Ready to do it again!

Back home and wiped out.  Yesterday was my last day off then I repeat the trip with different guests. This time we won't have an AC issue and have to spend a day in a repair shop in Salt Lake City.  This time we will wake up on a jetting on the Great Salt Lake for breakfast instead of dumping our "family" off at the temple...man that was a drag, but I have to hand it to our guests, they made hanging out in SLC a good thing and they mostly reported having a fine day.

In just a little while I load my truck headed to the GT yard to shop for this next trip.  It is usually an all day affair with shopping, loading , unloading, then loading the stuff on the bus. Loading the foods in the giant coolers is like loading a submarine. It is narrow and the crates tend to be a bit heavy. One needs to be careful because it can be a knuckle basher...ouch!

I will sleep in the bus tonight by myself, then tomorrow it will be time to tie up any loose ends.  All this prep work does take away from the home life, but it is all really quite worth it for it is thought all this work that results like this are achieved. 

And this:

And this!

May you travels be wondrous and peaceful.

Not your kind

Maybe they knew I was going to be here

The Grand Canyon

This trip is a compressed blur if experiences. We left Moab and made our way to Monument Valley. We stopped at the point in the road where Forrest Gump was running in he middle of no where. There were tons of cars stopped to take a photo. It is a true testament of the power of movies and media when icons are manufactured. I refused to snap a shmarmy photo of the scene. I did however get a photo without the road in it.

Hen went onto Page AZ, a little town along the way with a good supermarket and some eateries. Then at midnight we were on our way to the Grand Canyon.

I was way too tired to do anything when we arrived, due to the fact I drive most of the night with slumbering guests. So today I play tourist at one of our nations greatest national parks...The Grand Canyon!

I found it!!

As with any trip this one is not without it's challenges. I have managed to loose a tent stake, a tip of one of the tent poles and most heart breaking, a half load of laundry.

Here is the rest of this entry that was lost from the iPhone.

Just when you thought you were having troubles, the universe shows off in wonderful ways.  I stumbled across the pole tip, the tent stake was under the tent, and when we went back to Moab to do some more shopping the next day, I went into the laundry mat and there it was...my bag of clean socks and undies. Yippie!  SEE! What a wonderful world! Plus, I got free cherries form one of our passengers! Yummy! 

Dusk at Bryce.

Bryce Canyon at dusk

Dinner is served

Bryce

Quick shot at Bryce

Bryce and a shower

Sometimes I get to a great spot on the trip and miss all the hiking. Today is one of those days. No worries, because I get to come back in a out three weeks. I am at Bryce Canyon NP. The clouds are starting to develop, the guests are out in their hikes, and I am taking my required rest period. I got a few gifts for a few special people and retting comfortable in 90f degree heat on the bus. What I CAN do is take a much needed shower to get some of the stink off me.

Sent from my iPhone

Kodachrome to Zion NP!!!!!!!!!!!

From the in the middle of nowhere of camping at Kodachrome we went on DOWN into Zion NP. With the small window like cut outs in the 1.5 mile long tunnel approaching the canyon. You get small teases of what is inshore for you.
I sure would like to have some real photographic equipment to capture its essence... or perhaps the video crew from No Reservations. I was unable to go hiking since we met another GT bus for a passenger exchange. And sadly we are going to loose seven folks but get to pick up 12 new ones to get to know over the remainder of the trip...eight more days.

Mystic

A much needed night of showers, rest, and most importantly long soaks in the natural hot springs at Mystic Hot Springs. I actually got a real shower!!!

It is a funky place to hang out perhaps anytime of year. It's located near Monroe, UT. I'd keep this place a secret but in this economy everyone needs a little help. Mystic Mike is a real character and all around great guy. You can rent parked buses to "camp" in, pitch your tent on the cool lawn, or bring your own SMALL camper.
This stop really hit the "reset button" for most to include myself.

Caught in the act

I'm not into photos of myself, but a passenger snapped this while we were in Yellowstone. It captures the mood of the moment. A surreal landscape...with a smile.

Yellowstone

Well, the first of many bucket list goals are being checked off. The first night after a long drive on the parts of myself and the other driver we were in an obscure canyon in Nevada. It looked like a mini version of the Swiss Alps...well at least in my eyes.
After basking in the sun that day we went to a private spot which sports a natural springs. It was a great feeling to soak for a while. I could see by the expressions on our guest's faces that they shared the same feeling.

Day two was yet again a difficult night drive. I had to make it to Idaho Falls to complete my appointed task. A very long, dark, stinky drive with convoluted construction cone placement and horrible roads. Did I mention it stank?

