Farm Livin'

I've made it to the Santa Cruz area, twenty miles north of the city. I've been staying with the fine people of Green Oaks Creek Farm. BDog and I followed Lindsey down from Marin County this past Wednesday, and the time has been full of adventures. After a quick tour of the property, we were put to work weeding some of the organic vegetable beds. The folks on the farm have been very patient and have allowed us to help transplant, harvest veggies, and even milk the goats. Brendon doesn't get along with the goats, I think its because they have such creepy eyes.

Udi, Lindsey, Eytan and I went to Ano Nuevo Beach and witnessed an amazing wildlife display. Elephant seals are battling for the role of Alpha male to win the harem of females in order to keep his genes in the pool. These big burly males were fighting ferociously. We sneaked up super close to the group all while pelicans were diving for fish and a little otter was eating supper.

I have decided to stay this week and spend some more time pretending to be a farmer. Bdog loves smelling the chickens and horses. Now, if I could only get him to stop barking at the goats.

Insert Cali Cliche

While I was in Suislaw National Forest I had some fun with a fire and my camera exposure. Enjoy the little gallery of crazy fire pics.







I've made it to Sunny California. With a wonderful drive through Jedediah Smith State Park and around some huge trees, BDog and I found our way to a nice campsite next to a beautiful river. When we got to the campsite, it was really warm. I hesitate to say hot because I know what really hot is, but nonetheless, I was hot. The river proved perfect. Both the dog and I cooled off in the river and thoroughly enjoyed the water. For those who don't know B too well, he does not swim. I mean, he can if he has to, but he never chooses to. The project of the afternoon was to get him swimming. We came really close, up to his nose, but his feet stayed on ground and never doggie paddled. I'm in it for the long haul on this one and considered the progress a success.

I'm anxious to meet up with Eytan and Lindsey in Santa Cruz, but I'm still a few days away from that. Not too much to write about, but I will share this. Last night I tried a new beer, Old Chub. Made by the same fine people who make Dale's Pale Ale. This Scottish ale comes in a can and packs a punch. 8 percent will hit you real quick, maybe it was just me, the river, and the sun. The dude at the market gave me a hard time for paying ten bucks for the six pack, yet after three of these suckers I was set for the night. I made some amazing pizza pocket sandwiches with my cast iron mini dutch ovens. Fresh green pepper, garlic, and mushroom with mozzarella cheese and pizza sauce baked to perfection in an open fire. Life is good!

The Sun Shines Again

Driving south from the North Coast of Oregon, I had been under the cover of dark clouds for most of my trip (pretty much since Anacortes, weeks!). No longer! The clouds have parted and the sun is shining. I am writing from The Crazy Norwegian restaurant in Port Orford, OR. I am camping six miles south at Humbug Mountain State Park. It's car camping and I'm pretty close to my neighbors, but I am enjoying the luxuries that this type of camping provides. I took a hot shower as soon as I made camp, first in about three days. Last night, I slept on both my camping mats. This morning, I made a fresh pot of coffee. "Summer time and livin's easy!"

The previous two nights, I backpacked in the Drift Creek Wilderness Area in the Suislaw National Forest just east of Waldport. Stopping at the local Ranger Station, the super friendly Ranger recommended this area. From the trail head, it was a peaceful three mile walk downhill to Drift Creek. The forty pound pack kept all my body heat close to my back. I couldn't resist the call of the river. I immediately jumped right in feeling refreshed and alive.

I decided to camp next to the river as it was the only source of water along the six mile trail. I camped without seeing another human that night and tried to stay sane in spite of the mosquitoes. In the morning, a family, a Dad, son and daughter, hiked down the hill and camped in the same general vicinity. They were nice enough and Bdog even got to socialize with their two dogs for a little bit. The river provided a great buffer so I didn't hear them when I was in my camp. The second night, the flying insects were even worse. Bdog had to spend all of his time moving or in the tent because he had a swarm of mosquitoes and biting flies around his head at all times. They didn't bother me too much, but I made a camp fire in hopes that the smoke would keep them away. (I don't think it worked :().

I learned from that river, watching it flow. It appears the same, yet its always new. It mimics life that way, I guess. It is said that history repeats itself, but its more like the river. It appears the same but after careful inspection, one realizes that its forever dynamic. New players, new rapids; looks the same to the casual observer.

