Wedding on a mountain

Brundage Mountain, Idaho.

Cheri Pearl and I set sail for our next destination wedding in a growing series thanks in part to her increased popularity and editorial fan-base. Through her wedding photography company we've shared the publication limelight in such magazines and online collections as Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Style Me Pretty. I LOVE working with Cheri and having the freedom to accentuate the collection of her stories. We've been working together for nearly 3 years now and the fluidity of our working relationship on the job doesn't go unnoticed by the hobbyist photographer's critical eye. McCall, Idaho was our next opportunity to wow and dazzle with the subtlety of a couple of cute flies on the wall.

On Friday we headed up Brundage Mountain- via ski lift- where the ceremony would be performed. The views, the wild flowers and rocky cliffs were breath-taking. We scoped out the next day's tasks and jumped back on the mountain bike ready chairs of the summer season. There was a moment when Cheri and I looked at each other and began to laugh, "This is my life?!" The smell of balsam and the purity of the air were truly clarifying. I felt more at home in my birth state than I ever had before.

Friday evening's pre-wedding BBQ on Payette Lake was perfect set to the sounds of local Bluegrass bands. The children skipped rocks, the guests enjoyed "Grandpa's Margaritas", and I simply enjoyed my job.

Saturday couldn't have been any more beautiful. We headed up the mountain with plenty of time to make Almond Butter and Jam sandwiches on the hood of the rental before taking on the task of visually telling the day's love story. With a mountain bike race in full effect, the wedding party and guests blended with the scattered-about, dirt-laden individuals crazy enough to take on the steep challenge. There was no shortage of wrapped knees and freshly cut appendages. All the reception had to offer the extremists of the group was a blown-up "Bouncy" castle plentifully enjoyed by the large number of young attendees.

As soon as Cheri's processed all of the images, I'll post some of my favorites. For a sneak preview, this has to be one of them.

The Road to China

Summer is finally here. It's presence is more defined by time of year than temperature here in Seattle, but nonetheless, I'm wearing summertime clothes. When else do I get the opportunity to soak in the Vitamin D that was lacking by 15 necessary points on my last blood analysis? I've been riding my bike A LOT, exploring pleasant nuances of this still fascinating city after nearly 8 years of appreciation. I won't bluff that high gas prices and uncertain job security has me avoiding the expense of car use, but it does feel good to free myself of the seeming dependency.

I'm going to China. After an invitation that befell me nearly a year ago, I reclaimed the coveted passenger seat and have made this the week of my VISA. The time's ticking down and it's time to fill out the crazy paperwork requiring details as to the wheres and who's once we're over there. I'll be accompanying my friend Mike who I met during our team membership to "More Cowbell" of the 197 mile running race Hood to Coast. Although he lives in Los Angeles, we've been friends ever since. We'll be watching track and field events and some tennis matches live during the Olympics, but I have to admit I'm most thrilled about experiencing China amidst the rapid growth and chaos of Capitalistic expansion. I'm not sure how much computer time I'll have there, but I will post images once I return.

I recently returned from California where I explored a bit of wine country and my brother's beautiful wedding destination in Carmel where the ceremony was graced by the presence of sheep and shore birds. I literally made myself sick in preparation for the "Best Man" speech. It took some time to actualize that off the cuff and from the heart is where I flow. The wedding was more beautiful and more personalized than a lot of weddings I've experienced. For wedding day photos that I team shot with my perfect date, Dave Edelstein, click here for the gallery. I had the honor of photographing Christi, my sister in law (I have a sister?!), and Nathan, my brother in their wedding day duds the day after the official day. Everything was so beautiful! Check out the gallery of the shoot!

Oregon: Welcoming us home to the Northwest

Shannon's Bambini in Eugene, OR.
New recruit.
Shy little one in Organic Cotton.


These kids were great! I wanted to continue photographing them and all of their youthful charisma. This one was especially funny in her Red Bandana!
Colorful little girl in Purple Bandana. Her father co-owns and runs Green Eye Auto, a car company that purchases used Mercedes and diesel-fueled cars for biodiesel conversion. They found us a fuel filter and installed it for us!

Mother's Day is every day
Spring and I made friends at The Laughing Planet, a welcomed referral for dinner. Brown rice and delicious, locally-grown veggies never tasted sooo good! On every table and lining the entire counter where everyone first orders before finding a table are toy dinosaurs and a robot. I realized we had kind of lost a little of our minds when I walked up to one of the servers with Bronto in hand and asked with my best dinosaur voice, "Do you have wireless?" The server looked at me and in a shocked and slightly-scared giggle asked "What?" Instead of switching it up to ensure she actually heard me, I asked again in the same dinosaur voice, "Do YOU have wireless for my computer?" She laughed, shook her head, and confirmed that they did. As Utah Philips strongly suggests, "You've got to mess with people, day and night, you have to mess with people! You gotta mess with 'em!
They just kind of sink into a cryonic torpor and they're never seen again, god!"

I love Spring's desire to stop and smell the flowers.
The gazebo in the beautiful backyard of The Campbell House, the quaint B&B we opted for on our last night on the road.
Our reflection in diesel-powered Petroleum hauler.

California: The Fulfillment Center of Family

Spring's cousin was so cool. Justin and his wonderful wife made us a delicious home cooked meal! It was the first since Spring's brother and his girlfriend made us dinner in Salt Lake City. It was so wonderful and welcoming.

We dropped by Nate's Cafe to take cheesy photos for my brother but also to grab a couple of delicious breakfast burritos!

Spring was so excited to see her grandfather in Dana Point. Her little voice called out for him over the echoing sounds of public radio.

He made Spring so happy. What a gem this man is.

Of course Spring gave her grandpa some BabyLegs.

Practically blind in both eyes, Grandpa takes amazing care of himself and is extremely self-sufficient. He has a method behind all of his madness.

It was difficult to say goodbye. He remained waiting for his Access bus to take him to his appointment and he rushed us off knowing how long it would take us to drive to Sacramento.

This is where Spring and I did a lot of napping. We normally had the seats down with a pad and a sleeping bag but had it all cleaned up for the Baby Loves Disco event. We were fortunate to have two to drive and a space to crash if the need presented itself. "Lumpy", Spring's stuffed lion played the part of comforter and pillow.

