9/7 - This is the twilight of my time in Porterville.
Subconsciously, I'm already planning on living in Cherbourg. I'm keeping my options open by sending out resumes, but the prospect of living in France seems to be the most real idea right now. Along with another career possibility, the way forward is clear. It will cost $110 for a long-stay visa in France (stays more than 90 days).
I want to chase a career as a Foreign Services Officer (FSO) with the State Department. This essentially means being a diplomat who represents the United States all over the world. I watched a video last week about the career, and I was in awe for a full 12 minutes. I saw myself in each of those people, and I very much want to chase that path. I was inspired.
The first step is to register for a FSO test. The next window to take this test is in October, so that gives me three months to study. I took the practice test last week, and with zero preparation I scored a 92; a passing mark was 100. Knowing this made me a bit more confident, but I still want to give myself the best chance possible of passing it.
This all fits in with moving to France as well. During the next testing window, I can take the test in Paris. The move would not interfere with this process, which will be long. The test is the first step, and there are nine in all. It'll be a long road for sure, but the most important thing that matters is that I finally know what I want to do with my life. It's too bad I didn't realize this when I was still in school, but it's better late than never.
17/9 - Goodbye, Ducati.
I sold the Ducati today, finally. While I took a huge hit on it, I still got a good chunk of money that will help with future plans, most notably France. That bike gave me some excellent fun, but it was time to move on. The lesson learned from being a Ducati owner is to do more extensive research on a make and model, including making sure I will be able to afford to maintain it. No regrets! I'll even have another motorcycle video in the next few weeks for you all to feast your eyes upon.
On Wednesday I will make another trek to Los Angeles, this time for a test that could lead to an interview if I pass. This is with the LA Community College District for the Public Information Officer position. I'd like to see where this goes because it's a good career opportunity, but the list of positive reasons to move to France keeps growing. But, if all goes well I will have a choice between Los Angeles and France.
One aspect of France that is so enticing is the fact I'll live by myself for the first time in my life. I have never not had a roommate. Add to that the fact I will live within walking distance of the train station and ferry terminal, and this is something that just seems right. I'm a traveler, and Cherbourg is the perfect base to do that. This is the way forward. It feels right, especially because of the fact I can fly to Paris from Oakland, CA for $265 on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
I have been in a much better mood lately and can tolerate Porterville. In fact I'm looking at the positives about the city again, which is of course the location. There are some good hikes just on the edge of the city and great people here. All of this stems from the fact I can now see a way out of Porterville; I will leave this place soon. Also, there are new people starting at work, so the stressful chapter is likely behind me, likely to be looked back upon and laughed at.
Finally, my parents visited this weekend; it's always great to see them. They even got the chance to see the ranch in Springville and meet Mr. Boo, Spirit and the rest of the cattle and horses that call it home. But most importantly, they brought me a handful of bottles of wine. Cheers!
18/7 - The first day at work knowing one person in particular was gone forever was excellent. The mood in the office was so relaxed and our spirits were higher. It goes to show how much the atmosphere and chemistry of a workplace can be improved by removing a cancer.
Showing posts with label Ducati. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ducati. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
Couchsurfing, inspired drinking and self-examination
15/2 - Friday was yet another chapter in my Couchsurfing story. I hosted Jan, a German traveling through California Friday night after I got off work. He's just like me in that he doesn't plan where he's going to stay long in advance; he figures it out when the time comes.
I hosted him on just a few hours of notice, so before I went home I picked up some beer to share with him. As a traveler myself, I understand how it feels not being able to find a place to sleep for the night. That's why I hosted him, as a fellow traveler and human being. If not for me, he would have slept in his car. The time he was there we just had a few beers and traded travel stories, and I gave him a sleeping bag, pillows and blankets and he slept next to the electric fireplace.
The best thing about it was the fact he was grateful for my hosting him on such short notice. The encounter wasn't long at all, but it still feels great to meet new people and help a fellow human.
My weekend, while not as epic and memorable as the previous one, wasn't bad at all. I rode the Ducati up to Springville, but the smog and haze was so bad it dampened the ride a bit. Considering that, it was great to drive north to Sacramento and out of the smog. It was there in midtown Sacramento where I discovered a German beer garden and met up with my coworker and his girlfriend. It was the first time we had properly hung out outside of work and had a few drinks. It's great to have someone there who's my age.
