I slept three nights on Judy's sofa in Lancaster, PA. Avoided the frigid record breaking cold in the northeast and sat through a two and a half day storm of snow, freezing rain and rain. I had breakfast in Millersvile, PA with my friend Dewie and hit the road to return to Plymouth.
I have been in Plymouth for about a week and a half and many look surprised when they see me. I explain that I had a financial set back in Virginia and decided that because now, in addition to being old and tired of the road, I am about as broke as broke can be. I am one flat tire away from being homeless and I would prefer to have the flat in Plymouth rather than Purcellville, VA. So, I am home and feel mostly good about.
I have already played music with Peter and made connections with firends and co-workers. I am on the roster to teach two classes in the fall and have signed up to teach this summer, if there are enough students to register for my class.
My health is good and I am once again parking at "The Point Five" on Tish's property. I have been offered a room in a place in Meredith, rent free, but, I really want to stay in the van, so will be at Tish's until I feel like I need something different. I wouldn't mind finding a camper somewhere so that I could have a bit more space, a place for an alternate heating system and where I can leave Ozzy for the day. We have been 24/7 for over a year and there are times I would like to have a space for him so that he doesn't have to hang in the van, sometimes very cold, when I want to go somewhere and hangout for a while. But, until the right situation presents itself we will continue as things are.
A long story, but, Ozzy was in a fight and had his ear torn in half. Actually sounds worse than it is. He never gave any indication that it was painful and we went immediately to the vet where he was sedated, ear stapled together and one of those stupid cones which we kept on for about 5 minutes. He has not bothered his ear, I give him his antibiotics and you would never know that there was a problem.
Sir Morrison continues to truck right along, although he has developed an aversion to heavy rain and will stall out occasionally. I wait five minutes and he is ready to go again. Some wire is getting wet, I imagine. Troubling, but not serious.
There you have it for today...

Addendum: I am in good spirits...I got a one month free subscription to netflix, put it on my tablet and found The Office. Very funny!!

Well, Sir Morrison was serviced yesterday, Saturday. But, not just brakes!! Some bearings packed, new tires, alignment, brakes...I don't even want to disclose amount of money I spent, but, it was considerable! I am thinking that some work done I had done that didn't need to be done right now, but would have needed to be done in the near future. And, brakes were metal to metal, it was a Saturday in Purcellville, VA and I feel safe to be on the road...
Let me revisit my discussion about journey vs. destination. It is both the journey AND the destination which are as important and meaningful as the other...I am tired of driving, and now after my garage bill, am poor. I would like to go to Asheville, NC, Nashville, TN, Austin, TX but I don't want to drive there anymore!! I have tried to live on the road and have some dream to do it, but, in reality I can neither physically, psychically no financially do it anymore. I have given it my best shot. I was feeling like returning to Plymouth after just a couple of days on the road and my van difficulties really confirmed to me that Plymouth is my home and that's where I want to be. I don't want to worry about miles on Morrison, when  will something happen, because Morrison is my shelter and something happens to him I am homeless. I have friends and places I love and things to do in Plymouth. I am returning home.
I made it to my friend Judy's couch last night with wind chill and winter storms sorrounding me. I will be here through Wednesday and then returning to Plymouth.
I have a project in mind and would like to work toward putting together a dog park in Plymouth. That would make Ozzy happy.

Sir Morrison, Ozzy and I are back on the road. I love the reflection time I have as the miles go by...the sounds of Sir Morrison's engine, tires and the inside of my head. I have been debriefing my week in Plymouth and specifically the voting and aftermath. I want to briefly rage against the machine as no amount of my raging, our raging, e-mails or signing petitions will change the workings of the machine.

I have come up with an image for a political cartoon: Lucy has a tag on her that reads DNC (Democratic National Committee) she is holding a football that is tagged, delegates and Charlie Brown has a tag, Bernie Sanders supporters.

I drove 1,000 miles from Virginia to vote for Bernie. As I expressed in an earlier blog, I had misgivings as to the value of my vote, but decided that I needed to vote for Bernie and maybe make a difference. So, Bernie gets 60% of the vote, Hillary 38%, but, because of "superdelegates" she gets the majority of delegate representation. Superdelegates?! Superbullshit!! As I suspected deep down inside, my vote means nothing! The fix is in, the game is rigged! And, I don't ever want to play in the game again. Unless Bernie is the nominee, I will never, ever, ever vote again...this Charlie Brown will not have the football pulled away from him one more time. I don't care which perverse Republican runs against Hillary...I will not vote for her. Shame, shame, shame!! The machine is tone deaf and and the oilers of the gears just don't get it.

Sir Morrison, Ozzy and I are in Massachusetts thinking about spending some time in Connecticut tonight. We will update on Sunday...

