Love and kindness are the very basis of society. If we lose these feelings, society will face tremendous difficulties; the survival of humanity will be endangered. - Dalai Lama
I get a kick out of being an outsider constantly. It allows me to be creative. - Bill Hicks
The status quo sucks. - George Carlin
“If the fool would persist in his folly, he would become wise.” – William Blake
Are you a natural scavenger like me? I often dream about prepping for disasters by roaming the streets, searching for anything I can use; pens, paperclips, tape, food, water, First Aid supplies. It’s crazy how much people in America through away. Lots of items in the trash are still good, another man’s treasure.
I made a pit stop at Goodwin Park at 1172 Necanicum, on the corner of 12th in Seaside, Oregon. When I got out of my Volkswagen Vanagon, I noticed I had rolled over eight AAA, and AA batteries. So I did the natural thing, and busted out my HD camera for a vlog rant. Turns out these energy sources were still full of life. They must have fallen out of someone’s vehicle or bag. I swooped them up, and put them in my EDC backpack for storage. I have many flashlights, and headlamps that could use these batteries later.
What have you scavenged around town or in the woods? It’s always fun to find stuff you can use, especially money. But don’t get too attached to anything, because you could lose it also. Like the time when I recently found $20 on the ground, put it in my pocket, only to realized it fell out of my jacket before I could blow it!
One of my favorite activities do to for myself is taking a trip to an isolation chamber, or flotation tank in PDX. The two spas Survival Bros have checked out are Float On, and Common Ground. Both are open to the public, just call ahead before you try this form of alternative medicine. There’s many benefits to floating, but in general it’s excellent for meditation, and relaxation. Specifically, I use this type of therapy for an improvement in circulation, and to enhance creativity.
So how does it work? Well, the video interview featuring Joe Rogan is a good place to start your journey. But since I have experience, here’s how it went when I stopped by Common Ground at the Everett House Healing Center and Spa. They are located at 5010 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211. First, I reserved a floating session by phone (503-238-1065), which cost $65 for 90 minutes. If you call them, and ask for a promotion, you may be able to get a better rate. There’s two tanks here. Common Ground is a wellness co-operative, so consider becoming a member for more savings. It’s a wonderful environment, bursting with plant life outside, and welcoming people all around. The reception area is cozy. Shop, explore other services, such as massage, or you can help yourself to a beverage like hot tea. Check in for your float, then grab an over-sized towel and hit the showers and sauna. Beware, locker room may be coed at times, so you may see some boobies.
After loosening up in the sauna, and breaking a sweat, I rinsed off again, and took off my bath towel. I slipped into the dark tank, and got settled in. Using earplugs is recommended, so one more bodily sense is cut off from The World. That’s the idea. You use an isolation chamber to go inside yourself, work through issues, and make discoveries. A floating air pillow supports your head and neck. Then you simply lay there in darkness, mostly submerged in salty water. The Epsom solution is ideally the same temperature as your skin, at 93.5-95 degrees. So as you relax, you begin to lose a sense of where your body ends, and where the The Universe begins. It’s like being thrown back into the womb. Finally, you’re alone with yourself again, and can process life better.
Follow the links provided to find out more benefits of flotation tanks. You’ll begin to discover how it changes your brain. If you try out an isolation tank, you may feel your mind bending. According to Common Ground in Portland, OR this “stimulates left/right brain synchronization; shifts brain waves from Beta to lower frequency Alpha, Theta and even Delta; creates mental clarity, alertness; increases creativity, problem solving; heightens visualization; deepens meditation; expands awareness, intensifies acuteness of all the senses, accelerates learning.” Sign yourself up. If you try this, you won’t be disappointed. It is not a waste of time. It’s something new to most, and good for you on many levels. Leave a comment if you have additional questions, and I will do my best to answer them. I will explore this topic further, and blog more about floating soon. Cheers.
I needed to fly away. I packed up my huge 110 Liter Kelty backpack, and boarded a plane for Denver, CO. Listening to Dre, Snoop, Hendrix, and Wiz set the mood on the ride. My brother lives in brick apartment downtown, and was generous enough to let me stay one week there. He showed be around, mentioned cool spots to frequent, but mostly I just got high a mile above the sea level I swam from.
