Chicago

...is much more hospitable than I was expecting it to be. The windy city has lived up to its name in a good sense, and we got to make the most of the town last night by going out after a long day of driving. Later today we're on to Ann Arbor!

dispatch from: Lincoln, Nebraska

This town defines sketchiness, with wide streets that give way too much room for cars and a sense of desparation among some of the locals we have seen here, to get out of their lives and on to something more.

We've stopped here for the night on day 3 of the cross country roadtrip. The first night was in Ontario, Oregon, the second on familiar turf for me at Shambhala Mountain Center, in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. The sights in between have been unforgettable, of course, with many moon-like landscapes near the mountain highways gradually giving way to flatter great plains of the midwest. It's been enough to give some sense of the people and the community beyond, and I feel inspired that so much of this country is indeed remaining undeveloped, but also a sense of concern and loneliness for seeing so much isolated landscape: what do those people who are here do with themselves, and do they dream of a better life elsewhere like the one on the east coast that I will eventually return to in MA? I've been taking plenty of pictures and video footage to capture those moments to last.

Tomorrow will take us to Chicago for a small-scale Hampshire reunion and seeing the city, followed by Ann Arbor, Michigan on the next day. On the road to new (eastward) horizons.

The last day in Portland

Closing up shop today...
heading on the road tomorrow.

Am continuing to enjoy being in this city and soaking up the west coast spirit. Though it will be a new adventure to begin the journey east, and see what the heart of America is all about.

Portland time

It's been gratifying to take a few days and just be low-key especially after the intensity of this past week. I have appreciated the art of being a local in this city and not being a tourist. Spending time with friends here has also been enjoyable throughout. I also have already had one reunion with some Buddhist friends from the past, with another possibly coming up later this week, and it's always nice to be able to draw on those connections wherever I am.
I saw Portland's notorious rain for the first time this evening; it's been mostly sunny with some clouds thus far since arriving Monday night. This neighborhood of the city (Belmont) is also particularly bohemian and liveable.

Scenes from the Road - in reverse chronological order

Dusk on the southern Puget Sound
Seattle skyline and glimpse of waterfront
was this Thik Nhat Hanh on the Space Needle???
Seattle skyline from the Space Needle
Arrival in Seattle
Portland area from the air
Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge
Hairpin Turns in Marin County
Point Reyes National Seashore
A midnight snack in SF
Dusk falls on the city by the bay
Interstate 280 near San Francisco was one of the most beautiful highways I have ever been on
Central Californian Coast
Playing in the surf

Santa Monica State of Mind

Beverly Hills Scene and Mind-Set