One year from today I will be in San Diego and will start walking north.
I imagine that day over and over. I imagine talking with the bitcoiners in many cities and town. I imagine talking with store owners and vendors to convince them that bitcoin is a good payment option.
I also imagine long hours and days walking alone. I imagine the beautiful California vistas and the hills I will need to crest.
I imagine being away from my family, long phone or skype session, and hoping they are charting my progress and proud of me. Or at least tolerant.
I'll be posting more about my motivations and reasons. I'm still wrapping my head around some of them. Some of them I have already written about here. The bitcoin part is easy, or at least it is on the surface.
The walking part, well, isn't. My reasons are as clear in my head and emotions as a summer sunset, but articulating them isn't as easy.
Part of it is adventure. Part is pilgrimage. Part of it is connecting with myself and environment, urban and rural. Part is meeting people of good will, and navigating those who aren't. Part is time to myself and part is meeting new people. Part is mourning the past and part is celebrating the future.
It is all of that and more.
365 days and counting.
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Friday, March 28, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Developments
This weekend has been full of contradictions and was completely normal. I walked, but I didn't. New things in the world of bitcoin and people are still the same. Things didn't happen and did.
Living in the Pacific Northwest one expects rain. What one doesn't expect is the pressure changes. It's usually subtle enough that most people don't notice it. If you pay attention to the moods of those around you though, it becomes obvious. This was zombie weekend. Very little got accomplished and eevryone was moving veeeeery... veeeeery... slooooooly....
Including myself. On such days it is very easy to sit in front of the computer. And I did. I wrote emails, continued to evaluate the route, found out about Gyft and Pounce (more on these later), and since my sons were talking about it and the expansion coming out, I played Diablo III. Bad move on my part. Recreational, yes. Productive? No.
The costs of the trip have gone down a little bit thanks to gyft.com now accepting bitcoin. Many things that I thought were going to have to be purchased from REI can now be purchased from Target. That brings the prep and equipment costs down to $1,500 instead of $5,000. Coinbase just announced a relationship with the Pounce app, with which one can purportedly scan and purchase directly off ads and circulars. Lord and Taylors is specifically listed, but the 'and other major retailers' is what interests me. I'll have to wait and see. Since I'll be waiting for an android version of the app anyway, I'm not stressing about it too much.
The major concern is still lodging. Because of that I am leaning toward the coastal route instead of the inland route. It is about 20 miles longer than the inland route, but the scenery will probably be better (important on a 30 day walk) and there will be less time in between towns, although the towns will be smaller.
Beyond that, I am keeping up with the changes in the world of bitcoin. Every now and then I think about the fact that in a year's time when I am pulling together everything and getting ready to depart things could be completely different than they are now. The best that I can do is plan now with what exists and adapt for different - and hopefully better - conditions when they occur.
Living in the Pacific Northwest one expects rain. What one doesn't expect is the pressure changes. It's usually subtle enough that most people don't notice it. If you pay attention to the moods of those around you though, it becomes obvious. This was zombie weekend. Very little got accomplished and eevryone was moving veeeeery... veeeeery... slooooooly....
Including myself. On such days it is very easy to sit in front of the computer. And I did. I wrote emails, continued to evaluate the route, found out about Gyft and Pounce (more on these later), and since my sons were talking about it and the expansion coming out, I played Diablo III. Bad move on my part. Recreational, yes. Productive? No.
The costs of the trip have gone down a little bit thanks to gyft.com now accepting bitcoin. Many things that I thought were going to have to be purchased from REI can now be purchased from Target. That brings the prep and equipment costs down to $1,500 instead of $5,000. Coinbase just announced a relationship with the Pounce app, with which one can purportedly scan and purchase directly off ads and circulars. Lord and Taylors is specifically listed, but the 'and other major retailers' is what interests me. I'll have to wait and see. Since I'll be waiting for an android version of the app anyway, I'm not stressing about it too much.
The major concern is still lodging. Because of that I am leaning toward the coastal route instead of the inland route. It is about 20 miles longer than the inland route, but the scenery will probably be better (important on a 30 day walk) and there will be less time in between towns, although the towns will be smaller.
Beyond that, I am keeping up with the changes in the world of bitcoin. Every now and then I think about the fact that in a year's time when I am pulling together everything and getting ready to depart things could be completely different than they are now. The best that I can do is plan now with what exists and adapt for different - and hopefully better - conditions when they occur.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Day 6 plan
Back to the 15 mile a day format, but decision to be made.
As you can see from the Google Map, the going is good, but there isn't much lodging available right in that area. I am hoping that the Los Angeles area Bitcoin Community can help me out there with information about hostels or other options.
Camping is out of the question through this part of the trip. I can only imagine what the law enforcement in LA would have to say about me camping in the 'good' areas, and I am too fond of my skin to try and camp in the 'bad' ones. That means a hard roof and a door.
Also at this point is a choice in routes between Los Angeles and San Francisco. I can shadow the I-5 through Bakersfield and Fresno, then back west to San Francisco (477 miles), or instead go up the coast through Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz (489 miles).
I'm not sure that even though the inland I-5 route is shorter that it will be any easier. The 'grapevine' route rises in elevation and that alone will slow me down a bit. Also, the more populated the area, the more expensive it will be.
On the other hand, the coastal route will have its ups and downs, but be more level for longer (close to sea level), cheaper accommodations where camping is available, but smaller communities where I am assuming the thought of Bitcoin will be less pleasing to the merchants I will need to purchase from. The more populated beach communities will be more tourist oriented, and the motels available will be more expensive.
This is not a casual decision, either. The distance between LA and SF will be about 30 days of the walk. Roughly a third of the total mileage. Back tracking and going the other way won't be possible.
Decisions, decisions...
