Kitt & Cody Doucette
Class of 2003

Kitt and Cody Doucette

Kitt and Cody's Trip

April 4, 2005:

So...I know it has been quite a while since my last update, some of you are new friends, some of you are old friends, and some of you are old friends who I hadn't heard from in a long time but just sent me a great email from Peru (thanks Coby). For those of you who haven't been kept up to date Cody and I have been on the road for the last year, with a few months spent at home in Idaho last summer and over the holidays. The plan was to drive from Alaska to Chile. We are currently in Nicaragua, after spending a month in Panama it became quite apparent that the money it would cost to ship our beloved shag wagon around the Darien Gap in southern Panama was going to be too much. The lowest price we found was from Colon into Colombia for 1300 dollars before customs taxes on both sides (another 300) along with posting a bond equal to 80 percent of the value of the car (another 2000). If we wanted to go into Ecuador the shipping cost was around 2000. The bond would be returned when the car left South America...which it probably wouldn't once it was there. Another option was selling the car and flying into South America but finding a buyer for the shag wagon who was willing to pay the price we were asking was easier said then done, and since we couldn't leave the car in Panama for more than a month without the government repossessing it the decision was made for us. After a few long days of deliberation in Panama City we flipped a U turn and headed back north. A bit disappointed at first but excited to see the friends we had made on the drive down again. We convinced a friend from Ketchum to meet us in Costa Rica and make the trip north with us. We were only an hour north of Panama city when the suburban's invincibility came crumbling down as the rear differential ruptured, stripping the bearing and spraying differential fluid all over the axel, causing the whole thing to smoke terribly. It took two very interesting days in a little town called Bejuco (a story all its own) to fix the problem. Then the battery died...then a tire blew out...then we got horribly stuck on the beach. By the time we made it out of Panama there were eight of us inside the shag wagon (another story of its own). After two weeks in Costa Rica we crossed the border into Nicaragua about a week ago, cementing our commitment to drive back. Since the mishaps in Panama the car has been running great, even though we had another tire blow out in Northern Costa Rica. Despite the change of plans our spirits our high, thanks to our new traveling companion Jay, and the possibility of meeting up with friends in El Salvador and Puerto Escondido. Throughout it all the waves have been good, keeping us fit and happy as surfing provides such a positive mind set...all the problems, inconveniences, and sweaty heat seem to disappear in the water leaving only a sense of adventure, accomplishment, and joy when recalling all the different people, places, and experiences that have touched us along the way. We are planning on staying in Nicaragua for another week before heading north through Honduras and into El Salvador.

There are so many stories to tell, but Ill save the majority for when I can share them with you face to face. It has been great to hear from all of you, the 21st century continues to amaze me as I get emails from friends in Australia, South Africa, Peru, Brazil, Germany, England, and all over America. Whether you're a new friend or an old one, it is, and has been a pleasure.

All good things,
Kitt

P.S Another piece of exciting news was a commission to write an article about our travels for Men's Journal, so keep an eye out for that.

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February 19, 2005:

Hello everyone! I know it has been quite some time since my last e-mail update so I thought I would explain. In early December Cody and I flew back to Idaho to see family and friends as well as make some more money working on the mountain. It was a wonderful holiday season, snow, which seemed to be in short supply when we arrived came quickly and heavily as a series of storms dropped over four feet of lightpowder. One lasting memory is skiing through powder so light and fluffy it felt like mist when it hit your face, lacing your hat and goggles with fine crystals of snow. The hussle and bussle of the holiday season was quite a change of pace from life on the road, days passed rapidly within the flurry of activity and before I knew it I was back on a plane headed south again, unable to sit still. Two nights after arriving I was sleeping on top of the suburban, glad to be back on the road, and a bit overwhelmed by suddenness of the past two months. That morning I awoke to a family of howler monkeys examining me as I intruded on their treetop house with my car top bedroom. Their curious eyes examining every inch of me...then slowly moving to the next tree as I stared back, slackjawed as one let out a characteristic growl...ending my plans for sleeping in. Six days after arriving in Costa the shag wagon's invincibility came to an end. A shock mount twisted and broke leaving both shocks dangling underneath the car. Not the end of the world, but a chink in the arom nonetheless. So we took off the shocks and continued on with just the leaf spring, thinking about different ways to fix the problem. It took about a week, some guy knew some guy who had a welding torch. His name was Jay...find Jay and he can fix it...easier said than done. It took some asking but we finally located Jay, he knew just what to do, fixed it in an hour...he didn't want any money so we took him out to dinner and listened as he told us about his trip south in 1987, right through three different civil wars...our trip seemed quite mild and pleasant in comparison. After finding the right size bolt...again, easier said than done, a local mechanic worked some magic, came up with the bolt, and even put the shocks back on...he didn't want any money either, so we bought him a beer and slipped some cash into his pocket. Life in Costa Rica is good, the living is easy and slow and the waves have provided plenty of entertainment. We head south into Panama this week and I'm looking forward to moving again. I'm not sure what will become of the shag wagon but will keep you posted. I also have a new digital camera (thank you mom and dad) so will be sending some pictures along shortly.

