tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319673092024-03-13T00:32:00.763-04:00Aimless<a href="http://www.aimlessryan.blogspot.com"><img alt="[Aimless Blog Front Page]" src="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/images/blogheader.jpg"></a>
<br>The Adventures of an American Vagabond
<br>(& stories from ridiculously long walks)Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.comBlogger1153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-62026752189457801172017-09-22T14:11:00.000-04:002017-09-22T14:11:03.934-04:00Though Aimless is a thing of the past, I will always be Aimless Ryan. Keep up with me at my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/AimlessRyan">YouTube channel</a>.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-9255109013527622192013-12-12T11:41:00.000-05:002013-12-13T19:06:51.125-05:00Doing the right thingI received some mail recently from DeKalb County, Georgia. This piece of mail indicates that if I don't send DeKalb County $369 by December 17, for an alleged infraction of the law, they're going to have my Ohio driver's license suspended.<BR><BR>
Would you like to know what heinous crime I committed in Georgia several years ago? Unfortunately, I really can't tell you, because the citation I was given was written by someone who obviously doesn't know the meanings of the words she used to describe my alleged violation, nor the meanings of the words she was supposed to have used to describe my alleged violation.<BR><BR>
Here's what happened: While I sat on a guardrail, minding my own business and not interacting with anyone, a cop stopped and harassed me, then cited me for "Solicitation in Right Away," which I could not possibly have been doing, considering the cop's description of my alleged violation is complete gibberish.<BR><BR>
If a cop or anyone else doesn't know the proper terminology to describe a law, that person cannot possibly know what that particular law means.<!-- If you do know what the law means, you pretty much can't help but use the proper terminology to describe the law.--> If that person doesn't know what the law means, and he or she proves it by using horribly wrong terminology to describe the law on an official legal document, that person is not competent to enforce such a law. The cop who wrote my citation proved that she is incompetent simply by writing the citation, yet I'm still expected to pay a fine for breaking a law that she made up.<BR><BR>
The only reason I was given a citation that day is because this cop profiled me and instantly deemed me less than worthy of being treated like a human, just because I had a large backpack. This cop played judge and jury when she decided she had the authority to manufacture an infraction of the law that I never committed.<BR><BR>
I haven't done any research, but I bet that's against the law.<BR><BR>
Still, let's just pretend for a minute that I had been cited in DeKalb County for something the cop legitimately thought was an actual violation of the law. If you're reading this, you probably already know I've never kept it a secret that I have solicited many times when I've been on the road, in many places.
<!-- I've even shared pictures of some of my creative methods of soliciting. Hell, my Blogger profile pic is a picture of me in the act of solicitation. My point here is that I don't lie about this kind of thing or try to hide the fact that I have committed victimless infractions of the law when I've been on the road, and I have the track record to prove that I haven't lied about anything. I've even had a judge rule in my favor after dirty Indiana cops beat me up and forced me to spend three nights in jail for something very similar to what happened in Georgia, which backs up everything I said about the Indiana incident. (And you can find the court records very easily on the internet.)--><BR><BR>
Was I soliciting when I took the picture of myself in Hollywood, holding a sign that said, "PLEASE HELP A HUNGRY TRAVELER. THANK YOU"? You bet I was. And I could have been cited for it. But I wasn't cited for it, for many reasons, including the fact that almost every cop alive is above that.<!-- I've never been cited for soliciting when I actually was soliciting.--><BR><BR>
Was I soliciting when I sat on a guardrail in DeKalb County, Georgia? Nope. I've never solicited in DeKalb County, Georgia, or anywhere else in Georgia.<BR><BR>
So why is DeKalb County, Georgia planning to have my Ohio driver's license suspended? Why is DeKalb County, Georgia extorting me? Why is DeKalb County, Georgia terrorizing me?<BR><BR>
<!--Because a cop broke the law by writing me a citation for something she knows I never did.<BR><BR>-->
I have enough BS to deal with already. Here's something I've never shared on this blog: I have multiple sclerosis. I am in constant misery that's never going to end. My left leg does almost nothing, and my right leg isn't much better. My left optic nerve is screwed up, too, so my eyes don't work together and I pretty much always have a headache or nausea from it. Although I didn't know it at the time, MS is why I had so much trouble walking when I was in New England a couple years ago.<BR><BR>
