Ok, so I wrote the previous post this morning in Zanesville or what everit was called lol!
I'm now sitting in the Marriott hotel across the street from the rink...I just walked in and am sitting in a comfortable chair stealing wifi! I might even use their nice bathrooms!
I'm a little worried about the van. The rink is right on the edge of the getto....I drove thru it trying to find some parking and...once again...lock the doors...I had the windows down and all I could smell was weed lol! So I turend around, found some meters near the rink...the one I found had like 7 hrs on it. So I hid everything as best as I could and left her there....I'm going to go see if I can find some more secure parking. Then I have to find tickets without spending a shit pile of money on em.
Pittsburg is a nice city sofar....busy with alot of roads going everywhere. Very industrial city. Around the rink there is not much...some churches, houses....nothing like in Columbus.
So I think I'm going to go and see about ticked and parking....still 2+hrs to puck drop...so should be able to do some rambling in there.
Also..the Steelers play tomorrow....not sure if it's here or away...if it's here...might have to look into some tailgating and maybe see the game....cheaply of course.
Ok....I'm off.....To all the Oregon people....have an outstanding night....I do wish I was there...so have a frosty beverage for me and I ll prob call later.
Cheers!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Hello from Pittsburg
G'day
Well not too much exciting happened yesterday....woke up in the parking lot of the hotel I stayed at in Cleveland....made tracks for the airport to see about the food thing Kennith and Keri were talking about....drove around the airport abit....and did not get hassled by the cops!! Found the convention centre....then I remembered the the Blue Jackets were playing.....so I made tracks to Columbus....bout a 2.5hr drive.....I got a text from K and K about 1.5hrs later wondering where I was! Dam it!.....
Pull into Columbus, nice town...find the rink, park and begin to ramble around.
The arena is in the 'arena district' It's the rink of course, apartments, shops, and a shot pile of bars. So still rambling along....I ask some guy where to get tickets....he mentions that there are 10$ seats......ding dong! Line up, 10$ ticket in my hand! You can't get a beer in some rinks back home for 10$! Rambling continues, still 2 hrs before the game....I found a nice brew pub! Sit down at the bar....happy hour! 3$ beer.....and really really good beer too! They had a really nice IPA and a super super good......I have no idea how to spell it...heyfervitsen.....sound it out! Really tasty.....had a pizza...equally delicious, had a good chat with the bar tender and off to the game I go.
Get into the rink...not a bad place, not as nice as the Wilds rink but not bad....head up to my seat, got a nose bees on the way there....2 rows from the top lol! Started scoping out better seats and in the middle of the first...made the move to some.....better seats! My recon was good but foiled by a jacket...the seats I was scoping were right on the ice, row one, but buddy had his jacket on them...so I aborted and settled for row 10 on the blue line....I'm ok with that for 10$
So of course the seat I'm in...someone comes back....I just pull the 'I'm in the wrong section' line and move...same thing happens one more time and then I found some for sure empty ones! Sweet. Watched the Jackets get smashed by the Avalanche....and left the rink.
Some of The people that were there cared about the team...but there were alot of ppl there that had no idea....I kept hearing ' fight him!!! Smash him!!' the organization was trying really hard to get the fans into the game...with giveaways, draws...like they do in all rinks...but more so...alot of empty seats....yet the Ohio State Buckeyes....a college football team will draw 80,000 or more. But that's a whole different ball of wax as Kennith explained to me the other night.
Anyways, left the rink to go find a place to have a drink....and the bartender from earlier was outside having a smoke, saw me walking by and said hey! So I got a beer and joined him and some of his friends...nice people....James was his name...nice guy...we had some stuff in common and we both had a couple good stories to tell....he had a crack head smash up his car...while he was trying to get away from him! Smashed out the back window, a couple side windows and did a bunch of other damage....we were talking about insurance for some reason....so I told him my motorcycle story....we both had a good chuckle, raised our glasses and drank some good beer.
I wanted to peel off and go make sure the van was still ok, then meet up with James later at Rbar...just wanted to make sure the van was not torched, stolen, smashed...and check out the parking situation. When I pulled in, it was 8$ event parking....guy said take the ticket and you pay on the way out. Ok.....so I go talk to the gal in the ticket booth....shes like....well I don't know what that guy was doing...not his job apparently....she said....well it's 5$ for the night....I said deal! That's all taken care of, back to the bar.
Get to Rbar....it's just fun to say....say it like a pirate....say it with me.....RRRRRRRRRRRbaRRRRRRR lol! See that was fun!
Sorry lol! So James is no where to be found. Get my self a 3$ tall boy of shit beer....wonder around, watch some hockey, some skanks, and some jabronies. Very entertaining. Finish my shitty tall boy...and out to the street......packed....unreal!
