JOURNAL

ONCE WE RESCUED OUR AIRSTREAM FROM BEING STORED UNDER THE FLORIDA SUN, WE HEADED UP TO ATLANTA TO MEET WITH AIRSTREAM’S CREATIVE AGENCY. AFTER A GREAT MEETING WITH THEIR TEAM, THEY RECOMMENDED VISITING THE HISTORIC OAKLAND CEMETERY ACROSS THE STREET, WHICH MAY SEEM LIKE AN ODD SUGGESTION FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS RIGHT UP OUR ALLEY.

NOT ONLY WAS THIS ONE BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED WITH LUSH GREENERY AND GARDENS, BUT IT ALSO WAS A UNIQUE MELTING POT OF ATLANTA’S HISTORY DATING BACK THROUGH THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES.

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THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE BY THE EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE IS A SOMBER, MEANINGFUL MEMORIAL SITE THAT ENABLES AMERICANS TO REFLECT UPON OUR OWN HISTORY OF SEVERE RACIAL INEQUALITY AND INJUSTICE.

IN ADDITION TO THIS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL MEMORIAL, THE LEGACY MUSEUM BRINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE ON HOW GENERATIONS OF SLAVERY, OPPRESSION, AND VIOLENCE ARE STILL ALL TOO PREVALENT WITHIN TODAY’S CONTEMPORARY ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF SYSTEMATIC RACISM, MASS INCARCERATION, AND POLICE VIOLENCE.

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WE WERE ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO DO OUR HAWAI’I PROJECT (STATE #24) ALMOST A YEAR EARLIER WHILE WE WERE ON THE WEST COAST, BUT A RARE HURRICANE HITTING THE ISLANDS HAD OTHER PLANS. WE RESCHEDULED OUR FLIGHTS FOR LATER IN THE TOUR WHEN WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE MIDWEST SO WE COULD LEAVE OUR AIRSTREAM AND CAT NOEL AT HOME WITH KENDRA’S PARENTS IN GRAND RAPIDS.

LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT WE’D ALREADY BE BACK IN GRAND RAPIDS UNDER VERY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. WITH NO MORE [HAS HEART] FUNDING AVAILABLE AND OUR PERSONAL RESOURCES DEPLETED FROM TWO YEARS VOLUNTEERING ON THE ROAD, WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.

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AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS WITH OUR PARENTS IN FLORIDA, WE RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT THE FUNDING FOR THE [HAS HEART] TOUR WAS QUICKLY DRYING UP. WITHOUT ANY IMMEDIATE SUPPORT IN SIGHT, WE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO PAUSE THE REMAINDER OF THE TOUR UNTIL WE COULD RAISE ENOUGH FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE MISSION.

WE HAD NO OTHER OPTIONS THAN TO PREPARE THE TRAILER FOR STORAGE IN FLORIDA WHILE WE DROVE OUR TRUCK BACK UP TO MICHIGAN TO WAIT OUT THE WINTER MONTHS AND DO OUR BEST TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD IN THE SPRING — EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

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WE SPENT A FEW DAYS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER JUST OUTSIDE OF MEMPHIS SO THAT WE COULD VISIT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM AT THE LORRAINE HOTEL, THE SITE OF THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. JUST OVER 50 YEARS AGO.

THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WAS KILLED, DR. KING GAVE HIS FAMED “I’VE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP” SPEECH IN WHICH HE SAYS, “WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AMERICA A BETTER NATION…TO MAKE AMERICA WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE.” UNFORTUNATELY, HIS WORDS STILL RING TRUE TO THIS DAY.

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MY FAVORITE PART OF VISITING MUSEUMS, WHETHER IT’S LARGE MUSEUMS LIKE THE MOMA IN NEW YORK, MID-SIZED ONES LIKE YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY IN CONNECTICUT, OR NICHE COLLECTIONS LIKE THE DESERT MUSEUM IN ARIZONA IS LOOKING AT THE ARTIST’S EXECUTION, BRUSH STROKES, COLORS, AND DETAILS THAT MAKE UP THE LARGER PICTURE AND ARTIST STATEMENT.

IT’S THESE DETAILS THAT MAKE GREAT ART — THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS AND IT TAKE YEARS TO MASTER.

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WE WERE IMPRESSED IN MIDTOWN OKC WITH COMMONPLACE BOOKSTORE WHERE WE HAD TO RESIST THE GREATEST TEMPTATIONS TO BUY ALL THE GREAT BOOKS, BEAUTIFUL HOMEGOODS, AND EVEN DELICIOUS LOOKING FOOD, DRINKS, AND COFFEE.

