Before Total Escape, I was just another Sensitive New Age Guy in Santa Monica…

Or…

How Total Escape has changed my life!

About a year ago, a friend of mine decided he wanted to buy an Isuzu Amigo. I thought he was a little off his nut, since I had a classic 1955 Land Rover, and wondered why he wanted something with so little character. Why not get something that says more about you? He insisted an Amigo was the coolest car out there. While helping him search around the Internet for Amigo pages, I browsed across Dana Williams’ ode to the rebuild on her Lime Green Isuzu “Amiga”.

Little did I know that within 6 months, my life was going to be upside down thanks to that girl with the red hair and green car. I read her Amigo page with interest, but more quickly I was completely absorbed into the Total Escape website. What were these people doing? There are photos of all these smiling happy people in wild places all over California scattered throughout the website, and I knew that these people were not just random folks, but were considered her friends. “Escapers”, to be more exact. It seemed like an elite group to me, and since I like secret societies and the like, I needed to know more.

I joined the Total Escape Yahoo forum, and introduced myself to the group, who welcomed, and encouraged me to join up on a trip or two. Well, it just so happens that I was working on that old Land Rover quite a lot. It had recently been restored, but had a lot of bugs, and I wanted to work them out. Rather than puttering around Santa Monica, I wouldn’t mind seeing what the Rover could do in more extreme surroundings.

Quite a lot, actually.

At the last minute, I signed up for the Easter Joshua Tree trip, and purchased the tent, sleeping bag, and sundries I’d need, like some really cool little camp tripods as seats, from the local 99cent only store. Driving out to Palm Springs as fast as she would take me, (65mph) with a brand new overdrive, (installed the previous two days), fresh oil in the crankcase, and a tail end filled with supplies, I had a smile on my face as big as the windshield. At one point though, just outside of Palm Springs, I knew I was losing crankcase oil, and had to stop for refills and extras. (ahh yes, the problems begin, I thought) But, when I finally arrived later at Cottonwood campground on the south side of the park, I ran into Dana driving from the north. It’s sure hard to miss that Lime Green Amigo. She came blasting around a bend past the campsite, and then immediately knew who I was. There ain’t many 1955 Land Rovers on the road either.

Dana gets out of the car, and my first impression is of a wild woman. Her hair is everywhere, she’s wearing some funky camping outfit, and she’s bounding out of the door with a big smile, saying “Hey! You Drew?” I knew then, this was no normal camping trip, and going out to meet a bunch of strangers on a crazy whim was the right thing to do.. We turned around and went to camp, having one of the best camping and Total Escape trips I’ve ever enjoyed. I met a new folks who I hope to be in touch with for years, and was wowed by the strong, beautiful women who were part of the group.

We had great campfire conversation, and at one point I discovered that Dana had just bought a house in Pine Mountain Club, a small mountain community north of Los Angeles. I love it up there, and expressed my desire to some day buy there too. She was surprised I had even heard of the place. After two days of driving around the park off roading and rock climbing, Dana lead us out of the park via a little used dirt road/desert wash. This road, while dirty, sandy, and practically unexplored by the park rangers, took us bounding through washes, hills, canyons, past real big horn sheep, and right down into the suburbs of Palm Springs. Not before one of us ran out of gas and we siphoned from one car to the other! Such are the adventures on a Total Escape Trip. Not insurmountable, but enough to make you think.

On that road out, I bonded with one of the other strangers on the trip, a lovely girl named Karen, who was a neighbor of Dana’s from San Diego. We talked and talked while bouncing along that dirt road, about goals, philosophy and life.

Then it was up to the Palm Springs Tram, where I needed to stop and bleed the brakes because they were binding in the heat of climbing the hill. After a climb to the top, a nice meal, and a good hike, everyone on the trip was sad to part, and there were hugs all around. I made it home to Santa Monica about 12am, and felt like my life had just expanded. When can I go on another trip?

I knew then, Total Escape is so much more

than just a camping website, it’s a way of life.

