I just had a good nights sleep at the Motel 6, thanks to some new friends I met playing banjo outside the tractor store yesterday Brittany and Kevin. They are in their early 30s and very kind people, they get by holding signs for money and food. Good thing is they can teach me good places to be playing and they also invited me to the FURTHER show in NY in a few days, saying that I would be able to get a ticket if I was with them. Apart from the money they make now, they follow Furthur as a food vendor and sneak around selling food. (not drugs.) They were very kind and invited me to stay with them in their hotel room all weekend until the trip to New York.
Maryland is a dry state. I still have my GA paper ID from getting my new ID at 21 which flies at most places, but in this state no one will take it. No alcohol in grocery stores, or gas stations.... strictly liquor stores. Good thing that I was able to drive 5 minutes down I-81 to West Virginia and grab some Yuengling. Treat myself after a good day of pickin'.
I made $115 playing the banjo in about 3 hours time yesterday outside various places. First when I stopped to get gas driving through MD, then at a rest stop (needed a break from driving), the K-mart (asked me to leave) and walked over to the tractor store which was probably one of the best spots. Not sure where I am going from here but having a good time and warming up in this hotel room.
Until Furthur notice..
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
3/23/11 Morgantown, WV
Now in the northern most part of West Virginia in Morgantown, the homeplace of the All Good Festival.
I did not expect to be here this early but West Virginia has been the most unwelcoming state thus far on my journey so I decided to drive straight through it to the one city that is awesome. The rumors of WV being full of hicks is unfortunately true. The people here have been kind and I am here at the bar working on the computer trying to work on a website job back from home. I will most likely stay here until the weekend as I am enjoying the town. A local bluegrass band has asked me to play their intermissions this weekend so I will take them up on that. I met a fellow earlier while playing a number on the banjo named Jamie who said he would give me some cash to help him unpack his new home after his hernia surgery. He showed me around his house and gave me a hot shower. (YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!) Turns out the fellow had been married twice, first with a female the second with a male. Although he was friendly he was not too friendly so I took him up on the shower and went back to the bar.
I cannot wait to get out in the mountains but due to the weather I have not been able to do so as much. Tomorrow I am going to see how much money I can make playing the banjo at local supermarkets in one day. Hopefully I can make as much as I did in Virginia. Apart from that, getting another $200 transfer to my account for the website I am working on.
Life on the road is costly. I have blown atleast $60 today in gas and toll roads. ($8.00 through west virginia)
But I am living life free from any ties and I love it.
It has not been long at all and I miss my friends still a ton and wish the best for all of them.
Tyler
I did not expect to be here this early but West Virginia has been the most unwelcoming state thus far on my journey so I decided to drive straight through it to the one city that is awesome. The rumors of WV being full of hicks is unfortunately true. The people here have been kind and I am here at the bar working on the computer trying to work on a website job back from home. I will most likely stay here until the weekend as I am enjoying the town. A local bluegrass band has asked me to play their intermissions this weekend so I will take them up on that. I met a fellow earlier while playing a number on the banjo named Jamie who said he would give me some cash to help him unpack his new home after his hernia surgery. He showed me around his house and gave me a hot shower. (YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!) Turns out the fellow had been married twice, first with a female the second with a male. Although he was friendly he was not too friendly so I took him up on the shower and went back to the bar.
I cannot wait to get out in the mountains but due to the weather I have not been able to do so as much. Tomorrow I am going to see how much money I can make playing the banjo at local supermarkets in one day. Hopefully I can make as much as I did in Virginia. Apart from that, getting another $200 transfer to my account for the website I am working on.
Life on the road is costly. I have blown atleast $60 today in gas and toll roads. ($8.00 through west virginia)
But I am living life free from any ties and I love it.
It has not been long at all and I miss my friends still a ton and wish the best for all of them.
Tyler
Monday, March 21, 2011
3/21/11 Salem, VA
Today has been a slow day for the most part. I've still been hanging out in Salem for yet another day. Good news thought is that I just bought my FURTHER ticket for the Colosseum in Hampton, VA. I will be heading over there on the 30th or the 29th and will hitch hike there since I have been itching to do so. I am going to stay with my friend Rob Pisaniello for a few days and catch the Dead show. Been working on a website for the Sun Deck Tanning Salon and working on Rocky Top for the banjo for the day. Jennie asked if she could stop by and see me before I leave and wanted to give me a gift. Sure enough, she got a ride with a friend and came by the starbucks (where I have been living my days here ) and gave me a little pouch and then left five minutes later. Inside was some goodies, a Steal Your Face magnet, a $50 dollar bill, and a cute lil' note. I have never met a girl so flattered by me before, yet she was held back from spending more time with me, not sure the reasoning why. Spend my day on the laptop in Starbucks on business and then played the banjo outside Dollar General for an hour, this time receiving $15 cash and an already scratched out $20 winning lottery ticket totaling $35 dollars. (Was not as lucky as to have 2 hours outside Kroger like I did yesterday making $50 since the Manager came outside and made me leave. I tried Walmart and they sent 3 people to ask me to leave as if im going to cause trouble.)
