On the way out... [08 Nov 2005|10:46am] Much has passed since Austin, Texas. I wish that I had time to post all the stories and pictures here and now. Saturday, November 5, I rolled into San Diego. I took I-8 all the way from Yuma to the Pacific, and wound up on Mission Beach. I contacted my family, and left a message with Swinney - uncertain of where I was going to stay, and what I was going to do. I stood there, facing the waters, till the sun set. My own goal, my personal goal, was to reach the Ocean. I walked out and let the waves lap over my riding boots. It was good. ( Read more... ) Austin called back. He was out of town, but he had left a key for me to use. I am now, and have been fatigued. Though I had no net access, phone book, television, etc., I did not care. In a way, it was nice to be able to just relax - to eat the leafy greens and fresh bread that I had been craving while on the road. Leaving everything to chance - as I have done for the whole of the trip - there is always the possibilty that the proverbial ships will pass in the night. I rolled past Swinney in Arizona. But, Monday, November 7, we connected. Swinney has been tremendously generous. I've just gotten back from sharing morning coffee with him. That's me, shooting while mounted, with Swinney on his BMW, on the left. It was good to smile and laugh. I may have overwhelmed Austin Swinney with my hair combing and flexing. But he strikes me as a hardy soul - one likely to survive the encounter. ( Read more... ) So, here, now, I update as quickly as I can. Most of my gear is on the bike, waiting. And I am afraid that in answering the motorcycle's call I will be forced to neglect - for the time - the rest of the stories and pictures. My mind is filled with images and sensations - waiting to be translated into some medium accessible to others. The path that I took brought me up through New Mexico, to the Colorado border. Things happened. Then I headed across the whole of Arizona, to Yuma. And I am now leaving San Diego. I think that I will try the Coast, and make for San Fransisco. I want to share the details, the photographs, and all of the rest of it. But I need to wait. It's already late in the morning... Thank you for everything, everyone! Call me! (773-592-0943) Paul. p.s. Sorry if the pics are rough; I did nothing but resize them with MSPaint. p.p.s. Thank you so much, Austin. Signing off... 26 comments|post comment

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