Home, Jane!
As I write this we are approaching the border of the US and Canada at Sarnia. It is a beautiful day and we have mixed emotions. It is always good to get home and settled again, but on the other hand we have had such a blissful time and the thought of all the mail (bills!), banking, messages and dirty laundry is enough to make us dizzy!
We are so grateful for this gift of sabbatical time and our hearts go out in a special way to our church family of West Plains who made this possible, my Mom who gave us this funky, perfect vehicle for the trip, and to our wonderful family and friends who encouraged us and supported us all along.
And we could not finish without a grateful word to “Jane”, our mostly dependable GPS who save many a trial of figuring out where to go and how to get there! We have finally given her our home address and soon she will have a well deserved vacation!
We have been overwhelmed with the beauty the one God of us all has created – there have been so many inspirational and prayerful moments and most of them not in a church at all!
When we started out 10 weeks ago on April 15th we had 111,545 km. on our vehicle. At this present time as we roll down the highway we have passed the 132,000 km mark so it would appear that we will have logged about 21,000 km or 12,600 miles (for our new US friends!).
As a variation of one of my Mom’s favourite expressions says:
“Home, Jane (James), and don’t spare the horses!!!”
Thanks for sharing the journey with us and we can’t wait to see you all soon!
Love and thanks to everyone!!
Rip and Joyce
PS: It is Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 pm and we have just pulled into “home” and we are so glad to be here safe and sound. Amen and good night all!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
A Day with Elizabeth Taylor!
Last stop – the windy city!
Our last stop is a B&B in Chicago to celebrate our anniversary and also to get used to a “real” bed before we get home! We hop the “L” metro tram train from the B&B and then downtown we climb aboard a double decker tour bus and sit at the top to get a great view and pictures. The tour guide is an actress and very informative and entertaining. This is a perfect way to see a large city and learn the history and see the sights. Her name is Elizabeth Taylor (!) and she shows us the highlights of Chicago in a 2 hour tour – you can “hop on- hop off” at any stop. We stay on the tour bus for a long stretch with Elizabeth (we are on a first name basis now!) because she is exciting and charming.
As we pass the various landmarks, Elizabeth tells us about Millennium Park, the Michigan Avenue drawbridge, the Theatre District, the Palmer House Hotel, the Art Institute, Hilton Chicago, the renowned Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum with Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex (top of the list!), the hotels, skyscrapers including the Trump Tower and Sears Tower, Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, John Hancock Observatory, and literally hundreds of other hidden gems in the city. The architecture is fascinating, a real mix of new glass castles and old museums and churches.
We reluctantly leave Elizabeth and get off the bus to visit Navy Pier on Lake Michigan and later stop at the shopping district called The Magnificent Mile. Never have I seen larger stores than this. We don’t want to miss the other sights for shopping (need more time!), so we spend an hour or so here, and cool off in the air conditioned shops. We bought nothing but it was very interesting. Our bus tour ticket includes a free chocolate bar at the Hershey store, and a bag of popcorn in the theatre district so we can’t pass those up! Good lunch – main course and dessert!!!
After a full day of touring and walking we take the “L” (Line) “home” and painfully climb the 50 stairs to our 3rd floor room – we are beginning to know how Rips Joy feels climbing those mountain road! We go for supper at a little (I mean little!) Thai restaurant around the corner from our B&B.
We have spent most of the day in Chicago with Elizabeth Taylor and it was mighty fine!
Our last stop is a B&B in Chicago to celebrate our anniversary and also to get used to a “real” bed before we get home! We hop the “L” metro tram train from the B&B and then downtown we climb aboard a double decker tour bus and sit at the top to get a great view and pictures. The tour guide is an actress and very informative and entertaining. This is a perfect way to see a large city and learn the history and see the sights. Her name is Elizabeth Taylor (!) and she shows us the highlights of Chicago in a 2 hour tour – you can “hop on- hop off” at any stop. We stay on the tour bus for a long stretch with Elizabeth (we are on a first name basis now!) because she is exciting and charming.
As we pass the various landmarks, Elizabeth tells us about Millennium Park, the Michigan Avenue drawbridge, the Theatre District, the Palmer House Hotel, the Art Institute, Hilton Chicago, the renowned Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum with Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex (top of the list!), the hotels, skyscrapers including the Trump Tower and Sears Tower, Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, John Hancock Observatory, and literally hundreds of other hidden gems in the city. The architecture is fascinating, a real mix of new glass castles and old museums and churches.
We reluctantly leave Elizabeth and get off the bus to visit Navy Pier on Lake Michigan and later stop at the shopping district called The Magnificent Mile. Never have I seen larger stores than this. We don’t want to miss the other sights for shopping (need more time!), so we spend an hour or so here, and cool off in the air conditioned shops. We bought nothing but it was very interesting. Our bus tour ticket includes a free chocolate bar at the Hershey store, and a bag of popcorn in the theatre district so we can’t pass those up! Good lunch – main course and dessert!!!
After a full day of touring and walking we take the “L” (Line) “home” and painfully climb the 50 stairs to our 3rd floor room – we are beginning to know how Rips Joy feels climbing those mountain road! We go for supper at a little (I mean little!) Thai restaurant around the corner from our B&B.
We have spent most of the day in Chicago with Elizabeth Taylor and it was mighty fine!
Crazy Horse!
We are in South Dakota, land of bison, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, bluebirds – and Crazy Horse! The famous Crazy Horse mountain carving has been a work in progress since June 3, 1948. It is to honour the first nations people and their leader, Crazy Horse.
The mountain carving will be 641 feet long and 563 high “in the round”.
The sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, was born in Boston of Polish descent. Lakota Chief Standing Bear invited him to carve the memorial so that “white man would know that red m an has great heroes too”. Korczak rose to the task even though he only had $174 to his name and started the grueling, slow work on the mountain at age 40. The first blast on the mountain took off 10 tons of stone and millions of tons have been removed since.
Rip and I were curious to see if we could notice any changes since our visit 15 years ago. We have to say that at first we didn’t! On a closer look there were finishing touches to the head of Chief Crazy Horse which was unveiled as completed in 1999. Next the workers are blocking out the 22 story-high horse’s head! The Chief is sitting on his horse and his horse will have a 45 foot ear and a 16 foot wide eye. Korczak is now deceased but 5 of his 7 children have taken on the continuation of the project – a real mission. Korczak wanted the project to be a nonprofit educational and cultural endeavor, so twice he turned down 10 million dollars in federal funding! It is quite the mountain carving to behold even in its infancy. Rip said he wanted to see it finished, but he probably would have to live another 100 years or more – maybe!
While in the Crazy Horse area we toured Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park where we cruised the park roads with the bison within touching distance! We also took the 20 miles Needles Highway where one tunnel opening is about 9’ by 12’. Rips Joy was overjoyed not to get ripped in the process. There are three tunnels about the same size and the views of rock and lushly treed landscape – including water of course – was sublime!
From the Crazy Horse monument are we found ourselves camping in the town of Wall, home of the famous Wall Drug store. For 100 miles through the dry plains of South Dakota a huge natural barrier called the Wall can be seen as a long ridge, sculptured into fantastic pinnacles and gullies. Water has been carving away at the cliffs for the past half million years and fossilized bones of ancient beasts can be found by the hundreds. The Badlands is home to bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep.
