Welcome to Traipsathon.
“We Specialize in What We Do.”
Traipsathon Solutions Inc., “a completely legitimate business,” is the means by which intermittently-employed pseudojournalist Joe Rhodes wanders North America, occasionally looking for stories but mostly having no idea what he is doing. He plans to continue doing this until he is done.
What the Hell is this? Your guess is as good as mine. Better, probably. Here’s what’s on the website:
Dispatches are filed at random intervals from The Traipsemobile, Traipsathon’s mobile command center. Sometimes they are links to occasional actual stories written for actual publications. Mostly, though they are incoherent rambling from life on the road. If you want to start at the beginning, go here: The Starting Line. Then, if you’re so inclined, you can dive into the rest of the dispatches starting here.
Traipsetracks are songs of the day that reflect the Traipsemobile’s location, the state of the world, or that I just like the damn song .
This page will always have a map telling you where the Traipsathon is operating that day and what the weather is like. If you want to know where The Traipsemobile is in real time, more or less, go here.
There is also a listing of the latest Tweets including updates of where I happen to be at that moment, at least until the authorities arrive. This is your best bet for up-to-the-minute status reports on The Traipsathon’s location (including Foursquare check-ins) and my generally-muddled state of mind.
We welcome your comments, your suggestions and your funding ideas. Enjoy the ride.
Traipsathon Solutions Inc., “a completely legitimate business,” is the means by which intermittently-employed pseudojournalist Joe Rhodes wanders North America, occasionally looking for stories but mostly having no idea what he is doing. He plans to continue doing this until he is done.
What the Hell is this? Your guess is as good as mine. Better, probably. Here’s what’s on the website:
Dispatches are filed at random intervals from The Traipsemobile, Traipsathon’s mobile command center. Sometimes they are links to occasional actual stories written for actual publications. Mostly, though they are incoherent rambling from life on the road. If you want to start at the beginning, go here: The Starting Line. Then, if you’re so inclined, you can dive into the rest of the dispatches starting here.
Traipsetracks are songs of the day that reflect the Traipsemobile’s location, the state of the world, or that I just like the damn song .
This page will always have a map telling you where the Traipsathon is operating that day and what the weather is like. If you want to know where The Traipsemobile is in real time, more or less, go here.
There is also a listing of the latest Tweets including updates of where I happen to be at that moment, at least until the authorities arrive. This is your best bet for up-to-the-minute status reports on The Traipsathon’s location (including Foursquare check-ins) and my generally-muddled state of mind.
We welcome your comments, your suggestions and your funding ideas. Enjoy the ride.
I thought you were kidding when you started talking about all this! HA!
What a great non-plan, Earl (you’ll always be Earl to me), and a wonderful home page (finally! Yay!)
Where’s the camera mounted that will record the shenanigans for the upcoming comic/reality series you must be doing all this for? Are you checking in at FourSquare places, or is that too much responsibility?
Looking forward to the dispatches, we just LOVE YOUR WRITING!
~GirlPie
I thought you were kidding when you started talking about all this! HA!
What a great non-plan, Earl (you’ll always be Earl to me), and a wonderful home page (finally! Yay!)
Where’s the camera mounted that will record the shenanigans for the upcoming comic/reality series you must be doing all this for? Are you checking in at FourSquare places, or is that too much responsibility?
Looking forward to the dispatches, we just LOVE YOUR WRITING!
~GirlPie
Earl?
Earl?
Yes, Earl Kabong. It’s my corporate pseudonym, the name by which people know me. In the same way that people know you as “Big Butt McGee.”
Yes, Earl Kabong. It’s my corporate pseudonym, the name by which people know me. In the same way that people know you as “Big Butt McGee.”
How is your command post running now? Did we fix your problem with the alternator,or is it still causing problems? Thanks for the m&ms. I did not know you are famous or infamous? Remember to stop by and see us at Rychliks . good luck on your trips.
Greg — sorry to tell you, the alternator fix didn’t last. Kicked into limp mode in Greenville, where I am for the night. I really thought you guys had licked the problem. I was feeling all cocky and then, the ABS light came on and the air conditioner went dead and, well, you know how it ends. So will try to get someone in Greenville to take a stab at it and, I hope, at least get me back to Dallas.
How is your command post running now? Did we fix your problem with the alternator,or is it still causing problems? Thanks for the m&ms. I did not know you are famous or infamous? Remember to stop by and see us at Rychliks . good luck on your trips.
Greg — sorry to tell you, the alternator fix didn’t last. Kicked into limp mode in Greenville, where I am for the night. I really thought you guys had licked the problem. I was feeling all cocky and then, the ABS light came on and the air conditioner went dead and, well, you know how it ends. So will try to get someone in Greenville to take a stab at it and, I hope, at least get me back to Dallas.
Citizens of Illinois, please welcome the Traipster with open arms. He’s a good house guest too, he left us a growler of Sun King beer, and only one soiled towel in the bathroom.
So that’s where they moved Shea Stadium to.I hope they didn’t get The Mets with it.
Can misspolly join your fan club? I’m the same polly that found the L. Feat for Mr. Randall
Molly Hatchet had the great Franzetta covers on their early vinyl albums. I still got a couple.
