THE BEGINNING

LOCATION: EL DORADO HILLS
LISTENING TO: THE DAY I LOST MY VOICE (THE SUITCASE SONG)
BY: COPELAND

THE COUNT DOWN HAS TRULY BEGUN …
THE REALIZATION OF THE END OF TOUR IS SO SO CLOSE …
THE JOURNEY IS ABOUT TO COME TO AN END …
BUT IT IS ONLY THE END OF THE BEGINNING …
WE ALL KNEW THAT THIS DAY WOULD COME …
I JUST NEVER KNEW IT WOULD BE THIS SOON …

WE’VE ALL LOOKED FORWARD TO THE END OF THE TOUR …
TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE WE MADE …
TO SEE HOW MANY KIDS WOULD GET SHOES BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS …
BUT FOR IT TO BE A EXACTLY A WEEK AWAY …
WELL IS MIND BLOWING …

IT’S BEEN AMAZING BECOMING CLOSER AS A TEAM AND MATURING AS ADULTS …
BEING PLACED INTO THIS WHIRLWIND KNOWN AS THE VAGABOND TOUR …
IT WAS OVERWHELMING AT TIMES …
WAS AMAZING AT OTHERS …
SCARY IN PLACES …
BUT IN THE END ONE OF THE GREATEST DECISIONS THAT I’VE EVER MADE …

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN HARD AT TIMES TO BE AWAY FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY …
TO BE IN PLACES WHERE YOU KNEW NO ONE …
HAVE AN EVENT WHERE YOU DIDN’T SELL ANY SHOES …
OR AROUND PEOPLE THAT SEEMED LIKE THEY DIDN’T CARE …
BUT TO WAKE UP AND SAY I MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF SOMEONE ELSE …
EVERYDAY …
EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T SELL ANY SHOES …
YOU TALKED TO SOMEONE ABOUT A COMPANY THAT IS TRULY TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE …
A COMPANY THAT THEY CAN TRULY GET BEHIND …
THAT IN ITSELF …
IS WORTH IT …

THIS TOUR ISN’T JUST SOMETHING TO DO …
THIS TOUR CAN CHANGE HOW PEOPLE LOOK AT BUSINESS …
THIS TOUR ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HELP …
THIS TOUR CAN BE THE CHANGE …
THIS TOUR IS SOMETHING THAT CAN TRULY CAUSE AN EFFECT …
THIS TOUR IS YOU …

THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE
7 MORE DAYS …

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IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHO DOUG FUNNY IS …
HE WAS A CARTOON CHARACTER FROM MY YOUTH WHO WOULD WEAR THE SAME THING EVERYDAY …
HE HAD A WHOLE CLOSET FULL OF THE SAME SHIRT, SHORTS, AND SWEATER VESTS …
WELL I FEEL LIKE I HAVE STARTED TO DO THE DOUG THING …
WEARING THE SAME THING AT OUR EVENTS …

I MEAN I DO LAUNDRY A LOT AND IT’S ALL CLEAN …
BUT I JUST TEND TO WEAR THE SAME JACKETS, PANTS, AND HATS …

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES …

THAT’S JUST LIFE ON THE ROAD …

THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE

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THIS THANKSGIVING WAS A LITTLE BITTERSWEET …
I USUALLY SPEND THIS DAY WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS BACK HOME …
WITH THE FRIED TURKEY AND THE TWICE BAKED POTATOES …
OH! AND THE DESSERT …
BUT I COULD TALK ABOUT THAT FOREVER …

ANYWAYS …

THIS THANKSGIVING WAS SPENT WITH MY TOMS FAMILY …
AND IT WAS AN AMAZING THANKSGIVING …
TEAM NORTHWEST KINDA CHEATED …
WE HAD TWO THANKSGIVINGS …

WE STARTED OUR DAY JUST LIKE WE DO ANY OTHER DAY OFF …
LATE …
WE WOKE UP WHENEVER AND HEADED TO OUR FIRST FEAST WITH ANDI …
ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD …
AND SHE ALSO HELPED WITH THIS WHOLE CRAZY TOUR …
WE ATE AND WE PLAYED SOME GAMES …
WE WATCHED SOME GAMES AND WE ATE SOME MORE …

AFTER ALL OF THAT WE HEADED TO OUR SECOND FEAST WITH ONE OF OUR FAVORITE CAMPUS REP’S …
TOM …
AND HIS AMAZING FAMILY …
THEY COOKED SOOO MUCH FOOD FOR US …
WE TRIED TO EAT IT ALL, BUT COULDN’T …
WE WERE SOOO FULL …
I CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I HAD SEEN SO MUCH FOOD …