It was a meat market the likes of witch I have never seen. Skinny jeans, short....and I mean short skirts....wow.....and shoes the gals could barely walk in! So the slut factor was extreme but sure was fun to watch! Lol! Greasy! But conversely....the douche bag slime ball jabronie factor was equally as Impressive. I can't comment on most of what the dudes were wearing.....cuz well....I was not checking out the dudes! Lol! But there were a couple beauties!! Shiny shirt wearing, pointy shoes, super lame hair...and some of them trying to work on gals that are just wrecked! It was very entertaining!
Also amongst all of this.....somewhere I made a call to the other party going on in Roseburg! And said hi to every one there!
Hopped in the ban and headed east just to get out of town....found a truck stop and good night. Woke up today....sun was shining....hot.....it's freakin warm....tshirt weather for sure! It's middle november and the weather since I was in reno has been nothing but sun! I hope it continues...but I have my suspicions that once I hit the east coast it's gonna shit....and if it does....depending on how bad it gets or is....the trip might get modified or shortened. Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto are the only for sure stops I want to make. I can always fly or drive out to the rock another time. I'll see how it goes.
So....I should hit the road.....I think the pens are playing tonight...see if I can get a cheap ticket!
Lol! I'm in a Tim Hortons in Zanesville OH! so I've written this on the iPhone.....thank you again Neil.....your 40's of shitty 2.49$ 9% malt liquor have been acquired!....so I just need to find some wifi and put it up.
Cheers every one!
Well not too much exciting happened yesterday....woke up in the parking lot of the hotel I stayed at in Cleveland....made tracks for the airport to see about the food thing Kennith and Keri were talking about....drove around the airport abit....and did not get hassled by the cops!! Found the convention centre....then I remembered the the Blue Jackets were playing.....so I made tracks to Columbus....bout a 2.5hr drive.....I got a text from K and K about 1.5hrs later wondering where I was! Dam it!.....
Pull into Columbus, nice town...find the rink, park and begin to ramble around.
The arena is in the 'arena district' It's the rink of course, apartments, shops, and a shot pile of bars. So still rambling along....I ask some guy where to get tickets....he mentions that there are 10$ seats......ding dong! Line up, 10$ ticket in my hand! You can't get a beer in some rinks back home for 10$! Rambling continues, still 2 hrs before the game....I found a nice brew pub! Sit down at the bar....happy hour! 3$ beer.....and really really good beer too! They had a really nice IPA and a super super good......I have no idea how to spell it...heyfervitsen.....sound it out! Really tasty.....had a pizza...equally delicious, had a good chat with the bar tender and off to the game I go.
Get into the rink...not a bad place, not as nice as the Wilds rink but not bad....head up to my seat, got a nose bees on the way there....2 rows from the top lol! Started scoping out better seats and in the middle of the first...made the move to some.....better seats! My recon was good but foiled by a jacket...the seats I was scoping were right on the ice, row one, but buddy had his jacket on them...so I aborted and settled for row 10 on the blue line....I'm ok with that for 10$
So of course the seat I'm in...someone comes back....I just pull the 'I'm in the wrong section' line and move...same thing happens one more time and then I found some for sure empty ones! Sweet. Watched the Jackets get smashed by the Avalanche....and left the rink.
Some of The people that were there cared about the team...but there were alot of ppl there that had no idea....I kept hearing ' fight him!!! Smash him!!' the organization was trying really hard to get the fans into the game...with giveaways, draws...like they do in all rinks...but more so...alot of empty seats....yet the Ohio State Buckeyes....a college football team will draw 80,000 or more. But that's a whole different ball of wax as Kennith explained to me the other night.
Anyways, left the rink to go find a place to have a drink....and the bartender from earlier was outside having a smoke, saw me walking by and said hey! So I got a beer and joined him and some of his friends...nice people....James was his name...nice guy...we had some stuff in common and we both had a couple good stories to tell....he had a crack head smash up his car...while he was trying to get away from him! Smashed out the back window, a couple side windows and did a bunch of other damage....we were talking about insurance for some reason....so I told him my motorcycle story....we both had a good chuckle, raised our glasses and drank some good beer.
I wanted to peel off and go make sure the van was still ok, then meet up with James later at Rbar...just wanted to make sure the van was not torched, stolen, smashed...and check out the parking situation. When I pulled in, it was 8$ event parking....guy said take the ticket and you pay on the way out. Ok.....so I go talk to the gal in the ticket booth....shes like....well I don't know what that guy was doing...not his job apparently....she said....well it's 5$ for the night....I said deal! That's all taken care of, back to the bar.
Get to Rbar....it's just fun to say....say it like a pirate....say it with me.....RRRRRRRRRRRbaRRRRRRR lol! See that was fun!
Sorry lol! So James is no where to be found. Get my self a 3$ tall boy of shit beer....wonder around, watch some hockey, some skanks, and some jabronies. Very entertaining. Finish my shitty tall boy...and out to the street......packed....unreal!