The drive up the middle of California is mostly flat and littered with forgotten and flourishing farms. There doesn't seem to be a system of rotating crops nor is there a shortage of large white tanks containing pesticides and various chemicals.

Growing up doing this drive with my mom and my brother from Redding, CA to either Paso Robles, CA or Santa Barbara, CA where my aunt lived, always took us past Harris Ranch. This ridiculous sprawl of acreage used only for dairy and beef cows is a huge dirt lot covered by a noxious methane cloud that, when I rolled down the window to take photos, made Spring gag. There were a few influences that made me choose the life of a Vegetarian, this was definitely one of them.

This is Gafton and Cooper of Valley Supply Chain. No, we're not supporting slave labor. This is the wonderful family-owned and run business that is now BabyLegs' fulfillment center. They also send out the humorous products produced by Wry Baby.

He wanted to give our manual fuel pump a whirl. Although we enjoyed the workout, we appreciated other people's interests in pumping for us!

In Redding, CA where I grew up, Mi madre, Miranda, her partner of 12 years, Gary, and their old lab, Tye.

My mom has been adding our peels and her mass amount of used coffee grinds to the compost pile for years. Their incredible garden is proof that the composting has proved beneficial to the nutrients of the soil.


Gary and Mom also wanted to partake in the fueling. Gary owns and runs Redding Yellow Cab and was kind to connect us with "the family lube specialists" that changed our oil and filter.

I was very fortunate to grow up so close to so much beauty. I had Lassen to the East, Mt. Shasta to the North, and just south of that, Shasta Lake and Castle Crags.

Castle Crags
Mt. Shasta
Spring went crazy with the camera taking absolutely beautiful photos of the drive north to Ashland. I'll never get tired of this piece of the freeway.

"Time is an enormous, long river..."

Thursday evening at approximately 4:30pm, Spring Courtright and myself, Erinn J Hale rolled into the great big industrial parking lot that is home to the warehouse of BabyLegs. In preparation of our homecoming we safely secured our cowboy hats (mine, straw-like and from Orlando, Spring's red and from some random shop in New Mexico), inserted Billy Ocean's Greatest Hits (don't even ask me why I happen to have that silly CD), rolled down all of the windows, and began singing along "Hey! Hey! You! You! Get into my car! [Who Me?] Yes You! Get into my car! Whooooaaaaaa [Enter horn section]". Our adrenaline was pumping, our laughter was as plentiful as the day we left, everything was pretty much the same except for all of the finite details we noticed had changed with the sun and experience. We arrived a bit wiser of the road and the people who live along it. We felt older, noticing the more defined lines that have formed deeper grooves across our foreheads. Our nails were dirty from the countless digging in boxes for events and fueling up every four hours along the road. The whole experience seemed surreal and at that moment, greeted by our loving BabyLegs co-workers, we weren't even sure we had gone anywhere but in our minds.

It has been a day and a half now that we've been back. I miss my buddy Spring. I hope there are more adventures awaiting us. What an honor it was that BabyLegs afforded us this once in a lifetime opportunity. The trip was no vacation from anything except from our normal, daily lives, and boy did we work our behinds off! Every chance we had, however, we allowed our love of people, fascination in their stories, and pure, youthful curiousity to lead us into shops and restaurants along the way further exposing us to a new understanding of the very town in which we stood.

Waves of memories continue to flash across my mind. I've been trying to write everything down before those memories fade into the file cabinet of my mind. If I can offer any bit of advice to anyone, it would be to explore the country at some point in your life. The U.S. is HUGE and full of people waiting to fill you full of their life history. These are the people who make this country fascinating. We're so resilient. I keep thinking about the server in Buffalo, TX who works in a BBQ cafe where you can get the $4.99 buffet lunch of mustard greens, sweet potatoes, fried okra, a variety of prepared meats, and more! The cafe's walls are covered with painted saws; an artist's recollection of a snowy brook, handmade wood crafts and knitted delights. Near the entrance was a glass case full of children's plastic toys and "Tammie's Homemade Peanut Brittle", of which we bought two as gifts. We were encouraged to support a couple of young girls' fundraising attempt for "Jumprope for Life". Frames of young children lined the tops of the cases, and as we learned those photos will forever contain their youth as three of them passed away in two separate car accidents. Only one of the grand-children, who was 1 at the time, survived, but as the doctor declared, she'd never be able to walk or talk. As Betty's God is her witness, her "grand-baby" is now 3 years old and is walking with the grace of therapy and is also beginning to talk. This woman's pain was so deep-set in her eyes, but it was incredible to see how much this little child represented everything in which Betty continued to believe. All of her faith, all of her hope for the future rests with her grand child. The story makes me want to cry, but the fact that Betty was able to stand there and tell us about it without breaking up further illustrated her strength and resilience. I continued talking with her and Spring, looking back with a little head nod to me, went out to the truck to gather up BabyLegs and goodies for Betty to take back to her miracle baby and everyone else she thought might appreciate such a thing. She hugged us both and blessed us and we walked out the door feeling quite pleased with ourselves and equally so humbled.

The people we met let us in. It was as though they'd been waiting for a couple of strangers to show up one day just so that they could share their stories. It's just a shame there aren't more people to take the time and listen.

Utah Philips was our road philosopher. Bio Lyle from Seattle gave us a CD that's a collection of his live recordings of which Ani DiFranco took her favorite and included her world of sound and song. His stories and words stay with me as we played the CD mulitple times along the way. This was the excerpt that gave us goose bumps and helped to define our underlining mission on this journey:

"Time is an enormous, long river, and I'm standing in it, just as you're standing in it. My elders are the tributaries, and everything they thought and every struggle
they went through and everything they gave their lives to, and every song they
created, and every poem that they laid down flows down to me - and if I take
the time to ask, and if I take the time to see, and if I take the time to reach
out, I can build that bridge between my world and theirs. I can reach down
into that river and take out what I need to get through this world."

Taking our time in Eugene, OR

The drive up from Sacramento to Redding was the same as it always has been, a little on the long and dull. California is the only state we've experienced where we had to drive 55 mph. It's a bit slow when you're used to a faster pace. Visiting with my mom and Gary was brief but quality. They gave us a tour of their incredible garden and advancements they're making to the house in which I spent my high school years. Leaving was difficult, but I knew what sort of incredible beauty awaited us from Redding to Ashland, OR. The mountains escorted us around the bends, exposing hidden veins of melted snow replenishing Shasta Lake. Castle Crags, Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta City all welcomed us back to the Northwest. I drove and Spring, with my camera in hand, went crazy, utilizing all of the mini photo lessons, taking photos of the amazing light that made the hills curvaceous. The views were breath-taking.