How about a new Dispatch instead of these annoying tweets. Sober up and write something!
I can drink and drive. But drinking, driving and writing is simply too much to ask.
Are you hooking up with the movie people?
As you know, movie people only hook up with each other and/or potential investors.
Glad to hear you made it back to LA. I hope your vehicle has inflatable pontoons for all the rain you’re getting. When does that movie come out?
I guess the West LA cops are on to you. You should park closer to the Federal Building
Sorry to see you’re in Vegas. I was hoping to see the van going down the red carpet at the Oscars and causing some mayhem!
Happy to donate to Traispsathon International! Love you, Joe.
See you this weekend in the High Country Joe!
Have fun in the northwest. Heading out east for my 40th HS reunion. My vehicle will not draw as much attention as the traipsmobile, but I’ll give it a go, if I don’t melt along the way. Hope to stop and see Patro in Cleveburgh
Joe, I want to know how da roads was on your trip south through Canada. I may be driving a vehicle back in early November. I know there is no correlation, but maybe you can give me a global warming hope.
Mark — the trip south was considerably less dramatic than the trip north. The Highway is in fine shape, only a few under-construction rough spots. And since Minneapolis is about to be in the 80’s for the fourth consecutive day, i’d say the global warming is the traveler’s friend. Short-term thinking. It’s what I do.
Did you run out and bang the big drum at the Boilermaker game?
Did you run out and bang the big Purdue Drum?
if you need some temporary work, I think they’re looking for tomato pickers or fish scalers when you go through alabama. Immigration laws drove out all the people willing to do backbreaking work for $7.00 an hour.
Happy Holidays my traveling friend. Watch out for those Burmese pythons, forget the gators.
Keep riding/writing!
If you get stuck in the Labrador mud with the Joemobile, just call me and I’ll get there to help you push the machine.
Steve from Québec
And thanks again for the wine
Steve — I appreciate the offer. Wasn’t that bad, really. A couple of rough spots because of construction where the dirt was pretty soft and one where it was just big boulders, like a Four-wheel drive obstacle course. But I made it to Goose Bay before the rains set in. Besides, I had Bernard Adamus and Lisa LeBlanc to keep me company. Will probably take the ferry to Cartwright and avoid the mud for the next leg. Then it’s on to Newfoundland. p.s. I bought some meat pies at the supermarket. Can’t identify the meat. But tasty enough. I wish you well, my friend. I hope to see you again.
Hey Joe
Come back to Quebec as soon as you can, ,saturday the 21 Roger Water is here to kick the wall down.
Waiting for you . Steve et Karine
I am incredibly tempted. But need to see friends in New England before I go to New York. Newfoundland was a blast. But the music doesn’t stand up to Quebec’s. I listen to Adamus and Leblanc constantly now. I WILL be back. Just not in time to see Roger tear down his wall.
Joe
The wall falled down last night. Roger Water gave us a magistral performance. Over 70.000 persones was in front of the wall for a musical event that we’ll never forget. It was Magic.
Hope the trip is good for you and now that you’re back in USA, It means that Texas heat is not too far away…
Steve
Hey Joe ! Coucou from Quebec city, you’re in the PREDATOR city. I guess music is good over there. I got back my job now and i’m doing the 7 to 5 working day… you know, I rather have a beer with Joe Rhodes on a terasse in front of St-Laurance River !!!! Karine and the girls says “hello” . See you
Steve
Steve — the new dispatch has a picture of you and tales of your exploits. Expect to be mobbed.
It’s good, Joe.
Cool rig in Lincoln City
Glad you liked it! I’m available for undercover duty.
Kirkland* – isn’t that where all the stuff from Costco comes from? * see map
cant believe we just had an internet celebrity in the mqt anytime
Hi your van has me trapped in my parking spot! Please please please come move it!
I am so sorry. I measured badly and I moved the van as soon as I saw your message. I will buy you coffee. Come to Dollop!
Hey there thanks for being here! No for reals I love incoherent ramblings of all things. Yay! I work at Sweet Relief Natural Medicine, where ya parked your van….that’s how I found ya -cheers
Thanks for the shout out, Darby. I love Astoria, always have. I could just sit by the river and watch it for hours. In fact, that’s what I did yesterday. Proceed!
We are literally parked behind you right now. We hope you have a grand adventure.
I appreciate your support. It’s been grand as grand can be. Next time, stop by and say hello.
Good piece on drinking in the UP. It’s easy to make fun of places like that so it’s nice to read something that has some empathy and understanding.
Thank you for reading it. I look forward to my next Yooping binge.
Parked next to you last night at the Red Roof Inn in Parkersburg, WV, hope you aren’t drinking the water here. No, really.
Messaged you on Facebook, but will repeat here, looked you up and will read more and follow along. Headed to VA from Colorado in a small silver Jetta with four large people, on the fifth day because we stop along the way to see stuff so that we won’t kill each other.
Soooo sorry I missed you. I hope to see you down the road.
My son and I just saw you on mockingbird lane in east Dallas. Hello!!
I hope I was observing all traffic regulations and not picking my nose. Next time, honk and wave!
You were, and we did. You were too concerned with traffic regulations and nose picking to notice us. I read that you are Bernies victim’s nephew.. wow!! Very impressive! Nice rig, too.