I think I have just called the whole thing off. I realized today that this is not the style of "well traveled" that I want be. I can't simply skim through the world and think I know it. This trip has been an obsession of mine, but to much of it was wrapped up in this idea of effeciancy (trying to see it all in one shot, so that I can go back to the tv and sleepy way of american living). I may get a taste of a lot of cultures, but that is all it will be. I am thinking more along the lines of making sure that my life is in a place, that accomodates-my need for adventure, and time enough to connect with the people and environment around me. I am now thinking not so much of "traveling" but more along the lines of "retreat" or "immersion". How much do I think am going to actually learn about a place without knowing the language and having a rythmic routine that is based in that culture. Sure you can get by, but why not ask for more than just getting by. Stop living at the bare minimum. My life has been infused with so much passion over the last month. I have enough fuel now to push me into a more accurate expression of myself and a deepening of certain commitments and a clarity that will keep me hopefully on the right path. I think though for the moment that amsterdam is end of this particular journey. I once said in my life that I don't want to travel unless I can live in a place for a long period of time. I think that I forgot about this choice and got caught up being a overacheiver rather than a superexperiencer(if that is a word). I wanted it all now, but now I want to spread it out over a long period in my life. no more once in a lifetime experiences. how about many times in a life. How about as many second chances as you need. How about limitless possibilities. If you can imagine it, its not far off. Thank you everybody for your support.I am positive that if I keep going in this direction I am not going to experience anything but a lot of stupid monuments and pyrimids and will probably miss the heart of the culture I am in.

Having technical difficulties with locator

I will try to fix as soon as possible

a shrine

I am not religious. In fact I think religion does more to divide people than to bring them together. I had hoped though, that I would be able to feel the reverence that inspired people to build the beautiful churches and cathedrals scattered everywhere here. I did not. But one day I was driving on some back roads near kilkenny and I stumbled upon this altar on the side of the road. My instant reaction was "holy s#%t". I pulled over the motorcycle and had a sit for 30 minutes or so in the pouring rain. This place exuded a charge that was clearly from something special. It felt like sitting in front of a fire. It's always interesting to see where the GPS takes me. Sometimes it is a lot more interesting than the tourist routes.

Well needed retreat

I suppose the obvious thoughts that come to mind when people hear of Ireland are dublin, belfast, galway, I.R.A. Mindless killings. But when you get through the tourist veneer, you find a place where people are genuine, kind and always willing to help. I suppose the most interesting thing i encountered was the fact that people seem to know more about American history than i do. I felt a little ignorant at times. There was a story that I heard from more than 1 person about the Choctaw (I think) indians coming to the aid of Ireland during the potato famine. They raised the equivalent to 50000 dollors these days and brought a lot of corn. Apperently there is still some sort of march that happens in honor of those troubled times. I wish that was a story that I could have heard in elementery school, or even high school. Another thing that I think is interesting, is that 9/11 has effected the whole world. It has triggered something that is way bigger than just the United States. I think it has instituted a whole new era of global paranoia and panic that will have far reaching consequences.
I found a four leaf clover the other day. I was hanging out with a friend, who was 62 years old and he said "In all my time, I have never found one of those." I guess I felt a little special. My travels had started out quite sad. I was not sure how the I was going to make it a year without my loved ones. Things started to turn around though when I found a music festival in Rostrevor. There is even a song about it. I think I am a little bit of a drug addict. And my drug is American modern culture. One thing is true, i will always be American, but I am becoming more aware that the things I have chosen, were not in fact my choice, but a product of a certain set of options that I had sitting in front of me. I don't know that I can even be proud anymore. Everything inside has become a little suspect. Somewhere along the way the human species got split into many smaller but equal parts. When we expose ourselves to other cultures and beliefs, hopefully we can collect all those little bits and pieces of ourselves we lost.

I like the Irish roads when I am not sliding down them

Whoops. It seems I was following to closely. A beginners mistake. I thought it would be from driving on the left side of the road. This was my first time to fall. I thought my first would be on some backroad in Africa that was dirt or gravel not the nice curvy country roads of Ireland. Not to much damage done. I need to locate a mirror now. The rest can be fixed with the good old duct tape. I check myself out, a few bruises and some road rash, but I was on my way in 10 minutes.
I new it would be hard to travel alone. I have felt lonely with my best friends right by my side though. If I waited for my loneliness to go away I would never go anywhere. The style of traveling I am doing makes it possible for me to not have to relay on anyone except for food and gas. I have everything I need in the old mule. A tent, sleeping bag, first aid, cookware, tools, spare parts for the bike. It is a traveling autonomous vehicle-much like the huge land yachts that Americans use. I wonder if they actually see anything when they are so independent. Sometimes I wonder if this is a good thing. I am with a friend from Colorado and she is hitchhiking and depending on the kindness of strangers for her journey. She has little money, and so she is forced to stay in communal situations, i.e. hostels. These are big dorm style rooms where you are subject to the snorring of the other people in the room. There is something about traveling from this town to the next that is not conducive for building relationships. I should re-evalute my style of traveling. Maybe I could pick a place and stay in for a number of days, so that I can dig through the veneer of tourism to the more authentic experience. Regardless of that Ireland is friendly and beautiful. You really don't have to plan anything here. Just wonder, see which way the wind blows you. I had my first Irish campout last night, albeit on the side of the road. I was traveling down a desolate but beautiful coastal road when it looked like road turned into somebodies driveway. As it turns out, It probably was but went to the next town I was looking for nonetheless. Happy as a clam, I pitched my tent next to sheep, They did not seem to mind.

People kept saying "the people in Ireland are Lovely", but I didn't imagine. It was kinda like coming back home to a mate from high school. I lined up for the ferry across to Ireland and within 10 minutes this other motorcycle rider offered to have me come to his house and spend the night. As it turns out there is quite a motorcycle scene here and he knows of a few races happening soon. These tiny winding roads? Could be fun. I checked to see if I had reception on my phone when we got to his house. It said 11:11. From a purely superstitious perspective, I have heard that that means you are going through a gateway. Really excited to see what comes my way in near and distant future. I miss you all.

The loch ness monster and more

"Hello Mister Josh, Do you have a motorcycle?", "yes" I said. "Could you come down to the front office?". Oh crap, what is it. I went to the front desk and found two of Scotlands finest waiting to question me. Briefly I thought it must be about all those speed cameras that they have hidden every 10 miles. "Do you own a 2009 KLR 650?", "yes". "We found the bike down the street a mile or so". It seems that some kids thought it to be ok to take it for a joy ride. There it was just as if I had left it there. Everything still intact. I thought "surely I don't have to worry about my bike being stolen in the U.K." I am really going to laugh if this is the only place that it gets stolen.
After a couple of days for the fingerprinting process, I got my bike back. Northwest Scotland is some of the prettiest scenery I have seen so far. The people really begin to warm up also. I spent the next day riding along Loch ness. I did not see Nessie. Only a hand sticking out of the water in the shape of a head. This picture is one of the many castles in the area situated on Lochness. Rainbow anybody?