The Search Never Ends

Backpacking is and excellent way to travel, but there is a reason people call me Evan "Roadtrip" Butteris. Our self guided tour of the United States has finally gotten us to the Atlantic Ocean after being in San Francisco on the Pacific 5 weeks ago. We left Boulder a total of 7 weeks ago and I have not regretted the choice once. 2 weeks of working and attending a music festival in Golden Gate park, 5 nights of camping and mountain biking in southern Oregon, 3 nights of world class beer in Portland, Labor Day weekend at an amazing cabin in the mountains of Montana with 20 friends, 4 nights camping and hiking in Glacier National Park, a weekend of catching up in Minneapolis, a week with my parents who once again live in my hometown of Dodgeville Wisconsin, then another 2 day drive to make it to our grand finale, Boston Mass. Tomorrow Erin, Joe Timm and I are headed to New Hampshire for a couple days of backcountry livin. We are expecting at least another week in town before we head west in search of a home in the Rocky Mountains. 

There isn't much about this year that's been difficult. In fact, it's hard not to feel a bit irresponsible and naive when explaining myself to friends and relatives. I was especially anxious when meeting with my 93 year old grandmother Mary Jane. Growing up in the depression she has never grown out of her practical, self reliant mindset. She's an outspoken conservative so I also know how much she values financial responsibility. What would she have to say to her jobless, homeless, unwed, bearded, travelling grandson? "When I was your age," she started predictably, "I never even thought of the idea to go to other countries. But today, with the way things are I think you did a great thing with your time while you are young." Hearing that from a stubborn great grandmother is like receiving the ultimate approval.

(Carving up the hog in Montana.) 

I've always enjoyed bike riding, but traveling through Asia I realized how much I missed going out on rides for so many different reasons. My goal was to get back to the states and commit myself completely to mountain biking, even though I owned no bike and hadn't mountain biked for years. Erin had a different plan, she wanted to make this current roadtrip a reality. So in a compromise without sacrifice we both bought new bikes to use while on the road. After some coaxing from Erin and a friendly salesman in Denver I got a bike I'm truly excited to ride. Being in the west I was able to ride on some of the most renowned trails in the country including Marin County, Bend Oregon and Whitefish Montana. However, after a mishap with the bike rack that resulted in a shattered rear window, we decided to leave the bikes in the Midwest with my parents. I'm really excited to continue riding when I get back and am pretty happy that I didn't put it off any longer.

At the beginning of this trip I was excited to cut loose and have nothing to tie me down. However, after visiting friends and family it's hard not to feel nostalgic about stability and routine. I'm glad this retirement is only temporary and look forward to an income sometime in the near future. Having a home is another luxury I greatly anticipate. We have excellent friends that have made us more than comfortable in their homes; I'm looking forward to returning the hospitality or paying it forward when I finally have the ability to do so. Independent travel is great, but nothing is quite as satisfying as having friends and family to share the experience with. If I haven't had the chance to see you while on the road, I hope to see you soon! I don't know where I will find myself in the weeks to come, but if you hear of my whereabouts feel free to get in touch and invite yourself along.