Eugene is the most perfect place to conclude a long earth-conscious trip across the country. The trees are plentiful and carefully protected in the building plans of the old homes that line certain city streets. The pace of life was slightly disconcerting at first, but it quickly became a profound reminder of the way life is best enjoyed- deliberately. The trees are incredible reminders of this.

The event yesterday went beautifully. Tired and weary, Spring and I rolled into town wondering where we'd find the energy for the very last event on this month-long whirlwind. I'm under the weather again (and I never get sick!) and agreed to stay back as much as possible. We set up a table outside of Bambini and met Shannon, the wonderfully dedicated mother of soon-to-be three lovely children and three successful stores. The weather was perfect and the enthusiasm of everyone who visited the table was inspiring. What better way to end a small-scale environmental movement than to talk with the already conscience people of Eugene!! We met wives of some guys that bound together to start Green Eye Auto where they convert cars to perform on ethanol or biodiesel. They also sell various models of Mercedes and Volkswagen. Needing a fuel filter for the final stretch home, I was sent over to check out the lot and to have the filter installed. Continued conversation with the continuing and future BabyLegs fans helped us to realize how involved and adamant Eugeneans are about change and making earth-conscious choices. They're very enthusiastic about the new organic line! In fact, Shannon called her order in while we were there!! The event was extremely successful and uplifting! It was nice being able to recycle our broken down boxes...We love the Northwest's dedication to recycling!!

Our return home will be bitter sweet. Spring is eagerly wanting to return home as she's been without her best buddy, Cricket, for way too long. It's made her feel so good to know that so many people were involved in loving and taking care of her during her absence. I'm expecting major freak-out when they're reunited. Cricket often jumps into the arms that love her... I just hope she doesn't knock Spring over! Let's also hope Cricket is still the small frame that we both remember.

I'm looking forward to my little studio and my daily life, but there's something so simple about living out of a bag that contains all of the clothing protection one would need for the various climates across the country. I've learned so much during this trip. I will be making substantial change in my life. Thinking about driving a gasoline-fueled car makes me feel guilty and a little ridiculous if I'm considering paying $3.50/gallon or whatever it is in Seattle right now!! Change happens from within and if I expect anyone I've met along the way to remain inspired by what we taught them, I need to "be the change [I] wish to see in the world". It will be interesting to be able to step back from the trip and recollect all the memories. I'm deeply saddened to think that I lost 3 memory cards for my camera somewhere along the way. They were protected in my little black SanDisk neoprene case. There were photos that I didn't have the opportunity to download... :( I'm still hopeful that it's somewhere in our stuff.

Well, off to pack up the bags, refuel, and hit the road. I've missed my friends but gained a sister. I never thought I'd spend an entire month with a person and still be excited to hang out with her. Spring is an extremely fun and dynamic person... I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get to know her.

(I'll add photos when I return home :)

San Diego, CA: Baby Loves Disco!!

San Diego's first ever Baby Loves Disco was an incredible success! Parents lined the streets awaiting the opening doors of Aubergine, the host club of BLD. Strollers were parked in the designated "Stroller Parking" area and moms discussed which pair of BabyLegs their child loved best.

Spring and I were up and out by a quarter to 6am to locate a car wash or a water source (quite the epic) and found a self-service car wash where we washed the truck and then the trailer separately as only one would fit at a time. We made our way downtown to the Kinkos where our requested documents were ready to be picked up and then on to the street where Aubergine awaited hundreds of little ones. We scored rock-star parking and made our way to the most incredible breakfast either one of us had ever experienced. We discovered a Farmer's Market where we were seduced to purchase beautiful jewelry and trinkets to help an Indonesian man return home. We sat and chatted with the Flexcar reps and told them tales of our journey. With the sun beating down and the time ticking away, we made our way to the truck and trailer to prepare for our most energized event thus far.

I got to meet Andy Hurwitz who started Ropeadope Records, my favorite record label!! We had been in contact over email over 3 years ago... it was so crazy to finally meet him. Proud Pops that he is, he took over and helps each city initiate Baby Loves Disco. He's also created recordings with real, talented musicians with representative animal characters to encourage kids to love music through "Baby Loves Jazz" and "Baby Loves HipHop"! I'm a super fan! I was incredibly honored to meet him and work side by side with him for this crazy event!

Aubergine, the venue, was so perfect for this event! I enjoyed the "Stroller Parking" outside. The valets and bartenders made almost as much on this Sunday afternoon as they did on a Saturday night!

Miss Spring and myself in our shiney pants and ratted/painted hair. We had a display right by the back door everyone passed as they left the event.

This little guy cried when his dad first put the BabyLegs on his arms, but after he began throwing him into the air, he seemed to love them!

Okay, I know this photo makes me look like a goomba in the least flattering way (what exactly is a "goomba"?), but this is Andy Hurwitz... THE Andy Hurwitz! Oh how I wish I was wearing normal clothing for this kodak moment!!

We're on our way to Sacramento today. I regret leaving the beauty of the Pacific, but it'll be nice to be that much closer to home. We're still having a great time meeting so many people, but Spring misses her Cricket and I miss my... studio.

Through the Southern Desert... Texas, New Mexico, & Arizona

Hello All! At the moment the GreenLegs Biodiesel Power Train is just outside of Phoenix, AZ at a beautiful timeshare nestled on the slopes of South Mountain. There are hiking paths through the bird sanctuary right next to the resort. My brilliant cousin, Tiffanie, found this place on Expedia for less than $70 per night!! We're literally staying in a condo with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, living room, and dining room!! It was so wonderful to be able to run our water bottles through a dishwasher and simply to feel as though we were at home. Susan at Best Fed gave us Burt's Bees nurture gift packs with bath crystals and everything!! I've been watching an old cactus in our "backyard" where a lovely bird has created a home. I only wish my brother, the bird expert, was here to look up and help us not only identify the birds, but the cacti in the area. The desert is incredible and despite the fact that people warned us about the "boring" drive through West Texas, we found it to be beautiful and full of its own charm and mystery.

