Inside of Outside
Sharpened tools this morning. Learned how to use a plane, a draw knife, an adze, a spoke-shave, and a wood auger. Later, practiced by making a decorative dowel to hold the paper towels in the outhouse. Also got started on fixing the ping-pong table. Drove to Wangaretta for groceries. Bought a big bottle of Nutella.
27 February 2011
Aus Day 24
Inside of Outside
Wake and on to work. Been a while since I've kept regular hours. Kind of nice. Rode in to station with Gus. Spent much of day cleaning and organizing sports equipment and games, rest on writing a letter to young folks. Aired and folded some blankets. Answered some phone calls. Brian, expert in pioneer woodworking came, showed off some wares. Beautiful chairs and stools crafted with simple tools. Looking forward to getting into the forge and joinery to learn some stuff.
Wake and on to work. Been a while since I've kept regular hours. Kind of nice. Rode in to station with Gus. Spent much of day cleaning and organizing sports equipment and games, rest on writing a letter to young folks. Aired and folded some blankets. Answered some phone calls. Brian, expert in pioneer woodworking came, showed off some wares. Beautiful chairs and stools crafted with simple tools. Looking forward to getting into the forge and joinery to learn some stuff.
Aus Day 23
Inside of Outside
Planned things. Handed out responsibilities. Made lists. Crossed things off lists. Did random jobs.
Planned things. Handed out responsibilities. Made lists. Crossed things off lists. Did random jobs.
Aus Day 22
Inside of Outside
Met Kate's parents. Spoke to her dad about Helmeted Honey-eaters. Drove wildly following Ben and Kate to work. Stuffed envelopes. Learned about Evolve's marketing. Drove with Fran and Claire to Typo. Stopped at an organic shop for bread. Swam in the King River. Typo dinner. Met Al the Wattle-man and others from the King Valley. Twenty kids running around. I ran around with them. Stayed at Typo.
Met Kate's parents. Spoke to her dad about Helmeted Honey-eaters. Drove wildly following Ben and Kate to work. Stuffed envelopes. Learned about Evolve's marketing. Drove with Fran and Claire to Typo. Stopped at an organic shop for bread. Swam in the King River. Typo dinner. Met Al the Wattle-man and others from the King Valley. Twenty kids running around. I ran around with them. Stayed at Typo.
Aus Day 21
Inside of Outside
Went to the river today to do practical training conversations. Was beautiful. Chatted with Claire. Good practice. Met up with Fran, Gus, Denno, and Claire for dinner at Thaila Thai. Awesome food. Drove to Kate's, late. Entering a silent, unfamiliar house late at night and getting into a bed, without 100% confirmation that you're at the right house is unnerving.
Went to the river today to do practical training conversations. Was beautiful. Chatted with Claire. Good practice. Met up with Fran, Gus, Denno, and Claire for dinner at Thaila Thai. Awesome food. Drove to Kate's, late. Entering a silent, unfamiliar house late at night and getting into a bed, without 100% confirmation that you're at the right house is unnerving.
Australia Day 19
Inside of Outside
Training! More training. Lots of great info. Great people. Becoming more practical, less theoretical. Dealing with hassle of Working with Children Check. Back to John and Melindas. Great food. Chill. Bed
Training! More training. Lots of great info. Great people. Becoming more practical, less theoretical. Dealing with hassle of Working with Children Check. Back to John and Melindas. Great food. Chill. Bed
17 February 2011
Australia Day 18
Inside of Outside
Woke up. Played some ping-pong with Amy and Kate. Was good. Haven't played for a while. Didn't do much else today. Drove back to Melbourne to John and Melinda's. Stopped at a park nearby. Surprised by bats! Thousands of them. Grey-headed Flying Foxes hanging in the trees like black and brown furry fruit. Swaying in the breeze and wings riffling in the wind. So many. Listened to Folk Bloodbath by Josh Ritter about 10 times. Like it. Spent the rest of the afternoon online catching up with email, facebook, chat, online banking, etc.