Badlands National Park is on the edge of the town of Wall and was established in 1978 to preserve the land and sacred places of the native peoples, the Oglala. The 30 miles Badlands Loop is full of overlooks and trails with very unique, barren and yet striking panoramic views. The cliffs are layered colours of pink and grey, representing numerous geological moments in times. Beyond the cliffs, you can see for miles and miles.
We can almost see Crazy Horse from here!
The mountain carving will be 641 feet long and 563 high “in the round”.
The sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, was born in Boston of Polish descent. Lakota Chief Standing Bear invited him to carve the memorial so that “white man would know that red m an has great heroes too”. Korczak rose to the task even though he only had $174 to his name and started the grueling, slow work on the mountain at age 40. The first blast on the mountain took off 10 tons of stone and millions of tons have been removed since.
Rip and I were curious to see if we could notice any changes since our visit 15 years ago. We have to say that at first we didn’t! On a closer look there were finishing touches to the head of Chief Crazy Horse which was unveiled as completed in 1999. Next the workers are blocking out the 22 story-high horse’s head! The Chief is sitting on his horse and his horse will have a 45 foot ear and a 16 foot wide eye. Korczak is now deceased but 5 of his 7 children have taken on the continuation of the project – a real mission. Korczak wanted the project to be a nonprofit educational and cultural endeavor, so twice he turned down 10 million dollars in federal funding! It is quite the mountain carving to behold even in its infancy. Rip said he wanted to see it finished, but he probably would have to live another 100 years or more – maybe!
While in the Crazy Horse area we toured Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park where we cruised the park roads with the bison within touching distance! We also took the 20 miles Needles Highway where one tunnel opening is about 9’ by 12’. Rips Joy was overjoyed not to get ripped in the process. There are three tunnels about the same size and the views of rock and lushly treed landscape – including water of course – was sublime!
From the Crazy Horse monument are we found ourselves camping in the town of Wall, home of the famous Wall Drug store. For 100 miles through the dry plains of South Dakota a huge natural barrier called the Wall can be seen as a long ridge, sculptured into fantastic pinnacles and gullies. Water has been carving away at the cliffs for the past half million years and fossilized bones of ancient beasts can be found by the hundreds. The Badlands is home to bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep.
Badlands National Park is on the edge of the town of Wall and was established in 1978 to preserve the land and sacred places of the native peoples, the Oglala. The 30 miles Badlands Loop is full of overlooks and trails with very unique, barren and yet striking panoramic views. The cliffs are layered colours of pink and grey, representing numerous geological moments in times. Beyond the cliffs, you can see for miles and miles.
We can almost see Crazy Horse from here!
Water For Elephants!
Our new route took us north through the rockies of Colorado – ski country! We just went from the top of one mountain into the valley and up into another mountain pass – reaching 11,000’ at one point. It was spectacular. The mountains were still iced with snow, just like a dripping ice cream cone. We saw numerous waterfall thaws and rushing rocky rivers. From Durango in the south to Denver it was one amazing scene to another, driving through rock tunnels, past natural hot springs, into pristine ski resort towns with chalets (like Veil), rushing waters and smooth, green ski runs on the mountains that seemed to reach to heaven. The area is called “White Water Region” so you can imagine the rafting and kayaking we saw in the rivers along the highway.
There were places where barriers are used to close the roads during winter and it seemed that nearly everyone had a 4 wheel drive vehicle or a truck – no wonder!
It was a slow drive for our Westy, getting up those mountain tops, and then sliding down again. Reminded us of how we have felt on this trip when we have hiked up a slope! Poor Rips Joy is out of shape too, and has only been around since 1988! There was road construction and for the first time we had a delay of about an hour. Lots of cars and trucks were pulled off and overheated. We stopped to cool down the engine too and just enjoyed the scenery. Right beside us was one of those snow-melt waterfalls. There is something truly mesmerizing about water.
I have just finished another book, Water For Elephants, by Sara Gruen. It is the fascinating story of a man, trained as a veterinarian, and who finds himself in a travelling Circus at the beginning of his career. The story flips back and forth a few times (not so often that you get lost!) from his younger days to his present life in a nursing home. It is a “can’t put it down” kind of read with lots of tragedy and triumph.
As compared to Arizona, Colorado country sure has enough water for elephants!
There were places where barriers are used to close the roads during winter and it seemed that nearly everyone had a 4 wheel drive vehicle or a truck – no wonder!
It was a slow drive for our Westy, getting up those mountain tops, and then sliding down again. Reminded us of how we have felt on this trip when we have hiked up a slope! Poor Rips Joy is out of shape too, and has only been around since 1988! There was road construction and for the first time we had a delay of about an hour. Lots of cars and trucks were pulled off and overheated. We stopped to cool down the engine too and just enjoyed the scenery. Right beside us was one of those snow-melt waterfalls. There is something truly mesmerizing about water.
I have just finished another book, Water For Elephants, by Sara Gruen. It is the fascinating story of a man, trained as a veterinarian, and who finds himself in a travelling Circus at the beginning of his career. The story flips back and forth a few times (not so often that you get lost!) from his younger days to his present life in a nursing home. It is a “can’t put it down” kind of read with lots of tragedy and triumph.
As compared to Arizona, Colorado country sure has enough water for elephants!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Rip's camping thoughts 2
Another thing about camping that has changed in the last 15 years – 15 years ago when I went camping there was more solitude. Quiet time. You travelled around and maybe never talked to your family for weeks at a time, and no one could get in touch with you until you got in touch with them. Modern day camping involves cell phones and computers. You are always in touch with people at home, your family and friends and you’re made aware of all the little problems and surprises that come up in life. They affect the solitude of your trip. Camping to me as a boy was getting away from everything.
We have choices in life. I could turn off the cell phone and computer but I’m addicted!!
I’m addicted to the interent, wanting to know what’s happening, who I can email, who I can Skype and talk to and I’m addicted to the cell phone. Can someone please help me with my addictions?!!
We have choices in life. I could turn off the cell phone and computer but I’m addicted!!
I’m addicted to the interent, wanting to know what’s happening, who I can email, who I can Skype and talk to and I’m addicted to the cell phone. Can someone please help me with my addictions?!!
Any Dream Will Do!
Since my early theological training I have had a recurring dream – not quite a nightmare but pretty close! I dream that I am leading worship and just into the service I can’t find my sermon notes!! I am overwhelmed and trying to think of what I might say, or how much I can remember. Then I wake up and give my head a shake and push that scenario out of my mind.
It did happen once. In Rockton one Sunday the service was underway and I checked my hymn book for my sermon and it wasn’t there. Right in the middle of worship I asked the choir to check their hymn books for me and sure enough books had been switched and someone had my sermon – whew!!
Many times I have wished that I was not so dependent on notes for worship, but it is something that I have had to accept as part of my humanity so to speak!
The dream came again a few nights ago. But this time there was a surprising and calm resolution. This time I didn’t panic or ask if someone else had my notes. I simply opened the Bible to a psalm and asked everyone to reflect on the words. It turned out to be a meaningful time in the service that day.
This dream has a message for me! I have realized in this sabbatical time that I use too many words and have depended too much on words in ministry. I don’t know exactly how this new insight will unfold, but I do know that the Spirit is leading me in a new way.
As the song in Joseph goes, “any dream will do”! Dreams can teach us some important. Of course I don’t always remember my dreams, but when I do I know there is a message.
Any dream will do!