We've stopped at so many truck stops along the road to fuel up on our own. Despite our own massive size of truck and trailer, these diesels are HUGE!! We're dwarfed in comparison.

Littered across the Texas landscape are small towns, abandoned due to the lack of petroleum. They're literally ghost towns, left to waste away.

We landed in Pecos, TX, another "ghost town" that is supposedly experiencing a re-birth since the 70's oil boom. This is the self-proclaimed town where rodeos first began and where they pride their cantaloupe crops. Excited to experience this cantaloupe crop, we asked some locals where we might find some. To our dismay, the fields have dried up and the only available melons are trucked in from California. This is where we enjoyed breakfast the next morning.

In Houston we learned that when contractors wished to build anything new, they simply tore down the pre-existing buildings. There didn't seem to be anything in place to preserve old buildings except in a few historical districts downtown. This photo represents this mindset that we found prevalent in the majority of the places we visited across the country.

This was from Wednesday morning as we were pushing to leave the Oak Tree Inn which seems to be the temporary home of railroad workers in Pecos. With plenty of stories about Tornadoes, we chose to get out of town before this storm front attempted to threaten us.

Approaching El Paso, TX.

Flash floods and hail made this the most incredible storm I'd ever experienced. Spring found an awning at the near-by Best Western to protect us from the occasional golf ball of hail.

I love these clouds!!

New Mexico greeted us with several gift shops doubling as gas stations all owned by the same Bowlin family. Their signs were bizarre, the selection of goodies even more bizarre and plentiful made stopping worth it.

This is Larry from Roadrunner Biodiesel in Tucson, AZ. They deliver the fuel wherever you are in town!

Proof of a fully filtered supply of fuel.



This is my wonderful cousin, Tiffanie, in front of her house. With her incredible help we were able to get on the road to Phoenix fed, well-rested, entertained, cleaned-up, fueled, and regretful that there wasn't more time to visit. Thank you for EVERYTHING Tiffanie & Jon!!!

At Best Fed. Susan, the owner, is in orange. This was such a wonderful place where mothers could sit at tables and share ideas and suggestions about which products and methods best worked. They LOVE BabyLegs!!



Thank you Susan for being so wonderful! Congratulations on such a successful store!!

On to San Diego for Baby Loves Disco!!

In Houston... saddened by our departure from the South.

Since Spring and I left Orlando, what seems like a lifetime ago, we've had the most rich and fulfilling experiences. There have been so many that it's been difficult to find the time to sit behind the computer to edit the mass amounts of photos and capture, through words, exactly what we've experienced.

First, I must mention that our event today at A Woman's Work in Houston was a complete success! Sandra was a wonderful host and considering the fact she's been in business for 18 years, she's doing everything right! What is normally her slow day became a flurry of business and activity as we constantly had moms to introduce to BabyLegs or thank for being so loyal to our product. It's so wonderful to hear feedback from moms that really don't know what they'd do without their sweet BabyLegs. A mom actually introduced Sandy to the product and unfortunately showed up 10 minutes after we left. We took Sandy and her lovely husband to dinner and had wonderful conversations about kayaking, fly-fishing, and our government. Thank you for everything to you, Sandy, and your hard-working staff!!



I must also thank Nick with the utmost gratitude for our crazy evening with Leslie and the Ly's! I can't wait to post the pics!! I appreciate the insider's glimpse into Houston! We never would have found all of these great dinner/nightlife/breakfast spots!

I last left you with our experience in Defuniak Springs, FL... we cross from Florida in to Alabama and then to Mississippi where we stopped in Biloxi for the most incredible lunch I think I've ever had at the Ole Biloxi Schooner. Biloxi was established in 1699!!! It was wonderful to know we were in such a historic town, but found it disheartening and extremely sobering to learn of and see the devastation, first-hand, of Katrina's wake.

We heard of a lunch spot that my friend, Chris, found on the net and in our attempt to find the location, spotted the hidden jewel of the Ole Biloxi Schooner. We found a parking spot and bellied up to the lunch counter next to a couple of kind locals. Spring stared down our lunch neighbor's Turtle pie he enjoyed pre-lunch, inspiring the offer and purchased dessert we enjoyed post-lunch. The menu was full of fascinating and appetizing options for a couple of "Yankees". I asked how we could be Yankees if we were from the West... I often received blank stares and a seemingly strong determination to refer to anyone outside of the South as such. It kind of became enduring as we traveled through places littered with billboards advertising Civil War reenactments.

After realizing how hungry we were from the road, we ordered fried okra, gumbo, potato salad, and crawfish etoufee. We realized how much food we ordered and stopped the production on the crawfish mystery dish. The gumbo was out of this world and actually sausage free! The servers had wonderfully thick accents and ended up LOVING BabyLegs they swore they'd share with their friends.

Sitting next to Scott and Tommy who work for the Parks Dept of the City of Biloxi was extremely educational. Scott moved back to Biloxi from Naples, FL "After the Storm" to help family and friends literally pull their lives out of the mud. He was a kind and shy person who's Turtle Pie generosity will forever be appreciated. Tommy, with a wife and four children, lived through the storm thanks to an exodus to Mobile, Alabama. He returned to find his home completely destroyed and the entire city in war-zone ruins. He joined the demolition and clean-up crews with with which he worked 18 hour days for 2 1/2 months until he uncovered his 6th body the age of his own son. He now works for the city fixing pipes for the water department. Their buddy, Lance, showed up to present us with a Barq's root beer bottle from the 40's they dug up on the job. Tommy and Lance told us about staff infections and boils from which they suffered after having to crawl around in the infected waters Katrina stirred up. Although they've successfully maintained beautiful senses of humor, we sensed an extremely hesitant optimism due to the fact the problems since the storm are still so present. We didn't realize how present they were until we drove down I-90, along the waterfront, to see for ourselves. Where one could imagine a flourishing area of resorts, fancy homes, and restaurants, there now stood destroyed buildings, concrete foundations, broken signs, palm trees snapped in half, for sale signs, weather-gutted hotels, and very few rebuilds. The resorts starting anew seemed to be built from steel and concrete leaving very little opportunity for natural disaster to disrupt the structure. I snapped photos from the window knowing how much time I truly wanted to spend capturing the voice of a city hidden in the shadow of New Orleans. The connector we took to head back toward I-10 exposed us to less (once) affluent areas of town where FEMA set up horribly small white trailers for temporary living solutions. We imagined families living in these things, unable to afford the opportunity to start fresh. No home and health insurance is a common burden. Scott revealed that he pays $1600 a year for normal home insurance, not including the enforced flood insurance. Very few people are able to pay this in these areas further inspiring a poverty downward spiral. The scene was devastating. Shame on the news and the government for ignoring the ever present travesty in Biloxi and small towns along the Gulf.



