My first destination is actually Lompoc, along the California coast about 50 miles northwest of Santa Barbara. I'm on my way to see my father, an amateur Jazz musician, professional photographer and high school math teacher turned vice-principal, before setting off on my epic journey to Europe. I can still remember, as a toddler, toddling 'round behind him to smoke infused Jazz clubs around Tucson, Arizona listening to him belting out jazz classics on the trumpet. As you can

Ah, yes, near death experiences. If it's true what they say that "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger," I must be more invincible...

“Where are you going?” the driver asks. “Uh, Europe?" I say. "Don’t suppose you’re going that far?” “Europe? That’s ambitious,” he says...

1972 was the longest year in the history of man. It was a leap year and the Coordinated Universal Time committee added 2 leap seconds to the clock. It was a time of bell bottom pants and drive-in movies. A time of vinyl LPs, 8 track tapes and pet rocks. A time of Monty Python, Led Zeppelin and digital watches. It was also a time of war. The 1972 Vietnam draft nominees are about to be called and I’m not about to take any chances.

It’s 1972 - The Vietnam War is all but a bad blotch etched in the depth of the American psyche – Richard Nixon has just ordered the break in of the Watergate complex and Jimi Hendrix has drowned in a pool of his own vomit – But, hey, Kurt Cobain’s only 5 years old – and Dark Side of the Moon has yet to be conceived – And me, I’m standing at the on ramp of California State Highway 99, knapsack on my back, thumb pointing south…

It's 1972 - The Vietnam War remains a haunting memory deeply ingrained in the American psyche. Richard Nixon has just orchestrated the Watergate break-in, and Jimi Hendrix has tragically passed away. Meanwhile, Kurt Cobain is just five years old, and Dark Side of the Moon is yet to be born. At this moment, I'm standing at the on-ramp of California State Highway 99, backpack over my shoulder, thumb pointing south...