It did happen once. In Rockton one Sunday the service was underway and I checked my hymn book for my sermon and it wasn’t there. Right in the middle of worship I asked the choir to check their hymn books for me and sure enough books had been switched and someone had my sermon – whew!!
Many times I have wished that I was not so dependent on notes for worship, but it is something that I have had to accept as part of my humanity so to speak!
The dream came again a few nights ago. But this time there was a surprising and calm resolution. This time I didn’t panic or ask if someone else had my notes. I simply opened the Bible to a psalm and asked everyone to reflect on the words. It turned out to be a meaningful time in the service that day.
This dream has a message for me! I have realized in this sabbatical time that I use too many words and have depended too much on words in ministry. I don’t know exactly how this new insight will unfold, but I do know that the Spirit is leading me in a new way.
As the song in Joseph goes, “any dream will do”! Dreams can teach us some important. Of course I don’t always remember my dreams, but when I do I know there is a message.
Any dream will do!
The Green Table
Marj, you were right. Mesa Verde is fascinating! Mesa means “table” in Spanish and Verde means “green”. What a green table top this National Park is covering 52, 074 acres. At Mesa Verde multistoried dwellings fill the cliff-rock alcoves that rise 2,000 feet above Montezuma Valley. Here in Mesa Verde archaeologists have located more than 4800 archaeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings dating from 550 to 1300 CE.
The cliff dwellings document the lives of the ancestral Puebloans. They built their dwellings in natural shelters formed by water percolating down through the sandstone. These intricate cliffside homes were discovered by 2 cowboys in 1888 who were tracking stray cattle and saw throw snowfall the honeycombed network of rooms and inside them stone tools, pottery and other artifacts that had been left behind some 600 years before.
Rip and I decided to take the Cliff Palace tour to see the largest cliff dwelling site. It is an alcove more than 200 feet wide which housed around 80 people or so. Every inch of space has a purpose. Holes are cut in the roof to vent out fire smoke and “duct-work” I the stone lets in fresh air. It is all very clever and beautiful. Around their homes (tiny round or square rooms with firepits and small windows) are 8 large round rooms called “kivas” (religious or ceremonial rooms) where the people gathered socially and for religious rites. I was most interested in these! In the centre of the room is a deep pit surrounded by rocks where the Puebloans believed “first man and first woman” came into the world. The pit honours this religious story. It is most fascinating to me that so many religious paths have similar stories, each framed a little uniquely!
Our tour guide was wonderful and informative. It made the trek down treacherous stone paths and steps and up three steep, narrow ladders very worthwhile! We are blown away by the intricacy of the stonework, and small size of the rooms (estimated maximum height of the native ancestors was about 5 feet – I suddenly feel at home with them!) and the ingenious use of natural protection for housing. We spent some time in the museum fascinated with the tools and basketweaving and beautiful pottery. These people are not so outdated after all!
The cliff dwellings document the lives of the ancestral Puebloans. They built their dwellings in natural shelters formed by water percolating down through the sandstone. These intricate cliffside homes were discovered by 2 cowboys in 1888 who were tracking stray cattle and saw throw snowfall the honeycombed network of rooms and inside them stone tools, pottery and other artifacts that had been left behind some 600 years before.
Rip and I decided to take the Cliff Palace tour to see the largest cliff dwelling site. It is an alcove more than 200 feet wide which housed around 80 people or so. Every inch of space has a purpose. Holes are cut in the roof to vent out fire smoke and “duct-work” I the stone lets in fresh air. It is all very clever and beautiful. Around their homes (tiny round or square rooms with firepits and small windows) are 8 large round rooms called “kivas” (religious or ceremonial rooms) where the people gathered socially and for religious rites. I was most interested in these! In the centre of the room is a deep pit surrounded by rocks where the Puebloans believed “first man and first woman” came into the world. The pit honours this religious story. It is most fascinating to me that so many religious paths have similar stories, each framed a little uniquely!
Our tour guide was wonderful and informative. It made the trek down treacherous stone paths and steps and up three steep, narrow ladders very worthwhile! We are blown away by the intricacy of the stonework, and small size of the rooms (estimated maximum height of the native ancestors was about 5 feet – I suddenly feel at home with them!) and the ingenious use of natural protection for housing. We spent some time in the museum fascinated with the tools and basketweaving and beautiful pottery. These people are not so outdated after all!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Rip's camping thoughts
I find as I’m driving along the roads of South Dakota, very straight and flat, that I’m thinking about the past few weeks in our adventures. Camping sure has changed over the past 15 years since we last took a one month trip across the States and Canada in our Ford Tempo, tenting along the way. 15 years ago tenting was the norm. Now RVing is the norm. Now Rip’s Joy is half way between tenting and RVing so we don’t fall into any sort of category that people recognize. We are self contained – we have a stove, water, a bed off the ground, and a porta-potty. Sometimes when we are looking for a campsite we pull into an RV park just wanting a place to stop and pop our top and sleep for the night. Now comes the questions from the camp owner – Are you self contained? - I say “yes”. His next question is- Do you have a shower? - When that question comes, I know he doesn’t want us staying at his RV campground. 15 years ago when we were tenting we didn’t shower every day; now people expect to shower every day, sometimes twice- even when camping!
Now tenting sites are usually the uneven ground for your vehicle and a small patch of flat ground for your tent which doesn’t help us because we need flat ground for our vehicle to sleep in it without being on such an angle that we roll into each other! Not that we have a lot of rolling room in a four foot wide bed!! The cost of a campsite sure has escalated too. We have paid up to $50 for a tent site per night!! Also many tent sites have become barrier bound where you can’t park your vehicle right beside where your tent would be.
Now don’t get me wrong, because we found lots of great sites and had some great camping, it just has changed in 15 years.
Jo has added a new dimension to her photography – Rip’s Joy car antenna has snuck into a few of the panorama shots she has taken! Still I don’t want to discourage the photography monster in her, because without her I’d be missing a lot of panoramic photos as we drive along.
Now tenting sites are usually the uneven ground for your vehicle and a small patch of flat ground for your tent which doesn’t help us because we need flat ground for our vehicle to sleep in it without being on such an angle that we roll into each other! Not that we have a lot of rolling room in a four foot wide bed!! The cost of a campsite sure has escalated too. We have paid up to $50 for a tent site per night!! Also many tent sites have become barrier bound where you can’t park your vehicle right beside where your tent would be.
Now don’t get me wrong, because we found lots of great sites and had some great camping, it just has changed in 15 years.
Jo has added a new dimension to her photography – Rip’s Joy car antenna has snuck into a few of the panorama shots she has taken! Still I don’t want to discourage the photography monster in her, because without her I’d be missing a lot of panoramic photos as we drive along.
Blog-away!
You will notice that some days we post a few blogs and some days none at all. I don’t write the blogs as they appear (several at a time). The key is that we have to have internet service to post the blogs, so as Rip is driving along, I write the blogs, usually one a day. Then we watch for somewhere to check our email, post our blogs and sometimes make a call on Skype or check for information on the place where we are heading – hail to this modern age! Some days we find a connection easily; other days none at all.
The first travel purchase we made was a book called, The Next Exit, which has proved invaluable. You look up the state you are in and the state highway you are travelling on and then you can see each exit, and not only the exit and where it goes, but also the gas stations, restaurants, hotels and motels, campgrounds, and large stores. It is amazing! It even tells you with a S,N,E,W which way off the highway each listing is located. If the listing is not within view of the highway, Next Exit will tell you how far away it is. Amazing!