The thought-provoking experience left us dumbfounded and curious to explore more. We drove through the most amazing swamp land and bayous that I could have ever imagined. The intensity of the green was comforting and the sound of the birds made us realize that the aviary life of the South must be the happiest in the country. The songs were varied and clear and those we spotted were poised and their lives, plentiful. The bird's songs renewed our optimism.



It's late and I have plenty more stories to tell. I'll check back in when we're in Dallas. My computer is completely full of viruses I'm attempting to expel and the photo upload isn't working because of that fact. So much to share!



~erinn

Motivational Fuel

"Hola chicas bonita. Huh, wha..what's that? Is that a sonic boom I hear
as two biofueled fembots blast out of So Flo blazin' a wild and wicked
trail to the BIG T? Wowy wow wa Borat, not even Thelma and Louis can
keep up with these baby lovers.. Look out Texas. You ain't seen nut'n
'till you seen the S&E Express. YEEEEHAW!"

Thank you Chad Courtright.

It's true... we left Orlando and are now warmly embraced by DeFuniak ("as in a few people" -local resident and eaves dropper) Springs, Florida. We rolled into the Super 8 parking lot and opted to check out the town before getting sucked into the life we lead behind our computers. Every turn we made revealed more and more protected, historic buildings pulled straight out of the early 1900's. We discovered the oldest continuous running library in the country as well as an adjoining garden full of native plants supported and loved by the butterflies, birds, and gentle humans. Right down the hill from the oldest library was "the 2nd largest naturally round lake in the world" according to our new friends, Keith and Maureen of Upper State New York. We met along our walk, while staring and questioning the names of nearby ducks and birds. It turns out the entire area was dedicated as a bird sanctuary. I really wish I had my knowledgable bird watching brother here to identify the species I had never seen before.

Keith and Maureen cracked me up! They are two adorable people who's conversation not only reminded me of a couple straight out of a Woody Allen movie, they've known each since the 3rd grade and walked away holding hands after our warm good-bye! They offered to have us stay in their home next time through and we gave Maureen some BabyLegs for her niece and nephew. It was difficult to say good-bye, but our stomachs were eating the internal lining, and we headed to the 2nd best restaurant in town, "Mom & Dad's Italian". The best restaurant, Bogey's, was closed for a private "murder/mystery" dinner but looked absolutely wonderful including the Bed & Breakfast of approximately 10 rooms at the Hotel DeFuniak. This really felt like a place we both decided would be fun to bring our road-trippin' loved ones in the future! I'm really embracing the Southern charm and hospitality and look forward to our drive to Baton Rouge tomorrow.

I hope all is well in wherever-you-are land. We're so excited to be back on the road after such a successful tradeshow!

~erinn


The new and improved fueling method... Hazmat free!!! Thank you Joel!!


The oldest library and an incredibly climbable tree.


Keith of Upstate New York


Keith, Maureen, and Spring


The 2nd Largest Naturally Round Lake, DeFuniak Springs, FL

Orlando, Florida... Stream of consciousness composed in an authentic English pub!

Today is my day off and it's my brother's 27th birthday (whoa... am I actually getting old?)! I had my first tradeshow experience yesterday. Nicole figured since the work of the roadtrip will continue after the show, Spring and I have each been given a day off. I slept in and woke up the stuffiest I'd been since the morning after my karaoke performance in Nashville, TN. I watched the end of
"Elizabethtown", did laundry here at the hotel, ran a 5K on the treadmill, continued doing laundry, watched "The Client", and escaped the comforts of the large bed to explore the surrounding shops. I purchased a smoothie, a "Fabio" Florida postcard as a joke, and an IPod car charger for a negotiated discount. I walked past the Pirate Golf Adventure and discovered a run down "Mercado" celebrating "A Festival of Shopping & Food". I noticed that the festival was hidden amidst shops that were either defunct or closed down, but I kept exploring for a hidden jewel. Around the corner where people collected in the sunshine of the outdoor smoking area, I spotted The Cricketers Arms. One step in the place whisked me back to my 3 month adventure in England last summer. There are cask beers from the same brewery I enjoyed throughout my travels.

Manchester United just scored against AC Milan- The place is crazed with fans! Where Am I?? Really?! I turned to chat with a fellow at the bar and I realized the majority of the accents filling the chatter of the pub were of the UK variety. The score is tied at 2 and every little goal attempt forces arms into the air, nails into the mouth, and/or curses toward the tele. The place is dark due to the drawn shades and dark wooden beams. The decor holds true to the pub's name, the mural on the back of the wall celebrates the farming homeland thousands of miles away, and the ambiance makes me feel nostalgic and welcome.

Orlando is a different place. It's apparent the local economy survives on purely tourism. Everything that is visible to the driving passer-by seems to have been built to seduce the curious to stop and tour/explore/purchase whatever it is they have to sell. The architecture is interesting and new... the location is a giant city playground for adults. It seems to have changed quite a bit since I was first here as a fifth grader.

Manchester is taking a penalty kick. Again, they've missed. I can't believe they have my favorite English meal- The Ploughman's Lunch! This pub is unbelievable!

I need to get back to the hotel to finish the laundry. The $2/30 min dryer isn't effective the 1st time around.

There's an industry event at Universal Studios this evening. JPMA is a huge production. BabyLegs was probably the most successful booth yesterday. Nicole met with people from boutiques in New Mexico to corporations as large as Target Online. It's incredible to observe the process and the growing success.

The truck is with Nicole's husband, Joel, who is changing the oil and making adjustments to our fuel pumping system. We have a new itinerary that will unfortunately bypass New Orleans and Austin, but the new driving schedule was created to keep Spring's and my sleeping needs in the mission's best interest. This could mean an extra day in San Diego, but I'll reveal our new path as soon as it's revealed to me. It's possible we won't return to Seattle until May 11th. Our meeting regarding this schedule is this evening.

I still have so many stories to share about adventures from Kansas City, MO to Athens, GA!