Woke up. Played some ping-pong with Amy and Kate. Was good. Haven't played for a while. Didn't do much else today. Drove back to Melbourne to John and Melinda's. Stopped at a park nearby. Surprised by bats! Thousands of them. Grey-headed Flying Foxes hanging in the trees like black and brown furry fruit. Swaying in the breeze and wings riffling in the wind. So many. Listened to Folk Bloodbath by Josh Ritter about 10 times. Like it. Spent the rest of the afternoon online catching up with email, facebook, chat, online banking, etc.
Australia Day 17
Inside of Outside
Woke up early to maybe go surfing. Got there. The wave was nice, but no one else was around, so I didn't. In hindsight, I should have. Oh well. Went for a run on the beach instead and then a swim. Later, walked barefoot to Mariner's Falls. Was beautiful and peaceful. Saw some picturesque sheep. People look at you funny when you walk around barefoot. Drove back to Geelong. Stopped at another waterfall on the way. Lots of blackberries. Wanted to eat some, but signs said they had just been sprayed with pesticides. Met up with Kate and Amy. Went to see The Last 3 Days with them.
Woke up early to maybe go surfing. Got there. The wave was nice, but no one else was around, so I didn't. In hindsight, I should have. Oh well. Went for a run on the beach instead and then a swim. Later, walked barefoot to Mariner's Falls. Was beautiful and peaceful. Saw some picturesque sheep. People look at you funny when you walk around barefoot. Drove back to Geelong. Stopped at another waterfall on the way. Lots of blackberries. Wanted to eat some, but signs said they had just been sprayed with pesticides. Met up with Kate and Amy. Went to see The Last 3 Days with them.
Australia Day 16
Inside of Outside
First day of training! Woke up this morning and it was raining! Hadn't accounted for that possibility. Walked 45 minutes to my car and then to the training site. Was very wet by then. Lots of great new ideas. Learning about narrative therapy. Actually, learning about therapy in general. Awesome people. Felt like I had found my people here in Australia. Look forward to getting to know them better and joining their community for a little while. Hung out with Ben, Kate, Kate, and Dee for a bit, then drove the Great Ocean Road again. Still beautiful. Went to Apollo Bay. Stayed with Jessie. Played guitar again. Miss my guitar. Watched District 9. Finished Season 2 of the Wire.
First day of training! Woke up this morning and it was raining! Hadn't accounted for that possibility. Walked 45 minutes to my car and then to the training site. Was very wet by then. Lots of great new ideas. Learning about narrative therapy. Actually, learning about therapy in general. Awesome people. Felt like I had found my people here in Australia. Look forward to getting to know them better and joining their community for a little while. Hung out with Ben, Kate, Kate, and Dee for a bit, then drove the Great Ocean Road again. Still beautiful. Went to Apollo Bay. Stayed with Jessie. Played guitar again. Miss my guitar. Watched District 9. Finished Season 2 of the Wire.
Australia Day 15
Inside of Outside
Another day of driving. Drove the inland route this time. Not as beautiful as the Great Ocean Road, but still a great drive. Much faster. Got back to Melbourne in the early afternoon. Spent the time looking for a hostel, because I needed an Australian address to apply for a Working with Children's Check. Found one. Tired. Parked about 45 minutes walk away. Didn't have soap, so I had to spend 30 minutes hunting down a shop that sold soap. Showered, finally. So tired. Watched an episode of 'The Wire.' Cooked up some of my kumara. Delicious. 1st day of training tomorrow. Even ironed my clothes. Haven't ironed anything in years.
Another day of driving. Drove the inland route this time. Not as beautiful as the Great Ocean Road, but still a great drive. Much faster. Got back to Melbourne in the early afternoon. Spent the time looking for a hostel, because I needed an Australian address to apply for a Working with Children's Check. Found one. Tired. Parked about 45 minutes walk away. Didn't have soap, so I had to spend 30 minutes hunting down a shop that sold soap. Showered, finally. So tired. Watched an episode of 'The Wire.' Cooked up some of my kumara. Delicious. 1st day of training tomorrow. Even ironed my clothes. Haven't ironed anything in years.