Continuing my exploration of California, my family and I hiked Rockville Hill in Fairfield on Sunday. Dad and I both used GoPros on our foreheads, and we hiked about five miles. It was fantastic to be outside in the warmth and clear air. It's not often it's as clear as that was in the Central Valley.
Finally, I did some day drinking with an old friend of mine in Davis before making the trek back to Porterville. It was here where I did my best to inspire my friend to do something big with his life, such as travel, to get out of his funk that has bogged him down since he broke up with his girlfriend. He's been very cynical of everything lately, so I told him to shut the f**k up, stop thinking about everything that could go wrong and just do it. Sometimes, inspiration comes in the form of flat-out bluntness.
22/2 - Life in Porterville these days has been enjoyable because I'm spending a lot of time analyzing why I am the way I am. I'm trying to figure out what I really want, both from a woman and with life, and it has been enlightening. This examination of myself has made me more self-confident, and I've noticed I have been sticking up for myself more. Maybe this is just all part of maturing, but I like where it's going.
My latest adventure was a short-and-sweet trek to Lower Coffee Camp in the Sequoia National Forest. There I messed around on the edge of the Tule River with a GoPro on my forehead, scrambling over granite boulders and slowly navigating the brush beside the river. The best part was finding a comfortable spot on top of some granite and lying down on the opposite end of a waterfall that spilled into a large pool. It was there I faced the sky, focused on my breathing while listening to the rush of water and let the time melt away, with everything turned off and me being disconnected, if only for an hour or two.
I hosted him on just a few hours of notice, so before I went home I picked up some beer to share with him. As a traveler myself, I understand how it feels not being able to find a place to sleep for the night. That's why I hosted him, as a fellow traveler and human being. If not for me, he would have slept in his car. The time he was there we just had a few beers and traded travel stories, and I gave him a sleeping bag, pillows and blankets and he slept next to the electric fireplace.
The best thing about it was the fact he was grateful for my hosting him on such short notice. The encounter wasn't long at all, but it still feels great to meet new people and help a fellow human.
My weekend, while not as epic and memorable as the previous one, wasn't bad at all. I rode the Ducati up to Springville, but the smog and haze was so bad it dampened the ride a bit. Considering that, it was great to drive north to Sacramento and out of the smog. It was there in midtown Sacramento where I discovered a German beer garden and met up with my coworker and his girlfriend. It was the first time we had properly hung out outside of work and had a few drinks. It's great to have someone there who's my age.
Continuing my exploration of California, my family and I hiked Rockville Hill in Fairfield on Sunday. Dad and I both used GoPros on our foreheads, and we hiked about five miles. It was fantastic to be outside in the warmth and clear air. It's not often it's as clear as that was in the Central Valley.
Finally, I did some day drinking with an old friend of mine in Davis before making the trek back to Porterville. It was here where I did my best to inspire my friend to do something big with his life, such as travel, to get out of his funk that has bogged him down since he broke up with his girlfriend. He's been very cynical of everything lately, so I told him to shut the f**k up, stop thinking about everything that could go wrong and just do it. Sometimes, inspiration comes in the form of flat-out bluntness.
22/2 - Life in Porterville these days has been enjoyable because I'm spending a lot of time analyzing why I am the way I am. I'm trying to figure out what I really want, both from a woman and with life, and it has been enlightening. This examination of myself has made me more self-confident, and I've noticed I have been sticking up for myself more. Maybe this is just all part of maturing, but I like where it's going.
My latest adventure was a short-and-sweet trek to Lower Coffee Camp in the Sequoia National Forest. There I messed around on the edge of the Tule River with a GoPro on my forehead, scrambling over granite boulders and slowly navigating the brush beside the river. The best part was finding a comfortable spot on top of some granite and lying down on the opposite end of a waterfall that spilled into a large pool. It was there I faced the sky, focused on my breathing while listening to the rush of water and let the time melt away, with everything turned off and me being disconnected, if only for an hour or two.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Travel, inspiring adventure and a shooting star
8/2 - Think back to a recent time when your heart exploded with pleasure, when you burst out in maniacal laughter and sported a giant, goofy smirk.
