After tommorow, I will be gone........

[Bennyboy]

Folks, I am headed out. Sold all my stuff and getting outta Dodge. Bought a motorcycle, a new camera and am off to see the good ol US of A. Won't be posting here much, no laptop so my computer use will be limited to libraries on the road.

My only plan is to make the Obama inauguration. I am thinking of riding the CA coast to LA then taking the southern route to New Orleans. Hit the grand canyon, Taos, Santa Fe, Austin. I ahve some relatives in South carolina nd Georgia and might like to try to make NYC and Vermont sometime.....

I just cannot deal with my parents any more, Death threats, spying, fliers about what an asshole I am, accusations of theft etc. I just have to go. My Mom won't control my dad and nobody else will either. I can't take the abuse and hate to see my Mom take it.

So I am out. One thing I would like to do is meet some of you all. So if you have ever thought that maybe you might like to meet me or might want to help me out when I am out on the road please PM me and lt me know your contact info.

If you have any must sees on the way let me know. Cool places to stay, hostels, places I can work for a day or two etc.....

Anyways folks, it has been a pleasure being here. It has been fun, full of shits and giggles, and I hope I did not piss too many of you off.

PEACE OUT< and OBAMA forever
Bennyboy.

[malta blue]

1. be safe Bennyboy

:hug:

[Bennyboy]

2. Thanks, I will try.....

Thankfully I am not one of the idiots on two wheels. I am going to try to stay off the interstates and maybe take Route 66....

[ikojo]

7. If you take Rt 66, you'll come through

St Louis.

[flvegan]

3. Stay safe while you're out there living life.

I recommend that you avoid Florida since you're on two wheels. Too many idiots.

Hope to see you online time and again.

[ikojo]

4. Bennyboy...

Do be careful as you travel the US. I am sorry you find yourself in this situation where you feel you must leave. Do post messages as to your well being when you can get to a computer.

Winter is coming on, as a matter of fact there may be snow in some of the mountains now. Maybe it'd be best if you did the southern route for the next five months or so.

May you get a book out of this experience!!!

[Bennyboy]

8. Yeah that is what I am trying to do.....

To show the beautiful people that live here in the US. To show the sights and the kindness that I am going to need to survive. I have faith in merica and it's people, but sitting here on the computer I am not getting that much. All I am seeing lately is the worst part of the american experience and people.(except for DU and other leftie liberal commie sites) So it is time for me to see things I haven't seen and meet people I haven't met yet.

Fortunately I am a huge guy, so I have never felt afraid in any city in the US, people are pretty much afraid to mess with me so that is a plus.

And then PHISH tour busts out in March and that will be some fun I haven't had in a four years so that will be something to do and some income.

BTW< go to Sirius and listen to the Dead for Obama show right now....

[ikojo]

11. Is it free? I don't have a Sirius subscription

PM me and I'll give you my email address. If you come through St Louis maybe I can get some scooter people together and we can all go out for dinner.

[Bennyboy]

13. yeah free.....

Three day trial if you sign up. Channel 32. And sure will.

[WinkyDink]

5. Take care, {{Bennyboy}}. Dig for a diamond in Murfreesboro, Arkansas!

[LeftyMom]

6. I'd offer you dinner on the way through, but it'd defeat the point of leaving town.

;)

Have a good trip and keep your helmet on.

[Bennyboy]

9. At the taco truck in Wilton?

Yummm......

[AlCzervik]

10. Happy Trails Bennyboy and please be careful.

let us know when you get to where you want to be ok?


:hi: :hug:

[alphafemale]

12. If you are ever in the Savannah GA area give me a PM.

It's a really beautiful area and there is usually some interesting things (and often FREE!) going on.

And if you needed it, we'd be happy to provide a few meals, and a place to shower and bed down for a night or two.

Nothing fancy but we do have a spare bed.

You wouldn't be the first deliberate wanderer we've hosted in our house.

[Bennyboy]

15. How cool.....Thanks a lot.....

I will be seeing some relatives in the GA and SC area so that is a for sure stop. I love the area.

[alphafemale]

21. Just be sure to get your absentee ballot.

:hi:

I'll PM you one of my email addresses, too. Just let me know what email addy to look for.

Good luck.

Be careful out there.

Yet I bet you'll probably never regret doing this.

Well...maybe here and there...when the cold rain is dripping down your neck...

But not really.

Not when you think about all the great and wonderful people you are meeting and all the fantastic parts of this country you are seeing.

And...Stay off the interstates when you can.

They look the same about everywhere.

