Well I wanted to take the opportunity to give a shout out to some of the people I met on the trail this year and how they helped me.

I met a girl named Maranda and her brother who lived in Richmond VA that were staying in a shelter with me where one of their relatives were memoialized there.  They gave me a ride into town.  I also met a man named Eddie Freeman in Bland VA that gave me a ride into town one afternoon.  Turns out he was a piano player from a band called Bee Bumble and the Stingers back in the 1960's. 

I met a girl on the train named Kera that was from Rhode Island.  She was traveling across country to Los Angles to fly to go to school in Hawaii.  She had told me about the area she lived in, which is why I had considered moving to Providence.

And then there was Julia.  I came across on a mountaintop one afternoon.  We had spent the afternoon with some other guys and she had told me about a meditation camp she went to in Massachusits.  I wrote the name down and when I got home I looked it up.  It turns out that they had one near me and hour away in Kaufman Texas.  So for the past two weeks I've been doing that.

The Southwest Vipassana Meditation camp was quite interesting to me.  I had some very good teachings and gave me an opportunity to think about my situation.  The camp is run on donations.  Meals and private rooms are provided.  All you have to do is show up and do the work.  And believe me the meditation wasn't easy.  It was hard at first, sitting and focusing on your breathing.  The camp was a 10 day course where they tought the Vipassana meditation. Orgianted from India they've been able to hold these camps all over the US and Canada.  It's all about being aware of what is going on inside of you biologicaly inside, experiencing sensations.

The run the camp in a unique way.  First off you are not to talk for the 10 day course nor interact with any of the other students in any way.  They also segrigate the men and women.  It is so you have no distractions from your meditation and to keep your mind clear.  They have vegatarian meals and only serve fruit and tea for dinner.  You have to take your shoes off before entering a building.

It was a bit slow in the beginning just focusing on breathing for me, but progressed into wonderful awareness for me.  I enjoyed the teachings the monks had each day.  Very interesting and entertaining.

I recomend that if anyone is needing some direction or focus or just a place to get away and be quiet for 10  days this is the place.

You can see more about Vipassana and the camps at http://www.dhamma.org

On the 11th day were allowed to talk with each other and one of the guys there lived in Oregon for awhile and was telling him about wanting to live someplace with a hippie vibe to it.  So he told me about Oregon and gave me alot of inspiration and information.  So I think at this point I am going to give Portland a visit.  So if anyone is from that area I'd love to hear from you.

Till next time