08 February 2011
Australia Day 14
Inside of Outside
Lots of driving today. Woke up to another beautiful sunrise, but then went back to bed. Drove, and drove. All the way to Adelaide. Took quite a while. Didn't get there until probably 9 or 10. Went downtown looking for a hostel. Many were closed, or booked. Or expensive. Or charged more if you were Australian. Was gonna stay the night or grab some food, but was just too tired. Dropped Brooke off at a park, and drove out of Adelaide to a rest stop. Slept in my car. Got hot. Opened the windows. Got chewed by mosquitos.
Lots of driving today. Woke up to another beautiful sunrise, but then went back to bed. Drove, and drove. All the way to Adelaide. Took quite a while. Didn't get there until probably 9 or 10. Went downtown looking for a hostel. Many were closed, or booked. Or expensive. Or charged more if you were Australian. Was gonna stay the night or grab some food, but was just too tired. Dropped Brooke off at a park, and drove out of Adelaide to a rest stop. Slept in my car. Got hot. Opened the windows. Got chewed by mosquitos.
Australia Day 13
Inside of Outside
Woke up. Stretched on the beach at sunrise. So pink! Beautiful. Went for a swim. Ate bread and peanut butter. Took a nap. Started to drive out of the park, but Brooke saw a koala. Stopped and watched it. Found 20+ more koalas all sleeping in the trees. So cool. Walked a bit in the woods and startled a koala sitting on the ground. It jumped up the tree, but then came back down and didn't move. Got within 6 inches of it! Drove some more. Saw the 12 Apostles! Big free standing rock formations. Beautiful. Took a nap on the cliffs above the ocean. Was mostly peaceful, except for the helicopters passing by overhead giving aerial tours of the coast. Went dumpster diving for the 1st time! Got some kumara (sweet potatoes from New Zealand), garlic, a load of onions, squash, garlic, beans, potatoes, and a bunch of bread. Feast! Camped on the side of the highway at a rest stop.
Australia Day 12
Inside of Outside
Monday. Was waiting to hear from Evolve, the place I'll be working with for the next little while. Found out I wouldn't be meeting with anyone until Friday. Took off! Decided to drive the Great Ocean Road. Drove to Torquay, southwest of Melbourne. Stopped and checked out the beach. Not much surf there today. Supposed to be a good place to surf. Kept going. Picked up a hitchhiker. Named Brooke. Nice girl. Good chats. Ate my first ever passion fruit. So tasty! And slurpy! Picked up two more hitchhikers, but only needed a ride a few km down the road. Climbed a tree, and spent time on the playground swings. Didn't have a plan, so drove Brooke to Cape Otway, and camped there. Saw Orion tonight! But it was upside down! Australians call it the Saucepan or the Pot.
07 February 2011
Australia Day 11
Inside of Outside
Woke up and went for a run with Andrew along the beach. Phew. Haven't done that in a while. Swam after. Colder than expected. Later, went with Andrew and U. Allan and watched a cricket match. Thanks to U. Allan, I finally understand the game of cricket. Not all the intricacies, but I understand the basics now, and can watch a match and know what's going on. Then went and flew Andrew's kiteboarding training kite. That was fun. Went to St. Kilda, looking for the St. Kilda market unsuccessfully. Drove to John and Melinda's, but took me about three hours, because I got lost, and was too stubborn to call and ask for help. Got there. Was good.
Australia Day 10
Inside of Outside
Went into Bendigo to the mall. Got a lady to cut off my ponytail. Saved it. Might sell it later. Kinda like having short hair again. Drove to Loristown. Had a family gathering with U. Allan, A. Ruth, Andrew and company, U. Barrie, A. Claribel, Eleanor, John and Mindy, Nigel, and Jeanne and Ian. Was great. Sooo much food. Delicious. Veggie curry puffs, corn, bbq, fruit, fish, cheese, and much more. A feast. Also good to catch up with fam. Had a sewing party with Melinda, since my pants had ripped. Saw a sulphur-crested cockatoo. Went to Andrew's place and spent the night in Williamstown.