It was a meat market the likes of witch I have never seen. Skinny jeans, short....and I mean short skirts....wow.....and shoes the gals could barely walk in! So the slut factor was extreme but sure was fun to watch! Lol! Greasy! But conversely....the douche bag slime ball jabronie factor was equally as Impressive. I can't comment on most of what the dudes were wearing.....cuz well....I was not checking out the dudes! Lol! But there were a couple beauties!! Shiny shirt wearing, pointy shoes, super lame hair...and some of them trying to work on gals that are just wrecked! It was very entertaining!
Also amongst all of this.....somewhere I made a call to the other party going on in Roseburg! And said hi to every one there!
Hopped in the ban and headed east just to get out of town....found a truck stop and good night. Woke up today....sun was shining....hot.....it's freakin warm....tshirt weather for sure! It's middle november and the weather since I was in reno has been nothing but sun! I hope it continues...but I have my suspicions that once I hit the east coast it's gonna shit....and if it does....depending on how bad it gets or is....the trip might get modified or shortened. Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto are the only for sure stops I want to make. I can always fly or drive out to the rock another time. I'll see how it goes.
So....I should hit the road.....I think the pens are playing tonight...see if I can get a cheap ticket!
Lol! I'm in a Tim Hortons in Zanesville OH! so I've written this on the iPhone.....thank you again Neil.....your 40's of shitty 2.49$ 9% malt liquor have been acquired!....so I just need to find some wifi and put it up.
Cheers every one!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Good Friday morning
Greetings from a Starbucks loft in downtown Cleveland OH.
So Thursday re-cap i suppose.......ok, lets see.....
Woke up, went for breaky in the hotel, loaded the van, paid my 5$ to park for the day, and off i go to the Rock and roll hall of fame. So I'm wondering around downtown......i get a little....miss placed....there was this gal near me so i asked her if she could point me in the right direction.....she replied in a German accent....'No, I'm sorry, I'm not from here either.' Neither am i....so we chatted about our travels abit and where we each needed to go. She needed to go to the train station, me to the HOF. Figured we would help each other out....I saw the lakefront thru some buildings and was able to accertain where i was...perfect...we found a guy who pointed in the right direction for the train station.....its right next to the HOF! She also wanted to go the the HOF as well...So she did her stuff @ the train station, and we went to the HOF together!
Now.....i cant remember her name cus it was a crazy German name....B........something! She is a guitar maker back home....so i was pumped.....I'm going to the HOF with a guitar junkie! Good deal! She was in town on a violin making conference.
On the way there we chatted bout music, travel, guitars and such....super chill person. Got to the hall and wondered around for a while......lots of cool stuff there...no pics allowed tho....almost got shot i think! Michael Jackson's diamond glove was there as well as the jacket from the thriller video....lots of original lyrics sheets, outfits from various people, tonnes of guitars, write ups, history lessons, a large amount of Hendrix stuff, Stones, Beatles....really a cool place.
Near the end of our trip to the hall.....she runs into some other people that were at the same conference....so bs with them for a bit and then we all left.....they had to go to another seminar. So we all shook hands and went our separate ways......A fun start to the day.
So off the the Body's exhibit....sweet.....have not seen this in a long time....At the beginning of the exhibit, they have a recorded thing plays that says 'over the next hour'.............i was in there for 5hrs! Amazing stuff....and this time i had a better understanding of the body......still incredibly limited but more than the first time i went so it was even more impressive. If you have never sen it........you have to. It really shows you how complex and amazing this machine...your body really is....truly cool. I wish i was smarter so i could study it and understand it more.....but i think that's above my pay grade! Another cool thing was they had med students wondering around so you could ask them questions....very helpful!
Left there.....dinner time.....looked around...and of course all the places looked like i couldn't afford them, so off i go to Flannigans again. Sit down at the bar, Guinness...and i orded nachos.......Jesus! They're huge! Anyways.....sitting, drinkin, trying to shred thru the giant freakin pile of nachos in front of me....and this couple sits down. Kennith and Keri................wow.........super nice down to earth people!
Kennith stared up the chatting....and we all bs for the rest of the night...was a great time! I learnt how American collage football works and how silly it is! We talked NFL......unfortunately Kennith was a Dallas fan...so we had a good chuckle and a chat about that lol! We talked life, music....from country to 90's rap. Airplanes, kids, travel.....and laughed at the European gal with the big rock on her finger pretty much throwing herself at 2 married guys behind us! It was quite the display lol! Another continent does not count if i remember the rules correctly!!
It was a great experience with some great insight and a fresh perspective. I gave them my number and email...and they hit the road for their hotel. I got 2 phone calls....my call id does not work down here...so i couldn't who ever it was back......Just got another call this morning....and its Kennith....it was them calling me last night to see if i wanted to stay with them....they were worried about me sleeping in the van cus it was cold and they wanted to make sure i was ok! Wow....the world needs more people this. Kennith and Keri, you guys rule!
So i made the cold walk back to the van....i had no jacket...i left it in the van....i was not expecting to be walking home at 1:15am....fired up the van to get the chill out of the air....and crashed out. A good night for sure!