Hey, Im here to pick the banjo, not pick a fight.
Yet Dollar General was right next to Kroger and still made a lil cash to keep on going.
Got my oil change done today at an auto store that was looking for a web designer. Gave him a card and am looking forward to his email later on in the week to get started on his website. Still haven't met anyone here to have a place to stay at, this will be my third night sleeping in the Walmart parking lot. I need a hot shower.
I miss my friends a ton, its a little lonely at times but I am definitely making the best of it.
Can't wait to see FURTHER!!!!!!!!!
Tyler
Hey, Im here to pick the banjo, not pick a fight.
Yet Dollar General was right next to Kroger and still made a lil cash to keep on going.
Got my oil change done today at an auto store that was looking for a web designer. Gave him a card and am looking forward to his email later on in the week to get started on his website. Still haven't met anyone here to have a place to stay at, this will be my third night sleeping in the Walmart parking lot. I need a hot shower.
I miss my friends a ton, its a little lonely at times but I am definitely making the best of it.
Can't wait to see FURTHER!!!!!!!!!
Tyler
Sunday, March 20, 2011
3/20/11 Salem, VA
Walmart parking lot again... but what a kick ass day! I made $96 dollars cash today and all I did was play the banjo in downtown Roanoke. Not only that some gorgeous gal took me out to dinner! I guess I was just at the right place at the right time. I would be walking down the street just playing the banjo then a college church choir from Ohio asked me to play a song for them. Next thing I know I'm jamming on the strings with 20 college students singing in three part harmony. I thought I would try to see if I could make 15 bucks off of the street or something just for the heck of it. I had no idea I could walk away with more money than I have ever made in a day working any kind of full time job.
Also met some gorgeous hippie gal Jennie. She came and sat down and listened to me play outside of the museum of art while a wedding reception rolled in. She offered me a place to stay for the night, but while eating dinner her roommate came and told her she had to go hangout elsewhere with her boyfriend and that was extremely awkward. So this guy was definitely a dick and made here leave as if she didn't have much to say for herself. She wouldn't let me pay for me meal and enjoyed some awesome Mexican food downtown.
Pulled out the banjo once more and started playing around the bars while accepting free drinks. Had a drink in a bar called "Metro" due to a fellow buying me a drink. (asked for a Guinness) The fellow was from the country and he said you watch out that the bar had a ton of gays in it. Then 5 minutes later sure enough was the first time I got hit on by gay fellow.
Sorry, but if you want a handshake, I want a firm manly handshake not a caressing massage from both hands.
Headed to the next bar where they had plenty on draft. YAY!!
I am in starbucks in Salem right now, not sure what Im going to get into next but I am ready to do a little bit of business tomorrow in town.
Also met some gorgeous hippie gal Jennie. She came and sat down and listened to me play outside of the museum of art while a wedding reception rolled in. She offered me a place to stay for the night, but while eating dinner her roommate came and told her she had to go hangout elsewhere with her boyfriend and that was extremely awkward. So this guy was definitely a dick and made here leave as if she didn't have much to say for herself. She wouldn't let me pay for me meal and enjoyed some awesome Mexican food downtown.
Pulled out the banjo once more and started playing around the bars while accepting free drinks. Had a drink in a bar called "Metro" due to a fellow buying me a drink. (asked for a Guinness) The fellow was from the country and he said you watch out that the bar had a ton of gays in it. Then 5 minutes later sure enough was the first time I got hit on by gay fellow.
Sorry, but if you want a handshake, I want a firm manly handshake not a caressing massage from both hands.
Headed to the next bar where they had plenty on draft. YAY!!
I am in starbucks in Salem right now, not sure what Im going to get into next but I am ready to do a little bit of business tomorrow in town.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
3/19/11 Downtown Roanoke
Now settled in a sub shop about to get started on some work. I just walked out of downtown square with $30.00, a snickers bar (that melted), and a couple of smokes all for just having a good time playing the banjo! Ive played more banjo in the past 5 days than I think I ever have before.
After Boone, NC I took the Blue Ridge Parkway (best drive ever) and headed to Blacksburg, Va for St. Patty's day. Blacksburg is as much of a college town as Boone was, maybe too much so. I got my ID turned down at the first bar I went to, (I still have the paper ID and haven't received my laminated copy yet.) which is good since it landed me downtown to the other bars. After a few drinks I walked around the street around 11 pm jamming on the banjo. Drunk college students kept slipping me money even though I had no bag out for tips and paid for all my drinks that night. That and the student that pulled water bottles filled with vodka or some dirty ass whiskey and offered a swig. They sure got a kick out of the fuzzy green jacket.. I stayed the night with some new friends Kate and her boyfriend.