Went into Bendigo to the mall. Got a lady to cut off my ponytail. Saved it. Might sell it later. Kinda like having short hair again. Drove to Loristown. Had a family gathering with U. Allan, A. Ruth, Andrew and company, U. Barrie, A. Claribel, Eleanor, John and Mindy, Nigel, and Jeanne and Ian. Was great. Sooo much food. Delicious. Veggie curry puffs, corn, bbq, fruit, fish, cheese, and much more. A feast. Also good to catch up with fam. Had a sewing party with Melinda, since my pants had ripped. Saw a sulphur-crested cockatoo. Went to Andrew's place and spent the night in Williamstown.
Australia Day 9
Inside of Outside
Picked up the car today. Wow. I opened the wrong door every time I went to get in the car. Driving on the other side of the road takes some adjustment. Every time I tried to put the blinkers on, I put the wipers on instead. It's a manual. Love driving stick! Learned something about cricket today, U. Barrie explained a little bit about it. Went over to Jenny's place. Drove Jayden and his friend to Tennis.
Picked up the car today. Wow. I opened the wrong door every time I went to get in the car. Driving on the other side of the road takes some adjustment. Every time I tried to put the blinkers on, I put the wipers on instead. It's a manual. Love driving stick! Learned something about cricket today, U. Barrie explained a little bit about it. Went over to Jenny's place. Drove Jayden and his friend to Tennis.
Australia Day 8
Inside of Outside
Woke up early to go and see some Kangaroos. Drove just down the road and saw them in a field. Tried to get close. They look so funny when they jump. It's just such an unfamiliar motion for an animal. Went and took a tour of the Gold Mine in Bendigo. Went 150 feet or something like that, underground. That was level two. Some of the mines go down like 30 levels or something like that. The network of mines in this area is huge! U. Barrie took me to see his friend how sells/rents cars. Rented a car! Gonna pick it up tomorrow. Freedom. Now I have a place to sleep when I need it, and can get away from the city and go see some things. Awesome.
Woke up early to go and see some Kangaroos. Drove just down the road and saw them in a field. Tried to get close. They look so funny when they jump. It's just such an unfamiliar motion for an animal. Went and took a tour of the Gold Mine in Bendigo. Went 150 feet or something like that, underground. That was level two. Some of the mines go down like 30 levels or something like that. The network of mines in this area is huge! U. Barrie took me to see his friend how sells/rents cars. Rented a car! Gonna pick it up tomorrow. Freedom. Now I have a place to sleep when I need it, and can get away from the city and go see some things. Awesome.
Australia Day 7
Inside of Outside
Took the train to Bendigo today. Train went through Kangaroo Flat, but I didn't see any. U. Barrie met me at the train station. I tried to get into the driver's seat, instead of the passenger's seat. Met up with A. Claribel and Eleanor too. Met Jenny and Jayden too. Great to get to know family that I haven't seen in a long time. Or ever. U. Barrie took me around and gave me a historical tour of the beginnings of Bendigo, during the Gold Rush Era, and the beginnings of his family history. Was very interesting.
Took the train to Bendigo today. Train went through Kangaroo Flat, but I didn't see any. U. Barrie met me at the train station. I tried to get into the driver's seat, instead of the passenger's seat. Met up with A. Claribel and Eleanor too. Met Jenny and Jayden too. Great to get to know family that I haven't seen in a long time. Or ever. U. Barrie took me around and gave me a historical tour of the beginnings of Bendigo, during the Gold Rush Era, and the beginnings of his family history. Was very interesting.
Australia Day 6
Inside of Outside
Went back to the Queen Victoria Market today. Saw Opals! Beautiful. Expensive though. Bought and ate an organic peach. Was so delicious, I walked back and bought another one. Didn't do much else today. Played guitar for a couple of hours. Went to a shisha bar with Christian. That was pretty cool. Really want to get out of the city. Too much city is making me crazy.
Went back to the Queen Victoria Market today. Saw Opals! Beautiful. Expensive though. Bought and ate an organic peach. Was so delicious, I walked back and bought another one. Didn't do much else today. Played guitar for a couple of hours. Went to a shisha bar with Christian. That was pretty cool. Really want to get out of the city. Too much city is making me crazy.