We are also grateful to those businesses that offer unsecured WiFi (free internet). Among them are Safeway grocery stores (the most reliable), McDonalds (some of them), Motel 8, and sometimes Best Western. We have sat in many parking lots juggling for a spot to pick up a good signal!
I have to run no - Loosey Lips told Rip that a Cabela's Outdoors Store was at an exit up ahead - it isn't up ahead any more!
The first travel purchase we made was a book called, The Next Exit, which has proved invaluable. You look up the state you are in and the state highway you are travelling on and then you can see each exit, and not only the exit and where it goes, but also the gas stations, restaurants, hotels and motels, campgrounds, and large stores. It is amazing! It even tells you with a S,N,E,W which way off the highway each listing is located. If the listing is not within view of the highway, Next Exit will tell you how far away it is. Amazing!
We are also grateful to those businesses that offer unsecured WiFi (free internet). Among them are Safeway grocery stores (the most reliable), McDonalds (some of them), Motel 8, and sometimes Best Western. We have sat in many parking lots juggling for a spot to pick up a good signal!
I have to run no - Loosey Lips told Rip that a Cabela's Outdoors Store was at an exit up ahead - it isn't up ahead any more!
Ran into Friends!
At Antelope Slot Canyon, we ran into our friends, Susan and Gordon, from Ogden, Utah!! Can you believe it? Well, honestly we literally ran into them! And we didn’t know them before, but we were exchanging pleasantries when the surprise hit us! We were on some benches, facing other passengers (including our new, special friends!), on the back of a small truck heading by tour to the canyon when suddenly our truck slammed into the back of a van ahead of us! We were going at a pretty good clip, so we got cozy with Susan and Gordon as we crashed into them from the jarring of the accident. (Sorry about your shoulder check, Gordon!). At least we had a soft place to fall – Susan and Gordon were thrown against the steel back of the truck cab. Fortunately we were all okay, but Susan may have some bruises. Just think about this – we have travelled 16,000 km without a vehicle incident and here we are on our first driving tour and……..
Despite the unplanned beginning, the Antelope Slot Canyon tour near Page, Arizona is a very, very special place. You enter the canyon at ground level. It is sandy and the cave-like entrance is pink and the ground covered with pale pink, soft sand. In the canyon you look up (way, way up! – that’s my way of saying I don’t know how high it is, but it is up there!) to walls that dance and turn and bend with the occasional glimpse of blue sky. The sunlight slips through the walls at unpredictable moments like a flashlight casting light and shadow in the most enchanting way. At one point you round the corner to a sand “waterfall” and then a corkscrew view that takes your breath away. Meanwhile a native guide tells the story of the canyon and the native people who lived there. There were also at one time antelope that called the canyon area home – hence the name.
The canyon name in the native language means “place where the water runs through”. It is the flash floods that have formed this tall, thin, canyon masterpiece. The last one was in 2006 and lasted 36 hours! The walk cuts through the canyon walls like slots, in some places skinny and curvy and in other places round and wide. The length of the canyon is ¼ mile which sounds small, but the photo opportunities endless.
Again, we have just stopped in Page for the night with no tours in mind. I spotted an advertisement and remembered that the Hamilton Spec had printed an article about the canyon one time in the travel section. Rip and I both remembered it.
The tour was awesome; the place beyond words. And we ran into our new, special friends, Susan and Gordon! We hope we will run into them again in Ontario – with a softer place to land this time. And you know the old advice – be sure to wear clean underwear every day – you never know what might happen!
Despite the unplanned beginning, the Antelope Slot Canyon tour near Page, Arizona is a very, very special place. You enter the canyon at ground level. It is sandy and the cave-like entrance is pink and the ground covered with pale pink, soft sand. In the canyon you look up (way, way up! – that’s my way of saying I don’t know how high it is, but it is up there!) to walls that dance and turn and bend with the occasional glimpse of blue sky. The sunlight slips through the walls at unpredictable moments like a flashlight casting light and shadow in the most enchanting way. At one point you round the corner to a sand “waterfall” and then a corkscrew view that takes your breath away. Meanwhile a native guide tells the story of the canyon and the native people who lived there. There were also at one time antelope that called the canyon area home – hence the name.
The canyon name in the native language means “place where the water runs through”. It is the flash floods that have formed this tall, thin, canyon masterpiece. The last one was in 2006 and lasted 36 hours! The walk cuts through the canyon walls like slots, in some places skinny and curvy and in other places round and wide. The length of the canyon is ¼ mile which sounds small, but the photo opportunities endless.
Again, we have just stopped in Page for the night with no tours in mind. I spotted an advertisement and remembered that the Hamilton Spec had printed an article about the canyon one time in the travel section. Rip and I both remembered it.
The tour was awesome; the place beyond words. And we ran into our new, special friends, Susan and Gordon! We hope we will run into them again in Ontario – with a softer place to land this time. And you know the old advice – be sure to wear clean underwear every day – you never know what might happen!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Rip's Monster!
I’ve created a monster! For years I have been the main photographer for all our trips, anniversaries and parties. I finally got Jo to pick up the camera as we were travelling along and take some pictures. Consequently I’m downloading some 250 pictures each night to my picture folder. I don’t know how to kill the monster. I don’t want to discourage her ‘cause I like the pictures but boy do we have a lot of pictures to show you all. Now mind you some of them have poles and trees stuck in the middle of scenes and the occasional splattered bug on the windshield, but she has been getting some amazing shots.
Our shots reveal the changing scenes and how quickly we move from one geographic view to another. Yesterday while travelling up highway 70 along the Colorado river off to the right are lush green hills and mountains; off to the left are dry, sparse hills and mountains. And there’s only a span of 5 miles between mountains from left to right. How one side can be so dry and the other side so lush is beyond me.
As we travelled through the mountains we’d come over a mountain into a flat land instantly. This has been happening to us all along our trip through desert, mountains, plateaus and grasslands. I’ve tried fishing in every stream I could find and stop by, catching mostly rainbows and the occasional brown trout.
The past nine weeks have gone by so fast I find we need more time to see this country, so I’m not coming home or bringing Jo home until the end of September. Everyone will have to celebrate my 60th birthday at the cottage without me. So long.
Our shots reveal the changing scenes and how quickly we move from one geographic view to another. Yesterday while travelling up highway 70 along the Colorado river off to the right are lush green hills and mountains; off to the left are dry, sparse hills and mountains. And there’s only a span of 5 miles between mountains from left to right. How one side can be so dry and the other side so lush is beyond me.
As we travelled through the mountains we’d come over a mountain into a flat land instantly. This has been happening to us all along our trip through desert, mountains, plateaus and grasslands. I’ve tried fishing in every stream I could find and stop by, catching mostly rainbows and the occasional brown trout.
The past nine weeks have gone by so fast I find we need more time to see this country, so I’m not coming home or bringing Jo home until the end of September. Everyone will have to celebrate my 60th birthday at the cottage without me. So long.
Hoodoos and Booboos!