Well, things were going so well for Karen and I, we were really enjoying chatting over the email, that we both decided to sign up for the “Mike’s Sky Ranch” trip bringing the Land Rover, of course. If you don’t know about Mike’s Sky Rancho, it’s a small resort/motel off roader’s Mecca, about 100 miles inland from Ensenada, Baja. It is part of THE BAJA race course! So we were essentially driving on the same off roads used in the famous races. Now, I had never been past Tijuana, and had heard all sorts of stories about Mexico and how dangerous it could be. Here I was about to drive to San Diego, from my native Los Angeles, to pick up a girl I met two weeks before, and drive her in my 1955 Land Rover all the way to Ensenada and farther, in fact, racing 30 miles off road to some ranch, where we were going to camp for three days! Sure, sounds doable to me. Why not.

Another change of oil in “Daisy”, and I was off. The night before the trip, Karen cooked a meal and invited everyone over, so there was a pre-Baja party, and then we all got up early and hit the road. I actually hit speeds in excess of 60mph, with Karen bouncing along in the passenger seat, no seatbelts available. Being held back so early at this point of the trip, Dana was probably wondering why she agreed to bring along this quirky artist from Santa Monica, especially with his questionable classic car, and to be quite honest, I don’t blame her one bit!

But, on and on we drove, and had a great time, ordering food in Spanish, playing on the beach along the way, buying gas from a small rural station before heading into the mountains. We punished the cars on the dirt roads heading up to the ranch, and the Rover punished Karen, while I laughed and bounced my way 30 miles to a creek crossing and rumbling to a halt.

Mike’s Sky ranch only has power for a few hours in the evening, when they turn on the diesel generator to cook dinner and power the bar. The bar is a collage of racing posters, business cards, and photos of regulars, and is a bastion of testosterone until 10pm. Then, it’s lights out and off to bed. Except for us, of course. Then the bonfire begins, and we party late into the night down by the river.

Again, Dana was probably wondering

why I had to come, and, again, I don’t blame her one bit!

The only glitch I had on that trip was on the way out. As we hit the tarmac after 20 brutal fast miles (at least, everything seems fast in that car) I noticed that I couldn’t go faster than 10mph, and the left front wheel was wavering scarily from left to right. I thought it was going to come off. I call the rest of the gang on the CB, and pull over to assess the situation. Not good. One of the ball joints has completely demolished, leaving the driver’s side wheel without any steering, and it’s just turning free. Much cussing ensues, as I explain to everyone what’s happened. That’s what you get for taking this old thing, Dana’s thinking. Karen’s being really supportive, and not freaking out, which I truly appreciated. I walk the stretch of road we were on, looking for parts that might help me salvage this ride. Nate, a truly exceptional guy who digs extreme sports as a way of life, comes over, and we brainstorm together. How can we drive this thing out of here. I am adamant that I’m not towing her to some Mexican garage where they will definitely NOT have parts for this car. I suggest stuffing something in there to hold it all together, and Nate has the inspiration to use one of the long bolts holding the bumper on. .. it’s so close, but we need a washer plate from the Hi-lift jack, and a lug nut from the rear wheel to finish the job. Then it’s back on the road!

Back on the road! No Way!

We really, truly, just bolted the damn thing together and kept driving! I drove all the way back to San Diego like that, Karen by my side, Stopping at McDonalds in Ensenada, and along the coast for a break here and there, and waiting for ½ hour in the customs line.. When we finally came around the corner of Georgia Street, there was a crowd of Escapers waiting for us, clapping and waving!

How can you argue with wonderful experiences like that? We made it, had an adventure, and used our heads. I even drove back to Santa Monica the next day, and all the way through the next week on that simple bumper bolt, while waiting for parts to arrive, but was on cloud nine all week, talking constantly about the trip with all my buddies, acting as the Total Escape evangelist. You’ve gotta go bro!

Life was getting complicated. My time in Santa Monica was starting to come to an end. I knew I would never fit in there, what with all the high fashion, materialism, and yoga, each done with an astonishing amount of superficiality and shallowness. I loved my yoga, my friends, and the food, but never felt like I was being quite honest or people we being quite honest to me. Now I find myself driving to San Diego almost every weekend or two, to see Karen, and hang out with the total escape clan. My relationship with Karen was getting heavy and I wanted to be there for her. I had a whole new group of friends, who were sincere and questing for their own happiness, a wonderful girlfriend, and a fresh appreciation for the wilderness, all within 1 month of my first Total Escape trip. I was even thinking about moving to San Diego, or maybe trying to get a mortgage.

