In search of road art

Thursday August 18

I leave today for Glacier National Park as I head eventually for Wisconsin. Along the roadways and trailways I will be searching for road art. I am curious as to what I will find. Yesterday there was this nice train art in the bus we took to the ferry to Bowen Island and a cool trail marker. I hope to do better as I leave family here in Vancouver and am on my own again.

Total Immersion

August 14, Sunday spent day at skate park to watch Jes and Luke skate. My thoughts as I watched my daughter speed across the hard smooth cement walls and ramps was that it looked so easy and graceful yet the hardness of the surface offset that feeling. I could just imagine the pain of scraping an elbow, knee or thigh. To contrast this we spent the remainder of the day at Whytecliff Park paddling on the forgiving surface of the ocean. The chop of the water and wake from passing boats was unforgiving to a novice SUP'dler, but infinitely more gentle than cement. A brief moment on my feet ending in total immersion. That's what it takes to master either of these sports...total immersion.

Kneeling

Immersed!

Hiking into winter

This journey from Girdwood to Vancouver has presented the opportunity to spend time viewing a small segment of life in Canada. In the far north people are generally friendly, the remoteness I assume or perhaps the short warm summer. I love the north and could easily move into a small town anywhere in the BC Rockies. I also loved waking up in Kluane Provincial Park and witnessing my old friend snow on the peaks after yet another wicked rainstorm, but it wasn't until hiking the summit of Whistler that winter came back in all its beauty. The wind sculpted surfaces of these snow walls were at once soft and fluid, resembling waves on water. Pulled up the hood and stuck hands in my pockets. It feels good to be cold again.

Danger on the highway of life

The mind tends to wander along the long and windy road...I had this thought along the Cassiar Hwy about squirrels...you know the ones who dash out onto the highways. My scientific road resarch demonstrates that squirrels that dart across headstrong to the other side without hesitating are the ones who do not get run over. Then there are those who run part way into the danger zone, stare at oncoming vehicles and scurry back and forth before finally deciding to (according to my research) always head back to the side of the road from which they started. These are the squirrels who get run over. A strong metaphor for our lives. Do not hesitate, head straight the course chosen, but I might add...think long and hard along side the road of life before crossing, and look both ways.

Meals on Wheels

Impressed I am at my camping evening meals. Even in the pouring rain one can easily sit huddled under a tarp in layers of clothes and rain gear and construct a wonderful vegetarian dinner. This is the best of car camping where everything is available and all you have to do is dash between rain drops to the car and pull out another red pepper or yellow squash. This meal was topped off with fresh halibut from Annie and Dick. All done in one pan, eaten out of the pan (non-stick of course) and wiped clean with one paper towel. No washing needed. Remainder of halibut became next day's sandwich lunch.

This gourmet meal prepared at Kluane Park, Yukon Territory during a serious thunderstorm. The next morning broke calm and clear with more new snow on the peaks. Long underwear required.

8/4/11 Leaving Anchorage in search of one more road coffee

Before

August 3 - packed , gassed and ready to travel.