That's how my weekend went. I spent two straight days on my Ducati, using the GoPro to shoot some truly excellent video on curvy roads in the foothills around Tulare County. While the road southeast of Ducor was a blast on Sunday (at one point I reached a new personal-record for speed), the adventure into Yokohl Valley on Monday resulted in pure, childlike joy and ecstasy, and the kind of laughter inside my helmet that would get me arrested if I did that in public.
The day could not have gone better. The weather was warm and the sky a deep blue. I rode through green hills broken up by fields of yellow flowers; it felt like a Spring day. The road I tore up was devoid of traffic, straight in parts and curvy in others. Today, I was alone in nature, with the extreme pleasure of leaning into corners on a high-performance motorcycle and feeling all thoughts, stresses and real-world responsibilities vanish into oblivion.
While riding the Ducati is an extreme thrill by itself, the GoPro mounted firmly to the side-view mirror makes the ride so much more exciting because I can go back and see the ride from a different angle later. Hopefully I'll be able to edit all of this footage together into a second video like the one from Wales.
But besides lunch and dinner with good friends in Visalia, the final cherry on top was during my night ride back to Porterville. While roaring along in the blackness, I looked up and caught a legitimate shooting star streaking in the same direction as me. It lasted for about two seconds and was much brighter and faster than a flying craft. It sounds incredibly corny, but I think that shooting star was a sign of bigger things to come.
This weekend was another example of why going on an adventure doesn't need to be far from home. If you manage to uplift your mood to the extent I did, that's a successful day. These past two days show how a simple ride on a motorcycle out in nature is cleansing to the spirit, like kayaking on Loch Lomond on completely still water amid silence. That was the feeling of happiness, yes, but it was also the most free I will ever feel.
Needless to say, I was emotionally drained after that ride.
In other news, I'm set for Mexico, maybe Chicago next month, and a new trip: England. Kaichi High School invited me back to Brunel University in London to help a group of students get comfortable speaking English for a week. I got the time off from work, so barring something serious, I'll be in London again come June.
I'm slowly but surely gathering materials for the Coast Guard application and studying for the ASVAB. It's kind of enjoyable to take math notes again and learn about formulas regarding electricity.
My mother sent me an article the other day about how travel helps you reach your full potential. You gain so many new perspectives and meet many different people, but it's first and foremost good for the soul. It's probably, in my opinion, the most important person in my age group can do for themselves.
Today during lunch I told a friend of mine that taking out that student loan so I could travel and go to school ended up being worth much more than $50,000. All of those memories I have from that year are priceless. Taking out that loan is something I will never regret, which is something I did not think possible just a few years ago.
If you really have that itch to travel, there's always a way. It doesn't need to be expensive. During lunch today, I hope I inspired my friend to look more seriously into accomplishing her travel fantasies. If I accomplished mine (for now) then she, and other people, can too. But to do what I did, you have to be able to uproot yourself and go to a completely unfamiliar place, something not everyone can handle...
That's how my weekend went. I spent two straight days on my Ducati, using the GoPro to shoot some truly excellent video on curvy roads in the foothills around Tulare County. While the road southeast of Ducor was a blast on Sunday (at one point I reached a new personal-record for speed), the adventure into Yokohl Valley on Monday resulted in pure, childlike joy and ecstasy, and the kind of laughter inside my helmet that would get me arrested if I did that in public.
The day could not have gone better. The weather was warm and the sky a deep blue. I rode through green hills broken up by fields of yellow flowers; it felt like a Spring day. The road I tore up was devoid of traffic, straight in parts and curvy in others. Today, I was alone in nature, with the extreme pleasure of leaning into corners on a high-performance motorcycle and feeling all thoughts, stresses and real-world responsibilities vanish into oblivion.
While riding the Ducati is an extreme thrill by itself, the GoPro mounted firmly to the side-view mirror makes the ride so much more exciting because I can go back and see the ride from a different angle later. Hopefully I'll be able to edit all of this footage together into a second video like the one from Wales.
