Odyssey 2 Alcatraz

An Epic Cross-Country Journey

You are about to join me on a grand adventure! Come along & see what happens when I take a solo, cross-country journey from my home in Kentucky to San Francisco.

My name is Pippi. I am a native of Louisville, KY. I'm 5' 2 1/2" tall, usually weigh between 95 - 105 pounds, have blue eyes, red hair, & the red-headed temper that goes with it. Awhile ago, I had the Big Idea. I have lots of Big Ideas. This time, you get a front row seat. C'mon! Let's go!!!

Why? That's the first thing people ask when I tell them I'm going to Alcatraz. Why Alcatraz of all places? And why in the heck am I gonna spend days on a train, instead of a few hours on a plane? I just wanna see what's between here & there. Heck, life is short. I don't wanna miss something!

Well, it's like this: I've always been curious about the place. That's all. No big mystery. Sure, most people think vacations are supposed to be taken in warm, tropical places, or maybe trekking up some remote mountain. But this IS my mountain... To set out by myself & see something I've always wondered about.

So, how does such a simple trip qualify as a personal "mountain"? That's simple too. I'm sick. I feel okay (mostly) right now, so I'm going while I can.... I doubt if I'll have another chance to go. So.... Why not?

It has taken a long time to get this website online. My little adventure became a real adventure when I got sick on the way home. I knew I was getting sick, but being somewhat stubborn, I was determined to get home. Thank you, Maunuel C. (Amtrak train attendant) & Joe (Greyhound bus driver) for looking after me on the final leg of my journey back home!!! I had to go straight to the hospital before I even got to go home & unpack. Also - Thanks, Dad for meeting me at the bus depot in the middle of the night. I hate ambulances!!!

(NOTE: There are some things I have forgotten about my journey. That is because of the relapse of my illness. A severe attack causes some minor memory loss. I can have trouble recalling some things that happen immediately before, during, & after an attack. But this is only a temporary situation, & the memories will eventually return if I try hard enough to recall them. So if I remember later, something I forgot to mention here, I'll update the site with the new information. Just writing about it here is helping me excercise my memory.)

UPDATE:

I just discovered that a very elderly neighbor was actually an inmate at Alcatraz for several years. He has agreed to be interviewed about his experience on "the Rock"!

Stay tuned!!!!!

NEWER UPDATE: 2 neighbors did time on The Rock! There could be a show topic here!

Click Here to Find Out More

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart"

-Confucius