Ruby’s Inn just outside Bryce Canyon is a tourist village built Mr. Ruby and his family. It has everything from motel, cabins, campground, restaurants, shops and gas to a Mormon church service on Sunday afternoons at 3 pm. It was Sunday on our day of touring but we had church instead at Inspiration Point along the canyon rim. Wow – Rip said, “can you imagine anything more spiritual than this?” No, I couldn’t. At Inspiration Point you could see in the distance 9,000 foot high tablelands of forest and in the foreground the huge canyon basin with warm yellows and oranges, people-like spires of rock (called hoodoos) and fluted walls and sculptured pinnacles.
There is a deeply spiritual sense of place here that goes beyond rocks. Some local Paiute Indians explain it with a legend. Once there lived animal-like creatures that changed themselves into people. They behaved badly so the Coyote turned them into rocks of various configurations. The spell-bound creatures still huddle together here with faces painted just as they were before being turned into stone. Enchanting hoodoos.
It is easy to imagine and “see” these people at Inspiration Point. The wind there even sounded like the mountains around the canyon were singing to us. Maybe they were.
The largest and most striking canyon bowl at Bryce is the natural Amphitheatre – it encompasses 6 square miles! Try to imagine that one.
Ruby’s was a very hospitable campground with upscale showers and laundry facilities. We were glad we had gotten a reservation – there is no where else to go! This is where I found out that toothpaste is not a good substitute for soap. I rushed into the shower to hasten an early start to the day – couldn’t find the toiletry bag in a hurry so grabbed my toothbrush and paste and also shampoo and towel (I thought). In the shower I realized I didn’t have the shampoo or my towel, so I used toothpaste as soap. I wouldn’t recommend it but I expect my skin to be gleaming white any day now! I used my clothes as a towel and walked out half wet to the van. I bet I won’t forget my towel again – or the shampoo and soap! It was a day of hoodoos and booboos!
There is a deeply spiritual sense of place here that goes beyond rocks. Some local Paiute Indians explain it with a legend. Once there lived animal-like creatures that changed themselves into people. They behaved badly so the Coyote turned them into rocks of various configurations. The spell-bound creatures still huddle together here with faces painted just as they were before being turned into stone. Enchanting hoodoos.
It is easy to imagine and “see” these people at Inspiration Point. The wind there even sounded like the mountains around the canyon were singing to us. Maybe they were.
The largest and most striking canyon bowl at Bryce is the natural Amphitheatre – it encompasses 6 square miles! Try to imagine that one.
Ruby’s was a very hospitable campground with upscale showers and laundry facilities. We were glad we had gotten a reservation – there is no where else to go! This is where I found out that toothpaste is not a good substitute for soap. I rushed into the shower to hasten an early start to the day – couldn’t find the toiletry bag in a hurry so grabbed my toothbrush and paste and also shampoo and towel (I thought). In the shower I realized I didn’t have the shampoo or my towel, so I used toothpaste as soap. I wouldn’t recommend it but I expect my skin to be gleaming white any day now! I used my clothes as a towel and walked out half wet to the van. I bet I won’t forget my towel again – or the shampoo and soap! It was a day of hoodoos and booboos!
Seeing red!
Purely Celestial!
We are high-tailing it to Bryce Canyon. We have a campsite reservation and we have been on a wait list for it. It is Saturday night – always a “red light” day to find a campsite. On the way we can take the quick route or add another ½ hour to go through Zion National Park. I say to Rip that it must be a National Park for a reason and since we have the reservation we go on intuition – again! It has certainly paid off before.
Zion is the heavenly city of the Bible and so the name came from Mormon pioneers who saw the sculptured rock as the “natural temples of God” and so named the canyon Little Zion. How fitting. Honestly the Grand Canyon is 1 of 7 natural wonders of the world, but we found Zion and Red Rock Canyon attached to it equally as spectacular.
A million years of flowing water has cut the red and white beds of Navajo sandstone into high walls of mighty cliffs, some 2,000 feet or more. Instead of viewing it from the rim like Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon is viewed as you travel from the bottom looking up. The Park’s 229 square miles offer a landscape of remote terraces and narrow gorges, Utah juniper, ponderosa pine cottonwood and also the desert cactus. As we left the park we entered “Red Rock Canyon” where the sculptured sandstone and rock was bright red – including the roadway! It was 2 miles of pure orangey-red wonder at every turn. We danced beside and under and around red sandstone cliffs, adobe type rocks, tunnels and arches. We are really seeing red! We were certainly led to a most heavenly place.
We are high-tailing it to Bryce Canyon. We have a campsite reservation and we have been on a wait list for it. It is Saturday night – always a “red light” day to find a campsite. On the way we can take the quick route or add another ½ hour to go through Zion National Park. I say to Rip that it must be a National Park for a reason and since we have the reservation we go on intuition – again! It has certainly paid off before.
Zion is the heavenly city of the Bible and so the name came from Mormon pioneers who saw the sculptured rock as the “natural temples of God” and so named the canyon Little Zion. How fitting. Honestly the Grand Canyon is 1 of 7 natural wonders of the world, but we found Zion and Red Rock Canyon attached to it equally as spectacular.
A million years of flowing water has cut the red and white beds of Navajo sandstone into high walls of mighty cliffs, some 2,000 feet or more. Instead of viewing it from the rim like Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon is viewed as you travel from the bottom looking up. The Park’s 229 square miles offer a landscape of remote terraces and narrow gorges, Utah juniper, ponderosa pine cottonwood and also the desert cactus. As we left the park we entered “Red Rock Canyon” where the sculptured sandstone and rock was bright red – including the roadway! It was 2 miles of pure orangey-red wonder at every turn. We danced beside and under and around red sandstone cliffs, adobe type rocks, tunnels and arches. We are really seeing red! We were certainly led to a most heavenly place.
Do we or don't we??
Do we or don’t we? After Yosemite we headed toward Bryce Canyon, Utah. We find ourselves late in the day at a beautiful, treed and quiet campground in Jacob Lake, 40 miles from the North Rim of Grand Canyon. We have already been to the South Rim. Maybe that was enough considering we have so much else to see.
Then I overheard a man talking about the North Rim and its beauty and non-commercialized wonder compared to the South Rim. It seems a shame to miss it when we are so close. What the heck – here we go.
We see bluebirds and many deer along the way – it is 6 o’clock in the morning – we had gained an hour and didn’t know! The clock seems to have its own mind is these parts! A spectacular drive lands us near the Visitor Centre on a picnic table by the rim of the canyon eating our breakfast cereal. The “snap, crackle, pop is not only in our bowls! A deer ambles by; we are captivated by the view of canyon and beast.
We get the goods on what to do from the Visitor Centre. Our first stop – Grand Canyon Lodge, which is built on the edge of the rim at the most breath-taking point. Large windows – I mean gi-normous- edge the grand sitting room of the lodge lobby. A dining room to the right offers tables with the same larger-than-ever-seen-before windows. We walk to lookouts, mouths gaping open with awe, and yet we have not seen the best of our day.
Several unique and unbelievable views fill our eyes as we drive the tour of the North Rim away from the lodge. We stop at the lookouts and often we are the only ones there. There are sometimes short or longer trails, and in one spot a wedding site with rustic log “pews”. I pretend to conduct a wedding but am careful not to step back – Rip jokes that that he needs me to back up 3 feet for the picture – I am not fooled! It is a bit unnerving – here in the US guardrails or edges of any kind are a rarity.
For lunch we find a stone wall with a fab view and eat the best cheese sandwiches ever tasted – sliced extra old cheddar squeezed in between 2 Breton crackers. Mighty fine! We’ll have to see if those cheese delights taste as good at home. Our “do we or don’t we” day is filled with spiritual bliss and unforgettable moments. Good choice!