Anyway, we got into Jackson, WY and the group went white water rafting. Since I drove I spent most of the day resting, which is certainly needed, but also mandated by law. The law is forcing me to sleep!! Well, ok... zzzzzzz.

Then off to Grand Tetons NP. This is a spectacular display of mother nature,s ability to awe strike just about anyone. We hiked around June Lake and drank in all the glory of it.

Off to Yellowstone NP. Old Faithful was interesting but not the highlight by any means. The thermal activity of the area is like out of a made up land one would find in a movie. To walk along the established boardwalks and see the earth spitting out hot water, steam, and mud is pretty awesome to see.

Sent from my iPhone

Yellowstone

Two days in Yellowstone. Great views and amazing times.

On our way

On our way for 16 days with 30 or peeps!

$1400. No, no, no...much more!!!

First stop. Almost filled up the van. Now only two more food stops then load the dry stuff on board. The second stop was about half as much in value and volume.  I am amazed we got all this in and on the bus.  It is like putting loading up a submarine...except we don't have several hands to help...we are on our own baby! I am a bit tired but glad to get this all done and have the first half of Friday to rest. Rest is the most important thing at this point because we have some serious miles ahead and I want to be ready in every aspect.

Calm before the storm

I'm sitting by myself at the GT bus yard. The mechanical inspections are complete. It is odd this moment of solitude with morning coffee in hand that in just a few hours every fiber of my reality will be assaulted...in a good way. I will have 30 guests upon me while I attempt to answer their repeated questions.
We leave and make our way east bound toward Yellowstone...with a few stops along the way.
Back to the yard. It is far from glamorous. In fact it is really truck shop-esque. But the high level of maintenance thrown at these highway coaches IS impressive.
Blogging from a phone is slow for me for sure. I think I'll take my laptop along...the photos would be better too.
Sent from my iPhone

Yosemite and more!

I went one my first trip with the Green Tortoise last week. It is a three day trip..but it really longer for the drivers.  We did not pick up the guests until 9pm, but I had to show up at the yard at 10am to help prepare for the trip.  Luckily, I was not required to drive. We inspected the bus (called the pre-trip) then we went off the do the shopping. Shopping for thirty people is a little more than I have done in the past, however, I was only there to help and...well hold the "smart end" of the measuring tape. :)

We got everything ready and made our way off to San Francisco. The traffic was a bit intense since it was the evening of the 4th of July.  In fact, SF was a mad house.  While we were loading the passengers it sounded like a war zone with all the huge fire works going off.  I wish I could have paid it more attention, but I was focused on our guests.  We loaded and were on our way to Yosemite. After about an hour we stop at a local supermarket to allow the passengers to prepare to sleep on the bus.  With the help of the passengers the bus is converted to "sleep mode"  and then guests enjoy a relaxing ride during the night in a fully reclined position.

We made a few stops along the way for fuel, propane, and then stopping early in the morning to allow the driver to rest and wait for the proper time to enter Yosemite Park.  With that, it was time to wake everyone  and get their first meal ready.  The Green Tortoise experience is different than any other adventure tour or trip.  The guests help in all aspects of the kitchen.  This is essential for several reasons.  It increases in the speed of meals, cooking, cleaning, etc., it promotes team building and group continuity, and it enables everyone to feel the sense of importance by having a hand in feeding their fellow passengers.   And the results...are wonderful!                                                                    
                                            

Trail made French Toast, fluffy Eggs, Strawberries, and yummy Blueberries.

Not even ten hours on the trip and he had figured out how to have a great time. 

Classic view of the Valley and Half Dome.

Devils Postpile.

Tufa spires at Mono Lake

Apparently battling bats are an issue.

If only I had better photographic equipment.

There was a lot of pride shown here by the cooks.

It was a jamb packed week. We went to Yosemite Valley, climbed upper falls, drove over Tuolumne Pass over to Mono Lake, Mamouth Lakes area to see Devil's Post Pile, and much more. In three days we accomplished more that most vacations I have ever been on. 


Stay tuned for more.  I am getting ready for a 16 day tour of the National Parks of the west.
 

Camping, then camping, then camping!

Wet laundry and fog.

I bid my farewells to the old job and hurried home to pack up the truck and do a quick three day camping trip in the Sierra. There were two catches. One, I don't have a shell for the truck, so everything is exposed. And two...it was pouring. I mean pouring.  We drove for two hours to get to the campground and all the while it poured.  We arrived to the camp spot and it dumped.  I suddenly realized for decades and decades I have been very lucky and always managed to miss some of the rain.  Not this time.  We had to set the tent up in the rain, on soggy soil, and attempt to build a drying fire in the downpour. We succeeded in the former, and failed in with the latter.  What a great experience.  The tent was set, the weather broke, and then it was carefree camping.

