tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84135761994853665942024-02-18T21:40:01.477-05:00A Pitcher's Worth A Thousand WordsI have traveled to all 50 states sampling America's BEST micro-brews. I am a musician, dog musher, and author. I am in the process of getting a book about all of this published, so stay tuned or drop me a line at musherjoey@gmail.com if my story catches your eye!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-80655155634397235062012-09-30T10:15:00.004-04:002012-09-30T10:15:56.297-04:00Beyond The Blue Sky<br />
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What a time, what a time. Erin and I have been busy with our new jobs. I am so happy to announce my new job as a brewer at <a href="http://nattygreenes.com/">Natty Greene's Brewing Company</a> in Greensboro, NC. I truly feel the flow of the full circle. I have dedicated the last two years of my life to beer, brewing, and well, drinking well brewed beer! I had a two week training period and as of two weeks ago I was sent out on my own to brew on our 20 hectoliter system. That's roughly 18 brewers barrels, or for everyone else, a little over 500 gallons a batch. I typically handle three or four brews when I come in for my shift, five are usually made in one day. To see the process from start to finish is astounding, for there is so much in the way of timing that makes this science a true art. I am not quite to the art stage yet, though I am slowly learning how to become efficient and be a better troubleshooter. I must say this is no job, but like dog sledding, a rugged lifestyle. I am wet and hot most of the time, juggling Plato readings and ph levels in my short term memory, all while keeping the flow of several batches consistent. As far as North Carolina goes, there are no breweries like ours that produce as much beer with such few employees. A great resume builder, and a great opportunity to learn everything along the brew to bottle cycle. I have learned too that unlike home-brewing, many hands are involved in the making of Natty's beer. The brewers extract the wort and send it to fermenters, the cellarmen pitch the yeast, take readings, filter, and carbonate, and the warehouse employees bottle and keg. It is then distributed all across NC for you to enjoy. It is a very big operation, and I'm lucky to be working with so many talented individuals who truly care for the well being of our product. <br />
Erin had started at TS Designs, a screen printing company that focuses on two things; making NC organic cotton apparel, grown sewn, and dyed within the state's borders, and modeling a sustainable business plan. They have lots of green ideas implemented, including recycling water, energy efficiency through solar and wind power, as well as a garden out back full of delicious food. The chickens that eat compost from the co-op I worked at provide eggs, and the bees in the two hives made honey for the Mead that erin and I have fermenting at our house. I love the idea of this business, you should check out their interactive website <a href="http://tsdesigns.com/">here</a>.<br />
So as far as the book, I am peppered with free time to get the final drafts done. I am trying a new angle on the book. I decided that now I have the ability to look back on the journey and see where it has taken me, that I am re-writing the book in just that way. I was originally hesitant to do that because if I wrote it as I went along, it would lack that sense of plans coming full circle. I am excited to be writing the book this way, and am still planning in the release to be around Christmas this year. Though I have hardly any money, I'm hoping I can either get it published, or self publish and order a few hundred copies to get the ball rolling. <br />
My best friend and his fiance are getting married next week in Aspen, CO. Brad has been my good friend for 13 years, and he is that friend that everyone should have. He is hard working, loyal, funny, and able to take the conversation to the bottom floor real quick. He is grounding and uplifting all in one, and I am so happy to be able to fly out and celebrate his big day. It will be awesome seeing old college and high school friends, I'm sure we will all try to act like adults as long as we can, that is until we've had a few drinks:-) <br />
I thank you all for following me on my journey from mushing dogs in Alaska to brewing beer in North Carolina, it has been and continues to be such a positive force in our lives. I am proof that hard work pays off, and that sometimes you have to take a leap of faith to see the world clearly. I want to motivate those around me and help them meet their potential. Dreams do come true, and theirs nothing you can't do as long you don't have no in your heart! <br />
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Happy Fall everyone!!!!<br />
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JWPJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-20955423519814256082012-08-20T06:46:00.004-04:002012-08-20T06:46:58.685-04:00Hard Cider!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The competition was a success! The two beers I entered ranked between 21-27 out of 50. Beers in between 20-30 are ranked as "good" but I knew that what I was going to get out of the competition was some advice. Due to warm temperatures, I can keep my house at around 74F on a good day. This is the higher end of fermenting temps for what I make, and after talking to some judges, I learned that a lower mash temp and fermenting temp will give my beer more body. This was the case with some of the beers entered, so it was a great opportunity for me to learn something! Like most things in life, you think you have figured it out, and then several doors open. This is what the beer world is to me. <br />
I think back on my beerventures and wish that I had been brewing so that I could get more of the technical side out of the breweries. I would be able to understand yeast strains, hop varieties, and malt combinations much more. But that's the way it goes. I guarantee I wouldn't have homebrewed like I do know had it not been for those travels. I look at my brewing sessions very methodically. I get excited to sterilize and control my experiment the best I can. The power of my knowledge increases, but I want to remain a sponge as I interact with professional brewers and amateur brewers so that I can have unbiased approach to learning. Because it's beer, it generally is at least acceptable if it has alcohol content. I mean, people drink Budweiser and Coors all day and I hesitate to have them try an Oberon or an Old Scratch Lager. I want to appreciate the process in which these larger breweries brew. I have to hand it to the big boys because they are consistent all across the country, and that's what the people want. I know that I can't make the same batch twice with my current set up, there are too many variables like controlled temp and dog hair. I strive for this though, I want to be able to work on a system that produces identical results time after time. I am on the cusp of this however, but I'll remain cryptic until my next post, which should bring all of my blog posts together in harmony. <br />
Erin and I brewed hard cider yesterday. We took the approach of bottled additive free apple juice, naturally it was organic. We made two gallons, and heated it up to 155F and added 2lbs. of brown sugar to up the ABV. We also added clove, star anise, and ginger to give it a nice fall feel. Before adding sugar, the specific grvity was 1.04, and right before we sealed it up to ferment we got it up to a powerful 1.10! This means that our final ABV will be between 10-12%. This is the highest gravity blend I have made yet, but I'm hopeful it will be a nice sipping cider that we can have well into the holidays...if it lasts! <br />
SO the projected book release date will still be around Christmas, though I have vigorously been procrastinating the new direction I am taking with it. I think that writing it travel log style will accent my personality much more, as well as make for a fun read to beer and travel enthusiasts. I have really enjoyed recounting my past two years, it really makes me laugh when I put myself in that curious state of mind as I left Alaska and was yet to meet Erin and travel up the east coast. I have been lucky, but I must admit it's really hard not having the money I made in Alaska. I'm glad I learned how to be resourceful long ago, otherwise I'd be up a creek right now. I have been very hard working and patient while I wait for the future to unfold. I am in the midst of something great though, whatever it may lead to. I have been writing, singing, canning lots of veggies, and brewing up a storm with the woman I love, and to me there is no greater feeling. <br />
My parents have settled into their new home south of Cary, NC, and it's only a matter of time until we all go down for a housewarming party. My Aunt and Uncle will soon be visiting and I look forward to the company, as I'm sure my parents do too. I'm glad I got to see y relatives while I was traveling across the United States, it'll be a shock to us all when they see me living a somewhat stationary lifestyle. It has been six years since I've been in one place for this long, but I think I've done a pretty good job making Burlington my new home. Erin and I have made a lot of new friends that are solid characters. They have helped us network and find our groove in North Carolina, and for that we are grateful. <br />
I leave you today with the lyrics of my newest creation, the Homebrew Song, enjoy!<br />
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Grab the barley, grab the grains,<br />
pick your hops and a good yeast strain.<br />
Heat that mash, turn it into wort,<br />
ferment that beer for a week or more.<br />
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Listen to the bubbles peculate,<br />
it's time to bottle, let me demonstrate;<br />
pour twelve ounces and cap it off tight,<br />
hide it far away and outta the light cuz,<br />
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We're homebrewing tonight,<br />
we're homebrewing tonight.<br />
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It can be light, bitter, dark, or sweet,<br />
pilsner, porter, lager, brown ale, and wheat.<br />
It comes from the fruits of the vines from across the country,<br />
noble, nugget, fuggles, tomahawk, and victory.<br />
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yeah, we're homebrewing tonight,<br />
we're homebrewing tonight!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-57494875689177998332012-08-09T00:37:00.001-04:002012-08-09T00:38:01.790-04:00Grandpa Brown's Ale<br />
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In preparation for my book, I have took the necessary steps to control as much in my life as possible, so that I might procure that certain spark that ignites my left. I have focused so hard at work, genuinely making sense of new things and ideas, as well as establishing my skill sets to management. I look at life simply, but for everyone that is a different notion. My goals are giant, I set them up so that I dream big and keep the passion flower growing deep down inside. I have switched gears several times in the last two years, driving trucks, driving dogs, and driving my dreams. <br />
The book has been fun, about as fun as fun can get. I traveled so much and took in a lifetime's worth of experiences. I feel as though I catapulted myself into the unknown on purpose. I wasn't stuck, I loved my job in Alaska. I knew I would return after that first winter traveling around the East coast, but I had no idea that I would meet my future Wife, move to the South, and completely change my thermostat. I really can't function that well in the heat, so I've retreated to my produce cooler in hopes of daydreaming about Alaska while I organize the fruit shelf. It was during one of these sessions that I came up with a new way to look at the book I am writing. I have literally logged more hours than I care to think about because it was all out of love. I never have recorded memories in time, only the emotional attachment associated with the experiences I've had. <br />
I have looked closely at the pages I've created on Photoshop and printed out at work for me to scan over every so often. I think that what I'm trying to do is the wrong thing right now. The book is never finished, no matter how I try to wrap it up in my mind. I haven't found a publisher, I haven't had anyone give me lots of money to publish the book I want to see on a coffee table. Why? I wonder and wonder as I send another manuscript to another publisher why it hasn't caught on. I grab the Avocados and open the fridge, heading back onto the showroom floor, where life is once again happening. <br />
It's now day three after that particular event. I am three days from my very first homebrew competition. I have started on the second Chapter of my book. I have decided that I won't go with the reference/travel angle I have pursued thus far. I have great photos, great stories, and lots of beer knowledge. But the one thing that the book is lacking is character. I can tell lots of "remember when" stories, but that has been and always will be for campfire sessions. My best friend told me when we were young that my music was best when written about the people around me in my circle. So as I generally do in life, I take the leap of faith on a phrase Brad told me 12 years ago. I have chosen to write out the book travel log style, documenting it from the moment I had the idea atop the Denver glacier in Skagway, Alaska. It was in that cold canvas tent that one of the 200 howling dogs sang in such a tone that it clicked in my mind that I should travel and write a book about fifty States' breweries. <br />
It's so easy to me to write and write and write when I'm motivated. I can go all day, like a sixty mile run across the swamps and hills of Willow, Alaska. I will finish the book, the way it was intended to be written, the way I want it written. <br />
So as I go from beer enthusiast to beer competitor, I change hats focusing on what it will take to learn all I can from the upcoming event. Though I don't have lots of experience racing sled dogs, I have helped countless teams cross the finish line in one way or another. I was younger then, but I knew that with time I would understand a great deal more than when I had entered. I am proud of me today, finally brewing good beer, and surrounded my people who respect my passion for living the life I set out to live when I was 19.<br />
Just entering Mystery Brewing's beer comp. is a win in my book, for as they say in dog mushing, " getting the starting line is half the race."Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-9457880064884129052012-07-19T11:51:00.001-04:002012-07-19T11:51:33.392-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome!<br />
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Some of you will be seeing this blog for the first time today, which is a very lucky adventure in itself. If you've seen my link on the front page of the Burlington Times, thanks for following through and visiting me here!<br />
The project started out last Monday, after lots of preparation and planning. We power washed the brick on the North side of Company Shops Market, Burlington's food co-op, on Sunday and Monday night. Tuesday was a big job. After purchasing supplies from Home Depot, Priming was next on the agenda. Just shy of five hours, three of us painted the brick wall, which soaked up six gallons of green primer. After seeing just how big the project was, we were ready to initiate phase two of the project;outlining.<br />