Then I overheard a man talking about the North Rim and its beauty and non-commercialized wonder compared to the South Rim. It seems a shame to miss it when we are so close. What the heck – here we go.
We see bluebirds and many deer along the way – it is 6 o’clock in the morning – we had gained an hour and didn’t know! The clock seems to have its own mind is these parts! A spectacular drive lands us near the Visitor Centre on a picnic table by the rim of the canyon eating our breakfast cereal. The “snap, crackle, pop is not only in our bowls! A deer ambles by; we are captivated by the view of canyon and beast.
We get the goods on what to do from the Visitor Centre. Our first stop – Grand Canyon Lodge, which is built on the edge of the rim at the most breath-taking point. Large windows – I mean gi-normous- edge the grand sitting room of the lodge lobby. A dining room to the right offers tables with the same larger-than-ever-seen-before windows. We walk to lookouts, mouths gaping open with awe, and yet we have not seen the best of our day.
Several unique and unbelievable views fill our eyes as we drive the tour of the North Rim away from the lodge. We stop at the lookouts and often we are the only ones there. There are sometimes short or longer trails, and in one spot a wedding site with rustic log “pews”. I pretend to conduct a wedding but am careful not to step back – Rip jokes that that he needs me to back up 3 feet for the picture – I am not fooled! It is a bit unnerving – here in the US guardrails or edges of any kind are a rarity.
For lunch we find a stone wall with a fab view and eat the best cheese sandwiches ever tasted – sliced extra old cheddar squeezed in between 2 Breton crackers. Mighty fine! We’ll have to see if those cheese delights taste as good at home. Our “do we or don’t we” day is filled with spiritual bliss and unforgettable moments. Good choice!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Yosemite - the real thing!
The Yosemite Room at Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispro was a splurge night and totally awesome. A cave room with fireplace, rock shower/waterfall and rock sink, floors, walls – everywhere a rock – gave us a taste of what Yosemite National Park might be like. Or so we thought!
Yosemite covers 747,956 acres if you can even fathom the size of it! Sheer granite walls, high meadows, crashing creeks, tunneled roads, soaring cliffs, and most of all those plunging waterfalls took our breath away. Every moment another “wow!” The Yosemite Falls (2,425 feet high! - the second highest in the world) and Bridalveil Falls attracted people like flies to honey. And we could see why! Bridalveil poured over the cliff in a flat pattern like a veil and moved with the wind in the most wonderful dance.
Campsites were booked 6 months in advance so we were lucky to find the last one at 12 noon for the night at a site 30 miles out of the park!
Our second day there was our favourite if you can believe it. We took “the road less travelled” through the upper areas of the park and before you knew it we could throw snowballs at each other! More crashing waterfalls, lots of deer, we even saw a bear. And those mountains and cliffs – Madonna Inn was nice, but there’s nothing like the real thing!
Yosemite covers 747,956 acres if you can even fathom the size of it! Sheer granite walls, high meadows, crashing creeks, tunneled roads, soaring cliffs, and most of all those plunging waterfalls took our breath away. Every moment another “wow!” The Yosemite Falls (2,425 feet high! - the second highest in the world) and Bridalveil Falls attracted people like flies to honey. And we could see why! Bridalveil poured over the cliff in a flat pattern like a veil and moved with the wind in the most wonderful dance.
Campsites were booked 6 months in advance so we were lucky to find the last one at 12 noon for the night at a site 30 miles out of the park!
Our second day there was our favourite if you can believe it. We took “the road less travelled” through the upper areas of the park and before you knew it we could throw snowballs at each other! More crashing waterfalls, lots of deer, we even saw a bear. And those mountains and cliffs – Madonna Inn was nice, but there’s nothing like the real thing!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Turn Around When Possible!
Our GPS, Jane, loves to tell us "turn around when possible" whenever she thinks we have made a wrong turn, or if we turn off the highway for any reason. We are getting the point when we hear these words that we tell her in no uncertain or polite terms to "mind her own business"!!
But she has a point. We made a major change in our itinerary while in San Francisco. Since we would miss our friends, Ray and Les, in Vancouver because we were falling behind time and they were leaving for Spain, and add to that there would be a possibility of me seeing my friend Allison in Colorado again after 30 years, we looked at a map and the wheels started to spin!
I could see some possiblities - Yosemite National Park, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Red Rock Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs, Antelope Canyon, Mesa Verde - the hot spots jumped into my eyes from maps and internet.
Honestly, Jane as so right. It is wise sometimes to "turn around when possible". This turn in our agenda has been beyond description - every day my new mantra is "wow, look at that" - over and over and over. Rip laughs now when I utter the words.
We have turned around and now everything is possible!!
But she has a point. We made a major change in our itinerary while in San Francisco. Since we would miss our friends, Ray and Les, in Vancouver because we were falling behind time and they were leaving for Spain, and add to that there would be a possibility of me seeing my friend Allison in Colorado again after 30 years, we looked at a map and the wheels started to spin!
I could see some possiblities - Yosemite National Park, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Red Rock Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs, Antelope Canyon, Mesa Verde - the hot spots jumped into my eyes from maps and internet.
Honestly, Jane as so right. It is wise sometimes to "turn around when possible". This turn in our agenda has been beyond description - every day my new mantra is "wow, look at that" - over and over and over. Rip laughs now when I utter the words.
We have turned around and now everything is possible!!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Rice-a-Roni!
Bridges and water and weather! San Francisco is an amazing city. Marvellous Marvin (remember him from Grand Canyon) would love it here too! Everywhere you look there is sunlight peering on mountains, dark clouds loaming over water, and fog drifting over Golden Gate Bridge. It is “weather” in the best sense of the word.
After the drive up the coast through Big Sur and on to San Fran, we thought we’d seen it all. It was so picturesque with the blue surf and high cliffs. The only down side is that the population of California is equal to the population of all of Canada. It is evident as you tour, and when we tried to make camping reservations we were told that many campsites are booked 5 or 6 months in advance!!
Last Sunday we “churched” on a tour of San Fran! Somewhere I crossed something allergic or (perish the thought) bed bugs in the skuzzy motel we landed on in Morro Bay. Anyway, at that point I am covered with “rash, bites or whatever” on my face, arms and back. I am an itching mess – church is not going to happen this day. I am ready to kiss the feet of whoever invented antihistamines – literally saved my sanity! Rip took a picture of my spotted back – this one isn’t going on the Facebook photos!!
Laura and Wayne (Laura calls me “Aunt Joyce”; sort of like “Uncle Bill” – we’re not related but feel like family) host us with a real bed and bathroom (yeah!) and tour us around the city and tell us what to see. We visit Mount Tampalais to get an overview of all the water and bridges and areas. Next we visit Lombard Street – the one the zigzags down a steep hill (also called the “serpent road”). It is right out of the old Rice-a-roni commercial with the trolley cars ringing. At one point I said to our driver, Wayne, “you don’t have to go up that street” – it seemed straight up to me and I was happy to see it and thought perhaps I might fall out the back window! I have lived to tell the tale.
