Whistle Lake, Anacortes Forest Lands

This is a pretty lake and the hike around it is easy.  Probably about 3.5 miles with a little upward climb on the back side.  Pretty rocky balds and nice secluded places to sit and eat lunch.  Lots of kids, young adults, and families swim in this lake.  The young adults leap from the rocks and land in the water 20 or 30 feet below.  It looks fun, but I wouldn't do it.  There is also a flat area that looks like an old parking lot when you first get to the lake (taking the left branch).

I like this lake for the reflection shots I can take while hiking around it.  I use these for my paintings.  See www.nancycanyon.com  There are beautiful reflections of alders, rocks, lilies, and Madrona trees.  Just the sky reflection and the wind ruffling the surface is spectacular.

The last time I hiked, I slipped on a mossy rock and went down on my right hip.  It was a dumb fall...I didn't have my poles and I wore my running shoes that had worn smooth in the heel...bald shoes.  From now on, I'll wear my hiking boots.  I think doing Pilates has strengthened me enough to give me bulkier muscles.  I hit just right, not to injure my bones.  Lucky me.

This lake is an easy to find.  You head into Anacortes, circling around the round-about, going straight up the hill away from the water.  When the road comes to a T...take a left.  Take another left at the cemetery entrance.  Follow around the cemetery and keep going to the end of the road. You'll see a sign for the turnoff to the left.  Follow the signs to Whistle Lake.
Enjoy,
Nan

Whistle Lake on a still day.

Where the kids jump off the rocks.

Beautiful lilies!

Madrona tree overlooking lake.

Church Mountain

The last leg of the climb is pretty steep, but doable.

I made it thanks to my REI poles and Pilates!

A friend and I climbed to the top of Church Mountain the last week of July. The turn off to the trail head is just past the utility sheds up Mt. Baker road.  The hike climbs at a reasonable rate three miles up to the meadows and another two miles (steeper) to the top where the lookout used to reside.  We set up camp in the meadows.  I rested a while, then climbed the rest of the way.  It's an amazing view, 360 degrees of mountain tops, distant valleys, the San Juan Islands.  Breathtaking!

I feel this climb to be a big achievement for me as a sixty-two year old.  I know lots of folks are stronger and have more stamina than I, but making longer and more difficult treks is helping me to grow stronger and to feel more confident.

Right now I'm having a astrological transit that's activating my Aries sun.  I believe the ram energy is wanting to climb.  I want to be at the top and look out over everything.  I'm even dreaming about standing on pinnacles and observing the land below.  Very interesting energy.  I suppose there is another way...looking a photos perhaps.  But Aries is a physical sign, so working the energy is a good idea.

We camped in the meadows where a stream ran through, tumbling down a waterfall where it disappeared into the woods.  To the west, where we set the opening of the tent, we had a perfect view of Mt. Baker.  To the east, beautiful rocky ridge in a c-curve.  Amazing. 

We heard marmots, picas, ravens, Douglas squirrels, flies, and mosquitos.  We saw no bear nor mountain goats.  Where we hung our food in a tree, a marmot was spotted.  Other than that, it was a quiet night with the exception of a little wind.  Perfectly clear with stars that you could dream on.  And in the night, the tent lit up.  I woke, thinking someone was outside with a lamp.  It was the moon rising...phenomenal.  

If you can get to wilderness, do.  It will rejuvenate you in a way that restores the soul.

Peacefully yours,

Traveling Nan   

Fragrance Lake

I've been hiking this summer, getting stronger, making it to the top of local peaks: Church Mountain, Yellow Aster Butte, Sky Line Ridge.  Shorter hikes have been good to, for instance, Frangrance Lake or Alger Alp both have a decent elevation gain.

Getting back into hiking has been important to me for several reasons.  For one:  It proves my strength as a woman over 60.  Another reason, achieving a goal builds my esteem. You know what they say:  Why do you climb the mountain?  Because I'm proving something to myself.  I can do it.