 Amazingly, this $30 tent kept us 99% dry in an all night down pour. I was waiting for it to fail in a catastrophic way...but it did not. Dry, dry, dry. Hew!







  I have had the tent for a few years now and it has performed way beyond my expectations. In fact, I slept comfortably and dry in a huge storm in Lassen National Park one year. It rained all night then too and when I removed the tent in the morning, there was the dry footprint of the tent surrounded by soggy soil all around.

Worth the five minute wait!

When camping or backpacking I tent not to need too many creature comforts...except for my coffee. I don't know everything there is to know about coffee, but I love my morning beverage and like it fresh, strong, with a little half n half. Tricks are to preheat the cup, have great beans, grind on a daily basis, keep beans in a cool dry environment...yeah, like that's going to happen when backpacking. OK, so I am a coffee Prima Donna, big deal.

One entertaining sound we heard thought out the week was the constant whine of small pumps inflating those sleeping mattresses. Count me out on that one. When camping, that is to say car camping, I bring the extra futon. Needs no inflation, never lets you down in the middle of the night, and is not very much bigger than a deflated mattress. Besides, with all them BIG houses out there, with all dem BIG vehicles, I don't buy the idea that an air mattress is going to save space...just leak.


All in all the week camping was fun and relaxing.  It is an awesome prelude to the weeks and months to come.  Next week I will embark on a preliminary trip with the Green Tortoise then the week after start as a Driver with all of responsibilities and benefits. I invite you come along with me to not only explore the country in a really cool bus with really cool people, but to also experience, via the net here, my thoughts, challenges, successes, and maybe even setbacks, as I go from a background of cold calling sales to vagabonding driver.  Moreover, if you really want to come along  you can book a trip and see it all first hand. My goal, to get you there safe and sound. Take you to places to blow your mind. And facilitate a life changing trip for you and your friends.

With that, we all can be happy campers!

Special thanks to Boogabaah Weesnaah for her photographs on this entry of me, the french press, and wet laundry.

Ultra Fast Shipping!

As stated in a previous post I am in need of a sleeping bag that will survive day after day use.  I found a Coleman bag on Amazon which retailed for $85.00 or so. It was on sale for $55.00, but when I went to order it, I found that it had dropped to $35.00!!! Holy cow! So, without hast I put in my order on a Monday and it arrived on Thursday!  BTW, it was free shipping too.  Wow!  I am really impressed with that experience. I have yet to try the bag out, so the jury is still out on the bag's performance. I am hopeful it will do fine. 

On a down note, the bag does not come with a stuff sack.  I found a Coleman stuff sack on Amazon and ordered one. THEN I noticed the reviews on the stuff sack.  They were less than favorable.  Oh well, if the cheap stuff sack blows up, I will have to make my own out of house wrap material...aka Tyvek.

Perhaps the most important factor in a sleeping bag's performance over a long period of time is keeping it clean.  It is best to wash a bag in a front loading large capacity washer and dry in low heat.  This is usually accomplished by going down to the local "suds yur duds" laundry mat and placing the bag in Big Bertha. I found out that GT has not one, but two commercial front loaders at the yard which is used for the numerous rental sleeping bags and other laundries. This will definitely enable me to maintain a clean comfortable sleeping arrangement.

At this writing, there are only two more working days of the "old job."  On the up side, it is very steady, on the down side it is highly micro managed and the pay is very, very little.  I will be happy to leave it behind and move on to the next adventure.  My first trip will be Yosemite, then my first working trip will be probably one that encompasses: Jackson Hole, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon...to name a few.  This will make a dent on the bucket list for sure.

Good News Everyone!

Good News comes to those who wait, ask the right questions...or just trusts in the universe.  I talked my current boss today. He asked a ton of questions about GT.  He, much to my surprise, was very supportive, interested, and even seem excited about my move.  I explained to him GT is a great way to travel to great places and meet cool people.  Moreover, I stated the food is fresh and mostly vegetarian. He replied..."Well if you go on one of these trips you certainly are from Santa Cruz."  I laugh and told him that I graduated from UCSC and I am a Slug. We both had a good chuckle.

I also explained that this was a short gig and, if all goes well, would turn into a longer gig next year.  That said, I told him I might be begging to come back in Oct or so.  He said..."no problem."  WOW! I have been thinking about how I can generate some income during the winter months and this just might work!  It pays to be a valued worker...ala proletariat ;)

Working on the paperwork packet and will send it back Sunday night.

