Following The Dharma Bums to Matterhorn Peak (Pt.3)
Those of you following my blog in the past will remember that The Dharma Bums always has been a special book for me among Jack Kerouac’s books, it certainly is one of my favourites. I described my half-hearted and unsuccessful attempts to re-create their climb up Matterhorn Peak before in these two posts on this … Continue reading
Bixby Canyon
Path leading from Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s cabin in Bixby Canyon (Raton Canyon in Kerouac’s novel Big Sur) to the Pacific Ocean. I am unaware of the exact location of the cabin in the canyon – but there is only one path leading out to the sea.
Allen Ginsberg residence at 1624 Milvia Street
I am sure I don’t have to introduce Allen Ginsberg on this blog. He lived here in the fall of 1955. According to the plaque at the poetry garden on the other side of the street Kerouac live in a ‘rose-covered cottage’ (Kerouac’s words) but as far as I am aware the cottage actually stood … Continue reading
John J Dorfner on Kerouac’s introduction into the Rocky Mount Hall of Fame on Empty Mirror Books
I found this interesting interview with John J Dorfner over on Empty Mirror Books earlier today. I don’t know when that article was published but I have missed it so far. I recently bought Visions Of Rocky Mount from John, but haven’t had the chance to read it yet. But I have had his earlier … Continue reading
Happy Birthday Allen Ginsberg
One day late, I know, but this is probably my favorite Allen Ginsberg poem/song. I’m close to tears whenever I listen to this. Sad, but yet it’s also very comforting and beautiful in his quirky way. I also like this photograph a whole lot. R.I.P. Allen Ginsberg
Following The Dharma Bums To Matterhorn Peak (Pt. 2)
After a good night’s sleep I woke up to a glorious, sunny day filled with fresh air and made my way to Twin Lakes from where you have to start the hike up towards Matterhorn Peak. Driving up the (now paved) road towards Twin Lakes (which is a few miles outside of Bridgeport) felt very … Continue reading
Home I’ll Never Be
Two quite different versions of Kerouac’s Home I’ll Never Be which is also known as On The Road (but I guess that’s more out of commercial interest). A reading of it was apparently released on Kerouac’s On The Road 3-CD set, but I haven’t got that. Tom Waits’ version can be found on his splendid … Continue reading
Following The Dharma Bums To Matterhorn Peak (Pt.1)
As described in this post The Dharma Bums has always been a special book for me and it ranks right up there with On The Road and The Town And The City as one of my favorite books of his. The description of the trip to Bridgeport in the eastern Sierra Nevada and the ‘big … Continue reading
The Dharma Bums, Chapter 34
… , I realized, ‘there is no answer.’ I didn’t know anything any more, I didn’t care, and it didn’t matter, and suddenly I felt really free. The Dharma Bums, Chapter 34
M & M Cigar Store, Butte, Montana
According the Butte America website on which I found the following quote, Jack Kerouac stopped by the M&M Cigar Store one time. I can’t say when exactly that was, as I don’t know if and when he actually made it this way, but he certainly wrote about Montana quite a few times. It was published … Continue reading
Retracing Jack Kerouac 