So here i am in the Sbucks loft.....this is a mega busy place! There is a Food tv thing going on @ the Cleveland airport that Ken and Keri told me about that they are going to so i might go check that out...then i might make my way to Columbus for a hockey game tonight...we shall see....gatta watch the $$
Oh and to all the folks in Roseburg....lol....that was a funny phone call....lol.....I hope tonight is drunker than last night! Hoist one for me! I truly wish i could be there to party and celebrate with all of you. Its going to be an amazing time. Please don't think that I'm not there because i think that my life is more important......i guess its just the way it worked out.......but on the bright side I'm starting to feel better, happier....this is a good thing. So everyone....I says hi......and have an outstanding time...wish i was there having a few beverages with yall. Miss everyone.
Ok....time to bust out and make some moves.
Cheers!
So Thursday re-cap i suppose.......ok, lets see.....
Woke up, went for breaky in the hotel, loaded the van, paid my 5$ to park for the day, and off i go to the Rock and roll hall of fame. So I'm wondering around downtown......i get a little....miss placed....there was this gal near me so i asked her if she could point me in the right direction.....she replied in a German accent....'No, I'm sorry, I'm not from here either.' Neither am i....so we chatted about our travels abit and where we each needed to go. She needed to go to the train station, me to the HOF. Figured we would help each other out....I saw the lakefront thru some buildings and was able to accertain where i was...perfect...we found a guy who pointed in the right direction for the train station.....its right next to the HOF! She also wanted to go the the HOF as well...So she did her stuff @ the train station, and we went to the HOF together!
Now.....i cant remember her name cus it was a crazy German name....B........something! She is a guitar maker back home....so i was pumped.....I'm going to the HOF with a guitar junkie! Good deal! She was in town on a violin making conference.
On the way there we chatted bout music, travel, guitars and such....super chill person. Got to the hall and wondered around for a while......lots of cool stuff there...no pics allowed tho....almost got shot i think! Michael Jackson's diamond glove was there as well as the jacket from the thriller video....lots of original lyrics sheets, outfits from various people, tonnes of guitars, write ups, history lessons, a large amount of Hendrix stuff, Stones, Beatles....really a cool place.
Near the end of our trip to the hall.....she runs into some other people that were at the same conference....so bs with them for a bit and then we all left.....they had to go to another seminar. So we all shook hands and went our separate ways......A fun start to the day.
So off the the Body's exhibit....sweet.....have not seen this in a long time....At the beginning of the exhibit, they have a recorded thing plays that says 'over the next hour'.............i was in there for 5hrs! Amazing stuff....and this time i had a better understanding of the body......still incredibly limited but more than the first time i went so it was even more impressive. If you have never sen it........you have to. It really shows you how complex and amazing this machine...your body really is....truly cool. I wish i was smarter so i could study it and understand it more.....but i think that's above my pay grade! Another cool thing was they had med students wondering around so you could ask them questions....very helpful!
Left there.....dinner time.....looked around...and of course all the places looked like i couldn't afford them, so off i go to Flannigans again. Sit down at the bar, Guinness...and i orded nachos.......Jesus! They're huge! Anyways.....sitting, drinkin, trying to shred thru the giant freakin pile of nachos in front of me....and this couple sits down. Kennith and Keri................wow.........super nice down to earth people!
Kennith stared up the chatting....and we all bs for the rest of the night...was a great time! I learnt how American collage football works and how silly it is! We talked NFL......unfortunately Kennith was a Dallas fan...so we had a good chuckle and a chat about that lol! We talked life, music....from country to 90's rap. Airplanes, kids, travel.....and laughed at the European gal with the big rock on her finger pretty much throwing herself at 2 married guys behind us! It was quite the display lol! Another continent does not count if i remember the rules correctly!!
It was a great experience with some great insight and a fresh perspective. I gave them my number and email...and they hit the road for their hotel. I got 2 phone calls....my call id does not work down here...so i couldn't who ever it was back......Just got another call this morning....and its Kennith....it was them calling me last night to see if i wanted to stay with them....they were worried about me sleeping in the van cus it was cold and they wanted to make sure i was ok! Wow....the world needs more people this. Kennith and Keri, you guys rule!
So i made the cold walk back to the van....i had no jacket...i left it in the van....i was not expecting to be walking home at 1:15am....fired up the van to get the chill out of the air....and crashed out. A good night for sure!
So here i am in the Sbucks loft.....this is a mega busy place! There is a Food tv thing going on @ the Cleveland airport that Ken and Keri told me about that they are going to so i might go check that out...then i might make my way to Columbus for a hockey game tonight...we shall see....gatta watch the $$
Oh and to all the folks in Roseburg....lol....that was a funny phone call....lol.....I hope tonight is drunker than last night! Hoist one for me! I truly wish i could be there to party and celebrate with all of you. Its going to be an amazing time. Please don't think that I'm not there because i think that my life is more important......i guess its just the way it worked out.......but on the bright side I'm starting to feel better, happier....this is a good thing. So everyone....I says hi......and have an outstanding time...wish i was there having a few beverages with yall. Miss everyone.
