Testing YouTube Return from Oregon Coast

rswfire records at 4:30 AM from a cape on the Oregon coast, contemplating restarting his YouTube channel after watching old videos with a friend the night before. He provides updates on the past month since his "heart opened" - hiking Humbug Mountain and Cape Sebastian, injuring his core, exploring private beaches accessible only by rope, and falling in love with the southern Oregon coast including Brookings, Gold Beach, Port Orford, and Bandon. He describes developing a practice of "tracing waves" at the ocean's edge, sometimes miscalculating and having to run from incoming water. He mentions encounters with seals in rivers and watching "rivers make love to the ocean." He took a 4-hour drive north to Florence to preview his future route, discovering 3 hours of inland driving with no coastline. The transmission includes footage from his Humbug Mountain hike, reaching 1,700 feet elevation, and his descent to a private beach at Cape Sebastian using a rope system. He states he has "fully integrated" himself and warns potential commenters that he will respond harshly to "dumb" comments. He expresses being "more alive than ever" and completely open to possibility, romance, connection, and friendship.

Driving RV to Oregon Coast First Time

rswfire drives his RV from an inland location to the Oregon coast for the first time, documenting the journey through mountains, tunnels, and forests. He stops for fuel at 6 AM, travels through California briefly, and experiences excitement about reaching sea level and seeing the Pacific Ocean. **Key events include:** passing through the Smith River National Recreation Area, driving through redwood forests, navigating GPS confusion, and finally reaching the coast where he can glimpse the ocean through fog. He sets up camp for a planned two-week stay, expressing enthusiasm about exploring the area including hiking, foraging, storm watching, and potentially learning to surf. The transmission captures his first encounter with the ocean environment and his decision to spend winter on the southern Oregon coast before potentially heading north in spring.

Coastal Exploration with Friend John

rswfire spends a day exploring the Oregon coast with John, a volunteer friend. They visit multiple locations including Winchester Bay, Umpqua Lighthouse, and South Jetty County Park. The transmission documents their activities: observing a double rainbow, visiting a crab dock where John explains crabbing operations and crab pot markers, walking on jetties, exploring beaches, and watching ocean waves. rswfire expresses deep connection to the ocean and mentions upcoming departure plans to head south to Nevada, then Kentucky, with plans to return in autumn. Throughout the day, they engage in casual conversation about local wildlife (ducks, seals, birds), lighthouse operations, oyster farming, and dune recreation. rswfire notes this will be among his final days in the area and repeatedly expresses how much he will miss the ocean. The transmission captures a relaxed day of coastal tourism and friendship.

Tracing Waves and Ocean Reflection at Beach Park

rswfire is at a beach park positioned next to a friend who is sitting in a chair on the beach. He is actively tracing and chasing waves, describing this activity as his favorite thing and comparing it to meditation. He observes the patterns in the water and sunlight reflecting off the water and sand. The speaker expresses deep love for the ocean and describes it as what makes his life worth living. He reflects on seeing himself in the ocean, noting that it is uncontainable, seeks no permission to be what it is, and affects everything around it including atmosphere, weather patterns, and earth. He concludes by stating that nothing can contain the ocean, and nothing can contain him either.

Morning Walk and Lake Exploration at Campground

rswfire begins a morning walk to explore the campground facilities, checking for shower houses and dumpsters. He mentions his ear piercings are healing after a month, with one ready for a hoop. The weather is 51°F, which he finds comfortable. He discovers the campground lacks shower facilities and notes the high cost of $42 per night for camping. He explores the area, finding restrooms, a payment kiosk, and a lost cat poster from July. He walks to the lake/reservoir area, discovering the water level is low and he can walk on the exposed lake floor. The experience feels cinematic to him, reminiscent of the TV show Lost. He finds an impressive large sand sculpture of a fish made by someone unknown. The morning is quiet and still, with the sun beginning to rise. He spends extended time walking along the water's edge, drawn naturally toward a peninsula, appreciating the solitude and 50-degree weather he hopes is common in the Pacific Northwest.