Wednesday at 5pm, Leila who is CSM's operations Manager, and the produce departments Glenn, laid down the grid so we could start painting the outline. We chose a flat light brown color to map up the "shady grove," and that is where the mural is currently sitting. <br />
A lot of employees volunteered time with this phase, which is very important in reaching our deadline of this upcoming Sunday. Tonight, Thursday the nineteenth, you are invited to CSM to help paint the mural. It is fun, easy, and a great way to meet other Burlington residents!<br />
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I thank you all in advance for your support! This has been a dream of mine and Leila's for a while now, and after all the behind the scenes planning, it feels good to put our ideas on the wall. If you are at all interested in future projects, please email me at musherjoey@gmail.com. I will gladly help you make your business or home full of color, as well as help out along the way. If you read back into my blog, you will find that community is the basis of the creation of my writing.<br />
I have self funded every mile of my travels, and now am hopeful that I will raise enough money to publish my first book, which is set to be published my this December. You can help by donating at the bottom of this page and also by contacting me with leads on North Carolina publishers that might be interested in publishing a book about the craft of brewing locally. Thank you again for visiting and I encourage you to scan the several posts of the last two years of my life. Have a great day, and we'll see you down at the Co-Op Thursday and Saturday night around six pm! <br />
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JPJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-30193005973607494472012-07-12T11:58:00.002-04:002012-07-12T11:58:38.642-04:00Home is where the beer is.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I must admit it took some time to really settle in, but isn't that how it works?<br />
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Since gardening I have had to transplant herbs, flowers, and vegetable plants into bigger pots as they grew. Each time they were introduced to fresh, new soil, there was a period of adaptation. Consuming all available space, they reach their new home within new dirt, where they must thrive to stay alive. Plants have no fear, they accept all that is around, in part by choice, in part by imprisonment. I have found my roots slowly exploring, soaking up the nutrients of information, making them stronger, wiser, and exposed constantly to new Earth.<br />
It's great having a potted garden at the house, I can control much more in the way of growth, light exposure, and water levels. I have found an immediate connection between gardening and dog sledding. I am caring for something that needs my attention, and also requires an infinite amount of patience for a successful outcome. Like plants, dogs tell you when they need something, it's up to you to diagnose and procure the very best results with what you have. The garden at our neighbor Randy's is in six raised beds, equipped with a 10'x10' trellis for our hops to soar. Needless to say, but because I started with that phrase I must indeed say, I love gardening. <br />
Pj, Jaime, and Bandit came up from Florida a week or so ago for the weekend. Phoebe, who is Erin's dog, stayed the weekend while her family went to see William graduate in Nashville. We visited Asheville, Saxapahaw, Raleigh, and Hillsborough, while braving the 100 degree heat. We scooped up lots of homebrewing supplies at the <a href="http://www.nashsthomebrew.com/">Nash Street Homebrew shop</a> with the goal of brewing that night. Mystery Brewing Company is holding a <a href="http://homebrew.mysterybrewing.com/">competition</a> for a southern brown ale. Pj and I made a killer batch, adding fennel and popcorn near the end for aroma. I think it will be entered into the innovative category, depending on the final products aroma. I also brewed a batch with Stephen, CSM's front end Manager. I should have prefaced that acronym with a little sentence on my place of employment. Company Shops Market, Burlington's CO-OP, has been my home for 40 hours a week. I dabble in bulk foods, meats, and grocery, but my heart lies in Produce. Caring for veggies and fruits, I have become attuned to the seasonal availability of sustenance. I have learned a lot from Dave and Glenn, both produce junkies, and I'm thankful they've taught me so much so fast! Back to the beer.... Both brews checked out, brewed and they are a week and three days apart in age. Home brewing my third brown ale, I had the foreshadowment of it all. This is my new passion, gardening and homebrewing. I am so lucky to share all of this with erin.<br />
As I read "On Writing" by Stephen King, I am reminded of the hardships of life, writing, and finding your voice. In the "Rum Diaries" Hunter talks about a veterans journal of poems and writings that far exceeded the Authors' mind's age. Hunter complained of not being able to find his own voice, and King found difficulty in continuing without a voice. Both writers kept writing, and kept writing...and kept..until they began the momentum of a rolling stone pouring pigs blood all over the prom party floor. (Two references, maybe a stretch for some.) I am a slow reader, but I listen, and that's what counts.<br />
So as I've taken a little siesta from writing, I am once again hopping on the creative horse of the great white page, to bring back the subtle flame that ignites my ideas. Music, brewing, loving, gardening, and producing produce sit comfortable in my new pot, and I can't wait to see where my roots travel next, as I make this patch of Earth my home, and stretch out to new soil's prospective opportunities.<br />
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Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-17605202162602035662012-05-16T10:53:00.000-04:002012-05-16T10:53:06.008-04:00Taking Root<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin hard at work in her gardening clothes;-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enemies meet eye to eye</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Company Shops Market</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Hops</td></tr>
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Luckily the last few weeks have been temperate. The rain has helped water our crops, and our hops are finally starting to take root and explore the sky. We have already enjoyed some lettuce from Erin's garden plot in Gibsonville, as well as the mescalin(sp) in ours. After sitting in a few pounds of strawberries from Julie, Erin's mom, I decided to get creative. I dehydrated most of them, making a great addition to tea Erin made last night from our mint plant outside. I let them dry out a little bit too much, so snacking on them isn't the best, but mixed in a tea releases that sweetness and aroma you look for in a summer drink. The other 11 strawberries were used in my second home brew, an Autumn Amber Ale. It was impulsive, but I boiled the strawberries for the last ten minutes of the brewing process, and then steeped them for another fifteen before pulling out what I could with a sanitized spoon. <br />
I can smell the sweetness in my fermentation tank, a promise that there's not only good balance between bitter hops and sweet berries, but also plenty of sugar for the yeast to consume. My air-lock, which is a one way valve letting CO2 out and keeps oxygen from getting in, was dismal at first, compared to my first brew. After research, I've decided I will implement some chemistry skills and follow the process using my hydrometer instead of watching for bubbles. My OG, or original gravity reading is the cornerstone for this experiment. It is essential to record the initial amount of dissolved solids in your wort, so you can track the decline in consumed sugars as the yeast goes to work. Water has a specific gravity of 1, and the closer you get to secondary fermentation or bottling, the closer you want that reading to be to 1. Generally you are between 1.080 and 1.020 with beer, and with wine you should be a bit closer to one due to higher ABV, or alcohol by volume. Spirits may read below one, because of alcohols buoyancy being less than water. Think of a boat in the water. If its salt water, it'll float higher than fresh water. The amount of dissolved solids prop the boat up higher, thus letting me know there is a higher specific gravity.<br />
My goal is to brew 100% from non extracted malts like a real brewer when my brother and his wife come up to visit. The addition of the second home brew was that I crushed my own grains, which I did with a pint glass. This releases the nutrient rich endosperm, but also leaves the husks of the grain behind to help filter during the boiling process. It was an important step to learning the process just a little bit better. I learned how to read a hydrometer correctly, and became more familiar with the equipment I'm using. Sterility is so important, it eases your mind for the next three weeks while your beer brews. You never want to doubt cleanliness, because a brewer's mind tends to wonder with the eminent "what went wrong" frame of mind. <br />
All this has been my free time. I have gotten close to forty hours a week of work at the co-op now, after busting my ass for a month, in hopes of moving my way up their local ladder. I am passionate about whatever I do, and am beginning to see the big picture at the store. In the produce department, where I spend the majority of my time, I am building relationships with the local farmers that bring in our vegetables, as well as our fruits. I also dabble in the meat department and have met a few folks from Braeburn farm, where we buy lots of really good meat. They are located 25 miles from the store. The importance of this local movement is our future. I am beginning to change the way I think and eat. Do I get a dollar cheeseburger at mcdonalds, or do I buy a two dollar samosa made 5 miles from where I purchased it? The result is that one I don't feel like shit from eating garbage, but I've also put money back into my community, not some corporate monster that I'll never have the pleasure of meeting. This job goes right along with my new found passion of farming, gardening, and brewing. I am so lucky to have a beautiful fiancee that knows so much about local sustainability as well as gardening and farming. Erin is an invaluable resource while I experiment with all this earth work. Erin got accepted into a yoga instructor school in Greensboro, which I think is such a step in the right direction for her. She is meant to make peoples lives better, and I can't think of a better way for her to start off doing that. When we had a partner yoga session many moons ago, I felt the power of Yoga, and how important the connection with yourself is,as well as your partners, while you prop her up with your legs while on your back. This summer will be great, and we're looking forward to getting the ball rolling on our wedding plans, which have seemed difficult due to our own lives needing planning. We are both ready to get married, but we want to do it right, and we want it to be at a location where we can have our friends and family from out of state visit without long flights and road trips! <br />
So as it is now, I have set up the new place and it is finally becoming a home. I have plenty of space for dogs and friends, so let me know when you want to come crash for a while, the doors are always open! Have the best week of your life, and always extend a helping hand to a stranger in need :-)<br />
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Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-81085840268047210142012-05-08T22:50:00.002-04:002012-05-08T22:55:01.523-04:00Lands End->Fire on the Mountain<br />
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Sometimes you gotta grab life by the hand and shake the hell out of it. The first time I felt the power of a fourteen dog team in the woods of Northern Michigan, I understood that power and strength are no match for the greater forces at work. With the snow hook planted deep, a hitch fashioned for quick release, and a steady mind,I prepared myself for the future and its consequences. Lunging forward towards <i>wild,</i> these beasts "pop" the first brake, pulling myself and the sled tightly against my fastened hitch. I found myself too far <i>in</i> to go <i>back</i>, so I sprung out at the hitch undoing her safety loop ready to two-step back to the wooden sled. I would not be on time for departure though, even though I was completely focused and present. Maple the lead dog led his running partner Oz clear into the <i>known.</i> I chased, jumped, grabbed on, slipped, <i>let go. </i>I learned two things that day; you can't catch fourteen dogs that are working as one, and you can never let go of leading life with your hands on the wheel.<br />
So I decided to apply at the Co-Op in Burlington. Red Oak was a myth, I did enjoy interviewing though. The guys that worked there were very nice, but I guess that type of brewery is not where I'm meant to be. The day I found out Red Oak was out, I was one week into my first home brew. I've since drank and shared just about all of that batch. I think it came out so good for my first time brewing beers! Three important qualities I was searching for in "Burlington Brown" were 1. Head Retention 2. Carbonation(natural) 3. Taste(bitterness). They passed, and though top of the keg versus bottom are somewhat distinguishable, I enjoyed making it the whole way through. I can only drink two, I tried three but fell asleep. Pretty powerful at 7.5%ABV, It's gonna be sad to see her go! <br />
Those beers and a 3 lb.box of fresh picked strawberries from my future mother-in-law, are all that reside in my new home's fridge. Well, there is some out of date dairy from work that I'm experimenting with. Tut and Ketza have found their favorite corners, squirrel outposts, and puke spots in the house and have settled in nicely. I've painted, caulked, touched up, patched, and cleaned this rental home. All the skills I learned working for Sedona Homes LLC in Michigan got my engines revved for some grout work and window blind cleaning. <br />
I'm close to my job, got a bike from my bro, and got a great beer review from my Dad, who tried his one of two beers for the year last night. <br />
Music, Family, Love. Three most important folks. Love is blind, Love is distant, love is close, love is divine. When ever possible you should love someone. At the simplest level you should treat everyone with as much respect as you think you deserve. When I meet close minded people I am intrigued by their commitment. I myself lack that commitment in some areas of my life, and wish I could use an expression to analyze, evaluate, and regurgitate the appropriate response. I feel it is time for us home brewers, beer lovers, <i>hopsters</i>, and us self proclaimed adults to be that change. I'm gonna start by hooking Tut and Ketza up and running them around the block on my neeewwww bike. The weather for now holds low in humidity and lows in the high 50's. It's the perfect temperature to ferment some water- logged wort. <br />
