heathervescent

Escaping from Hollywood, I mean, Berkeley, part 3

It was the open road and desert vistas as we followed the green and yellow roadster through Death Valley into Pahrump. There was some final scavenging on the outskirts while the petrol cars filled up. (What irony would it have been to run out of gas following the non-petro cars?) Then, in an instant, we were in civilization and stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on the Vegas Strip.

I looked up at the Casinos and construction cranes as we arrived at the neon finish line. Later in the evening three cars were lined up outside. Everyone was cleaned up and ready for the awards ceremony. Celebrations and libations aside, road weary, the night ended.

Only to wake up the next morning with destination Hollywood via Baker, Barstow and San Bernadino. My eyes watching the dirt desert roads, remembering other times on this road. Silence. Music. Conversation. Return. Refreshed. Creativity rejuvenated. Inspired.

This trip reminded me how important it is to think BIG. To follow your passions, your dreams. The experience of the unknown, when the challenge is put forth.

(Read part 1 and 2.)

Escaping from Hollywood, I mean, Berkeley, part 2

The mountains were snow-topped and the air was crisp. My boots crunched in the dirt and my eyes alighted on a car that looked out of time. It was the Lotus Prisoner, a two-seater open air roadster that looked like it was from the last century with the exception of running off of cooking oil.

I walked over to oogle and learn more about the car. The owner, Jack, was from Oregon and we chatted at length about his car. Jack had a great sense of humor, but it was unfortunately lost upon me. The race was the prisoner's first trip, as his previous Lotus was totaled a few months earlier. Later in Vegas, he took me on a spin in it and told me the time he drove under a semi-tractor trailer. (Yes, the car is small enough to do that.)

Back at the Lone Pine, the green team, rolled up and I finally laid eyes on the wood burning truck I've been reading about. Wayne and his team came from Alabama stopping and showing off the truck along the way to Berkeley. I was most impressed that there was a _second_ word burning truck on a trailer. This team was dedicated and friendly.

There were rumors as to where a third contender was. The Homeschool Heros were in either Lee Vining or north of Bishop. It was unclear. Apparently some really dirty fryer oil had clogged the fuel intake in the diesel Mercedes. It was unknown whether they would make it to Vegas. We watched the two contenders take off, one headed south straight for Vegas, while the other headed north back into Lone Pine to scavenge some oil.

When I originally heard about this race, the scavenging for fuel requirement really caught my eye. It was what I thought might make the challenge impossible. It was also what I found most fascinating and at the same time realistic. I had the opportunity to follow the Prisoners on the third day and watch them scavenge for cooking oil on numerous occasions.

I won't give away their secrets, but I was fascinated by how simple it was. A bargaining. A way to interact with people from each town they went through. People loved learning about the car, and the race and when they learned they needed fuel, everyone jumped at the chance to be part of it.

Fuel procured, we were on the road and traveled through some of the most beautiful land in the world (by my opinion) - Death Valley.

Escaping from Hollywood, I mean, Berkeley, part 1

When I read about Jim Mason's "Escape from Berkeley" race from one of his email newsletters, I didn't think it would actually work. It was audacious and novel. It appealed to my love of cars and racing, the desert and mountains, and preparing for the apocalypse.

I secretly followed the updates, watching with anticipation, the growing interest and development. In the back of my mind, I had no doubt that I would see this incredible event first-hand. But I did nothing to further that vision. Content to follow from afar. Memories and extrapolations sated my wanderlust.

Then the world shifted, and a door appeared, where there had been none. I opened it and sat down in the front seat of Brian's station wagon. Brian, a judge for the event, was in the middle of one of his crazy travel schedules. (I'm constantly impressed where I hear he's been or going or is.) So here I was, saying yes, to come along as his sidekick.

We rolled out of Hollywood Sunday afternoon and headed North to Lone Pine. The desert scenery was a fresh breath of air and sitting shotgun as we talked, I realized some things about myself. I've been focusing my intensity on fewer things = those things getting more heather intensity than they can stand. I need creative outlets for this intensity, these passions, to express the craziness that lives in this fragile body. The flexibility and freedom to take adventures, which feed my soul.

We arrived in Lone Pine just after the Annual Film Festival Parade and the town was full of people dressed old time cowboy clothes - complete with noisy spurs, vests and cowboy hats. We killed time walking around the town - we killed 7 hours - mostly in the local bar, watching folks play pool and listening to their pics on the jukebox.

Apparently day 2 had not been good to the racers. Tioga Pass was closed and one team took the north route to Bishop and the others had taken the south route through Bakersfield. Most of us were passed out before the teams rolled into the checkpoint for the evening.

Day 3 started with hot coffee and soft gooey cinnamon rolls from the Alabama Hills Cafe. I love local diners and this one was really top. I talked to the owner who filled me in on the weekend film festivities and filled me in on the local terrain. Then we headed over to the starting point to check out the cars. I missed the start of the race in Berkeley, (I escaped from Berkeley 4 years ago) so this was my first introduction to the cars. There were two of them.

Happy Birthday Bruce

A morning text message reminded me that it's Bruce Chatwin's Birthday. I'm deep in his Australian desert  adventure - which reminds me of my own dream to motorcycle across Australia (although at this point I am willing to trade it in for a Land Cruiser).

