Create Our World

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Joe Lewis

Watch the short video clip above of photographs from the caving trip.  The song, Nelly’s, Ride Wit’ Me was chosen because we were all jamming to it on the ride home.  It does have lyrics that are not appropriate for children.

Exploring Caves near San Diego.

Chandler is the host of a local hostel called Hostel Cat in San Diego.  Chandler is active among the local couchsurfers and hosts a lot of events.  One of them is exploring the caves near San Diego.  We all chip in for gas and pile into two cars for the hour and a half drive to the desert.

Tight Tight Places.

I am a little nervous.  I imagine that being in very small places is going to be very scary.  

The crew of cavers are a ton of fun and as we travel the last few miles to the caves we all have to pile into Chandler’s van and drive on a pot holey two track.  

For the next four or five hours, we explore caverns and caves.  Some are so small that you have to crawl on your belly and others are very large that it takes a rope to climb up them.  I find that I get used to the tight spaces quickly.  If I stand still for awhile my mind, contemplates the numerous ways I could die and how much rock and sand is all around myself.  It helps to keep moving and concentrating on whatever I am doing.  

It is a good exercise in regulating fear.  Fear does not help the situation.  It helps to focus on action.  Where to put my hand or how to fit through this part.

We lose a couple people in a cave towards the end, but as there are very few ways to go, we easily find them.  The highlight is worming through one of the toughest caves and then climbing to emerge on the top of a huge sand hill after dark.  The stars are beautiful.  We slide down the mountains on our butts getting a little bum rash, but nothing serious.

It was a bonding experience and a definite workout!  

My body is sore all over the next day.  A good sore.  A rebuilding sore.  

I would do it again and encourage you too as well.

Create Our World.

Ben

“What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” – Dr. Robert H. Schuller

A mural in Normal Heights.

“We spend too much time living in the ‘what if’ and need to learn to live in the ‘what is.’ – Og Mandino

After a week of staying with my friend, Dave in Oceanside, California, which is about 45 minutes north of San Diego.  I decide to head back into the big city and meet some folks.  Normally, going into a city, I will set up a place to stay with a friend or find some one on Couchsurfing.org.  This time I decide to wing it though.

Sea World.

My first day in the city, I find a camp in a park near Sea World.  It is a nice spot, but I must get up early to avoid the folks working there and picking up trash.  

Caving in the Desert.

After awaking early, I join a local group that is going caving in the desert.  Stay tuned for the video!

Meet Matt.

After caving, I am hanging with some of the others and Matt offers me a place to stay with him.  Matt lives in Normal Heights, a section of San Diego.  He offers me a place to crash for the rest of the week.  I accept and spend the week hanging with him and his friends, writing articles at the local coffeeshop, and cruising the streets on one of his bikes.

Normal Heights.

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Tomorrow, I will post a video of photographs from a recent caving trip in the desert near San Diego.

Create Our World.

Ben

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song.” -Chinese Proverb

Dave. San Diego, California.

 “Quit hanging on to the handrails . . . Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day.” – Melody Beattie, “Finding Your Way Home.”

Meet Dave.

Dave & I worked together at New Dominion School (for more info about Benjamin’s life before the journey, click here).

Dave is from Philly.  He has a gravely voice & bounces as he walks.  Dave helps autistic children learn social skills.  He loves his job and he excels at it.  His kids call him Mr. Dave.  

The Beach near Oceanside.

Dave has to go biking or boogey boarding everyday.  He has a lot of energy.  ”EXTREME!”  Extreme, it seems, is one of Dave’s favorite words and he lives his life as such.  

Dave teaches me about eating healthy.  We dine on chicken breasts, mangoes, sweet potatoes, and char.  

Our lemonade stand.

I ask Dave what is the truth about how he lives his life in 10 words or less.

Appetite for Life.  Skeptical.  Kind.  Animated.  Surprising.  Open and Closed.

What is the truth of your life? In 10 words or less. Be bold & deadly honest.  I may ask you, if we meet up.

Dave & I pick up two hitchhikers and hang at the beach near San Diego.

Dave & I bond in my visit as it has been a couple years since we have seen each other.  We hit a nude beach.  We host a lemonade stand.  We dumpster dive.  

Dave inspires me to get a little more out of each day.  

Create Our World.

Ben

“Every now and then, bite off more than you can chew.” – Kobi Yamada