THE AREA ALSO HAD AN INCREDIBLE MEXICAN RESTAURANT: BARRIOS FINE MEXICAN DISHES. WE TREATED OURSELVES, WHICH ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY LOCALS.

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UNLIKE DORTHY, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING OUR HOME WITH US. THE PROBLEM WAS, THE RV PARK WE BROUGHT IT TO in KANSAS WASN’T THE NICEST OF CAMPGROUNDS, BUT AT LEAST WE LUCKED OUT ON THE BEST CAMP SPOT IN THE PARK UNDER A LARGE TRIP OF TREES.

BEST OF ALL, THERE WERE NO THREATS OF TORNADOES IN THE FORECAST AND NO WICKED WITCHES. THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CAN PARK IT ANYWHERE.

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WHILE NOEL SUNBATHED IN THE FRONT DOOR OF THE AIRSTREAM CHEERING US ON, KENDRA AND I TOOK TO THE BASKETBALL COURT AT THE K.O.A. CAMPGROUND TO PLAY A COMPETITIVE GAME OF H-O-R-S-E.

THERE WAS SOME DEBATE ABOUT WHO WON — ONE OF US CLAIMED THE OTHER PERSON HAD A CERTAIN NUMBER OF LETTERS WHILE THE OTHER PERSON DIDN’T THINK SO. TO THIS DAY THE WINNER IS DEBATABLE. BUT I’M NOT A SORE LOSER. YOU’RE THE SORE LOSER.

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WHAT’S MORE IOWAN THAN HARVESTING CORN? KENDRA’S DAD GREW UP IN IOWA AND HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND IS A FARMER WHO LET ME RIDE ON THE COMBINE TO PLUCK A FEW ROWS OF CORN. MEANWHILE, KENDRA WAS FALLING HEAD OVER PAWS FOR A BARN CAT. JUST YOUR TYPICAL DAY.

WHAT WASN’T EXPECTED IN IOWA WAS A PARK OF PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS FROM WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTS OR CHINESE GARDENS ALONG THE DES MOINES RIVER. WE QUICKLY LEARNED THAT IOWA IS MORE THAN A FARM AND MORE THAN ITS CAUCUS, THAT’S FOR SURE.

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WE DROVE THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY THROUGH THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS THAT WAS FULL OF HAIRPIN TURNS AND CROSSBACKS UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAINS WHERE WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE POPS OF YELLOW ASPEN LEAVES ALL AROUND US UP ALONG THE MOUNTAINSIDES.

WE WERE HOWEVER NOT QUITE EXPECTING TO SEE A YELLOW RIVER TO MATCH IT, THOUGH. COME TO FIND OUT, THIS RIVER HOLDS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OF OXIDIZED METALS, A WASTE BYPRODUCT OF THE ABANDONED MINES THAT DECORATE THE HILLSIDES THROUGHOUT THE OURAY, SILVERTON, AND TELLURIDE AREA..

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AFTER WE GOT BACK FROM ALASKA, WE WERE SCHEDULED TO FLY OUT A FEW DAYS LATER FOR OUR HAWAI’I PROJECT, BUT HURRICANE LANE HAD OTHER PLANS. THANKFULLY, SHE LEFT MILD DAMAGE, BUT WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO POSTPONE HAWAI’I FOR ANOTHER TIME.

ALTHOUGH UNFORTUNATE, THIS MEANT WE HAD SOME UNEXPECTED EXTRA TIME BEFORE THE STATE 28: UTAH PROJECT, SO WE HEADED SOUTH TO A HANDFUL OF NATIONAL PARKS INCLUDING ZION, CAPITOL REEF, BRYCE CANYON, AND ARCHES. BUT FIRST, WE PULLED OVER TO ADD OUR UTAH DECAL.

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THE COLOR OF THE AIALIK GLACIER WAS LIKE AN ARTIFICIAL FRESH MINT BLUE. AS THE KENAI FJORDS TOUR BOAT MANEUVERED PAST THE GLACIER DEBRIS FLOATING OUT TO SEA, YOU COULD HEAR THE DEEP MOANS OF THIS ARM OF THE HARDING ICEFIELD STRETCHING, MOVING, AND BREAKING OFF IN LOUD AND DRAMATIC CRACKS AND SPLASHES BELOW.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL RUDE AWAKENING TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE OUR WORLD IS FACING AS I WATCHED ONE LARGE PIECE BREAK AWAY AFTER ANOTHER. I FOUND MYSELF MARVELING AT THE SIZE, WEIGHT, AND NOISE OF THIS MOVING WALL CRUMBLING DOWN BEFORE ME.