Beach Reflection on Financial Pressure and Ocean Connection

rswfire sits on a beach with no cell service, noting the deterioration of connectivity since first arriving. He walks along the beach looking for better signal to check on things and work on his Upwork profile revisions. **Financial situation is critical** - he's at rock bottom despite receiving $100 from one supporter the previous day. He expresses frustration at lack of audience reciprocation after two years of effort. **Ocean connection deepens** - he describes the wave patterns, fractal foam, and how sunlight on wet sand affects him profoundly. He reflects on never connecting with oceans earlier in life despite childhood visits to Florida and Mexico. **Declares absolute commitment** to staying by the ocean even if he loses everything (RV, Jeep, computers) and becomes homeless. Ends with broader reflection on how he's always been helpful to others without expectation, connecting individual behavior to the state of the world.

Meeting New Friend at Cape Blanco

rswfire shares two interconnected stories while tending to a sore ear piercing from Kentucky. First, he recounts asking out a seasonal worker (the "gatekeeper") who declined due to timing, noting his own emotional growth in handling rejection. Second, he describes meeting Chad at Cape Blanco beach - initially encountering him while wanting to "play with" the ocean, then reconnecting days later at the lighthouse where Chad sat fearlessly on the cliff edge. They exchanged numbers and have been hiking together frequently. The transmission includes video footage of Chad at Cape Sebastian, showing the submarine-shaped rock formation and ocean waves.

Deciding to Live on Boat After Beach Visit

rswfire visits Tacken Creek trail head with a friend, using a rope to descend to the ocean beach. He reflects on the end of summer and a difficult six-month period where he felt targeted and unsafe, causing him to put up walls. During the beach visit, he makes a major decision to live on a boat and travel the ocean, despite having no prior experience. He discusses practical considerations like needing to buy a boat, find storage for his Jeep, and eventually giving up his RV. He envisions starting by visiting lighthouses down the coast as a learning process, similar to how he learned RV living, with eventual goals of traveling to Hawaii. He considers documenting this journey on his website in a section called 'the ocean' and learning skills like fishing and living off the water.

Walking to Ocean Through Oregon Dunes

rswfire takes a walk to the ocean after a 12-hour day, describing it as a week of controlled chaos. He walks through Siltcoos dunes on the Oregon coast, noting the area is empty except for him. The walk involves climbing a steep dune to reach the ocean. He describes the terrain - ATVs go to the right, hiking trail and river to the left. Upon reaching the ocean, he greets it directly and walks along the waves toward a river, commenting on the wave patterns. Throughout the walk, he makes repeated vocalizations of 'heat' and mentions few footprints from other visitors that day.

Scouting Oregon Coastal Campgrounds

rswfire drives through Oregon national forest roads exploring campgrounds while reflecting on societal collapse and place-based identity. He visits multiple locations including a closed recreation site, Cape Blanco campground, and Humbug Mountain State Park. At each location, he evaluates site quality, privacy levels, amenities like dump stations and shower houses, and proximity to coast and mountains. He documents specific site numbers, notes neighbor noise issues at his current location, and assesses which sites would accommodate his RV. The transmission includes observations about Oregon campground design, seasonal closures, and coastal geography including lighthouses and fog-covered mountains.

Coastal Wandering and Sovereign Connection Longing

The speaker describes their current state as a mobile, sovereign being living in an RV along the Pacific coast. They characterize themselves as moving along cliff edges and waking with lighthouses, carrying storms metaphorically while seeking another sovereign partner. The transmission outlines their relationship with coastal environments, their mobile sanctuary, and their desire for a companion who would understand their nature rather than try to change it. They express comfort with darkness and uncertainty while maintaining their wandering lifestyle along unmarked coastal areas.

New Year Ocean Walk Greeting

rswfire walks in darkness beside the ocean, offering a brief new year greeting. The transmission captures a moment of movement along the coastline with background music and laughter, expressing hope for the coming year 2026.

