East Coast Love

Hello there again. I feel like so much has happened in the past few days, and just on this trip in general, that my brain is having trouble processing all the things that have happened and all the people I've met. What's beautiful about this lifestyle isn't just the people you meet and the places you go. Don't get me wrong, it is important. It's a large part of it. But what this lifestyle is to me is not just that. It's liberation. It's freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. Following that thing I say in almost every other sentence, it's no worries. Everyone hears me say that because it's true to me. It's true that it's all no worries. It's all relaxed and it's all love. Meeting the people that you've never seen once in your life who take you in and feed you and house you and confide in you. There's a wonder in meeting someone you'll never meet again because you can truly open up without being afraid of being judged and without worrying about being silly in front of them because you'll never see them again. And you're instantly best friends even though a short car ride later you'll be split forever. I see this in a lot of my rides, I become more intimately connected to these people than the people who have been their friends for years. It's just incredible. I do what I do because I love the places. Because I love the people. And because I love the freedom. It's truly inspiring to see the best sides of humanity and there is nothing that can compare to meeting all the incredibly kind and generous people you do when doing something such as this. I just love it. I really do.

I waited in McD's for Mister Frodo to come get me in Leesburg. Me and him hiked a long ways together. Maybe even 1000 miles. We summited Katahdin together. We went through some shit together. And I couldn't wait to see him. When he finally did roll around he was lookin' so fly. Man, Mister Frodo showed up in a suit and tie, way different than the Frodo I know, but that's what happens in law school I suppose. And it was so nice to see him. He took me back to the place he is staying at for the summer which was immaculate. Just perfect. It looked like every pebble was placed in it's respective spot for a reason. 

 Beautiful country home

 

I got to meet the family he was staying with who were so kind to let me stay there too. We sat around and chatted which was great because they had done all this sort of stuff when they were young. So they understood the whole thing. And they took us out to dinner at this super fancy place (at least it was to me) and it was great. Thanks so much Susan and Patrick for your kindness and good wishes!! Y'all are great!! Me and Frodo went on a night walk that night through the fire flies and talked and it was just a good time. I thought it was magical, and it always is seeing someone you love and haven't been around in a while. You go Mister Frodo! 

 

Patrick and Susan

 

The next morning me and Frodo just hung out then drove to pick up his girlfriend from the train station near DC. I got to meet her and I approve. Then I was on the road again! Workin' my magic!

 

Mister Frodo and his girl :)

 

It was about half an hour before Peter picked me up, and being the kind soul he is he took me way farther than where I was going, taking the time out of his day to help me out. You da' bomb Peter! 

 

Peter

 

Through Maryland and now into PA I was getting close to Gettysburg, the destination for the day. Standing on the side of the highway, with cars blowing past me, I hear a honk from the turn around lane and there's Mike waving me over. I run across the highway, throw my bag in the trunk, and hop in. Mike was a great guy. He works the cranes on high rises. Which is awesome!! He was so nice and is looking for a different lifestyle more like mine. So, Mike, I wish you all the blessings and luck in the world in your quest to find yourself. Hit me up anytime you need anything. And again, he took me out of his was to take me into Gettysburg!

 

Mike!

 

He dropped me off where Phys Ed was coming to pick me up! I was so excited to see Phys Ed again and catch up with him. He is an awesome guy I hiked l part of trail with. Big hugs when I first saw him and then we headed off to his house. I got to meet his son and see his wife again. What I didn't know is that is wife is actually the President of Gettysburg college. Which is completely legit. So the live in a sort of mansion....

 

From the backyard

 

Which is amazing!!! And so we hung out and he invited Sequoia over (someone else I met hiking) and we all talked about hiking and such. It was a great time catching up. Phys Ed and his wife were headed to Lancaster and gave me a ride there. They had a dinner reservation at the same place my friend Lost'n'found works which is a crazy coincidence because it was definitely a city, not a small town. 

 

 Phsy Ed and Sequoia 

 

And when I first saw Lost'n'found it was a blast from the past. It was a hug, and a damn good one at that. Full of emotion and happiness and it was awesome. I swear she was tearing up a bit ;)... We were both so happy to see each other!! I hung out a while and said goodbye to Phys Ed and his wife before Lost'n'found let me drive her car to her parents so I could hang out then pick her up later.

 

Phys Ed and his wife

 

Driving! 

 

And Lost'n'found's family was so nice and so accommodating. Some of the nicest people ever. So thank y'all so much for your help and everything! I love you all! That whole night and the next morning was spent reminiscing and planning for the future. I love you Lost'n'found (Glinda) and hope to see you in Peru!! 

 

 Lost'n'found's parents 

 

Lost'n'found

 

And she dropped me off at the train station where I spent the most money I've spent so far this trip on a train into the city. New York City, here I come.

