dereke's blog | The Lost Bus

Gardening 101

Submitted by dereke on Tue, 2012-02-14 03:15

Olivewood Gardens, one of the most peaceful places I have ever been to. Picture a lush garden, palm trees, a slight sea breeze, a panoramic view of your surroundings, and the warm sun of Southern California all put together in a few acres. This is it, it is great, and it was the Waltons (Walmart founders). They generously donated this piece of property and home to an organization that eventually turned it into Olivewood Gardens and Education Center. Our time spent here is sometimes very tranquil and relaxing, but it isn't always this way. After working with a school group the first day, we were asked to dig a garden bed. This garden bed was quite the task considering the ground was rock hard and the trench was large. The project was a great intro to our time at Olivewood.

I ain't as good as I'm gonna get, but I'm better than I used to be

Submitted by dereke on Mon, 2012-02-06 13:52

Santa Monica for Super Bowl sounded like a good idea so we ran with it. We left the dream center yesterday and headed to the ocean. We had a great time hanging around the downtown scene here last night and saw my team lose... Its not so much that I like the Patriots as I just haven't ever liked the Giants. But we had a good time meeting the locals here and seeing what the area looks like. Not sure how long we will hang out in town for until we start heading south towards San Diego.

Derek- Video Blog

Submitted by dereke on Sat, 2012-02-04 12:03

Hey Everyone, This is my first video blog, trying something new. Tell me what you think!

Content:
End of Ontario/ Chino Stay
Working with Crosspoint Church
Human Trafficking Rally
Going to Hollywood!
Meeting Rob Dyrdrek at the Santa Anita Race Track
Price is Right and Jay Leno Show
Meeting John, Bryn, and Sophie- The Three Laws
Future Plans- The Dream Center and Olivewood Gardens and Education Center

Embedded Video:

It's Been A Wild Ride

Submitted by dereke on Fri, 2012-01-27 02:01

Starting off with my love for the weather- Thank you Lord! To sum it up, today was 85 and sunny all day. It is 9 at night and I am outside in shorts and a sweatshirt on my computer. Cant get much better! The last few days have been a bit relaxing and our attempt of getting back into the swing of things. Life has slowed down again like it usually is on the bus. I found myself needing to be moving and with purpose at all times back home and now that we are on the road again, I find a few moments in the day with none of the above. haha, it doesn't sound difficult to deal with but it actually seems to be for me. Not so much a problem as something I just need to admit publicly.

Getting Into the Groove

Submitted by dereke on Mon, 2012-01-23 01:55

Bus life has commenced. We made it back to B&G Hay Lot where our bus is late Saturday night. The traveling went well and nothing to exciting went on. The plane we were on was crammed to say the least. My short legs where touching the seat ahead of me, poor Chad and Ben. Makes me appreciate traveling in comfort via the bus.

Quick Update On Us and Our Where-Abouts

Submitted by dereke on Tue, 2011-12-27 17:29

I have been home for over two weeks now and it has felt like less than a week. Time is flying as I catch up with friends and family while enjoying the West Michigan scenery. So far we have gotten no snow here in Holland which is very unusual for this time of year. Fortunately I was able to go north and hit the hills for a day of fun snowboarding at Boyne Mountain.

Last Road Trip

Submitted by dereke on Tue, 2011-12-06 18:49

Today we have made it to Santa Barbra. West Central California has proven to be beautiful. We have taken several days to make it only a few hundred miles because of the beauty and abundance of activities to dive into. We have gotten the kayaks out again and explored the salt water once more. This time we found a few groups of sea otters which were amazing to watch. They travel in a pack and usually on their backs. It was fun to see them and sea lions within a mere head turn. Another exciting find was a produce and fruit market. In Moss Landing there is a produce market and fruit stand that had the best prices I have ever seen. We stocked up for our last week on veggies and fruit that will prove to create some of the best meals yet.

Shedding Weight In San Fransisco

Submitted by dereke on Tue, 2011-11-29 22:33

Where do I start... I have sat looking at this blank screen for quite some time trying to figure out how to start this blog. I have decided I will start with telling the tale of San Fransisco as we pulled in over the Bay Bridge on Friday, November 18. It all started with a grand entrance to the city atop the roof. Ben and I rode on the deck as we crossed the bridge and saw the city lights for the first time. We stayed in the North part of the city and picked up our good friend CJ who I had grown up with since elementary school. He just moved to the city a month ago and we were going to do a little tour quick before heading back to his place. Eventually we ended up going over the Golden Gate and looking at the city from across the bay.

Around the Mountains and Through Napa Valley

Submitted by dereke on Sat, 2011-11-19 14:23

We have left our home in Eureka and are nearing our final town that we will be extending a stay at, San Francisco. The day we left Eureka, I twisted my ankle good... I am now hobbling around California with little hope of a few day recovery. It's day three and getting better, but no good for anything above a walk. In saying that, I was able to keep up with Lost Bus lifestyle via water in my kayak yesterday. After spending the night near Ukiah, we put in near Clear Lake and traveled the Cache Creek for several miles. It was beautiful, true autumn colors being showcased on the banks of the river while water foul thrived in all areas encompassed by the watershed. The river had little flow, perfect for a paddle down and back.

The Lost Coast- Surfs Up

Submitted by dereke on Tue, 2011-11-15 10:05

Life lately has been real. I have found myself looking back on our journey and talking about the unreal adventure we have been on and how it has went so fast. Well, it's real. We are currently in Eureka California. It is a great little city on the coast with its' sister city of Arcata just across the bay. We have been frequenting both cities and the surrounding areas. When we were up in Crescent City, we got a call from Chuck and Jenny. They were some fellow travelers and took us out for a cup of coffee to see what we are all about. They live here in Eureka and invited us to come and stay with them when we got in the area. It has been a real blessing to have them take us into their home and lives and show us so much hospitality.