Thank you again for all of your support. Keep emailing, calling, and reading!!

Manchester just scored with 30 seconds remaining! Time for a Ploughman's to go and some sun by the pool!!

Happy Birthday Nathan!! I love you buddy and I'll be sure to not send you an alligator head from the Bargain Bin across the street.

~Erinn

Happy Earth Day!!

Hello to all of you dedicated Blog Readers! We're in Orlando for the JPMA Tradeshow. This is our day off and I just wanted to throw up a few photos and Thank Yous... There's so much to share!! So many adventures from the past few days! Patience my dear friends. Thank you for all of your support and love! Plant a tree, do some cartwheels, give your friends some high fives, recycle, buy locally, eat organically, get outside, and at some point, write us!





Thank you to Rutherford Farmers Co-Op and your amazing team of fine Tennesean men for not only installing a rubber tube that allows us to pump every last inch of our fuel, but for transferring the fuel and quite simply keeping a couple of ladies clean for a few hours. We can't tell you how deeply we regret not taking you up on fine Southern cooking... ugh... schedules. Meeting all of you, even Danny, was a real treat. If you were a sample group in a study based upon charm and courtesy, I'd say Tennessee is one of my most favorite states!

Thank you to Boswell for donating 100 gallons of B100 Biodiesel! Thank you for having enough fuel to set us up for the rest of the trip (we hope)! You freed us from sooo much stress on Friday! Thank you Thank you!!

Okay... more in a few hours after Spring and I go check out some other spring that a server told us about just outside of town....

hello how are ya hootenaney

My birth state. I am a born and bred spud bud!


This is the house where I spent the first 5 years of my life that we just happened to find on Indiana Ave in Caldwell, ID. The world of emotions that filled me when I ventured into the backyard is indescribable. It's one of the last surviving homes on this block from the old farm houses. Welcome mass building and the suburban/tract home lifestyle. The corn field where my brother and I rolled our red flyer to collect corn cobs is no longer there. It made me wonder about the fate of the farmer. It made me think about this house and the beautiful and only trees on the block that are holding on for dear life. My mother purchased this home with the inheritence from her father's death. I wish we still had the house and the incredible land around it. Change is difficult to stomach when it's not for the positive. Hold on little house.

We had the fine honor of stopping in Boise to visit with Chad Courtright. What a winner. He really is a truly inspiring human being that has dedicated his life to being happy, celebrating life's natural resources, digging his hands in the earth, and creating positive change through the way he lives his life. His warmth and the appreciation of the minute details in our daily life make him one of my absolutely favorite people.

One of Hugs and Bugs dedicated customers. Salt Lake City.

At the SLC, UT "Step It Up" Rally, there were all sorts of displays and fascinating people to meet. This is a local bus used for city purposes with the chemical equation for Biodiesel painted on the side. Let me just tell you how much I appreciate Spring's exuberence.

There were plenty of bikers at the Step It Up rally. I appreciated this woman's application and the reflection of square sunshine from her "rearview mirror".

The drive through Colorado was absolutely beautiful. It was difficult to have the same standards when driving through Kansas, but I do enjoy a good looking farm.

Oakley, KS. Bates Motel? Please take note of the figures in the corner. Also take note of the pillows that are still there and not in the back of the once super comfortable truck.

yikes.

double yikes.

Spring IS the Statue of All Good Nature. Yes, folks, that there is a double entendre.

Missouri.

Truck stoppin'... It's a new term we thought up considering all of the time we spend pullin' fuel out of the tanks and checking out the fine products of the shops. Confession: Spring and I now have our own do-rags!

Missing Cricket. This dog is no substitute, but the continual giving nature of animal love should be practiced all over the world.

Just about to drop kick my ThinkPad!

Kyla Krengel is a wonderful human being who kindly hosted us in Nashville. She and I played Ultimate (think Frisbee with a team) at UCSB as the "Burning Skirts". It was wonderful to see her after sooo many years! She's a hard-working teacher and now owns this large home that she purchased for $237,000!!! I don't think I could even find a studio for that in Seattle! I have a world of great photos of us together that seem lost to the world now... somewhere on my missing memory cards. Ugh.
This is Debbie. She was our server at Noshville in Nashville, TN, determined to promote BabyLegs to the world of Southern mothers! Go get 'em Debbie and THANK YOU for your enthusiasm!!
This is Brent. Hehe. See story below...

Hello All!

Spring and I are in Nashville, TN... we can't seem to find our way out of it. This isn't for lack of directional knowledge or because we seem to be running horribly low on fuel.. We LOVE this place! It's almost like a foreign land. The South is a different place completely! People are extremely polite, kind, intelligent, and creative. This feels as though it's the sister city to Seattle's music scene... but a little less mopey (hey, I love the mope!). I just overheard a conversation about Dr. Dre and how nice and talented he is. This person knew from personal experience and appeared to be a producer type. (I love eaves-dropping!)

I was driving the big rig down the city streets with no real idea of where to go. Kyla, my friend and hostess with the mostest (She let us do our laundry!!), said that Broadway was the way to go and so this became our point of reference when asking for directions. We spotted a friendly fellow with a sweater, dark hair, and blue eyes and asked him for the way to Broadway... he gave us directions and I swear his eyes twinkled. As I drove on to the next light, approximately 2 blocks down the street, I spotted twinkle-eye guy running down the street to catch up with us. We laughed and drove on not realizing that he had a wealth of bio-fuel knowledge. How narcissistic that we thought he was simply enamored with Spring's also twinkly eyes. We drove to various parts of the city, wishing that my aunt Carol was there to impart the same treasure chest of city history that she shared in Kansas City. We stopped briefly seduced by the sassy cowgirl hats in the window. We inquired about great places for food and were directed to "Noshville" (clever), a Jewish/New York style diner. We found rockstar parking right in front and made our way in for a little breakfast. As our eggs, potato cakes, and sliced toms were placed in front of me, I noticed the sweater guy checking out our trailer. Sure, it was a little freaky that he found us, but then I remembered that HE DID direct us to Broadway, the very street on which were were now parked... not so freaky or creepy. I knocked on the window with a feeling that he had something to say. He appeared as though he'd jogged a few+ blocks. He, Brent, found his way to our table and simultaneously inquired about BabyLegs and what we were doing with Debbie, our sweetheart of a server. To our audience we told our tale and between the two of us, imparted a story that inspired the server to become our mouthy restaurant rep and Brent to share information about his various bio-fuel projects. Not only has he been working on projects to combat obesity in children, but he's working on the technology to create fuel out of the local crops, this area's being tobacco. He opened up an entire world of dialog and seemed to be a great resource and inspired follower of our mission. Meanwhile, Debbie began telling her customers about our product and talked about taking it to Green Hill where all of the high-end children's boutiques were located. We gave her a bag of BabyLegs, brochures, pens, and our well wishes and permission to represent us and our company all over the city. Word of mouth is SOOOO powerful! She told us of a story about her grand-daughter who pooped her pants on Easter and because she (the grand-daughter and not Debbie- haha!) was wearing tights the mess ended up all over the back of her and ruined her Easter dress. We addressed all of the utilitarian benefits of BabyLegs and I'm positive that we have a wonderful salesperson representing us from Noshville, Nashville.