Be happy :),

Beacon Bell 

Crazy Frogg and Beyond

I woke up the other day at Liz's place. Liz was the friend of the friend of the friend of the friend who is my best friend. Complicated, but whatever. She is awesome enough to let me stay at hers while I waited for Crazy Frogg!

Liz

 

And I didn't know when Crazy Frogg was going to show up, but when she finally did it was like a dream. Really, I wasn't even sure it was real life. All of a sudden she was just standing there. This wonderfully magnificent girl that I hiked over 500 miles with. This amazingly adventurous and kind person that I love and miss was there in front of me. And we hugged. And then we hugged again. And it was a lot of I can't believe this, but it's real!! And damn did I miss that girl. We drove to her house while catching up and she gave me the most amazing gift anyone has every given me. Once, about a year ago, Crazy and I stealth camped together in Hot Springs North Carolina. We had a true bonding moment that night when we cowboyed it (slept under the stars) out there. We were both laying there looking up, listening to Old Pine, when a shooting star went by. And we both saw it and from then on we were destined to be best friends. And she learned that song on guitar for me (no easy feat). She did it for me when she heard I was coming. Oh my gosh I love you Crazy Frogg. After that we went hiking like good ol' times with her roommate Baer.

 

Crazy Frogg

 

Crazy Frogg and Baer

 

Before coming back to her place and just hanging out all night. She taught me some ukulele and banjo. Which cleared up a lot about how a stringed instrument works for me because before I just thought some magic was going down.

 

Ukulele

 

 

We just hung out all night and it was so amazing seeing her that there is no way I can make y'all understand through this. Just know that it was. And then the next day, early, she dropped me off and I was on my way North.

 

Crazy Frogg

 

 

My first hitch took about 2 minutes. Lee picked me up on his commute to Roanoke. 

Lee

An awesome guy. It didn't take long to get a ride from Derrick and Ben who just took me to a better spot.

Derrick and Ben

 

 

And now, awesomeness. At this spot a truck pulls over to pick me up. And it's Joe, the owner of Four Pines hostel! I know this guy!! I got picked up by someone I know!!! I think that's crazy. He was taking three AT thru hikers up to Waynesboro and I got to pretend like I was back on trail for a while :)

Joe, Booshie, Swamp Donkey, and Denali (sorry if names are misspelt)

 

 

I got dropped in what should of been a good spot, but wasn't. So an hour later I finally got picked up by Lee (a different one) and dropped in a even worse spot. 

Lee

 

 

I definitely got bored and called some people. But another hour later Austin picked me up! Austin was awesome, he organizes blood drives and gave me one of the t-shirts they always hand out as well as buying me a slurpee. What a good guy!! 

Austin

 

 

Finally at a good spot it didn't take long for Roger to pick me up quickly followed by a ride from Roy. 

Roger

Roy

 

 

Both great guys. Roy lost his wife about 8 years ago and he told me all about her (Donna). And they way he talked about her. Oh my God the way he talked about her. I have never, in my entire life, met someone who loved anyone as much as Roy loved Donna. Love was just pouring from his stories about her and it was beautiful. It was so beautiful I almost cried. It was amazing. He dropped me off where I needed to take my final road to Leesburg VA and I got grabbed by Landon. Another great guy who gave me his number and told me to come stay with him anytime! What awesome people. But he dropped me right where I needed to be so I can see one of my other best friends Mister Frodo. Me and him hiked about 1000 miles together. That's a lot of miles to walk with someone. And I cannot wait to see him tonight!!

Landon

Beee happy everyone!

Beacon :) 

From Sea to Shining Sea

I think it's about time in this trip to just look at some statistics. I started May 14th, which means I have been out for 22 days. I have stealthed three times and car camped once. Stayed with complete strangers, long lost friends, and friends I'll never forget. Gotten 46 rides. Been through 19 states. Gone South to North and Northwest to Southeast. Done over 5,000 miles hitchhiking this trip alone. I'm slimmer, fitter, and tanner. And I'm $10 richer than when I began. Stayed on three farms. I haven't been murdered, nor have I murdered anyone. Is hitching really that bad?

Christi and I left early this morning. Like crack of dawn early. Followed the rising sun up to Lexington where she needed to be and then she dropped me off. We waved goodbye and I was thumbing it again. 

 

Phillie (Christi's sister) 

 

Christi 

 

I used my new found signs and quickly got picked up by Jeff! He was on his way to his farm and he dropped me at a pristine hitching spot. 

 

Jeff

 

Where I got a ride from Brian Hunt. He was a down to Earth guy. And his son is Ethan Hunt, a country singer who's getting pretty big. He gave me a ride to an exit that wasn't so great. 

 

Brian Hunt 

But eventually Wane gave me a ride down to the next exit where he claimed there would be more traffic. So one exit down I was sitting with still no cars.