I can barely walk now. I always use a cane, and I had to use a wheelchair when I went to Ikea with my mom a couple months ago. Someday I'm probably gonna have to use a wheelchair all the time. I drop things all the time because I've lost so much feeling in my hands<!--; because I've lost so much control of my hands-->. That's pretty stressful, and the stress only makes the MS worse. So as you may have guessed, the stress of being victimized and extorted by people who are paid to protect me also makes things worse.<BR><BR>
I'm not going to pay this bogus ticket. I don't even have the money to pay it. If anyone reading this knows how I can fight back against the terrorist county of DeKalb County, Georgia, I'd appreciate your help. Or if you know someone who may be able to help me, I'd appreciate if you'd share my story with them.<BR><BR>
I may have seemed like a dick to a lot of the people who have read this blog over the years, but unlike the DeKalb County, Georgia police, I don't fuck with people. And if I did have it in me to do something like this to someone, I would quickly realize I've done wrong, and I would do everything I could to undo it, because that's the right thing to do.<BR><BR>
Someday I'm gonna get a similar piece of mail from San Bernardino County, California, too, and it will cause me even more stress.<BR><BR>
Here comes the good part of this post. It's a story I've never shared on this blog (because I'm not the kind of person who attempts to draw positive attention to himself for doing the right thing; for doing what almost no one else would have done if they were presented with the same circumstances).<BR><BR>
When I was walking into Providence, Rhode Island in the fall of 2011, I noticed a money clip in the grass several feet off Albion Road, just east of George Washington Highway. Seeing right away that there was a driver's license in the money clip, I decided I would send it to the address on the driver's license whenever I got a chance. However, as I bent down to pick it up, I saw that there was some cash on the ground. So I picked up the $65 and instantly decided I had to walk to the address on the license and return the money clip AND THE MONEY to its rightful owner.<BR><BR>
So I walked at least a few miles out of my way, to 86 Darling Street in Central Falls, Rhode Island. There was no answer when I knocked on the third-floor door, so I left a note on the door or in the mailbox, with my name and phone number, telling Mr. Gomes that I had found something he had lost, and that he should respond ASAP because I was on foot, walking away from his home. An hour or so later I received a call from Mr. Gomes. I told him I would meet him at the McDonald's across the street from my present location.<BR><BR>
After Mr. Gomes arrived on his motorcycle to meet me, I could tell that he was very stressed out over this. When he found me inside the small McDonald's, I quickly gave him the money clip, including everything that was in it when I found it. Once I was sure he was the person on the driver's license (only a few seconds later), I also gave him the $65, which was more money than I had in my life savings. Because there were a lot of little pieces of paper in the area where I found the money clip, which I assume came out of the money clip, I opened my phone's map application and showed Mr. Gomes exactly where I found the money clip.<BR><BR>
Before leaving, Mr. Gomes gave me $20 from the wad I had returned to him, as a reward. He didn't have to give me any money, and it would not have upset me if he had chosen not to give me anything. Having the satisfaction of knowing I did the right thing was reward enough. And I'm not saying that just to make myself sound like a good, moral, honest person. That's truly how I've always felt about it. That's why I never said anything about this publicly in the 2+ years since it happened.<BR><BR>
A couple hours later, as I walked south on the sidewalk of the main road between Providence and Pawtucket, with my earbuds in, I heard a commotion on the road, maybe 50 feet from me. When I looked over, I saw that it was Mr. Gomes on his motorcycle, trying to get my attention as he was stopped at a red light on the other side of the street. I turned off my music and talked to him while he was stopped. He was much more relaxed this time, obviously relieved that he had been saved from the trouble of canceling all his credit cards and whatnot. When the light turned green, he motored off, and that's the last time I ever saw him.<BR><BR>
Now here's part of a story I did share here on the blog: Three days after returning the money and money clip to Mr. Gomes, as I walked into Westerly, Rhode Island, I was taken into police custody and put in jail for 16 nights, again after breaking no laws; just walking down the road carrying a large backpack.<BR><BR>
My Rhode Island jail story has a little different context now, don't ya think?<BR><BR>
