Julian and Stonewall Hike

Post-thanksgiving, we were joined by Leigh, a friend of Leslie's from her Point Loma days. Riding in Leigh's great volvo station wagon we headed up to the tourist town of Julian and beyond...to climb Stonewall Mountain. What a beautiful fall day - as you can see from our leaf glee (I didn't know to toss away from myself unfortunately!). Don't you think the middle photos look like a band photo shoot - well, I see - I even dreamt it that night too! The last photo is some serious eating concentration going on - as we enjoy pomegranates - from the trees near Leslie's - where there are also lemons, oranges, grapefruit (smells so good), avocado on trees and birds of paradise flowers blooming. That, plus hopping in the hot tub every night - oh my, life is good!

(American) Thanksgiving Day

What a day and what a feast! Meeting Leslie's family was a real treat. The first photo is of Leslie with her Grampa - whose encouragement in her life has spilled over to this road trip and to me! Then there is the girls (from left to right): mom Linda, Grandma, sister Melissa, shorty in the middle me, Leslie and Corrina. Then the family picture - with dad, Bud, in the back, beside tall Uncle Chuck and then Grampa. The last photo is of turkey prep with Leslie and Dad.

Beautiful People on the Beautiful Coast

The top photo is of Joy, Leslie's friend from Emerald Cove. She's a soccer coach (you can see her team in the back on break) and recently married Auggie. We dropped in on practice to deliver hugs and gifts.

The middle photos are of Kelly, who spent time as Leslie's camper back in the days of Emerald Cove. This self-assured, welcoming, caring young woman shared her mad cooking skills, a farmer's market, dog Mikka and father with us!

Lastly, we have Ryan and Camille. Arriving in their home was a delight - there living room was full of surfboards - much to this Canadian, landlocked girl's interest! Camille is a friend of Leslie's from highschool and we were all struck with her passion and loved laughing with her and her (relatively) new husband about their dating and marriage journey. How's that quilt going, Camille? :D

Beautiful Coast!

What can I say?!? As you can see, we had a great time driving this winding, gorgeous coastline! The elephant seals, with their belching cacaphony, almost distracted from the sunset. We played, found crabs, built an inukshuk (more penguin like than people like) and enjoyed each other in this place.

Leaving Bass Lake

Well, I can promise my vocab won't overwhelm you - though I'm a little overwhelmed myself with all the studying! Happily, I took most of the day off to finish my Colorado application and I am happy to say that I have officially applied to University of Colorado (as well as University of British Columbia, with New Hampshire to follow soon!). I entered the wireless land of Poway for my day away from studying and it has been a good day - Rhoda got her second oil change and I get to share photos with you!

So these photos show how I think California can be cold, and also show Leslie and I at the Sierra Star (Oakhurst newspaper) where Gwyneth reports (well, used to, and hopefully got us in the paper - remember those days Martha 'hi, we're a story' - anyways, Gwyneth also works at Summit in the summers and has gone to New Zealand to continue with her own story). The last picture is of Leslie and Brittney - another member of 'the girl's house' where we stayed, and another Summit instructor!

Time to Reflect

"Don't let your heart grow numb" - Albert Schweitzer

Thanks Jon for this quote today...

I thought it would be appropriate to share with you all out there looking into our blog these days.

It is alway nice for us to stop for awhile in one place and regain some perspective for our time on the road and in your homes.

We shared a sweet time with my family this past weekend, celebrating Thanksgiving. I was thankful to be home with my family for the first time in three years for a holiday; thankful for the opportunity to share my dear friends Carrie and Corinna with my family and vice versa; thankful for supporting and loving people in my life; thankful for sunshine on my face, the smell of sage, hot tubs, hikes with beautiful friends (Leigh, Corinna & Carrie), and long runs on a dirt road.

Sorry for the lack of pictures this time. They are on Carrie' s computer which is currently in non-wireless land at my Parents house. We will catch you up on our good bye's to Bass Lake, encounters with the ocean on the Big Sur Coast, visits with Camille, Kelley, and Joy in So Cal as soon as we can.

Carrie is with her computer and flashy flash cards at my parents' where she is growing her vocabulary to GRE standards! I appologize in advance for the blog postings by Carrie that will follow this GRE test because most of us will probably need a dictionary to understand what she is saying!
I too am busy working to finish up my remaining couple of classes of my undergrad degree so that I can begin my masters in January.
Many of you know by now that I am planning on starting my MS in Experiential Education this coming January at Minnesota State University, Mankato!!!
I am very excited about both the prospect of finishing my BA and being at Mankato next spring.
Thank you again for following our adventures...
We are in San Diego until next week and hope to be leaving here celebrating our completetions of GRE's and course work, so I'd better get to it!

Peace and Love
Leslie
for the rhodatrippers

Places of beauty

Well, 8 hours of math study on Friday was rewarded (or was that purged!?!) by 8 hours of Yosemite on Saturday. The first pictures document our time at the Ahwanee - a classy hotel where I started a matchless fire in the fire place ("really, the fire just started itself", so I said, when told that I wasn't to start fires).

The next three photos are of special place that Leslie shared with us (that being Corrina and I) - hidden falls.

As you can see from the photos, California showed her warmer side (no horizontal 'welcome to California' snow the last few days!). And just so you don't think I was the only bad one in the park - here are Leslie and Corrina trying to take down a tree!

The last photos are Leslie and Half-Dome, Corinna and I and then El Cap and Half-Dome from a viewpoint.

All I can say is 'Wow, eh!?!'

With smiles, Carrie

Dixie Chicks

These photos catch you up to Thurs., Nov. 16. The first three are from the DIXIE CHICKS CONCERT!!!! Hooray for fun music and new friend, Kelly, with whom to enjoy it!

