At last, i am back home. After 23,545 miles, 27 states and provinces, and 98 days, i finally am back in new jersey. I must say, it's nice to be home, but way too humid! It is interesting being back, i feel like i need to hop in my car and keep going. I think it will set in soon that i'm home. I've met so many amazing people, that i think i will forever stay in contact with. I've seen so many great wonders and have constantly almost died. This trip has been pure joy! So many days all alone, so much time to think and shape the man i am. Trips like these aren't for everyone, but it will definitely harden you, and make you independent.
After going all over the US and Canada, and to countless national parks, i've noticed something. I have not met one person that has shot film! I met up with my friend Eric in san Francisco, but i already knew he shot film and we planned to get together. Besides him, i haven't seen anyone shooting film photography. It seems odd, right? So many national parks, so many people, and not one shoots film? It first dawned upon me when I was at Arches NP. I was taking a photo with my 35mm camera, and only a few feet to my right was a man also taking photos. He seemed to be around his mid 70's in age, and yet, he was shooting a modern digital camera. Again, just to clarify, i have nothing against digital, I shoot digital myself. I just thought it was funny that i was shooting a film camera from the early 1970's, and this man three times my age was shooting with a camera from my generation. I suppose some people thought to be relevant they had to switch to digital? Maybe they just truly enjoy digital over film? By the end of this, i realized there are a lot less people shooting film than i had thought. It has definitely come back over the years, but i can only hope that more people begin shooting with it again. I have come home with 42 rolls of film, an 8mm roll, and polaroids.
So, what have i learned from this trip? Well, here are just a few things that i can think of:
- Don't go further than you are willing to come back.
- always fill your car with gas, even when you don't need to.
- Be open and trusting with people, but be cautious.
- ALWAYS carry a knife.
- Handkerchiefs are better than tissues.
- Use an atlas!
- Don't be afraid to try new things!
- be prepared, but be ready for plans to change.
- Be adventurous, be daring, have fun.
- Always tell someone where you are and where you're going.
- Take photos, but some things are better to just experience.
- BE KIND, BE HUMBLE, BE EMPATHETIC.
What i hope from doing this blog is to inspire you. I was never going to write a blog, i am just a very personal person, but i had many wanting to hear about this journey. So, from all of my posts, i can only hope that you want to go and see this world. There is so much sacred land, and so much beauty. It is easy to be comfortable and complacent, but it is more rewarding to step outside your comfort zone and live. There is a big difference between going through life and living life. As my boy Jesus says, you can be a believer, but that doesn't mean you are a follower. You can be living, but it doesn't mean you've truly lived. I planned, i worked hard, i saved, and i was able to travel. I didn't have help from anyone. You don't have to start a go fund me, just work hard and believe you can get to your goal. Every day is a blessing to be alive, go live and experience this world. I have some photos below shot by a good friend, Eric Leffler. You can check out his work at www.ericjamesphoto.com . I also have some shots of when i was making my bed frame. If you have any questions about anything, please don't hesitate to send me a message. Love you all, thank you for following my journey.