If I were to recommend a workout to a woman my age, or any age, first I'd say do some Pilates. Pilates will build your core strength and keep you steady on your feet.  Then walk every day.  Then, plan some short day hikes.  Something that you can do easily...say three miles around a small lake.  Here in Bellingham there's a local walk around Lake Padden that is about 2.9 miles.  It's stunning year around...though plan on some mud in winter and spring.

Then get the right gear.  Hiking poles have helped me immensely. I need them on the downhill to protect my knees.  Also, with Pilates, my arms are strong.  So using my arms to help my legs is easy.  I'm sore the next day, my feet, my back, my legs, but it's okay.  It's only about a week of soreness, and Ibuprofen or  Arnica helps with pain.  Buy good shoes.  And rain gear and tops that aren't made of cotton.

Now, most of us don't want more pain.  But with steady workouts, pain lessens with repetition.  The more I workout, the less I hurt.  I'm strong now and a climb, though difficult, sweaty, hard breathing, I'm doing it and loving it.  Getting to the top is worth it.

Old growth cedar stump!

Path around Fragrance Lake

Path around Fragrance Lake

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Snowy and Sunny

Here I am up on Mt. Baker snowshoeing last winter. Let me tell you, it is hard work--you need to have some stamina and a good lunch to eat in the sunshine. Lots of layers of clothing, so you can take it off and put it on, and determination. I only did one trip this year, but I have hiked across snow at Hannigan Pass and Yellow Aster Butte. Today, here by the bay in Bellingham, rain and wind. I heard high winds--but we'll see.

Recently I've seen a coyote and trumpeter swans, oh yes, mallards, Canada geese, Bufflehead ducks and loons. Oh and 12 great blue herons huddled in everygreens down by the water.  
Happy New Year!
Nan

Orcas Island

Here I am sitting on a tree hanging over Mountain Lake.  I've taken a lot of photos of reflections at this lake, beautiful ones that have become paintings. It's a pretty little lake on the way to Doe Bay, one of my favorite places on Orcas. I've stayed at Doe Bay more than once, kayaking out to the Pea Pods with a friend one weekend, doing a memorial to his mother. It was lovely. A giant Steller's Sea Lion slide off the rocks and into the water when we passed. Very cool.

Nan

Reindeer

Well, it isn't really, but being just after Christmas it could be. This is up at Hart Pass. There was snow at the top and couldn't proceed, but turned down this road and sat for a long time watching this buck wander toward us, feeding, watching us, feeding some more. The woods had burned up at the top at one point, near a little ranger cabin. I have some cool pictures of those trees, bark half black and bare. Very pretty in a way.

I love the woods. Back in the 70s I lived at Priest Lake in Idaho with my husband at the time. We worked at Hill's resort and when not working or playing music or skiing, we'd be up wandering back in the mountains. The roads get piled pretty high with snow up there. Beautiful

Nan

Ballard Camp 7-4-2010

Here's my friend David when we camped at Ballard Camp on the other side of the mountains. It was the fourth of July weekend. We'd been up to Hart Pass and had come back, gathered wood, made some dinner. It cools quickly in canyons along rivers, so we needed our jackets. The fourth is always my favorite weekend of the year, better than Christmas. I just love fireworks. Not everyone likes the racket or the sulfur in the air, but if I can get out to fireworks, I do. I've had several amazing experiences lying on the ground watching the blooms overhead. Truly amazing.

Up here on the 4th of July, a bit of rain, and cool.  We gathered wood, so much down wood that's dryer than a desert, I just wondered how quickly fire could race through.  We kept the fire small and we did get some nice heat from it and  cooked part of our dinner there.  Well, re-heated I think, since we'd brought along cooked chicken on ice.  Up at Hart Pass we picked up some containers of snow to help refrigerate our food for the rest of the weekend.

This was the weekend Sid had just had the silt from his bladder washed out and had been put on special food.  I'd watched him for the day and he was doing better.  They wouldn't have been able to see him until we got back, so I decided it was okay to go away.  I must say I was a nervous cat mom the whole time.