As they say in Costa, Pura Vida
-Kitt

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Thanksgiving

11-23-04:
So...It's almost thanksgiving, and I'm here in Honduras....having left El Salvador this morning and the perfect right hand point breaks that litter its coastline. For the past six days we have been camped on a family's farm, steps away from the beach, sheltered in the cool shade of palm trees, amidst the many animals that served as an unforgiving alarm clock every morning. From roosters and hens to ducks el rancho de José was the source of constant amusement and hardly a dull moment. Along with the ducks and cocks there were two gelotes... commonly known as turkeys. From the minute we set foot on the farm, those two bastards... affectionately named "Navidad" and "Cumpleanos de José" in honor of when they will find their way to the dinner table. Both male, strutting around all day, puffed up like body builders as they tried in vain for the affection of the lone mature female...who spent most her time avoiding them....on the morning of the second day, as they clucked and strutted around me while I brushed my teeth I made a conscious decision to see how tough these turkeys really were. I sat and stared at them...they took this personally, puffed up even more and one in particular (we'll just call him Brava) turned a slow circle...giving me ample time to view his tail feathers and basically mooning me in the process...this I wouldn't stand for and I approached him, stamping my feet on the ground and trying to look intimidating...Brava didn't give an inch...just stared incredulously back at me......so I came at the cheeky bastard whooping and hollering to let him know who was boss....then he charged me and that whooping hollering war cry turned into a yelp of fear and surprise as he flopped his useless wings, and came hopping toward me gobbling and kicking his talons at me....I ran away. He followed me, around the car and into plain view of José and his family...who immediately started laughing hysterically...I was not laughing. Once again I turned toward him and once again he charged, this time scraping my shins and causing me to yelp again....after a few more seconds José's fourteen year old daughter came to my rescue, calmly grabbing old Brava's tail and neck in one deft movement and shooing him into the shed....My only solace is knowing that the bastard's days are numbered...and for all of you who are eating turkey this holiday season do not feel the slightest remorse for those small brained, flightless, poor excuses for birds....

Happy thanksgiving...
Kitt and Cody

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November 4, 2004:

Two weeks in Puerto Escondido....This is the longest Cody and I have been in one place since early August. Life is slow here, slow and consistent lending itself easily to a certain type of routine. There are also the waves...big and powerful they offer both intense excitement and challenge every day. The waves here also equal their beauty in force. The early morning offshore winds blow the spray from the wave crests into the sun creating rainbows in the mist, and then the sight of those waves breaking in perfect cylinders, expending all their energy in a single frightful detonation of air and water leaves the ocean trembling. To ride these waves takes my breath away, even now as I type goose bumps rise on my skin. To feel their power rolling me along the sand instills respect and awe deep within me. The combination of comfort and excitement has also given us an opportunity to take a breath. To use the calm felt after an intense morning to reflect, to allow the experiences and memories of the last three, and arguably the last six, months to settle in...