IT WAS TRULY A VAGABOND THANKSGIVING …
JUST WANDERING HERE AND THERE …
IT WAS GREAT …

WELL THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE

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WHAT IS FOOT PATROL YOU MIGHT ASK …
SINCE WE ARE ON A SHOE TOUR …
WE TEND TO LOOK AT PEOPLE’S FEET TO SEE WHAT KIND OF SHOES THEY’RE WEARING …
WELL IT HAS SLOWLY TURNED INTO SOMETHING SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A CASUAL GLANCE AT PEOPLE’S KICKS …
COOP AND MYSELF ARE NOW ON FOOT PATROL ANY AND EVERYWHERE WE GO …
FROM NIKE, SIMPLE, VANS, PUMA, DIADORA, SANUK, CONVERSE, CROCS …
SO MANY SHOES SO LITTLE TIME …

AND WE KEEP SEEING MORE AND MORE TOMS THROUGH OUT OUR JOURNEY …
I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK WERE CRAZIES WHEN WE RUN UP TO THEM WHEN THEY HAVE TOMS ON …
ALL WE WANT TO DO IS TO TELL THEM ABOUT OUR TOUR AND SEE HOW THEY HEARD ABOUT TOMS …
IT JUST AWESOME AND REFRESHING FOR US TO SEE PEOPLE WITH TOMS …
AND IT GIVE US A BOAST CONFIDENCE THAT THE TOUR IS IMPACTING PEOPLE …
THAT PEOPLE REALLY DO WANT TO HELP AND BE APART OF TOMS …
EVEN IF WE’RE IN WYOMING …

IT’S ALSO AMAZING TO SEE TOMS MORE ON PEOPLE’S FEET …
IT MEANS THAT WE’RE DOING OUR JOBS RIGHT …
AND THAT’S WE ARE TRULY MAKING AN IMPACT …
EACH PAIR IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE LAST …
AND EACH TOUR AS IMPACTFUL AS THE OTHER …
IT TRULY CAN’T BE MEASURED …

THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE

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WHEN FOUR STRANGERS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER …
IT TAKES TIME TO TRULY BECOME A TEAM …
FINDING OUT WHAT MAKES THEM TICK …
AND WHAT TICKS THEM OFF …

NOW THAT WE’VE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR OVER 7 WEEKS …
WE’VE SEEN THE GOOD AND THE BAD OF EACH OTHER …
FROM SEEING EACH OTHERS MORNIN’ FACES …
TO THE TOUGH TALKS ABOUT WHY SOME THINGS NOT WORKING RIGHT …
THESE SITUATIONS START TO BRING US CLOSER …

IT’S ALSO BEEN AWESOME FINDING OUT WHAT MAKES EACH OTHER TRULY HAPPY …
GYPSY’S PASSION FOR A MORE ORGANIC WORLD AND ANYTHING TO DO WITH NATURE …
ZACH’S HEART FOR NEW ADVENTURES, TRAVELING, AND HIS LOVE FOR SNOWBOARDING …
COOP AND HER WANT TO BE SURROUNDED BY AMAZING MUSIC AND THE WANT TO TEACH OTHERS HOW TO MAKE THAT MUSIC COME TO LIFE …

WHEN TIMES GET HARD …
YOU START MISSING HOME, AND JUST WANT TO GET AWAY …
YOU REMEMBER THE HILARIOUS TIMES YOU’VE HAD …
AND YOU FORGET ABOUT ALL THE STRESS FROM BEING ON THE ROAD …
OR BEING AWAY FROM THE THINGS THAT ARE FAMILIAR TO YOU …
AND! YOU JUST WANT TO BE WITH THEM …
AND HAVE AS MUCH FUN AS YOU CAN WITH THE TIME THAT IS LEFT …
THESE TIMES FORCE US TO DEPEND ON EACH OTHER AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM …
THEY’RE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN TRULY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU’RE TIRED OR WHY YOU’RE GRUMPY …

WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER …
AND! ABOUT EACH OTHER …
BUT WE’RE NOT DONE YET AND WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO TILL WE REACH OUR GOAL …
AND AS THE TOUR COMES CLOSER TO AN END …
YOU REALIZE HOW AMAZING THE PEOPLE YOU’RE WITH REALLY ARE …
WE’VE SEEN ALL THESE THINGS AMAZING AND CRAZY …
BEEN THROUGH THE HARD TIMES …
TRAVELED THROUGH THE VALLEYS …
TREKED TO THE MOUNTAIN TOPS …
AND WE’RE A BETTER TEAM BECAUSE OF IT …
WE’RE TEAM NORTHWEST …
COMIN’ ATCHA …

THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE

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LOCATION: MOSCOW
LISTENING TO: GIVE ME THE GREEN LIGHT
BY: JOHN LEGEND FT. ANDRE 3000

HERE ARE SOME MORE THINGS TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT HITTING THE ROAD …

TIP #4: THE BIG GULP
FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN MONEY IS GETTIN’ TIGHT …
AND TRUST ME IT WILL HAPPEN …
THIS IS ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO SAVE SOME DOUGH …
WHEN YOU GO TO A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT …
AND TRUST ME THAT WILL HAPPEN TOO …
GET A SUPER SIZE CUP …
IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE COSTLY THE FIRST TIME …
BUT! THE BENEFITS WILL OUTWEIGH THE COST …
SO NOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS MASSIVE CUP …
RECYCLE IT SUCKA !!!
YOU CAN USE THAT CUP NOW ANYTIME YOU GO BACK…
BUT! YOU HAVE TO BE SMOOTH ABOUT IT …
AND NOW YOU HAVE A EASY AND CHEAP WAY TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST …

TIP #5: LOCK IT UP !!!
WHEN YOU START ON YOUR JOURNEY …
THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS SOME CRAZY JUMPIN’ IN YOUR VAN …
SO THE EASIEST THING YOU CAN DO TO KEEP THE CRAZIES OUT IS TO …
LOCK IT UP !!!
YOU DON’T NEED ANYMORE CRAZIES IN THE VAN THAN THE ONES ALREADY IN IT …

TIP #6: THE KEY CHECK
IF YOU DON’T EVER WANT TO MAKE THAT DREADED CALL TO AAA …
HAVING THEM COME AND SAVE YOU …
BECAUSE YOU LOCKED YOUR KEYS IN THE VAN …
DO THE KEY CHECK …
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HOLD THE KEYS UP IN THE AIR AND SAY “KEY CHECK” …
AND! THEN LOCK THE DOOR …
YOU CAN MAKE A DANCE OUT OF IT IF YOU WANT …
IT MIGHT SOUND DUMB BUT THE FIRST TIME YOU LOCK YOUR KEYS IN THE VAN …
AND YOU GET THAT EMPTY FEELING IN YOUR STOMACH …
YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE DONE THE “KEY CHECK” …
IT’S A VERY EASY WAY TO GET AROUND WHAT COULD POSSIBLY RUIN YOUR DAY …

• TIP #6.2: CHECK YA POCKETS
  WHEN YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE LOCKED YOUR KEYS IN THE VAN …
  AND SPEND AN HOUR TRYIN’ TO BREAK INTO YOUR VAN …
  YOU DON’T WANT TO MAKE THAT DREADED CALL TO AAA …
  FIRST ! CHECK ALL YOUR PANTS, COATS,OR ANYTHING WITH POCKETS FOR THE KEYS …
  IT SAVES TIME AND FRUSTRATION …
  BUT! IT IS GOOD FOR A LAUGH IN THE END …

TIP #7: SURFTHECHANNEL
WHEN YOUR ON THE ROAD …
AND YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS …
SURFTHECHANNEL IS THE SITE FOR YOU …
THEY HAVE EVERY SHOW …
EVER MADE …
I MEAN EVER MADE …
I DON’T WANT YOU MISSIN’ ANY GREY’S ANATOMY …
SO SURFTHECHANNEL IS THE PERFECT WAY TO KEEP WATCHIN’ YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS …
WHILE YOUR ON THE ROAD …

THAT ALL FOR ME TODAY …
BUT THE TIP AND TRICKS AREN’T OVER …
UNTIL NEXT TIME …

THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE

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LOCATION: SEATTLE
LISTENING TO: FLY TO ME
BY: KEANE

THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW THINGS I’VE LEARNED ON THE ROAD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU… THEY MAY HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND MAKE IT EASIER TO GET AROUND SOME THINGS …
THEY CAN EVEN BE CONSIDERED AS TIPS AND TRICKS FOR FUTURE TOURS …

TIP #1: WHAT ?!? MR. OFFICER
WHEN THERE IS NO WHERE TO PARK AND UNLOAD …
DRIVE AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO THE EVENT LOCATION AND TURN YOUR HAZARDS ON …
NO ONE WILL MESS WITH YOU …
AND IF THEY DO …
ACT DUMB …
LIKE A BOX OF ROCKS DUMB …

TIP #2: WANNA STICKER ?? WELL …
WHEN NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO FILL OUT INFO SHEETS …
BRIBE THEM …
WE HAVE STICKERS AND PEOPLE WANT STICKERS …
USE ‘EM …
STILL HESITANT …
OK OK TWO STICKERS …
BUT JUST FOR YOU …