I hadn't camped for years and now will camp.  It just gets some taking used to again.  The hard ground--even though I have a pretty good mat, it's my hips these days, getting older. But seeing the stars at night, man-oh-man, it is worth it.  Nature makes me feel good, no great.  It truly feeds my soul.

Winter Travel

Haven't been traveling lately, but have been getting out on my daily walks.  It's been cold here in Bellingham.  Frost and freezing fog--but sunshine--which is a godsend.  For me, if there's sunshine in the winter, I can take the cold, and long dark nights.  It's the gray and rain during the day, and then dark at 5, that bothers me, depresses me, actually.  It's usually January and February that grow too long, too depressing.  It's the time of year to travel--go somewhere warm, hangout for awhile.  Although I've been getting down to Post Point, my favorite place to walk in the winter, or on cold sunny days, as I can sit in the sandstone, sheltered, above the water and soak up the rays.  It's healing, these moments of warmth, breathing in good clean sea air, feeling the elements.  I feel happiest in the sun.

David is in Antarctica.  He's having cold weather too.  Lots sideways blowing snow.  Here's what he says about the wildlife.  "Just back myself from our landing at Petermann Island with Adelie and Gentoo Pengies, Antarctic Shag (Cormorant), Kelp Gull, Antarctic Tern, Skua and Weddell Seals. It was a nice cruise thru the Lemaire Channel getting here, saw the Ocean Nova and the CEO wanted us to photograph him with the Quark flag... only they(12) were like a kilometer away and tiny dots... right!  So, got a bit cold in the wind with the barometer now dropping... Will be driving zod this afternoon at Pleneau Bay amoungst the icebergs doing two cruises...so will bundle up!"

Soon he'll be back and we'll be getting to the mountains and the snow.  Last year I snowshoed for the first time.  In the 70s I cross-country skiied, which I loved.  When my daughter was born, I carried her in a pack on my back while skiing.  It was fun, but hard--keeping my balance, staying warm enough.  I don't recall that I ever fell with her.  Now she downhill skies.

My skies are old, wood skies from the 70s that need waxing.  I'm hoping the snow will come low this year again, so I can ski in the neighborhood.  The plan is to get out of here in January and go to Utah, to the canyonlands, to the red rock territory.  So if it's nasty then, it won't matter.  This I'm excited for--to feel the land of red earth.  Good stuff.

Okay, I'm going to eat my breakfast now.
Happy travels,
Nan

Lake Padden

It was a beautiful fall. The summer went late. I was swimming in the sound and in the lake through September. Now, it's raining, although yesterday a sunny day. I walked to Marine Park, followed the railroad tracks to the dog park, then back along the inner-urban trail to Fairhaven.

I'm a sorry wanderer, I guess. If it's very rainy and windy, I won't go outside. I remember having to shove the cats out and then once out, Ozzie hanging close to the glass door, looking in at me with pathetic eyes. Well, it's the same for me. I did buy a new hat, and I do own a raincoat--not rain gear, just a coat that looks fashionable and repels rain. It's a must around here.

I've decided on a trip to Spokane for Christmas, spend some time in the snow. Perhaps buying snowshoes would be a good thing. I have skis from the 70s. They're pretty funky now, but still keep me on top of powder snow. Snowshoeing last winter was a first for me. It was strenuous an the next day, I was beat. Now, I'm in better shape, so maybe, some long treks are in order.

David is in Antarctica. The weather there has been extreme. Blowing sideways snow and very cold. He has to bundle completely, face covered, doubled up mitts. And still, it's cold out on the ice, standing there as a guard to the penguins for 2 or 3 hours. Yikes. Me baby!

I admire his adventurous nature and would like to have a little more of my own. I've decided, I'm just plain scared, a lot of the time. I mean, even to go to Post Point along the tracks. Why a train could come. I'm one of those folks who does the worst case scenario thing. Always something could happen. But--you don have to be prepared, right? I mean, driving across the pass and the snow and ice, etc. You could go off the road. There could be an avalanche. These are real things and they do happen. I had a friend lose both parents in an avalanche. They were asleep in a winter cabin, snow came down the hill behind them. With that in mind, I have agreed to go sleep in a snow cave on Mt. Baker. Stupid? Maybe, but David has done it many times and says he will protect me. Which means, I guess, that he wouldn't dig the cave in an avalanche area. What about cold? What about getting up in the night to go to the bathroom? What about...?