Erin has met some great new people, our garden is blooming, our love is strengthening. On this day I don't miss Alaska, for Alaska is right here in my heart, and has taught me how to be a man of the new interior's frontier. I end with a poem, the first of many I promised in earlier posts. Wait, that wasn't the poem, neither is this, I'll just end with a toast. Toast!<br />
<br />
Summer delivered us a pardon,<br />
A tree branch lends a hand.<br />
The roots beneath begin to harden,<br />
We have the mountains, oceans, and sand.<br />
But nothing will beat our first garden.<br />
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<br />Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0Burlington, NC, USA36.0956918 -79.437799136.0443698 -79.5167631 36.147013799999996 -79.358835100000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-83910678019087464922012-04-17T09:54:00.000-04:002012-04-17T09:54:05.163-04:00Hops in the ground!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M97dqs3SJd_WuZRyNFMFweMIPXepyelAc13044eoAr1zG5yXnEnr3bLZFxJERlrxtsPd0Zz22oQXX9j7Y9hki7OcVsoDbc33PxJYEZf11EePIqGn5Cz_YOSCbSV4m2dnpYFYvEXDzEE/s1600/IMG_1602+(533x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M97dqs3SJd_WuZRyNFMFweMIPXepyelAc13044eoAr1zG5yXnEnr3bLZFxJERlrxtsPd0Zz22oQXX9j7Y9hki7OcVsoDbc33PxJYEZf11EePIqGn5Cz_YOSCbSV4m2dnpYFYvEXDzEE/s320/IMG_1602+(533x800).jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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Last week Erin planted all three of our hop rhizomes at our neighbor's garden here in Burlington. We selected Cascade, Centennial, and Golden hops for our very first hop experience! Our neighbor Randy has let us use his garden for our seasonal session, and we couldn't be more appreciative of the space. Erin has gone to the ground in efforts of cultivating several different plants. The list is long of what she and I planted, but I'll be sure to post pictures on Facebook and my blog so you can see the process.<br />
My beer has exactly 8 more days until it is ready. I am now starting to see just how hard it is not to tap one open! Julie and I bottled it last Wednesday, and yesterday I got the labels in the mail, we're calling it Burlington Brown Ale. I still see some sediment in the bottles, but it's starting to look like real beer as the yeast eats away at my last addition of sugar for carbonation. I am excited to share my first batch with everyone in the area, and also am hopeful it doesn't taste flat! <br />
The house hunt is coming to an end, we've narrowed it down to a couple houses close by that are real finds. The first is a house with about a half acre that's fenced in. Though the home doesn't have much character, it is definitely nice to have some space to garden, play with dogs, and unwind after a long day of work. The second is actually a duplex a bit closer to Erin and her family. The house is probably a hundred years old, and the upstairs apartment is what's for rent. This rental has SO much style, with built in cabinets and a fire place, along with a walk out patio that's shaded by huge oak trees. It feels very safe, and even though there isn't much of a yard, it is close to dog parks, and also closer to my work. I put in an application this morning for the second, and am hopeful it will pass all tests. I chuckled while filling out information on past landlords. For the last six years, I have lived in a tent on a glacier or in the woods in the summer time, and lived in handler cabins in the woods of Alaska training sled dogs in exchange for rent! It's tough to convey this in a one page document, but I'm sure it will all work out!<br />
Red Oak is coming along, I just got done with a week waiting period to mull it all over in my head. I know that we'll be here in Burlington for a long time, but it's tough for an employer to look at my resume and see that to be true. My wings are tired, I tell them, and I've found a good perch to start a life from. Though my hours are inconsistent right now, I'm hoping that once they get the ball rolling on my job, I'll have more kegs to lift and beers to bottle. I'm super excited to build relationships with the folks I'll be selling beer to, but I'm not quite sure if Red Oak knows what kind of employee they hired. Basically I have been doing this job for the last two years, except I've been on the consumer side of things, as well as trying to sell an idea of a book about beer! Once I get working, I'm sure they'll see me in clear light and realize how lucky they are to have someone as dedicated as me in their system. <br />
SO as I wait for the owner to call me, I'm training Tut to do a couple new tricks. This weekend, I tough him the "bang" trick. I point a "hand" gun at him and he barks, then lays on his back, then flips over and gets back up! It's pretty awesome to see your pup do new tricks. The second is more time consuming, but with lots of work and practice, Tut will hopefully learn the famous back flip. Usually I see border collies and small dogs do this trick, so in my mind it's hard to visualize Tut's long legs making a full rotation. I am using, as suggested by YouTube, a Frisbee to train him. I create an imaginary box over his head, and try different approaches to see where his body wants to go. Then I throw...and throw...and throw... to get Tut practice in twisting his body. After playing tug of war to get him stoked on the Frisbee, he pays for attention to it as it flies through the air. Maybe in two weeks he'll have it down, but for now I'm just appreciative of all the time I get to spend with my favorite pooch. Ketza could care less about all of this, she's just content laying down in the clovers chewing on her stuffed pig hoof. She humbles all of us at times, knowing what she's accomplished in her life. Her transition from husky to "houseky" is complete. She doesn't stress out about hardly anything, and because of that her appetite has improved greatly. <br />
This week and last I have talked with publishers, and have dedicated myself to one in particular. Though it will cost ME money, I think having this guy as an agent along the way is worth it. I can slowly take things step by step to ensure the finished product is exactly what I want. So until next time; keep your beer fresh, your dogs tired, and your future Mother-in-law happy!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-66780627755511829902012-04-10T11:18:00.000-04:002012-04-10T11:18:58.349-04:00The First Batch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvgCjbQB9YebnUXgWnUOsNYZnT5cK983EAi35QNTE5SoALBwq39fvgOrCmuq4nxTsqAbGFNzX6kY17vOxyllLao8jvgyFWIapIND_rbCx3EW9pBpst__M7noOXUmj_FhA9ExepuTw7c0/s1600/IMG_9687.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvgCjbQB9YebnUXgWnUOsNYZnT5cK983EAi35QNTE5SoALBwq39fvgOrCmuq4nxTsqAbGFNzX6kY17vOxyllLao8jvgyFWIapIND_rbCx3EW9pBpst__M7noOXUmj_FhA9ExepuTw7c0/s320/IMG_9687.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Well it comes to no surprise that after visiting 100 breweries I'd try making the stuff myself. My big brother bought me a full on beer kit last week, and the next day I brewed my very first batch. It was what I'm sure is a very typical first timer beer recipe, and the kit came with my choice of several beer recipes. I chose my favorite, brown ale, to kick off my new hobby. I filled Erin's parents house with all kinds of malted goodness, and though the process took me well over two hours, I didn't hear any complaints of banging and splashing the next day. I sanitized everything super good, like any Pawelek does, and put the wort into the fermenter for one week. Yesterday marked the one week period, and on Wednesday I'll bottle it for four weeks until it's ready. I'm kind of amazed I haven't brewed beer sooner, but really I haven't been in one spot long enough to enjoy the brewing process. <br />
Last week I started my training at Red Oak Brewery, in Whitsett, NC. I drove around for three days with different drivers learning how they sold and distributed beer, and got to know them fairly well. I was really happy with how they loved their jobs, I mean, selling quality and talking to customers about how unique the product is is something I'm used to, but I really think I found my new home here. The guys are really nice, hard working, and fun to be around. I didn't think in a million years I'd be slinging kegs in North Carolina, and I also didn't think I'd be so damn lucky to find such a cool place to work. They are all about fresh. The beer is not pasteurized or filtered, and according to a purity law in the early 1500's that they adhere to, no additives are allowed in the beer. There are over 400 additives allowed in US beer, but they only use the four main ingredients in beer; water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. They self distribute, which is at times difficult when trying to expand, but they remain focused on their quality and it shows pint after pint...after pint :-) <br />
This week Bill the owner wants me to think long and hard if this is the job for me, and trust me I've thought about it. Life has lead me all over creation, and for once I'd like to work on my life as a Fiancee, husband, and eventually Father. I know I don't want to lift kegs for the rest of my life, but my story has so much to offer to a company like this that holds its employees up high. They are growing and changing and I think starting out in this position will only give me more of an idea of what this industry is about, and help me grow as a career oriented individual in one of the biggest and oldest industries around. Red Oak is NC's second oldest brewery, and with the operation they have, will be around for a very long time. I highly suggest checking out their website at www.redoakbrewery.com, and seeing the pics of the actual brewery. It is nuts how high end everything is. It is clean, fresh, and consistent. <br />
So as I wait till next week, I have a lot to get finished and even more to get started. I have talked with a couple publishers, and will make my decision soon as to which one I'll go with so I can get started with the next phase of the book. It's a lot to do, but most of the work on my end is done as far as writing goes. I have about 20 more stories to write, and then I'm done. I'm really happy with how it's all turned out, and am thankful for all of the support I've had while making this transition. <br />
The house hunt has been going, and right now Erin and I have our eye on a house in Gibsonville, only a few miles from our work. There will be a lot of rentals opening up, but it's been tough choosing because I want the dogs to have a place that works for them too. I also am hopeful that I can stay afloat with the money I have until I get rolling with work. Luckily, I've been able to stay at my parents house, as well as Erin's, which is so nice until I choose a new home. Tonight I'll stay with Jeremy and I look forward to winding up my nephews a little bit while I'm in Cary. The weather is heating up, but we've been lucky with sunshine, and even more so the A/C. <br />
I got a check in the mail the other day from Mushing magazine for the story I wrote in the October issue, and to my surprise it was a good chunk of change! It inspired me to send a couple more stories their way, as well as a couple other magazines. I love writing, but sometimes it's tough to have everything align for the optimum writing session. As is the life of an artist, we seek so much in hopes of tapping into our creative side, that we occasionally lose sight of the big picture. I was in Nashville, TN for Easter and the house Erin's family rented was owned by a singer/songwriter who has had such a great ride writing songs for famous artists. I thought about what it would be like to do that for a living. Lots of highs and lows in the music industry, as I've seen, but she reminded me that you'll always have that passion, but it's up to you to stay sharp or become dull in an industry that's ever-changing. We played songs of hers and mine, and shared our insights into the world of music, which always humbles me especially in the music capital. <br />
The biggest thing this week for Erin and me is setting a date for our wedding. We are looking at March 2013, and have made the first steps into deciding location, guests, and food. I know we are soul mates because we want the same things in life. We get stressed out at the same stuff, and all around react to situations the same. It's difficult for independent couples like us to plan out big things like our future and our wedding, and sometimes we forget there's another person in the relationship. We are so eager to start the next chapter in our life that we let the short term get us down too much. We have done so much together since we started dating, and that helps us remember how strong our love is, and that no matter how much we have done before committing to one another, our future is what we will both have forever. We are both very lucky to have each other, and I'm so happy to be with her in North Carolina while we figure out what's next. For now we will work on making save the dates and invitations, and start calling our culinary family members to plan cakes and pig roasts. We are pretty sure Virginia is where the wedding and reception will be, on her families farm, and that's a really good start. So you will just have to get used to me talking like a adult, and occasionally clicking on wedding ideas I've pinned on Pinterest, because this the life of a man who walked out of the woods and into his life, ready to live it, with his two dogs and beautiful wife :-)Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-540585014423042132012-03-29T15:39:00.001-04:002012-03-29T15:50:05.041-04:00The first rough Draught!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmSKmySpTHCHVoZDgQYrCpKteHwDQq9Y8gMrwpA2FNOmje1vwa5Yw0BoLtThX-5AdevAMF1ZDp4f3eP1NscGhFLXwy7k6KjQ7ZV9SycrsmFn3cxtF63pfiQGHPYrA3i3AplgImFUpThI/s1600/IMG_1139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmSKmySpTHCHVoZDgQYrCpKteHwDQq9Y8gMrwpA2FNOmje1vwa5Yw0BoLtThX-5AdevAMF1ZDp4f3eP1NscGhFLXwy7k6KjQ7ZV9SycrsmFn3cxtF63pfiQGHPYrA3i3AplgImFUpThI/s320/IMG_1139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Mile:25,000<br />
<br />
The research for my book is officially finished! I have grown into a new person, as my cocoon has unveiled and dropped in the new spring light. I am happy to announce I also have two publishers currently interested in my idea, and as soon as I find me a job, I will begin the final stages of publishing my book! It's in no way sad to me that the traveling has come to an end. I feel like I've been driving for something for some time now, in a way in search of a new home. Much like any nomad, we seek a place where our minds can grow, but have trouble staying in one place too long due to resources. I have everything and more where I am now, and have all of you to thank for helping me get to where I am at.<br />
Sadly my visit with Brad in Colorado was cut short due to the passing of Erin's grandfather, Bill Myers. This Man battled cancer for quite some time, and his body was simply exhausted. His service was yesterday near Burlington, NC and the turn out was nothing short of astounding. He influenced so many people in his life, and for a humble Lutheran, his accomplishments at the service did not go unnoticed. Bill was a giver, and a role model for all that he met. I'm very thankful I had the chance to get to know him, and the support of the family through this hard time was very admirable. It was an honor to be included in the weeks events celebrating the life of Mr. William Myers.<br />