I posted the above a couple of days ago...since then then there has been more skullduggery in an attempt to fix the election. The DNC has decided to allow unlimited PAC and corporation money to be contributed to the committee, which, oh wow, supports Hillary again. (The rule against this was instituted by Obama in an attempt to "change the way Washington works.") They really don't get it...they are at every turn subverting the will of the electorate and the more they do that the more the people are going to be turned off to the same old party system. The real kicker here is that the DNC is backing the wrong horse. It will be Bernie or a republican in the white house regardless of the amount of money and establishment support that Hillary gets.

Ozzy, Sir Morrison and I are in Purcellville, VA. Sir Morrison appears to be having some brake problems and I have found what looks like a reputable garage, Hogan & Sons, which says that they will be able to get me in and possibly out, today, Saturday. Fingers crossed. The Knight, Sir Morrison, got 24 mph yesterday!!
Cold here, but not too cold. Very windy and it is hard to find a place that doesn't have some kind of weather advisory; wind chill, heavy winds, flooding, mixed precipitation. There are a bunch of shops, including Harris Teeter supermarket and starbucks, within walking distance of the garage so Ozzy and I will have a place to be occupied while brake work is being done.

Then? Don't know, but, rest assured I will keep you advised...

It's Monday and my apologies to those of you who look forward to my Sunday updates. Sunday slipped by mostly in the library at Plymouth State. I really like my new tablet and got lost in watching TEDTalks, Discovery and History Documentaries, and music videos on youtube. I continue to read an interesting book about DNA that I really understand maybe 20% of, but, it is enaging and I get the gist.

And, really, not much to report since I returned to Plymouth on Friday.

Came back to vote on Tuesday and take care of some business, especially getting paperwork together to do my taxes. Taxes are done and now I am waiting to vote tomorrow. Will be back on the road Wednesday or Thursday. Snow predicted for today and tomorrow but my reading of the weather map tells me we will miss the brunt of the storm which will be mostly south of here. But, will still effect my travel plans.

While I have been here I went to see my friend Holly Furlone play at the Mad River Coffee House in Campton...she asked me to play a tune and I played a few, one with her which was fun. I also went to the dance extravaganza at Silver Center where I saw some really great perfomances by a varied group from professionals, dance studio students and of course PSU students, who as always did a great job. In case you don't know, I am an unabashed dance groupie. And, the current group of PSU dancers, led by the head of PSU Dance Dept. and my friend, Amanda Whitworth, is a really great group of students. At the show they were selling sweatpants with "PSU DANCE" printed on the butt. Didn't buy one but thought my students would get a kick out of me coming to class in the fall wearing a pair.

So, my plans again are up-in-the-air. I think I will wind my way south to Charleston, SC and just follow my whims.

Finally, as you know my van is named Morrison after Van Morrison. Van Morrison was just knighted a few days ago and is now Sir Van Morrison...so, I guess my Morrison is now Sir Morrison!

Ozzy is happy and healthy...shout out to Tish Hill for once again allowing me to park at the "point five."

I'm voting tomorrow, you?

I have just listened to NPR discussing the results of the Iowa caucus. I would like to be very clear about my feelings about the American political system. It is the playground of the greedy and mean-spirited and there is not a bat's chance in hell that it will be anything but that ever, certainly not in my lifetime. It is all about money and power. Voting is just a shadow play giving people a false hope that there is the possibilty of change. The biggest lie is that the politicians care about us at all. They don't! The system is broken...and so, I am terribly conflicted. As an idealist, I would like to think that Bernie can make a change. I like Hillary, I think that she is competent and I support a woman being president of the US. But, if you think you saw animosity toward Obama, you haven't seen anything like what it will be if Hillary is nominated. As a pragmatist I believe that she would lose against almost any Republican nominee and that Bernie both idealistically and pragmatically is the better choice.
I am terribly conflicted. All of the above being said, I think that my failure to vote in the primary next week in New Hampshire would be a mistake. So I have decided to return to New Hampshire for Tuesday's primary to vote for Bernie because if there is a chance for change I will need to play my small part. My teacher Thich Nhat Hanh professes "engaged buddhism". This is an opportunity for me to engage...
So, I am currently in Virginia and will take my time travelling back to the north country. Some places I will stop on the way that I want to go to and after Tuesday's vote I will get back on the road again. Seems like a pain in the ass, but, the right choice is often not the esiest one.
I will just be the day in NH, pick up some tax paperwork, vote and gone again. I want to make it a quick in and out...not a whole lot of socializing to be done as I am in and want to continue in my anonymous mode...

