The Union Pacific Queen

Hi Friends,

I’m writing to you from the comfort of my parent’s home.  I arrived in Rhode Island on December 22^nd around five o’clock in the evening bringing this particular journey to an end – though I’m sure it will continue in many ways.  I wasn’t very good about blogging the last week since I wanted to just absorb everything and enjoy every minute with my friends and in these new places.  I’ll do my best to recap the final week for you all. 

San Francisco marked the end of my westward move and the beginning of my eastward bound journey home.  I boarded the California Zephyr at eight thirty in the morning on December 15^th.  I was so happy when I saw and boarded the train because the Zephyr was the springboard for this trip.  When I saw it featured on the National Geographic website as one of the top ten North American train trips I knew I had to get on board.  What resulted was this month long adventure.  The Zephyr is a big train, a double decker, and I was happy to find a seat on the top floor, which I thought would give great views.   I was right. I couldn’t believe the scenery on this trip.  An amazing climb up and through the Sierra Nevada’s came soon after we pulled out of Emeryville, CA.  (FYI – there is a free shuttle from SF to Emeryville where the Amtrak Station is, no need to pay that $40.00 cab fare!) There was a fresh snow on the ground making this leg of the trip even more picturesque. Amazing views of the valley, trees covered in snow, animal tracks, and good company! 

The scenic car attracted first time Zephyrians, and I made friends with some wonderful, interesting people while admiring the scenery.  From Sacramento to Reno we had two historians on board who gave the history of the route and the laying of the tracks. Listening to the historians tackle the story of the Donner Party as we passed Donner Lake was interesting – I think the wording was “they faced great hardship and obstacles together…” what they didn’t say was “…and then they gnawed on each others arms.”

Sleeping on the train was pretty comfortable.  I had two seats to myself so there was plenty of room to relax. The first morning I woke up to the intercom announcing “first call” for breakfast in the dining car.  I decided to stay in my seat and enjoy the sunrise over the prairie for a bit before heading to the scenic car where I would spend my entire day.  The first thing I noticed is that I knew where we were. We were in Utah and following Route 70 – the route I took out West! It was so cool passing through places I recognized and really nice to not be driving and be able to just enjoy the scenery.  I made friends with Willis (Hi Willis!) a mapmaker who helped me spot wildlife and told me all about the ins and outs of mapmaking. The second day topped the first as we passed through red rock canyons, more tunnels and journeyed into the Rockies.  Amazing. AMAZING. The only disappointment was not seeing a big horned sheep – but I saw a lot of those on the way out. You know what I did see? Three bald eagles. Boo yea. Also a ton of deer, elk and a herd of antelope.  

Most of the stops the train made were pretty short, sometimes as short as one minute if no one was boarding or de-boarding but on average about five.  I usually didn’t get out of the train during these stops unless I really wanted some fresh air. However, the train was running early the second day and we rolled into Denver, CO about thirty minutes early.  This, on top of a longer than normal layover, meant the train would stay at the platform for about forty minutes.  I had time to revisit Wynkoop Brewery and use the wooden nickel given to me when I visited the brewery earlier in the trip. 

 

It was dark by the time we pulled out of Denver so after I re-boarded I started getting ready for bed. I lucked out that night because the train was packed but the woman who sat next to me ended up moving to sit next to her boyfriend.  The next morning I woke up in Iowa. Colorado was the peak of scenery, the rest of the way was pretty but incomparable to the Rockies and Sierras.  We passed over a lot more prairie before pulling into Chicago around three o’clock. An amazing journey - one I'll surely make again. If you're headed out to San Francisco and have the time this would be a really wonderful way to get out there. It's unbelievable the diversity of landscape you see on this one train trip, snow covered mountains one day, and desert the next.

Thanks for listening friends! 

Road Trip!

Hi friends, 

I'm going on a journey! One that I've dreamt of for years and years now.  A cross country solo expedition! Like I said in my last post I really like to explore - so this time I'm going to jam across the country and back and see what's what in this land of ours. 

Here's the deal-y-o.  This trip is a month long, beginning November 21st and concluding December 22nd. I will be driving across the country with SanFran as my destination. This trip is neatly planned to pass through where I have friends or where there are parks that I'd like to see/camp in. When I'm not staying with friends or in my tent (Dan's tent) I'll be treating myself to a shower and laundry at a local hotel.  Here are the stops in order, what I'll be doing and why:

Denver, PA - eh, as a kid growing up between DC and RI I've explored all the tourist attractions in this area - but I can't drive more than eight hours a day so this is where I'll pitch my tent and stay a spell in Amish Country. Suggestions are welcome! 

Hardy, VA - similar to the above but I'll stop by the Booker T. Washington National Monument and the wildlife refuge.

Asheville, NC - Hi Eli! A good friend lives here who I hope to meet up with - I say hope because he is awesome and has been on the AT  - making him hard to get in touch with. Are you BACK YET?! Either way I'll be tenting here for two nights enjoying hikes and views as well as the very cool downtown.