 

Wane

 

Until (this was todays lucky break) Bush picked me up. A local minister, he took me down about 5 miles to a hitching mecca. It was perfect!!! Plus he gave me candy (always take candy from strangers) and offered me money (always try not to take money). What a great guy.

 

Bush :)

 

I quickly got a ride from Angela and Bob who charged me the fair of telling them my story as the took me to the border of West Virginia. I happily obliged and they gave me an apple and $10 to be on me way with (I tried to deny it) only asking that I send a postcard sometime. Now folks, this is why I do what I do. About an hour later, when I was in a different ride, Angela texted me. And this is what it said "Beacon-happy trails to you today. Thx for restoring my sheltered Bob's faith in strangers. Could you txt flying j pic you took?"... That's just awesome isn't it? I sent the picture to them and I'm looking forward to sending that postcard as well. 

 

Angela & Bob

 

I didn't even have to ask for the next ride. Gary asked me where I was going and was on my way with him. Gary was a great guy headed to Roanoak. I was trying to get to PA today, but instead threw those plans out the window to get dropped in Blacksburg where one of my dearest friends Crazy Frogg will be arriving tomorrow. Gary was hauling a 5th wheel all the way from Nevada. Crazy long trip (I would know) and he told me he was going to park it down by Myrtle beach and leave it there for a year or so. He invited me to come stay in it at any time!

 

Gary

 

He dropped me in Blacksburg where I played phone tag and netwoked my way into staying with a friend of a friend of a friend who it turns out I had met once before a year ago when I was at a party in Blacksburg. Anyways, thank you Liz for letting me stay here even though you're not even here tonight! 

And thus was my day...

Be happy, sorry my writing is boring, but I'm kinda tired. 

Beacon

Thanks for the memories

Driving the three hours from Bloomington to Indianapolis was bittersweet. I knew I would be moving on, but I would no longer be with Chip. Me and him had been together for over a week now and we have bonded irreversibly. It was a beautiful kind of experience becoming such good friends with someone who had been known to me so little. Chip's kindness, willingness to help, and desire to be my friend made him a uniquely incredible person. Chip, I will miss you, but I'm sure our paths will cross again at some point. Before I left Chip gave me a magnet he had gotten for me at a gift shop and he forced $50 upon me even though I tried to refuse. You're the best Chip. That brought he total cost of this trip down to basically $0 which is pretty incredible in itself. Saying goodbye to Chip was sad, picking up all my stuff that I had scattered around the car throughout our trip. We hugged goodbye. We shook hands. And then we hugged again. Keep in touch Chip and thanks for the memories.

 

Goodbye Chip

 

After sadly leaving Chip I went over to the onramp and thrust out my thumb, it was kind of strange not having to do this for an entire week. Not too long after Skip pulled over and picked me up. He used to hitch a lot and we basically talked about how it has changed.

 

Skip

 

I got stuck where he dropped me off, about 10 miles from Louisville for about an hour mostly because a sheriff kicked me off the on ramp (which I'm pretty sure was totally legal). But I ended up getting a ride from Megan on her way to work. She dropped me off near the bridge over to Kentucky and Louisville. 

 

Megan

 

 

I was starting to think I wasn't going to make it to Danville, my destination for the night, because I was in the downtown of a large city. It was gonna be hours of walking to get out. So I started walking with my thumb out kind of sarcastically because I didn't actually expect someone to get me. I was going for about 5 minutes before Reagan and Brandon pulled over for me. Two awesome people who were incredibly and awesomely nice. They had no plans for what to do that night and decided they would drive me the hour or so all the way to Danville for their nights event! I hope I can get back around here and actually hang out with them sometime! 

 

 

Brandon & Reagan (plus photobombing dog)

 

 

Thank you both for being so nice!! They dropped me off at the home of Christi who lives with her sister Phillie. I haven't seen Christi in at least 5 years. We used to go to high school together. And a lot changes in that amount of time, it was basically meeting a new person altogether! They have a beautiful place where they take care of 4 horses. That night was pretty great full of laying in a hammock by the creek, riding bikes into town for tea, and watching the lightning bugs as day faded to night. 

 

Chrisit

Horsey

 

 

The next morning we woke up and had an awesome breakfast. Then me and Christi went off to explore the battlefield nearby and the river. Now I want to make a few points here. First, driving with music blasting and the windows down on  a warm sunny day is a beautiful thing. Second, taking naps in sunny fields of grass is way underrated. And third, there is something special in a person you can hang out with and not always feel pressured to talk. It's just great because a lot of people I meet just want me to talk to them the whole time. Which is great, I love it, but I just get tired of it sometimes. And this was the perfect 0 day for me while I thought about how to move on. And I would love to describe how much I enjoyed today, but it's impossible for me to do that. So just think of an amazingly incredible day, add a little more awesome, and then you have my day. Thank you Christi and Phille for all the good times! I've had fun here and look forward to seeing y'all down the road!! 