Now that I am back home, reality is setting in more and more each day. My Fiancee has been working for a logistics company north of Burlington, and I'm on the hunt for a solid J.O.B myself. I'm very hopeful that one of the three jobs I have interviews for will pan out. They are very exciting, however I'm going to keep it on the down low until I decide which one will work best with mine and Erin's life. It is a tough transition for me to go from being employed six months out of the year guaranteed in AK, but the benefits of being with Erin erases any doubt in my mind that I'm doing the right thing. I am so excited to start working so we can plan our future together. I'm so happy to be in such a great spot in life, and know that in just a few short weeks I'll be back in the swing of things with my eye on all kinds of new goals and ambitions. Basically that means camping, going to the beach, and catching a few Phish shows this summer. <br />
From California I made it to Nevada, Utah, then Colorado. Brad(bff) and Tina got a new pet dog who I spent some time training, and I think she made some ground while I was there. His bro and bud came out for the bachelor weekend, and by the lack of sound of it, I assume it was a blast. The weather was great, warm, and sunny, and I know that the time I spend with Brad is always time well spent. We partied at Woody Creek Tavern, and as always Aspen Brew co's pub house. I love how Aspen is so expensive, but it's filled with just as many snow bums as any other mountain town. After a long winded long board ride into town, we took the bus back and Ol' Joe sacked out on the couch with all three dogs, cementing my whispering skills to code Orange. <br />
After the news of Erin's Grandfather, I hopped in the truck early Friday and started the 1,800 mile ride back, making it in Sunday afternoon. I visited Nebraska breweries, as well as the last two in Iowa. I had a long ride back, but the second I saw Erin, I knew every mile was well worth it!<br />
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This weekend I'm going to start shifting gears with my blog. I will walk you all through the publishing process and keep you updated on what is involved in getting your dreams on a page. On Saturday I'll post a rough draft of my Introduction to the book. I find that when you get your thoughts out there for everyone to see, you can revise and edit much more productively. Okeedokee everyone, I'm off to walk the dogs and go check out my parents new house in Apex, NC. Thank you all again for the support and couches, and meals, and poop bags, and some of the best laughs I've ever had!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-77525777775606480352012-03-12T18:05:00.000-04:002012-03-12T18:05:02.392-04:00How Free We Fly!Mile: Chicago->San Fran in six days<br />
<br />
<br />
Back on the road..but in a much awaited style that only a rugged ginger like myself can call home. I am thankful right now for my amazing truck. She has been my home, my transportation, my safety net, and a delightfully expensive date. I have taken good care and in return have driven an astonishing 160,000 miles since January 2002. 24,000 of those miles were in last 2 years, and 7,000 of those 24k in the last 2 months. It's great how life works, even for the robots that help us get done what we need to do, in the name of exploration and a good libation.<br />
I left Chicago and followed the northern rim of several tornadoes south west towards Missouri. I had a blast with Tyler and Rachelle in Chi town, I got to see some old old friends that rekindled the spirit of what I am doing, but more importantly, why. Tyler home brews on the reg, and we sampled his coffee stout that I thought was perfect. But I've never home brewed, so you apparently hold a lot to the standards in which you brew. The beer is your meal you've prepared, your baby, your good friend. The passion Tyler had for brewing sparked something in me that I had been waiting for since I catapulted myself into this lifestyle of beer drinking across the USA; the desire to brew myself. <br />
I entertained the thought, but with the coming months being spent finding work and a place in NC so Erin and I can continue our life together, what better opportunity to have some space and start brewing some small batches myself! Thanks Tyler, you did your job boy!<br />
On down the road I met up with Karl in kankakee, IL for some fat boy breakfast. We worked together all of SE Alaska, and his comedic nature and good heart hinted to me that what I had been up to was nothing short of a great chance to see old friends, and especially when your two dogs tramp on in the house looking for His dogs' chew toys. Haha, within minutes Ketza was in the corner, gums bleeding from chomping on a raw hide. Thanks Karl!<br />
That night I stayed in a cabin north west of Missouri, a $30 night in a cabin with a toilet, not bad at all! Erin helped choreograph a lot during this out west trip, and even though she's miles away, it was situations like this that it feels good to have someone so special in your life. Not only has she found me breweries along the way, but all kinds of cool stuff to do. I usually don't take her up on the really cool things though, and that's because one day our family will be back here, and we can all share it together(mostly true statement)haha. <br />
Oklahoma was next, and I had a super time talking with the brewer of Marshall Brewing Company in Tulsa. I asked lots of important questions and took as professional photos as possible, but Eric knew I was just one lucky dude doing what is is I'm doing. After talking for a while, the sound of the jackhammer extending the length of the drain became distracting, so we both shook hands, and I hopped back in the car, heading for Choc Brewery on my way to Dallas, TX.<br />
Eric had told me that if there was one brewery to hit up on my way, it was Oklahoma's oldest brewery, Choc Beers, located in Krebs. You have to check out there story, I visited and and enjoyed it, but the history is exceptional. SO on down to Dallas I went, and stayed with Rachelle's cousin Keith, a friend of mine I've know since high school. We caught up, but he had work early the next day hanging out over Dallas in a high rise crane picking building materials while communicating with two other cranes below him. I left early, still full from legit mexican food and a real coca cola the night before, and headed to two more breweries in Texas. I was heading to Albuquerque, NM, and had long drive ahead, so I picked up several six packs of different Texas beers to try in the hotel that night. I awoke from my room after arriving into Albe to a crazy news story about a hijacked school bus on the highway. I slammed coffee, got an oil change, and hopped on the highway to see several, like 50, cop vehicles surrounding a school bus with no tires, and a hood smashed into the median. No kids were in the bus, the driver was detained, I think they shot him though. <br />
Westward we were bound towards Arizona to stay with friends from the glacier dog camp in Alaska, who live in Tempe. I loved this drive, it was super beautiful, and very spiritual. I loved all the cheesy indian stores selling me route 66 tshirts and tweed blankets, and also the cactus growing all around me. That night we ate at Mellow Mushroom, and graced Four peaks brewing with our presence, though none was needed, it was packed to the gills with people. The night was early, and I was super tired from the road, and ready to get to California! <br />
California is huge, I mean in lots of different ways. The people, culture, geography, it's all across the board. I drove to El Segundo to meet up with Marc and Ashley, a couple who I took on a tour last summer in Juneau. We hit it off in the summer, and stayed in touch for a very long time in the hopes that we'd meet up. Well, we did, and it was nothing short of rock star status. After a moo cluck oink burger and a pint of blue moon, we headed to El Segundo Brewery's "Blue Ale House." We got a solid tour from Rob, who I think was way cool. I tried making jokes, some of which were funny, but I think he too had a good time with us. His weekly beer was sage hopped, giving it a local front of the house garden aroma. We talked beer for a long time and I got some leads on other breweries to check out in NoCal. We went back to the house and jammed out on the guitar, piano, and even harmonica until we lost our voices. Truly a hole in one on this trip. My first time to southern California was matched with a great time, and on top of it all, I was headed to San Francisco the next morning.<br />
That's where I am now, downtown hanging out with Adam, who is truly one of the best. He greeted me with jumbo shrimp, cocktail style, which anyone who has heard my Wrestlemania story knows this was unbeatable. I just got back from Lafayette park with the dogs, and met a cool couple who promised to get me in touch with a friend in North Carolina, and one in LA who might be good future connections. Our dogs played for a while, and then I headed back to the apartment to write to you! Tonight hopefully we'll Skype again with Erin and Katie, it is entertaining. SO until next week, drink fresh, drink local, and please, drink with a friend.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-74755453558838030192012-03-05T13:25:00.000-05:002012-03-05T13:25:31.087-05:00Goodbye Mitten!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT70MS3bP9n9OFrHi3LpcloMyfRyt2g1TP-IJuR2V8EXD9v2xJE6v1PsiWSJ5OvPsIhuKejL7Wh82S5ewCxuBcG4prIIVKxbXzZsvRMAbjaSRQM9t6yoIZ3P7pS7aZj8TOyi8fAA2O5yY/s1600/IMG_9596+(800x533).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT70MS3bP9n9OFrHi3LpcloMyfRyt2g1TP-IJuR2V8EXD9v2xJE6v1PsiWSJ5OvPsIhuKejL7Wh82S5ewCxuBcG4prIIVKxbXzZsvRMAbjaSRQM9t6yoIZ3P7pS7aZj8TOyi8fAA2O5yY/s320/IMG_9596+(800x533).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
Mile: 23,000<br />
<br />
I had a great time in Michigan! I rocked out six sled dog assemblies, and was lucky enough to have CJ at the local paper write an article about it. You can find that <a href="http://www.oxfordleader.com/Articles-School-News-i-2012-02-29-246029.113121-sub14475.113121-Mush.html">HERE</a> if you want to read more. I spent about two weeks in Michigan, which was long enough for me to record the song I sang to Erin when I asked her to marry me. The song, "I'm wishing" was recorded in Ann Arbor, MI by my very good friend Dave Menzo. To give you an idea of how perfect this session was, the last time we recorded was 2001. We have both come a long way since then, but there are only a few people on this earth that I can connect with on the musical level, and Dave is at the very top of that list. Being a singer/songwriter that usually doesn't have a band playing with him, I find that my tempo and time can go all over the place, so when I record I need someone who gets my music to harness it in it's purest form. Dave did just that, and even helped me with several harmonies throughout the song. You can download "I'm wishing" at my <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/store/store/artist_772054?item_type=music">STORE</a>. <br />
I spent several nights with my old Moosejaw buddies, who are also my canoe trip buddies, down in Royal Oak. I sampled lots of Michigan brews, and I have to say, even though it IS biased, that Michigan beer far exceeds several of the states I have been to. It's just the perfect state to brew beer, I guess. The taste, the selection, and the culture all flow into one river and create a following as devoted as a Lion's fan. I visited the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeerBaronLivonia">Beer Baron</a> in Livonia on my way out to Ann Arbor, and I highly recommend this store if you need any and all information on Michigan brewing.<br />
Yesterday I visited my new niece Claire at my Cousin's house in White Lake, MI. They are great parents, and I always enjoy stopping in for a little bit and seeing my Michigan family. We went for a walk with the dogs and Audrey, who's 2nd Birthday is today, and then I got in the truck and headed to sweet home Chicago.<br />
Lake effect snow is the perfect start to my last leg of the trip. I have 5,000 miles to go until I'm in Nashville, TN for Easter. The weather will be everything I'm sure, but I made the decision to leave Michigan a bit later than planned due to all these tornado's spinning around the midwest. The cold front now has pushed south, and clear blue skies awoken me this morning, as the sun peeked through the cityscape of Northern Illinois. I'm staying with Tyler and Rachelle, friends from High school, that I haven't seen in probably six years. Tyler has a home brew on tap in his apartment, and even though he is his biggest critic, I think that it is a killer coffee stout. He ground up the coffee this time instead of steeping whole beans, and the taste is blunt up front, and the finish is smooth as silk. I am most envious of his kegerator, but soon enough I will be settled down and have the space to brew my own beer too.<br />
Today I am a writing machine. I have lots of work to do with planning my trip out west. I will be just south of St. Louis, MO tomorrow, about a 7 hour drive, and the next day push through to Texas, the 1st of only eight states left on my journey. I am trying to get to Brad's in Aspen by the 20th, so I have lots of road to cover between now and then. Today I will hopefully finish content for the breweries I have visited thus far. I am trying to suggest good camping spots, and must sees for the breweries, as well as a short write up of what they have to offer. So far I have eighty-four breweries chosen for the book, and about 50 of them are completely done as far as book content and writing go. So today I will finish what I have done so far, so that I can focus on traveling! <br />
Well that sums up where I am at. Erin and I are excited to be living in North Carolina this summer, she has been working full time for about a week now. When I get back I'll hopefully have an idea of where I'll get a job, and then rent an apartment until Erin and I move in together. I've got a few leads for work, but once Erin and I decide where we want to be after we get married, it will be easier to gain residency and go back to school to finish my Bachelor's degree. I'm excited as ever to start a new chapter in life, and the momentum I've created from my dog sledding days has refined my mind and established a strong sense of self. <br />
For now I have made a promise to get Tut and Ketza out west as soon as possible so they can say they've been to every State in the Country! We were born to be, born to breathe, strong as the wind, wild and free! Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-58078940920923103672012-02-28T10:53:00.000-05:002012-02-28T10:53:09.905-05:00Skipping Stones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid95psvELDGTkSul-Ds6ZBXb870BLWi296JJP6kZikrjQPMCeDzt2vC7GIN7u0TRQs-7JpLLjFbAhls78hQRiHo7NN1PyKewh1Z7Hq-Afqdpo1GA0n2lTRILoWoVIRGwpjUJot7SgkGGE/s1600/IMG_9402+(533x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid95psvELDGTkSul-Ds6ZBXb870BLWi296JJP6kZikrjQPMCeDzt2vC7GIN7u0TRQs-7JpLLjFbAhls78hQRiHo7NN1PyKewh1Z7Hq-Afqdpo1GA0n2lTRILoWoVIRGwpjUJot7SgkGGE/s320/IMG_9402+(533x800).jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /> It's all simmering now, waiting for the Marsala to become gravy like before dinner. Sienna the toddler has invited me to three tea parties, put stickers all over Tut and Ketza, and even helped feed them after! I have arrived in Michigan, a week ago to be exact, and have had a very home-style session. I spent the week at Krieger's, which was really relaxing and motivating. I got a of work done with the book, and finally feel like it's coming together. It was tough to fund motivation for writing and the book in general while I was down south. I worked on it a lot in short bursts, but now it seems like an even flow. I've been able to write for a bit, then take the time to focus on my next story. I want the stories to be so rich and connecting, I want the reader to feel as if I'm telling them the story over a fresh pint. <br />