Anyway, it's adventurous even to go shopping--especially on Black Friday. You're not getting me out there.

My next plan for travel is to go to Hawaii. There are some birds there that can't be seen anywhere else in the world. This seems like the type of adventure I get sink my teeth into. So off to somewhere warm, probably not immediately, so will have to do winter for awhile. I'll let you know how it goes.

Peace,

Traveling Nan

Chain Lakes at Mt. Baker

In the mountains there are these tiny lakes that are fed by melting snow. A set of lakes that can be easily walked around, a path leaving from the parking lot up by where the groomers park at the Mt. Baker ski area. The higher parking area, up by Artist point, is now closed. There has been 6-10 inches of snow recently, but on Saturday, there'd been enough warming for the ground to be mostly bare. My friend and I walked around the lakes, staying height on the right side, which I suppose would be east and then across a snow field at the end, and then back on scree--which had a light skiff of snow on it. There were these cute little pica prints all over the snow. Wow, a beautiful day, not a hard hike, getting over a cold, but a nice time with my honey.

I'm thinking about some changes of the heart that have occurred for me over the full moon. The biggest thing is realizing how my mother, who I believed was weak, really had no choice in how she lived. She was married to a man who was very controlling. This ended up being a life sentence for her, since her "daddy" and that's what she called him, was in charge, high up in the military, and believed children where to be seen not heard. So I'm guessing, me be a rebellious child, didn't go well with the men who she picked. I'm sure they were all men in control, and me being the rebel, had a big struggle to overcome. I've mostly overcome oppression. She never did.

What does this have to do with travels? Well, travels for me are physical, emotional, and spiritual. Recently I hiked around a reflective lake in the mountains with my new backpack on my back. I ate mountain huckleberries that had frozen and thawed, and froze again. They tasted just as delicious as when they were firm. What fun, November and eating huckleberries. In the mountains, the noise in my head drops away. I'm sensitive to the car noise, train, bus, even the wi-fi that is everywhere in Fairhaven. Anyway, the mountains give me a reprieve from noise in and around me. I can think straight, which is what my mother always said.

Freedom. This is important for an Aries. Freedom from oppression. Freedom to be who I am, authentically me all the time. It feels right when I can do it. It feels wrong when I let myself cave, to shape with what someone else wants.

So other hikes? Recently I made a trip up to Fragrance Lake and back. It was a pretty easy climb for me, although four years ago, before Pilates, I had trouble with it. My knees hurt like crazy on the way back down. We can get better. We can get stronger, even as we get close to 60. Just get moving, that's my hit on it all.

Okay then, what are you doing to change and heal your life?

Peace,

Traveling Nan

Sunny Mountain Day

Th

at's Mt. Shuksan in the background and that's David--I didn't realize he was so tall. We are looking at Mt. Baker, just finishing up a hike along Ptarmigan Ridge. You know the Ptarmigan is brown grouse-like and turns white this time of year. A camo for the winter months. We didn't see any, unfortuately.

We hiked about four miles, which is very short for David, for me--well, I'm getting used to longer hikes. I'm finding with any of these traveling hardships: sore muscles, bad weather, heavy pack, wet socks, you have to grin and bear it. Dad always said that to me as a kid, but I thought it was wrong. I've felt for some time we need to feel all our feelings. Of course, that's true when doing healing work from years of abuse, but in general, I think I've needed more of an attitude shift than anything. Yes, just not thinking about the suffering makes for less suffering. If this is true with all suffering, perhaps the goal of not thinking is what makes Buddhism work. Just meditate and keep going.