We saw Pier 39, the painted ladies (6 famous houses with fabulous trim and paint), Napa Valley, and a host of other highlights. We had a visit with our friend Brian’s family – Gabriel, Shilo and handsome new son Gio. Gabe told us that there are about 12 different weather patterns in the San Fran area – it is amazing. I thought how thrilled Terry would be to see her family happy and settled and her new grandchild. (Brian’s wife, Terry, passed away suddenly 7 years ago). I truly believe that the spirit world is far greater than we can ever imagine or hope for, so I do believe Terry in some God-given way is looking on them all with great joy and pride.
Like the Toronto area, San Fran is a conglomerate of many cities joined together, around the water and bridges and roads. The steep roads are remarkable and the beauty of the city shines through in sunlight or in clouds. Rice-a-roni is not the only San Francisco treat!
After the drive up the coast through Big Sur and on to San Fran, we thought we’d seen it all. It was so picturesque with the blue surf and high cliffs. The only down side is that the population of California is equal to the population of all of Canada. It is evident as you tour, and when we tried to make camping reservations we were told that many campsites are booked 5 or 6 months in advance!!
Last Sunday we “churched” on a tour of San Fran! Somewhere I crossed something allergic or (perish the thought) bed bugs in the skuzzy motel we landed on in Morro Bay. Anyway, at that point I am covered with “rash, bites or whatever” on my face, arms and back. I am an itching mess – church is not going to happen this day. I am ready to kiss the feet of whoever invented antihistamines – literally saved my sanity! Rip took a picture of my spotted back – this one isn’t going on the Facebook photos!!
Laura and Wayne (Laura calls me “Aunt Joyce”; sort of like “Uncle Bill” – we’re not related but feel like family) host us with a real bed and bathroom (yeah!) and tour us around the city and tell us what to see. We visit Mount Tampalais to get an overview of all the water and bridges and areas. Next we visit Lombard Street – the one the zigzags down a steep hill (also called the “serpent road”). It is right out of the old Rice-a-roni commercial with the trolley cars ringing. At one point I said to our driver, Wayne, “you don’t have to go up that street” – it seemed straight up to me and I was happy to see it and thought perhaps I might fall out the back window! I have lived to tell the tale.
We saw Pier 39, the painted ladies (6 famous houses with fabulous trim and paint), Napa Valley, and a host of other highlights. We had a visit with our friend Brian’s family – Gabriel, Shilo and handsome new son Gio. Gabe told us that there are about 12 different weather patterns in the San Fran area – it is amazing. I thought how thrilled Terry would be to see her family happy and settled and her new grandchild. (Brian’s wife, Terry, passed away suddenly 7 years ago). I truly believe that the spirit world is far greater than we can ever imagine or hope for, so I do believe Terry in some God-given way is looking on them all with great joy and pride.
Like the Toronto area, San Fran is a conglomerate of many cities joined together, around the water and bridges and roads. The steep roads are remarkable and the beauty of the city shines through in sunlight or in clouds. Rice-a-roni is not the only San Francisco treat!
California Girl!
I was almost a California girl! Reminds me of that fab song by the Beach Boys – if you are old enough to know what I am talking about you are wise in my books :)(The older, the wiser?!!).
I am standing in front of my mother’s high school in Oakland, California. Fremont High School had less than 300 students in her day and a picture tells me that it was white and proper. Anyway, I am standing out front taking a picture and it dawns on me that if it weren’t for “Uncle Bill” I might well be Californian! My mother and her parents and Uncle Bill came to Oakland to build houses. They were labourers and had built many houses in the East end of Hamilton – London Street, Cope Street and others. Uncle Bill heard it was the land of plenty. The internet tells me that 13,000 houses or more were built in the years my family were there – about 1922-1927. My Mom was born in 1911.
Fremont High School today has 1,000 or more students. The racial profile goes like this:
Asian 15%; Hispanic 49%; African American 35%; Whites and other ethnic groups – you got it – 1%. My mother, true to some others in her generation, might just roll over in her urn! Otherwise the school is like any other in Burlington, Ontario. There are blue jeans, tattoes, sculpted hair cuts and overall high spirited youth hanging out together.
I am thinking that it is sometimes by a hair that we end up where we are geographically. Uncle Bill got disenchanted with California – I’m not sure why – so my family moved back to Hamilton. You can tell that “Uncle Bill” had big vote.
My mother’s brother, Clifford, was born in Oakland while they were there. He was 14years younger than my mother and my grandmother was 43 when he was born. As I stand near where they made home I am thinking that one of the hardest things about the death of a parent is that you don’t have access to their story any more. My mother would have been thrilled that I went to Oakland where she had lived – I wish I knew what street it was.
My guess is that life was interesting in California and that lots of families in that day coped with many challenges and heartaches amid the joys and gifts of life. Sabbatical time gives you the moments you need to become perhaps a little more philosophical about life and time to savour the flavour of the moment – so much easier than in the 1920’s - in California no less!
I am standing in front of my mother’s high school in Oakland, California. Fremont High School had less than 300 students in her day and a picture tells me that it was white and proper. Anyway, I am standing out front taking a picture and it dawns on me that if it weren’t for “Uncle Bill” I might well be Californian! My mother and her parents and Uncle Bill came to Oakland to build houses. They were labourers and had built many houses in the East end of Hamilton – London Street, Cope Street and others. Uncle Bill heard it was the land of plenty. The internet tells me that 13,000 houses or more were built in the years my family were there – about 1922-1927. My Mom was born in 1911.
Fremont High School today has 1,000 or more students. The racial profile goes like this:
Asian 15%; Hispanic 49%; African American 35%; Whites and other ethnic groups – you got it – 1%. My mother, true to some others in her generation, might just roll over in her urn! Otherwise the school is like any other in Burlington, Ontario. There are blue jeans, tattoes, sculpted hair cuts and overall high spirited youth hanging out together.
I am thinking that it is sometimes by a hair that we end up where we are geographically. Uncle Bill got disenchanted with California – I’m not sure why – so my family moved back to Hamilton. You can tell that “Uncle Bill” had big vote.
My mother’s brother, Clifford, was born in Oakland while they were there. He was 14years younger than my mother and my grandmother was 43 when he was born. As I stand near where they made home I am thinking that one of the hardest things about the death of a parent is that you don’t have access to their story any more. My mother would have been thrilled that I went to Oakland where she had lived – I wish I knew what street it was.
My guess is that life was interesting in California and that lots of families in that day coped with many challenges and heartaches amid the joys and gifts of life. Sabbatical time gives you the moments you need to become perhaps a little more philosophical about life and time to savour the flavour of the moment – so much easier than in the 1920’s - in California no less!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Surprises
It was a day of breath-taking surprises! First of all, Rip had lost his hat and we had been back to several stops to check for it with no luck. Finally Rip checked the coffee shop at Madonna Inn (another blog) and there it was! Next we saw lots of cars parked along the road near Big Sur (the amazing coastline on Highway 1). We stopped and witnessed hundreds of elephant seals lying on the beach to shed their coats. They do this over a one month period each May-June. The adults weigh about 1500 pounds (I feel thinner already!).
They were mostly sunning on the beach with a few in the water, very sleepy and quiet - quite a sight to see - quite a smell to behold too!
Next I picked up my emails and got a wonderful surprise. I had written a note to a friend from years ago, Allison, who I met while working at Blue Spruce Inn on Oxtongue Lake a couple of summers (1970 and 1971 I think). Allison was a bridesmaid in my wedding in 1972. She was a wonderful friend and we shared many great times. We lost touch after she moved to the US to go to university. I sent the note in early March and had not heard back so I let the dream of reconnecting go.
