Nine months ago Brian and I left our home in Portland, Oregon and set out on the biggest adventure of our lives. For three months we camped and backpacked around the U.S. National Parks, a boyhood dream of Brian’s. Then, six months ago, on August 15, 2012, we boarded a plane to Ecuador. We didn’t know how long we’d travel or even where we’d go (we still don’t know) but we knew we were taking a life-changing leap of faith that would impact us profoundly.
To commemorate this new phase of our lives, Brian shaved off his beard. He wanted a fresh start and he wanted to measure our time on the road by the length of the shadow his beard cast on his chest.
Six months, it’s such a tiny bit of time. But this half-year has undoubtedly changed the way we look at the world and, yes, the way we look in it too.
August 2012
August 15, 2012. Portland, Oregon. A clean-shaven Brian leaves for the airport. Do we look terrified? We were terrified.
August 18, 2012. Quito, Ecuador. Brian and his barely-there beard enjoy a $3 almuerzo.
September 2012
September 16, 2012. Baños, Ecuador. Brian’s beard turns 1 month old. Overlooking Baños and the scenic Andes Mountains.
October 2012
October 27, 2012. Puno, Peru. Brian and his beard on a boat headed to Amantani Island on Lake Titicaca.
November 2012
November 15, 2012. Puerto Natales, Chile. Celebrating a sunshiny afternoon in Patagonia (and a 3-month-old beard).
December 2012
December 20, 2012. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Judging from the length of the beard’s shadow I estimate this photo was taken at 2 p.m.
January 2013
January 1, 2013. Jaisalmer, India. The men of Jaisalmer thought Brian could be the next Mr. Desert.
February 2013
February 14, 2013. Palolem, India. Brian and his beard (and me!) relax on the Arabian Sea.
I can’t wait to see what Brian will look like six months from now. Maybe something like this?
Future
Future. Somewhere in the world. Future Brian minus the ape boobs (I hope).
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
Brian, your beard is majestic.
A man after my own beard heart!
Keep up the good work!
Hehe, he works so hard at it!
Thanks, Judd. No desk job = happy bearded heart.
Ha, I love it! And I seriously can’t believe the difference – I would definitely not recognize him without his [now] trademark beard. I especially love this line: “He wanted to measure our time on the road by the length of the shadow his beard cast on his chest.” Perfect
I know! When he shaved it off before we left I could barely look at him. I felt like I had a different husband!
And a fine specimen it is Brian! It’s about time the world was introduced (officially) to the real star of this show
Ha, no kidding! I should have introduced beard awhile ago.
I think beard might need his own blog now, too…
Uh oh, don’t give Brian any ideas!
HA, awesome!
We leave for our own RTW trip in May and I’ve been asking Trent what he’s going to do about shaving (right now he shaves every couple of weeks). Maybe he’ll go the beard route too
It’s not a bad option! Make sure to take pictures of the beard from the very beginning!
He’d have to dye it white, but by December, he could probably get a skinny Santa gig somewhere. He should try doing away with haircuts too.
Ohhh TOTALLY! A way to make money on the road! Brilliant idea.
Hilarious beard pics ! All the best to it for the coming 6 months
Thanks!
Love this! I think Brian should go for a different beard style every month from now on. Lee would totally go in for it with him!
You probably wouldn’t have to ask Brian twice (or Lee for that matter).
Ha! Ha! So funny!
Hehe, thanks Patti.
Haha I love it!
Thanks Andi!
Isn’t his face getting hot?
He says no because he’s got a bald head!
Funny that you say that since Shawn asked if he was still shaving his head. It’s not an anti-shaving thing, just an anti-shaving his face.
Good God that beard is impressive! If men are judged by the amount of hair on their faces, he should be Lord of all he surveys.
Good post, but now I am off to console my pitiful excuse for a beard.
“There, there beard, you’re “still special to me.”
Awww… I’m sure your beard appreciates the love.
Fear the beard!! That’s looking fierce!
Now that he has all these supportive comments he says he’s never going to shave it again. Uh-oh.
Brian, your beard growing skills are very impressive. Cha Cha Cha Chia! What maintenance do you do on the beard? Do you water it? Do you shampoo it? Do you comb it? Do you sing love songs to it? Love you!
I don’t know about the rest but I can tell you he definitely sings love songs to it. Awkward!
Ha ha, I love it!
I did the same Brian, with my beard and hair. When we got to Japan, I shaved everything off completely without telling Karen. I looked like a monk! Karen freaked when she saw me! ha ha.
Good luck on the day you decide to shave it. I suggest going to a barber, it will be a lot less tiring!
Oh yeah, that would totally freak me out. Please, Brian, don’t do that.
Loool, I love this:D
Does he have a maximum length set for it?:D
And I vote the one beard style per month idea!
Oh God, a maximum length? If I get a vote I’m going to say that the max length is right where it’s at!
Forget that snazzy money belt that all the experts recommend…tuck that passport right up under that prolific beard, effectively duping would be thieves and possibly even yourselves if you’re not careful!! LOL
Haha, brilliant idea!
That’s like the evolution of his beard of something. It grew fast! It was a creative thing to do, though, and it made for a great blog post! :p
It really did grow fast! I think November is the perfect beard length.
This cracked me up!! I wonder how it will look in the future, too.
Hilarious! I especially like the caption on the Rio picture. I’m wondering though, 1- will the beard reach a point where it stops growing? and 2- will Brian reach a point where the length of the beard gets too annoying and he hacks it all off again? Definitely keep us updated on the beard situation!
Jugding by the beard, it may be 2 o’clock!!!! HILARIOUS….!!
Just discovered your blog… wonderful…
Thanks Hardeep. I was cracking myself up there with that one
Brian,
Fantastic beard man. As a fellow bearded man, I’m impressed. I’ve never been able to grow a beard that amazing. I’ll keep trying while we’re living in the mountains for 3 months though!