This American Summer

• No search when Danbee drives. Welcome back to the USA! #
• on our way to Mt. St. Helens and Crater Lake! #

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Our time in New Orleans was unfortunately very touristy - we ate the beignets, we walked through the French Quarter, ate cajun cuisine, and sampled pralines. While we had fun, we were sad that we didn’t get a chance to discover the unknown of New Orleans. The morning was spent wandering almost in leisurely fashion, but all too soon the road called to us again. We had a long drive ahead of us - our destination that night was Tallahassee, Florida, and we still had a lot of coastline to cover.

When we finally neared Tallahassee, the sun had already dipped low into the horizon. Our attempts to navigate the dense wilderness that engulfed the road to our couchsurfing host’s home only got us very lost in the dark, and in the end a desperate cry for help was sent out over the phone. Our host Nathaniel came to the rescue in his car and led the way back to his home. When we pulled up, two dogs announced our arrival to Nathaniel’s wife Kym and some friends who were relaxing around a bonfire in the backyard.

Nathaniel and Kym introduced us to their friends, and we settled down into comfortable conversation. Over mixed drinks and beer, we swapped stories of traveling and meeting new people. Nat and Kym are seasoned travelers - they’ve driven from Las Vegas to Burning Man, then to Tallahassee, and even once all the way to the Yukon. They travel in a well-worn but well-loved VW van outfitted with a deep cycle battery and solar panels. Like us, they’ve kept up a website chronicling their travels and the lessons learned along the way; they even tell you how to let go of your ties and get on the road. They recently returned from adventuring in Peru, and we were their first couchsurfers.

The next day, I got to take my morning shower in the outdoor shower set up on the side of the house. The sun was warm and a light breeze shivered its way through the thick vegetation, and under the cold water the morning felt beautiful. After a bit of reading and napping in the backyard hammock, Nathaniel took us to the Canopy Road Cafe for breakfast, then to the Mission San Luis. Nathaniel wanted to check out their building techniques for a large, hut-style gathering place he wanted to build. The historic recreation of the old Spanish fort was impressive in its dedication to authenticity; the buildings were not only built in historically accurate fashion, but were also arranged the way they would have been back in the 1600s. Most impressive, however, were the employees and volunteers that were on site, dressed in period costumes and incredibly knowledgeable about the time, place, and people they are recreating. They rarely broke out of character, and no question was given less than a full, thought out answer.

We returned to Nathaniel’s house to interview him and Kym. We had a great conversation on-camera, gathered once more around their backyard firepit. To Nathaniel and Kym, thank you so much for your hospitality, kindness, and generosity towards us. Please give our love to the dogs, and best of luck in future travels!

Hi guys,

Sorry for the lack of Twitter updates, and lack of contact from us in general - we are currently in Canada, where phone bills would cost an arm and a leg to use. We’re currently in a coffee shop with free wireless, and until we get back in the US (which will be sometime tomorrow) that’s the only kind of internet we’ll be able to use. We’ll be back soon!

Here are some photos of our van MUO after the senseless act of violence committed by local hooligans in Beaumont TX.

Nothing was taken but the the whole ordeal taught us to be much more careful about where we park.

Thankfully we had full glass coverage, and the damaged was repaired and we where on our way by the afternoon.

• First moving violation, driver David, ha ha! The police lady was hot… #

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• Had a great time in Idaho Falls, thank you Joy and Arn! On our way to Craters of the Moon. #
• Stopped at EBR-1, the first nuclear reactor #

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• In Bozeman. Cute town busy with a music festival - booze on the streets! #
• Had breakfast at Main Street Over Easy, delicious! Thank you Katie! #

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• On our way to Wall Drug. Mmmm, buffalo burgers. #
• On our way to Bozeman MT. Saw mt Rushmore. The land is pretty. This is a good day. #

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