TIP #3: DANCE PARTY !!
WHEN THE EVENT IS KINDA …
WELL DEAD …
LIVEN IT UP …
PUT ON SOME TUNES ON AND GET DOWN …
DANCING ALWAYS GETS PEOPLE’S ATTENTION …
ALWAYS …
AND IF YOU CAN’T DANCE ITS OK …
JUST MUSIC WILL INTEREST PEOPLE …
WHAT’S THAT ?? …
LIL’ WAYNE !?! …
I FREAKIN’ LOVE LIL’ WAYNE …

THAT’S ALL FOR ME NOW …
BUT! KEEP AN EYE OUT THERE’S MORE TO COME …
UNTIL NEXT TIME …

THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE

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ON THE ROAD SOMETIMES WE CAN GET KINDA CRAZY AND THINGS GET A LITTLE GOOFY …
AND SO WHEN WE NEEDED A GREAT WAY TO SELL SOME TOMS HATS WE HAD A GREAT IDEA …
THAT GREAT IDEA WE LIKE TO CALL BRENDA IN HONOR OF OUR CAMPUS REP INTERN …
NOW SHE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US NO MATTER WHERE WE GO …
SHE HAS ALREADY SEEN SOME GREAT SITES ALONG THE WAY AND HAS ENJOYED OREGON SO FAR …

BRENDA ENJOYING THE SUNSET AT HAYSTACK ROCK

AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF HER JOURNEY …
LOOK OUT NORTHWEST CAUSE THE VAGABONDS AND BRENDA OUR COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU …
AND DON’T FORGET TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH HER AT YOUR EVENT …
SHE LOVES TAKING PICTURES WITH PEOPLE …
ESPECIALLY IF YOU BUY SHOES …

THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE

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NW gang with the Kings

As we near the end of week 3, what I have been most impressed with thus far is the hospitality people have given us. We have slept on couches, futons, dorm floors, in the occasional bed (if we’re lucky) and in the van (if we’re not) – well, only two members of our team had to [sorry JoJo and Zach]. At any rate we are always grateful for any amount of space we’re given and a couple nights ago we were very fortunate to stay with Chris and JD, who from here on out will be dubbed the Kings of Hospitality.

We arrived at their house at 1:30am from Bend, Oregon and needless to say we were ready for bed. As we entered their house, they greeted us with the traditional “Mi casa es su casa” and the untraditional “Welcome home”. What touched me most about the Kings were the little things that they said or did to make our overnight stay with them as comfortable as possible. For example, Cristina and I slept in the living room and to help us sleep better they tacked a blanket over a window to block out a neighbor’s porch light. As for the guys, they insisted that they slept on the floor at the foot of their bed because it was carpeted and they knew it would be warmer than sleeping on the wood floor in other parts of the house. These two small examples of the King’s hospitality only scratch the surface of how pleasant our stay with Chris and JD was.

So on behalf of the Northwest team, this is Coop saying thanks to all who have been gracious enough to share what you have with us because that is the true spirit of TOMS – giving to those in need.

Until next time…

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THE END OF WEEK 2 IS HERE …
IT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE WE HAVE FINALLY PASSED THROUGH THE ROCKY ROAD …
AND AS WE ALWAYS SAY IN TEAM NORTHWEST – WE ARE OUT OF THE VALLEY NOW AND ARE HEADIN’ UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THE TOP …

SO FAR SOME OF OUR EVENTS HAVE BEEN SMALL AND SOME HAVE BEEN LARGE …
BUT ALL AWESOME AND UNIQUE IN THEIR OWN WAY …
THEY’RE GOING VERY WELL, AND WE AVERAGE AROUND TWENTY PLUS PAIRS OF SHOES AT EACH EVENT …
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THIS RACE …

WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO A REGION OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF TOMS …
BEING THE FIRST TO INTRODUCE THEM TO THIS AMAZING COMPANY AND THE EVEN MORE AMAZING THINGS WE’RE DOING IS AWESOME …
ALSO SEEING PAST JUST SELLING SHOES, BUT GRASPING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE A CHILD’S LIFE BY SIMPLY PURCHASING A PAIR OF SHOES …

IT’S AMAZING TO ME TO BE ABLE TO WAKE UP EVERYDAY …
AND HAVE THIS FEELING THAT I COULD BE DOING A HUNDRED DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THEY WOULDN’T FEEL RIGHT …
BECAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING …
THAT IN ITSELF IS AN AMAZING BLESSING …

THIS IS JOSH THE VAGABOND
CHECK YA LATER AND MUCH LOVE

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