Ok....time to bust out and make some moves.
Cheers!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thurs morning
Good morning.
Well, not much happened last night....went out, found a nice Irish pub, had a great burger and pint of Guinness! Not too shabby! Then went and wondered around downtown, took some pics and did some people watching.....and there are some weird people down there! From a big black rambling on preacher, to a super cool dude playing a sax.....lots of homeless and people you just want to avoid.
Side note.....the homeless.....a terrible situation. People are so rude sometimes. There is no need to be. I did not have any change on me...and i have helped out before......i would rather give food tho...and on this trip i have....there was a kid at a truck stop....didn't ask me for anything...but i gave him some stuff...that's all...nice kid. Last night i saw a girl give a guy a granola bar.....not everyone is bad. Just don't be rude.
Anyway....found a cool little street......4th street.....all cool bars....that i cant afford to go into lol.....and trendy tap bars as well. Wondered around some more and came back to the hotel....finished my laundry and went to bed.
Today is Body Works (CS wish you were) and the HOF. Im going to find a place to park down town and sleep tonight and then tomorrow.....well i don't know. Might go south to Columbus OH to catch a hockey game, then over to Pittsburgh...for a hockey game.....then to DC for a Monday night football game...and a hockey game...lol.....i can prob scalp tix for 20$ to the hockey games....the Monday night game....well we shall see.
Ok....well gonna go look at some stuff....ill up load some new pics tonight i think.
Oh....if you look on the right upper chunk of the blog...I've posted links for my pics....just copy and paste i think and it should work.
Gday!
Well, not much happened last night....went out, found a nice Irish pub, had a great burger and pint of Guinness! Not too shabby! Then went and wondered around downtown, took some pics and did some people watching.....and there are some weird people down there! From a big black rambling on preacher, to a super cool dude playing a sax.....lots of homeless and people you just want to avoid.
Side note.....the homeless.....a terrible situation. People are so rude sometimes. There is no need to be. I did not have any change on me...and i have helped out before......i would rather give food tho...and on this trip i have....there was a kid at a truck stop....didn't ask me for anything...but i gave him some stuff...that's all...nice kid. Last night i saw a girl give a guy a granola bar.....not everyone is bad. Just don't be rude.
Anyway....found a cool little street......4th street.....all cool bars....that i cant afford to go into lol.....and trendy tap bars as well. Wondered around some more and came back to the hotel....finished my laundry and went to bed.
Today is Body Works (CS wish you were) and the HOF. Im going to find a place to park down town and sleep tonight and then tomorrow.....well i don't know. Might go south to Columbus OH to catch a hockey game, then over to Pittsburgh...for a hockey game.....then to DC for a Monday night football game...and a hockey game...lol.....i can prob scalp tix for 20$ to the hockey games....the Monday night game....well we shall see.
Ok....well gonna go look at some stuff....ill up load some new pics tonight i think.
Oh....if you look on the right upper chunk of the blog...I've posted links for my pics....just copy and paste i think and it should work.
Gday!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
ok......
Alright....so i left off in Milwaukee.....So i wondered around there for a while....nice place nice downtown core, a cool art building with a moving wing thingy on it...very cool.
Hopped in the van and made tracks for Chicago. Sounds simple enough.....the odyssey begins.....
So, I'm coming into the north end of Chicago....by north...i mean not even close to downtown....anyways.....traffic was a freakin mess.....you think traffic is bad in Vancouver or Calgary....try Chicago rush hour....so...north of town....hey...I'm passing O'hare airport...ill go watch some airplanes...simple enough...go to the terminal and talk to guy there and he points me in the direction of where to go. Cool. On my way...kinda.....not entirely sure where to go but i found a good spot off the end of the runway on the side of the road....amazing airport...2 dep runways 2 arrival's....unreal busy! So, I'm sitting there.....cop pulls up behind me, lights on....'please step out of the vehicle'....shit....here we go. Give him my passport and DL....he goes back to his car i get back in the van....another car shows up....then another....now all the cops are all out having a chat.......'im going to jail' i thought. Fantastic. They come back up, i get out....one more car on the other side of the road...so 4 now.....lol...shit!
So...the questions start...have you ever had any trouble with the law? have you ever been in jail? Why are you here....and so on. No to all of the above...I'm kinda nervous now...one dude pats me down and hops in the van and starts rooting thru it...the others asking questions still.
Apparently there was another Greg Reed with the same date of birth and name who uses aliases such as Glenn (my middle name) and he was a violent offender. Oh my......I said, I'm just on a road trip, watching some airplanes waiting for traffic to die down.....well you cant do that here he said. Ok....so i diffused the situation with some talk of the trip and where to get a good chunk of pizza in Chicago and was on my way...