Final Ocean Visit Before Departure

rswfire makes a final visit to the ocean at 8 AM before departing a coastal location. He observes fog covering the landscape and reflects on discovering tide pools during his stay. The ocean shows more power than previous days, which he had been requesting. He processes thoughts about societal collapse and questions whether escaping to the forest is the life he wants. A Trump supporter caravan drove through the campground the previous day while he was distributing rubber ducks on Jeeps, reinforcing his observations about societal fragmentation. He concludes that if he's going to die, it would be by the ocean rather than hiding in the forest.

Exploring Oregon Dunes Trail to Ocean

rswfire explores the Oregon Dunes area on foot, searching for trails to reach the ocean from Siltcous campground. He navigates using trail maps and GPS, discovering multiple campgrounds including Wax Myrtle (closed) and Driftwood 2. The exploration reveals the area sits on sand dunes with nature growing on top. **Key observations:** Car campers using tents as decoys to meet camping requirements, volunteers doing maintenance work, and his own financial constraints after selling solar equipment to avoid losing his home. He reflects on failed volunteer plans due to "unethical people" but maintains no regret about necessary decisions. **Beach discovery:** Successfully reaches Siltcous Beach after climbing dunes, observes ocean fishermen (initially mistaken for surfers), and explores south along the beach to where a river meets the ocean. Notes the rich natural environment combining forest, river, ocean, beach, sand dunes, and expresses strong appreciation for coastal living despite financial limitations. **Technical details:** Records using phone in natural mode, mentions headphone cable issues, plans to use GPS tracking for exploration mapping, and identifies need for trail mix and better power solutions for off-grid living.

Experiencing Earthquake Alert and Tsunami Warning

rswfire receives earthquake and tsunami alerts on his phone while in his RV. The earthquake occurred 160 miles away with expected light shaking. He waits inside initially, wishing he could observe potential tsunami effects from his cliff-edge location. Two park rangers visit - one official, one a friend - confirming he's in a tsunami safe zone. He ventures outside to film the ocean despite core muscle soreness, capturing scenic coastal views. The transmission concludes with educational reflection on tsunami safety protocols, including the 30-60 second timeline for wave arrival, the importance of knowing escape routes, and the dangerous phenomenon of ocean water receding before a tsunami hits.

Hiking Trail After Work Day

rswfire completes a work day and hikes the Eel Lake Trail to reach 10,000 steps. He discusses financial pressures including upcoming insurance payments ($500), RV and Jeep payments that he's keeping current but will go late again soon. He mentions having hamburger meat for dinner and needing to expand meal options. Plans for his two days off include cleaning the RV, potentially visiting the beach, and exploring northern areas including a lighthouse. He reflects on using a steam cleaner at work and feeling less resistant to the task once he started. He describes the local dune geography and considers timing for exploring different coastal areas while stationed at his current location versus the next campground in February.

Evening Ocean Walk with Wendy

rswfire walks to the ocean at dusk with his friend Wendy. They observe the approaching nighttime, cloudy sky, and a sliver moon. The ocean has mist and fog on the horizon. They encounter a creek that's too high to cross and need to turn back. rswfire notes they are about a mile out and brought a flashlight for the return hike in darkness. He describes Wendy as a close friend and hiking buddy who will be moving south for the winter to Horseville Beach. The area has bears, mountain lions, and foxes. rswfire mentions this is his first time hiking out to the beach at night rather than driving to a spot.

Morning Shower House Routine and Laundry Day

rswfire documents the daily challenge of using shower house facilities at Cape Blanco, describing the logistical complexity of gathering supplies, walking in darkness to avoid crowds, and managing the process strategically. He emphasizes showing the unvarnished truth of nomadic life rather than social media versions, noting that despite challenges, everything about his life is better and more integrated than when he lived in a house. After showering, he drives to the ocean in windy conditions that threaten his Jeep's soft top. He visits the coast briefly before heading 8 miles to Highway 101, then to Port Orford (which he calls "Fort Orford") for laundry. He stops at a dollar store for detergent and needs to find a bank for quarters. At the laundromat by 9:30 AM (having been awake since 2 AM), he reflects on having good internet in town versus limited connectivity at Cape Blanco. He expresses excitement about upcoming changes in the new year while acknowledging the need to be patient. He describes Port Orford and Cape Blanco as places that allow slowing down and appreciating moments, mentioning plans to head north to new locations soon.