Despite what you may have always thought of me, I do the right thing whenever I can. Why is it so impossible for people who are paid to do the right thing to do the right thing?Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-24487529688191808562012-09-28T11:26:00.000-04:002012-09-28T11:36:00.800-04:00Ryan's Pizza BlogHey everyone, come check out <a href="http://ryanspizzablog.blogspot.com/">my new pizza blog</a> if you want to learn how to make the best pizza on the planet in your own kitchen. I share ALL my secrets on this blog (because I'm less of a dick than you probably think I am).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WlqzEs9Y_GU/UF9ZXCC5ehI/AAAAAAAAAWg/Ya7en-EVBA8/s1600/IMG_1041.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WlqzEs9Y_GU/UF9ZXCC5ehI/AAAAAAAAAWg/Ya7en-EVBA8/s400/IMG_1041.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside of a NY style pizza I made on<br />
the grill. One of my favorite pics.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This <a href="http://ryanspizzablog.blogspot.com/2012/09/ryans-new-york-style_21.html">New York style</a> post is just for you, ER. (No it's not. It's for everyone who might be able to take something from it. You think you're special or something?) I've also written a post about how to make <a href="http://ryanspizzablog.blogspot.com/2012/09/ryans-chicago-deep-dish-malnatis-style_25.html">Malnati's style deep dish</a> and a post about how to clone <a href="http://ryanspizzablog.blogspot.com/2012/09/pizza-hut-thin-crispy-clone.html">Pizza Hut thin</a>. Step-by-step instructions and lots of pictures in every instructional post, with more on the way as I continue to make different styles of pizza and take pictures of the pizzas I make. Plenty of other posts, too, about the right kinds of equipment to buy, as well as anything else that might help beginning pizzamakers become expert pizzamakers. I'm totally serious when I say this blog will eventually be the best, most thorough pizza instruction resource on the internet, if it's not already.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vwg3iyY0gU0/UGHqHUsWCtI/AAAAAAAAAek/0VNiwSt9-BA/s1600/IMG_1012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vwg3iyY0gU0/UGHqHUsWCtI/AAAAAAAAAek/0VNiwSt9-BA/s400/IMG_1012.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like Malnati's to me, except my pan is half an inch too deep.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'd love it if y'all would <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AimlessRyansPizzaBlog">"like" the blog on Facebook</a> so I might be able to reach more people and rescue those who are stuck in a neverending cycle of looking in the wrong places for answers to their pizzamaking questions.<br />
<br />
This just occurred to me: I went to jail a year ago today <em>for walking</em>. Land of the Free, baby!<br />
<br />
If you've been wondering if I'm ever going to hit the road again or share any more of my stories from the time I've already spent on the road... All I can say is I don't know. I'd love to hit the road again, and I'd love to have a TV show about it so I can share with you what no one else can. Even though I sometimes seem like a miserable prick in my blog posts when I'm on the road, there's no better way to live.<br />
<br />
I've even thought about offering my services as a guide for people who would like to hit the road Aimless-style for a week or two, to take the kind of vacation that you just can't buy. Almost every American guy over 30 always wanted to do the things I've done but never had the balls to try it. Then they got married and had kids, and the window of opportunity closed essentially forever. Yeah, well what if there was someone out there who could guide them and cram a year of learning this stuff into a week or two of amazing adventures and travel? Yup, that's me. And there's basically no one else who can offer this service. So what's it worth to you? I figured I could start off by charging $500 a week, plus possibly travel expenses (for me to get to and from wherever my clients live, in conjunction with their busy schedule). It would be the best $500 you've ever spent.<br />
<br />
But right now I have more important things to deal with, like trying to make my legs work again. I'm not totally unable to walk (or even close to that), but it's really hard for me to walk, and I can't run. (I'm not going to elaborate right now.) Hitting the road would probably be good for this condition, just like it was when I hit the road last year. I don't know if I ever said it, but I could barely walk when I left home last year. Then I walked 350 miles before being locked up one year ago today, for 16 nights.<br />
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<a href="http://ryanspizzablog.blogspot.com/">http://ryanspizzablog.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1193661908&ref=profile#/pages/Aimless-The-Adventures-of-an-American-Vagabond/91825502688?ref=mf">Become a fan</a> of Aimless on Facebook.