That reminds me of something I said several years ago - something about having a kid and then heading into the bush after 3 years in LA. I'm in the middle of that 3 years. I've had my metaphorical kid and it's growing up just fine. And now Australia calls again. Will this be the year for 40 days in the desert? Oh, I hope so.

By the way - Happy Birthday Bruce. You continue to inspire me.

1300 mile highlights

Eight hundred miles in the past three days. (A total of 1300 in the past week.) Three states. Many states of mind. Much stimulation of the brain. Meeting new people. Getting to know acquaintances better. There are not enough words in my exhausted brain to even begin describing all that transpired the past seven days. I returned to Los Angeles a few hours ago - a car full of packages and a bit more worn for the wear. Both my fog lights were blown out Friday night after hitting a raccoon just outside of Sedona and a rabbit about 30 minutes south of the Hoover Dam.

I will try to pull out some snippets from my memory.

Most recently I returned from Death Valley this afternoon after a sleepless night filled with stars and conversations. A friend brought up two concepts I realized during our conversing I don't really know or use: Mercy and Happiness. I am not motivated to live my life with Happiness in mind. I have other emotions that motivate me. And about Mercy, well, it never even occurred to me. I don't think I even know what Mercy is. I generally wield the ax of justice and it definitely severs relationships. So this concept of pondering mercy and how to be more merciful, is intriguing and something I will meditate on - and perhaps practice.

Hiking at dusk in Sedona. I wanted to go to a magical place and instead the trail I chose went along an Indian resort. I was irritated and frustrated. It was getting dark, and it was not my idea at all to drive 5 hours to Sedona only to be surrounded by the sounds of cars and air conditioning and civilization when I was supposed to be in a magical place. I guess the Indians need to make a living too.

When I stopped to catch my breath on the trail at the twisted juniper right where the sign was posted "You are on camera, so don't jump the fence you stinky hikers" complete with industrial lights destroying the natural darkness. I spied a ledge - right in the middle of the light. I had a flash of inspiration and went straight to the spot - straight in the middle of the spotlight under the surveillance cameras and proceeded to meditate upon being in the spotlight. And so, instead of fighting my self about NOT being in the spotlight because that's not where I thought I wanted to be, I understood why I need to be in the spotlight because that is really where I must be. Inner conflict resolved.

I can't even begin to express how much the conference I attended in Tucson effected me. Over the next few days I'll try to write up some notes. I attended the conference to learn more about what science is doing around the study of understanding and explaining consciousness and the human brain. I left with the beginnings of a new language and awe for ourselves and awe for science. I plan to explore my interest in this subject more and more in the coming years.

I love driving in the desert at night. I put the top down and looked at the stars, felt the wind in my face as I drove back from the official conference dinner Thursday night at the Desert Museum. I put on Orbital Blue Album and took in the wind, driving fast and taking the curves. I am happiest at the wheel of my car, alone on a dark two lane twisty highway. My car is an extension of my body - I feel the vibrations of my tires on the road through my stick and wheel. I listen to the motor as I increase RPMs and slow down, shifting accordingly for speed or coast.

I wondered, why does this make me so happy? To be alone, a bullet speeding along. But then I stop thinking and enjoy the ride. This is truly something I love.

I felt the same way when I came upon the Hoover dam past midnight. I had spent hours driving through Arizona. Napoleon Hill was speaking to me in those midnight hours (and when the rabbit met her death under my wheel). I passed through the check point and then was upon the dam. A huge bright lit construction was being built above me. I was in awe at modern engineering. I slowed and looked at the new bridge. It was beautiful and massive.

A moment later I crested a hill and a city of twinkling lights unfolded below me. It was beautiful. And for once in my life I saw the beauty of Las Vegas. I found my way to the Strip and a posh hotel filled with friends. A strong difference of my last days in the desert.

There are many more stories to write. Many more things I want to share with you - my anonymous readers. But tonight I sleep. For tomorrow another adventure begins and I must tend to my dreams.

Checkmark Carkill: Another dream come true

• 20 hours in the car +
• A private ranch outside of Reno +
• Practicing my stunt car moves on a dry lake bed +
• Enough guns and ammo for a Hollywood blockbuster +
• 5 cars with death written all over them +
• The usual assortment of fire accelerators =
• A dream come true.

Recap 2007: A Year of Pimping and Promoting

I knew 2006 was going to be a hard year to follow. I didn't even try to come up with a goal as big as "to kick ass" for 2007, because I thought there was no way I could even come close. Instead 2007 was the year of 007- double triangle - the Jesus Year.

My goals were to 1) find my reason for existence; 2) pimp and promote; 3) simplify; and 4) create. At the bottom of list in my 2007 guidebook I found this in my own handwriting: "Rally myself into an unstoppable brand." I find that humorous. My only specific goal was to spend 40 days in the desert, because hey - it's the Jesus year, right? I didn't hit that one. I just couldn't take myself away from my projects for 40 days. So how did I do? Pretty awesome actually. Specifics after the jump.

Inspiration

Brian Johnson who started Zaadz a couple years ago is again working on his own site: ThinkArete. It's got some good stuff and big ideas.

Heather is currently offline

I'll be back online September 4th. Until then, have some fun!

Stunt School Videos

Here's my practice run: (See more videos here)