Well, I emailed Dana a lot, asking about the business, comparing strategies with my own jewelry businesses, marketing etc. We laughed about our times working for corporate America, the wage slaves we once were, the long hours we once worked, and how we thought we were using our creativity for something worthwhile., but are truly only happy now that we have our own things going. I knew we had to be good friends, as our worldviews were so similar. I visited her in PMC once or twice, to get out of the city, always enjoying the locale. Karen and I were up one weekend for a day.

Then there was the Los Padres Off Roading Trip. My little mind had been running overtime, and I had been doing some investigating of my options. That Off Roading trip was also converted into a mission looking for a house. I had determined there was a good chance I could get a small mortgage, and the only place that seemed appropriate, and good for my soul, was Pine Mountain Club. That’s where I wanted to live, not San Diego. Nature, beauty, peace and quiet. I wanted a place up on the hill, away from the hords of humans, where I could work on my art and grow my business, all the while owning my own place.

On that Los Padres trip, I met more great Total Escapers, including Little Buddy Steve, who proved quite adept at trail repair when my starter solenoid went out. On the way up to their home, the starter solenoid decided it was done, and the only way to start the Rover was by crossing some wires with a screw driver in the engine compartment. We knew this wouldn’t do to have on the 4x4 trail, so we “jerry rigged” a household light switch as a starter button, which fix also lasted me a week after the fact.

A household light switch, really? That’s creative!

This was in June, about three months after my first Total Escape Trip, and now I’m talking about realizing a life long dream to own my own house in the mountains, and run my own business. Change is my specialty. Could I ask for anything more?

. But, of course, I can’t be driving a 1955 Land Rover in two feet of snow in the mountains, so Dana finds me a cool 4x4 Amigo for sale in San Diego, which I drive from Los Angeles to see, and promptly purchase after a short test drive. Now I have finally been assimilated into the Amigo cult, and can completely see why, they are bitchin’ little trucks. Also, in order to afford the house, I need to sell my Rover, so there goes the beauty that served me so well in Santa Monica, which was a great joy to me. That car drove like a tractor, but had a personality all of her own, and was a blast to ride. Maybe some day I’ll be able to afford another one. In the meantime, the Amigo is very honestly like the modern day successor to the Land Rover. More so even than the modern Rovers they sell today!

July 5^th, 2003. Offer made on Mountain Home. So I’m buying a home in the mountains, and the escrow process is painful. They might as well have looked up my rear end with a flashlight. I really never want to do that again, except I do know it’ll be less painful the next time. But, somehow, to Dana and Karen’s amazement, I actually manage to buy a home. I’m self-employed; so don’t have the best “risk profile”, so to speak.

Almost three months of teeth grinding escrow later, I am finally moving in to my home in Pine Moutain Club. September 23^rd, 2003, to be exact, and I am driving up at 1am to sleep in front of a small fire in a cluttered living room, while it’s 32 degrees outside.

Wait a minute. Where am I? How did I get here?

On Thanksgiving 2003, I celebrated my new life by taking the Total Escape Petroglyphs/Hotsprings tour in Bishop, with some friends from other trips and Dana. An adventure, as usual. I’ve met so many wonderful people in the last nine months, both on Total Escape Adventures trips, and in Pine Mountain. Then, in addition to physically traveling, my life and mind went on a major trip too. From living in a rent controlled apartment in Santa Monica as a bachelor artist, moving among a close group of friends struggling to make it, to having wonderful relationships of truth and honesty, owning a home in one of the most beautiful places in California to live, I am sure to say that I am now happy. My business is better than ever, my soul thanks me, my health thanks me, my guitar playing is improving by leaps and bounds, and Dana is one of my best friends among all the other “mental teenagers with houses” that live up here. I have a cool little car, and am growing spiritually every day. My friends just made a joke this morning, as matter of fact, about taking my seminar, to be as happy as I am. All thanks to Total Escape and one trip to Joshua Tree.

I think it that’s the amazing power of enjoying your life to the fullest, and Dana and Total Escape have given that gift to me. I’ll be on lots more trips in the future.