[Bennyboy]

23. Already voted yesterday, in the mailbox wating for the postperson....

Who hoo. One more vote for Alan Keyes! [email protected] is my email addy. i will get to yuo thru the mail system on DU.....

[lost-in-nj]

14. Please stay safe and healthy

I envy you



:hug: :hi:


HAVE A BLAST!!!!! but know we care



lost

[Lyric]

16. Morgantown, WV area

give me a PM?

We'll gladly help out a fellow DU'er.

:hug:

[Bennyboy]

17. Thanks a lot.....

Never been to WV. Looking forward to that part of the country.....The Appalachian trail.....

[City of Mills]

18. Inspiration for the road...

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? — it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-by. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies."
- Jack Kerouac, On the Road, Part 2, Ch. 8



Took this pic today, must be a good omen! Good luck "On The Road" :)

[Bennyboy]

31. Yeah my On The Road moment......

I have been looking forward to this and now I am doing it. I am excited and at the same time scared to death. That is the perfect passage too, thanks for that..... BTW, Where is that pic taken? I don't know where Kerouak is buried. I ahve seen the scrolls though...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

19. My dear Bennyboy!

I'm in a suburb of LA, out on the coast! PM me when you get close and maybe we can set up a DU meetup!

There's bunches of folks nearby...

Stay safe, and have a ball!

I look forward to your occasional threads as you have access...

:hug:

[Bennyboy]

32. Thanks a lot.....

I know Venice will be one of my stops. I still have friends there from my time on the beach. If I remember correctly you live around Huntington doncha? I sure hope the fires don't get outta control again this year down there...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

45. I'm in Manhattan Beach...just north of Huntington!

I'm hoping too the fires don't get away from us this year...

Time will tell...


I'm south of Venice, not too far...Next door to LAX.

[Bennyboy]

46. Close....

I know it was one of them.... PCH all the way! nice drive after 10 AM!

[merh]

20. You need to check out this site

http://www.couchsurfing.com/

This is a group that open up their homes, make their couches available to folks.

Use the internet at libraries and cafes - stay in touch with all of us and if you head to the Gulf Coast of MS, be sure to let me know.

Have great adventures and safe travels.

[Bennyboy]

33. Thanks a TON for that site!

That is just what I was looking for. Thanks for the hospitality too! never been to MS, that might be a place I would like to see sometimes.

[merh]

47. I've read some articles and seen some news coverage of that

couchsurfing site, it seems like it really has been helpful for a lot of folks wanting to travel with limited funds.

I hope it helps you in your adventures - stay in touch on the board and have great fun.

[pitohui]

22. well good luck and feel free to drop me a PM

i'm in the new orleans area, however, for reasons i won't go into here i can't be around illegal substances so while i may agree w. your motto "hemp will save the world" i can't be around it -- be happy to buy you a beer sometime tho if you can opt for the evil alcohol instead

also i myself travel a lot so i'm not always available so don't be offended if i don't get your message in time

but if by some chance we are able to meet then why not?


get a national park annual pass and keep in mind not only do you get into the national parks for free, then you can camp at any national recreation area for a reduced rate, you mention the grand canyon well there are not many national parks in louisiana/mississippi, most are state parks, but there are national RECREATION areas and pull out that park pass, you can camp at these for half price i've been doing this a lot this year (tent camping plus air mattress, who needs a motel?)

enjoy your road trip, there's nothing quite like it

there are areas of GREATER new orleans where you can get free internet access -- in jeff parish no, you have to be a resident, in st. tammany yes, you just sign your name (or any name) on the paper and you can use the internet free for an hour, i don't know about orleans proper because i can always use a friend's computer for free in orleans...also in texas there is a lot of ability to use free internet at the public libraries

stay in touch!

[Bennyboy]

35. Great idea on the pass....

Thanks. Yeah I am looking forward to a burger and Monsoon at Port of call in NOLA. Hope to see you then. I am actually hoping to end up in NOLA when it is all over.

[bluedigger]

56. Hey Bennyboy!

I couldn't answer you at work, but I live on the backside of Port of Call's block and I have a spare room, if you are interested. I'll PM you with contact info. Come on down! Have a great trip regardless! :hi:

[DemoTex]

24. You must read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

If you have never read "Zen and the Art ..", get a paperback copy and carry with you. This Robert Pirsig text on the "metaphysics of quality" was used to augment the course text book in a philosophy course I took at Georgia Tech.