But besides lunch and dinner with good friends in Visalia, the final cherry on top was during my night ride back to Porterville. While roaring along in the blackness, I looked up and caught a legitimate shooting star streaking in the same direction as me. It lasted for about two seconds and was much brighter and faster than a flying craft. It sounds incredibly corny, but I think that shooting star was a sign of bigger things to come.
This weekend was another example of why going on an adventure doesn't need to be far from home. If you manage to uplift your mood to the extent I did, that's a successful day. These past two days show how a simple ride on a motorcycle out in nature is cleansing to the spirit, like kayaking on Loch Lomond on completely still water amid silence. That was the feeling of happiness, yes, but it was also the most free I will ever feel.
Needless to say, I was emotionally drained after that ride.
In other news, I'm set for Mexico, maybe Chicago next month, and a new trip: England. Kaichi High School invited me back to Brunel University in London to help a group of students get comfortable speaking English for a week. I got the time off from work, so barring something serious, I'll be in London again come June.
I'm slowly but surely gathering materials for the Coast Guard application and studying for the ASVAB. It's kind of enjoyable to take math notes again and learn about formulas regarding electricity.
My mother sent me an article the other day about how travel helps you reach your full potential. You gain so many new perspectives and meet many different people, but it's first and foremost good for the soul. It's probably, in my opinion, the most important person in my age group can do for themselves.
Today during lunch I told a friend of mine that taking out that student loan so I could travel and go to school ended up being worth much more than $50,000. All of those memories I have from that year are priceless. Taking out that loan is something I will never regret, which is something I did not think possible just a few years ago.
If you really have that itch to travel, there's always a way. It doesn't need to be expensive. During lunch today, I hope I inspired my friend to look more seriously into accomplishing her travel fantasies. If I accomplished mine (for now) then she, and other people, can too. But to do what I did, you have to be able to uproot yourself and go to a completely unfamiliar place, something not everyone can handle...
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Good neighborhood, Ducati thoughts and a trip to Ireland for Christmas
11/11 - I've lived in this new house in a nice part of Porterville for a couple of weeks now. The neighborhood is quiet and safe, and I don't have to worry so much about someone bashing a stone through my back window but not taking anything (like what happened last summer). I'm fully established in town now.
This neighborhood is perfectly safe for an after-dinner walk through the streets after 10 p.m. Ideas seem to come much easier when you just start walking; I guess my mind in particular starts revving when I walk. As I walked, I thought about what I do every day: the mediocrity of this town, how it's best feature by far is its proximity to national parks. I want to do something else giant with my life, and that opportunity isn't found in Porterville.
But then immediately after that I realized I need to think positive. If I dislike this place so much, why not make it a better place for someone else, if I'm so dissatisfied with it? After all, my No. 1 desire is to do something to make my environment a better place for other people. That's part of the reason why I want to join the Coast Guard. With that in mind, I'm going to start looking for volunteer opportunities within the city. I need to stop whining about my own issues with this place and put my energy into helping my fellow human being.
There are no immanent trips planned for myself, though I did learn the Grand Canyon is exactly 600 miles away from Porterville. But the Kenya trip won't be for another six weeks, and I'm still trying to decide how I'll get to LAX. However, that seems to be figured out as well, as I'll Couchsurf with a friend in Los Angeles for a night before they give me a lift to the airport.
I'm getting more and more comfortable with the Ducati. I'm learning about its behaviors and how to ride it. I have a routine when coming up to stops now, so as to stop the engine from stalling on me. I'm also not nearly as afraid of it as much anymore - I'm becoming one with this machine.
But looking back at my childhood and teenage years, I never thought I'd ride a motorcycle of my own, much less a superbike. The people who rode motorcycles to school were on another level of cool; they were people I couldn't compete with. Three years after learning to ride a motorcycle in that CHP safety class, I'm confident in saying riding is one of the most thrilling things I can think of. Pulling on the throttle and feeling the engine rumble inches below the seat brings out a side of you that does not reveal itself otherwise. That feeling certainly brings a smile to my face every time I ride, like this weekend's mini lap around Lake Success and through Frazier Valley.