So back into rush hour, trying to find this exit the cop told me to take...getting more frustrated by the minute with idiot drivers and traffic. So i just get off the interstate and start making my way east towards the water....traffic still fucked and ppl are still idiots......one way streets, flashing lights every where....getting super mad and hungry....ok...ill find a place and get some chow. Go into the gps to find me something....and i go to this one place....that does not exist...great....i passed a lounge, ill go there. Go in......waft.....smoke...i guess you can smoke inside here....I'm out. Off to Subway i go. Get my sub and smash down the whole thing. Cooling off abit. There was a Food and Liquor store right there....so i got a couple 40's for a friend of mine...booze is so cheap here...and smokes.....Its weird...just not used to seeing smokes right out there...its like 5$ a pack...they want you to smoke and drink down here....anyways..
I'm done with Chicago. Making tracks east to Cleveland....getting the hell out of this place. Hit the interstate again, GPS doing its thing i thought. The roads and the off ramps happen so quick...and once the Delica is up to speed....quick lane changes are not really a possibility....fuck.....missed my off ramp. Follow the GPS directions........thru south Chicago.....where i went straight thru a sweet getto....nice....doors locked now.
Boarded up run down buildings all taged up, shitty beat down cars with giant stupid chrome rims, roads that are just shit kicked....i thought the Deli was going to come apart. One Jeep Cherokee passed me with bullet holes in it....i need to get out of here....So i fuming now....but I finally get back on track...i didn't get shot, the deli is in one maybe Two pieces....im on the interstate east bound and down.
The relief was profound. Found a truck stop in Elkhart Indiana...called er a night.
Cleveland bound now. Got here.....easy. Found the rock and roll hall of fame....found a cheap hotel...get set up. Went for a nice 9k run thru downtown 38:42, pace was a 4:15...not bad...a few stops here and there. Was down by the lake....there was a bunch of birds standing on the ground...fun time! So i sprint towards them and they all start flying above me....sooooooo cool! But.....they also started dropping bombs on me! Bastards! So i had to do some dodging, but i made it out ok!
So here i sit in my hotel room, all showered up ready to go out....just waiting for the laundry to finish.
Tomorrow will be the HOF and on my run.....i saw Bodyworks is in town!!!! So ill be doing that as well! should chew up most of the day. If i can find a place to crash tomorrow night ill prob stay in town one more night.....Very nice place here....i like it.
So that's it for now. Ill try to update before i leave the hotel tomorrow.
Cheers everyone
Hopped in the van and made tracks for Chicago. Sounds simple enough.....the odyssey begins.....
So, I'm coming into the north end of Chicago....by north...i mean not even close to downtown....anyways.....traffic was a freakin mess.....you think traffic is bad in Vancouver or Calgary....try Chicago rush hour....so...north of town....hey...I'm passing O'hare airport...ill go watch some airplanes...simple enough...go to the terminal and talk to guy there and he points me in the direction of where to go. Cool. On my way...kinda.....not entirely sure where to go but i found a good spot off the end of the runway on the side of the road....amazing airport...2 dep runways 2 arrival's....unreal busy! So, I'm sitting there.....cop pulls up behind me, lights on....'please step out of the vehicle'....shit....here we go. Give him my passport and DL....he goes back to his car i get back in the van....another car shows up....then another....now all the cops are all out having a chat.......'im going to jail' i thought. Fantastic. They come back up, i get out....one more car on the other side of the road...so 4 now.....lol...shit!
So...the questions start...have you ever had any trouble with the law? have you ever been in jail? Why are you here....and so on. No to all of the above...I'm kinda nervous now...one dude pats me down and hops in the van and starts rooting thru it...the others asking questions still.
Apparently there was another Greg Reed with the same date of birth and name who uses aliases such as Glenn (my middle name) and he was a violent offender. Oh my......I said, I'm just on a road trip, watching some airplanes waiting for traffic to die down.....well you cant do that here he said. Ok....so i diffused the situation with some talk of the trip and where to get a good chunk of pizza in Chicago and was on my way...
So back into rush hour, trying to find this exit the cop told me to take...getting more frustrated by the minute with idiot drivers and traffic. So i just get off the interstate and start making my way east towards the water....traffic still fucked and ppl are still idiots......one way streets, flashing lights every where....getting super mad and hungry....ok...ill find a place and get some chow. Go into the gps to find me something....and i go to this one place....that does not exist...great....i passed a lounge, ill go there. Go in......waft.....smoke...i guess you can smoke inside here....I'm out. Off to Subway i go. Get my sub and smash down the whole thing. Cooling off abit. There was a Food and Liquor store right there....so i got a couple 40's for a friend of mine...booze is so cheap here...and smokes.....Its weird...just not used to seeing smokes right out there...its like 5$ a pack...they want you to smoke and drink down here....anyways..
I'm done with Chicago. Making tracks east to Cleveland....getting the hell out of this place. Hit the interstate again, GPS doing its thing i thought. The roads and the off ramps happen so quick...and once the Delica is up to speed....quick lane changes are not really a possibility....fuck.....missed my off ramp. Follow the GPS directions........thru south Chicago.....where i went straight thru a sweet getto....nice....doors locked now.
