Shunpiking to Sanity Tour: Outtakes

Well, it has been over a week since I have arrived back home from my trip. If this is your first time to the site, you can read about my journey starting here. Also, if you missed it here is my story of seeing the Totally Biased Tour last week here. Since, I took the trip solo there are more camera shots that I left out and stories/thoughts that were left off the main telling. Furthermore, instead of having a single post about any existential thoughts (boring), I thought I could use this space as a Epilogue simultaneously.

Quick breakdown:
On the road for 11 days
Total Mileage 2,565
Road in 7 states

There are other things that I could not calculate, for example, miles on tarmac versus dirt, or gallons of coffee consumed.

Let's get into some pictures (no nudes, so you are safe).

These are pictures from me hiking around on the various trails on the Natchez Trace Parkway. I had this whole idea of talking about the wildlife and fauna in the area. There are many hiking trails along the parkway, but trying to record and document was becoming cumbersome. It would have also taken away from some of the other topics I wanted to explore. The first picture is a spider's nest that encases large sections of the trees in the area. The other is one of many signs along trails that provided information on the wildlife in the area.

The next set of pictures are from me trying to get a self portrait. There are many of these through out my journey. These are ones that I took on nature trails. I'm a goober. This is proof. It is difficult to get pictures of yourself when you are the photographer.

 The most difficult thing was setting up my phone (which doubled for my camera the majority of the time.) The phone is a HTC Thunderbolt, which has a built in stand. I have no idea why other phones don't have this feature because it makes propping the phone slightly easier. So, you would have to find an even surface that was elevated and use items around to get the angle elevated and correct. I often took pictures where there is a slop, which is the last one represents. These are some outtakes from my "fire scene" at Tishomingo State Park. 

As you can see, I played around with the flash and angles. I'm wearing a kurta with some loose fitting pants. Kurtas are South Asian garb that are made of a thin cloth that breaths very well and protects against the sun (or mosquitos when used with repellant). I purchased several of these when I was in India. For me, it is perfect camping outfit; who am I kidding, I like wearing them all the time. I have shorter ones, but this is a shin length version because showing shin is wrong. Anyway, the last picture is a flask that was a gift from a really good friend. I'll let you figure out the inscription- if you can. This is a great gift that keeps on giving. 

 The first three are more self portraits taken while hiking. I was near a creek and wanted to use the drop off as a point to get full body pictures of myself (I should name this post Narcissism). I started posing with my arms folded to hide from the world. I have no idea why I starting doing it. The last picture is my right before I started on the Dragon's Tail. This was the most difficult one to set up. I used the back of my motorcycle, but the bags did not provide an even ground to set up a clear shot, plus the bike itself is leaning. You can see how the camera is slightly off.

  These last three are just different pictures that I either didn't use or used a different version. Coffee really does taste better when you are camping.

This is the end of this journey. I started this adventure as a means to help alleviate some level of discombobulation, and search for an epiphany. However, what I learned is that I don't need an epiphany, I don't need to know, and I'm in a good place. As Bruce Lee said, "Be like water."

Thanks to everyone for reading. I'm a bit humbled by the responses that I have been getting. This is not the end of me posting. Stay tuned for more ramblings, more adventures, and more clown.

Until I ramble on again . . .