Her email said that she has been living abroad for a few years, using the address and home in Colorado only periodically. Allison said she was glad to reconnect.
It made my day to get that response - those are the best surprises!
They were mostly sunning on the beach with a few in the water, very sleepy and quiet - quite a sight to see - quite a smell to behold too!
Next I picked up my emails and got a wonderful surprise. I had written a note to a friend from years ago, Allison, who I met while working at Blue Spruce Inn on Oxtongue Lake a couple of summers (1970 and 1971 I think). Allison was a bridesmaid in my wedding in 1972. She was a wonderful friend and we shared many great times. We lost touch after she moved to the US to go to university. I sent the note in early March and had not heard back so I let the dream of reconnecting go.
Her email said that she has been living abroad for a few years, using the address and home in Colorado only periodically. Allison said she was glad to reconnect.
It made my day to get that response - those are the best surprises!
Hearst Castle
It was foggy, foggy, foggy just like the day we began our trek to Grand Canyon. Such was the day again on our way to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA. Again, the spirit wind blew the fog away as we bounced our way up the winding road on the bus to the top of the mountain where William Randolph Hearst built a castle and 3 guesthouses (some have 8 bedrooms so I use the term "guesthouse" loosely!).
It was an amazing sight and the rooms were beyond description. And this was just one of his palatial homes. Of course he had several homes (you can't have your wife and your girlfriend in the same house you know - oops - well, he was quite the man!) Hearst Castle once housed a zoo on the property too with lions, tigers, zebras (still there), bears, etc. etc. He looked after his animals well, bringing in special foods and zookeepers and such. And the outdoor and indoor pools took our breath away with their size and beauty. The whole thing is remarkable; created by Hurst and architect Julia Moore - a pioneer in her field in the 1950's. Even the downspouts were specially made for the castle and imprinted with his name!
The family still maintain and use another home on the property that can't be seen by the road taken by tourists. They are very generous to share their spectacular inheritance with "jo-public" and rip too of course!
It was an amazing sight and the rooms were beyond description. And this was just one of his palatial homes. Of course he had several homes (you can't have your wife and your girlfriend in the same house you know - oops - well, he was quite the man!) Hearst Castle once housed a zoo on the property too with lions, tigers, zebras (still there), bears, etc. etc. He looked after his animals well, bringing in special foods and zookeepers and such. And the outdoor and indoor pools took our breath away with their size and beauty. The whole thing is remarkable; created by Hurst and architect Julia Moore - a pioneer in her field in the 1950's. Even the downspouts were specially made for the castle and imprinted with his name!
The family still maintain and use another home on the property that can't be seen by the road taken by tourists. They are very generous to share their spectacular inheritance with "jo-public" and rip too of course!
La Jolla
La Jolla means "the jewel" and this is where we ended up for church last Sunday - La Jolla United Methodist Church is nestled in a very exclusive area just outside San Diego. We had stayed in the KOA in San Diego at $63. a campsite (in a quishy, pathetic parking spot). Literally it was "highway robbery" as the camp "spot" was right next to the major highway where lots of cars were rolling in all night long. There was a big marathon run on Sunday so we high-tailed it out of town early, thinking that sitting by the ocean watching the waves crashing in might just be a good "church" for the day. Then we happened upon the UM church just at the right time. The service was very similar to WP.
La Jolla was a jewel of a place; small and beautiful, hugging the gorgeous coastline.
La Jolla was a jewel of a place; small and beautiful, hugging the gorgeous coastline.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Joshua Trees
Our first taste of California is Joshua Tree National Park. It was established in 1936 to preserve the groves of the unusual, spiny-leaved Joshua Tree. Apparently it got its name from Mormon travellers around 1851 who saw the twisted branches and the upraised arms - this reminded them of the biblical leader Joshua (he followed Moses as leader)! The park is stunning with amazing boulders which house some campsites right out of the Flintstones! The park houses 2 desert landscapes, each unique and special.
As we travel toward San Diego the landscape and the temperature changes dramatically. It is like crossing a barrier from desert to lush; from steamy hot to damp and cool. Our last night in Arizona, near Parker, our van was about 98F in the night - Rip got up around 3 am to take a shower and found me asleep on the grass outside our van - I had come back from a shower myself, wrapped in a towel and just plopped myself on the cool green carpet! That was a first.
San Diego brings new and incredibly beautiful tree - we are told it is called "red bud" but there is nothing red about it. It is bright purple and it is blooming everywhere. Wow!
As we travel toward San Diego the landscape and the temperature changes dramatically. It is like crossing a barrier from desert to lush; from steamy hot to damp and cool. Our last night in Arizona, near Parker, our van was about 98F in the night - Rip got up around 3 am to take a shower and found me asleep on the grass outside our van - I had come back from a shower myself, wrapped in a towel and just plopped myself on the cool green carpet! That was a first.
San Diego brings new and incredibly beautiful tree - we are told it is called "red bud" but there is nothing red about it. It is bright purple and it is blooming everywhere. Wow!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tw-ouble!
I got clunked by a cupboard last night - well, perhaps I was the one who clunked first! The back seat folds down to a bed in our van - and it is what I call -
Tw-ouble! Our sleeping "mattress" width is in between a twin size (36") and a double (54"). That's what I call Tw-ouble! Being used to a king size now at home, this whole thing is quite an adjustment! I am surprised insurance companies haven't gotten in the game as we suffer from "zipper surprise" when the sleeping bag zipper snaps some innocent body part in the middle of the night (my zipper tends to be half undone for those occasional instant hot flashes) or "10 minutes for elbowing" when one us elbows the other and it is at least 10 minutes before you get back to sleep, or "knee jerk" when you are trying to change position in a non-change position situation!
So far, so good. We are getting used to "signaling our turns" and when one of us starts to roll over, the other one better follow suit or forever hold your "place"!
One thing I know for sure - it is a good thing we are both good sleepers. This would be even more Tw-ouble if either one snored or got up in the night or was restless. It gives new meaning to being compatible! There is a cute visual - Rip gets into bed backwards and feet first - it is quite the picture to watch - there are advantages of being short!
For me, I continue to clunk the pots and pans cupboards and get nipped by the zipper, but really the whole experience isn't really as much "Tw-ouble" as it sounds.
Tw-ouble! Our sleeping "mattress" width is in between a twin size (36") and a double (54"). That's what I call Tw-ouble! Being used to a king size now at home, this whole thing is quite an adjustment! I am surprised insurance companies haven't gotten in the game as we suffer from "zipper surprise" when the sleeping bag zipper snaps some innocent body part in the middle of the night (my zipper tends to be half undone for those occasional instant hot flashes) or "10 minutes for elbowing" when one us elbows the other and it is at least 10 minutes before you get back to sleep, or "knee jerk" when you are trying to change position in a non-change position situation!
So far, so good. We are getting used to "signaling our turns" and when one of us starts to roll over, the other one better follow suit or forever hold your "place"!
One thing I know for sure - it is a good thing we are both good sleepers. This would be even more Tw-ouble if either one snored or got up in the night or was restless. It gives new meaning to being compatible! There is a cute visual - Rip gets into bed backwards and feet first - it is quite the picture to watch - there are advantages of being short!
For me, I continue to clunk the pots and pans cupboards and get nipped by the zipper, but really the whole experience isn't really as much "Tw-ouble" as it sounds.
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