Boarded up run down buildings all taged up, shitty beat down cars with giant stupid chrome rims, roads that are just shit kicked....i thought the Deli was going to come apart. One Jeep Cherokee passed me with bullet holes in it....i need to get out of here....So i fuming now....but I finally get back on track...i didn't get shot, the deli is in one maybe Two pieces....im on the interstate east bound and down.
The relief was profound. Found a truck stop in Elkhart Indiana...called er a night.
Cleveland bound now. Got here.....easy. Found the rock and roll hall of fame....found a cheap hotel...get set up. Went for a nice 9k run thru downtown 38:42, pace was a 4:15...not bad...a few stops here and there. Was down by the lake....there was a bunch of birds standing on the ground...fun time! So i sprint towards them and they all start flying above me....sooooooo cool! But.....they also started dropping bombs on me! Bastards! So i had to do some dodging, but i made it out ok!
So here i sit in my hotel room, all showered up ready to go out....just waiting for the laundry to finish.
Tomorrow will be the HOF and on my run.....i saw Bodyworks is in town!!!! So ill be doing that as well! should chew up most of the day. If i can find a place to crash tomorrow night ill prob stay in town one more night.....Very nice place here....i like it.
So that's it for now. Ill try to update before i leave the hotel tomorrow.
Cheers everyone
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Quick post
Howdy....don't have much time to update right now...a friend who was just here said I have to go to the art gallery at noon....the roof moves around apparently!
got here late lastnight....I stayed in Manituwoc for a not long than I thought I was going to...on my way to leave, I found a YMCA...perfect, ran 5k, worked out, got a shower and a shave in..feel good....
Drove to Milwaukee...ended up driving thru the getto...that was fun lol...it's a nice city at night, buildings are all lit up with different colours...looks cool. Drove around some more, found a spot and calld er a night. Good sleep and good walk this am on the lake.
It's funny, Green Bay is nothing compared to Milwaukee! And gb has the football team.
So I'm off to go see the art gallery roof move, then Se if I can find the miller brewery and see about a tour then off to Chicago I think.
Cheers everyone
got here late lastnight....I stayed in Manituwoc for a not long than I thought I was going to...on my way to leave, I found a YMCA...perfect, ran 5k, worked out, got a shower and a shave in..feel good....
Drove to Milwaukee...ended up driving thru the getto...that was fun lol...it's a nice city at night, buildings are all lit up with different colours...looks cool. Drove around some more, found a spot and calld er a night. Good sleep and good walk this am on the lake.
It's funny, Green Bay is nothing compared to Milwaukee! And gb has the football team.
So I'm off to go see the art gallery roof move, then Se if I can find the miller brewery and see about a tour then off to Chicago I think.
Cheers everyone
Monday, November 8, 2010
Day 14 Thoughts
Ok...got that one done.....now....plans and thoughts.
Thoughts first........People....like everyone seems to be totally surprised that I'm doing this trip alone. And i guess at the beginning i was surprised i was doing it by myself as well. But now that I'm here...its no big deal....i guess.....I mean i miss everyone, i miss going to my gym, running on my routes, sleeping in my bed, having a shower everyday!.....and stuff like that. But its a good thing....its an experience. The guy that i was talking to last night said some great things.....he said....what your doing is amazing, and you'll look back and go wow.....and i said, ya i know....but right now......it doesn't feel like such a big deal...the experiences and things I've done......doesn't seem that grand. But its because I'm here, right now in it. When i look back it will be even better....more memorable.....if that makes sense......he said....yep...so have fun and enjoy the ride! (it would be easier to enjoy the ride in a 500,000$ motor home!)
So now that the first 2 weeks are done, 6000 or so km behind me......i think the real trip starts.....and to honest.....I'm a bit scared. The first two weeks, there was a loose plan.....i like plans....now its all open, random.....I've got an idea where i wasn't to go...Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, DC, Boston, and back up into Canada.....but i find myself hesitant. But ill hit the road and make it work. That's the only way to do it i guess.
So.....having one of those days. I don't feel all that great, prob cus i haven't had a shower or worked out in a week or so...and I've been drinking for the last 2 days......not making excuses or complaining....i made my bed ill sleep in it.
Choices need to be made.....choices are being made....weather they are good or bad....i made the choice to booze it up and have fun...and that's ok....i have to be ok with that. But i feel guilty for doing it. I don't want to go back to 235lb Greg. Never again.
Being on the road....its hard on your body for sure.....once again...no excuses....just talking.....id love to go run every day, and work out and sweat.....but personal hygiene becomes a problem as well as laundry.....i can barley stand myself right now! Its stuff you don't think about at home. I have been looking for gyms....they are harder to find than you might think down here....drop in would prob be 10$...same as a shower at a truck stop....so its a better option, i can work out, have a shower and move on....maybe once i hit some bigger cities ill run into some.....So anyway....when i get the chance i do......but i just have to watch what i eat.....mostly cliff bars, chicken and G2.......and know that when i get home its going to be an up hill battle to get back what i have lost. Ive never really been to comfortable in my skin....even after losing 20 lbs..even knowing I'm a good runner....i still think i look like I'm 230lbs. I have to learn to be ok with me......and this is a battle that will rage on forever.