The last photo is on the steps of Meggie's house - where we stayed while she worked the night shift, joining us for breakfast in Sacremento.

I've had two moments on this trip that were moments of 'yes, this is where I am to be'; moments of intense delight (not that the rest are all drudgery by any means - these moments are when I am confronted with the gift that is this life of mine!). The first was in New Brunswick and the second was this week - driving home from the concert. I was driving Dustin's VW van from Fresno to Bass Lake with signs for Yosemite and it felt so surreal - like I was in a dream. I had to smile, because life is a dream, truly.

Friends... Friends... and More...

Looking back a week ago now...
Here we are, our first night in Vancouver, at the Limerick Junction watching my new friend, David Hein play. David and I met in Moose Jaw a few weeks back at Bobby's Place and found that we had a connection through many road hours. He is on tour across Canada and the States as well this fall and our paths crossed here again in BC! (you can check his music out at davidhein.net)





Later that night we found our way to Jess' cozy little place were as all you need is wool knit booties and house coat to feel right at home! Here she is modeling this "right at home" feel in her living room.



Jess (far left), James (far right) and I worked for Summit Adventure together a couple years back, and I have had the lovely privilge of visiting them a few times in the past fews years that they have been living in Vancouver. To my left is Katy, James' lovely girl! We all enjoyed an evening chatting, catching up, and telling stories with hot drinks and maple walnut pie, yummmy!



Another one of our visits while in Vancouver was with Carrie's high school friend, Kent Lipsett (great name, eh!). And no, he is not standing on a chair, nor is Carrie kneeling down!









Carrie and Jess at Jess' kitchen... another beautiful connection over another delicious meal shared!









Then it was south from Vancouver to Portland, OR... But not before sitting for three hours with a collection of nice people all pondering what we will tell the border guard if we ever got to him/her. Also on our travels Portland bound we stopped in Seattle to see another dear Summit friend of mine, Robin! She just moved into her apt and wanted the you all to see her fancy storage... well Robin, you have certainly upgraded from the cubby!







And here I am in Portland with Michelle who is quite possibly the most creative person I have ever met, as well as one of the funniest! Although our time with her was short, it was a sweet blessing to see her and receive the lickings of Chicken (the dog, sorry no picture!)

Connections

Ever have those moments when life is like the 'connected' song - you know...

The foot bone con-nected to the (pause) leg-bone,
The leg bone connected to the (') knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the (') thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the (') back bone,
The back bone connected to the (') neck bone
The neck bone connected to the (') head bone
Oh hear the word of the Lord!"

There have been a lot of connections going on in my learning journey. And I have been looking for connections. But I'm resistant at the same time! Funny this!

I met with Dr. Daniel Vokey at University of British Columbia as a potential advisor. I liked him. Even more important was the discovery made as I was about to leave the office. We were on our feet and started playing the 'connect the dot' game of who we mutually know. This could have been a very long game, which is a good indicator. The most important connection is that Daniel studied under Bert Horwood - who taught experiential education at Queen's University. Bert is who I credit with the 'head, heart and hands' piece that I am so intent on studying - he did an article on adventurous learning in schools and within this talked of connecting the head to the heart and hands for students within our classrooms, not just without. This has influenced me (and my students! - this is the source of our learning contracts) since my first year at Briercrest. There is great significance in the fact that Daniel learned under the man that has influenced what I want to study in my PhD!

Furthermore, I google Bert to see what I can learn about him. Turns out, he's not only an experiential educator, but a Quaker. This may seem an odd connection, and it would be if not for another major influence in my life as an educator: Parker Palmer. Parker is also a Quaker, and his work primarily deals with the heart of the teacher and with ways of knowing - both of extreme importance to education and to me. There starts to be a faith and experience connection here that is again, significant.

Well, what did I think of UBC? I think it's in a very crowded, rainy city that I don't want to live in. Beyond the necessary attitudinal shift it would take to live in Vancouver, honestly, these connections excite me more than I'm almost willing to admit, even to myself. So, my application is in, but my decision is definitely not made - I spent the day expanding my vocabulary for the GRE exams that I will write in San Diego to gain acceptance to the other two schools that I am also applying to: University of New Hampshire and University of Colorado at Boulder (did you know Boulder has over 300 days of sunshine a year?!?).

That's all for now!!!

the lower mainland so far...

This post (the last two as well!) are coming to you from Abbotsford, BC - where I met for coffee with my good friend, Curtis Pauls. This is us in the parking lot this morning - anyone else find technology as crazy as me! Well, I love that I can share these photos, and friends with you! Curtis and I have led various wilderness trips together for over 2 months, in places like the Mackenzie River, Queen Charlotte Islands and Churchill river - some of my favourite places and some of my favourite trips - in many ways due to leading with Curtis!

In the next photo is Laani Uunila, with whom we stayed last night. My friendship with Laani solidified on the Mackenzie River as well - on my first time down that river in '98! There is something about friendships forged on rivers!

Sunday nite we stayed with the Vegt's - Kristi and Dave are parents extraordinaire to their two little ones - Wesley (8 weeks oldish) and Kaelyn. I'm not kidding about how great they are with kids - I asked if Kristi would raise my children (if and when...) for the first couple of years - but she didn't seem to think this was the best idea for some reason! Do you like Dave's hair? We did too! :D These two have always opened their door wide open to me and many others - like Pauline, Curtis' wife of a few months! Kristi and Dave were the connection between those two, so it was great to (re)meet Pauline at their home! That's her with Leslie, me and Kristi! So many friends in this area eh!?! Makes for a good reason to go to UBC - now we'll see how the classes and profs are...

Love you all! Carrie