This bike is incredible. The sound it makes is enthralling. It shifts so quickly and smoothly. The riding stance, at first incredibly awkward because of how aggressive and forward-leaning it is, is now normal. And of course, I love riding because it gives you entry into the club of fellow motorcycle riders on the road. Whenever fellow bikers pass each other, they always wave or acknowledge the other in some way.
Call me a fanatic. I wrote the same way in the summer after I finished that epic trip through Wales. I felt so envious of all of the bikers who came to Poole every Tuesday evening. The difference now is I have what I wanted.
This neighborhood is perfectly safe for an after-dinner walk through the streets after 10 p.m. Ideas seem to come much easier when you just start walking; I guess my mind in particular starts revving when I walk. As I walked, I thought about what I do every day: the mediocrity of this town, how it's best feature by far is its proximity to national parks. I want to do something else giant with my life, and that opportunity isn't found in Porterville.
But then immediately after that I realized I need to think positive. If I dislike this place so much, why not make it a better place for someone else, if I'm so dissatisfied with it? After all, my No. 1 desire is to do something to make my environment a better place for other people. That's part of the reason why I want to join the Coast Guard. With that in mind, I'm going to start looking for volunteer opportunities within the city. I need to stop whining about my own issues with this place and put my energy into helping my fellow human being.
There are no immanent trips planned for myself, though I did learn the Grand Canyon is exactly 600 miles away from Porterville. But the Kenya trip won't be for another six weeks, and I'm still trying to decide how I'll get to LAX. However, that seems to be figured out as well, as I'll Couchsurf with a friend in Los Angeles for a night before they give me a lift to the airport.
I'm getting more and more comfortable with the Ducati. I'm learning about its behaviors and how to ride it. I have a routine when coming up to stops now, so as to stop the engine from stalling on me. I'm also not nearly as afraid of it as much anymore - I'm becoming one with this machine.
But looking back at my childhood and teenage years, I never thought I'd ride a motorcycle of my own, much less a superbike. The people who rode motorcycles to school were on another level of cool; they were people I couldn't compete with. Three years after learning to ride a motorcycle in that CHP safety class, I'm confident in saying riding is one of the most thrilling things I can think of. Pulling on the throttle and feeling the engine rumble inches below the seat brings out a side of you that does not reveal itself otherwise. That feeling certainly brings a smile to my face every time I ride, like this weekend's mini lap around Lake Success and through Frazier Valley.
This bike is incredible. The sound it makes is enthralling. It shifts so quickly and smoothly. The riding stance, at first incredibly awkward because of how aggressive and forward-leaning it is, is now normal. And of course, I love riding because it gives you entry into the club of fellow motorcycle riders on the road. Whenever fellow bikers pass each other, they always wave or acknowledge the other in some way.
Call me a fanatic. I wrote the same way in the summer after I finished that epic trip through Wales. I felt so envious of all of the bikers who came to Poole every Tuesday evening. The difference now is I have what I wanted.
5/12 - It's been a while since I last blogged. This house I'm living in is great, and my roommate is pretty cool too. The neighborhood is peaceful and safe, so I don't have much to complain about.
But the guy I'm renting from is a little strange. He disappears for weeks on end and we have no idea what's going on. It's a week into December and he still hasn't collected the rent yet. You have to wonder what is going through this man's head. He's also incredibly lucky there are cool people living there who won't trash the place, otherwise he'd be up the creek without a paddle.
I visited the Coast Guard recruiter in Fresno last week. While my heart condition and student loans are a couple of knocks against me, they know who I am now. The application process will be a lengthy one as well. I'm looking forward to see where this leads.
Felix, Rosa, Alex and Nuria Facetimed me from Spain again. I love talking to them! Nuria hasn't changed a bit, as she said my beard looks ugly. I showed them my room, the house, the backyard and the Ducati. Alex wants me to come to La Almunia for a few weeks and then fly back with me to California for a few weeks.
Maybe.
This second go round in Porterville is better than what I made it out to be. I'm meeting new people and making the most out of it.
13/12 - A rather large change in plans is necessary. I won't be going to Kenya anymore because Stella stopped responding to my messages. I think she doesn't have the heart to tell me her family can't or don't want to host me, so she's dealing with it by ignoring the issue. Visiting Kenya without a host isn't the smartest idea in my opinion, so that trip is off the table. I'm not mad, just disappointed by her attitude.