We are now sitting at JJ's cafe where the room is full of computer users and students. Spring is addressing the hundreds of emails in her inbox (please oh please consolidate the communications BL Babes) and I attempted to simply open the photos I've taken along our path... and my computer simply... well, sucks. I know that's a horrible word, but I can think of far worse to describe the source of my anguish and frustration. It's virused beyond repair, it's slow and old, and although it's helped me through loads of projects, it's time to put-'er-down. I'm composing this on the $1/10 minute cafe computers. I'm envisioning a kind soul that will walk me into the Mac store (Macs don't get viruses and are perfect for the type of work that I do!), and gives me the opportunity to pick out the powerbook of my dreams. Where are you magic giver? Are you here in Nashville?? I need efficiency! It takes me forever to attempt to do anything with this darn machine. Spring's internet connection is if-y and she needs it for all of her projects. Please world... send me the tools I need to be successful in my pursuits! (I'm not yelling, just asking loudly)

So, yeah... I'll post loads of wonderful photos as soon as my computer decides to cooperate. I appreciate your patience and loyal following.

We're considering staying in Nashville tonight. Sheryl Crow is here with her Biodiesel tour. I think she heard about our project first and decided to jump on the bandwagon. WE were supposed to be the first women! We found out she was here during our search for a manual pump from a kind man named John. Who knows what this will inspire. I can't tell you how important our street marketing has become... it's nice to remain in one place for a period of time in order to be effective.

Okay... back to the poopy PC I have. Know we're safe, we're having an absolute BLAST laughing constantly... my eye is MUCH better, thanks to the drops, I have a little cold, but I'm taking voodoo potion that Spring brought back from Uganda that she swears will rid me of my ailments. Think good thoughts about the computer vision I'm fostering.

happy happy joy joy...

erinn

We miss you!

Rest in Kansa City, MO... okay, more like quality time with family and refusal to deny ourselves the opportunities for further experiences!

Biodiesel doesn't smell toxic. Even though we tried to keep the fueling process neat and clean, we didn't mind if we got a little on us. I would never say this about a petroleum product
Kansas City, MO is pretty groovy. This is their parking structure for their downtown historic district that they've lovingly and beautifully disguised as a giant shelf of inspiring books. I'm proud to say that my great-grandfather, Robert Cushman Murphy, was an inspiration for Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring". I love the careful placement of the tree in front of this particular "book".
Aunt Carol and Uncle Richard Hale. They really are inspiring, incredible people. I'm so grateful for their hospitality and comfort. I can't tell you how delicious and wonderful oatmeal was with all of the healthy goodies and halves of grapefruit!!!

This started off as a reply to an email from Beth, but I enjoyed what I wrote so much that I decided to use it as today's post (hey, there's nothing like a little self-pat on the back):

Sleep is most definitely an issue. There's no "us" time. There's driving, event, blog/photo edting/posting, and very little sleep time. The time it takes to refuel due to pump issues and re-tarping (due to high winds on the plains) is a little nutty and adds a considerable amount of time to the driving portion of this adventure. Add also the amount of time it takes to re-energize through a little jump-roping or dancing to Billy Idol, Wham, or other jewels on the 80's XM Radio station. We pretty much give the truckers free entertainment through our own entertainment. We make ourselves laugh all the time... I wish you were a fly on the wall! We're in Kansas City, MO where my Aunt Carol and Uncle Richard live. They're extremely kind and showed us around this amazing city. I just learned of a family member's passing from earlier this year. I was absolutely devastated considering I had first made his acquaintance over Christmas with a deep desire to visit and spend time with this seemingly incredible, soulful person. I remember how excited I was to discover there was another person, who shared my blood, so enthusiastic about life. I just can't believe no one told me until today.

Despite the news, it was so nice to be able to not think about rushing to an event after so many hours of driving only to continue to be "on" for all of the potential new BabyLegs customers. If anyone can pull it off, it's us girlies, but boy oh boy is it exhausting. I made the mistake of forgetting our pillows in Oakley, KS at what looked like the Bates Motel. I figure the ghosts in the neatly crocheted wall art can have them. I needed to wash the cover any way.

Our sense of humor and absolute passion for the details in life, the beauty in people, and the infultration of smiles and goodness keep our energy flowing. Sure, a sty in the eye (doc gave me drops and instructions for a hot compress) and sleepy eyelids throw a kink in the efficient progress of forward movement, but we realized long ago that this journey is far from linear. We really enjoy each other's company and really cannot stop laughing. I never thought I'd enjoy seeing someone cry so much (Spring laughs with her tear ducts!)!

Tomorrow we're on to Nashville, TN after a 9+ hour drive. We'll be staying with my friend Kyla, from UCSB, who I haven't seen in over 7 years! It'll be great to catch up and re-fresh before the Athens U of GA extravaganza and Orlando lift-off.

We're still determined to have lunch with Willie Nelson when we're crossing TX. Tell your friends... they might know someone who knows someone who knows someone.

Thank you for your support! Even though we're eating through my cell minutes like crazy (my T-Mobile service seems to be superior along our route for some reason), I can't tell you how much we enjoy hearing from people. It's nice to know that we're not "outta sight, outta mind". I'm here to tell you, however, that we are on the verge of approaching "Outta Mind, Outta Sight"!

I have some more FANTASTIC photos du jour, but I'm not on my computer at the moment to get those up... I'll get those up as soon as I get the moment. I hope you're all enjoying them!

