today he wishes he hadn't. Miami had more day-labor jobs available compared to Mobile. The way he moves around, typically, is by hopping on freight trains without the crew's awareness. In train yard, he explains, a few places are ideal for hanging out until a time arises when the train has begun moving, up to around 15 miles per hour, and the engine of the train has turned a corner, so teh mirrors the conductors use to monitor the train cannot "see" him jumping into a car. To jump into a car, one must run alongside the train, put one's hands on the platform of a car (a car whose middle door was left open) and throw one's torso up onto the platform, and then climb in. Typically, this man would find a cardboard box, and lay his body into that, and rest. He rides trains at night, and he tries to dismount before daybreak. He once arrived in a city after daybreak, and the trainyard guards began looking into his car. He plastered his body up against the wall, the same wall the door was on, and he guard looked into the car, but did not poke is head all the way in and look against the wall. When the guards moved on, he hopped out and began walking as swiftly as he could out of the train yard. He did not know what city he was in, and he asked the first man he came to, "What city is this?" and the man replied, "Jackson".

He eventually made it to Mobile...and he sleeps in some abandoned train station building.

Update

So, yesterday I talked with a couple of the Canadians, with whom I planned to travel South with. It isn't clear exactly when they will depart Austin. One may break off on her own, head south, and meet her significant other from Argentina on the way, and they may bike together. The others may stick around a couple more weeks. I will probably depart on my own towards Brownsville in a few days. I will stay in touch with the Canadians and see what makes sense. Their route does appear to coincide with mine along the east coast/Gulf coast of Mexico. It is the shortest, the flatest, and the most humid (much of Mexico is desert and/or mountain).

We may hit cities such as Victoria and Vera Cruz, places I believe I both have contacts in, though the more the better, so keep sending them my way, please.

So I hope to hit the border in about ten days.

Internet: I hope to have access in internet cafes and perhaps libraries, and in hotel lobbies, etc. Perhaps won't be as frequent, but will certainly be there, and perhaps my primary form of communication. As far as phone goes, I think I will pick up some calling cards and call folks from pay phones. Perhaps I will keep my phone for emergencies, but the rate will be a dollar fifty per minute.

If you would like to send money, please send to Paul Park, 4405 29th St, Mt Rainier, MD, 20712. There, my father will deposit it into my account, which I can access anywhere.

My health has been excellent--just a sore achilles tendon lately after hightailing it to make it to Austin in time for Thanksgiving. I am thankful for the Salvadoran family that fed me thanksgiving meal, for Ezra for hosting me for three days in Austin (plus feeding me and teaching me how to make tortillas--that pic is me making one), and for the Paulist Fathers here in Austin who are now hosting me and feeding me before I take off again. I am also thankful for all of you, my supporters--family, relatives, friends and those who I haven't met yet. Thank you for keeping up with my trip, taking an interest, and having a look at what effect we might be having on the earth. I truly appreciate all of you who are with me on this journey and who have helped me along the way.

As for my bike, I just had my third flat here in Austin (not bad after 2300 miles). My chain broke once, and my rear cassette/hub came loose outside of Athens. I have had some experimentation with my handlebars. Overall, my bike has been rather reliable and robust.

Where I am right now.

John Keating, Sponsor from Montgomery

When I was in Montgomery, Alabama, staying with gracious hosts Joe and Tricia Crowley, they introduced me to their long-time friend and cyclist John Keating. Now, John is not just any old cyclist. John has traversed the United States at least six times on a recumbent bike, but not only that, but John has just one arm and one real leg! John lost the limbs on one side of his body in a freak accident involving a 16,000 volt electric overhead cable for a train. See his book "The Hand of God: The Story of John Keating and the Power of Love" for his full story. John signed a copy of his book and gave it to me.

John has biked with amputees across the country raising awareness of amputees and support for medical advances and services. When I was in Montgomery, John was going into schools dressed as the Grim Reeper, and he would "reep" a student every twenty minutes, representing the frequency someone gets killed as the result of a drunk driver on the road; that student cannot talk for the rest of the school day.

John met me at his favorite cycle shop, Cycle Escape in Montgomery. John helped me select some gear and equipment for my tour, including a spare inner tube, a yellow long-sleeve jersey (visible, and prevents sunburn), and a rear-view mirrow. The shop threw in an extra chain link, and some spare helmet foam cushions. Thank you, John, and Cycle Escape for your invaluable support. Cycle Escape, Montgomery, AL

Austin

Here in Austin, after 2200 miles of biking, I will rendezvous with three Canadian bikers, and eventually four, as the fourth is on his way from New Orleans.

Allegedly Austin has lots of bats that live under the bridges of the major roads--and the bats put a hitting on the mosquito population.

I have camped out the last two nights, and I visited a Brazilian bike shop (the owner, Nelo, is from Sao Paulo) and a Brazilian music/clothing/food store, Ana Brasil. I spent thanksgiving with a Salvadoran family I met cruising the neighborhoods, and I got a wireless card for my laptop--hello wireless coffee shops!

Giddings, TX

I am in Giddings, TX, 57 miles from Austin. I should be in Austin by tomorrow afternoon to celebrate Thanksgiving with Rebecca--a college classmate, and the Canadian bikers.

Stopped at the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory today and received a complimentary scoop of Mocha Almond Fudge, with a dab of Cinnamon Ice Cream on top--excellent!

Then I went to Mariachi's Mexican Restaurant (these were both in Brenham, TX, the "birthplace" of Texas) and met some highschool soccer players. One of them was the owner of the restaurant!--Giovanni, who inherited one of the three Mariachi restaurants when his father, the owner, passed away. Giovanni's two brothers run the other two joints, one of which is just outside of Austin--I plan to stop there for lunch tomorrow!

Giovanni comped my lunch, and I signed an autograph for him. One of the class places I have stopped at--hit them up if you are in the area and mention my name for some special service and conversation.