Okay, some aphorisms to start the day...
Everything happens for a reason...I don't believe this. When something happens, we should take it as an opportunity to make sense, learn a lesson, give it reason...but, it didn't happen for a reason...it just happened!
You're only as old as you feel...I think the only people who say that are those who have never been a sixty something. I feel great, I feel like I'm 17 with 49 years experience...but, try and convince someone else I'm that young who looks at me and sees that I am not 17! You're only as old as others see you. You can be young at heart but don't expect others to see you that way. Act as young as you feel at 66 and see where it gets you...Late mid-life crisis? Just really hard figuring out what it's like to be 66 years old when I never figured out 65...
And, finally, life is about the journey and not the destination...this I do believe and what a journey it has been! Both existentially and literally. Back on the road and what a trip! Especially the snow storm I drove through on Friday. Some of the worst weather I have ever driven through in my life!! White-outs and snow drifting from 20-25 mph wiind gusts!! I love my girlfriend who speaks to me from inside my navigator gps system...I ask her to avoid highways for me and she is so cute, sometimes too cute, and puts me on some really minor roads which only locals know as shortcuts...but, being on Mud Pie Lane in upper western Pennsylvania with winds howling and snow blowing was a bit much. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the deer running out in front of me!! Up and down hills, dales and hollows, twisting s-curves, trucks using lower gears, 20 mph limits...What a journey...but, the boys, Morrison, Ozzy and I showed our mettle and made it to our destination. Is it the journey or the destination? This morning I am writing from Radford, Virginia will be in search of a dog park for Ozzy and a day off the road for Morrison and me. I want to shave my head again and go from full beard I have been growing the past couple of months back to just a goatee. I am feeling scruffy and would rather be on the road looking clean and respectable.
When not faced with adversity, I have seen some really beautiful country.
Still headed to Nashville...

Okay!!! The no-plan plan is coming together. Got on the road Tuesday as I had hoped and went to Burlington, VT. Unfortunately, Burlington does not hold the allure for me that it once did. Church Street is EXPENSIVE!!! Wednesday AM I had breakfast at Penny Cluse, a place I used to love, but, two poached eggs, potatoes, biscuit, cup of coffee and tip...$15...$15 for 2 eggs?
Long and short, I find myself in Poughkeepsie, NY with a new RCA Viking Pro 10" tablet which I bought for a little over $100...just what I needed. Compatible with my Android phone, detachable keyboard which I am using right now to write this post. Can word process, surf net, watch youtube...works great so far.
So, spent the morning looking at maps and I have decided to slowly head toward Nashville, TN. Gonna bypass Lancaster, PA, for now, but head there on my return trip, April or May. From Nashville, I think to Asheville, NC to Charleston, SC and then to Lancaster, PA. A good route, I think. Of course, all is subject to change at any moment.
Am reading an interesting book, The Violinist's Thumb, about DNA.
Morrison had a first mileage reading of 22MPG, which is not bad considering the idling we do to warm up in the morning.
Ozzy is doing well, I think he has already figured out we're in travel mode and he likes it. Today we will try and find him a dog park.
All systems go...

Finally, and happily, the time has come for Ozzy and me to get back on the road. We have been in New Hampshire for about nine months, mostly taking care of business...trying to pay down debt and save a little so that we could get back on the road,
I worked this past summer on top of Loon Mountain selling photographs of mine, and, in fact, actually sold a bunch. Then I taught this past Fall semester at Plymouth State and finished teaching the winterim term just a couple of days ago. I would have gotten on the road this weekend, but because of the major storm south of here I decided to hang around a couple more days and wait for it to be cleaned up a bit before I drove through it. And then I thought I would wait for February 1 to get all of my tax forms, but, then decided that I have until April 15 and whether I do my taxes now or later is of little consequence as there is no good time to pay taxes and only good times to receive returns.
I had a great time teaching this year which really rejuvenated me. Before the fall semester I was thinking to teach just to make the money because I was burnt out and didn't want to go back into the classroom.  But, my fall class and winterim class were filled with some of the nicest students I have ever had at the university.
I will be on the road from end of January through beginning of May and then return to the routine of Loon Mountain in summer, and university fall and winterim. Seems like a good compromise as I am financially unable to retire 100% of the time but can make it February through May, which doesn't suck.
I worked a lot, but also got to hang out with friends and students. Saw some really good shows at the Flying Monkey and did a lot of reading. Read about the brain, Homo Sapiens, Mountain Men (Saw the Revenant, which was very good and one of my areas of interest), Kublai and Genghis Khan, blues and rock and roll. Met and made some new friends. But, now it is time for me to become anonymous for a while. Although I do appreciate that there are many people in the area with whom I have great relations, I just don't want to be Jay for a while...a largish fish in a smallish pond.
The van, Morrison has continued to be a trooper...it is inspected with good tires and breaks and, knock on wood, starts up every time. We have parked the past nine months at Tish Hill's "point five" property. Just before Christmas to a couple of days ago Ozzy and I house-sat for a couple of places in Plymouth, the last being a place where I was responsible for the chickens and sheep, which, although cold in the morning, was fun. The past two nights Ozzy and I spent in the van, last night being the coldest, minus 2 degrees, but, with the proper sleeping bag, quilts and blankets we were quite comfortable and honestly, I prefer the van, as does Ozzy, to being inside.
So, we will wake up Tuesday morning and I will make the decision then as to where we will be headed. South, for sure, maybe first west to Burlington, VT and then south...don't know, makes little difference, looking to eventually find lows that hover around 30 degrees. Probably at some point back to Lancaster, PA, Asheville, NC, Charleston, SC and more...and, oh yeah!!! gas at $1.70 a gallon, more than half of what I was paying a yer ago when on the road.
I am going to try and be conscientious about posting blogs, probably on Sundays again as I did last winter. So, I made a short story long, which I am really good at, but, to summarize, we are happy, healthy, still young and resourceful, improvisational and creative, ready for a new adventure. Peace to all. Keep in touch, I still have my campus mail address, my gmail address, my website and can always be reached through this blog. Bon voyage to me, Ozzy, Morrison and to you for whatever journey you may be on.