Well, just blabbing here as usual; I'm doing Pilates twice a week, probably mentioned that before, but strengthening the shoulder girdle has helped me to carry a pack and when I fell on the trail--my feet went out from under me on a slippery gravely place, I ended up in bridge pose, catching myself with one hand. I was impressed, not a sore muscle resulted from this fall. Strong core, strong shoulders, strong back--well worth the days I'd come home and flop on the couch, exhausted.

Hard work is tiring--perhaps I was just allergic to the hard work. Maybe my mama, from the south you see, taught me to be prime and proper and prissy. She would hardly venture outdoors, let alone walk in the woods where flies and mosquitoes might bite. Me, I'm an adventure girl now and I've got an adventure boy, and he doesn't stop--so either I keep up or I'm going to sit home and whine about my flabby condition. Voting for staying in shape here at 58. How about you?

We had another adventure after this one. Out in the San Juan Islands. More about that later.

Peace,

Traveling Nan

09-09-09

Hi Everyone,
I thought this would be a special day, and it is in someways. My sister is coming to visit from Spokane, which has only happened once before. We'll have a little dinner out with my daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild. My family gets together about once a year. I used to think this was terrible and would complain about it. Now I think it is what it is. I love them all, that is the most important thing.

And it is a special day in that I'm cooking tomatoes from my garden into soup. Nice homemade tomato soup. Also, I will have a good Italian dinner tonight. That is special.

I've been thinking today that it is important for me to get back to my art. There is a place in me that hurts because I don't do my art now. I talked to an artist friend yesterday and he was encouraging that I do art and throw it away. This feels right, so there isn't the thing about making something that someone wants, just making something. Friday I will do art. I promise.

So David is on the ship outside of Greenland. He just stopped in, in his thoughts, which I love to see. There are deep fjords there and the possibility of spotting whales, although I don't think they have. (This is me in my Icelandic scarf--fast forward photo taken after David returns.)

Here is the latest wildlife report:

"Sun is still shining in our Hearts and outside here too. Cruising through the icebergs (mongo, even by Antarctic standards...), brash ice, and red rock hilltop with Peregrine Falcon, eyrie! Male sitting on the scrape as the sun rose and a juvenile male food soliciting perched up the red cliff face above the icebergs, sea and some of our zodiac cruisers. We hiked up top and spotted ten predated Pink-footed Goose eggs, Ravens (2) flying about chased by Grines, and lovely red birch leaves low, almost vine-like on the ground along with orangey/yellow Willow leaves. Zodiac cruised afterwards among the white giants. Dimpled like golf balls, blue ice veins, oxygen escape route grooves, etc, etc. Massive caves, seracs, underwater shelves, etc.."

I can imagine this landscape, and in fact looked it up on Google Earth. Fantastic. Now to plan some travel for me. I'd like to see some unusual and awesome landscape. In the mean time, I'm looking hard at what is around me. The leaves are turning, the sunsets are purple and orange, the rain is soft, the sunflowers are bent over. It's splendid, really.

So 09-09-09 is special because my life has fallen into place.
Peace,
Traveling Nan

Hiking

Here we are on Skyline Ridge. Just a few days after David returned from the Arctic. He was a strong hiker, compared to me, and I didn't have jetleg. I'm working on getting stronger, through Pilates and daily walks. It was a foggy day, but I loked it. We took lots of photos. David was dissappointed by the fog since he wanted me to see Mt. Baker. I've seen it before, I know it would have been breathtaking, but I was happy to be hiking and be in the silence.

Before he returned from the Arctic, I had a dream one night that a polar bear was chasing me. I had a bowl of candy (I admit to my sweettooth) so I threw bars to him. That distracted him and gave me enough time to get away. I told David about this dream and he said, "That's some dream... sounds like the nighmare I was having before coming here... Ya done good gal... throw 'em something to satisfy their curiosity, shout loud as you can, get to high ground (my plan was also to throw rocks hard)... that said, if they are on the shore, they are getting hungrier by the day and if old or young, may attack without warning! Theyare very unpredictable. There are signs to watch for, but they are not100%. We had an old male today who kept us from landing at Discobukta (Kittwake Canyon). We tried for some time, but he would not leave, so we did."