Now I haven't been able to come back to Michigan since October, which was much earlier than I thought, but I have been able to give six sled dog assemblies up in Oxford, and hopefully get another good review from the Oxford Leader. They were as fun as ever, and Tut and Ketza did such a good job.<br />
Michigan beer, Michigan beer, Michigan beer. I love it. I have been doing all this traveling in other people's hometowns, and to have the chance to visit mine and pour back a few local brews means a lot to this journey. It's so much more about the journey than the destination. I'm super excited to get settled in to North Carolina after I get back in April. I'll get a place with a yard for the dogs, or close by park, and then a job working anywhere. It'll be so nice to spend a summer set in a sower pace. Erin and I will be able to plan our wedding, and set a date. It's been life on the road for me, but I'm excited to start living life a bit differently. <br />
So as I once again leap into the unknown, I have faith that my path will bring a reward sweeter than Ephemere, and that my truck won't break down in the middle of Death Valley. OK, the remaining states in order are: Texas, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa. If you are interested in helping out with gas or beer money, feel free to hit the donate button at the bottom of the screen. I am in the works of planning a fundraiser for the book this summer, but every bit helps me out so much. If you are located in one of these states, expect a phone call and a couple muddy paws on your carpet, because we're staying the night! Take care everyone, I'll talk to you after my recording session with Dave menzo at www.davemenzo.com. Peace!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-55915171959313823412012-02-18T18:40:00.000-05:002012-02-18T18:40:44.772-05:00Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDtUJ4FHUCU6969EqYqCCSOfMb7LNsoJ9AoYkGMVB8bdMUYHY1Bx5H4TinpEPS21MUuQGpqmDEQec-ygGgZzojzJZ9T57yMirAeGf2GkZq288OC31_U60xQNSoVfNVN7FmPjjgF6WQVk/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDtUJ4FHUCU6969EqYqCCSOfMb7LNsoJ9AoYkGMVB8bdMUYHY1Bx5H4TinpEPS21MUuQGpqmDEQec-ygGgZzojzJZ9T57yMirAeGf2GkZq288OC31_U60xQNSoVfNVN7FmPjjgF6WQVk/s320/IMG_0535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Mile:over the hump<br />
<br />
So here I am, ready to embark on my last leg of the trip, sitting down in the now famous Burlington North Carolina. I have taken the last week and a half off of the beers, in part because of all f the fun of hanging out with PJ, but also to cleanse my pallet. I must say this week has been great. I am finally caught up on everything in the book. It's tough when you're behind, but when you have motivation and great people around, it makes closing in on your goals seem like a breeze...well, maybe not a breeze, but you get where I'm going with it. <br />
On Valentine's day, I planned out a nice dinner with Erin, at our new favorite Indian restaurant in Greensboro. We ate a hearty dinner, and after erin gave me my little presents, I told her I'd be right back with hers, because they were unwrapped and in my truck. I took a deep breath, opened the door to the restaurant, and in I went awaiting my future. I walked towards erin and as she looked up she said, "are you going to play me a song on your guitar?" I asked if that was OK, and set down a few other presents in front of her. I sang a song I wrote for her, talking about growing old, falling in love, sewing our seeds, and lastly, would she marry me. I looked in her eyes and told her confidently that I asked for her Father's approval, and called her brother in Nashville to ask for his blessing. Crying what at the time I hoped were tears of joy, she said YES and excitedly I stood up to the clapping audience and said, "She said yes!" A nice group of older folks offered to pay for our dinner, and off we went to the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra to see the Valentine's day performance. At halftime, I walked up to the sound engineers on the balcony and asked if they'd somehow mention this new engagement to the vocalist, and maybe he'd give us a shout out. So the second set opened and to Erin's surprise, John the singer told the audience that "Joe from Alaska asked Erin from Burlington if she would marry him, and Erin said Yes!" The crowd clapped, Erin cried again, and we kissed knowing that this was the beginning of the rest of our live's together. So that is the story, the happiest day of my life, and now that Erin's told her Grandparents, I am excited to tell the rest of the world the hottest news in our life. Thank you to all the people and dogs involved in getting us together, I am now ready to head west to celebrate the breweries out there, knowing my soul mate is with me wherever I go. I love you Erin.<br />
First stop is Michigan to present my sled dog assemblies to various schools around Oakland County. I have booked many, but still am looking to book more. After a $3,000 transmission rebuild, I am anxious to work for some cash to help get me across the country, the Alaska nest egg gets smaller by the day this time of year. I'm luckily great at camping and finding friends along the way, it wouldn't even be financially possible if it weren't for those two things. I'll post again once I get to Michigan and let you know what states and when. I will be in Colorado by the 22nd of March, that much is certain. Until next time, Go Wings and your 22 at home victories, and remember, keep your stick on the ice.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-9761846231036423402012-02-10T14:02:00.000-05:002012-02-10T14:02:23.962-05:00There are bears, in the distance.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaSMiwp0WLa2q5s552QnlGICvBCC6t3aArgNeso0cQzeeymtZlmse_W8XrJQHx1Dob7122qfE1SNTlrGRmLkqmxPYu5owloZTgHeKNSSRcFlmXrgopT6od3-Dv0MfPGo93XBklGfvpns/s1600/IMG_1498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaSMiwp0WLa2q5s552QnlGICvBCC6t3aArgNeso0cQzeeymtZlmse_W8XrJQHx1Dob7122qfE1SNTlrGRmLkqmxPYu5owloZTgHeKNSSRcFlmXrgopT6od3-Dv0MfPGo93XBklGfvpns/s320/IMG_1498.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Mile:20,363<br />
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It's a cold day here in North Carolina, maybe fifty or so. I just completed the third tour for the book, and am eagerly awaiting the final chapter. I started out a month ago traveling west towards Nashville, then down to see my brother in Florida, and am now back where I started. It was about three thousand miles in total, but the driving was easy. Erin blessed me with her presence half way through my Florida visit, and we did a lot together. We went canoeing at Jaime's work, an estuarian (sp) research center north of St. Augustine, and saw so many birds. The ride back in reminded us of paddling in Juneau battling the tide working double time to make progress. No alligators this time around, but we were ok with that. We then spent a day with Pj and Jaime searching for the elusive manatee in a river fed by a natural spring. In the winter, the manatee's and other fish swim inland to enjoy 78 degree water, but due to the warm winter, we only saw one or two. The state park was delightful, and we got lots of good shots of all kinds of critters. We then ate philly cheese steak sandwiches and headed home. Pj surprised me with Dogfishhead Olde School barley wine, that sent is both to the moon and back. This stuff was more powerful than a week old fruit cake that sat in the sun. After playing several games of darts, we turned in. <br />
Erin visited her friend in Orlando, and brought back one of my favorite breweries, Orlando Brewing, beer! All of there beers are USDA organic, and they all dominate Florida's craft brews. I must admit after sampling hundreds of beers, OBC is at the top five for sure, not that I have any right to judge beer, I mean, it's beer, right? haha, I'm learning more and more about what I'm doing, and am super excited to move on to the next phase of the book, publishing. <br />
Erin and I drove north two days ago, leaving behind the Pawelek's, and heading back to NC. My mind seems to be spinning, as there is a lot going on. I'm about to embark on a 6-10,000 mile journey, have enough money for gas, and have to say bye to my girl for two months! But this is the life I desire right now. Leaving loved ones behind isn't at all how I look at it. I'm in part doing this so our bonds become stronger, and building trust is essential to those who I love. I am super excited to go out to California to see Adam, and just as excited to share my time with Brad in Colorado. I look at this like I look at everything. My mind works like a chainsaw; it burns best when it's almost out of gas. It's a combo of the starving artist with the drive of a husky. I know that I might run into the storm, but the chase is all I see, whether it presents me with a perfect trail to run on, or labyrinth of loose leaves. These experiences will better my life, and give my kids something to dream of when they find themselves at a crossroads. <br />
I have locked in only one sled dog presentation at St. Johns technical high school, at it was a blast. Erin brought the dogs in and tut immediately thought he had died and gone to heaven, I mean seriously. The chairs' legs had tennis balls on them to prevent tearing the carpeted floor, so Tut came into a room full of literally a hundred tennis balls, and he tried getting each one as fast as possible! It made the kids laugh, and the Ketza and Tut ran free during the assembly, which set an incredible tone. I can't thank the teachers who helped set this up enough, it means a lot to me to bring my life's experiences to guys and girls on the brink of starting their lives. Simply wonderful!<br />
So as I engage full throttle light speed here we go Mush!, I am nervous as hell as to what awaits me around the next bend. I know that if my truck breaks down I have Tut and Ketza to pull the truck to safety, and enough twinkies from Uncle Joe to last a winter, so why should I worry?! I thank all that have helped get me this far, and I am truly blessed to have all of this love in my life. When I return from the trip I will be looking for work in NC while I finish the book, which will hopefully out by next December. Self publishing is expensive, but like Walt Disney said, "We don't make movies to make money, we make money to make movies." Talk to you guys and girls in a week! Stay tuned for a video of something....beer or music, probably both!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-17955533147138874292012-01-20T11:03:00.000-05:002012-01-20T11:03:35.751-05:00Beerocracy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJYvDB83DZEExpbNydDwn1_0ZnkZsAr0Z2utcQq9WInYAeB5jzpEYULqrw_ObPxeQ32BBNkZ7inhTAxUeqn4Z_JDoZ8Q2fw1LZ_jGqfGWNKwwPu2R0xh7NxcM8Lm6DW_nTI9SSW7Zbk4/s1600/IMG_9703+%2528559x800%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJYvDB83DZEExpbNydDwn1_0ZnkZsAr0Z2utcQq9WInYAeB5jzpEYULqrw_ObPxeQ32BBNkZ7inhTAxUeqn4Z_JDoZ8Q2fw1LZ_jGqfGWNKwwPu2R0xh7NxcM8Lm6DW_nTI9SSW7Zbk4/s320/IMG_9703+%2528559x800%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><br />
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I can't believe that it's been just over a year since I started blogging about my travels. Since then, I've had 5,000 hits on my page. Now, I know that's not the most bad ass thing in the world, but it feels good to know I'm finally getting my name out there. I have been carefully considering self-publishing my book for the last three weeks now, and am looking forward to getting to that point. I have been down in Florida visiting my brother and his wife and their dog Bandit for a little over a week now. It is cold here, for Florida, and my dogs couldn't be more content with the cool nights we've had. <br />
I recently have talked to a school who is excited to have an Alaskan dog handler come visit their school, and I look forward to promoting the greatest sport on Earth. I am lucky to have good public speaking skills, it seems that whatever I end up doing down the road, talking will be the backbone of it. As for the near future, Erin and I plan on being in North Carolina next summer, and we're both on the job hunt to make that happen. I have talked with a company that gives bus guided brewery tours in the Triangle area. I'm hopeful that I can work with them to get both our ventures more exposure, and am excited to promote Carolina brews. I have to say NC has some of the best beer on the east coast, and more and more breweries seem to pop up out of nowhere! So the goal is to shoot out west for a couple months after I leave the eastern United States. Brad is having his bachelor party sooner than we thought, which is awesome. I'll be able to drive out there and hang for a while because Colorado is going to be as tough as Oregon to conquer. The mountain towns all have breweries, and I'm going to give it my best shot to go to a bunch of 'em. I haven't quite planned the exact route for the remaining states, but I do know that North Dakota is gonna come back to haunt me. We drove through South Dakota in the fall, and after searching online for breweries, I couldn't find anything solid and true to what I'm writing about. Maybe by the summer they'll have a little more in the microbrew department!<br />
One story a day is my new goal. If I write one a day, then I'll be well on my way to the finish line in April. I'm hoping to have everything written and documented by then, so that I can start shaping the book and have it ready to sell by Christmas 2012. We'll see how that goes! I'm definitely going to need support to help pay for the cost of the printing, and am always trying to figure out how to come up with the $15,000 needed to make that happen. I want to try Kickstarter.com, or put on an event to help raise money. Up to this point, I have spent money out of my pocket for everything. I have been blessed to have great friends and family help me along the way, but now is the time I need to start focusing on the big picture. I will spend the remaining time in Florida working on what it's going to cost to print and release a copy of APWATW, and go from there. <br />
If anyone has any ideas on how to make publishing a reality, drop me a line. I want to learn as much as possible before I climb the mountain of beerocracy and become a part of the Author's circuit. I have spent a few days fishing and it's the best time to come up with ideas while you wait for a bite. SO I'll be fishing in Florida while you come up with a brilliant plan to get fifteen grand as I sink my toes into the sand! Later y'all, and if you're in Florida, give me a call!<br />
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Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-75401971127006783922012-01-12T11:28:00.002-05:002012-01-13T14:56:20.389-05:00Southern Stampede<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ItjbpsGcoNRTh3mbbK8g5TUo_RBRMP-lO_Xy9xJPGRmRnYGtwWksffWXb6iQbVuVFJzZ4S7q3wdIuUyaf_w3oS-S7tmBzoII40xElVhTI3xLZEEWm2dIA9szTefsaZgsrdbe5vFo4Lc/s1600/IMG_9563+%2528800x533%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ItjbpsGcoNRTh3mbbK8g5TUo_RBRMP-lO_Xy9xJPGRmRnYGtwWksffWXb6iQbVuVFJzZ4S7q3wdIuUyaf_w3oS-S7tmBzoII40xElVhTI3xLZEEWm2dIA9szTefsaZgsrdbe5vFo4Lc/s320/IMG_9563+%2528800x533%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Mile:17,120 <br />