.........You may wonder why I'm spilling my guts on here and getting into my issues and putting them out there...my answer is......well...i don't know. I said to myself that anything i type can not be deleted...it must be posted........There is a great line from a Sara McLachlan song.....'we are screaming inside, but cant be heard' That's kinda how i feel right now. I guess this is my way of being heard......I want to scream and lash out....but i cant......there is so much uncertainty right now, work, relationships, life paths......will my van make it home (lol).
I love my freedom....i love that i can do what i want when i want to.....and everyone that has a job, family, house, kids, mortgage, car payment, responsibilities......wants to be where i am right now, stinky, hungover, feeling very gross sitting in a Starbucks in Green Bad WI......I'm happy I'm here....but i look fwd to getting my life back on track and moving fwd and having some responsibilities. Stability is nice. Everyone's life is different...and everyone wants different things in life.......everyone needs to be happy with where they are, what they are doing...don't be jealous of anyone....enjoy you and your situation and the ppl around you. At the end of the day....friends,family and your own happiness are all you have....don't take them for granted. I hope that friends and family reading this know how i feel bout all of them.
Ok..........im done for now........time to hit the road to Milwaukee and see whats down there.
Cheers
Thoughts first........People....like everyone seems to be totally surprised that I'm doing this trip alone. And i guess at the beginning i was surprised i was doing it by myself as well. But now that I'm here...its no big deal....i guess.....I mean i miss everyone, i miss going to my gym, running on my routes, sleeping in my bed, having a shower everyday!.....and stuff like that. But its a good thing....its an experience. The guy that i was talking to last night said some great things.....he said....what your doing is amazing, and you'll look back and go wow.....and i said, ya i know....but right now......it doesn't feel like such a big deal...the experiences and things I've done......doesn't seem that grand. But its because I'm here, right now in it. When i look back it will be even better....more memorable.....if that makes sense......he said....yep...so have fun and enjoy the ride! (it would be easier to enjoy the ride in a 500,000$ motor home!)
So now that the first 2 weeks are done, 6000 or so km behind me......i think the real trip starts.....and to honest.....I'm a bit scared. The first two weeks, there was a loose plan.....i like plans....now its all open, random.....I've got an idea where i wasn't to go...Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, DC, Boston, and back up into Canada.....but i find myself hesitant. But ill hit the road and make it work. That's the only way to do it i guess.
So.....having one of those days. I don't feel all that great, prob cus i haven't had a shower or worked out in a week or so...and I've been drinking for the last 2 days......not making excuses or complaining....i made my bed ill sleep in it.
Choices need to be made.....choices are being made....weather they are good or bad....i made the choice to booze it up and have fun...and that's ok....i have to be ok with that. But i feel guilty for doing it. I don't want to go back to 235lb Greg. Never again.
Being on the road....its hard on your body for sure.....once again...no excuses....just talking.....id love to go run every day, and work out and sweat.....but personal hygiene becomes a problem as well as laundry.....i can barley stand myself right now! Its stuff you don't think about at home. I have been looking for gyms....they are harder to find than you might think down here....drop in would prob be 10$...same as a shower at a truck stop....so its a better option, i can work out, have a shower and move on....maybe once i hit some bigger cities ill run into some.....So anyway....when i get the chance i do......but i just have to watch what i eat.....mostly cliff bars, chicken and G2.......and know that when i get home its going to be an up hill battle to get back what i have lost. Ive never really been to comfortable in my skin....even after losing 20 lbs..even knowing I'm a good runner....i still think i look like I'm 230lbs. I have to learn to be ok with me......and this is a battle that will rage on forever.
.........You may wonder why I'm spilling my guts on here and getting into my issues and putting them out there...my answer is......well...i don't know. I said to myself that anything i type can not be deleted...it must be posted........There is a great line from a Sara McLachlan song.....'we are screaming inside, but cant be heard' That's kinda how i feel right now. I guess this is my way of being heard......I want to scream and lash out....but i cant......there is so much uncertainty right now, work, relationships, life paths......will my van make it home (lol).
I love my freedom....i love that i can do what i want when i want to.....and everyone that has a job, family, house, kids, mortgage, car payment, responsibilities......wants to be where i am right now, stinky, hungover, feeling very gross sitting in a Starbucks in Green Bad WI......I'm happy I'm here....but i look fwd to getting my life back on track and moving fwd and having some responsibilities. Stability is nice. Everyone's life is different...and everyone wants different things in life.......everyone needs to be happy with where they are, what they are doing...don't be jealous of anyone....enjoy you and your situation and the ppl around you. At the end of the day....friends,family and your own happiness are all you have....don't take them for granted. I hope that friends and family reading this know how i feel bout all of them.
Ok..........im done for now........time to hit the road to Milwaukee and see whats down there.
Cheers
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