<br />
--
<br />
<a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/">Aimless</a>
<br />
<a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/trailer.html">Aimless Video Evidence</a>Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-73298705513532138612011-10-29T09:44:00.011-04:002011-10-29T10:27:47.128-04:00Court in Rhode IslandWhydibuy asked in a comment on the previous post how my court appearance went. Unfortunately I can't answer that because they did it without me; I was in a holding cell during my court appearance. I didn't even know it was happening until after it happened. From what I've heard, though, the prosecution extorted my folks for a couple hundred bucks.<br /><br />I didn't even know my parents were coming to Rhode Island until my mom showed up to visit me in jail the night before my court date. They made the trip because we couldn't communicate and because they didn't know if I was gonna have ANYTHING when I was released. That's because the people who work in RI's Department of Corrections are a bunch of criminal scumbags who tell you with a straight face that all your shit will be thrown away before you get out of jail. They refuse to let you do things like make one phone call to let your family know you're not dead. And when you go to the property window to obtain your street clothes before you board the bus to the courthouse, they tell you your clothes were already thrown away, thus leaving you wearing jail jumpers to the courthouse (and possibly out of the courthouse). They are the biggest pieces of shit you could ever hope to meet. Except two of them: a sheriff at the courthouse named Carl and lady in the jail named Nunez.<br /><br />I'm in suburban Baltimore now. Probably gonna take a train to DC this afternoon to visit my good friend Jeff. It's cold and raining/snowing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1193661908&ref=profile#/pages/Aimless-The-Adventures-of-an-American-Vagabond/91825502688?ref=mf">Become a fan</a> of Aimless on Facebook.<P>--<br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com">Aimless</a><br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/trailer.html">Aimless Video Evidence</a>Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-44375840523146330482011-10-21T14:47:00.007-04:002011-10-21T15:18:47.661-04:00How I ended up in jail for 16 daysI know at least one person has been waiting patiently for this story, so here's why I was in jail:<br /><br />After I stepped into the ocean near Westerly, RI, as I walked back toward town, a cop stopped and asked me if I had seen some guy on crutches. The cop said there was a report that someone was stealing mail from mailboxes. Like always, I cooperated with the cop until he asked me for my ID. (When I get treated like a suspect for no reason, I respond how someone who's being treated like a suspect for no reason should respond: I stop cooperating and I assert my rights.)<br /><br />Anyway, the cops took me down and cuffed me, never informing me that I was under arrest or why I was under arrest or that I had the right to remain silent (as required by law), which is all I was doing anyway. They roughed me up a little and put me in a cell at the Westerly police station, then wrote some bullshit report that I still haven't seen. Next day I went to court and pleaded not guilty to obstruction. Judge set my bail at $100 and set my next court date for 10/14. I had $44. I couldn't make any calls. I couldn't contact anyone.<br /><br />When they took me to jail, all I could do was hope my mom would figure out that no blogging + no tweeting + no phone data usage = I'm in jail somewhere, instead of dead or a million other things. They would not let me call my mom to let her know that I wasn't dead; they exist just to fuck with people.<br /><br />Eight days after I was "arrested," I received a piece of mail from Mom. I could finally exhale, knowing Mom wasn't freaking out, thinking I was dead. Just seeing the envelope with Mom's handwriting on it brought tears to my eyes because I finally knew she wasn't still in the dark. <br /><br />I could have been out of jail after only one day if those piece-of-shit motherfuckers hadn't gone way out of their way to fuck with both me and my mom, breaking countless laws in the process just because they enjoy making people hurt.<br /><br />By the time I received Mom's second letter, which informed me that I could post bail, I only had a couple days remaining until my court date. I decided to just wait it out.<br /><br />So much more to it than that. Wait till you find out what happened only three days before I was put in jail. I originally was not going to write about it, but things changed, and now I think it's a very relevant story.<br /><br />Oh yeah, and the walk is over. I have no need for any more of this kind of bullshit. (You now know about 10 percent of the story.)<br /><br />I've been hanging out in Manhattan the last five days. (You would have known that five days ago if you followed me on Twitter.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1193661908&ref=profile#/pages/Aimless-The-Adventures-of-an-American-Vagabond/91825502688?ref=mf">Become a fan</a> of Aimless on Facebook.<p>--<br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/">Aimless</a><br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/trailer.html">Aimless Video Evidence</a></p>Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-16363897698447181132011-10-14T11:44:00.002-04:002011-10-14T11:48:23.000-04:00JailI just spent the last 16 days in jail. I should have a lot to say about it pretty soon.