As you can see from the Google Map, the going is good, but there isn't much lodging available right in that area. I am hoping that the Los Angeles area Bitcoin Community can help me out there with information about hostels or other options.
Camping is out of the question through this part of the trip. I can only imagine what the law enforcement in LA would have to say about me camping in the 'good' areas, and I am too fond of my skin to try and camp in the 'bad' ones. That means a hard roof and a door.
Also at this point is a choice in routes between Los Angeles and San Francisco. I can shadow the I-5 through Bakersfield and Fresno, then back west to San Francisco (477 miles), or instead go up the coast through Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz (489 miles).
I'm not sure that even though the inland I-5 route is shorter that it will be any easier. The 'grapevine' route rises in elevation and that alone will slow me down a bit. Also, the more populated the area, the more expensive it will be.
On the other hand, the coastal route will have its ups and downs, but be more level for longer (close to sea level), cheaper accommodations where camping is available, but smaller communities where I am assuming the thought of Bitcoin will be less pleasing to the merchants I will need to purchase from. The more populated beach communities will be more tourist oriented, and the motels available will be more expensive.
This is not a casual decision, either. The distance between LA and SF will be about 30 days of the walk. Roughly a third of the total mileage. Back tracking and going the other way won't be possible.
Decisions, decisions...
Day 5 plan
Day 5 will be happy and bittersweet for me. I will be walking through Laguna Beach, the site of many happy times when I was stationed at MCAS El Toro waaaaaay back when I was stationed there. If all goes according to plan I may be able to stop there, but not for long as I will still have many miles to cover.
The '15 mile a day' rule may not be possible here.
At around the 11 mile mark there is camping at Crystal Cove State Park. The fifteen mile mark stops a few miles shy of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, and there doesn't seem to be good camping near there.
Costa Mesa hits at around the 18 mile mark, and I'm thinking it may be a good idea to get a hotel room there if possible. After two nights camping and three days walking I will probably be more than grateful for a shower and bed.
The route pictured clocks in at just under 20 miles for the day. I'm going with that estimate. Here I sit my my chair comfortable while I am making plans for the road, but I anticipate that I would rather cover the extra ground and end in comfort than end the day early.
The '15 mile a day' rule may not be possible here.
At around the 11 mile mark there is camping at Crystal Cove State Park. The fifteen mile mark stops a few miles shy of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, and there doesn't seem to be good camping near there.Costa Mesa hits at around the 18 mile mark, and I'm thinking it may be a good idea to get a hotel room there if possible. After two nights camping and three days walking I will probably be more than grateful for a shower and bed.
The route pictured clocks in at just under 20 miles for the day. I'm going with that estimate. Here I sit my my chair comfortable while I am making plans for the road, but I anticipate that I would rather cover the extra ground and end in comfort than end the day early.
Day 4 plan
Day 4 will have another hurdle, although anticipated: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
It is about 18 miles through it, but only with I-5, so no walking. I could go around it, but that would add about 4 days of travel, and not necessarily easy travel at that.
I'm thinking the best option is 'cheat' to arrange a ride through. There are things that I will argue with the government about, but I am not just about to try and trespass on a Marine Base.
That having been said, it is about 7.8 miles from South Carlsbad Beach to the southern edge of Camp Pandleton. From the Northern edge, another 7.3 miles would put me at Doheny State Beach, where there is camping, again for $35. Same problems, but possible nonetheless.
It is about 18 miles through it, but only with I-5, so no walking. I could go around it, but that would add about 4 days of travel, and not necessarily easy travel at that.
I'm thinking the best option is 'cheat' to arrange a ride through. There are things that I will argue with the government about, but I am not just about to try and trespass on a Marine Base.
That having been said, it is about 7.8 miles from South Carlsbad Beach to the southern edge of Camp Pandleton. From the Northern edge, another 7.3 miles would put me at Doheny State Beach, where there is camping, again for $35. Same problems, but possible nonetheless.
Day 3 plan
Day 3 looks like a nice walk through some preserved wilderness and the beach for the rest of the way to the campground at South Carlsbad State Beach.
That illustrates a major problem of this trip. The fee for this park is $35 a night. Far less expensive than a hotel, and more appropriate for my purposes, goal, and message, but how do I pay the State of California in Bitcoin? Convince someone to pay in cash in exchange for Bitcoin?
Also, the check-in time for this campground is 2PM, and the website and brochure specify that there are no exceptions, so I'll need to get the 15.6 miles in before 2 if I am going to stay there.
Problems, problems, problems.
That illustrates a major problem of this trip. The fee for this park is $35 a night. Far less expensive than a hotel, and more appropriate for my purposes, goal, and message, but how do I pay the State of California in Bitcoin? Convince someone to pay in cash in exchange for Bitcoin?
Also, the check-in time for this campground is 2PM, and the website and brochure specify that there are no exceptions, so I'll need to get the 15.6 miles in before 2 if I am going to stay there.
Problems, problems, problems.
Day 2 plan
It looks like Day 2 will be ghosting the I-5 on surface streets, and end up on the northern edge of UC San Diego just before entering the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.It doesn't look like there is camping at Torrey Pines, so I'll have to look for Lodging near or on campus.
If any San Diegans are willing to help out, the only time I have ever been in San Diego was the 13 weeks I spent at MCRD, so I'm not sure that it counts. If you have any helpful suggestions on a better walking route, I would certainly appreciate it.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Day 1 Plan
Because of Camp Pendleton I have thought about starting on the north side of the Camp in San Clemente. That does circumvent the problem, but it completely cuts off San Diego and I am not sure I am willing to do that. Given that, what better place to start the journey than the border?Fifteen miles from the border leaves off near downtown San Diego's Gaslamp District. A quick google search shows several hostels in the area, so there are good prospects for that night.
Looks like a good start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)