Five or six days ago I left North Carolina to her visit her sister state, Tennessee, where erin's brother lives. Music City, and a little bit of rain, the perfect excuse for us to eat dinner and check out some live music. The band was rocking, two guys, harmony. I held the tam"bear"ine for a couple songs, and then we talked to the percussionist and acoustic player. Nashville is a musician mecca, and I was impressed with his "30 seconds or less" life story to catch my eye. He was really nice, so you should check them out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Radar-Vs-Wolf/108830359187302?sk=app_2405167945">here</a>. After a killer burger at Loco Cocoa's, we walked through the honkey tonk on our way to the <a href="http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/nashville/">Flying Saucer</a>. This draught house is a franchise with maybe twenty locations nationwide. It fits right in with what I'm doing. I have learned to do more research, drinking, in search of where I want to go next. It isn't common for most to follow their palate, but right now in life I have the opportunity to do just that. We drank North Coast Red Seal Amber, and enjoyed Highlands Gaelic ale. I'm happy I've been writing all this down, too. I have every new beer I've drank recorded and the date I visited each brewery, so when I go to make a website, folks will be able to see all that info. Back to Williams after the Irish Pub, then a good nights sleep!<br />
The dog park is always fun, I've posted before about how I love people watching there. Judging, profiling, talking dogs, it has literally everything a dog socialite needs. I met up with Blaire, who erin and I worked with on the glacier in Alaska in 2009 with. She was with her boyfriend and Brutus, a retired sled dog from Matt Hayashida, Iditarod racer. After the dog park, a chinese buffet to set the coma, and then I left Nashville!<br />
I drove down to Chattanooga, Tennessee and visited my good old friend Joe. Him and his friend Shane are fresh off an AT hike. They hiked the whole thing in just over five months, and had as many stories about it as I do dogsledding stories. Needless to say, we had an absolute blast. Him and his roommate Danny were so cool, they put me and the dogs up for three days. Not that I won't camp in thunderstorms, it's just the whole roof over my head thing that kept me in the South. We played darts, and drank some awesome beers. We sampled Lazy Magnolia pecan Brown ale, LA 31 smoked wheat, Abita Turbo Dog, and a couple brews I brought down with me from NC. After literally seventy games of darts, I helped Joe's neighbor make a website for her self bound books. She had a bunch, but what caught my eye were the recycled six pack books, with a bunch of different breweries in the arsenal. Her site can be found <a href="http://becksvoortbooks.weebly.com/">HERE</a>, but it is not yet published, so you'll have to check back! My payment was three beer bound books, broccoli greens, brussell greens, and rosemary. A very hippy move, even for me! The beers listed above were purchased at<a href="http://www.ourbeers.com/"> Beer World</a>, right on the border in Georgia. Dave was wicked, and helped me out a lot with my research, thanks a bunch man! Onward I travel, south again.<br />
Right now I'm outside of Atlanta in Macon, and today I will make the trek to PJ and Jaime's in Florida. I am hopeful that my florida readers will help me find a couple opportunities while I'm there. I will be working with PJ at the <a href="http://back40urbancafe.com/">Back Forty Urban Cafe</a>, and I'm looking to do <a href="http://mushing.weebly.com/">sled dog presentations</a> while I'm there too! If any of you know teacher's or principles, send them the link to my website above please! <br />
As for the book, I have finally met my New Year quota of fifty stories, half way there. I want to work on about 25 more while I'm in Florida, but as is the life of a writer, I must wait for the stars to align! I have about 10 more states to cover, and am super excited to be in the home stretch, and am missing erin like crazy.<br />
Erin is up in Montana house sitting for a while, and I'm really happy she can be somewhere where she has access to creativity. Though we both don't want to have a long distance relationship, it will only be temporary until we finalize our summer plans and I finish traveling for the book. It's tough living like this, but the pay off is a million stories to tell my kids and grand kids when I get old. Life has given me so much, and as I begin to put this book together, I know it will soon be time for me to give back as much as I can to the communities that have helped me get this far in life!<br />
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</div> Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-75184543135522403842011-12-30T21:37:00.000-05:002011-12-30T21:37:34.221-05:00Hold the rain in your heart my Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwUN4NyxU52REGcSIGNDA-mNON_FoFOAXfBNyF9JuWCGO38b42TxGLhrrWzacXrQR4TIpM0xt9QFw-7c7LT16kydEpMdPSb7E6fEE00HIrfHU8aasWKSpZcJSLzquJ_pFeqiUV2umVpk/s1600/IMG_8826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwUN4NyxU52REGcSIGNDA-mNON_FoFOAXfBNyF9JuWCGO38b42TxGLhrrWzacXrQR4TIpM0xt9QFw-7c7LT16kydEpMdPSb7E6fEE00HIrfHU8aasWKSpZcJSLzquJ_pFeqiUV2umVpk/s320/IMG_8826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The holidays are somewhere between too fast and too full. I saved my biggest meal for Christmas day at my brothers in Cary. We had an amazing spread of ham, pomegranate super salad, squash sumpthin, and pirogi's I made with Erin and Julie. I can't forget my favorite homemade dish from my mom, cheesy potato casserole. Oh, and my dad's homemade mushroom soup...oh and...the list goes on. I love eating as much as I love a craft beer, but sometimes with both I tend to take them in fast without "savoring the moment." Erin's Grandpa told me over Thanksgiving dinner to slow down and appreciate what I'm eating, not to indulge in the quantity.. I've been told this before with lots of things in my life, and if I do settle down and have what city folk call a "formal interview" this will be my comment on things I'm not great at. I sum it up as how I teach sled dogs to eat. I put it down, you scarf it up. It's that simple. After you do this for six years you pick up a few habits. Some of them teach you to have a sense of urgency, some teach you infinite patience. It just blows my mind how fast and slow things happen. If you're careful, you can watch life's mystery dance between your eyes, but lose focus for a split second, and it's gone. It's thoughts like these that help keep my heart beating. In search of it all, if for nothing more than to deliver one more powerfully packed red blood cell to management upstairs. <br />
I am setting sail in just two short weeks and plan on going to Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas before bunkering down in Florida with my brother. I am going to miss the life I've shared with Erin more than anything else, and already am looking forward to our first night away when I get back from Florida. Something about true love that separates boys from us men. I never thought love could be so complex, and so simple, like what I was rambling about above. Anyway, she's the best, and makes me a better person every day, and is becoming a strong woman in my life.<br />
The farm, the basement, the upstairs room. I have slept in three different and unique spots for the last two months. One thing they have in common, a bed. This is the first thing I will liberate myself from once I hit the road. Like confinement to the common, I have let myself become used to electricity, running water, and beds once again, making the transition to living out of a car that much more difficult. It will take a few days in the woods to rekindle and sharpen my skills and passion in that department. Maybe a bottle of Stroh rum is in order also. <br />
I look forward to Abita brew co, in Abita springs, LA. They have awesome beer and I'm sure that state will bring lots of emotion to my writing and eyeing. I know that this first trip will also be relatively warm, or hot to Alaskans, so camping is essential to securing my spending money. I know I chose to write a book about expensive beer, so no pity needed, ha. The prices of gas are down a little, the air is warm, the dogs are ready for new scenery. I am locked and loaded with new totes, organization skills, and a few extra little goodies to make the drive with. I am patiently awaiting your recommendations on breweries in the states I'll be headed to in a couple weeks. I have researched a rough route, but am always up for an adventure. <br />
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p.s.- You should all look at my mother's birthday present that I got for her! <a href="http://mumsyscorner.weebly.com/">Click Here</a> to check out her new website for all her arts and crafts! <br />
<br />
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-50355489905043537532011-12-19T08:26:00.002-05:002011-12-19T16:47:37.225-05:00Hold The Sun For Me, Old Friend.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDyPiqPN95tcYL8tBlD6N6SAh7Bzz8ySA0IP7dUKC4r_j3KZVdRkO1Uqcw-ESaFlfPM0L2xuEpmOKBZh9rrq4thQDQIdAup8VET_uUkc_igIobOGGkHSoXxHQ_Cyoh_DoabckZ7WqqWk/s1600/IMG_8450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDyPiqPN95tcYL8tBlD6N6SAh7Bzz8ySA0IP7dUKC4r_j3KZVdRkO1Uqcw-ESaFlfPM0L2xuEpmOKBZh9rrq4thQDQIdAup8VET_uUkc_igIobOGGkHSoXxHQ_Cyoh_DoabckZ7WqqWk/s320/IMG_8450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The words we speak are considered our truth. Those who listen interpret carefully what we say and then onward it goes, like a game of telephone throughout our community and world. I have found that as I get older I am defined by my truths by friends, family, and peers. Yes, that's right, I almost wrote pears, but then I realized that if I'm writing a book about beer, I better double check my spelling, for an innocent passer by might think I'm writing about bears.. What I'm getting at is the root of my problem lately. We are constantly proving to ourselves that what we are doing is right, or that the decisions made are defining on our lives. I remember a time where experimentation, curiosity, and imagination were the tools for developing what I will become in the future. Well, that time is now. And never more in my life do I feel like the power of all I have thought is honing in one an incredible time of my life. <br />
In two weeks I will embark on the last leg of my trip, 15 states left for me to tackle with a taste-tested tongue in search of the best beers yet. Like any good traveler, I have researched where I will be heading, but leave the mystery in what I will find very much at the mercy of my "in the moment" way of living. At times I will be overwhelmed with issues concerning strength of my vehicle, cash in my billfold, and warmth of my sleeping bag. But at no time will I second guess what I'm doing and why I am doing it. It's very much a "because it's there" frame of mind. <br />
I am skeptical that I will return to Alaska to brew beer, for communication has been a weak point in that venture. Erin and I dream bigger than that now. The reality of being farmers draws us closer to Virginia, where we both want to raise cattle, crops, and a family. My wings are tired now, I've polished them for this upcoming journey like never before. The organization factor and self determination is what will define my near future. Planning is imperative, and as I sit down today and write as much as I can for my book, I know that when I'm camped out in the mountains of New Mexico, I will be able to soak up the sounds and give in to the beauty of life as it is intended to be. I won't think about the weight or pressure, quite the opposite thoughts are necessary to cultivate defining ideas. <br />
The idea of choosing two microbreweries from each state and documenting it is conceivable, but actually getting there and not being just a tourist is what I am seeking. I want to feel Geronimo's presence as I ride into the dawning of a new day, while He holds the morning light just long enough for me to finish what I've started. I am hopeful the culture of past civilizations teaches me that what I'm after is what I've been searching for all along, and now that I've found true love, I believe that success and happiness are the keys needed to unlock the doors of a future of family, safety, and security. <br />
I wish you all the happiest of holidays and safe travels of your loved ones so that you may listen to Christmas songs until you can't stand it, and drink so much eggnog that your hide the belt until after the New Year. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the beginning of my last stand for brewers, beer lovers, and travelers alike. I have found the reward of a craft beer in the place it is brewed to be sublime, and I encourage you all to drink local, live local, and give local. Happy Holidays!<br />
<br />
Oh, and before I forget! If you are in Alabama,Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, or surrounding states please check out our new website for sled dog presentations. I am offering an assembly geared towards teaching children about the joys of dog sledding! Pass along to teachers and parents please! <a href="http://mushing.weebly.com/">Sled Dog Assembly</a> Thank you so much, this is how I'm hoping to help fund my travels, but as always you can click on that widdle bitty Donate icon and help too!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-33221143843590024142011-12-04T17:38:00.001-05:002011-12-05T09:09:58.868-05:00Creative Farming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd3XJNvfvQ0W-DTs3xLmGt_PrRBEQWr2QqdZ2OKozqL_VJWWThC27i-a0TAfxmu1E_jcJJYZdF1jApjJpdwBwr7D3Ho2SPOvhmDTDAe5egDXe9OuArxJnsuwY-uNJB3BkvTyG-sxEp6A/s1600/Desktop7-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHd3XJNvfvQ0W-DTs3xLmGt_PrRBEQWr2QqdZ2OKozqL_VJWWThC27i-a0TAfxmu1E_jcJJYZdF1jApjJpdwBwr7D3Ho2SPOvhmDTDAe5egDXe9OuArxJnsuwY-uNJB3BkvTyG-sxEp6A/s1600/Desktop7-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0gSERts-HgC31PDHzcHEuNVBkF9qZvBdNCQjfKU4iXup6A5Vj7-dbfvCRn59s6E6Zal3crZsaVGPpI0cqGKnHTxurx_INebrruVsFdjFO2v0azXDP44w6UeM9PVI8SxPaQcJigHSmkI/s1600/IMG_7867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0gSERts-HgC31PDHzcHEuNVBkF9qZvBdNCQjfKU4iXup6A5Vj7-dbfvCRn59s6E6Zal3crZsaVGPpI0cqGKnHTxurx_INebrruVsFdjFO2v0azXDP44w6UeM9PVI8SxPaQcJigHSmkI/s320/IMG_7867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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We had such a great weekend. After polishing off the 60 minute IPA from Dogfishhead, it was time to plan out a date with Erin. We had plans to go to a small acreage farm seminar on Saturday in Asheboro. Erin has entertained the thought of farming goats for quite some time now, and we thought going to a seminar might turn that spark into a flame. But before all of that,I had to set up the date of all dates. Friday, after spending a few days with my parents in Cary, I headed towards Burlington with a dress shirt, new haircut, and a clean shaved face. This was a big step for ol' Joe folks, for the last time I bought a dress shirt, I was applying for CVS/Pharmacy back in high school. All dressed up, Erin and I hopped in the Ranger and drove to a dog park just south of Greensboro and let the doggies play around with the chuck-it and a frisbee. Tuckered out, the dogs and gang headed to the hotel to get ready for dinner. Saffron Indian cuisine in Greensboro offered a great menu, including my favorite Palak Paneer. Erin ordered the thali with some wine, and other than the loud southern gentleman, the experience was exceptional; not to mention a pint of hearty guiness. Bellies full, we headed to the festival of the lights downtown with a super secret activity in mind. Street vendors, music, dancing,and cool temperatures set up the ambiance of Christmas, a long awaited feeling that erin and I both love. Passing through it all quickly, I searched for the ice skating rink, North Carolina's largest outdoor rink, just north of the city park. Excited and nervous, we laced up and skated the night away. The perfect date ended tired and sore, awaiting the next days activities in Asheboro.<br />