Nashville, TN - Asheville to Nashville, yes I know. I'll be driving through here for lunch on Thanksgiving Day - I might make a stop at the Grand Ole Opry.

Memphis, TN - Sun Studio and Graceland! I'm here for two nights and the second night happens to be the last Friday of the month which means it's gallery night. An old time trolley brings people around to the galleries! 

Wichita, KS - PJ LIVES HERE! A friend of mine since highschool is going to show me the sights - if KS has any. 

Dodge City, KS - This is a pass through just so I can say "I got outta Dodge"

Denver, CO - Jen and Bre are kind enough to let me stay with them a few days - maybe they'll even want to hang out.

Boulder, CO - Remember Chase? After Hambidge he went on to University of Colorado at Boulder to get his MFA in ceramics - I'm going to go see what this is all about. 

Moab, UT - Two days camping and hiking at Arches National Park.

Page, AZ - A half a day stop at Lower Antelope Canyon - my brother just visited this area and said it's beautiful and somewhat overlooked by tourists.

Grand Canyon, AZ - Nothing cool here - just a place to rest my head. LIE. Grand Canyon for two nights!

Death Valley, CA - Two nights camping in Death Valley - it's got a great history.

Tulare, CA - Staying in a hotel next to Sequoia National Forest - I think I might appreciate a bed after six days of camping.

Big Sur, CA - Camping in the Julia Pfeiffer State Park right on the coast. Apparently in winter months you can watch whales migrate off the shore!

San Francisco, CA - I'm going to drive up beautiful Route 1 and stay in SanFran with my friend Nate for a few days. A walk over the Golden Gate is the most solid plan I've made. After SanFran comes the reason I am taking this journey:

The California Zephyr! 


The god of all North American train trips - I saw this and said "I need to figure out a way to get on that high speed locomotive." Remember the hint I gave? Go ahead - check it out. 

So the return trip is not really set in stone (I guess the trip out isn't really either but it's pretty close) but I know that on December 13th I will be getting on the Zephyr and arriving in Chicago fifty-six hours later where I get to see my long lost friend Samantha. From there I think I'm going to Ohio and then definitely on to Niagara Falls for some winter festivities and hopefully meeting up with some family to take the train back down south to Rhode Island for the holidays. The whole way back will be bus and train - I'm sure it's going to be really nice not having to drive after three straight weeks of it. So there you have it friends! I can't wait! For those of you visual people out there who just skipped this mega long post:

(the long O - P stretch is when I'm on the zephyr)

I will be updating along my journey and will have a map tracking my progress as well in the side bar. Two other big pieces of unrelated news on the way.

I'm off to NYC tomorrow for the Graduate Portfolio Day at Parson's. We'll see!


Thanks for reading friends - you da' bomb! 

These Times They Are A-changin'

Well friends, I have some very excited news to share with you -- actually A LOT of exciting news, but let's focus on one thing at a time.   As those of you who follow my blog already know, I recently attended a five week residency at the Hambidge Center in Georgia.  This was a life changing experience.  NOT to sound corny, but really -- it brought many things in to absolute clear focus.   I found real happiness while in the woods of Georgia painting my life away.  I know painting is what I need to spend my life doing, and my current situation is not allowing me the time I need to pursue it with the focus that I'd like. So, I'm taking a plunge:  I have given my notice and as of August 6th, 2010 I will no longer be employed as an Admissions Counselor at Montserrat College of Art.  It feels good. Actually, after three years it feels really good. Working 40+ hours a week is exhausting and although I have managed to continue my studio practice I need more time (don't we all.) So - this Fall I will be teaching painting and drawing classes at the Maud Morgan Visual Art Center in Cambridge, MA two days a week.  This frees up a huge amount of time for me to paint, and work harder at making a larger part of my income from the sales of my artwork (stay tuned for an etsy page...yes, even I will have an etsy page.)  I am also very enthusiastic to take all that I have learned from previous teachers and mentors and pass it on to others who are just as passionate about making art as I am. I am thankful that the wonderful people at MMVAC have created a space and a program for students of all ages to have an opportunity to create. 

Classes begin September 16th, so in the weeks between my leaving Admissions and joining the Maud Morgan family, I will be traveling to NYC, DC and the family beach cottage (shack) for some R&R&P (rest, relaxation and painting...corny? yes.) 

The semester ends on November 20th and on November 21st I take off on a much bigger adventure - one of the bigger plunges I have taken. Planning is in full swing - and actually almost complete - but I don't want to let the cat out of the bag quite yet.  I'll give you a very cheesy hint though...right here. 

So there you have it friends. Hambidge gave me time to paint and an opportunity to meet new friends - but it also gave me the courage to take a leap and work towards my goal of painting full time to make a living.  I'm excited about this new adventure and I'll be sure to keep you all updated. 

And hey, the fact that you read my blog makes me feel like a million bucks...a million bucks my friends. So thanks.