05 February 2011
Australia Day 5
Inside of Outside
Went and met up with Christian, my next host, host number 3. He was busy working on his thesis, so his roomie Joanne went with me out to a market where I got some fresh veggies. Came back. Ate a million plums from the tree in their backyard, and mowed their grass, which was about two feet high. Played Joanne's guitar! Felt good to play. Christian made Somali Tea, which was delicious. I need to look up a recipe for that.
Went and met up with Christian, my next host, host number 3. He was busy working on his thesis, so his roomie Joanne went with me out to a market where I got some fresh veggies. Came back. Ate a million plums from the tree in their backyard, and mowed their grass, which was about two feet high. Played Joanne's guitar! Felt good to play. Christian made Somali Tea, which was delicious. I need to look up a recipe for that.
Australia Day 4
Inside of Outside
Went to the Prahran Market for Breakfast with Wei. Had the best yogurt ever and a chocolate muffin. Walked to Fed Square and met with Wei's friend. Came back and watched some Tennis.
Went to the Prahran Market for Breakfast with Wei. Had the best yogurt ever and a chocolate muffin. Walked to Fed Square and met with Wei's friend. Came back and watched some Tennis.
Australia Day 3
Inside of Outside
Talked to Wei this morning, my next host. Wanted to meet in the morning, so I packed up and took the tram to his place in St. Kilda, south of the Yarra River. Hung out for a bit. Got some lunch. Had some great conversations about poverty and other stuff. Then he went to watch the Australian Open, and I borrowed his bike to go and look at cars. Didn't get a car. Went with Wei and a potential new roommate to the Australia Open. Watched some Men's Doubles, and then sat on the lawn and watched a match on the big screen.
Talked to Wei this morning, my next host. Wanted to meet in the morning, so I packed up and took the tram to his place in St. Kilda, south of the Yarra River. Hung out for a bit. Got some lunch. Had some great conversations about poverty and other stuff. Then he went to watch the Australian Open, and I borrowed his bike to go and look at cars. Didn't get a car. Went with Wei and a potential new roommate to the Australia Open. Watched some Men's Doubles, and then sat on the lawn and watched a match on the big screen.
Australia Day 2
Inside of Outside
Woke up and went to the Queen Victoria Market. Huge outdoor market. Oldest in Victoria, I think. Every kind of souvenir available. Bought some bread and cheese and dip, and some slightly bruised fruit. And 8 avocados. Also got a phone. Walked in the Botanical Gardens along the river. Went to the Salvation Army and bought a tshirt for $2. Read in the park, and then went back to my hosts place.
Woke up and went to the Queen Victoria Market. Huge outdoor market. Oldest in Victoria, I think. Every kind of souvenir available. Bought some bread and cheese and dip, and some slightly bruised fruit. And 8 avocados. Also got a phone. Walked in the Botanical Gardens along the river. Went to the Salvation Army and bought a tshirt for $2. Read in the park, and then went back to my hosts place.
Australia Day 1
Inside of Outside
Phew. Long flights. Left from Buffalo on the 17th, arrived in Australia on the 19th. Didn't do much today. Read some on the flights. When I got here, I found a local bus, and took it into downtown, and then learned how to use the public transit system, to get to the house of my first couch surfing host. Was very tired. Got there. Hung out for a bit, and then slept. Oh so good.
Phew. Long flights. Left from Buffalo on the 17th, arrived in Australia on the 19th. Didn't do much today. Read some on the flights. When I got here, I found a local bus, and took it into downtown, and then learned how to use the public transit system, to get to the house of my first couch surfing host. Was very tired. Got there. Hung out for a bit, and then slept. Oh so good.
Ten Days
Inside of Outside
Here's some journal notes I kept, while I was camping for ten days solo, in November and December, 2010.
Nov 28
Started hiking prob around 9ish. Hiked for maybe 1.5-2 hours. Camped on flat spot on rocks by lake. Can hear waves. Need to turn off light to save batteries.