The business seminar was fun, educational, and full of idealists. I got talking to a guy Ron about home brewing and growing hops, and he pointed me to some very helpful local resources. I am chomping at the bit to start home brewing myself, and need to take advantage of this time that I'm in one spot long enough to brew. Erin got helpful tips for career paths and farming plans, and off we went after a six hour lecture. I think that farming is something we both will be good at, and will definitely fit into our lives later down the road. If any of you have great tips for a beginner, please email me at joepawelek@yahoo.com. <br />
I want to say thank you to those of you who have emailed me this week with brewery recommendations and your stories about traveling and drinking good beer. It is these stories that motivate me and make me feel just plain good about what I'm doing. <br />
This upcoming Saturday and Sunday Erin and I will be at the <a href="http://www.raleighfleamarket.net/">Raleigh Flea Marke</a>t selling our prints from our travels, mostly in Alaska and hawaii. So come on down and find our booth, we'd love to share stories and try and sell you some of our photography! Have a great week, and remember to be as active as you can now, because cookie season is just around the corner!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-84291930779264570832011-11-28T17:54:00.000-05:002011-11-28T17:54:03.811-05:00Bieber Brews and Macy's Day Clown Shoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuKKJpr5CflC3aoDo3e0AKGbvLtiJIozpZdYigy0DhB8L6Q81jYSAjaq9WgRCXlqfhrZ5j5bP7P1BaazctBfB1jvMZ_D3GAcsZRXOEM5ghxEGinslap1v9E7EoN2qqEZN3uDNhPa8d2E/s1600/IMG_7782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuKKJpr5CflC3aoDo3e0AKGbvLtiJIozpZdYigy0DhB8L6Q81jYSAjaq9WgRCXlqfhrZ5j5bP7P1BaazctBfB1jvMZ_D3GAcsZRXOEM5ghxEGinslap1v9E7EoN2qqEZN3uDNhPa8d2E/s320/IMG_7782.JPG" width="188" /></a></div><br />
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It seems logical to be in one place. I have found that since "settling down" for the holidays in North Carolina that being in one place is good. You get the advantage of, if you're lucky and hardworking, to know the feeling of ownership, whether it be property, a house, or in my case, two dogs and a truck. I think that initially I set out on this journey to see as much as possible, saturate my mind with the great wide open, and become wise with travel. I'm not sure who said it first, but I think back to a modest mouse line that reads, "the universe is shaped exactly like the Earth, if you go straight long enough you'll end up where you were." This line has always been in my thoughts, an Eastern philosophy for dreamers. <br />
After a very warm time in Michigan, I traveled south to find Erin at her family farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. We comforted her grandmother who is grieving the loss of her husband, and also had the opportunity to be with Erin's parents while they signed for their new 24-acre property next to the farm. It was about a year ago I visited this place, and it felt great to be back. It's funny to think that I was coincidentally camping just a few miles north before meeting Erin there for Christmas festivities. Her family has made the small joke about how "random" that was. Nonetheless, erin and I had so much fun checking for new cattle, going on four wheeler rides, and watching TV with Grandma. In the back of my mind, I knew that it was time I start thinking about my book. I have had all the fun, seen the sites, tasted countless brews, but all these notes, pictures, and stories needed to find a home on my computer. It wasn't until last week that I finally organized the photos, and collected dates and times. It feels great to have those ducks in a row, but now it is time to write.<br />
Currently, I have thirty of the 100 short stories written, and couldn't be happier with what is finished. It comes and goes, as I'm sure it does with most artists. I'm talking about that spark, whether it's at three in the morning or three in the afternoon, deep inside of your soul that pushes its way to your present thought and escapes loudly. It's up to you to harness this energy, because like all things, they don't disappear, but change shapes so quick that it's up to in my case my hands to capture their meaning. It's a song, story, picture, drawing, and thought provoking idea that needs to be procured. This frame of mind is essential in my life to capture such things, however the difficulty is found in losing these thoughts due to under preparedness, or simply because you're busy with the last spark. It is important to tend to a mind like this, for if you care for it and aid in its growth, great ideas will consistently grow preventing a clogged up and confused or disappointed end result. This of course, is why I enjoy drinking beer...haha, well, maybe beer has a bit to do with that last part whether I like to admit it or not:-)<br />
So onward I write blazing the trail for adventurers alike that dare to dream of a life most fulfilling. I have successfully traveled to 35 states, and now am getting ready for the last leg of my trip into the unknown. Actually, it is very well known, but I thought that sentence sounded powerful. To the Southwest United States I go, searching for the never ending delicious draft, along with two huskies and a thirst for knowledge. I am beginning to understand beer, what it takes to brew good beer, and what it means to those who brew it. I assure all readers I am in no way a beer taster, I simply enjoy drinking good beer with good people on my journey towards becoming an author. <br />
I set sail as of now in Early January, and in the mean time can be found at the Raleigh Flea Market on Saturdays and Sundays selling photo prints of my travels, as well as the Flat Iron in Greensboro on Tuesday nights playing guitar. Sled dog presentations are in the works for the Wake and Alamance County school systems, but if you have kids or relatives that would enjoy a Joey P. sled dog assembly anywhere in the South, feel free to contact me at joepawelek@yahoo.com for further information. Safe travels, cheers to beers, and remain free in all that you see!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-584996363871208112011-11-02T17:54:00.000-04:002011-11-02T17:54:24.807-04:00Fuel the FireMile:5,222<br />
Waking up early, Erin and I headed down to the eastern part of Yellowstone towards Lamar valley. Home of the wolves, our eyes and dogs' ears were alert, well, everyone except Ketza, she didn't have had her coffee yet. A pack of nine wolves streamlined across the river, letting out a group howl, and began their day's travels. We followed suit, driving out of the park and back on to the highway towards eastern Wyoming. We set off towards South Dakota and enjoyed Mt. Rushmore, Wall Drug, and the Badlands. As our eyes are bombarded with <i>new</i> every day, I find the time to collect thoughts of the future often, as inspiration tacks on to these new experiences. The houses we stay in, the grounds we pitch a tent on, and the cheap motels are a reminder that ownership of land is a Great American Dream. I would love to wake up in the morning to the smell of fresh baked apple pies, and farm raised bacon sizzling, as I watch erin tend to the garden and milk goats. All the while dogs are barking, chickens being chased, winter wheat diffusing the creek's sound. When you come back home, or leave home, there is a sense of belonging that pulls and pushes. Like a tide, we enjoy the ride, because we feel alive, and we're living outside. <br />
Our hearts go out to Erin's family, who celebrated Grandpa Minnicks life this last week. He was a true farmer, and obviously a fantastic Father, who's stories will live on throughout our lives. I am lucky to have met him, and even luckier to know his granddaughter, the love of my life and best friend.<br />
We enjoyed a great beer from Firehouse Brewing Company in Rapid City, SD. Our server Danny was way cool. He knew a lot, and recommended a very kick ass Reuben with incredible side sauce. This guy knew his food, but also new some other SD breweries for us to check out. That was a blast, and the brewery is a must see if you are traveling that way.<br />
Alan and Adam have been puting me up since erin flew home a few days ago. It sucks when your best friend leaves, and I know that erin is helping the fam, but I wanted to show her more of where I grew up and all the fun Fall festivities around the Mitten. Michigan will always be here, and we will come up again when we find the time:-( It is a great chance for us to look at the winter, and see just how it will all work. We will try and see each other as much as we can, and I will definitely try and get erin to come on as much of the journey as possible, but she too is anxious to find a job on a farm with animals and start learning about all kinds of great skills. I'm hopeful that this research and final book will help us finance such dreams and ideas. So it goes, life on the road, making connections, setting your vision in stone. I am gathering a following, of people inspired by life's mysteries and constants. My music has been knocking on the door asking to come out and play, but for now I will remain focused on writing, writing, writing. I have 25 of the 100 stories written for my book, and now I brainstorm, collect, and edit stories that are based off of my life experiences, full of sun and stars. Lately it seems that when you miss someone or something so much, you work harder to get there, maybe not physically, but in your mind work towards making your dreams become realities. And though at first time spends like molasses, it becomes oil for your...molasses motorcoach..or, you know, metaphorical moped. Haha, looks like I'm warmed up for writing, thanks for stopping by, and once I get back to Virginia, I will have traveled to a total of 35 states, just in time for the holidays! See ya next time! <br />
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-41581903387418015732011-10-20T15:21:00.000-04:002011-10-20T15:21:21.855-04:00Mile High oh Me oh My!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3E2uH7-5TP2rZTuSDTcOT-00v3cdLEosPTwybPp2IQ-FxlXnvV4-XJMy8Gsdv8o50SAGFCXsi9wvanAPtrDvFspyPSkK4w7U2lXC0gcDZS6rQGJxQBbjue-PKZZMks77d8sd2-phlow4/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3E2uH7-5TP2rZTuSDTcOT-00v3cdLEosPTwybPp2IQ-FxlXnvV4-XJMy8Gsdv8o50SAGFCXsi9wvanAPtrDvFspyPSkK4w7U2lXC0gcDZS6rQGJxQBbjue-PKZZMks77d8sd2-phlow4/s320/IMG_1088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLq8q9spw-hlTvnHRKG0Cqaw7l5qr2dV0tjO5H3dpqXrJlnTN19sDsYWiVt7cJtkoyoBKqFzCNcbPeTOHPjbKIUztBGggygXGBwmoO7-sQ-rVrHy9M-JuALqO2EiEvgZIssVx9EabZNk/s1600/IMG_0960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLq8q9spw-hlTvnHRKG0Cqaw7l5qr2dV0tjO5H3dpqXrJlnTN19sDsYWiVt7cJtkoyoBKqFzCNcbPeTOHPjbKIUztBGggygXGBwmoO7-sQ-rVrHy9M-JuALqO2EiEvgZIssVx9EabZNk/s320/IMG_0960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Mile:2,777<br />
Camping across the great states brings back so many memories of my childhood. From a young age I was involved with the Boy Scouts, learning so many things about nature like the way it works, and the way it seems to not work at all. The harmony and careful carelessness brings inspiration to me just like it did back in those days, learning that sometimes simplicity is carefully calculated. Erin, the dogs, and ol' Joe departed almost a month ago from Skagway, after a beautiful tear down of our summer job. It's odd when you work seasonally and pack up everything each Fall. For us, it was what propelled our dreams when the going got tough at work, and when we shared moments at Salmon Creek daydreaming and taking photos. <br />
Skagway was the first stop where I had a very informal interview with Tom Hall, owner and operator of the Klondike Gold Fields. It is a large scale touring outfit that has panning, sight-seeing-sled dog demos, a restaurant, and you guessed it...A brewery! Gold Rush Brewing is a young business dedicated to providing cruise ship tourists with a brew tour tucked in the heart of their restaurant, where they make four or so different beers. After being awarded Tour Guide of the Season, Tom called me and asked if I would be interested in joining their 2012 summer crew and be the brewer there. Tom showed us around and we spent a couple days in one of the prettiest cities in Alaska, seeing old friends and making new ones. This path sounds fantastic, and with this as a possible career change, considering what I have accomplished in the way of "research," has definitely improved the format of my brewery visits. I am know learning much more in depth information about chemistry, cooking, and history of beer-making. A very exciting to start to our journey, but thinking back on a month, a lot has been done already...and I am going to tell you all about it!<br />
Skagway to Vancouver B.C. in a week, camping out along the Al Can underneath powerful stars, and crisp cold winds. The smell of Fall was fading, but slowly as we drove south, it reversed quickly, and Fall was just beginning in Vancouver. We sampled beer, attended Farmers markets, and hike along the park on the North-West side of the Island. We then travelled to Renton, WA to see Jaime, a great friend and amazing host who put us up for a couple of days before heading to Portland, OR. to fly to Hawaii. Our friend Kyle and his incredible family took care of Erin's truck while we were gone, and even housed us for a night when we returned tired and...cold, haha. Sarah and the girls over in Silverton watched Tut and Ketza for the week, which was one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for us. We are so appreciative for their help, it was the first time in about three years that I haven't cared for a dog, and knowing that they were in good hands put our minds at ease as we flew across the Pacific to Oahu.<br />
Hawaii was the first state on the Fall 2011 roster, and what better state to kick off our journey than Hawaii. We stayed with our friend Liz who lived just a mile or so north of Waikiki, out of the tourist traps and surrounded by great dining and the nations best bus system. On the plane we met a couple who just moved to Oahu a couple months before, and they shared so much great info for the greenhorns, it was luck that we met them, and even though we didn't get a chance to hang out with them that week, made a lasting impression on our minds as great folks(we didn't get our slippers stolen!) . Liz and her boyfriend Dan worked most of the time we were there, but we have posted pictures on our FaceBook pages if you want to see all of the fun things we did while we were there. <br />
