(Not the best framing, but hilarious upset Lulu after an unexpected swim.)

            Ten weeks of marathon traveling, logistics, meetings, shooting, planning and overall just being “On” (even in my sleep) have come to an end.  I am, of course, still the wandering vagabond photographer, but my schedule is finally a bit more open, and a bit more up to me.  You can argue that it is always that way, but I had purposely set up a very rigorous and inflexible timeline of goals and objectives over the last few months, and it is finally complete.

            Now it is back to the best part, shooting.

            We last left off in Fayetteville, West Virginia where I had imbibed in some good ole’ R&R for a few days.  After realizing that my time was up and the schedule beckoned, I bolted over to Blacksburg, Virginia for a great reunion with my buddy Luke Hopkins of Stride Stand Up Paddleboards (www.ridestride.com).  We caught up, did some scheming in the backyard (while planning out livestock possibilities in his mountain landscape), and delayed the oncoming 5-hour drive to Washington, D.C. where I had a meeting and we wanted to do some shooting.

            The next three days were very sleepless, but very productive.  From before sunrise to after sunset, the agenda was shoot, drive, plan, shoot, drive, plan, ending in an 11-hour rainy drive home to my parents’ house in Georgia.

(My tool of choice. I once had a teacher who told me to always carry a ladder and a shovel.  

Around water you don't need a shovel.)

            Comprehending that it (10 weeks of being “On”) was all over, I hugged my parents’ hello and collapsed on our couch.  After all of that, and a 10-month stretch of sleeping in my van, in driveways, on streets, mountaintops, next to rivers or wherever, I couldn’t even make it the last 30 feet to my own bed.

            I slept solidly, and immersed myself in the comfort of being at my parents’ home.  I probably would have snoozed just as well if I had passed out on the tile floor because when you are that drained, it is not about physical comfort; it is about peace of mind.  I had reached a personal and business milestone, and now it was time to revel in it by turning “Off,” at least for an evening.

            The next week was still very scheduled and productive, but it was spent with freshly brewed coffee and sweatpants while on my computer and phone in my brother’s old room overlooking beautiful Lake Lanier.  The weather was cold, rainy and perfect for my situation.

            Like I said, it was pretty busy, but I did manage to mingle with some old friends over the weekend, and I even had one amazing blowing blue sky day of sailing on Sunday.

            Of course, that all culminated into one massive Monday morning that held through all the way until right now, in a plane somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, on my way to Hawaii. 

            As these things go, there was just too much that needed to happen to worry about sleeping.  I am not too concerned about it though, because it is only in writing this update that I am getting a grasp on the gravity of my newest adventure.  It has been a temporary trip on the calendar for more than a year, and something I said I would do (although I am pretty sure I had some neigh sayers), but never really saw coming.  I’m not sure how that makes any sense, but that is the best I can explain it.

            So after 3 hours of sleep in the last 42, and a month’s fuel allowance on oversized and excess baggage, I am trading out El Guapo, the van in my parents’ driveway in Georgia, for Adventuress, my brother’s 37-foot cutter-rigged home in the middle of Honolulu, Hawaii.

            Aloha to my next marathon of shooting goals and objectives.

(I love black looking water in low light.)

(What a duo.)

            When this mobile journey started a year and a half ago, I can admit that I wasn’t really thinking about how it would affect anyone else but myself.  It was, like most life changes, initiated and influenced by a deeply concerning self-realization.  I didn’t want comfort.  I wanted challenges.  I didn’t want a routine.  I wanted surprises, and I didn’t want normal, I wanted something of my own.

            These were my thoughts and feelings at the time and they are my thoughts and feelings to this day.  But it wasn’t until last night that I fully understood the power of my own decision.

            Last night I was working on this blog post when I heard the “ding” alerting me of a new email.  I opened the email (from someone I had never met) and immediately felt that combination of shock, timelessness and self-reflection that you can only get when someone does something drastic as a result of your actions.  It stopped me dead in my tracks.

            At first, I was really concerned, then I grew a smile and slowly (I’ll admit it), my eyes watered over.  The email was short and casual, but full of intent and self-empowerment.  And that is when I realized that this journey is about more than just me.  The email reads:

            “Yo, I saw you drive your truck down my street in New York City the other week.  She looks like a very sweet ride.  Reminded me of the van I used to have back in Australia.  I’m workin, lining my pockets in the big city and man you’ve inspired me to get the hell out of this place and back to my roots.  I’m gunna buy another van and hit the road.

            Thanks a million and keep living the life man.  Zol.”

            Zol, all I can say is thank you.  You have paid me the ultimate compliment and I hope that your journey brings you everything that a life of surprises can offer.  And I hope to see you out there, somewhere.

            As Zol mentioned, I was in New York City last week.  It is definitely a crazy place to take a van like El Guapo, but we made it work.  Of course, making it work involved a 6 ½ -hour parking ordeal, complete with my younger sister acting as mission control from a computer and phone in Georgia, but it was worth it.  I owe you big time Tiff!

            The week was spent running around like an overwhelmed tourist with a portfolio book in one hand and iPhone directions in the other.  I met with as many editors, industry people, photographers, writers and strangers as possible, and I even made a friend out of a very happy-go-lucky character who offered some advice when he saw me struggling to find parking.  For such a big tough city, I found only helpful, kind and motivated people, which was inspiring and made me realize I will be visiting again before too long.

            The days leading up to the NYC trip were very hectic, but very fulfilling as well.  My older brother got hitched!  He is the first in my family to wed, so it was all new and surreal to most of us, but it all came together perfectly.  The two Best Man speeches flowed without issue (My younger brother and I were the Best Men and the speech was definitely heavy on our minds.), the weather was great and the crowd (myself included) had a great time getting a little rowdy on the dance floor.  Oh, and she said YES!

(The happy couple at the "Barn" where the reception was held.)