So the Crowdfunding Site at CU went down for a few days but now were are back up and running. I was able to get them to change the goal and we are now SOO close to $14,000 -- our next goal is to reach $25,000. The more we raise, the more scholarships we can create. Every dollar helps! If this scholarship fund reaches $25,000 in its first five years, the university will be able to extend the scholarship’s lifetime by setting up a quasi-endowment. This will ensure long-term support for students in recovery at CU-Boulder who are working hard to get an education and stay sober.
Click HERE to donate to the CU Recovery Scholarship Fund :)
Click HERE to donate to the CU Recovery Scholarship Fund :)
The Pacific Coast off Humbolt County, CA
Stoked on my Rain Gear- Dishwashing gloves & Grocery Bags
So I was stuck in the middle of the Nevada desert, not in the greatest head space, on HWY 50 which is also referred to as “The Loneliest Road in America”. I had Lake Tahoe on my mind and if I could just get through this rain I knew I had a warm open house with a bed to curl up in. So I slapped on the dishwashing gloves, duck taped some grocery bags around my feet, and scooted off on a mission- 355 miles to TAHOE! After 14 hours, countless mountain passes, rain, sleet, snow, red bull & coffee, and the same dam 37 songs on repeat(because I previously lost my music with my phone to a vicious hot tub) I stepped off the scooter looking like the schmiegal from the lord of the rings, withered, wrinkled, and decrepit- but I had made it to LAKE TAHOE!
Highway 50 in Nevada- Just before the 355 mile 14 hr drive
Some of the kids from STHS around the HOG! The first day in Tahoe I jumped out of bed stoked and ready to scoot around the lake, I snagged my back pack and went the long way around the lake on my way to South Tahoe High School. I was so excited I forgot to grab my rain gear, halfway around the lake it started dumping. In the left the house screeching and screaming I was so excited to see Tahoe and by the time I got to the school I was soaked but still stoked to hang with these kids. Immediately the jokes about it looking like I had peed my pants started rolling off these kids tongues. But then I got to share my story with these kids and they asked tons of questions about the difference between what my life was like when I was drinking and what it is like now. The class I talked to was around 25-30 kids, the biggest I’ve talked to yet which made me really nervous to share with them. The way they payed attention to what I was saying and how they engaged in an actual conversation was pretty moving which made me feel at ease and got me to that level of “stokedness” I am always searching for.
STHS around their mascot the Viking
I spent an entire week in Tahoe exploring and met a few guys that invited me to play golf with them which was pretty heart warming. Their actions had me start thinking about all the different people on my trip that have helped me in all sorts of ways so far. It all started from day 1 with my friend Marc drove from Steamboat to Vail and met up with me halfway, where he pulled over a few different times and snapped pictures as I passed. Later when I made it to Steamboat he met up with me and brought me some reflective tape to which made me more visible to passing traffic- my mom would have loved this guy! Then you have my buddy Alex in Steamboat who let me crash at his place, and when I showed up he had a fresh full crockpot full of delicious chilly ready as well as my tent he had picked up from the store in steamboat. He helped me set it up for the first time and then the following morning when I went to talk at my first school on the road, both him and my brother came to support me while I talked, this was crazy, it made me ooze with “stokedness” and those warm feelings doods never really talk about!
Blake, Alec, and I- Salt Lake City, UT
Just in the first week I started to realize how much people care about people in their lives, people will take bullets for their friends, drive hours upon hours just to see their friends, nothing more than to just be there with their friends, something incredible to think about-just how much the concept of friendship means to people. I had some friends in Park City Alec & Charlie who housed and fed me, completely unexpected and they gave without thinking twice. Asking for help is something that I hate doing, I have no problem helping out people but becoming a burden to someone by asking for help is something I never like to do. The actions by these people, many whom I haven’t known for long, blow me away and make me realize that inherent nature of people is to be helpful. When I got to Salt Lake City,my friend Fonz offered his house up to me even though he was out of town- then Blake drove 11 hours just to come hang with me, that’s it- we had no plans other than to kick it for a few days. The first night he was with me was when I found out my buddy Logan had passed, I was so grateful that Blake was there to listen, help me out, and just be there with me. There are so many other people along the trip thus far it would make your eyes fall out reading about them and your hearts burst with joy to know about their kindness, but I want to keep you alive and able to read so you can continue to follow me along this journey!
Jumping off the sign in the Shasta Trinity National Forest in California.
Snow on top of the Pass in Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
Outside the Cotopaxi HQ- home of the best gear & their philanthropic attitude is inspiring beyond explanation
My polaroid at Cotopaxi next to Logan's- he was there with the homies just a week before
Obviously the Nevada border, not so obvious- the "PARDEE ON" sticker
Drove as close as I could get- Chased some antelope on the way!!
Hoping the Mormons will catch on and "PARDEE ON"
I've been pulled over 4 times- 1 for "sober swerving"; 3- for no plates!
Stoked on the big trees- even more stoked on the cool people I met that snapped this pic. THANKS BOB & LAURA
Lake Tahoe- Emerald Bay- I WAS SOAKED
Shoe Tree- Off HWY 50 in Nevada
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