-
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
-
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
-
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
-
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
-
As rents have surged in recent years, some clever Bay Area residents have found ways around paying full price on rent. But those savings come with sacrifice, as you'll see in the following slides.
As rents have surged in recent years, some clever Bay Area residents have found ways around paying full price on rent. But those savings come with sacrifice, as you'll see in the following slides.
-
Brian, who works full-time at a gym in San Francisco, lives in the back of a Suburu STI with his fiancee and puppy. This shows their bed, which they make by lowering the two back seats. Brian says living in a car can be stressful, but he's saving thousands of dollars per month, which he hopes to one day put toward a mortgage.
lessBrian, who works full-time at a gym in San Francisco, lives in the back of a Suburu STI with his fiancee and puppy. This shows their bed, which they make by lowering the two back seats. Brian says living in a
... more
-
One young couple decided to ditch their expensive San Francisco apartment for a
tiny home in the Santa Cruz mountains. The couple paid $80,000 for their 162 square foot home, plus $15,000 in solar panels. The couple was paying $3,500 per month for their apartment in The City.
lessOne young couple decided to ditch their expensive San Francisco apartment for a
tiny home in the Santa Cruz mountains. The couple paid $80,000 for their 162 square foot home, plus $15,000 in solar panels. The
... more
-
For $1,200 per month, you can rent a
bunk bed in a shared house with 25 people on Folsom Street. The 55 rooms are scattered over two floors. Some rooms are singles, which will cost you $1,700 per month.
For $1,200 per month, you can rent a
bunk bed in a shared house with 25 people on Folsom Street. The 55 rooms are scattered over two floors. Some rooms are singles, which will cost you $1,700 per month.
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
-
Illustrator Peter Berkowitz paid $400 per month to
live in a box in the living room of an apartment. The box was just big enough for a twin-sized bed and a small table for his computer where he could work on illustrations. Eventually, San Francisco deemed the box illegal, saying it was against fire codes.
lessIllustrator Peter Berkowitz paid $400 per month to
live in a box in the living room of an apartment. The box was just big enough for a twin-sized bed and a small table for his computer where he could work on
... more
-
Kristin Hanes' view from the
sailboat she currently lives on to avoid expensive rental prices. She moved onto the boat after getting laid off from her job at KGO radio at the end of March.
Kristin Hanes' view from the
sailboat she currently lives on to avoid expensive rental prices. She moved onto the boat after getting laid off from her job at KGO radio at the end of March.
-
Nicole Jones opens the front door of her San Mateo home, a single-car garage. After losing her job, the California Bay Area mom lived in a shelter and then moved into this
$1,000-a-month rental in 2015.
Nicole Jones opens the front door of her San Mateo home, a single-car garage. After losing her job, the California Bay Area mom lived in a shelter and then moved into this
$1,000-a-month rental in 2015.
-
Photo: Courtesy Juliana Linder
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
-
Todd Iceton, right, and Tynan Smith, co-founders of real-time social blogging platform SETT, work in Smith's RV on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 in San Francisco.
A 2013 SFGATE article reported that Smith was living in this RV.
lessTodd Iceton, right, and Tynan Smith, co-founders of real-time social blogging platform SETT, work in Smith's RV on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 in San Francisco.
A 2013 SFGATE article reported that Smith was living in
... more
-
This 10-bedroom house called
Chateau Ubunto is an intentional living situation in a San Francsico French Victorian Mansion. 38 people currently live in the mansion, where the cheapest rent is $650 for a 6-person bedroom, plus $350 monthly membership fees for food and activities.
lessThis 10-bedroom house called
Chateau Ubunto is an intentional living situation in a San Francsico French Victorian Mansion. 38 people currently live in the mansion, where the cheapest rent is $650 for a
... more
-
Vickie Harmon (right) and Sade Harmon (left), both of Richmond, look over the Escape Traveler XL, a tiny home, from the outside as they talk with Dave Peterson (center), Escape RV driver/set up, on Thursday, April 27, 2017 in San Rafael.
lessVickie Harmon (right) and Sade Harmon (left), both of Richmond, look over the Escape Traveler XL, a tiny home, from the outside as they talk with Dave Peterson (center), Escape RV driver/set up, on Thursday,
... more
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-19',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 19',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
Photo: Rich Brand/CapturedHeartbeats.com
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
Rich Brand is currently traveling from Canada to Florida by kayak, and making new friends along the way.