Nov 29
Woke late morning. No time keeping device is wonderful. Cooked cereal. Packed up. Walked. Gorgeous views. Sunset grand, but view blocked. Passed a large animal. Deer? Stopped for lunch at cove. Spaghetti, mushrooms, tbits, and green curry sauce. Stretched. Need to stretch more. Earlier to bed today. Maybe 2 hours or 3 after dark. Read some. Figured 60-65 pages a day. Maybe I'll write a letter.
Nov 30
Woke up to rain. Packed slowly. Checked 4 phone message from park. None. Ate granola. Hiked. Cool checkerboard rocks. Walked through the swamp. Thought I'd be caught by the storm. Got to the beach. Made camp. Dried stuff. Cooked. Stretched. Laughed for joy. Huge blocks of cliff in the lake. Dreamt last night that the cliff I was on fell into the lake. Think I'll stay here a day or two. Depends on weather.
Dec 1
Rabbit! Rabbit! Didn't move today. Stayed @ beach. So beautiful. Snowed! Awed. Made a rain catch out of birch bark, balsam? bark, and a found H20 bottle. Made a fire. Dry birchbark is sooooo handy. Hope it's sunny tomorrow. Want to bathe. I stink. Left the sauces outside. Oops. Saw a mouse and a crow / raven. Gotta learn the difference. Ate asparagus today. All dehydrated veggies working great so far. Not as lonely as I thought I'd be. More prepared for it this time? 6 nights still to go though.
Dec 2
Stayed at the beach again. Oh my goodness. Snow on stones took my breath away this morn. Bathed. Frigid! Stayed in for maybe 60 seconds. Standing in snow while dressing was the worst. Sun helped. Ate lots of snow today. Walked for 3 hours. Followed a fox trail and a coyote trail. Texted Mom and Dad. Said all's well. Made a poetry word mix. Ate mock duck and rice / broccoli. Rodents got to one of the sauces. Hung food tonight.
Dec 3
Moved. Camping by a couple of small inland lakes. Frozen! Yesterday no ice on them. So many tracks in the fresh snow--squirrel, mouse, fox? Saw a hawk yesterday. Packing and moving takes a long time. Made snow and cedar tea tonight. Good. Also couscous. Delicious. Listened to the muffled silence of the woods. Loved it. Hugged a tree. Felt really good to hold something like that. Water pump froze. Not so great for winter. Waves are natural washing machine for ziplocs. Need a new sleeping bag. This one has lost lots of loft. Almost finished 1st fuel bottle.
Dec 4
Stayed by the lake. Found the trail. Right in front of me. So much snow on this beach. Walked to Cypress Lake. Yesterday, 1000s of little black bugs (1mm long 0.1 mm wide) falling from the sy. Greatest concentration under a browned cedar. White pine needle tea tonight. Finished my book. Made a fire. Tried to dry some stuff. Didn't really work. Weird flat trail in the woods. Beaver? About 1 foot wide, like someone dragged a box. Peanut sauce delish.
My phone has sudoku! It's amazing when one's world is focused, the things that become interesting. Every thing I do from pissing to walking to admiring the snow takes on a greater meaning somehow and becomes more memorable. I mean, the highlight of a couple of days ago was hugging a tree. Weird?
Dec 5
It's been cold the past couple of days. I've started eating 4 times a day. Glad I brought extra food. Tried carving today. Made a mimikake. Simple, but I'm proud of it. Some firs have this green algae or something growing on them. Makes their trunks bright green. Startling @ 1st, but cool. Ice formations on the rocks by the lake are amazing. So delicate, intricate, transient. Rival any cave stalactite. Imagine a thousand trees all made of glass, their tops scrunched together like a cauliflower, their trunks extending downwards, but not touching the ground, just floating in air. That's what some of them looked like. I'm eager to get out of here. Starting to get lonely. I looked at myself in my pot lid yesterday. 1st human face I'd seen in a week. Saw a woodpecker today, and saw 2 ravens. Know they're ravens cause they quorked.