I heard a mainland bear story lately, a food bag not hung high enough in a tree. The bear just reached up and swiped his paw over it, riping it open. All there food was gone, except for canned goods. They were on a 10 day hike, kept going, ate little. Dangerous.

I've been around a lot of bears, mostly black bear in norther Idaho. They want the food and come down lower as the berries run out or if it isn't a good berry year. People think they are cute, but they are dangerous and making a lot of noise, getting real big, and going the other way is the best bet.

David is back in the Arctic now for two weeks, then home until November. We're planning another trip when he returns, this time perhaps to a cabin somewhere. In the meantime, I'm tending my garden, the last of the summer bringing on a lot of tomatoes and squash and beans. Nice! And swimming still in the bay. What fun!

Peace,
Traveling Nan

Me on Skyline Ridge

It was a foggy day. We'd planned this trip while David was away in the Arctic above Norway. I kept looking ahead at the weather thinking it would be a sunny day for our hike. It wasn't. At least not up above in the mountains.

We car camped on the way up to Skyline Ridge, off the road in a green clearing with lots of ferns and blackcaps and alders. It was very pretty and very quiet. It's so noisy here in Fairhaven, that when I get to the quiet, it's astounding, and I sleep deeply although I'm only lying on a small air mattress in the back of a truck/camper.

By the way, credit for this photo goes to David P. Drummond. He's not only an excellent guide, both camping and hiking, he's also a great photographer. And an amazing thing has happened since we've been seeing each other, I've been photographed. Now this is interesting, because there are lots of photos of me and home movies from when I was growing up. But I got to a point where I just didn't want my picture taken. I was angry, see. Angry over the way I was getting badgered as a child and teen. Emotional abuse. So when I had my picture taken, I just looked beat down, dull eyed, sad, mad, etc. But now, well you can see that hardship and healing can rejuvenate the soul.

Enough about how I look. How do I hike? Slowly. I take a Pilates class once a week and have good strong abs. I walk everyday, sometimes an hour, sometimes not. But I live in a place where I walk to the store and the bank, etc. So really, I walk everyday. I'm in pretty good shape, but my stamina is low. I don't know why. Sometimes I think it was because I was raised with smokers. You know, all that smoke in the car with the windows rolled up, all that smoke in the house. Too bad for my lungs, but hey, here I am building my stamina. What's to complain about.

On this hike we stopped for me to catch my breath and wipe away the sweat. I don't have all the gear; you need gear that isn't made of cotton. You need for the sweat to dry quickly, and cotton holds the wet against your skin. Very dangerous. I don't have a good pack, nor do I have a great coat. The one I'm wearing in the picture isn't bad (from the thrift store) but it is a little big and there is no lining. I just wear wool beneath if I need to be warmer.

We hiked along the ridge through the fog and I used my magic to bust the clouds, but it didn't work well, although once the clouds parted a bit. It was pretty, a glacier in the distance. I really know what Eckhart Tolle means when he talks about being in the now, because it is hiking and kayaking where I've experienced the brightness of detail, so keen the leaves and grass and water. All because I'm completely present. A state I'd like to be in more often.

Okay then, the next trip is to Lummi flats for a bicycle ride. This is after David returns from the Arctic, as he is back there now, doing his last 10 day cruise of this season.

Happy travels,

Traveling Nan

Kayaking: Silver Lake, Bellingham Bay

Ah, after awhile there is not a you, just gliding along the water. You are the water. That's what David said, or something like that. He's very experienced at kayaking. Me, I'm new. I would say I was very aware of the cold, the wind, the workout on my arms and upper back. And I could tip over, and I'd had the drill, what to do if I fell in. But what would it truly be like? Going overboard?

It's the same with healing, I guess. You never know what it will really feel like to lose someone, to go through changes with illness, divorce, moves, etc. The recent changes I've been through have left me at an interesting place. I'd say being empty is a good thing. Although at first I interpreted it as a bad thing. Really, it is where all possibility comes from. Being empty, Tableau Rosa, a blank slate. You can write anything on it. What I want written on my slate is an open heart. I want folks in my life who don't push me to fight, that I don't need to compete with, who give to me as I give to them.