Now when you are in Boy Scouts, and if you're lucky enough to get your Eagle Scout, you are in a network of eternal friendships like most close-knit organizations. Frat-like, but to me a much deeper connection, Scout contacts and friends have always proven to be top notch. After about five years, my friend Andrew Sanford, a new resident and full time Ranger at Volcanoes National Park, visited Oahu while we were there. He was at The Hilton(baller status), and arranged for us to spend the night there with him the night before we left. What better time to go to Kona Brewing Companies Oahu location, with a long lost friend and Erin under the same roof! We partied all night, sharing stories from the past, talking about the future, and just like when we were 15, occasionally farting and burping to break up the silence:-) Thanks Andy, you truly are a hero in my book, it feels good to see your friends becoming successful through happiness, hard work, and passion.<br />
Back to Portland, away from the heat, back into the clouds, and back to the book. Erin and I picked up the pooches, and headed into brew city, USA. Portland has so many breweries, but the Lucky Lab had our name written all over it. Dog friendly, in an old mill, we sat outside and played Phase ten and drank some great NW IPA's before meeting up wit Aaron and Curtis in Tacoma. We met at Harmon Brew Co. and ate dinner before going back to Aaron's families house that night. They took us and our dogs in, and when you are traveling with dogs, dog friendly families make you feel right at home. After talking all night and the next morning over what I like to call the "Spam Scramble," we all went to the dog park. Thank you Cauldwell family for the stay, it was very relaxing and fun to be around six dogs and two cats:-)<br />
Meeting up with Curtis, who has Ketza's mom Harmony, was a much needed session. The four of us worked together in 2009 on the Mendenhall glacier and haven't all been together since then, pretty awesome stuff. So we slowly pushed north to Seattle, and stayed with Matt and Jaime(same Jaime as before plus Matt and Alan). Unfortunately Jaime and Alan left for the weekend to attend their Grandfather's funeral, but we did get to see them for a little bit. Matt and I played call of Duty....a lot. Erin starting hating it after a day, which is about three times longer than most, but she still got about 18 zombie kills in on day three, which makes me love her just a little bit more, haha. We drank bud light, ate a lot of pizza, and had a mini mancation on the couch, watching the League and a new favorite, Raising Hope. We may have mentioned potential jobs for Matt in between rounds of COD, but we didn't want to lose focus on the task at hand. Thank you for letting us crash, and before I forget, thank you Aaron for giving me a copy of Mushing Magazine that I recently was published in. I have posted the article for everyone to view at the end of my entry, enjoy and write <a href="mailto:info@mushing.com">info@mushing.com</a> if you want to see more of my articles published in that magazine!<br />
Know I have said many thank yous, but keep in mind this is my first post in a month, and I do promise to know keep a regularly updated log of our travels every week just like last season. And I also have that special "donate" link at the bottom of the blog. They help us out so much, last winter I logged 12,000 miles and it cost roughly $3,000 in gas, $3,000 more in food and beer, and only $200 in hotel stays when I got sick in New England. We are funding this trip solely on our summer earnings, and though I am playing music live as much as I can and crocheting hats, your help is much appreciated. <br />
So from Seattle we ventured to Spokane, WA. and then to Post Falls, ID where we visited <a href="http://www.biplanebrewing.com/">Bi-Plane Brewing CO.</a>, a new nano-brewery that offers incredible beer at a great price. Nadine shared great history on brewing with us, and was very helpful and kind. We also met John, who was quite the character to meet at 11:30am in northern Idaho. He is a tech-geek who we could have talked to for hours if we didn't have somewhere to be. Thanks to both of you, and good luck in all your endeavors.<br />
Missoula, MT. was where we went that day and met up with Alyssa, who helped me handle in 2009, when I met Erin. She took us to Tamarack brewing where we played shuffle board till midnight with her roommate Blake. We also ran into our friend Sam and his buddy Jon, who are both as unique as the town of Missoula. Dog park and the Kettle House with them, then it was off to Tamarack with Alyssa and Blake. No better way to end a night in a college town than with Pita Pit, yumm!! <br />
This brings us finally to the present. We drove just north of Helena to Dan and Chris's ranch, located directly in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by thirty different gulches, named after the first thing seen there. We are welcome to stay here for a while, and we think that we just might. The mountains by the Missouri river here are open and welcoming, just like the couple we are lucky enough to spend time with. They own mules, horses, three dogs, including the crowd favorite Connor, a three year old Irish Wolfhound. Tut and Ketza are finally in a perfect spot where they can chase Elk, razz the Mules, and make friends with three very nice dogs. We are just about to go hiking in the mountains before dinner in town, and when you are surrounded by thousands of acres of National forest and have five dogs, well, that's what you do! So at 6,000ft., I bid you farewell until next week, where we will be heading into Yellowstone, and slowly moving towards North Carolina for the holidays. We are both very excited to get home and see our families, and celebrate our first year together with Erin's amazing parents, as well as my amazing parents and brother's family. So, as posted earlier, enjoy my article in Mushing, and enjoy the pictures posted above! Happy Trails from the Great Montana!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZrfpFy52bb5cws2Bi_cqQW9OtE3KWcJ76u5gKmnr4WaKQWkgRTLQm32ER-ttJ-lh_TOK-eHzvz0Iv50jkt4YMMazNep1NdYjEriqYvMFfm7RnMjUeQUbxRmC58urZ1kkkAPuMveNQEs/s1600/JOEY+PAGE+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZrfpFy52bb5cws2Bi_cqQW9OtE3KWcJ76u5gKmnr4WaKQWkgRTLQm32ER-ttJ-lh_TOK-eHzvz0Iv50jkt4YMMazNep1NdYjEriqYvMFfm7RnMjUeQUbxRmC58urZ1kkkAPuMveNQEs/s320/JOEY+PAGE+2.jpg" width="236" /></a></div> Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-50028498816246201332011-09-09T14:47:00.000-04:002011-09-09T14:47:02.881-04:00Beasts to Yeasts What a wild ride this summer has been. Currently, the mushers at camp have just topped over 300 tours each as our season winds down. Our dogs are yearning for colder temperatures and also asking for a break in the weather. South East AK is known for rain, especially as we push into our Fall months. The waterfalls around camp dominate the airwaves, accompanied by the low howls of those wiser than their bi-ped counterparts. It is as if they are so connected with the Earth that moments in time seem to stop and go like Manhattan rush hour. It is truly a lasting feeling that I will always embrace; the ability to live in the moment for better or for worse, knowing that eventually the tides will rise and lower and the sun will rise and set. It is this change that us seasonal workers, especially those with sled dogs, become accustomed to. As we embark on our new endeavours, the time we spend shifts slowly back and forth controlled by a force much greater than us, but at times is merciful when we want that moment to last just a bit longer.<br />
The Alaskan Bar has been great to me and my guitar. Erin has taken hundreds of photos and video so hopefully I can post them soon. It's tough juggling the arts sometimes, I try and do as much as I can, I mean it's the Alaskan way. The work ethic of people here is incredible. For me, my music, my sled dogs, my photography, and writing are constantly looming over me like newborn puppies saying "pick me next, pick me next!" Slowly but surely I tend to each one, trying to make sure no particular one feels "left out." The importance of now brings the dogs to the top of the list. I just said goodbye to Mouse and the "brewery" litter this morning, and Babar last week. 8 really good creatures that I may never see again, but will forever have in my mind as great dogs that I given the best care for. They were a part of the family, and now I begin to realize the power of ownership of huskies. You become so attached to them, and for me I have to say goodbye at the end of every season. I chalk it up as bittersweet; ownership and finance, or freedom and sharing the time with them while they are in your life. This is why I have Tut and Ketza, they take with me a little piece of every adventure we're on, and pack it up and move on.<br />
It's tough not to blend all of these passions together. Music, dogs, and traveling are captured in my writing, and they all influence each others positions, as I think they should. Too many people focus on the future, which can be great as you try and reach large goals, but I have found that the greatest treasures lay under my nose, or out in front of me, all of the time. <br />
So this month brought great wealth to my heart and mind, as I was awarded the highest honor as a tour guide. I received "Tour Guide of the Season" by Princess cruise lines, our top selling cruise ship. This means that when I gave a tour, the guests went back to the ship to the excursion office and filled out a tour guide recognition form mentioning my name more than any other in the city of Juneau. I mean, that is pretty awesome, but I remain humble and believe that it is everyone involved in the experience at our dog camp that guarantees we will get a positive review of the excursion. So next week Erin and I will attend a luncheon on the ship and have a small reception for others achievements, as well as mine. It's almost as if when that happened, it rained good luck on the beautiful Sheep Creek Valley.<br />
After pursuing my first published article for about five months, I finally got confirmation that my very first story will be published in none other than the amazing Mushing magazine. A story about my life as a tour guide, and all the ins and outs of handling for Iditarod racing mushers, as well as recreational kennels. It is an honor to have the voice of an apprentice be heard in this magazine. Usually you read of the up and coming mushers, or those established and dominating the race scene. Seldom do the voices of those handlers who work for peanuts in the winter get heard, and seldom does a musician dog musher turned beer enthusiast get a shot at the hot press! An exciting time as we near the end of the season, dogs from our glacier camps are being flown down today, and everyone is getting excited to start their winter endeavours. For Erin and I, we are somewhere between driving to Fairbanks or flying to Hawaii. We'll see where the wind takes us, for we are birds who's feathers are too bright to be caged. Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8413576199485366594.post-66686806686325151432011-08-03T15:25:00.001-04:002011-08-03T15:36:33.782-04:00Green, oh, its the magic color.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj441czaEyd_W4xcythGkD0-QapkHXzK_ymmOJb4WGedYgR_U6cwMyS0w7ZjRdehRIusG7r07qQc-7VRlOYtzjFIn5LmSbekOTOHsXeREy6Jy0g2u3pYuTTnFBmy6Ih-AzRMlu4H8sfnEA/s1600/IMG_7521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj441czaEyd_W4xcythGkD0-QapkHXzK_ymmOJb4WGedYgR_U6cwMyS0w7ZjRdehRIusG7r07qQc-7VRlOYtzjFIn5LmSbekOTOHsXeREy6Jy0g2u3pYuTTnFBmy6Ih-AzRMlu4H8sfnEA/s320/IMG_7521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Well, where did the summer go? It seems like just yesterday Erin was arriving to Juneau on the ferry with her Mom and we were looking towards a long summer filled with tour guiding and turd wrangling(common musher term). Now the whole month of July has escaped us once again, and we look towards our Fall and Winter as a time to recollect and not answer what an "Alaskan Husky" is. I have accomplished lots this summer, and am happy that once again my life is afloat and full of wonder.<br />
The crew went whale watching a while back, and we spent time watching whale tails, bubble netting, and a few breaches while I tried out my new telephoto lens. I think that one of the best purchases was my digital SLR, and now with the zoom zoom in full effect, I can capture so much more of the amazing things I experience with the people around me. The fun continued as Erin and I went hiking to a cabin on South Douglas to meet up with a couple great friends, and inevitably spending the night there after finding out the three mile hike was essentially up a mountain and over several creeks. The 25 guitar in case became a small burden after a bit, but surely payed off as I did my rendition of "cotez the kille" by Neil Young, fireside. Kayaking, mushing, eagle watching, and music filled July to gills, and we slowly slipped into August with breeze and ease. <br />
King Tut, however, had quite an encounter the other day. He met his first porcupine, who left him with 120 quills for dad to pull out, fun. He is know recuperating in the tent, almost ready to endure the subcutaneous quills that are festering out. Ketza on the other hand has been dominating lead position, barking and charging when it's wet and cold, and frolicking when it warms up. I am so thankful to have such great dogs, I tend to be especially modest of Ketza who was trained very well by Trevor, who I adopted her from almost two years ago. <br />
The tour season has been very busy, but have successfully finished my mural, which I have posted above for you all to enjoy. Hopefully you can recognize a few of the dogs in the team, they are all from our camp, except one little Californian cattle dog. I received tour guide of the month for May and June, am awaiting July, and working on August. Tour guide of the season is the goal, and I will not be able to do this without the help of the guests whom I give tours to. Thank you all for your help, it is an honor to be recognized for the dedication and hard work we put in to the lifestyle we live so passionately for. My pack of dogs is holding very strong, and I have a few new editions to the yard. Piper, from Martin Buser, is 30 days pregnant and very eager to meet all visitors, and also Mouse who has 11 week old pups is now one of my main leaders. A truly great addition to the kennel, they both have great attitudes and evenly matched appetites. These are the two best qualities in any sled dog. Four feet and a thick coat help too.<br />
So as I approach beer season, I will update once a week, as I travel through the Western United States tackling a most difficult job and journey. I have 25 states to visit, and about 5 months to do so. I think I'm up for it, but again will need all the help I can get from folks like you that support a traveling man's dream of seeing the United States of America, her breweries, and her fine population. I will also ask many of you for a couch to sleep on, and some cold clean water for the pooches. Happy trails all, and see you soon, I can hardly wait to see what August and September holds for my big happy family!<br />
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JWPJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960891892747223760noreply@blogger.com0