Staying in the historic Capital Hill district, there were Marijuana Dispensaries within walking distance. I anticipated the treats I’d savor, and the bud I’d put in the air. The AMCH hooked me up with all sorts of medicated goodies, as seen in the pictures below. Of course, I didn’t get the best deal as a Oregon resident, compared to people with medical cards. I will say, however, it’s good to know friends in high places for the best stuff. I showed my OR ID, and purchased a bag load of THC infused gummy and taffy candies, cookies, Ear Wax, Pixie Sticks, strains of Indica and Sativa, and a very special Chocolate Rice Crispy Treat. The green, gooey bar was loaded with 500 milligrams of activated THC. The label warned of couch lock, and I found out that’s a real thing. After eating all of it, it took too much energy to move. I watched Judge Judy for 3 days straight. Sure, Denver is a fun city, but I didn’t visit there to act trendy, and fit in. So I smoked every 15 minutes, and got fatter. It sounded better than trying to pick up chicks. I had a hard enough time trying to pick out a can of coffee that wasn’t decaffeinated. And with the thin air up there, picking up anything is difficult, especially females. I’d need an oxygen mask for sex.
I felt free being able to carry a fat bag of smoke, and edibles down the street without worry. Now, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and D.C. have ended marijuana prohibition. Measure 91 in OR has been years in the making. With a tax on it, everyone wins. Except the people that have never tried pot, and refuse to. Ignorance is a dying breed. If you haven’t puffed weed, do all stoners a favor, and don’t comment on something you don’t know anything about. Weed is real medicine. So ditch the pills, and consider Nature’s cure for just about everything – MARIJUANA!
Flying over the Rockies.
Dank nuggets.
Ride a bike for FREE downtown.
SWAT at Denver’s City Hall
Denver Fire Department
Burgers and Fries for me!
AMCH serving the public for recreation and medicinal.
Best food ever.
Intense medicine 500 mg. THC
My marijuana stash for the week.
Cone jays label.
Individual joints.
One love.
Weed cookie munched.
We’re so high…
Check out different pot varieties, and the AMCH shop in Denver, CO
My fellow Oregonians rejoice the news that Measure 91 has passed, and weed in legal in our State!
The colors! Witness two magical rainbows going into the Pacific Ocean water. Filmed in HD video on the Prom near 12th Ave. in Seaside, Oregon. Produced by http://www.cameronmckirdy.com More fun movies, and van dwelling Vlogs coming soon. The Volkswagen Vanagon is still putting around. Thanks for visiting my website. Have you ever seen a double rainbow in person? It was awesom. I love The Universe.
Scary GoPro Black High-Definition video footage at Devil’s Cauldron from Survival Bros. Shot with my HD Head Camera on, while walking above a rocky cliff near the Oregon Coast Trail. This state long hiking trail follows the shore, and includes sections on paved Highway 101. These cliffs are close to the Neahkahnie Mountain trail head. More GoPro videos coming soon on this blog. Exciting, I know!
Be safe outdoors. And remember, it didn’t happen unless there’s video proof of it. Email me at thesurvivalbros@gmail.com if you have questions, comments, or would like to share an article/something you’ve produced. I’m always looking for EDC pictures. So let’s see the pocket dumps, and which items you find useful daily. Thanks.
Survival Bros sleeps in a 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon GL, down by the Columbia River for free. You can stay at in the Safeway parking lot in Astoria, Oregon at no cost, and you won’t be hassled for being there, according an employee running the gas station. I was polite, and purchased distilled water in the store anyways. Find out if the sea lions drove me crazy from all the noise. I kept imagining the loud animals being destroyed by killer whales, great white sharks, and nuclear war heads. However, if your cruising the Oregon Coast, keep this location in mind so you don’t have to pay to live, or for a view. I love the car camping lifestyle. If you can stay mobile, and explore The World, why do anything else? More van dwelling videos in High Definition coming soon. Thanks for liking, and commenting ahead of time. Cheers!
My RV parked next to other travelers stationed at Safeway in Astoria, OR
An hour East of Eugene, the McKenzie River Recreational Trail waits to be conquered. A 26 mile path skirts the cold, rippling waterway. It’s one of America’s premier destinations for bikers, and hikers. Outdoor enthusiasts can also be spotted during the summer on the water in rafts of all shapes and sizes. Survival Bros floated it. However, here’s what’s its like to attack the upper part of the wilderness trail on my bicycle.
