The end is absolutely upon us Folks!

That’s right, Team South East has globe-trotted, or country-trotted rather, for the past three months and is now facing their final days on tour. Carmin, Sloan and Liz have successfully driven to the four corners of the country- New York, Miami, L.A., and San Fran- And in an effort to shamelessly celebrate the culmination of all things South East I’d like to give you some tips- some awesome-road-tripping advice straight from our van to yours.

Mind you- this information, these tips, are not for the faint of heart.

Alright so here are some things you must keep in mind!-

1. When sleeping under the stars at the Grand Canyon (on top of your Van of course) you REALLY need a mat to sleep upon. The three of us suggest multiple layers of clothes, hefty blankets, and of course parking directly beside a bathroom. You will never, ever, ever regret locking arms, and looking up at the stars whilst on top of an automobile. We would however recommend getting to your final destination (ie- the Grand Canyon camp site) prior to 4:00 a.m. because as we learned, the sun rises around 5.

2. Do not ever, under any sort of circumstances spend all of your food dollars on fast-food restaurants. We had some of the most amazing foods, some of the most awesome dining experiences by hitting up all the mom and pop shops. Dining locally means getting fresh ingredients, and of course supporting the local economy- very TOMS.

3. Some may argue with me, but air beds are a big-fluffy waste of time. I mean it- team southeast has gone through two, alright well we were only responsible for mysteriously popping one- but the second one deflated in the middle of the night at Josh Owen’s house (famously known for his fabulous season one shenanigans) leaving poor Sloan and Liz to their own back-aching devices. I’m telling you- a bed mat, or roughing it on the floor is the way to go- now that I think about it, I never actually slept on the floor- beds, couches, and other sleeping contraptions were always available.

4. Whenever spending your “down-time” (whatever that means) in small shanty-shack southern towns, do not sit around sulking wishing you were hanging out with all of your amazing friends in Los Angeles- go searching, go exploring! Not only did many of our adventure excursions turn up some of the best antique shop treasures, but we also happened upon the 8th wonder of the world! Located in the heart of Walterboro, S.C. is baby Niagra Falls! That’s right people, I’m talking get too close and you’re bound to get soaked! My point? Get out- regardless of how quiet the town you’re in may be- there’s always something yet to be discovered!

5. Cherish this time.

Alright folks, so… this is our last entry. I can honestly say in addition to the memories I’ve made while on the road, while working at TOMS, and while living in a house jam-packed house with dozens of other Vagabonds, I’ve also made some of the best, most interesting, most unique friends of my life.

Hit the road, invest in people’s lives- invest in the people who you meet every day and find a way to invest in the lives of the people (like many of the children who we give TOMS Shoes to) who you may never see face to face.

My first inclination is to say goodbye- but you’ll be hearing a lot more from many of us- this season’s Vagabonds were comprised of some of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met- so look out because there’s much more to come.

See you soon-

Carmin, Sloan and Liz.

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Tags:   adventure · internship · Niagra Falls · road trip · the grand canyon · TOMS Vagabonds · traveling internship · walterboro South Carolina
Categories: Vagabond Tour Spring 2009No Comments