I am going to camp one more evening at Humbug Mountain State park and then hit the road again. California is close, but I might make one more stop in Oregon before I leave this incredible state. These magnificent forests, some say old growth, speak to me. For two years they have been my backyard. I have tried to learn about their various parts, identifying flora and fauna. But, these living systems truly are more than just the sum of their parts. Visit, stay, listen; they'll tell a story if you have the patience and will to hear their wisdom.

Ecola State Park

A journal excerpt...
Evening of July 13th, Hiker's camp. Arrived last night after fish and chips at a local tavern with a nice stout to wash it down. Feeling good as I start the short 1.5 mile hike up to camp, the heavy food in my stomach makes the uphill treck seem longer than just a mile and a half. As the trail finally flattened out, two dudes sitting by a fire and three adirondacks greeted me and bdog. They were cool guys, a teacher and engineer, just recently out of college. They graciously shared their PBR while we chatted.

A little later on, a dad and his two young sons came up over the hill. A five and a four year old carrying their own sleeping bags bested the ascent. Those boys brought a lot of energy to the camp running and screaming around the fire. This is normally a scene I try to escape will backpacking, but I didn't mind it at all.

Tonight, a lone old guy has been sleeping since 6 pm. My other neighbors are a father and son duo. They are tenting it just behind my structure. Had a nice chat around a fire and I am happy to see them crash early. If you are willing to camp with other people, this is a good place to meet cool characters.

Old, huge Sitka Spruce dominate this damp forest. Millions of different shades of green created by sword ferns, salal, stinging nettle, false lily of the the valley, and more. Western Hemlock are growing into their own. Red Alders, housing white lichen on their bark, sway in the wind. Swainson's thrushes dominate the plethora of bird calls. Gardner Snakes, really long banana slugs, and sneaky spiders provide a challenge for the observation skills. But the scene is dominated by the Spruce. Flakey bark and spiky needle like leaves give away their identity. The sheer size of some of these trees fills me with a sense of walking amongst my ancestors. If these trees could tell a story, would I be ready to listen?

Portland, etc.

Sitting under an overcast sky as the tide comes in at Cannon Beach, I feel a bit lonely. I was around such great people the last few days. I am feeling the void of their absence, yet I am grateful for their friendship.

My time in Portland was absolutely amazing, thanks to Christina. There was lots of good times including a small gathering at Christina's house when I first arrived, disc gold with Derrick, a fabulous happy hour at Portland City grill with Chris, Christina, and Shayna, a shiatsu massage (thanks Christina!!) and a sushi dinner all before the weekend.

The highlight of my summer so far came in the form of the Oregon Country Fair. (A big thanks to Amy for driving us down there.) Entering this renaissance festival felt like entering another country. I'm having trouble finding the words to describe the vibe of this place. It had its own unique culture that was very vibrant and real. Costumed pagans dominated the visually stimulating crowd while all visitors contributed to a positive atmosphere. I was literally smiling the entire time I was there. This year the fair celebrated its 40th anniversary, but it was my very first experience attending. Music, dance, commerce, friendship, and fellowship, the fair had it all.

There were two musical performances that stood out; March 4th Marching Band and Pimps of Joy-Time. March 4th is a large group that played for a love of music that radiated throughout the raucous crowd. The marching band played many original tunes that had everyone dancing, but the stage performers the band accompanied stole the show. From circus style pole acrobats to tumbling jugglers, the performers displayed their skills while March 4th jammed behind them. Following the marching band, Pimps of Joy-Time showcased a musicality that had the crowd dancing from start to finish. This Brooklyn based funk band grooved through styles, tempos, and solos to give one hell of a concert.

The festival takes place just outside of Eugene in woodlands. Being under the trees helped define the atmosphere of the event. All the structures where vendors were selling goods and services had tree-house like architecture helping them to blend in to the forest. Do yourself a favor, go to the Oregon Country Fair next year.

Fuzzy Memories

Fourth of July night was full of pleasant surprises that my fuzzy memory is slowly piecing all together. Watching the fireworks on top of the whale watching boat was really just the beginning of the night. The plan was to head to a local watering hole called the Brown Lantern, but as we stepped on to the street the blissful sound of live music filled our ear drums and called us else where.