Equipment

As a Driver/Host for GT I will be required to have some of my own equipment.  I will be looking at an extensive tool kit at a later date. For now, I am concerned with what I will need to make my employment comfortable, enjoyable and enable me to be on my game to serve my clients the best I can.

I am accustomed to traveling and living out of a backpack, so I intend to use the one I have on hand. It should fit the bill as well as no lay out of any capital.  If I find the backpack is not making it for me I will have to opt to get a large duffel bag.  A tent is essential, for living on a bus with dozens will lend itself to the desire for a little space when available.  Luckily, I have one of those. When sleeping on Mother Earth it is always necessary to insulate oneself from the ground. The bus has several pads which are suited for that very purpose...so hew... in that department. Actually, the pads are over engineered to act as passenger padding during the day, then as a insulated sleeping pad at night for either inside the coach or on the ground on a tarp...or inside a tent.  ;)

Perhaps the highest concern at this point is securing a good quality sleeping bag.  I would love to get a down bag. However, since neither weight or packing is an issue on a the coach I am leaning towards a poly fulled bag. They seem less sensitive to the elements and are easier to maintain.  I have found a bag which probably fits my needs and was located on Amazon for about $60. I think it would keep me warm and comfy druing the summer cold nights and not too warm on the milder ones. Here is a photo of it:

 It is rated to 30f.  The reviews are mostly positive. Out of eleven reviews, nine rate it with five stars. So really in the equipment department I seem to be O.K. outside of the sleeping bag issue which is quite important since a good night's sleep sets the foundation for a better day.

Waiting Game

Now the waiting game begins.  I will not start driving for GT (Green Tortoise) for a few weeks yet.  More paperwork needs to filled out, turned in, and ultimately approved.  This paperwork is for my background for the most part: no felonies, no drugs, nothing that would jeopardize a coach full of guests traveling over multi-state lines on a tour.

I gave my current employer the resignation letter today which states my last will be the 28th of June. Not knowing how they might react to such news on my part I prepared myself for the "worst" being let go before my date. And in a full reversal of impending doom and discovery of my credentials, they asked me if I could drive on of these:

I

I replied, "COULD I?!"  I can make this thing stand up and dance!

So there you have it,  I thought they were going to be punks and can me...then I get to drive their biggest vehicle available the their fleet.  It is a little diesel box truck.  I was impressed with the cab for it had power windows, full AC, stereo, an adjustable comfy seat, and keyless entry.  Moreover, it had real "gitty up" when you asked. I had a blast driving it.

Starting Over Part Three

So here I was trying to figure out how to make a living, not sell my soul, and not drive myself nuts.  I attained the necessary licensing to drive a city bus, but I could tell instantly it was not going to be for me.  For one, I would have passengers who not by choice in many cases were on a transit bus because it was their only choice. Two, it was impressed upon me the schedules of city buses were pretty exact.  I am tend to be more of a flexible personality than to the minute kinds person. And three, one must look at the fruit on the tree to decide of that is what is one wants to become. Transit drivers (I love you guys if I know ya) tend to have issues with health.  I did not want to be that kind of driver.  While driving transit, I always got goose bumps when I saw one of those highway coaches making their way down the road. A little nerdy, but when you feel like that, you gotta go where you think you need to be. For some reason I was pining to drive something like this:

Instead of driving one of these:

Although, I have to respect the bike rack.

I discovered a travel company which embraces the same values as I do: travel, people, incredible places, healthy foods, and vagabonding. This company has years and years of successful experience servicing international as well as domestic travelers.  I put in my application at the Green Tortoise Adventure Travel http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html  Much to my delight I received a call from the owner within days of my submission. After a few important questions on his part I was invited down to their bus yard to familiarize myself with the operations as well as have my driving skills evaluated.  The job, as Driver, is not just that, it is driver, cook, leader, mechanic, guide, etc. As their website states regarding drivers, "(if you do) not have an open heart and mind will have a difficult time relating to a majority of the passengers. On the other hand if you have lots of energy, and a clear spirit you might surprise yourself with how well you do at the job!"  This encompasses many of my attributes moreover at this juncture in life I am keenly aware I will have to attain some skills.  I was honored to be able to drive one of their beautiful MCI buses named Isis, here she is:

And a photo of some of the inside:

During this training we took this 40' bus on roads one would hardly take your SUV on a crowed, narrow, Memorial Day, no shouldered road. This was a wonderful test not only to see how one handles this behemoth vehicle, but also determines how well the driver handles stressful situations. The company never takes their passengers on such roads...just tests.. and I do mean test potential drivers.