Last night as I lay comfortably on my bed, a high powered fan whirring above keeping me cool and giving my mind a meditative hum, I let myself drift in my thoughts. Sensations flashed before me...the excited nervousness as the departure date approached...the hundreds of scraps of paper each with a to do list of some sort scratched upon them....the heat in Portland, melting everything but the change in the center consul.....elephant seals in Oregon....sunlight shimmering through the misty redwoods...friends and familiarity in Santa Barbara...quick flash to surfing under the full moon while we were there....crossing the border in Mexico, knowing only that this time that familiar border looked different, felt different....feeling the road bend south, taking us towards something...not knowing what....time slowly drifting away as the potholed road seemed to bump us into the past...a hurricane, endured in the loving arms of a car that has seen me grow, has taken me to Disney World, to Idaho, it waited for us....it celebrated my 21st birthday with me, drove 27 hours straight from Wisconsin to Idaho to get ready, and now it is with us, sitting silently along side us waiting to take us further into this life....the ferry ride....the pinche broken aire aconditionare....fixing it...meeting and staying with the Aussies, as we sang and talked loudly in celebration of nothing more than friendship....the colorful towns we rumble slowly through...and the beaches, mountains, and rivers that connect them all...there is a beauty in traveling slowly, allowing the road and time to bend with each other until they become one...

We are leaving tomorrow, heading south into Central America, through the mountains of Guatemala and into El Slavador...I do not know what we will find but I am certain it will be something...

-Kitt

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September 27, 2004:

This is by far the longest e-mail I have ever written so forgive me in advance for being so long winded.

I am currently sitting in the beautiful town of La Paz, on the eastern side of Baja, sipping a beer and reflecting on the last few weeks. Tomorrow we will try to board the ferry to Mazatlan but nothing is for sure right now and I have a story to tell. A story about hurricanes (two of them), mis-information about said hurricanes, kiwi travelers who have enjoyed the shag wagon's comforts (and sweatyness), muddy roads, impassible roads, big waves, perfect waves...adventure, of course.

This story starts with my last e-mail, some twenty days ago, in the midst of a downpour due to Hurricane Howard. As soon as I logged off two wet travelers in a Suburban similar to ours pulled up on their way to Scorpion Bay. We asked if they knew about the road, they said they did, and it turned out that one of the guys had written the directions that we were going to follow. With that confidence we left early the next morning on what can only be considered as an epic drive, 4 1/2 hours through the bumpiest, muddiest roads I've ever encountered. Add to this the hilarity of Mark and Shaun (our fellow travelers) as they would stop abruptly and randomly, jump out of the car, crack beers and smoke a cigarette as they stomped around the car pausing briefly to bend over and look at the under carriage...only for a second before carrying on. Sure enough their rear shock broke...they weren't worried about it. Keep on keepin' on ya know. So after four hours of fishtailing through drainage ditches and wet sand we found ourselves looking at the ultimate arroyo, a full on river that was about three feet deep with current...only twenty minuets away from Scorpion Bay. We were nervous, walking around in the river trying to figure it out, then...out of nowhere Matt comes storming across the river, beer in hand and all smiles screaming "we made it! we made it!" This is the same guy who had that tire blowout on him, the guy we were traveling with before the rain started. He was in the smallest two wheel drive Toyota truck, it's ignition consisted of a screwdriver jammed in the key hole that you could turn from previous mishaps with the old truck. He put plastic bags over everything, and just charged through in the true spirit of adventure so we thought, "no way does that car make it and the saggin' wagon get stuck" so Cody jumped behind the wheel as I filmed the escapade...needless to say we made it, over tire deep on the suburban! I have no idea how Matt and his Toyota made it across but...

So, Scorpion Bay, round 1. Good waves but old Hurricane Howard came to close to shore chopping up the waves with south wind and dumping more rain. There were some really long rides but for the most part it was just a teaser showing us a little but promising so much more. So we were off again, south to Cabo and the east Cape, the rains had brought the desert to life and the coastal mountains were as green and lush as Hawaii. We hung out around Todos Santos for a few days surfing and relaxing...then news came of another hurricane off the coast, bigger than the last, Javier turned out to rule our lives for the past ten days. Everyone had a different story, no one knew shit. We chased the waves down around the east cape, encountering huge hurricane surf at Shipwrecks, double overhead plus and just continuous, it beat us up but at the end we were smiling having lucked into a few.

