- Bomb Texas for freedom - » 2007

7/25/2007

We’re gonna go at it punk, gonna fuck you up

File under... Day to Day — mylo @ 11:34 pm

7/21/2007

Damn Straight, unless you’re goin’ all the way

File under... Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 10:11 pm

Ok, fine there is actual sort of news in the heart ‘o’ darkness stuff.

The actual destination hasn’t been determined yet. To be honest I don’t think there will be one. I mapped out a path and it’s an oval. Sooo… I’m still working on that.

On that note, I picked up some books. Most notably Road Trip USA (too lazy to link, look it up) I’m finding that I’m less interested in the road side attractions, than the road itself. I mean there is some definate things I want to see, but it’s like how I went to Ireland. I would rather choose a path and let the force take me where it will.

Although it is rather funny, google maps has no maps of mexico. I was definately thinking of there.

Finally I found my scooter shop, Brooklyn Bretta, I took a day off and decided to check it out. It was cool but when I told the owner what I was planning to do he stopped, looked at me and said “Just like Fuckin’ Kerouac man!”

I knew this place was key for this mission at hand.

When I told the GF this she sort of stopped in her tracks, blinked and I know (although she’ll deny it) in her head she said “Oh bloody hell, that man signed mylo’s death warrant”
I’m still have to find my steed, my PBR Streetgang, my HMS Endevour, my Apollo 11. I’m down to about 5 models.

The top 3 are…

Genuine Scooters, Stella

She has enough power, made of solid steel, and it has been done before on one. She also has the right price point, and there are plenty used. If not used she’s coming back new really soon anyway.

Vespa et4, or LX 150

Enough power, also made out of steel. But really expensive. It’s possible to find one used, but it will be harder.

Finally Genuine Scooters , The Buddy 125

Peace scooter is using this model, so I’m going to have to see her results. It’s plastic, and the engine isn’t as powerful. But there has been talk of the Buddy beating out the LX 150’s in races. Advantages of this model it’s cheap, and has a really good service plan.

Also I’m still making the timeline up, as it stands September is when I get the MC license, Jan (hopefully) is when I purchase my scooter. October is when the official Heart ‘o’ Darkness page will be up, and with luck I’ll have google ads, and a paypal thing for donations.

Of course yet again, tentative. There is a number of things ready to stop this already so we’ll have to see.

7/16/2007

Quick Tidbits

File under... Day to Day — mylo @ 11:47 pm

Not much to report, so I decided to take it all and put it in one post.

Saw Transformers, I have to admit, when I saw Optimus alive and well I squeaked “It’s him!” and cried a little in joy.

Shut the hell up, he was the wisest, strongest, and kindest leader of all 80s cartoons

I’m the only person that can go to the beach, doesn’t tan, doesn’t burn from all the sunblock, and whose eyebrows turned blond, but the rest of my hair is still it’s normal color
My killin’ finger is officially fucked. Which really sucks because I make my living from pulling a trigger roughly 6 hours a day. Although I think I’ll be fine, but work isn’t going to be too pleasant.
The Heart ‘o’ Darkness posts got some response from a bunch of different people. Which is strange, really, and amazing because there is nothing really in them besides “I’m planning/thinking about it.” I’m not too sure if it’s my writing, or people skipping that part. Until otherwise, STOP FUCKING ASKING, YOU WILL KNOW IF IT IS A DEFINITE! I GODDAMN PROMISE YOU! I DO NOT WANT YOUR ADVICE, COMMENTS, OR ANYTHING UNTIL I KNOW FOR A DAMN FACT I AM GOING TO BE ROLLING OUT SOME TIME NEXT SUMMER! UNLESS YOU HAVE CONDUCTED-ING A VERY SIMILAR TRIP, WILLING TO DONATE A VEHICLE, OR CASH FOR GAS AND LODGING WHEN I AM IN A BIG CITY, UNTIL THEN SHUT UP!

On a side note, Alix from Peace Scooter she saw the posts, and emailed me, which was really nice considering her tight schedule in her preparation. Although the point of our trips are radically different, I really did appreciate the links she provided, although I did knock her as a hippie she is a rather a good person, and I would like to say again good luck, and have a safe trip!

7/12/2007

The Big C

File under... Day to Day — mylo @ 12:55 am

A friend of mine has been laid up, and he can now take visitors.

I decided it was more important than other obligations.

He’s near the old neighborhood, he moved there not too long before he got sick. It’s nice there but as I leave the train, I always get the fear of bumping into people I just don’t want to.

Luckily I make it to his building without detection. I go up the stairs and walk in. It’s dark in there but the Big C doesn’t need much light now.

For the time being anyway. Hopefully.

He has an eye infection, the Drs are saying toxioplasmosis. In the dying light of the apartment I can see the infection, cloudy puffy eyes, near blind, his eyes searching darkened walls.

