I should mention, sometimes I’m not quite connected to what’s…going on.  It isn’t that I don’t pay attention; I just pay attention to what’s important and fliter out some/most of the other stuff.  I came to Miami to write about the Heat (important) and meet their fans (important), especially the ones in string bikinis (imperative).  That the popular tourist city of Miami might be booked the f#ck up for the week of New Years didn’t occur to me until I found out that almost every hostel bed in Miami was booked for days.

I finally found a bunk, on Miami Beach, for $24—but for just one night; they were all booked up for the 29th-Jan 2nd.  That was fine, because I’d find a couch to surf.  But I didn’t, and before I went to sleep on the 28th, I booked the only hostel spot I could find for the 29th.  They also had an opening for the 30th, but thaat place charged $45 a night—double their normal rates—through the 5th of January.  I needed it for one night, but just couldn’t stomach it for two.  I figured I’d give myself another chance at couchsurfing for the 30th and after.  And if that didn’t work I’d sleep on the beach and cover myself in patchouli oil to keep away the muggers.

My spirits were bolstered when I received a couchsurfing confirmation from Brian, for Jan 4th, 5th, and 6th (and we later added the 7th).  Then, after some craftying, I found a place in the interim. There was a couchsurfing New Years Eve outing that I said I would attend, but I wrote on the event page that I didn’t have a place to stay yet.  That’s how I met Agata (and Jamil, her boyfriend), who agreed to host me through the 3rd.

I have couchsurfed every night since that first with Agata and Jamil—74 straight nights.  Until tonight.  Alas, I’m in a Comfort Inn, now, in The Dalles, OR.  It was a crappy day for hitchhiking, including a late start and persistent rain.  And there was no couchsurfing available tonight.  Tomorrow is Sunday, so I don’t know what kind of luck I’m going to have.  We’ll see.

In the meantime, if I can piece it together before I fall asleep, I thought I’d list the Dates, Locations, and (first) Names of the people I’ve stayed with, during the streak:

12/30 – 1/3 – Miami Beach – Agata and Jamil

1/4 – 1/7 – Miami Beach – Brian

1/8 – 1/13 – Orlando – Alex

1/14 – 1/15 – Atlanta – Jarrett

1/16 – 1/18 – Atlanta – Kimbi and Karl

1/19 – 1/24 – Atlanta – Ehsan

1/25 – 2/2 – Asheville – Patrick and Johanna

2/3 -2/4 – Charlotte – Robert and Sassha

2/5 – Charlotte – Jason

2/6 – 2/7 – Charlotte – Robert and Sassha

2/8 – 2/16 – Little Switzerland (NC) – Susan

2/17 – Eli’s car, passing through Nebraska – Eli

2/18 – 2/21 – Salt Lake City – Travis and Wendy

2/22 – San Francisco – Alana and Michael

2/23 – 2/27 – Los Angeles – James

2/28 – 3/1 – Mountain View – Brent

3/2 – 3/5 – Sacramento – Charlotte and Caleb

3/6 – 3/13 – Portland – Sarah

~ Fin ~

I posted on craigslist last week, looking for a ride-share, and got a response yesterday.  A guy in Asheville, NC is heading to Montana and I’m going to ride with him as far as Salt Lake City.  He also found another guy on CL, so we’ll be splitting gas three ways.  That sounds A-OK to me.  Hitchhiking is a means to an end for me, not the end in itself.  And this will be a very quick trip, since we’ll be driving around the clock.  And once I get to Salt Lake City, I will hitchhike south west, in longjohns, I imagine.

I won’t be stopping in Salt Lake City to cover the Jazz this time around, because they definitely will get my full attention for a week.  I’m looking to be in SLC to see them in the playoffs.  And yes, they will be in the playoffs.

I might see if I could just catch a game though.