This nomadic kayaker makes his home one foot above the tide
This story originally appeared on The Wayward Home
When we think of nomads and full-time travelers, we usually think of people living in camper vans, RVs, or sailboats.
But Rich Brand of Captured Heartbeats is taking a different type of journey – traveling in his kayak across North America. He’s paddling down rivers, through Great Lakes, and along the coastline, from Quebec City, Canada to Jacksonville, Florida.
“This expedition was introduced to me by a harbormaster in Prescott, Wisconsin, while on the Mississippi River adventure,” Brand wrote on his website. “I was told of a route that was about 5,000 miles, but mainly powerboats and sailboats accomplished it. I thought about it for a second and thought, ‘Why could I not do it in a kayak?'”
Brand left for this kayaking adventure in May of 2018, and he plans on the trip taking him one year.
One day, I spoke on the phone with Brand, to ask him why he gave up his home to travel full-time in a kayak.
WHY BRAND DECIDED TO TRAVEL IN A 19-FOOT KAYAK
Brand is a seasoned kayaker; he’s ocean kayaked from Seattle to San Diego and the entire length of the Mississippi River, which is 2,500 miles. Then he paddled from New Orleans to Portland, Maine, 3,100 miles. Then Portland up to Quebec, which was 1,500 miles.
“I feel I am just settling into kayaking. The gift I have found is I am able to reach, communicate, and engage with people in a way that I don’t believe I could with other means of transportation. I have been hosted by so many and brought right into their personal lives in a way I just could not do with a Jeep, motorcycle, or a boat,” said Brand.
With his 5,000 mile trip, Brand is hoping to inspire a younger generation to see what’s possible when you follow your passion.
“I believe in leading by example,” he said. “There is a big world out there with unlimited possibilities. You can be your strongest asset or your greatest defeat. You cannot inspire anyone from a couch. You have to move and do,” he said.
He wants to meet people, see everything, go everywhere.
“You have but this one shot to do amazing with your life. Why would you want to do anything less?” Brand asked.
HOW BRAND SLEEPS AND EATS WHILE KAYAKING FULL TIME
Brand seems to do a pretty good job finding places to sleep when kayaking. His one main goal is this: to set up his tent at least one foot above the high tide.
“I don’t have a home but I’m good with that,” said Brand. “Home is where you make it and where you pitch your tent. I’ve had water come up to the base of my tent,” said Brand. “I stay on beaches, docks, marinas, in backyards. If I land near someone’s backyard, I request permission to stay.”
You might also like:
As for food, he carries around freeze-dried food for camping. He saves over the wintertime so he can eat out along the waterways. He’s often hosted, and people give him dinner.
“People often let me use their bedroom, shower, give me a meal in exchange for my stories. That’s happened well over 100 times so far on this trip,” he said. “If people have kids, I make sure to spend time with them and get them excited about the great outdoors.”
THE JOYS AND STRUGGLES OF BEING A FULL-TIME KAYAKER
Living on the water and paddling around all the time isn't always easy. Brand has had a couple of close calls during his kayaking adventure.
"I've been way too close to drowning on the Pacific ocean," said Brand. "I've been through two lightning storms where I didn't think I'd make it to shore. Solo adventuring, while fun and inspiring, is not always the easiest. It can be hard explaining to people why I do this."
But by far, the joys way outnumber the challenges. Brand has paddled among whales and dolphins, has eaten seafood fresh from the waters. He loves the sense of freedom and personal growth, the fresh air and open seas.
"I love waking up to a different horizon every day," said Brand. "I love the stars, listening to the wind and the silence, making new friends, seeing new cultures. I love seeing things for the first time. When we are kids, everything is new and for the first time, but as we get older, those opportunities are few and far between. I like that each day/person/experience is a first."
BRAND'S HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
When Brand ends his current 5,000 miles kayaking trip in March of 2019, he'll set the paddles aside for awhile. His next goal is to hop on a motorcycle and travel all over, meeting people along the way.
"I wish people would get outside more and realize life is short," Brand said. "If you work a 9-5 and you drop dead tomorrow and they replace you in a week, what kind of job is that?"
He's met so many people while paddling around in his kayak, and hopes he's captured some heartbeats with his journey and lifestyle.
"People live in these comfort bubbles and I run at them in a tracksuit with nails," he said. "I try to get people out of their bubble."
You can follow his adventures on Facebook and Instagram.
This story originally appeared on The Wayward Home
