Featured, On Campus - by Jessica Roy on Thursday, February 12, 2009 14:47 - 1 Comment - 65 views
Three and a half years is a long time to plan anything Kid galahad download. Most people barely spend that much time making life changing decisions (see: Engaged and Underage). But since 2005, NYU student (and NYU Local contributor) Ned Resnikoff and his friends have been planning a way to revolutionize the postmodern road trip spearheaded by Kerouac and his flacks: one converted school bus, a shitton of vegetable oil, and thousands of miles of glorious open road. Introducing the Juan Way Tour.
Sound like an awesome idea? That’s because it is. And if you find it so awesome you wish you had come up with it yourself, fear not. The most interesting part of this self-proclaimed “tour de farce” is its inclusive nature. Road trip planners Ned Resnikoff and John Paganetti want everyone to join in on their Kesey-twinged hijinx. Their site invites us all: “Join us in person, or follow our adventures online, as we share the good times of wandering a big fucking country. In a bus.” Paganetti is quick to remind us, however, that “the bus only sleeps 13 people comfortably.” So if you can’t physically go, you’ll just have to live vicariously as they blog the entire adventure.
Conceived by Paganetti after spending the summer following high school stewing in his own boredom, the trip has taken on epic proportions. But the strange thing about Juan Way’s plan is that there is no plan. Paganetti, a remarkably chill guy and also potentially a stoner (a BUS that runs on VEGETABLE OIL?) insisted that there “is no point” to the trip. “If we hit all the continental states, that’s cool, but if not, that’s cool too. If we end up driving in circles, but have a great time, I don’t think I’ll care,” he told me via AIM.
If you’re interested in hopping on the tour, or want to pitch in, be sure to join the Facebook Group, or check out the Help form up on the Juan Way website. So are you on or off the bus?
Thanks for plugging the help form and the Facebook group! When we’re out on the road, we’re going to be in desperate need of places where we know we can get showers or laundry, basic stuff that won’t cost the people who help us out anything. The form and Facebook group are so we know where those folks are, and what they’re willing to do to help.
Plus, a big part of this trip is all about meeting people all over the country. So if you want to chill with us whenever we’re in your state, or show us around, you should join the group and fill out the form too. I can’t promise you money or anything, but I solemnly swear to say very flattering things about you on the Internet and give you a little burst of Internet fame.