Backpacker Moto

When a friend lives on the other side of the world, or the other side of the country, you've got to maximize whatever time you infrequently get with them. On the road now at @zionnps with my brother from another mother. #motorcycletravel #bmwmotorrad #triumphmotorcycles #zionnationalpark

Into the final stretch now, and I saved my favorite route for last. It did not disappoint. A late spring, heavy snowfall blanketed the Rocky Mountains west of Denver, one day earlier. The results were spectacular. And no slouch either, going past Donner Lake in the Sierra was a beautiful sight as well. Almost home.

Times Square at midnight, and a blooming Central Park at noon.

Androscoggin River in Brunswick, Maine. Yes, the water is really THAT blue. After 4500 miles (7200 km) of train travel, I have reached the absolute end of the rail line in the northeastern United States. Now to start heading back...

Boston! 1) Sports bar to watch Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs on a jumbotron-sized television. 2) But it's not all glamour and large living here on the hobo trail. This is the four bed hostel room I stayed at in Boston, that same night. On topic, a few folks have asked what it's costing to be a backpacker hobo, so let's talk money after 15 days: $450 Amtrak Rail Pass 10 segments (5 used so far, 5 remaining) $630 for 9 hotel nights at average $70 per night (I've slept 6 nights on the trains which are included in the Rail Pass cost) $450 for food, at roughly $30 per day. With actual planning (which as usual, I'm not doing) it would be easy to spend considerably less, especially when on the train $21.40 for various subway rides in Chicago, Boston, New York City $11.75 for 3 loads of laundry (2 other times I did it in a hotel sink) $1563.15 thus far. If I had roamed with a hobo friend, we would've split the hotel bills and the cost would drop to $1250. Better food management and it drops to $1100. Now, full confession, here are some indulgences: $48 crab melt on grilled garlic rosemary bread with mozzarella, and cup of clam chowder. I'm drooling all over again just writing about it. $45 Seattle Space Needle, this is criminally overpriced $28 roundtrip transportation from Buffalo to Niagara Falls $55 rib eye steak sandwich, spinach artichoke dip and chocolate mousse, with a patio view of Niagara Falls $70 roundtrip transportation from Boston to Brunswick, Maine $36 T-shirts from the NYC Central Park Zoo $42 in playoff hockey souvenirs from Boston and New York $6.75 chocolate hazelnut bomboloni and worth a lethal diabetic coma I'm weak. I admit it.

Niagara Falls photo dump! 1) An otherwise decent photo, ruined by some nitwit in the foreground. 2) Canada, silhouetted on the opposite shore. 3) Maid of the Mist boat. 4) Brave (crazy?) women and men would climb into a barrel and ride it over the falls. Now that's my kinda stupid! 5) Early spring blooms in New York. 6) The rare Niagara black squirrel, infrequently seen and almost never photographed! #niagarafalls

Nighttime in Chicago.

It doesn't take much to be a BackpackerHobo. - 1 extra shirt, socks, unders - cold weather contingencies (thermal shirt, gloves, beanie) - inflatable travel pillow - silk liner/blanket - sunglasses - passport - journal - Sony RX100iii camera (not pictured, duh) - mini tripod - pen and pencil - toiletries - travel washcloth - compass (damn straight) - watch - and of course, a backpack! Total backpack weight is 11 pounds / 5 kilos With no cell phone, Ubers and taxis are pretty much out of the equation, so I've been doing a fair bit of walking, averaging 6-7 miles a day when I'm not on the train. And in those moments, I am very grateful for the small backpack and light load! Coming up soon....how much money does it take to be a BackpackerHobo?