Mile 171.2 – The Geographer

“Trade winds find galleons lost in the sea,

I know where treasure is waiting for me.”

- Jim Morrison

Mile 168.4

“And I called the road my own
I don’t know when that road turned onto the road I’m on.”

- Jackson Browne

Aug 3, 2009 – The AP reported this weekend that the worst recession since World War II appears on the verge of ending. — It is amazing how things can look on paper.

Mile 999.93 -  June 2, 2010 – A quick flash-forward to the end. I finished the 1,000 mile trek across Salt Lake City today. In what has to be one of the oddest twists to this tale, and I am not making this up, at the 999.93 mile mark with less than 500 feet to go I was on 2^nd South walking west towards Main Street when who should turn the corner from Main Street and start to proceed east on 2^nd South, the Junior Senator from Utah, Bob Bennett. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of an ironic overtone as we passed each other; both of us signaling our disgust at the other as we exchanged glances. For both of us a journey has come to an end. I call this piece “Back to Salt Lake City” and why not, he turned his back on Utah for 18 years.

What a long strange trip it’s been. I’ve shot over 3,000 images on this trek, been stopped and questioned by the police no less than 6 times, been mistaken for a homeless person at least 50 times, been threatened with bodily harm on eight separate occasions and I lost count after 100 of how many times I’ve been the recipient of the bird finger.

The thousand miles is over, now what? O hell who am I kidding, since about mile 3 I have felt mile 10,000 calling my name.

“And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon.”

- Roger Waters

July 31, 2009 – “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”

-  Felder,  Henley and Frey.

Mile 160.3

Riders on the storm

Into this house we’re born

Into this world we’re thrown

- Jim Morrison

Mile 157.5 – “She hears them talk of new ways to protect the home she lives in,

Then she wonders what it’s all about when they break down the door.”

“Her name is Brown or White or Black, you know her very well,

You hear her cries for mercy as the winners toll the bell.”

- Robert Plant

Mile 150.1 – Waiting for work

Mile 147.1 – Another day

“And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong…..

And the world looks just the same
And history ain’t changed
Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war….

There’s nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right…..

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss”

- The prophetic Pete Townshend

July 23, 2009 – “Reform may be coming too soon for some in Washington, but it’s not soon enough for the American people.”
-Washingtonian President Barack Obama
July 23, 2009

Mile 143.3 – In the shuffling madness.

July 22, 2009 – A total solar eclipse took place today over parts of Asia. The eclipse lasted 6 minutes and 39 seconds in some areas and is predicted to be the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century. An eclipse as long as the one experienced today is not projected to take place until 2132. Long after we are all dead.

July 2009 map

Mile 138.2 – Tell everybody waiting for Superman that they should try to hold on best they can. He hasn’t dropped them, forgot them, or anything. It’s just too heavy for Superman to lift.
- Wayne Coyne

July 21, 2009 –  It was reported today that the public’s confidence in President Obama’s ability to handle the economy is eroding.

Mile 133.6 – Recycler

It’s encouraging to see that even in these tough economic times people find a way to try and make ends meet.

July 20, 2009 – Unemployment continues to rise in our fair state. Approximately 78,000 people, 5.7 percent of Utah’s work force is unemployed. It was also reported today that a third of Utah’s Legislature will be traveling to Philadelphia this week for the annual  National Conference of State Legislatures. This year’s conference will cost Utah tax payers about $75,000.

It’s not surprising to see that even in these tough economic times our state representatives have no problem spending our money an almost any damn thing.

July Map