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1193661908&ref=profile#/pages/Aimless-The-Adventures-of-an-American-Vagabond/91825502688?ref=mf">Become a fan</a> of Aimless on Facebook.<P>--<br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com">Aimless</a><br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/trailer.html">Aimless Video Evidence</a>Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-81246927437265523292011-09-25T08:10:00.003-04:002011-09-25T08:15:23.283-04:00State #5<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XrmkpwtRxWE/Tn8aPBHaYsI/AAAAAAAAALI/QTj9y6zSMTE/s1600/photo-734919.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XrmkpwtRxWE/Tn8aPBHaYsI/AAAAAAAAALI/QTj9y6zSMTE/s320/photo-734919.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656268502300517058" /></a></p><br />I made it into Rhode Island at 12:17 yesterday. This is the sign they gave me, instead of a "Welcome to Rhode Island" sign. If you wanna know more, follow @AimlessRyan on Twitter.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-68980873732442931702011-09-22T15:08:00.003-04:002011-09-22T15:12:06.640-04:00Sandwich close-up<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiQgq1kQ1KQ/TnuHyeM26lI/AAAAAAAAALA/-YiLGHYfy7k/s1600/photo-736975.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiQgq1kQ1KQ/TnuHyeM26lI/AAAAAAAAALA/-YiLGHYfy7k/s320/photo-736975.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655263058263992914" /></a></p><br />And here's a close-up of the sandwich someone left outside my tent about a week ago.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-27710933994185270172011-09-20T12:35:00.002-04:002011-09-20T12:39:58.760-04:00Home<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HC0tTkX6Enk/TnjA5MZzkBI/AAAAAAAAAK4/fR8zfyJ7EQ0/s1600/photo-748289.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HC0tTkX6Enk/TnjA5MZzkBI/AAAAAAAAAK4/fR8zfyJ7EQ0/s320/photo-748289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654481420978196498" /></a></p><br />This one's for you, ER. This is where I slept last night. I think it's at the first intersection south of NH on Rte 78 in MA (about 4 miles into MA). I know it's a shitty picture, but I've been getting up and moving really early lately. Not much I can do about that.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-17012210016994020122011-09-20T12:31:00.001-04:002011-09-20T12:34:05.007-04:00Midnight Cowboy<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8YlDBAt23Q/TnjADSxVmBI/AAAAAAAAAKw/PgmRhFccLPM/s1600/photo-732426.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8YlDBAt23Q/TnjADSxVmBI/AAAAAAAAAKw/PgmRhFccLPM/s320/photo-732426.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654480494974572562" /></a></p><br />This staircase in Brattleboro, Vermont reminded me of the staircase from the party scene in Midnight Cowboy.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-7073290834928102812011-09-20T12:27:00.002-04:002011-09-20T12:30:04.627-04:00State #4<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzUaYhUMJA4/Tni-6wppCsI/AAAAAAAAAKo/L7eLx3Vr4lM/s1600/photo-743088.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzUaYhUMJA4/Tni-6wppCsI/AAAAAAAAAKo/L7eLx3Vr4lM/s320/photo-743088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654479248864905922" /></a></p><br />This was yesterday at 6:00 or so. I did 20 miles yesterday. Don't ask me how I'm doing this because I don't know. Looks like the rain may have killed my pedometer this morning.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-68813264329103055542011-09-18T16:44:00.003-04:002011-09-18T16:47:15.840-04:00Smokin'<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FE88200qndI/TnZYQJWj_uI/AAAAAAAAAKg/5eKlss2Q9wY/s1600/photo-787619.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FE88200qndI/TnZYQJWj_uI/AAAAAAAAAKg/5eKlss2Q9wY/s320/photo-787619.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653803416621940450" /></a></p><br />I made it to Vermont at about 3:40, I believe. That was a very quick 13 miles for my current condition, which is still pretty gimpy. Looks like I'll be in Assumchusetts sometime tomorrow. By the way, that was a very difficult sign to get in a picture with myself, particularly because of where the sun was.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-72123489459919788902011-09-18T08:30:00.003-04:002011-09-18T16:49:31.238-04:00Apple earbuds blow<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njSavuM4bIs/TnXkYAwuxgI/AAAAAAAAAKY/IJLwmOqpvJg/s1600/photo-724303.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njSavuM4bIs/TnXkYAwuxgI/AAAAAAAAAKY/IJLwmOqpvJg/s320/photo-724303.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653676008405911042" /></a></p><br />Apple earbuds are literally the most useless product I have ever used. They suck in every way they possibly could suck. I would be happier with my iPhone if it came with no earbuds instead of these stupid, worthless, irritating earbuds. Apple should be ashamed of themselves for even creating this garbage, which is beginning to make me hate my favorite music.<br /><br />I may have a lot more to say about this retarded-ass product, so come on back to this post every once in a while.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-32144549691006420982011-09-15T15:43:00.003-04:002011-09-15T17:51:47.271-04:00Walking again<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4SI6uY1o1VA/TnJY5zRwPWI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/lb9OvZytm8A/s1600/photo-710458.