In the fall of 2008, I took an interactive media class at Washington State University Vancouver. One of the projects for that class was to go on a walk called a drift. While we were given some suggestions for the drift style, ultimately, it was up to us to decided what constraints to place on ourselves. During the drift, we were instructed to take photographs and write notes to document our experience.
The Plan
Beginning at 25th and Main Street, I travel to the next intersection and choose a different direction to travel. Possible directions are backward, forward, left, and right. When I feel like I have gone far enough, I choose the most direct path back to the starting point.
25th and Main: Go forward on Main
24th and Main: Turn right onto 24th
Leaving Main Street, I hear the sound of running water. I see a sign to a park and want to go in, but I am not allowed. I have just turned right and must save the park for another day.
The sign to the park is univiting, anyway. Too much negativity for one sign.
I find the source of the running water. Water falls into a pool covered with foam that reminds me of a bubble bath. It has a distict smell that I cannot describe.
Down the street from the park, I notice a tall brick building.
I stare at it for a moment and think it looks like retirement housing. I ask someone leaving the building, and they confirm my suspicion. What is it about retirement housing that makes them all look the same?
As I continue down the street, I notice that all of the houses are old and have large porches and well-kept lawns. Many of the houses have American Flags in the front yards.
24th and Columbia: Turn left onto Columbia
As I walk through the neighborhood, I notice that a lot of things are done for decoration and most of the houses have shrubs.
23rd and Columbia: Turn right onto 23rd
As I walk down the street, I notice that it smells like October. The air is crisp and smells of flowers and dead leaves.
23rd and Daniels: Turn left onto Daniels
All of the houses seem to fit together except one. This house seems to want to stand out. The house is dwarfed by trees that don't belong here, yet seem to be thriving.
21st and Daniels: Go forward on Daniels
There is no street sign at the intersection to tell me where I am. I decide to continue on Daniels Street.
20th and Daniels: Turn left onto 20th
Plants hang over the sidewalk. Instead of growing straight up, they grow sideways.
20th and Columbia: Go forward on 20th
I see an unusual tree. It's branches reach out with leaves that remind me of wings.
20th and Washington: Turn right onto Washington
As I walk down Washington Street, I notice that these houses all have fences. It reminds me of the saying, "good fences make good neighbors."
19th and Washington: Go forward on Washington
I notice that I am heading away from the quiet residential neighborhood and into a noisy area with businesses.
McLoughlin and Washington: Turn left onto McLoughlin
Despite the traffic noise, I can hear the sound of the crosswalk sign beeping and dead leaves blowing across the pavement.
McLoughlin and Main: Go forward on McLoughlin
As I cross the street, I notice a small shopping center. It reminds me of the Time-Based Art festival where I heard Mike Daisey talking about Wal-Mart taking over his hometown.
McLoughlin and Broadway: Turn right onto Broadway
I see a car inside a building and think it looks odd. Of course, I do not find anything strange about a car being in a garage.
17th and Broadway: Go forward on Broadway
At first it seems quieter, but soon the peace is broken by a noisy bus.
16th and Broadway: Turn Left onto 16th
While there are still a lot of businesses around, it continues to seem quieter here. At the end of the block, I decide it is time to turn back. I determine that the most direct route back is to go three blocks north and one block west, followed by four blocks north and one block west.
16th and C: Turn left onto C
Before I get very far, a squirrel darts across my path. I have seen several of them during my walk, but this is the first one I am able to capture.
19th and C: Turn left onto 19th
As I reach the next intersection, I notice an empty lot. This is the first one I have seen. Elsewhere, the houses are crammed together. I suppose this space will be filled someday, as well.
19th and Broadway: Turn right onto Broadway
Walking along Broadway, I notice a sign stuck in a tree. It seems as if the tree is trying to consume the sign.
Further down the street, I notice that most of the houses have been converted into businesses. It seems wrong to me.
25th and Broadway: Turn left onto 25th
I return to my car. It is not until I am mapping out the trip on Google that I notice the unintentional pattern to my travels. In most cases, I have gone two blocks in one direction before turning in another.