He has a TV on, it’s down low. He can’t see it too well so he has to have it on for the sound. We catch up, life seems like it’s moving fast for me. Mis-adventures on the weekends, screaming matches at work, new people, apartment, an adventure to plan.

My friend hasn’t budged from his place since he moved here, not too long after me. That’s when the infection kicked in.

“No TV, no video games, no movies” He says

“No reading either.” I say

He points his head towards where my voice came from and frowned. “It looks like I’m in a fucking blizzard. These flurries-”

He reaches his hand out to try and find a lighter on his coffee table.

“It’s like I’m in a snow globe dude.”

The flurries, although I’m no doc, I know a bit on the human eye due to my photography experience. What he’s seeing is the infection itself refracted through the retina, it’s like dust in a lens. “When I shake my head it stirs it all up.” He lights up his cigarette.

He’s getting better, it’s a good thing. Still scary. Ever since I heard I wondered what would I miss the most? Autumn in the poconos? The curl of a wave right before I catch it? Watching the rain fall from a eve? Miss Brit’s blue eyes? Lightening? A fat covenant head in my sights? Porn?

I decide I would much rather lose a leg. Only one though. I knew a guy who lost one, and he was able to play tennis and swim and and lead a very active life.

“Didn’t anyone else want to come?”

“Oh you know the office, all busy with stuff.” In reality, they made me sick with half excuses. “You have been getting visitors though right?” The office never wants to leave the village, maybe they’ll go to williamsburg but only on extreme duress. Then it’s always barcade and union pool. God forbid they actually visit a friend in need.
“Yeah, family.”

“Good.”

It begins to rain out, the big C doesn’t bother to look out the window. “Sure you had nothing else to do?”

“Nah.” I say. “I’d rather be here.”

7/9/2007

Planning

File under... Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 8:12 pm

This will be the last of the Heart ‘o’ Darkness section until I get some real juicy news (around sept).

The girl to encourage and warn me bought me a copy of The Motorcycle Diaries. I spent part of the weekend watching it, and in itself it is a beautiful film. But I can see her concern.

So smartly I decided to look into other people who did it, I figured I’ll get an idea of the gear they had, scooter, travel time, routes, etc. With the exception of one group, who are currently crossing with 50cc’s the most popular choices seem to be 150cc’s and bigger.

And although I’ve been trying to soak in as much knowledge as possible, I’ve been getting half accounts, poetry, and hippies who are getting corporate sponsorship.

Surprisingly none of this really helps. Although looking at the hippies thing, someone called her courageous, does that make me courageous?

So as I’m telling Miss Brit, the best way to approach this is look at it like it’s a camping trip. I’ve been camping before, so I sort of know what to do.

On top of that, I decided to sniff out to see if there is any help out there at least locally in my area.

Finally, I decided to set up a doc that covers everything. Plans, routes, supplies, milestones.

So until this stuff is finalized I’m shutting up. Stay tuned though.

7/5/2007

Research, Research, Research

File under... Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 8:48 pm

Still on the initial high of planning one of the greatest adventures of my life, I decided to research.

I decided the best things to do was start a new category.

Done, shit that was easy.

Ok after that, I figured I have really think about what I want to see in this giant mess of a coun… Oh I mean figure out what I want to see in beautiful bountiful land that the lord has truly blessed us with, and we built nuclear missile silos in.

Well I saw all types of land pretty much, I saw swamps, bogs, plains, mountains, coastal, marshes. The only three that are missing are artic (no fuckin’ thanks), jungle (I hate mosquitoes), and desert.

Moonlight in the Desert! You may have cities and electric lights, movies, dancing parties, and surging crowds; but, for a thrill, an emotion, a sense of peace, and a confidence in a God who cares, give me moonlight in the Desert.

So that leads me to two places, the badlands, and death valley.

Not bad, they’re only 2,000, and 3,000 miles away prospectively.

So, for this whole thing we need to do some calculations.

Lets see, gas.

To fill up the tank, it’s about 7 bucks. That’ll take me roughly 160 miles.

For 7k miles (there back, and wiggle room for detours) that’s going to be 44 fill ups. 154 bucks! Sweet, very do-able.

The top speed of the scooter with me and gear, might be about 50 mph. With 5 hours of driving, 250 miles a day. 28 days…

Hmm, rather ominous sounding isn’t it? That’s straight through no stops.

I can arrange a month off, but still what good is it if I can’t stop by a town for a day or two. Not all, but some. What if I go through a reservation, and have a spirit journey with a shaman? That might eat the schedule a little.

Ok by spirit journey, I mean smoking peyote, and Shaman I mean dumb teenagers, still what if I meet an ancient Shaman! What if I decide to talk to prairie folk, to get salt of the earth wisdom? “I’m sorry I’m sure how your great great grandfather settled the land is very interesting but you know tick tick tick.” is just rude.
More calculation, more planning is in order.