In the course of my teaching, over many years, and many different courses and curricula, there are some ideas and concepts which meander through the various discussions and dialogs. Often I think that I really am teaching the same things in every class regardless of what department, skills set or academic discipline the teaching happens to be in.

One idea which weaves its way through my teaching is one I call “maha leela”. I think that I don’t necessarily define or describe it as it is traditionally done, but, let’s not get hung up on technicalities…it is a metaphor, after all.

Maha in hindi means “great, like mahatma, great soul, maharaji, great king. Leela translates as “game, or sport or play”, like the plays the thing and we’re all actors. And so, this great play we call life is a dream of the gods. Our lives are creations of the gods and we are here to entertain in this great play we call life. And, the gods are really enjoying themselves, laughing their asses off really, because they have created the play, put us into it as actors, but, have not told us what our roles nor what our dialog should be. So we are all just bumping into one another trying to figure out role and script. What all and any of us have to figure it out is improvisation. Improvisation…LIFE IS ONE LONG IMPROVISATION. There are a number of spiritual teachings which come from this: like compassion and devotion to the gods. We need compassion for ourselves and compassion for each other because the other humans are having as much trouble figuring out as you are, I am.

Devotion to the gods…. If we practice our meditation and service our roles and dialog should become clear. I have thought long, deep and hard about this as I have exposed myself and others to the concept. Until last night, I thought the gods must be pretty cruel to put us into this predicament. Laughing at us and exploiting our naivete.  I had a realization…we should be thankful for the opportunity and ability to improvise. What a gift!! In our gratitude we should practice it as much as we possibly can. Must not get stuck in the mud of permanence but remember that all is impermanent and as such we must always reach for a more compassionate relationship with others and a greater understanding of the need and beauty of improvisation. Beware the dogmatist, beware the fundamentalist. All structures, forms and practices must be open to improvisation and imagination to be vibrant and open to change.

And now for something completely different…

It is getting chilly out there! Into the 20’s last night and looking like 20’s and 30’s for the foreseeable future. But, Ozzy and I are dedicated to the van and to teaching at the university through January. (I love my students this semester. One of the nicest group of first year students I can ever remember having. I am teaching a lot, because they need to learn a lot, but, they are bright eyed facing me, showing up, doing the work and making the attempt to become more thoughtful and understanding of academics and their lives.) I will teach through this semester and then through Winterim, the January term, after which I will get back on the road. Arizona has popped up in several conversations lately and that may be my destination, don’t know.

Ozzy had a bit of a hard time a couple of weeks ago and needed to be on prednisone. That in addition to the full moon, lunar eclipse and howling and barking all night of the coyotes, he was not himself. He wanted to be a wild dog, but I wouldn’t let him. All is better and I continue to just be so grateful for us finding each other. He’s such a good dog!

I had about a dozen people request post cards from me. If you’re interested, send me your snail mail address.

Hello Everyone,
I have been printing postcards using photographs I have taken. If you, yes you, would like to receive one, please send your snail mail address to me at ozzymozkowitz@gmail.com and I will send one to you. It will be an original print on one side and a thought on the other.
Jay

We are coming to the end of summer, I haven't posted in quite some time and want to resume my posting this evening. 