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MONTANA HAS QUICKLY BECOME ONE OF OUR FAVORITE STATES IN THE COUNTRY SIMPLY BECAUSE OF ITS NATURAL BEAUTY THAT EASILY GRANTS US THE ABILITY TO UNPLUG AND APPRECIATE THIS EARTH MORE.

AMONG THE BEAUTY OF GLACIER NATIONAL PARK IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STRETCH OF CONCRETE IN THE COUNTRY: THE “GOING-TO-THE-SUN” ROAD THAT WINDS ALONG RIVERS AND UP, AROUND, AND THROUGH MOUNTAINS. WE FIRST VISITED “BIG SKY COUNTRY” IN 2016 ON A TRIAL RUN AS WE WERE PLANNING THE TOUR, CAME BACK IN 2018 WHILE ON THE TOUR, AND ALREADY CAN’T WAIT TO GO BACK.

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WITHOUT HOOKUPS, WE LEARNED THE HARDWAY THAT ONCE OUR AIRSTREAM BATTERY GOT LOW, THE CARBON DIOXIDE DETECTOR WOULD START BEEPING. LOUDLY. AND WITHOUT STOPPING.

NO PILLOW COULD CUSHION THE SHREKING BEEPING AT 4AM AND SINCE THERE WAS NO WAY WE’D LEAVE NOEL BEHIND TO SUFFER, WE LOADED HER UP AND EXPLORED GRAND TETONS NATIONAL PARK WITH HER BY OUR SIDE TO WATCH THE SUNRISE.

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WE STUMBLED UPON LITTLE CALDWELL, IDAHO, WHICH YOU COULD TELL HAD SEEN BETTER DAYS JUST BY LOOKING AT ITS MAIN STREET THAT WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A VICTIM OF THE WALMART AND CHAIN STORE SPRAWL.

STILL STANDING DOWNTOWN WAS A MILITARY SURPLUS STORE WHERE I NERDED-OUT ON SOME UTILITARIAN GEMS, JACKETS, PACKS, AND MORE. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO TAKE HOME AN OLD FOOTLOCKER AND OTHER WWII-ERA CONTAINERS, BUT ALL I HAD ROOM FOR WAS A SMALL GOODIE BAG OF VINTAGE FINDS.

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WE VISITED AND STAYED WITH MY COUSIN IN WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON, WHICH IS LOCATED 4 HOURS SOUTHEAST FROM SEATTLE, 4 HOURS EAST OF PORTLAND, AND 4 HOURS NORTHWEST OF BOISE. THE HISTORIC TOWN IS LIKE AN ISLAND SURROUNDED BY ROLLING HILLS OF WHEAT FIELDS WITH OVER 120 WINERIES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT.

ONE WINERY AND TASTING ROOM YOU’LL HAVE TO VISIT WILL BE OPENING THIS UPCOMING SPRING 2020: KINHAVEN WINERY. WHY? READ MORE TO FIND OUT…

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OREGON WAS ONE OF TWO STATES WHERE LONG BEFORE THE “50 STATES: VETERANS + ARTISTS UNITED” TOUR HIT THE ROAD, WE CAME OUT WEST TO PITCH THE CONCEPT TO NIKE (AND STARBUCKS IN SEATTLE, WA).

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, WE CAME BACK OUT AGAIN TO HOST A PILOT PROJECT IN EACH STATE, AND THEN WELL OVER A YEAR LATER, WE FOUND OURSELVES BACK IN OREGON ON THE TOUR. ALL THIS TO SAY, OREGON HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS AS ONE OF THE “FOUNDING STATES” OF THE TOUR.

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WE WOKE UP AT 4AM AS OTHERS IN VEGAS WERE STILL STUMBLING BACK TO THEIR HOTELS TO MAKE THE TWO-HOUR DRIVE TO DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK BEFORE SUNRISE TO SEE THE ARTIST’S PALETTE ON THE WESTERN FACE OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS.

ITS VIBRANT VARIETY OF ROCK COLORS ARE THE RESULT OF ANCIENT VOLCANIC ASH AND METALS THAT HAVE GRADUALLY OXIDIZED AND DECOMPOSED AS THE EARTH’S SURFACE HAS ERODED ABOVE THEM. IT WAS A SITE TO SEE AS EARLY IN THE DAY AS CAN BE.

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