Beach Walk and Social Observations in Newport

rswfire drives over two hours to get fingerprinted for a volunteering position, then convinces John to walk to the beach in Newport. They discuss various RVs and camping equipment they see, with rswfire making observations about other beachgoers including a tattooed man collecting rocks. The conversation covers topics including family financial dynamics (sister buying property with father's money while rswfire was disowned), workplace drama with a female colleague described as a bully, physical limitations from rswfire's injury and brace, and technical plans for rebuilding reputation through a Laravel/Vue/Tailwind project on GitHub. rswfire expresses interest in romantic connections and discusses living arrangements, sleep disruptions from injury, and cooking limitations in the RV. They observe the volcanic sand, discuss the geology of the area, and plan future visits to other beaches.

Beach Walk with Seals and Life Planning

rswfire walks along the Oregon coast, spotting seals and describing them as "squirrels of the ocean." He walks for miles past dune access roads, considering whether to turn around. He discusses his summer plans to volunteer at campgrounds in the dunes and explore the coast, mentioning he's only made it to Newport so far. He talks about recently joining Facebook dating and being surprised by the range of interest from men aged 25-70. A conversation with someone from Vancouver, Canada led him to discover a large body of water on maps that he wants to explore, possibly extending his travels to Washington and Canada. He sits on driftwood to rest, observing children's elaborate beach forts made from sticks and debris near the entrance. He updated YouTube video descriptions earlier and reflects on the gray but pleasant day after showering following work at campgrounds.

Cape Blanco 🌊

RV Controller Failure and Cape Walk

rswfire discovers that external lights on his RV have been stuck on for a week due to a failed brake controller that was improperly installed outside where it got wet from Oregon coast weather. He identifies this as a known issue with his RV model requiring a $20 part replacement, expressing frustration with the RV industry's poor design practices. After investigating the problem, he takes a walk to the cape to process his anger. During the walk, he encounters mosquitoes that appeared after a recent storm and receives a text from someone he calls 'the little Cape dweller' who claims not to be thinking about him. rswfire deletes the message, stating the person violated his trust during an intimate moment and refuses to take responsibility. He ends at the oldest lighthouse in Oregon, which currently has a broken motor, comparing it to himself as a 'void penetrating device' that shoots beams into the ocean.

Morning Battery Concerns and Donation Acknowledgments

rswfire begins his morning at 6 AM in his RV, concerned that his house batteries might be drawing power from his starter battery. He acknowledges receiving $20 donations from two people, expressing gratitude while noting his hesitation about sharing donors' names publicly. He explains his financial strategy of keeping money in PayPal to avoid random bank charges and discusses the additional booking fees that make one-night campground stays expensive. He mentions needing to shower and plans to check out a laundry/shower facility across from Taco Bell. His power bank shows 50% charge with one day remaining. He notes his birthday is Friday, April 11th. The weather is rainy, preventing him from using his awning or setting up his inverter outside. rswfire addresses receiving prescriptive advice from commenters, expressing frustration with people who frame his life inaccurately and engage in "hierarchical suffering" comparisons. He specifically mentions someone comparing his RV systems to van life, rejecting such comparisons and demanding respect from his audience. The transmission ends with footage of seals on the beach, which he observes from a distance, expressing fulfillment from his proximity to the ocean.

Walking Buddy by Ocean, Reflecting on Motorbikes

rswfire walks Buddy (not his dog) along the ocean on a cloudy day. He reflects on never having crossed the ocean and mentions plans to take John to Hawaii by boat if things work out. He observes the summer crowds and notes feeling more closed off since 'honeyman.' He expresses interest in getting a motorbike for highway and dune use, considering how it would fit with his RV setup. Buddy barks at motorbikes but not quads, which rswfire had forgotten about. They are at an ATV-allowed section of beach near where rswfire lives on an ATV campground.