The Gift of Electricity

I received a neat gift yesterday. A solar charger for phones and small devices. It is a very simple solar unit that collects electricity from the sun and stores it in an internal battery to be used later to charge devices like phones and mp3 players and cameras. It came up in conversation that I would have to conserve battery with at least my phone while out on the road. My camera and mp3 player both last quite a while with just one charge (based on usage) but the phone, if it remains on the whole time will slowly drain battery. As everyone knows it will drain really quickly if used for applications or internet or talking. This solar charger basically makes it so that I can go much further without having to find an outlet to plug my phone into to charge. Of course, I still plan on plugging it in every chance that I get. But while outside I can keep the small solar panel on my backpack or the ground next to me or wherever there is sun for that matter to charge up and then recharge my phone later. It's going to be a very useful tool.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 21st, 2013 Fort Wayne, Indiana

I took a trip here before I started my journey across the United States but I decided to include it as the first entry of the blog partially as a test and also because it is unlikely that I will travel there again. It was very warm and very sunny that day. My brimmed hat served me well. I walked all around the downtown area and into a nearby park as well. There was a Greek festival happening that day but I didn't want anything to do with it. It was really more of a money trap than a true celebration of Greek heritage and tradition. 

Me in downtown.

More than anything else I was just happy to be in a place I have never been before. A theme that will likely replay as I hit the road. See how happy I am in the photo above?

Tallest building in downtown Fort Wayne. 

The real reason that I went to Fort Wayne in the first place was because a friend of mine wanted to get a tattoo and after doing her research she determined that the best place to do it was at a place called Black Anvil Tattoo. The tattoo was going on her leg so it was my responsibility to drive all the way back to Urbana, IL. Still a neat trip though.

A view from the top level of a parking garage in downtown Fort Wayne, IN.

We didn't stick around very long after her tattoo was done. I was only in Fort Wayne for about 3 hours. I can now say that I have been in Fort Wayne, Indiana.