Change in Karma: Camera Gear, Lost and Found

Lost Flyer by Kelly

Kelly and I park our car near the marina on Douglas Island, AK. We shoot a few photos across the water of Juneau, we get back in the car and drive across the bridge to Juneau library.

After parking the car I realize the back door hatch is wide open! Either I forgot to shut the door or I didn’t close it all the way and it popped open. There was no way to notice the wide open door while driving because our car is filled with so much crap that you cannot see a thing out the back, let alone hear a sound. Nor did anyone honk at us on the 8 minute drive to indicate that our life possessions we’re dangling precariously from our tiny car.

This is our stuff that was in our car while the back door hung open...

I’m panicking as I survey the back of the car, fearing what may be missing. My camera bag… it’s not there! My chest clenches and I say my favorite swears for a full minute. We jump back in our car and immediately retrace our route back to Douglas Island. Nothing. We retrace the route a second time as I repeatedly hit the steering wheel and yell my favorite swears. I hit the steering wheel so hard that my hand is sore and I hope my car allows me to vent my frustration without ejecting my airbag.

The disappointment of my idiocy and losing the camera bag sinks in.

Luckily, my camera was in the front of the car and not in the bag. However, I still have lost all my accessories valued at approximately $500. Not to mention important photos still on my memory cards.

In further idiocy, I don’t think my bag had a name tag on it… If it did, it was probably my old home address and phone number. Even if someone tried to return it, there would be a likely chance it may get lost in the mail…

[Insert a long string of swear words here.]

It’s approximately 7pm and we’re scheduled to leave Juneau on the ferry the following afternoon. Kelly and I have little time to employ lost and found efforts...

We post a listing on Craigslist even though it’s not widely used in Alaska.

We file a police report. [P.S. This is probably the best place to return something if you cannot find the owner yourself.]

And last but not least, we used the good old fashioned “Lost” flyer. Kelly drew up the flyers while I taped them all over Douglas Island: the marina, parks, cafes, gas station, library, telephone poles and more.

We get on the ferry the next day with less photographic resources to document the remaining part of our expedition. My tripod is also rendered useless because both tripod plates we’re in the camera bag…

We arrive in Sitka, AK the next morning. I check my voicemail, fingers crossed… nothing.

I’m really hoping for good karma at this point. Earlier this spring I found a wallet while running through the woods. I went to the address on the license which was a halfway home where no one heard of the guy. With no luck finding him myself, I went to the police who were able to track him down through an employer on the check stub. I hoped that this one-hour good deed would come back to me one day…

And it did!

The next day I received a voicemail from a woman who had my camera bag. Apparently, it fell out of the back of my car in front of her home where someone later found it and brought it to her door. The next day, she had found our illustrated “Lost” flyer at the café!

Boom! The old school "Lost and Found" flyers actually worked! What a relief! The kind woman even fronted the money to ship the case back to me. Thank goodness for her and thank the goodness of Alaska!  After receiving the bag in the mail, I sent back a small reward check along with some good karma I’m sure!

Change in Competence: From a Second Story Ladder in Alaska

Marty at the end of a great day of work.  Ninilchik, AK.

I made it to Alaska. I traveled here by road with my girlfriend Kelly over the course of 4 weeks. We’re over 4,000 miles away from home. When we crossed the Alaskan border, we reviewed our dwindling finances. We knew that to keep this expedition going in the long run, we would have to make some capital. We spent the past few days applying to any possible jobs and gigs we could find on Craigslist.

Our Camp on Bishop's Beach, Homer, AK.

I wake up to early day light with a breath of the sea. I’m laying on Bishop’s beach in Homer, AK where Kelly and I slept the past two nights in the open air without a tent. It’s overcast and cold with a wet drizzle. We managed to stay warm by huddling around a beach wood fire and burying hot rocks in the sand beneath us to create a warm toasty bed.

Today will be a new day. A day of new found competence.

We’re driving North to the town of Ninilchik. I’m going to hang drywall and do handyman work for a couple of days. I’m a bit anxious as we pull up to the cabin because I’ve never hung drywall before…

 Day 3: Marty Sanding.  Cabin in Background.  Ninilchik, AK.

I use to work summers with my dad who is a carpenter. The majority of our work was steel framing in finished basements. Through that, I understood the layout and procedure for hanging drywall but never had to do it myself. I ignored this small detail while exaggerating my construction experience on the telephone to Ken, the homeowner who hired me. Hey, I need the job.

I’m hanging drywall with Jon, the full-time handyman who lives in a small cabin on Ken’s property. Normally, hanging drywall sucks, especially ceiling drywall. Really, it sucks really, really bad. Those who have done it or do it on a regular basis know. However, after this particular ten hour day, the soreness in my arms and on the top of my head felt really good: I’m traveling in Alaska, without an itinerary, exploring at will, and making a little money to keep it going. This is awesome!

 Jon's Cabin on the Right.  Ninilchik, AK.

After work Kelly and I cook up dinner: A delicious scramble of eggs, red potatoes, onions, peppers, and cheese. We eat and drink over a merry bonfire with Jon. The view at the fire pit is incredible: The property sits on a cliff above the beach that overlooks the bay and four volcanoes. We camp there for the night.