Though unfortunate, this presents another opportunity. My flight both ways includes layovers in Dublin, Ireland, so I just thought I'd stay in Ireland for those 10 days and do a WorkAway. The fun with traveling is its unpredictability and how fast you can adapt. I have about a week to find a host in Ireland, and I've sent out a few messages tonight. It's an exciting prospect, and hopefully my friends can meet up with me. Whatever happens, I just might visit my 16th country of 2015, only it's one I never expected until a few days ago.
13/12 - A rather large change in plans is necessary. I won't be going to Kenya anymore because Stella stopped responding to my messages. I think she doesn't have the heart to tell me her family can't or don't want to host me, so she's dealing with it by ignoring the issue. Visiting Kenya without a host isn't the smartest idea in my opinion, so that trip is off the table. I'm not mad, just disappointed by her attitude.
Though unfortunate, this presents another opportunity. My flight both ways includes layovers in Dublin, Ireland, so I just thought I'd stay in Ireland for those 10 days and do a WorkAway. The fun with traveling is its unpredictability and how fast you can adapt. I have about a week to find a host in Ireland, and I've sent out a few messages tonight. It's an exciting prospect, and hopefully my friends can meet up with me. Whatever happens, I just might visit my 16th country of 2015, only it's one I never expected until a few days ago.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
A Ducati, the Coast Guard, newborn cattle and a swim in the river
30/9 - I'm still on the ranch in Springville. I love living here and seeing the difference in moonlight each night. This is a perfect situation, except, I can't stay here forever. I've been looking for places to live in Porterville, but I'm being super patient, something I haven't been in the past. I'm being patient with looking for a motorcycle as well, something that is a little surprising to me considering how much I want one.
I recently looked at a Suzuki SV650, the same kind of bike I rode through Wales in June, but that bike had 29,000 miles on it; I'm looking for one with low mileage and a little bit more power. On Sunday, I believe I will have found a bike suitable for me. It's a 2004 Ducati 749 with less than 5,000 miles on it, and it's located in Bakersfield. The owner and I will meet halfway in Delano, and I have already started haggling, saying I have $4,000 cash in hand.
I've been at the Recorder for almost three weeks now. There hasn't been anyone complaining about coverage, and it's been great reconnecting with people and meeting new coaches. It feels so easy to me now, like it's natural. I haven't really been stressed out, even in situations where it becomes fine to be stressed. I can control only what I can control, such as how well and quickly I get my work done. I can't control when games end.
The ball for the United States Coast Guard has been set in motion. However, one of the recruiters advised me to hold off on the application for a few weeks in case I smoked marijuana recently. I guess it doesn't matter how much or how little you smoke. As the recruiter sternly said, "that stuff is bad." But I need to include some medical records that explain my heart condition along with the application. Because of that small hurdle, there is some small worry in the back of my mind that I won't be accepted based on that. I'm at the point where I really would like to see if I can get in. Over the past month or so, I've been focused on that, and in my mind that is the next most logical step in my life. I would be lying if I said there will be no disappointment if it turns out my heart condition prevented me from entering.
2/10 - As a form of rent, I've begun helping with work around the ranch. In the mornings I'll feed the cattle and horses. It's pretty neat to exit the house in the early morning sun, start walking down the driveway towards the barn and have the horses walking beside or behind you, knowing you're about to feed them. When the cattle see you walking they also make their way towards the barn. It's like a large meeting, and everyone knows what's going on.
Grunt work is a good way to start the day. In the barn I find myself rushing a little bit to feed all of the animals. The cattle are jockeying for position and being noisy, the horses stand to the side, giving you attitude and Spirit lurks just outside the front door, waiting for her bit of hay. But once the right amount of hay is in the correct places, the barn relaxes and quiets down with just the sound of chewing. There's also a large pile of wood that needs splitting and stacking. As a kid, I hated it. I hated everything about wood. Now? That work is refreshing!