Dec 6
Woked up to a raven in the tree above me. Making all sorts of strange calls. Sounded like a hen @ 1st, then I don't know what for 10 min. Then quork, quork, and flew away. Hiked maybe 10-11 k today. Probably my longest day. Beautiful views of course. Found a spring! I think. Drank from it. Wasn't very cold, but that may be because I was eating snow just before. Ate a lot of snow today, since my pump won't work. It's fun stuffing your face into a mound of fluffy snow. Next time I should bring some sugar crystals. Saw some cool trees. A birch with a beautiful gnarly split in the trunk. A birch and a fir that looked like they were dancing, a birch covered in some psychedelic bright orange fungus, and a lot of cedars with this cool light green lichen and dark green moss. Really wish I had my camera today. Texted mom and dad. Hiked until after dark. Probably shouldn't have. Was getting sketchy. Kept slipping, but wanted to get to next beach. Made it. Wish I hadn't--too windy here. 1 more day. Looking forward to seeing some faces soon. Oh! HIked a little side trail to a sink hole. A collapsed cave. Just looked like a big depression in the ground. Wasn't very impressed. Knees hurt a little at the end of today. Forgot to stretch tonight.
Dec 7 (Written several months later)
Woke. Packed up. Hiked for a few hours. Stopped at a fox den and watched for an hour. Didn't see anything, except a vole nearby. Finished all the chocolate covered almonds. Carved again today, while watching the sunset. Made a snake out of a cedar branch. Thought a snake would be easiest. Rested much of the day. Hiked until about 8 or 9 to get back to near the station, then rested. Hiked another 2 hours around a loop trail. Very cool. Trees bent nearly horizontal by wind. Spent most of the night napping in a hollow near the ranger's station.
Dec 8
Woke up very early and headed to the car. Iced over. Cleared it. Packed up. Saw another human. A ranger sitting in the office. Didn't talk to him though. Drove to Paddlefoot for my First Aid course. Saw lots of people there. Was very nice.
Here's some journal notes I kept, while I was camping for ten days solo, in November and December, 2010.
Nov 28
Started hiking prob around 9ish. Hiked for maybe 1.5-2 hours. Camped on flat spot on rocks by lake. Can hear waves. Need to turn off light to save batteries.
Nov 29
Woke late morning. No time keeping device is wonderful. Cooked cereal. Packed up. Walked. Gorgeous views. Sunset grand, but view blocked. Passed a large animal. Deer? Stopped for lunch at cove. Spaghetti, mushrooms, tbits, and green curry sauce. Stretched. Need to stretch more. Earlier to bed today. Maybe 2 hours or 3 after dark. Read some. Figured 60-65 pages a day. Maybe I'll write a letter.
Nov 30
Woke up to rain. Packed slowly. Checked 4 phone message from park. None. Ate granola. Hiked. Cool checkerboard rocks. Walked through the swamp. Thought I'd be caught by the storm. Got to the beach. Made camp. Dried stuff. Cooked. Stretched. Laughed for joy. Huge blocks of cliff in the lake. Dreamt last night that the cliff I was on fell into the lake. Think I'll stay here a day or two. Depends on weather.
Dec 1
Rabbit! Rabbit! Didn't move today. Stayed @ beach. So beautiful. Snowed! Awed. Made a rain catch out of birch bark, balsam? bark, and a found H20 bottle. Made a fire. Dry birchbark is sooooo handy. Hope it's sunny tomorrow. Want to bathe. I stink. Left the sauces outside. Oops. Saw a mouse and a crow / raven. Gotta learn the difference. Ate asparagus today. All dehydrated veggies working great so far. Not as lonely as I thought I'd be. More prepared for it this time? 6 nights still to go though.
Dec 2
Stayed at the beach again. Oh my goodness. Snow on stones took my breath away this morn. Bathed. Frigid! Stayed in for maybe 60 seconds. Standing in snow while dressing was the worst. Sun helped. Ate lots of snow today. Walked for 3 hours. Followed a fox trail and a coyote trail. Texted Mom and Dad. Said all's well. Made a poetry word mix. Ate mock duck and rice / broccoli. Rodents got to one of the sauces. Hung food tonight.