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4SI6uY1o1VA/TnJY5zRwPWI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/lb9OvZytm8A/s320/photo-710458.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652678232343854434" /></a><br />This morning at about 7:00 I heard someone walk up to my tent, which was all wet from rain. I figured they were gonna tell me to scram. Instead, they set a sandwich down by my vestibule and walked away. The person came from the parking lot of Amherst Village Dental. If that person ever finds this post, thank you.<br /><br />I resumed the walk yesterday, after taking it easy in Manchester/Bedford for five days, I think, to rest the hip. Hip felt all right for about five miles, but then it started feeling like this walk will be over soon. Later it felt better, but not good. I ended up doing about 11 miles. I expected the hip to feel pretty messed up today, but so far it feels pretty decent (after about 7 miles). Maybe I'm gonna be able to do this.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-4911207879870519502011-09-09T20:31:00.003-04:002011-09-09T20:49:59.437-04:00Hip flexor?I spent today sitting around at Burger King, Wendy's, and Dairy Queen, in an effort to give my hip a rest. I think this is the first time I've ever just sat around all day during a walk, excluding the rare occasions when I actually had somewhere to stay during last year's walk.<br /><br />Oh, the hip... Yeah, um, my left hip is messed up. I just started feeling it two or three days ago, when I was finally starting to feel human again. From what little I know, it seems to be a hip flexor issue. When this injury is at its worst, it's nearly impossible for me to walk, plus it puts me at risk for other injuries. So I'm just hanging out right now, and I may just hang out tomorrow, too, to try to give it a chance to heal. All I know is that if I keep having to limp all day just to make it 9 or 10 miles, this walk will have to end. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1193661908&ref=profile#/pages/Aimless-The-Adventures-of-an-American-Vagabond/91825502688?ref=mf">Become a fan</a> of Aimless on Facebook.<P>--<br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com">Aimless</a><br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/trailer.html">Aimless Video Evidence</a>Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-81171648087135223612011-09-07T10:48:00.001-04:002011-09-07T10:49:54.212-04:00Lovely day<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHlE1Zi6K7M/TmeEbdvawUI/AAAAAAAAAKI/VzhspndlisM/s1600/photo-757362.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uHlE1Zi6K7M/TmeEbdvawUI/AAAAAAAAAKI/VzhspndlisM/s320/photo-757362.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649629864934424898" /></a></p><br />I only put the vest on the outside of the rain jacket when I know it's gonna be raining for a long time. After raining all night, this is gonna be going on for at least several more hours. Several miles south of Epsom, NH.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-18265443380575598132011-09-04T17:40:00.005-04:002011-09-04T18:08:35.298-04:00More obstacles<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-He8o1RZAgRo/TmPwdY_rXGI/AAAAAAAAAKA/S5weFEzhuKU/s1600/photo-769019.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-He8o1RZAgRo/TmPwdY_rXGI/AAAAAAAAAKA/S5weFEzhuKU/s320/photo-769019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648622745369140322" /></a></p>
<br />OK, first thing you need to know is that this is a picture of the road Google directed me to use. This is where all the bullshit started this morning. I was able to get around this body of water by finding a route through the forest. (And yes, this is a forest, not just "woods.") But over the next hour or so, I had to find my way across/around 14 more of these things. As you can see by the fallen trees spanning the road in two different places, no one uses this road. That's why I wanted to make sure people knew where I was. I can't even tell you how many ways I could have gotten hurt back there, especially in my gimpy condition. Honestly, I don't even know how I made it beyond the first ten miles out of Portland, and I certainly don't know how my legs manage to transport me and my gear over ten miles every day, with my mileage increasing every day (13 miles yesterday).Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-63122791998662660512011-09-04T14:36:00.002-04:002011-09-04T14:40:35.467-04:00Two-state walk...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aj7vKrtc4c8/TmPFTYxqGVI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/Lx7nmK6ce50/s1600/photo-721213.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aj7vKrtc4c8/TmPFTYxqGVI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/Lx7nmK6ce50/s320/photo-721213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648575294511651154" /></a></p>
<br />This is one of the biggest milestones ever for me because a week ago I was 90% sure this walk wouldn't last any longer than ten miles. Anyone who has spent any time around me over the last 11 months is probably just as amazed as I am because I've barely been able to walk AT ALL since last September.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-29568021462415914032011-09-04T08:45:00.002-04:002011-09-04T08:50:02.765-04:00Back on asphaltI'm safe now. Man, that was fucking scary; the scariest position I've ever been stuck in. Every step presented about a hundred different ways for me to die. No one would have found me. I'll post some pictures later, when I get a chance to charge.