There was a new calf born last night. It's the size of a dog and has trouble standing. In fact, it's so small that when Brent pointed it out to me in the early morning, I thought he was just pointing to the large cow keeping an eye on it. Later on in the day I saw it for the first time, thinking it was a dog, Beau to be specific. But it had trouble standing and eventually laid down right next to the fence with the same red-and-white cow keeping an eye on it. From far away, it looks scruffy. Hopefully I get a closer look in the morning.
4/10 - I got a closer look of it when Brent needed help driving the cattle back to the pasture closest to the house on Saturday. It's a female calf and it's so fluffy. It's still very unsure of everything though, such as where and how to eat with the rest of the herd. Like this morning, the calf was wandering around the backside of the barn and eventually to the side of the trough where the biggest members eat. While watching it, I saw it try to lick its hind quarters but lose its balance and fall down. When it got back up, it was standing too close to Boo's hind legs. When the large bull backed up a few paces, the calf got knocked in the neck and whipped in the face by the tail.
It'll learn.
That Ducati 749 I wrote about will be mine in a week. I went to Bakersfield to look at it, and the owner keeps it spotless. It won't be the easiest bike to maintain, but it has the power I'm looking for and should be a thrill to ride. But most importantly, I won't have to spend a fortune on gas anymore.
9/10 - The adventure never stops. This ranch is located in the perfect location for adventures to happen, such as hiking to the top of the very steep hill, following nothing but trails made by cattle until you get to the top. It's a small accomplishment to get to the top, where you can see the whole valley below as if you're flying over it, and there's also the possibility of going deeper into that backcountry.
The ranch is also less than 5 miles from the Sequoia National Park. Today I drove in that direction, not knowing exactly where I wanted to go or what to do. What ended up happening was one of those unplanned adventures that makes a day great. I ended up swimming in the Tule River by Lower Coffee Camp and then laying on a warm, granite boulder in the sun in the middle of the river. It was a fantastic, spontaneous decision. I also kept my shoes on my feet so I could walk upstream in the water, up boulders and small rapids. It's a great way to get to those large, calm pools where it's totally peaceful and perfect for just floating on your back.
But today was a representation of why I returned to Porterville. I'm so lucky to have friends who give me good advice and call me out when my ego gets too big. It's jarring, but refreshing (in a way) when someone points out you're being a little too arrogant or egotistical. It makes you take a look at yourself and step back. I welcome that and wish people around me would do it more often.
11/10 - As a final entry here, I'd like to mention two things. I rode the Ducati 749 home today. It's pretty powerful and will draw my complete respect. It's loud (which is good; people will hear me) and runs hot (which is perfect for the winter). Now I just need to get my own garage to store it (Thank you so much, Tamara).
With the arrival of the bike comes the resurfacing of my inner adventurer. I found myself tonight sending a Couchsurfing request to a person in Tehachapi. My plan would be to ride to Red Rock Canyon State Park, a small park to the southeast of Bakersfield. It looks really interesting in pictures and I'd love to do some hiking in the desert. What's good is this trip would be less than 200 miles so I could do it easily in a weekend.
Based on my history, it looks like I'm going to Red Rock Canyon State Park.
Uh oh.
I recently looked at a Suzuki SV650, the same kind of bike I rode through Wales in June, but that bike had 29,000 miles on it; I'm looking for one with low mileage and a little bit more power. On Sunday, I believe I will have found a bike suitable for me. It's a 2004 Ducati 749 with less than 5,000 miles on it, and it's located in Bakersfield. The owner and I will meet halfway in Delano, and I have already started haggling, saying I have $4,000 cash in hand.
I've been at the Recorder for almost three weeks now. There hasn't been anyone complaining about coverage, and it's been great reconnecting with people and meeting new coaches. It feels so easy to me now, like it's natural. I haven't really been stressed out, even in situations where it becomes fine to be stressed. I can control only what I can control, such as how well and quickly I get my work done. I can't control when games end.
The ball for the United States Coast Guard has been set in motion. However, one of the recruiters advised me to hold off on the application for a few weeks in case I smoked marijuana recently. I guess it doesn't matter how much or how little you smoke. As the recruiter sternly said, "that stuff is bad." But I need to include some medical records that explain my heart condition along with the application. Because of that small hurdle, there is some small worry in the back of my mind that I won't be accepted based on that. I'm at the point where I really would like to see if I can get in. Over the past month or so, I've been focused on that, and in my mind that is the next most logical step in my life. I would be lying if I said there will be no disappointment if it turns out my heart condition prevented me from entering.
