It's going to start with a suitcase, an airplane, and a camera-bag -- not necessarily in that order...

...and, probably, a tripod and a laptop.


Mid-January, I'm flying out to San Francisco, to make the cross-country drive with Sarah ( ) as she relocates to the east coast. We'll be taking a southerly route and she's going to be stopping in a couple places to work with photographers who've booked her to model. Our route is going to approximately resemble: LA, Dallas, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Washington DC, Morrisdale PA.

In August, I made pretty much the same trip (San Diego to Morrisdale) on a 1984 Honda VT500 Ascot motorcycle - stopping at various places in the desert, Fake glam-glitz Vegas resorts, cheesy diners on Rt-66, cheap motels, Waffle Houses, and the worst strip club in New Mexico. For me, it was an epic trip because I've wanted to make it ever since I was in college - my 45-year-old buttcheeks were somewhat less resilient than they would have been 25 years ago but it was a wonderful adventure until I hit the 40 degree cold rain in the mountains of southern Pennsylvania, a mere hour from home. It's funny that I'll be making more or less the same trip, again, less than 6 months later - but I'm really looking forward to it. Why not? Every trip is the trip of a lifetime.

Sarah and I are still kicking around ideas for fun ways to turn the trip into a bit of an artwork. The plan right now looks like I'll be hauling out a suitcase full of womens' clothes and lingerie (the Homeland Security guys always love me!) and my camera bag, my old cobra-skin boots (for me) my tux (for me) a tripod laptop, and whatever else suits my fancy. Since I'll be sitting around in diners, laundromats, or whatever while Sarah's working with photographers, I plan to keep busy by taking pictures, photoshopping them, and posting journal entries about the trip. I have loads of weird ideas and I'll be happy if even one of them comes out as it appears in my head. You can all look forward to the black latex dress' eventual appearance - if I can find a cheesy enough diner with matching red vinyl seats... Hold that thought. Sorry... I'm such a tease.


Stay tuned in a couple weeks and - with a bit of luck - I'll be posting trip updates and photos as we stumble around the country.


mjr.