Nothing was going on there for a Friday night though expect getting shitty at the bar which I couldn't afford, and I could handle only so much of the college life. I headed 81-N towards Roanoke and ended up in a town outside of the city called Salem. Stopped by the bar (Awful Arthurs) and there was a live band playing that was pretty good. They were so diverse, playing lil' jon and the eastside boys and rapping going into I Love Rock n roll and Queen's We Will Rock You. Then they started jamming to some Metal. I thought it would be a good opportunity to let them know I had a banjo in my truck. Next thing you know Im on stage with the band playing Wagon Wheel and Rocky Mountain Top. Tried my first local beer Big Daddy's Dark Side. (and when I say I tried it, I mean I had 3 or 4 : / )
Despite of the offers of letting me sleep at their place, I decided it would be best to only have to cross the street to the Walmart rather than even driving a few miles since I had been drinking and slept at the Walmart there.
It is hilarious the looks I get when someone walks into the bathroom and sees me washing my hair in a Walmart sink with shampoo and a cup.
After Boone, NC I took the Blue Ridge Parkway (best drive ever) and headed to Blacksburg, Va for St. Patty's day. Blacksburg is as much of a college town as Boone was, maybe too much so. I got my ID turned down at the first bar I went to, (I still have the paper ID and haven't received my laminated copy yet.) which is good since it landed me downtown to the other bars. After a few drinks I walked around the street around 11 pm jamming on the banjo. Drunk college students kept slipping me money even though I had no bag out for tips and paid for all my drinks that night. That and the student that pulled water bottles filled with vodka or some dirty ass whiskey and offered a swig. They sure got a kick out of the fuzzy green jacket.. I stayed the night with some new friends Kate and her boyfriend.
Nothing was going on there for a Friday night though expect getting shitty at the bar which I couldn't afford, and I could handle only so much of the college life. I headed 81-N towards Roanoke and ended up in a town outside of the city called Salem. Stopped by the bar (Awful Arthurs) and there was a live band playing that was pretty good. They were so diverse, playing lil' jon and the eastside boys and rapping going into I Love Rock n roll and Queen's We Will Rock You. Then they started jamming to some Metal. I thought it would be a good opportunity to let them know I had a banjo in my truck. Next thing you know Im on stage with the band playing Wagon Wheel and Rocky Mountain Top. Tried my first local beer Big Daddy's Dark Side. (and when I say I tried it, I mean I had 3 or 4 : / )
Despite of the offers of letting me sleep at their place, I decided it would be best to only have to cross the street to the Walmart rather than even driving a few miles since I had been drinking and slept at the Walmart there.
It is hilarious the looks I get when someone walks into the bathroom and sees me washing my hair in a Walmart sink with shampoo and a cup.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
3/16/11 On Heavenly Mountain
I was camped out in the Walmart parking lot getting ready to settle down and started playing the banjo. Some fellow about the same age started up a conversation with me and had asked if I could give him a ride to his house 10 miles off. More than willing to give him a ride, little did I know it would be on top of a mountain in a place with so much history.
Heavenly Mountain was quite controversial when Kaplan started to develop it as a community for practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique and as a tranquil retreat for anyone, back in 1993. According to the official TM Website, 6 million people of different ages, religions and cultures have learned TM and “it is the single most effective meditation technique available to gain deep relaxation, eliminate stress, promote good health, increase creativity and intelligence, and attain inner happiness and fulfillment.” Most practitioners meditate for twenty minutes twice a day while a much smaller number choose longer programs known as TM-Sidhis, and still others choose a life of celibacy and meditation for at least a short time, belonging to either Mother Divine (women) or Purusha (men).
http://www.highcountrypress.com/weekly/2006/03-02-06/n_heavenly.htm
Half of the mountain community was abandoned as the locals feared it to be some sort of a cult and while fighting numerous lawsuits were evicted from the mountain.
A very peaceful place to say the least, met some great people, Chandler and Taylor, who were more than welcome to open their home for me.
Going to stay here in Boone, NC for another night then head off tomorrow to the next place which I haven't decided where to go. We shall see.. until then..
Heavenly Mountain was quite controversial when Kaplan started to develop it as a community for practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique and as a tranquil retreat for anyone, back in 1993. According to the official TM Website, 6 million people of different ages, religions and cultures have learned TM and “it is the single most effective meditation technique available to gain deep relaxation, eliminate stress, promote good health, increase creativity and intelligence, and attain inner happiness and fulfillment.” Most practitioners meditate for twenty minutes twice a day while a much smaller number choose longer programs known as TM-Sidhis, and still others choose a life of celibacy and meditation for at least a short time, belonging to either Mother Divine (women) or Purusha (men).
http://www.highcountrypress.com/weekly/2006/03-02-06/n_heavenly.htm
Half of the mountain community was abandoned as the locals feared it to be some sort of a cult and while fighting numerous lawsuits were evicted from the mountain.
A very peaceful place to say the least, met some great people, Chandler and Taylor, who were more than welcome to open their home for me.
Going to stay here in Boone, NC for another night then head off tomorrow to the next place which I haven't decided where to go. We shall see.. until then..
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