[Bennyboy]

36. Good Idea, I haven't read it in a loooong time....

Not since college in fact.....Thanks for reminding me

[Zenlitened]

25. Buy a pair of high-quality, wind-resistant gloves. Then...

... buy a second, water-proof pair!

Seriously, if your gloves get soaked just once and you don't have a way to dry them properly, the rest of the trip will be miserable.

:hi:

P.S. Newspapers make good emergency "longjohns" in a pinch. Early mornings in the Arizona-New Mexico desert are awfully cold when on two wheels!

[Bennyboy]

39. Good idea. Gloves are something

I have not given much thought to...I got some ski gloves but I am guessing they will only be partially suitable. Thanks for the tip...

[pokerfan]

26. fare thee well

Get your motor running
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
And whatever comes our way

[Haole Girl]

27. You are doing what I want to do!

Only difference, is, you are doing it!

I'm excited for you, but sad it is under such circumstances.

Just a few questions:

What bike did you buy?
How long have you been riding?
Do you know basic maintenance?

PM me if you come through the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, ok?

You might want to see some of the great suggestions in this thread (from the motorcycle group):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=393x1004

[Bennyboy]

41. Thanks for the thread....

It is a mid 80's Honda 550 shaft drive with low miles. Not the cruiser, but for the money I got it will have to do.

I used to ride a lot back in the day but not for along time. i ahve a few local things to do so I will be able to get my feet wet (I hope my feet don't get wet!) before I take off to see the good ol USA.

And yeah I can do some maintenance. The bike is good shpae so I hope I am okay. Got the AAA card if not.

[darkstar]

28. A song for you bruddah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtDd5htZ_A8&feature=related

post HERE when you get near St. Louis. I never check PMs cause I never get any.

Safe travels, amigo.

[Bennyboy]

42. Goin' where the climate suits my clothes.......

Goin' where the climate suits my clothes
Don't wanna be treated this a way...... I got my MP3 played loaded with GD for the road. Some SCI, Phish and FZ and a bunch of bluegrass....

There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
And if you go no one may follow,
That path is for your steps alone.


Thanks my brtherI ahve njoyed talking with you here. The DU Grateful Dead contingent. BTW, the show tonight was great. Truckin, US blues, Dark Star, St Stephen etc... Hopefully I will be able to send it to you tommorow.

[Forkboy]

29. Take care of yourself Benny.

And remember, the destination isn't as important as how you get there. Enjoy yourself!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

30. Bennyboy

PM me .. ..

[billyoc]

34. When you meet a bartender named Lavelle in Morgan City, LA, and you WILL,

run. ;)

[Bennyboy]

38. I get the feeling I need to remember that but won't......

Thanks for the headsup....

[auntAgonist]

37. BennyBoy, you're on the road taking care of you..

Please be safe, happy and know that life will get better.

best of luck to you.

:hug:

aA
kesha

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

40. I am so envious of you.

...only because I did exactly the same thing back in the day- I sold all my stuff (even my precious rock album collection) and hopped onto my bike and moved to Orlando. (It's a bit of a story for another time on how I settled upon Florida.)

If I could do it again I would in a hot second. One day I may. In the meantime, the best of luck to you in your Classic American Quest.

[Bennyboy]

43. Wow my son did that about a year ago...

Hopped a train and took off and landed in St Pete. He had friends there and now he has good job there and is pretty happy.

[Iggo]

44. Good for you, Bennyboy.

Everyone should hit the road sometime in his/her life. You may not be out there to "find youself", but you will anyway. Can't help it. And it's great.

I'm so jealous.

Have fun.

[LeftyFingerPop]

48. Take good care of yourself Bennyboy...

I will miss you around here.

Thanks for all of the music posts!

Best of luck to you.

[Bennyboy]

55. Thanks my deadhead friend......

Be looking for Spring tour with everyone and Warren to be hitting the road. Also SF shows with Phil and Friends and RatDog announced for NYE....

[BarenakedLady]

49. Take care

Sorry about your family situation.

Have a safe trip.

:hug:

[VenusRising]

50. Safe trip, Benny.

Check in with us and let us know you're ok.

:hug:

[gmoney]

51. sorry for the reason, but envious of the adventure

hope you have a long, strange (but great) trip!

[Mutley]

52. Good luck, man.

I hope you find what you're looking for.

[Bennyboy]

53. Thanks for all the love, tips etc everyone.....

Big time.

[raccoon]

54. Good luck! I'm glad you're getting away from your parents. nt

[harmonicon]

57. best of luck

If you find a way to ride a motorcycle to England, you're welcome at my place.