 

Grassy fields where dreams come true

Be happy,

Beacon 

Wow do I have the best of friends

Wow, just wow. I've got to say it. Wow. Awesomeness has just been going down.

We will start with the morning. I woke up at Flip's house right? His awesome wife made us some farm fresh scrambled eggs and pancakes. It was great. I helped Flip with some baby goats'n'such again and then off me and Chip went. We drove a little over an hour South to meet up with Dassah! Sadly though, she decided not to join me. But we had a great time with Dassah and her family. Saw Snake Alley and some other stuffs. But Dassah, you will be missed. You will be missed greatly on this adventure.

 

Flip and his wife :) 

 

Snake Alley

 

 

After a super chill day we decided to drive the last bit to Bloomington Illinois where I we were to meet my amazing friend Steve. Now lemme' tell you a story about Steve that I didn't know. This one time I was on a train to Chicago just chillen', bored out of my mind, when Steve got on the train. Apparently he looked around and thought to himself "who do I want to sit by who won't want to talk so I can read my book" and that's how he landed on the young hippie kid. Of course we ended up talking and bonding on this couple hour train ride. I kept up with him every once in awhile, but just know that I have only met him once before this. So me and Chip show up at Steve's place and holy s*** is this place amazing. Like damn, it is amazing. One of the nicer places I have ever stayed in. And Steve is there, and we are just like old friends. Steve grills up this super nice dinner for us and is just über good. Well Steve takes me out to some bars for the Blackhawks game (hockey). Now everyone who knows me also knows that I don't give two craps about sports. BUT, tonight was different. Maybe it was the atmosphere, or maybe 'cause I'd had a few, but I cared. I cared if they won or not and it was fun. Like really fun. Steve knew everyone in all the bars basically. Why did he know everyone? Because he's freakin' awesome. And then we went back to his place and sat on the front porch talking and sippin' on some drinks 'til at least 2 in the morning. With this guy I had met once on a train over a year ago. He gave Chip his bed to sleep in and me the spare bedroom. He woke up early and made us some more amazing food. And to end this incredible stay he played on his baby grand for us. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Steve, I love ya', and you're awesome. I'll be back to see you. Keep it up 

 

 

Steve

 

 

Steve playing for us

 

 

Holy crap y'all be happy,

Beacon

The Good Life

I think Chip is really enjoying my company. I know that I would of gone freakin' nuts if I had to drive all this way alone, which is probably why he decided to take me with him. But how do I know he really likes me? Well we were driving through Kansas and Chip isn't as used to the way I travel. He normally sets up in a hotel for the night you know? I can tell he is getting tired of roughing it though. But he decides he's gonna take me out to a nice dinner. Why? Well because he says he just wants to take me out to a nice place and see me enjoy it. How nice is that? It's is just incredible. We go to this fly Italian place in Salina and it was so damn good. I loved it. Chip then decides he's gonna put us up for the night in a hotel. So we end up staying at this super nice hotel too. And he's just super excited to have me with him. We really have become good friends on this. And he's glad I've saved him five nights of lodging so far (six after tomorrow). All in all it was a great night.

The next day we headed through Kansas City on our way to my great friend Flips house in Iowa! 

 

Kansas City 

 

Kansas City was alright ya' know? Des Moines was interesting too. But I was really just excited to see my good ol' pal Flip. I met Flip on the Appalachian Trail last year. And he is amazing. And we finally roll up to Flip's house around 5. And this place is awesome!! Flip owns a farm and he has animals. I find this super exciting for some reason and we get a grand tour which I will now tell through pictures. 

 

Goats

Horse and baby horse (5 days old)

Chicken defending egg

Me eggnapping said chickens egg

Flip feeding baby goats (I did too)

Princess & I ( I <3 goats )

 

And that's basically how the tour went. Was pretty awesome. I got to meet all of Flip's children, his wife, and his mother in law. All of which are amazing! We had a huge fish fry which was amazing. And just sat out on his porch drinking beer. How much better can it get? Then Flip gets a message from a friend. And this comes as a shock to me, but apparently his friend reads this blog. And he came over and I got to meet him and his wife too!! So a big shout out to (sorry if I don't spell y'alls names correctly) John and Loralee!!! It was fabulous meeting y'all two and I'm glad you made it over for a little! But I jut really enjoyed sitting there. Just sitting on the porch with friends I've known and friends I've just met. Sitting in the cool night with lightning in the distance and lightning bugs spread around. Some nights are just good. Too good really. And those are the nights that you know, and you know it when you're doing it, you know you'll remember those nights for a long time. And you'll look back on that night and be like damn. Damn my life is good. And it'll make you happy. 

Me, John, & Loralee

 

 

Beeee happy,

Beacon