 

I have worked at the top of Loon Mountain all summer long, two or three days a week.  We have an artisan collective on the mountain where seven of us display and sell our work.  I have been displaying a bunch of my photographs and have sold a number of them.  It really is a great job where I get to take the gondola up when I work. Great views and often many people from all around the world.  I get to practice my French, Spanish, German and smattering of greetings in Chinese and Hebrew. But, I am now burned out and ready for this gig to end. Also, as an employee of Loon, for one payment of $15, I have full access to the Mountain Club, the Loon spa...steam room, shower, sauna, whirlpool, cardio/weight rooms! I love the steam room and have been steaming and showering twice a week for the past month. Not a bad setup for a guy who lives in his van.

 

I began teaching this past week, back at Plymouth State University.  I am teaching one section of a First Year Seminar course entitled, Is Success Synonymous with Happiness.  I taught this for eight years and then took a few years to teach my course, Myths, Masks and Identity.  Anyway, I'm back at it and at least for the first week I think I still "have it".  My students are likeable and appear to want to buy into the program.

 

With Loon in the summer and teaching a section of a course in the fall, I think I will be able to travel from January through April or May. I am thinking that I would like to go to Europe for maybe six weeks.  Of course, the biggest dilemma there is what to do with Ozzy. He and I have become so attached that anything short of taking him with me would be a heartache for the both of us...we'll see what happens.  I may just get back into Van Morrison, where Ozzy and I continue to live, parked on Tish's property in Plymouth, at the point five, and travel south again. I would like to return to Asheville, North Carolina and the whole Blue Ridge Appalachian chain from Great Smokey Mountains to Front Royal and Harrisonburg, Virginia. Ozzy right now suffers a bit from allergies, red eyes, lots of scratching of itches. Van Morrison continues to run well, but, I think pretty soon I will have to put money out for oil change, tires and brakes.

 

I have seen lots of good bands this summer for not a lot of money.  I have been sitting in front of the Flying Monkey Theatre in Plymouth and hoping that someone going to the show has an extra ticket which I can buy for cheap.  Most tickets from the box office cost from 50 to 80 dollars which is too rich for my blood.  But, I have gone to The Wailers ($10), Dr. John($15), Rickie Lee Jones($10), Keb' Mo'(Free, Guest list, met him downtown Plymouth) and tonight I got into Los Lobos for Free, extra ticket someone had and didn't want money for it. The highlight was Rickie Lee Jones, just a perfect show! Dr. John was really good too, his voice and piano playing are as good as ever.

I, also, played some music this summer. I am a busker/street musician at heart and got to play twice at the Plymouth Farmer's Market, without amplification. I strolled and the second outing was joined by Peter Heimlich on banjo and guitar, and Ella Grey on fiddle.  It was a lot of fun.

 

Coming up this week will be the Faculty Art Show opening at the university, in which I have a photograph. I'm liking being back at the university and Plymouth.

 

 

 

Extra, Extra read all about it...
wow, last post was almost exactly a month ago!!

I have been mostly in Plymouth...living in the van (given a name, which I will get to) at "The Point Five" on New Hebron Road.  Tish Hill's property.  I was laying in the van one night and the name came to me...don't know why I didn't think of it earlier.  Been thinking about naming the van because it has really been the third member of the journey.  So, we now call the van, Morrison.  How much more obvious could it be?!!?  A shout out to Schultzy at J&M auto who put Morrison back on the road after spewing coolant out the rear end. (Morrison, not Schultzy.)  Fixed up in 20 minutes and charged a minimal amount of money.  Other than that, Morrison runs well.

I have been working on the top of Loon Mountain at the Artist Village where about six of us contribute work to the gift shop.  I took some pretty good photos on my journey and have been printing, matting and framing them and actually selling some!! (If you go to my timeline on Facebook, you will be able to see many of them.) Many people have made very positive comments about them and over the past two weeks I have sold about a dozen photos.  I am printing them from a computer I bought, Dell 380 Desktop with Windows7 for $160 from the university.  All in all I have made about a $350 investment which has been slowly but surely returned through sales.  I am pleased. It really is hardly like working...I mostly schmooze all day long.

I also put together a website for myself www.ozzymozkowitz.wix.com/jaym and business cards.  Please, take a look.  Did it all by myself and am proud of it.

Also, after saying that I did not want to teach again I have decided to return to the classroom in the Fall to teach one section of First Year Seminar, Is Success Synonymous with Happiness?  I think this will set up a good new pattern for me...work on the mountain in summer, one section of a course in fall and then back on the road January through May.  Money from the university along with the mountain and social security will be the perfect amount for me to continue my journeys.

We have been parking at night in the National Forest when not at The Point Five so we are closer to work at Loon and don't have to use so much gas to commute.  So, all in all, things are looking pretty good.

Ozzy is happy and healthy, if a bit bored now that much of my time is spent at Loon.  He was going to work with me but the bosses put the kibosh on that.  Too bad.  A lot of people have asked for him as he is the real celebrity of the two of us.  I have put photos of him in the shop and people all have their dog comments to make.