Mexican Independence found us in San Jose del Cabo for a great night of dancing and partying. We didn't want to get stuck on the east cape during the hurricane which we heard was coming right for us so we bailed, headed north back to Todos Santos, surfed big waves there but then we heard Javier had turned around the peninsula and was now headed straight for Todos...great! We figured this swell would be perfect for Scorpion so we just blitzed up there...saw a bunch of cars going the other way but, too bad for them we thought. When we pulled into San Jaunico the waves were just perfect, offshore winds and not a sign of old Javier....Woke up the next day to more of the same, just laughing since no one was there. Then we went to the cantina for lunch...yep, that dick Javier had decided to pass on Cabo and head right into central Baja, gunning directly at us up in Scorpion Bay...shit, what to do...blow off the warnings and keep surfing...good idea. We saw it coming from way off, a big mass of dark clouds just barreling towards us, the wind picked up steadily and as we tied down our tent we were convinced it would just barely hit us.....wrong again. The kiwis tent next to ours was in shambles within an hour, our tent started leaking profusely after that. We collapsed the tents, which was an ordeal to say the least, threw everything we had into the middle of the Suburban then crawled into the back while the kiwis hunkered down in the front seats.

The wind was vicious, topping out around 80 mph at the light house right next to our camp. The whole car was shaking under the gusts, rocking back and forth like an ocean going ship. Nobody slept. To make things more surreal in the middle of the night a flare went off directly below us on the rocks, and cars started showing up. With first light the rain and wind began to decline and we stumbled out of the car to find the whole town of San Juanico surrounding us, a fishing boat had gotten washed onto the rocks right below us. So we pulled and pushed that fu#$ing boat along the shore dislodging it from the rocks and cliffs a number of times in the large surf. The reward was indeed sweet however as the waves pumped for the next six days. I'll let the pictures and video speak for themselves but I caught some of the best waves of my life thanks to Javier so....was it worth it...who knows, I am, how ever still smiling

-Kitt  

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August 29, 2004:

Hello from San Diego.

After a whirlwind tour of Southern California the fundraisers are now complete, which is somewhat of a relief. They all went extremely well and were met with a positive response. It often amazed me just how interested people were in what we're doing. Everybody had something to contribute, often bending over backwards to help us any way they could. From contacts and recommendations to advice, and even directions the out pouring of support was phenomenal. I can now say that our fifteen minutes of fame have come and gone (thank god) and we are getting ready to head into Mexico on Tuesday. Last minute errands include an oil change, a costco run, and maybe a sushi dinner. My mind has been wandering as of late dreaming about exploring new places and meeting new faces. Sometimes I can't controll my smile as I bubble over with excitement and at other times the whole trip seems daunting and intimidating causing the anxiety levels to rise. I appreciate both sensations equally as one inevitably feeds the other as excitement turns to anxiety which turns to focus and then excitement again.

However, I am looking forward to crossing the border and putting some distance behind us, as well as escaping the crowds and traffic of southern california. The car has been running beautifully although I am a bit apprehensive about how it will perform on the dirt roads in Baja. All in all our time on the west coast was fantastic and I feel confident and prepared to head south...All we need now are waves. I am also looking forward to getting on my own schedule again, the event planning and organizing was quite alot of work and it will be nice to be somewhere for longer than two or three days. Our first stop is Scorpion Bay in Southern Baja and then on down to Cabo San Lucas. I am not sure how the internet connections will be along the way but I will try to write.

Adios -Kitt

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August 16, 2004:

Hello from San Francisco!

After a beautiful drive down the Oregon and Northern Californian coast, the mist slowly rising as we drove through the redwoods allowing sun to filter in creating the most beautiful streaks of light as it made its way through the massive trees. Surfed in Gold Beach, Oregon. The water was freezing, although the only other person in the line up was a 12 year old girl who didn't seem cold at all. She also didn't seem intimidated by the huge pack of sea lions who were surfing and fishing with us. One of them swam by the other fisherman on the Jetty rocks with a 30lb salmon in it's mouth just to show off. The biggest of the group was also the most avid surfer, riding the draft behind the breaking waves. When his wave was finished he would rear his head up and let out an enormous growl...I don't care if the little girl wasn't intimidated I thought it was downright frightening.