I remember my dad preaching that, give to others as you want them to give to your, or something like that. But that isn't what he did. So how do we learn better behavior? Perhaps giving from the water where everything feeds everything else. Where the nourishment of life is a given. Here I am now ready to kayak again. I've been three times, I think. Each time I've done a little better. And with my Pilates workout, my arms and back and core are strong. That's what it's all about, you know.

Keep having fun. I'll be traveling soon with David and will have more to tell you.

Nan

Ocean Spray Leaves

I love the sun. Lately I've been out in it (I know we're not supposed to) down at Marine Park, on the brought-in beach. Yesterday and three days prior, I went swimming in the Bellingham Bay. It was fabulous and our our particularly record breaking heat days, the water was tepid. So nice.

Saltwater is great to swim in, so buoyant. I grew up around freshwater lakes, inland. It feels different inland, still, stopping, planted, where here around the water, everything is swirling and flows. I love that, but at the same time, it's restful to go inland, to feel the dry heat, to smell the smell of Eastern Washington, the dry grass, the wheat, the sage, the pine. Yes, very nice and invigorating.

David is still in the Arctic above Norway. He'll be back in ten days and this is a countdown now for us. Nine weeks is a long time to be apart. I thought that a long distant relationship would work when I moved to B'ham. With the ex, it didn't. This isn't really a long-distant relationship, it just is a long time to be apart as we are new to each other and there are so many things to learn and do. Like swimming in the sound. Hopefully he'll be into it when he returns. Well, hopefully the weather will still be great.

Here's a note from him: We had lovely day once the fog cleared and saw Atlantic Puffin, numerous wildflowers in profusion, a little history of poor quality gypsum mining, then over for Reindeer, Arctic Fox, Arctic Skua, Snow Bunting families,Fulmars and the best part for me... the first "flight" gliding down from800-1k' at the cliff nest down over a kilometer to the water by the juvenileThick-billed Murres.... very exciting!! They have just started and won't finish moulting into their flight feathers for another 40-50 days!!

Yes, I can't wait to see photos of all these birds and the landscape, ice, ice, ice. And polar bears, he's seen plenty. The guides have to carry shotguns (short version) along with them, since the bears do attack. And the guides have to go out to the firing range when back in Svalbard between cruises. Unfortunately David got the kick-back of the rifle in his face and has a couple of loose teeth now. Send him good healing energy. I'm hoping they'll heal on their own--I'm sending Reiki and distant cranial work.

Well that's about all for now. Enjoy the summer and plan an adventure. Our next one is together, going up the Nooksack River to camp. Can't wait.

Nan

Cashews

Cashews! That's one way of saying, we're two little nuts. Maybe everyone is a little nuts, especially by the time your reach your 50s. Sticking with your way, isn't it going to make you happy. Loving everyone is.

I've decided this was my year of firsts. I'd like a first every day--although I don't know if I'll get one. I've gotten a lot of firsts, however. Last night I watched a movie with my friend on her computer on her back porch overlooking B'ham with a lightning storm in the distance. It was totally fun. A first.

Today I had breakfast with my daughter and her in-laws (some folks say outlaws). It was nice, fun to be included. And now I'll go for a walk to Post Point and write poetry. That's new, I've never written poetry there. I've drawn there--but this isn't big new stuff. D is an inspiration, since he does big stuff--zodiac driving, traveling to the Arctic above Norway. Me, I'm small potatoes.

Life shouldn't be fearful. That's what I think now that I've gotten this far, scared to death most of the time. Why not be bold and brave and have at it. What's to hurt? We all die eventually, that's the only thing that can happen, really. Right?