I will try and return to my habit of fairly consistent blog postings...

It's Sunday and I wanted to post my weekly update but, I'm not really prepared yet to provide the narrative I want to.  I am in Plymouth, NH, parking at the "point five" on New Hebron Road, getting ready to begin work in a week on top of Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH.  I will be looking for places to park up there and will be spending most of my time in the Lincoln area.  I found out the other day that my senior national park pass works as a parking permit in the national forest and so I don't have to buy a permit and I will be able to park in the forest which I will probably do over the summer.

As I said, I'm not really ready for a final observational post for the road trip that Ozzy and I have been on.  There are lots of issues I would like to address upon which I have been quite reflective.  When I feel I can articulate my feelings appropriately, I will update again.

I did spend time putting a website together this week and the readers of this blog may be interested in giving it a look.  Any feedback would be appreciated: 

ozzymozkowitz.wix.com/jaym

So, I'm off for a cup of coffee and fresh air to clear my head...

From Colorado I took the interstates to Bloomington, IN where I spent the day taking care of chores.  Laundry and shower for me and a bath at PetSmart for Ozzy.  He picked up a bunch of pine tar in Colorado and needed a bath.  Unfortunately, when I got him back, he was clean but none of the tar was removed.  Anyway, spent a nice evening with Dani, who I met in Smokey Mountains.  Rob worked all day, but I did get to spend a few minutes with him, also. Bloomington is nice.

Traveled from Bloomington to Clarksburg, WV on the highways and spent the night at a rest stop on Route 70.  Decided to take a smaller road from there and got onto Route 50 which I took to avoid tolls and just to take a smaller road.  What could have been a four hour trip from Clarksburg to Lancaster, PA turned into a seven hour trip.  Route 50 through West Virginia and Maryland was nothing like I expected...it was beautiful, but, treacherous.  Hairpin turns all along with soft or no shoulders and lots of semis coming in the opposite direction.  Hair raising in some places.

But, I made it to Lancaster and again was put up on Judy Watson's sofa for a couple of nights.  Last night we went to a club in Lancaster and saw a friend's band. (Bob Lawson's Mama Tried.)  Met up with Dewie there and ran into an old friend, Peter Kingsley.

Ozzy and I are now waiting for Judy to get up so we can say goodbye and hit the road.  Will take one or two days to get to New Hampshire.  At the risk of tempting the fates, I must commend the van which has been a real trooper.  In the last three weeks we have gone from NH to Quebec to Ottawa to Madison to Estes Park to Bloomington to Lancaster without any vehicles incidents at all.  The van just keeps on truckin'.  One more leg of the journey to go, Lancaster to NH and then Ozzy, the van and I will settle for a little bit.

I will be working on top of Loon Mountain at the Artist Village we have there.  I have taken some pretty good photos on my journey and will be spending time printing and matting them for sale at the shop on top of the mountain.  I will be looking for a place to park and live in the van in the Lincoln area, spending more time up there and less in Plymouth.  I am already being asked what happens after this summer... 

Wow! Whoa! Whew! What a ride!  When last I updated this blog I was in the upper penninsula of Michigan.  Today it comes to you from Estes Park, CO, just outside of the Rocky Mountain National Park. 1,500 miles and 22 hours from each other.  The road was long and grueling.  I did go to Madison, WI where I spent one day in reminiscence. It was an incredibly beautiful day and Ozzy and I spent most of our time behind the student union building for the University of Wisconsin, where there were hundreds of people out enjoying the weather beside the lake.  It was beautiful.  But, neither Madison nor I are the same as we used to be almost 40 years ago.  Not much the same, but, I am glad I returned as I have many fond memories of Mad City.  Some of the happiest days of my life were spent there.

From Madison I decided to get on the interstates, which I usually avoid, and put the pedal to the metal and hightail it to the Rocky Mountains.  Pouring, beating down rain for most of the trip.  Much of the midwest has had too much rain and the crops and farming in general have been suffering.  I listened to a number of farm reports.  Of interest in those many miles are the many calves and foals one sees along the road.  Also, the cloud formations when the skies broke were incredibly beautiful.  Needed to get two new tires in Cedar Rapids and back on the road.

As much as I don't like the interstates for their speed and the need to maneuver around semis and RV's of every description, I needed the speed on this trip and when I stopped for the nights I slept in the interstate rest areas.  What a welcome sight it was to see the "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" sign and welcome area. I arrived in Colorado on Wednesday and spent the night in a welcome area outside of Greeley, CO.  Now, it would be disingenuous of me not to mention that Thursday morning I drove into Garden City, CO and found the Natural Herb and Wellness Center where I made a legal purchase of recreational pot.  And that's enough of that subject.