After an interesting night at a free campground in Humboldt County complete with an off duty cop spraying mase on a dreadlocked kid (who we didn't see again) we were off. Arriving in San Francisco to meet up with some friends for the weekend. What a great weekend, we surfed beautiful, fun waves in Half Moon bay all weekend long, saw some great live music, and generally had a grand old time in the city. We're off down the coast tomorrow on our way to Santa Barbara. So far it has been a dream as we slowly ease into the pace and freedom of life on the road.

-Kitt and Cody  

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August 11, 2004:

Hello everybody,

just a quick note to let everyone know we're on our way! After a wonderful weekend on Petit lake, and a few days kayaking the Payette river system we are now in Portland. The car, or Shaggin' Wagon, ran beautifully yesterday, even though it was tested by a number of long, high passes (read big hills), and even Portland rush hour in 100 degree heat...so we're happy about that. Staying with some friends from school here before heading to the coast tomorrow or the next day, then on through California, the fundraiser planning has been coming along, we have four scheduled events along the California coast in the next few weeks so if you're in California give us a call.

Hope all else is well,

-Kitt

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June 15, 2004:

To my esteemed professors,

I am sorry it has been so long since I last wrote you. Life has been rollicking along at breakneck speed. However, I wanted to let you know that I have been on the road since April driving from Alaska through the great expanses of northern Canada and finally back into Sun Valley where the car is parked for the next month. After this short respite we, my brother, Kaspar (who arrives in one month), and I will continue south exploring and documenting the pacific watershed systems. We have been focussing on the environmental and cultural conditions that exist within each watershed system. The experiences we have already had are numerous. From Helicopter skiing in the Chilkat mountains of southeastern Alaska to kayaking the spring runoff in Canada and the northwestern United States. The old Suburban has held up beautifully thus far (knock on wood) giving me a renewed faith in American manufacturing. We have been trying to schedule different meetings and interviews along the way. There really hasn't been any real common thread between these different paople, besides them being people we like and respect. People who are willing to share their own experiences and adventures with us on our adventure.

I would really like to meet with you both if fate puts us in the same place at the same time. We will be coming through California sometime in mid august. I understand that this is during summer vacation but if you will be in the area please let me know. I can hardly wait to explore the many countries that lie ahead of us in the south and hope to share some of my experiences with you along the way. It has been a dream thus far as each day brings with it a bigger world.

I also thought it would be interesting for you to know that I had the opprotunity to spend some time with the next presidential hopeful John Kerry. Suffice to say what I learned while at UCSB impressed him a great deal, along with the Global Studies major. I feel somewhat obligated to pass that compliment on to you, take it how you like.

Alright, I have written enough. I hope this letter finds you enjoying your next adventure and would love to hear from you.

All good things,

Kitt Doucette

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December 2, 2003:

Hey Mark,

I just wanted to see what you've been up to and let you know how I've been doing. This summer was a crazy one. I was working as a transportation engineer, which is basically just a fancy way of saying delivery boy, on a fairly large scale. I criss crossed the country three times delivering and picking up Computer equipment, setting it up and taking it down. It was a wonderful way to see the country, as the job took me to places I would never have visited on my own. Such marvelous places as Lawton, Oklahoma and Amarillo, Texas. To say I stuck out in these towns would be an understatement but that was actually one of the best parts. The conversations you have at a roadside cafe when you are lost in Alabama are simply priceless.

After two months of driving I was able to escape to Hawaii and Costa Rica for a little over a month which was phenomenal. Planning the Alaska to Chile trip has been coming along as well. We actually signed on with our first sponsor a little over a week ago which was pretty exciting, I will send you a write up of the trip so you can see the direction that we are taking with it. Our basic approach is one combining the history and culture of each place we visit with the impact adventure travel has had on the local economy, environment, and culture.

We are also working with Surfrider's new "Watershed Protection" policy to raise awareness about the connection between the snow in the mountains, the water in the rivers, and the ocean and beach. I could talk your ear off about the trip but suffice to say it is progressing and continues to provide challenge and excitement in my life.

-Kitt

Kitt Doucette
kittdoucette@hotmail.com

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