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1193661908&ref=profile#/pages/Aimless-The-Adventures-of-an-American-Vagabond/91825502688?ref=mf">Become a fan</a> of Aimless on Facebook.<P>--
<br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com">Aimless</a>
<br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/trailer.html">Aimless Video Evidence</a>Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-24633448813337318952011-09-04T08:25:00.000-04:002011-09-04T08:28:03.071-04:00See what I mean<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLLqMJICYQ4/TmNu01Sx8PI/AAAAAAAAAJw/kUZnvt4XeBk/s1600/photo-783071.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLLqMJICYQ4/TmNu01Sx8PI/AAAAAAAAAJw/kUZnvt4XeBk/s320/photo-783071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648480211590836466" /></a></p>Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-34389815452543542752011-09-04T08:11:00.002-04:002011-09-04T08:15:38.117-04:00If I don't update within the next hour or two, it means I'm on Half Mile Road and I'm in desperate need of help. I'm fine right now, but I'm in a very dangerous place, where no one will find me if I get hurt and lose consciousness, which is very possible.
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1193661908&ref=profile#/pages/Aimless-The-Adventures-of-an-American-Vagabond/91825502688?ref=mf">Become a fan</a> of Aimless on Facebook.<P>--
<br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com">Aimless</a>
<br /><a href="http://www.aimlessmovie.com/trailer.html">Aimless Video Evidence</a>Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-6671559179181918452011-09-04T07:27:00.002-04:002011-09-04T07:31:33.232-04:00Different kind of road<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XpbONjv1JZk/TmNgwUBmc6I/AAAAAAAAAJg/cRru_HV6rqU/s1600/photo-781170.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XpbONjv1JZk/TmNgwUBmc6I/AAAAAAAAAJg/cRru_HV6rqU/s320/photo-781170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648464740778144674" /></a></p>
<br />This is the kind of road Google Maps is steering me down this morning. Six miles to New Hampshire.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-25566307855885741312011-09-03T09:28:00.002-04:002011-09-03T09:29:43.135-04:00Walking road<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sbZBrgo4pU/TmIrl-duaXI/AAAAAAAAAJY/3PdUwdAveik/s1600/photo-734541.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2sbZBrgo4pU/TmIrl-duaXI/AAAAAAAAAJY/3PdUwdAveik/s320/photo-734541.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648124814098852210" /></a></p>
<br />This is a very good walking road, despite the heavy traffic. Can you figure out why?Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-89799928785811601852011-09-02T17:13:00.003-04:002011-09-02T17:19:52.595-04:00Saco, Maine<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YyIH4ibBDI8/TmFHDGFjvjI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/xX_8rCCI43g/s1600/photo-728584.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YyIH4ibBDI8/TmFHDGFjvjI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/xX_8rCCI43g/s320/photo-728584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647873526198418994" /></a></p>
<br />This is a few hundred feet from where I slept last night, near the train station.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31967309.post-50023430800973729002011-08-31T10:50:00.002-04:002011-08-31T10:54:24.873-04:00Bridge outta Portland<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jY-FAQWGjDU/Tl5KVBNVG6I/AAAAAAAAAJI/H9YC7isbUM0/s1600/photo-759741.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jY-FAQWGjDU/Tl5KVBNVG6I/AAAAAAAAAJI/H9YC7isbUM0/s320/photo-759741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647032707731233698" /></a></p>
<br />2.34 miles so far. Not much, but it's a start. Tells me I should be able to hit my goal of 10 miles today.Ryan M. Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05277089504982373125noreply@blogger.com0