Off to bed... it's 1am and check out time at the Hale house is approximately 8am after a warm bowl of oatmeal, raisins, and soy milk. I love my progressive family... not really anything that has to do with the bowl of anything... just a feeling of warmth for my aunt and uncle. Please be sure to call and tell the people in your family you love them... mean it with your actions. Life is too short.

:)
erinn

Waking up in Oakley, KS

Forgive me for falling asleep during posts. Forgive me, also, for today's fragments. The battery has been charging all night and the pump is not pumping. This process has been very frustrating as we just want to be able to pull over in times of need to simply pump the fuel and move on. We spend upwards of 45 minutes each time we stop trying to figure out why the pump is not pumping. An alternator connection to the pump battery will be helpful for the next go at this. A handpump will also be key and if anyone is able to find one for us anywhere between here in Oakley, KS and St. Louis, MO, we'd be soooo grateful!

We both have scratchy throats, my left bottom eyelid is swollen from who knows what. I have a rinse, but of course I'm wanting instant results. We'll have to stop at an eye doctor at some point when the pace slows down (not sure if that's a possibility with the fuel issues).

Despite the frustrations, we're having a fantastic time together and laugh CONSTANTLY. I'm not sure if we're both just punchy or actually REALLY FUNNY.

Time to hit the road and meet up with Banz in Knob Noster, approximately 4-5 hours drive away!

I hope all of you are happy and well and have a wonderful Monday! Think good thoughts and well wishes for our pump!!

~erinn

Day 3: Salt Lake City, UT... feeling a little out of order with plenty more stories to tell!

With the wonderful Lauren outside Hugs and Bugs, Salt Lake City, UT.


Our company pledge at Step It Up, Salt Lake City, UT.


Passionate dancer. Step It Up, SLC, UT.


Bob Hugo, Chief Firefighter, Fuel Extraordinaire, and Hero of the Night!


Our reflection in the fuel tank on board the Biodiesel BabyLegs express!

Day 4: Laramie, WY (sort of) to Denver, CO

We drove through the night to arrive in Laramie, WY for a one and a half hour sleep and shower before heading to Denver for our event. The sky was unbelievably beautiful. Spring woke up to help me capture the intensity of the colors in the Wyoming sky. There's not a lot you can do from the truck windshield to truly illustrate the way the hills roll into each other and how they every-so-often explode into towering boulders fit for the impassioned climber.



Spring took this photo during one of our fuel stops. My lack of sleep and rampant flow of delerius punchiness has inspired interesting photo opportunities.


Meet the crew of "Real Baby" in Denver, CO. Sunday was absolutely beautiful and the neighborhood streets were full of strollers and curious parents enthusiastic to either meet the representative force behind BabyLegs. Hilary appeared for the event, fresh from the mountains where she enjoyed a free Michael Franti and Spearhead concert. Her energy was incredible despite her lack of sleep. She has a zest for life and truly enjoys her store and the loyal following she's inspired through her incredible selection. Spring and I were instantly busy, creating new systems of organization and display. Parents were so grateful to receive such generous offerings of marketing seduction.

Day 2 Photos: A Brief Glimpse

Here is our beautiful rig on a country road perpindicular to the very street where I spent the first five years of my life. It's been since then that I've seen the house, and I found it. The flood of memories hit me as soon as I walked into the backyard. I'll share those photos soon. I wish I took more... I was just overwhelmed by the emotions.



Boise, ID... Outside Chad's Pad for a refuel. True teamwork. The pump is a little top heavy and it takes the two of us to kick-start the darn thing sometimes. I personally love our adorable hazmat suits. All we need are our Devo Chrome Domes.



My first day behind the wheel... I love the power of this beast and my cozy borrowed Spacecraft trucker hats! Spring said I get a gold star for my reversing abilities!




Boise, ID... I know where she is and boy am I so pleased she's here!



Jennifer Horowicz is not only a master designer, she's an incredible person! You did a beautiful and EXTREMELY fast job putting this together! Thank you!!

Day 2: La Grande, OR to Boise, ID to Salt Lake City, UT

Today was full of light rolling off folded hillsides, straight highways stretching out before us, truck stop talk with truckers about biodiesel and BabyLegs, and discussions with my brothers about organic gardens and road trip music. Not a bad day at all, I must say.

This is Spring, Erinn's road trip partner. I am incredibly impressed with Erinn's photography, as well as her trailer backing up abilities...not to mention her coy smiles that reel in the truckers. We just hope On-Star isn't recording our conversations as we drive across this vast, beautiful country. Our conversations aren't always as beautiful as the landscape.

We are continually impressed by the number of truckers and tough-looking men who approach us to talk to us about our outfits (we ARE pretty sexy in our hazmat suits when we refuel) and biodiesel. Just today two different men in two separate states approached us and told us they make their own biodiesel from leftover restaurant oil. One runs all his business vehicles on biodiesel and the other was a persian gulf with a license plate that said SNIPER who ran his truck on biodiesel made in his garage. He kindly offered to fill us up, but we had to make haste for Salt Lake City and had to decline. We gave his son a pair of BabyLegs and they sent us an e-mail saying we can stop by any time to fill up...thanks Rob!

Another trucker came over to tell us he can't wait until the truck company he works for starts to use biodiesel. So many truckers, so little time to convert them all! Come on Willie Nelson, we're ready to share some biodiesel trucker talk with you! You'd look great in our Red Bandana BabyLegs.

Our mid-day breakfast was spent with my brother Chad We staved off starvation with Luna Bars and a a Carla Cookie (bring on the hips!). We spent quality time touring Chad's horticultural masterpiece. He uses his magic compost and organic practices to raise vegetables and gorgeous plants for two inspiring Botanists in Boise. Thank you Chad, you're our Sustainable Superstar of the Day!!

Our late evening meal was provided by my brother Mitch and his lovely girlfriend Mary in Salt Lake City. We sit together now, listening to Xavier Rudd and laughing about laptop follies. Thank you for the sustenance and strawberry shortcake!

We look forward to our morning event at Hugs 'n Bugs in Salt Lake City and then a Global Warming rally before heading off to Laramie, Wyoming. We're looking forward to sharing our BabyLegs, Clif Bars, Biodiesel, Woobie information, and Green Car Co coloring books. Watch out Salt Lake City, here comes BabyLegs!