So, I have been sick since I left Quebec City two weeks ago.  Razor blade sore throat and ear infection.  Very uncomfortable and made the grind of the long drive ever more difficult.  When I arrived at the National Park I felt even more sick than when I arrived and suspect that the altitude effected me, as well.  I loaded an altimeter app on my phone and my campsite is at 8200 feet above sea level.  Mile and a half.  The first two days in the park I could not walk ten feet without feeling nauseous and wanting to pass out.  Ozzy and I have been really incompatible here.  He is jazzed and ready to go.  But being the really good dog that he is he is always sympathetic when I don't feel well and allows me to move at my own rate. (Friday morning I could hardly get out of bed.) But, I am feeling better this morning, not 100%.  I have one more night in the park and I am hoping that today's rest will get me ready for the long drive ahead.  (And, despite my illness, the beauty of the park shines through.  What an incredible place.  Lots of photos.  Some on Facebook.)

I finished reading Steinbeck's Travels with Charley and a Louis L'Amour, swashbuckling pirate saga.  It was fluff and very enjoyable.  I think I will try and find another of his books to read.

Tomorrow I head back on the road.  Next firm destination, Bloomington, IN.  Coming your way Dani and Rob.  A day or two there and off to Lancaster, PA coming your way Judy.  and, then to NH to begin preparing for my work at Loon. So, I plan on being in NH somewhere in the middle to late June.

I am not unhappy with my decision to return to NH and work for the summer.  I really don't know what I was thinking in the first place.  The road has become difficult for me.  Too many miles and too many expenses for me to bear by myself.  Gas is a killer at $2.50 a gallon and in Canada at $1.15 a litre (close to $4.00 gallon).  I am tired and road weary.  I posted on Facebook once that I just can't remember that I am 65 and not 25 anymore.  The problem I find in most of the places I go is that I still think and feel like a younger man, but, alas, that is not the truth of the matter.  So, today I will rest up and when I get to a lower elevation will heal and feel ready for the road again.  I have reached my westernmost terminus and it is now eastward bound.
 

Dear Readers of my Blog, Jay and Ozzy Hit The Road,

I have been fortunate to have been able to avoid work the past year and live my life mostly on the road traveling, exploring new places, meeting new people and having experiences not possible in my life previous to my retirement.  It's been really wonderful, for the most part.  I have also been able to revisit places, people and do things who and which I remember fondly from my past.  Two nights ago I spent at the hostel in Ottawa which is in a jail, which I stayed at 37 years ago when I hitched from Madison, WI through the eastern provinces of Canada.  This morning I find myself just outside of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on my way back to Madison, WI.

What this is leading up to is that I have had to make an important decision regarding the future of my travels, and life, in general.  I can no longer financially afford to continue the traveling and avoiding work and just cannot do this any longer by myself.  (I could not imagine having a better friend or companion than Ozzy, but, he refuses to get a job, contribute to the care of the van, does not share the driving, has navigational skills which leave much to be desired and otherwise does very little to help with finances or the physical demands of this life.)  I am close to being broke and am afraid with my income as it is now, will be broke very soon.

So, after all of my braggadocio of getting in the van and finding a completely new life someplace, I will be returning to New Hampshire the middle to end of June to begin a job waiting for me there.  It is an easy and fun job...so, it won't really be like working, but will afford me the additional income I need to supplement my social security check which is what I am living on now.  I will be again working on top of Loon Mountain at the artist village where I have worked the past few summers.  I will be tending the shop, busking and doing origami with kids.  I am hoping to have 20 hours on the clock and will dedicate my extra time to being there busking and origamiing.  I hope to be able to find a place in or near Lincoln where I can park my van for free and continue to live in it with Ozzy.  I'm tired and road weary and, as hard as it is for me to accept, 65 years old!!  Life on the road can be grueling.

So, I am in Michigan.  My plan is to take 2-3 days to go to Madison.  From Madison I will take 3-4 days to go to the Rocky Mountain National Park, outside Estes Park, CO and spend some time there until I head to Bloomington, IN to meet up with Rob and Dani for a day or two.  I met them at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and they say Bloominton should not be missed and it is on my way back to NH where I will return from Bloomington, probably after a stop in Lancaster, PA.  I should be in NH by mid to late June.

So,there you have it.  I read a Bill Bryson travel book and am just finishing up Steinbeck's Travels with Charley.  I have had some very similar experiences as the two of them.  But, one major difference is that they never had to fret about money.  They stayed for the nights wherever they wanted and ate whatever they wanted.  I, on the other hand fret about money all of the time.  It can be really distressing to go into a beautiful city like Ottawa or Quebec and look at all of the beautiful things in all of the windows but not have the possibility of doing more than just looking.

I will continuing updating so long as I am on the road and hope that you will continue to follow my travels.