Succumbing to the seducing sounds, we found ourselves in front of Anacortes locals Spoonshine. In a bar filled with maybe thirty people, some more interested in their pizza dinner than the amazing music that was being amplified a mere ten feet from their table, these three musicians killed it. Truly, these guys were well practiced following each other through solos, tempo changes, broken guitar strings, and an overly friendly fan who was practically dancing on stage with them. A mix of bluegrass, rock and roll, and passion created amazing music. Thanks Spoonshine.

Our night was not over when the music stopped. We made it to two more fine establishments for funny people watching and a few bar games. Biking home from "downtown" turned out to be a great ride: two in the morning, no one on the streets,a late night stop for an egg sandwich and a small hill just to let our legs know they were doing work, good times.

Nature Nerds

Liam and I drove from Anacortes to Widbey Island on Monday the 6th of July. We arrived at South Widbey State Park under the cover of overcast skies. Our first outing took us to the beach. We found a tree fort, amazingly colored rocks, and few other people. I guess not a lot of people walk the beach on an almost rainy day. We were also happy not to have too many neighbors at the campground as most people left on Sunday after the holiday weekend.

The highlight of the trip was hiking through the three hundred acres of Old Growth forest. Although not all of that three hundred acres host old growth stands, Liam and I had a lot of fun playing naturalists. We focused on identifying local flora and fauna as well as determining the age of the various forest stands through which we passed. Here is a list of the flora and birds we identified in the forest:
Brown Creeper
Song Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Crow
Morning Dove
Hairy Woodpecker
Flycatcher of some kind
Rufus-sided Towhee
Black Capped Chickadee
Chestnut Backed Towhee
Winter Wren
Red Breasted Nuthatch
Wilson's Warbler
Varied Thrush
Pigeon Guillemot
Glacuous-winged Gull
Silver Fir
Douglas Fir
Big Leaf Maple
Foxglov
Red Elderberry
Sword Fern
Red Alder
Bracken Fern
Stinging Nettle
Western Hemlock
Pacific Dogwood
Thimbleberry
Ocean Spray
Dear Fern
Salmon Berry
Trailing Blackberry
Grand Fir
Skunk Cabbage/Swamp Lantern
Red Huckleberry
Evergreen Huckleberry
Horsetail
Salal
Oregon Grape
Western Red Cedar
Holly

Independence

July 4th:
Brendan and I hike down from Elbow Lake and drive into Annacortes on Fidalgo Island where Liam is living and working this summer. After an amazing lunch at the farmers market, Liam got me on the afternoon whale watching tour out in the Salish Sea around the San Juan Islands. The ride was beautiful and amazing. We sailed next to two Orcas of the L pod, resident whales, for about a half and hour. They are truly magnificient beings.

After about five hours on the water the tour came to an end but good times were still to be had on Island Adventures 3. Liam and I, along with other crew and their family and friends, watched the fireworks show from atop the boat. Although the fireworks were a little dissapointing the setting was great.

Liam and I then hit up the town. We were pleasantly suprised to find Spoonshine playing at a local restaurant. This three piece bluegrass band rocked it for an audience of maybe twenty. But, they truly did kill it.

The freedom of the road, of an open mind, and of a sense of adventure. Today I celebrate my independence.

Not all who wander are lost

The great adventure has begun. So far it has been just that, an adventure. On July 2 I drove up the North Cascades with all my stuff in my car with Brendan dog for company. As I drove away from my home for the last year, I was full of emotions; excitement for the coming adventures, sadness of leaving good people in Seattle, anxiousness for the unknown ahead of me and the realization that my solo journey has really begun.

At the recommendation of a park ranger, I hiked up to Elbow lake in the Mount Baker National Forest. The hike was pretty strenuous especially in the first mile. Brendan and I had to deftly maneuver around, over, under and through five downed trees. Not little wimpy trees either. We're talking huge mature douglas fir trees of the great North West. At times, I had to climb and shimmy up, with my pack on, and then figure out how Bdog could best the obstacle too.

I made camp on the south end of Elbow Lake and just tried to take in the surroundings. I decided to make that a base camp and just go for a day hike the next day. I hiked to Bell pass on July 3rd to find large patches of snow. BDog and I had a snow ball fight! We returned to base camp and just enjoyed a lazy afternoon hanging lake side after a very brisk dip.