By Vaughn Frick
American Heritage Caravan rider

November 6, 2005
Washington, D.C.,Last day of action

Arriving here has become such a different story than any of us had expected. The American Heritage Caravan's cohesion has mostly evaporated. A core group of us still are camped out on the floor of a gymnasium. Across from me is a rider from the Seattle caravan suffering on the floor with a herniated disk.
My friend Ricky also from Portland started to get sick last night, running a f... read more

By Vaughn Frick
American Heritage Caravan rider

November 6, 2005
Washington, D.C.: Day of Action # 2

The stew of smog has cleared from the D.C. skies today, the blue skies and relatively cleaner air has revived me a bit, as has the rest time I'm allowing myself today. Last night I started to get sick on the cold gymnasium floor, soaking my sleeping bag with sweat. For some reason the air conditioning is cranked up full blast all night, and we can't turn it down for a perplexing arra... read more

By Vaughn Frick
American Heritage Caravan rider.

November 5, 2005
Washington, D.C.

The first offense one is aware of when in Washington, D.C. is olfactory. Imagine varying levels of old fish tank, unwashed gym shorts, sewer methane,all stewing in a rank, sticky humidity even in November. I had expected more of an kitschy American mutant cousin of Disneyland. No Disneyland could ever be this foul and colorless. No Goofy could be as Goofy as President Monkey Face's mug sold on the str... read more

By Vaughn Frick
American Heritage Caravan rider.

November 3, 2005
Charleston, West Virginia to Richmond, Virginia.

Last night our hosts at the Asbury United Methodist Church found homes (with BEDS!)for us all to rest in. David and Andy hosted nine of us in their spacious house. The Jacuzzi was wonderful.We all went to a friendly local Gay bar in a building that surely been a speak-easy way back in the day.
As this caravan draws near to Washington, D.C., today my idealism waned. W... read more

By Vaughn Frick
American Heritage Caravan rider.

November 2, 2005
Louisville, Kentucky to Charleston, West Virginia.

On the surface driving through the hills of Kentucky, this part of the country is a deceptively beautiful, clothed in fall finery of fire-red trees, yellows and oranges befitting of a raver's fashion. Crosses dot the highway medians,appear at regular intervals cresting on hillsides,empty, ready for new bodies to be nailed upon them. Where before on this journey we vie... read more