Here's the note I got from D: We just left Aklefellet (bird cliffs) and are heading to a possible landing in a new spot and five miles away we spot two more Polar Bears.... I spotted two on my watch (mum and cub) and just missed seeing a third, but the Captain sawit first... We even had in addition to the 60k Thick-billed Murres, twoArctic Foxes and a Polar Bear (7-8 mos) on the lower cliffs eating a salad...!!So, the folks interested in more then PBs are happy and while it was cold(snowed again last night), we had fun. I found a huge rock spire with birdsnesting on it and was able to drive my zod around it, which was cool with great photo ops!Tired, so will go take a quick nap before our afternoon operations.

I was just reading in a Buddhist book this morning that loving everyone is so much more what we are doing here than just loving the self. Loving the self, being fearful to preserve the self, isn't the goal. Be big, love everyone, this is what it is all about. I love this. Every day I'm giving up my old ways, my hatred, my anger, my scowling, yes little old sweet me. all these feelings because I've been afraid of life. Now I must live. Now lust for life is the goal. Something new every day. Some say do something every day that scares you. Go ahead...leap!

Keep having fun.

Nan

Mt. Baker

Up at the Mt. Baker ski area, there are hikes out of bounds. Sometimes this isn't a safe thing to do, I mean folks get killed in avalanches. This is me. I'm doing my first shoeshoe climb up to Artist Point. Which was some trek, even a good friend of mine who hikes a lot said, "Wow, you went to Artist Point?"

I never turn down a challenge, although later, my body complains. But really, that goes away and then I'm left with these incredible pictures of snowy trees, or alpine lakes, or memories of climbing to the top of ridges overlooking grand land and lake and sea. What could be better?

This particular day--my birthday in April, not a cloud in the sky. In fact, the crows flew over, eagles too, and made shadows on the snow. It was warm enough to sit and have lunch, strip down to sweater and take in the glorious sun. It rains so much here, don't let anyone tell you differently, that when we get sun, we get out in it.

My next trip will be mid-August, with David, who will be coming back from Arctic where he has been seeing 20-25 polar bear per 10 day cruise. He's been on a number of these cruises this summer working as a naturalist and guide. We're going to the Nooksack River. Camping and hiking. Can't wait and the weather has been fabulous. Well, hopefully it will stay for that weekend. I'm guessing it will.

More later. Have fun exploring your world.

Nan

Feather Bluff

Here's my sweetie on our last camping trip. We went on a long hike, set up came and then laid in the sun. We both love to sun bathe. Now he's in the arctic up above Norway. Here's a note I just received:


Yea! We didn't get up at 4 AM, 'cuz of ice that slowed us to 3 knots even with both engines running (costly on fuel). So, we are going into Diskobutka (Duck Bay) where the Kittiwake colony is in this cool box canyon. We have to time the tides right to get there, as it's very shallow for a long ways in.

So I've been giving a lot of thought to long distant relationship, not that we're having one, because he's here a good deal of the time. But loving someone and then having them gone brings up old issues. Abandonment for sure. I've been getting a lot done, working on my books, cleaning my closets, really letting go of a lot of stuff--old stuff from my past. Which is good.

Sometimes we get a new chance to do things again in a different way. I've been wanting to be loved completely. To be adored. I've chosen men in the past who don't want to be with me, not really. Should have had my head examined, actually did have my head examined, but still I went for the ones who'd go away. And this man, he's gone now, but coming back. Thus I get to change my inner scenario.

As far as outer scenarios go. We're having a heat wave here--there, the last four days it has snowed. Oh well.

Peace and happiness,
Nan

Spokane River (Long Lake)

Here I am, out on the river with my friend Jen and my sister Loretta. It was a fabulously hot day and the sun burnt my back a little, but hey, it's summer. I haven't done anything like this in years, in fact, I've never been on the river in anything other than a row boat. I've been on plenty of lakes and even the sound (well, on a ferry and kayak) but never a speed boat.

We swam and snacked and had a great time giggling. For some reason, which I never figured out, Jen started calling me princess, maybe because I wasn't very good at lining up the trailer hitch as she backed the SUV. Well, I'm just an old girl, like a beloved dog, I guess.

Hope you're all getting some sunny weather and having some fun this summer. More later.

Nan