Day 1, Idaho July 20th, 9pm

We’re on our way! I write from a camp ground in Idaho, in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. I am such a Seattlite: here I sit, at a rustic camp ground, typing on my 700 Mhz iBook. I’m almost ashamed. But not. And let me tell you a story that will illustrate one reason why I’m not ashamed. Cedar and I did a bit of searching for an open camp spot and finally came upon one near two other groups of people. Little did we realize we had stumbled onto some Hollywood producer’s set. The scene: Red necks party in the woods. The script: “Hey, you there in the bushes, I see your penis! Wooooooo hoooooooo!”. Then we realized, it was real, the people, they were real. Just now they are trying to burn live tree branches. Good Lord, help us. I’d be pissed that they keep screeching and hollering, but Cedar and I are treating them like some foreign species to be studied. “Field note 7/20/02. Note the mating call of the male, a high pitched scream that ascends in pitch and volume after about 2 seconds. And observe the timing of the return call of the female, fascinating!” So, the locals are out in full force.

Cedar and I realized that people here have a much different idea of what national parks and forests are for. To them, disallowing off-roading, firing ranges, rampant screeching is like making a rule that kids aren’t allowed to use playgrounds. The great outdoors is the playground of adult red necks.

“Aaaah, another call from the male! The call seems to be some kind of yeeee-haaaa sound.”

Tomorrow, it’s Montana!

Quote of the day: “The good news is there will probably be unprotected sex at that campsite. A new life may be formed this very night.” - Cedar

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