The 1986 Volkswagen Vanagon is locked. Bike is ready. God bless my vintage Univega Alpina Pro mountain bike. It’s a hardtail with tire liners for extra protection, so I shouldn’t have trouble pummeling porous lava rocks. This will be my first ride with it off of pavement, or graveled logging roads. Exciting. Water, check. Mechanix gloves, yes. 3M safety shades, on. Let’s crush this.
And I’m off. Going downhill mostly, to Clearwater Lake from the top of the trail. I will have to fill my stainless steel water bottle at the campground. Problem is, it’s hard to know what’s undrinkable, and what’s potable with all the well pumps around. I may have to take a chance, because I’m not buying water. I’m looking forward to adding 2 packets of Airborne Plus Energy into my drink for flavor, vitamins, and minerals.
The plan is to tackle the challenging section of course around the lake first, then take an easy trail back uphill to my vehicle. OK, get centered. Where are you? In the moment. Faster!!!
Root! Pop the front wheel over, and peddle. Good. Lean into this corner. Branch…We’re bushwacking today. Alright, NOW break. Shift weight back, coming off the seat. Who put this tree down here? Ever heard of a chainsaw? Pick up your bike. Thankfully, it’s lightweight, full chromoly frame. I’m so happy I invested in tuning this vintage ride up. The guys at Canyonview Cyclery took care of me. This is the video I produced at their shop after the Univega was restored to glory.
There’s the edge of the water at Clear Lake. I’ve never seen water so pristine. I bet I could drink straight from the lake. Ducks do it. I almost hit one fowl in my way. Move mallard. Already, I’ve narrowly avoided about 10 chipmunks, and a large rabbit too. I’ve seen squirrels try to take on bikes before. They ended up in the spokes without a head. That would ruin my day. I need a bell on this bike of mine to signal wildlife.
Now comes the hard part. Negotiating lava rock fields on two wheels. But I’ve been here before. Only I came from the opposite direction last time. I’m going to have to push it up this long hill. It feels great to get off my butt, and work other muscle groups. I like my new bicycle handle bar ends. Now I have more hand positions, and can really pull myself up steep inclines.
I’m flying. Let’s not forget our 5 D’s of mountain biking: dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge! Corner! Hard left. Leaning into it, and looking where I want to go. Holy guacamole. I almost sailed into the lake. The canoers would have liked to see that. I’d rather not be fishing. This is what I came to do.
Bump. My nuts. Watch the nuts. You’re going to need those. Oh God, I have to split between a root, and a rock going fast. No room for error. Arrghhh. Made it. But that took all of my upper body strength. I haven’t screamed that loud since…oh, let’s keep it PG. I’m dumping sweat. This is my hell workout. Put it all on the line. Gasp. Exhale. Breath. Sigh. Focused. A few more miles of rocky road, and then a less technical section to savor. The McKenzie River Recreational Trail is damn tough. No wonder it’s one of the World’s most celebrated biking areas. I can do this. Finish strong. I’m the man. BEAST MODE!
I saw this amazing elk herd when I drove to Del Rey Beach in Gearhart, Oregon. I parked my Volkswagen Vanagon in the lot, grabbed my HD camera, and snuck up on them all. I came from the beach, and quietly walked through tall grass from behind to get the shot. I hope you enjoy my footage. This is raw news produced for our alternative news community – Survival Bros. It’s not everyday Mother Nature allows us to see beauty on Earth like this. Experience it. Peace and love.
Cameron McKirdy of Survival Bros gets naked, and films the Terwilliger Hot Springs near Cougar Reservoir in Oregon by Blue River. Check out the four natural pools, and the wooden structures. The top pool is now under construction. The natural cave, which was a sauna, and the source of the hot springs is being remodeled by experts. They want it to remain as natural looking as possible. Word on the street is that the first pool will reopen as soon as it’s safe, and stable.
Survival Bros hunts for urban treasure at local thrift stores around town in Eugene, Oregon. Cameron McKirdy must have been to eight shops that day. All of the searching paid off, wouldn’t you say? Thanks for watching another HD video production. Please subscribe today via email! Happy hunting Survival Bros. More on http://www.cameronmckirdy.com
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 