2/10 - As a form of rent, I've begun helping with work around the ranch. In the mornings I'll feed the cattle and horses. It's pretty neat to exit the house in the early morning sun, start walking down the driveway towards the barn and have the horses walking beside or behind you, knowing you're about to feed them. When the cattle see you walking they also make their way towards the barn. It's like a large meeting, and everyone knows what's going on.
Grunt work is a good way to start the day. In the barn I find myself rushing a little bit to feed all of the animals. The cattle are jockeying for position and being noisy, the horses stand to the side, giving you attitude and Spirit lurks just outside the front door, waiting for her bit of hay. But once the right amount of hay is in the correct places, the barn relaxes and quiets down with just the sound of chewing. There's also a large pile of wood that needs splitting and stacking. As a kid, I hated it. I hated everything about wood. Now? That work is refreshing!
There was a new calf born last night. It's the size of a dog and has trouble standing. In fact, it's so small that when Brent pointed it out to me in the early morning, I thought he was just pointing to the large cow keeping an eye on it. Later on in the day I saw it for the first time, thinking it was a dog, Beau to be specific. But it had trouble standing and eventually laid down right next to the fence with the same red-and-white cow keeping an eye on it. From far away, it looks scruffy. Hopefully I get a closer look in the morning.
4/10 - I got a closer look of it when Brent needed help driving the cattle back to the pasture closest to the house on Saturday. It's a female calf and it's so fluffy. It's still very unsure of everything though, such as where and how to eat with the rest of the herd. Like this morning, the calf was wandering around the backside of the barn and eventually to the side of the trough where the biggest members eat. While watching it, I saw it try to lick its hind quarters but lose its balance and fall down. When it got back up, it was standing too close to Boo's hind legs. When the large bull backed up a few paces, the calf got knocked in the neck and whipped in the face by the tail.
It'll learn.
That Ducati 749 I wrote about will be mine in a week. I went to Bakersfield to look at it, and the owner keeps it spotless. It won't be the easiest bike to maintain, but it has the power I'm looking for and should be a thrill to ride. But most importantly, I won't have to spend a fortune on gas anymore.
9/10 - The adventure never stops. This ranch is located in the perfect location for adventures to happen, such as hiking to the top of the very steep hill, following nothing but trails made by cattle until you get to the top. It's a small accomplishment to get to the top, where you can see the whole valley below as if you're flying over it, and there's also the possibility of going deeper into that backcountry.
The ranch is also less than 5 miles from the Sequoia National Park. Today I drove in that direction, not knowing exactly where I wanted to go or what to do. What ended up happening was one of those unplanned adventures that makes a day great. I ended up swimming in the Tule River by Lower Coffee Camp and then laying on a warm, granite boulder in the sun in the middle of the river. It was a fantastic, spontaneous decision. I also kept my shoes on my feet so I could walk upstream in the water, up boulders and small rapids. It's a great way to get to those large, calm pools where it's totally peaceful and perfect for just floating on your back.
But today was a representation of why I returned to Porterville. I'm so lucky to have friends who give me good advice and call me out when my ego gets too big. It's jarring, but refreshing (in a way) when someone points out you're being a little too arrogant or egotistical. It makes you take a look at yourself and step back. I welcome that and wish people around me would do it more often.
11/10 - As a final entry here, I'd like to mention two things. I rode the Ducati 749 home today. It's pretty powerful and will draw my complete respect. It's loud (which is good; people will hear me) and runs hot (which is perfect for the winter). Now I just need to get my own garage to store it (Thank you so much, Tamara).
With the arrival of the bike comes the resurfacing of my inner adventurer. I found myself tonight sending a Couchsurfing request to a person in Tehachapi. My plan would be to ride to Red Rock Canyon State Park, a small park to the southeast of Bakersfield. It looks really interesting in pictures and I'd love to do some hiking in the desert. What's good is this trip would be less than 200 miles so I could do it easily in a weekend.
Based on my history, it looks like I'm going to Red Rock Canyon State Park.
Uh oh.
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