 Beach Houses.  The property I was working at is up on the cliff.

 The View from the fire pit.  Not a bad way to end the day, eh?

Jon and I finish up the drywall on the second day. Meanwhile, Kelly is hanging out on the beach painting. Jon and I then start tackling a list of loose ends around the cabin. First up, is to hang some flashing on the roof.

I managed the first day without making a fool of myself. I looked like I knew what I was doing… and for the most part I did. However, my lack of experience became apparent on day two. While working with my dad, I only worked of 8-12 foot ladders. I’ve never done any roofing or high ladder work… and Jon could tell. On my attempt to the roof, Jon noticed my cautious steps. “You haven’t done much high ladder work have you?” “Nope!”

So here I am: Standing on a ladder at the roof of a tall 2 story cabin. My knees are a bit week as I sling my drill over the top of the roof to screw in the flashing. I finish and take moment to admire the height I climbed. I wonder how long I’ll be in debt if my uninsured body falls to the ground and survives. Is this $150 a day worth it? I try not to think about it and I look out over the roof. From here, the view is incredible. I see the beach, the water, and the volcanoes in the distance. More importantly, for the first time, I see the Alaskan sun. After a month of straight rain and overcast days during this record breaking season of summer gloom, the sun is finally out to play. My skin tans under the blue skies and it feels great!

It was at this moment while standing precariously on a two story ladder that I have a profound feeling of competence. Everything felt right. Everything felt possible. I felt like “I made it.” I could do anything. Be anything. I am capable of traveling far distances and figuring out the necessary means to survive. Boom! I am a competent individual.

I express these feelings outwardly into the world with a simple smile and then I climb down the ladder.

After work, Ken, his wife Elle, and their friend Kurt returned with some fresh Halibut they caught that day. Elle cooks up an excellent fried fish dinner for all of us and we enjoy another excellent bonfire with drinks while the sun sets over the volcano in the distance.

On the third day, I work a half day to finish up some loose ends. Kelly and I leave that afternoon. We take away a great experience and a bit of money to keep our journey going!

 Day 3: Finishing up some sanding.

 I feel more competent with work that makes you sweaty and dirty.

Kelly and I played on the beach after work.
 

We sat here and read for a bit.
 

And then we continued on with our journey...
 

[Names we're changed for people in this article.]

Change in Dreams: The Development of The Pan-American Dream

Our Kickstarter Page

I had just finished my second year of college while living a semester homeless.  It wasn't the experience I hoped it would be... lacking a certain sense of adventure... mainly because I became focused on passing all 18 credits that term and didn't seek out my original goals or ideas...

I was searching for a sense of freedom... that I didn't attain... so after later reflection on my homeless experience, I made a new plan in my head:  I would graduate from the University of Michigan, pay off all my student loans, and then get "lost" by backpacking throughout the 50 U.S. States.  Perhaps I would be gone a year... maybe more... maybe I could get a taste of this freedom I was looking for...

I graduate from school in May 2008.  I meet Kelly during Fall 2008.  Spring/Summer 2009 Kelly and I start dating and begin to fall in love.  Throughout the summer, my plans change as I realize Kelly would be coming with me on the journey.  It would be for the best as I would have someone special with me to share the experience.  Somewhere along the lines the route changes.  Instead of all 50 states, we decide to go to Alaska and from there, go all the way to Argentina.  And thus, the Pan-American Dream was born.

September 2009, I take a job through a grant at Eastern Michigan University to create and facilitate after-school filmmaking clubs at three high school sites including Wayne Memorial H.S. where I graduated.  The job is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had.  May 2010, I find a colleague to replace my position as Kelly and I prepare for our trip.  However, I want to continue working with youth in film and the creative arts so Kelly and I decide we'll teach free film/photography camps to communities we visit on our route.

March 2010, I pay off my student loans and I am debt free- a fantastic feeling.

May 2010, Kelly graduates from UofM's School of Art.

May/June 1010, Kelly and I continue to prepare for our expedition through research, networking, and fund-raising.

July 6th, 2010, We will depart Ann Arbor, MI and begin our journey.

So there it is: The Pan-American Dream!

Everyone can help make this dream possible in a number of ways:

1.  You can make a pledge or "Back Our Project" on Our Kickstarter Page.  A minimum pledge is $5 and if we get enough people to support, that $5 will go a long way.

2.  If you can't make a donation at this time, you can help us by following our blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube while sharing with your friends.

3.  And one of the biggest ways you can help our dream is to simply believe in it.  Positive energy goes a long way.  This can be done with attitude and word choice.  For example, if you tell a friend about us, don't say, "Check out what they want to do," or "Check out what they're trying to do."  Instead, say something like, "LOOK AT WHAT THESE TWO ARE DOING," or "THEY'RE MAKING IT HAPPEN!"

If you have an idea, project, dream, or goal on your mind, I encourage you to create your own Kickstarter project and make it happen!

Thank you for reading!!!