Best to All,

Jay and Ozzy

Yes!!!  The plan is coming together.  In a campground just 5 minutes outside of the center of Quebec City, Camping Quebec en Ville.  $30 Canadian a night...$24 American.  Will probably stay here for 3 nights...

How did I end up here today?  Allow me to make a short story long...

In 1968 I was in a house in Dayton, Ohio when the police raided the place...it was a crash pad of stereotypical description.  When they raided they found a bag of pot and took everyone down to the police station where we were all fingerprinted and put in jail for at least 24 hours.  Having been fingerprinted in 1968, I have been consequently on the FBI's list for narcotics violations.  Although I had never been charged, brought to court or convicted of any crime, this incident has followed me for the past 47 years.  Not always, but, often I have been stopped at Canadian customs and asked to explain why I have a red mark next to my name for "suspicion of possession of narcotics."  It happened earlier today as I entered Canada at West Stewartstown, NH.  I was pulled into the carport, van searched, spoke with an immigration officer on the phone to explain.  But, as you already know, I made it into the country and am safe and sound just outside of Quebec City, where I hope to spend some great time in the Old City, which I love a lot.  

Oh yeah, and free wifi, which is amazing because now that I am in Canada my Verizon wireless data rates are more than in the US.

How did I get here?  I said to Ozzy, we just need to surrender to the universe and it will provide...

The drums beat, the trumpets blare, the walls come crumbling down...

 

We will be back on the road again tomorrow and updating the blog at least every Sunday from this point forward...

 

My month in Plymouth was mostly a great stop on the journey.  I saw the PSU Student Juried Art Show, the BFA Show, the Contemporary Dance Ensemble,   Battle of the Bands, Spring Fling, Graduation, attended and listened to some pretty good music, played open mics, recited my poem Rain Upon The Roof at the Centripetal release party, sat in on the junior BFA reviews, and, best of all, connected with friends, other faculty and students.  Of course, most rewarding was my reconnecting with students.  I have formed so many wonderful relationships over the years and many students came to me this past month and said very kind things to me about my teaching and their time in class with me.  Really, just a humbling and honored experience.  Also, made new student friends.

 

I had time to get some business in order, including getting my new passport and cleaning, modifying and organizing the van for the next travel portion of my life.  Took the van to my mechanic for a once over who gave it a thumbs up for further driving.  Went to the doctor for a physical and all of my numbers look pretty good.  I have not taken one of my medications for a month because of finances and doctor feels my health is good and we can try not taking that medication for a while.  Also, have had a lot of comments from people who like my haircut and think I look pretty healthy.

 

A huge shout out to Tish Risley Hill for allowing me to park at "the point five" for the past month.  I was road weary when I got here and being able to know that I had a firm place to stay made my life a whole lot easier.  I finished reading my Bill Bryson book and one of my former students, Sarah, thoughtfully gave me a copy of Steinbeck's Travels with Charley.

 

Ozzy and I will be back on the road tomorrow headed initially for Quebec City.  How long we will be there I do not know and what happens after Quebec is still uncertain. Maybe east to Nova Scotia for a bit, maybe directly west on the TransCanadian Highway.  Certainly Ottawa somewhere along the line.  Maybe then to Madison, WI and Bloomington, IN or keep heading west toward the Rockies and into Banff and then Vancouver.  The world, as they say, is my oyster.  Finances are a bit tight, but, if I can busk and gig a bit I should be okay.  The rent from my condo continues to come as scheduled as does my social security check.

 

Today's plan is to fine tune my mosquito/black fly screening system which I have integrated into van logistics.  Other than that, just a day of rest and relaxation.  Tomorrow Ozzy and I will be in Plymouth until about 10:30/11:00AM to check mail and say some goodbyes.  Then, I will head to Tamworth for lunch with Peter and then on the road north.  I like to use both this blog and Facebook for updates to my travels, so check Facebook from time to time if you're interested.

 

I hear the traveling music, and awa-a-a-ay we go...

Emeritus on hiatus...

Briefly, went to Newport, RI...got kicked off of King's Beach at about 10PM...no overnight parking.  Drove to Everett Street where Amie lives and parked on the street for the night.  Saw Amie the next day at her place of work, Pour judgment. (Getting through Providence, RI was a joke...the worst roads and signage imaginable.)   Hit the road and made it to Newmarket, NH where I parked in the parking lot over night.  So, now I am in Plymouth.  I'm gonna be here through graduation, May 16 and then on to Quebec City and west across Canada to Madison, WI.  

 

I am looking forward to a few weeks off the road and spending time with friends/students.  Have already been to Juried Student Art Show and PSU's Got Talent. Will be staying on Tish's property for the duration. 

 

Today, looks to be a nice day, a good one for some spring cleaning.  The van needs some dusting and sprucing.  Until next time...