After several meetings and hours of driving I finally got the thumbs up from the boss...but not just yet. I still need to go on a trip as a passenger to see how the show unfolds. There is no pay involved nor do I have to pay for the trip.  The title I will have for this trip is "cushion" meaning I will be a nonpaying seat warmer.  In reality, it gives the potential driver the opportunity to work, pitch in without any of the responsibilities of being an employee.

The cushion will be on July 4th. A quick three day trip to Yosemite. Then, if all goes well I will be working till the cows come home.

Starting Over Part Two

Most of my career has been in sales in one form or another. I am actually quite good at probably because I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve.  My lively hood was connected directly to the real estate and construction markets.  It seemed that in Dec of 2007 it went all downhill from there. After much much much struggle and frustration I decided to retool myself. For most, this would entail going back to school to attain some kind of degree and or credential. For me, since it seemed I had too many credentials which the state was more than happy to take my money to keep them all up to date, I decided to revisit what makes me happy and what makes me tick.

What makes me tick is a sense of purpose.  In the early days it seemed goals and attainment of the next level was easy and natural. Now as time has made itself known, it is more of a maintenance thing.  At this writing, I am temped to explore with a "yes" intention a sales manager position with an up and coming solar company. That would be great and wonderful but money is only a tool and they would have to pay a ton to really consider such a proposition. It does not really address the issue of purpose...at least for me.  Back to ticking.

Everyday one can basically do what one wishes. What really matters are the results at the, horrible cliche here, end of the day.  If one chooses to do the same thing everyday the result will most likely be the same.  Unless the result desired is the sum of the repeated behavior.  Which is fine because in many minds the definition of success tends to by the accumulation of things. These things promise enrichment, but in reality lack depth and ultimately result in weighing one down and that is the exact  antipode of Enlightenment.

With that said I decided to look into driving as a way to support myself.  There are many positions available as a professional driver.  When I drove the mobile CAT medical clinic that required a commercial driver's license. So it seemed natural to me that I should reattain my Class B. To get said license can be costly. My feeling is I could probably find a delivery driving position, but I wanted to get something that I could really use.  I was on the internet everyday looking and looking. Eventually, I found a transit company who was looking for drivers who already had the appropriate licenses.  Me being me emailed the hiring manager detailing my background and lack of the right license. Much to my surprise and delight I received a reply which requested me to show up for an interview.  The universe works in wondrous ways for the interview to to really see if I was a real person, could type on a key board, could pass a drug test and criminal background, and to see if I could fog up a mirror if it were placed under my nose.  The company was just looking for bodies. I was hired.  The commute was horrible, the training was interesting, and the pay was rock bottom.  The REAL goal was to get the license.

After getting licensed I was placed in a division which was not of my choice nor was it conducive for my development. When hired I was told that if I did not like where I was put...then no harm no fowl. I took that option. I looked around some more and found a driving gig which paid me and was very steady.  Still, I was looking for that right niche.

I felt diving would satisfy my needs as well as challenge me. When looking back at driving, professional driving experience here, I held many positions: ambulance driver/attendant, backpacking guide (15 passenger full of hikers) Mobile CAT scanning clinic, emergency fire fighter driver, Maui Downhill driver, wine tour guide, and now onto something quite new for me.

Starting Over

Why this?  Well, it started early in life. The driving or the traveling?
Both.
After high school I attained my EMT as well as went to Hawaii on my own at a tender age to run in the Honolulu Marathon.  After I came back from Hawaii I started to drive ambulance for a few different companies. I was recruited by a friend to come work for another company who pioneers in mobile medical clinics. There, I learned how to operate large vehicles. This unit was huge and worth in 1980 dollars $1.6 million. The units were similar to this:

I was fortunate enough to transport some of these vehicles from the SF Bay Area to Long Beach Ca and on another occasion from Long Beach to Corpus Christi Texas. So in just a few years I was infected with the love of going places and the challenge of big vehicles.

Now fast forward to 2005. I moved to Maui, imagine that... and put a few stamps in the passport along the way. There on Maui I was working part time as a driver for Maui Downhill http://www.mauidownhill.com/
No plug here, just a great experience. Basically, packing a 15 passenger van with a trailer full of bikes, make one's way up the mountain, place riders on bikes, and back down the mountain for some real aloha fun.

Castle Crags, a great little hike just north of the Redding, CA area.

Welcome!

Now is the time to move forward. The first step in any endeavor is usually the most difficult. Here we will explore exploration, the ideas and concepts, and the results of putting one foot in front of the other.

So here we go.