Dec 3
Moved. Camping by a couple of small inland lakes. Frozen! Yesterday no ice on them. So many tracks in the fresh snow--squirrel, mouse, fox? Saw a hawk yesterday. Packing and moving takes a long time. Made snow and cedar tea tonight. Good. Also couscous. Delicious. Listened to the muffled silence of the woods. Loved it. Hugged a tree. Felt really good to hold something like that. Water pump froze. Not so great for winter. Waves are natural washing machine for ziplocs. Need a new sleeping bag. This one has lost lots of loft. Almost finished 1st fuel bottle.
Dec 4
Stayed by the lake. Found the trail. Right in front of me. So much snow on this beach. Walked to Cypress Lake. Yesterday, 1000s of little black bugs (1mm long 0.1 mm wide) falling from the sy. Greatest concentration under a browned cedar. White pine needle tea tonight. Finished my book. Made a fire. Tried to dry some stuff. Didn't really work. Weird flat trail in the woods. Beaver? About 1 foot wide, like someone dragged a box. Peanut sauce delish.
My phone has sudoku! It's amazing when one's world is focused, the things that become interesting. Every thing I do from pissing to walking to admiring the snow takes on a greater meaning somehow and becomes more memorable. I mean, the highlight of a couple of days ago was hugging a tree. Weird?
Dec 5
It's been cold the past couple of days. I've started eating 4 times a day. Glad I brought extra food. Tried carving today. Made a mimikake. Simple, but I'm proud of it. Some firs have this green algae or something growing on them. Makes their trunks bright green. Startling @ 1st, but cool. Ice formations on the rocks by the lake are amazing. So delicate, intricate, transient. Rival any cave stalactite. Imagine a thousand trees all made of glass, their tops scrunched together like a cauliflower, their trunks extending downwards, but not touching the ground, just floating in air. That's what some of them looked like. I'm eager to get out of here. Starting to get lonely. I looked at myself in my pot lid yesterday. 1st human face I'd seen in a week. Saw a woodpecker today, and saw 2 ravens. Know they're ravens cause they quorked.
Dec 6
Woked up to a raven in the tree above me. Making all sorts of strange calls. Sounded like a hen @ 1st, then I don't know what for 10 min. Then quork, quork, and flew away. Hiked maybe 10-11 k today. Probably my longest day. Beautiful views of course. Found a spring! I think. Drank from it. Wasn't very cold, but that may be because I was eating snow just before. Ate a lot of snow today, since my pump won't work. It's fun stuffing your face into a mound of fluffy snow. Next time I should bring some sugar crystals. Saw some cool trees. A birch with a beautiful gnarly split in the trunk. A birch and a fir that looked like they were dancing, a birch covered in some psychedelic bright orange fungus, and a lot of cedars with this cool light green lichen and dark green moss. Really wish I had my camera today. Texted mom and dad. Hiked until after dark. Probably shouldn't have. Was getting sketchy. Kept slipping, but wanted to get to next beach. Made it. Wish I hadn't--too windy here. 1 more day. Looking forward to seeing some faces soon. Oh! HIked a little side trail to a sink hole. A collapsed cave. Just looked like a big depression in the ground. Wasn't very impressed. Knees hurt a little at the end of today. Forgot to stretch tonight.
Dec 7 (Written several months later)
Woke. Packed up. Hiked for a few hours. Stopped at a fox den and watched for an hour. Didn't see anything, except a vole nearby. Finished all the chocolate covered almonds. Carved again today, while watching the sunset. Made a snake out of a cedar branch. Thought a snake would be easiest. Rested much of the day. Hiked until about 8 or 9 to get back to near the station, then rested. Hiked another 2 hours around a loop trail. Very cool. Trees bent nearly horizontal by wind. Spent most of the night napping in a hollow near the ranger's station.
Dec 8
Woke up very early and headed to the car. Iced over. Cleared it. Packed up. Saw another human. A ranger sitting in the office. Didn't talk to him though. Drove to Paddlefoot for my First Aid course. Saw lots of people there. Was very nice.
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