Living Homefree - Episode 1

We heard screams in the distance those last few hours we were trapped upon the mountain. We had hopes that it wasn't because of Crazy Bear, who was charging at cars earlier in the morning less than a quarter-mile away. Safely ensconced in the arms of a tow, once again Spazz and I ventured into the unknown.

Siyo! (Hello!)

Yes... it has been a couple of weeks since my last post. And oh boy... has it been an adventure.

Recently, my partner Spazz and I found ourselves once again without a roof over our heads. After a little budgeting of our finances, we quickly realized that the most logical conclusion to unexpectedly finding ourselves without a home was to buy a van we could sleep in while I finish my college degree at the local University.

Meet, our fake cop van:
That's just a pop up canopy tied to the roof, but yeah... this has made a few people jump

She has yet to acquire a name, but I feel it is going to be something along the lines of 'Fallen Angel', given her tendency to work perfectly well traveling along these majestic Blue Ridge Mountain roads, then deciding on a whim to protest her fluid motion by stranding us in the most peculiar (and beautiful) of places.

~View from Pisgah Ridge in the morning~

It was the middle of the night when we realized we had a problem. Parked along the Blue Ridge Parkway, we were just getting settled in for the night when I decided to open the side door for air, hoping that this time we would not trigger the car alarm we so poorly understood. Prepared to turn off the car alarm instead of running around the van in a panic while half-naked trying to figure out how to turn off a screaming van, I jumped out and quickly put the key in the door to disable the thing. Well, since our battery draining issue, we have always turned on the van after it decides to randomly yell at us. This time however, she refused to start.

Spazz reluctantly got back up from our comfy nest of sleeping bags atop an air mattress, and set to figure out the problem. Perhaps it was an electrical issue? Has the van's alarm locked out our key?? Does the fuel filter need to be replaced??? Eventually, Spazz gave up, joining me in restless slumber for a few hours until daybreak designated that it was time to get up and figure out this problem or else neither of us was going anywhere.

It wasn't long before someone who was having a morning drive stopped by to warn us of the bear who ran toward her car instead of running away. This is unusual behavior for a black bear, and we quickly surmised that this may be the same bear who recently made the News after charging into someone's house, then killing the family dog who was trying to protect them. It seems that something should be done to make sure the bear is not rabid, however wildlife agencies, likely strained financially from recent cuts in funding, say they cannot do anything unless the incident is occurring right in front of them, and they don't work on weekends.

If you have ever watched Cujo, you can imagine where our minds went. Hoping beyond anything the bear did not decide to come our way, Spazz did his best to try to figure out the van's issue while we worked on acquiring a tow for the day.

*Monotropa Uniflora, aka: The Ghost Plant, or Indian Pipe flower. Infusion of the root traditionally used as an antispasmodic, hypnotic, nervine, sedative, & tonic. *

It took a while, but we were on our way back down the mountain, arriving at the mechanic shop just in time for it to close. Well, this made for an interesting situation. We ended up going out for sushi, starving after not having been able to have a meal for nearly 24 hours, and then sneaked back into our own vehicle so we could sleep after not being able to get ahold of anyone who may have somewhere we could stay. Fortunately, we have found somewhere to crash while our van is being repaired, and hopefully the 'Fallen Angel's wings will unfurl again soon. I'm already missing the Parkway, the forest, and our mobility.

* Another view from Pisgah Ridge *

Meanwhile, I am taking many photographs of our adventure, and will enjoy sharing them with you all. Hopefully we won't be eaten by any bears along the way.

Ohni! (Later!)

P.S., Have I mentioned yet that I've been learning the Cherokee language? Keep watching for future blogs about the original language and culture of the peoples who resided in these hills for thousands of years before white men encroached upon the land. I'm taking part in a fascinating revitalization project this semester involving the Snowbird community, and look forward to sharing what I am allowed to share with you. <3