tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25012492651822648812024-03-18T15:46:57.134-07:00Finding EdenInspiring people to find their own happiness while exploring my own. We are currently on a cross Canada adventure seeking natural beauty and peace.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-89277059116710115722024-03-18T05:32:00.001-07:002024-03-18T05:38:47.000-07:00I’m going to be a ground dweller! <div><img id="id_9fd6_b73_a4a6_5abd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1lp2xh-fC1Pbcgwx1oD2naQL-YT9e0PVq" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Those who have hiked with me know how much I love my Hennessy Hammock. It is so comfortable and I sleep so good in it! However, I will not be taking it on this trail. There are so many wide open places along this trail. Sure I could hike till I found suitable trees each night but I want to be able to stop for the day whenever I feel like it. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Becca had a perfectly good Nemo Dagger 2p tent that we used on the Sunshine Coast trail in BC last summer but we knew there was better out there! It’s going to be a long walk and every extra ounce is going to count! Her Nemo weighs in at 3.86lbs (1.75kg) but her brand new Durston X-mid Pro 2 <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>weighs just 1.14lbs (0.517g)saving her from carrying 2.72lbs (1.23kg)! </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><img id="id_155d_b64e_b42c_718e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1g8XXhmOi5wR8zfKcj3yeocvvk_XDEUFl" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Gear is the fun part of planning a thruhike! You get to pull out all of your old gear and reminisce about all past adventures. And then, you get to decide what you want to replace, add or take away! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hikers spend hours sorting it all out. I pretty much know what I like to hike with so I either already had the gear or knew I needed to replace a few items. Because gear is such a researched subject and hikers like to see what other hikers are using. I’m going to post something separate with my gear list and gear weights. Why is the weight important you ask? The longer the hike the more important it is to carry less. It’s easier on your joints and makes everyday just that much more enjoyable! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Most people consider an ultralight hiker to be someone who carries less than 10lbs of gear (not including consumables like food, water and fuel). With that definition I wouldn’t be considered ultralight but I do like my full pack (with food and water) to be 17lbs or less. I don’t seem to notice the weight at all until my pack is more than 17lbs. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Right now my current gear list for the CDT is just under 12lbs (without food, water and fuel). There are many apps that are like online gear closets that let you reconfigure what you may want to take until you get the right weight or comfort level you like. I’m using one called Lighter Pack and Becca is using one called Don’t forget the spoon! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Anyway, I said current pack list because I still have to make a few decisions. Most hikers carry their own shelters but because Becca has an awesome 2 person tent I still need to decide whether to eliminate a tarp from my list or carry it in case of emergency. We are both carrying our full kitchens even though we could eliminate one, I think it will be convenient for one of us to make meals while the other makes coffees/hot drinks. And this time there may be a few more "luxury" items compared to previous trips. I may carry a small speaker and Becca may bring her kindle. Both will be perfect for bedtime stories. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I’m sure we will have our last minute gear items sorted out soon and when we do I will post each of our gear lists. </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">If you want to follow our adventure from Becca’s perspective, she will be blogging in The Trek</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://thetrek.co/continental-divide-trail/continental-divide-how-it-began/"></a></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://thetrek.co/continental-divide-trail/continental-divide-how-it-began/">https://thetrek.co/continental-divide-trail/continental-divide-how-it-began/</a></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Trouble</p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">"You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream." CS Lewis</p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-90644407120520535792024-03-10T09:37:00.001-07:002024-03-10T09:37:11.295-07:00Logistics<img id="id_4d2a_1710_9535_b3c3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1OPA8wJwBNKk2_3juOUmAKfTH9fa8pbA1" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Taken on the Appalachian Trail in 2013. I can’t wait to have muscles on my legs like that again<div><br><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I’m finished dehydrating dinners and putting together breakfasts and lunches and it’s time to sort out how they will get to their final destination. Several people have asked questions about logistics so now is a good time to explain how to plan to hike a really long trail. 3000 miles is a long way and can be overwhelming. What I like to do is look at it like a whole bunch of little section hikes all strung together. It makes planning so much easier for me! For example, when we start at the Crazy Cook Monument at the Mexican/US border we will be hiking 83 miles in the desert to get to the first town-Lordsberg. So I really just need to decide what I need for those 83 miles. On average we will be hiking 20 miles a day but since we won’t even be getting to the border till 10am on our first day we will likely hike less. Also, it’s going to be very hot and I know that heat slows me way down. So instead of planning on a 4 day hike, I will plan on it taking 5 days to get to the first town and add a whole extra days worth of food in case of emergency. Then I add things I might need to start out in a desert (chapstick, sunscreen, electrolytes…). The next section will be Lordsberg to Silver City 74 miles. I basically go through the whole process again deciding how long it’s going to take and making sure there is enough food or special items we might need in that section always adding a day of safety food in the mix. On other trails this is very straight forward because there is one route but on this choose your own adventure trail we have to decide which alternates we want to take along the way. Some of these decisions are based on what we want to do or possible stops along the way but others like the low routes in Colorado will be decided based on weather conditions when we get there. There are always the possibilities of a trail reroute due to fires but other than the weather we can plan ahead and decide where to send our food. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><img id="id_fdd5_e3e6_2d8a_65c8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1jyczQnsUq6QLRKXaRqzMi7Ed5-lo8bMU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Back when I hiked the AT I bought a trail guide and used that to learn about the towns I would be hiking through. Today there are interactive apps that give the same type of info but are updated by the hikers who are ahead of me. The Far Out app has the maps with alternates and a feature that allows me to create my own route. It shows possible water sources and hikers update in the comments how much water or the quality of water. The town and city info has everything a hiker needs to know (hotel/hostel info, restaurant and grocery store info, where to do laundry and post office info) and best of all the up to date hiker comments often include prices and whether they thought it was a nice place to go! Most of the pre-planning decisions have been based on info from this app, the CDT Coalition and a few online forums. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This all translates to a giant suitcase full of extra large ziplock bags full of what I think we will need for each little section of trail in between the towns we plan on visiting. Each bag currently has its destination along with a list of things we need to buy in that town. What is still missing is some of the mailing addresses that we will send these packages to. and this leads to another set of questions I’ve had about how do we get our resupply packages. USPS (the post office for Canadians reading this) offers flat rate boxes for set prices. We plan on sending ourselves mail using the medium and large sized flat rate boxes general delivery. There are advantages and disadvantages of using the post office to get our stuff rather than sending it to a local business in each town. The advantages are that we can call and have the boxes bounced forward to another town with no extra fees. The disadvantages are that most post offices will only hold mail for 15 days and we have to be in those towns while to post offices are open. I’ll let you know how this turns out!</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><img id="id_11e_8dd_16cd_72e5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1fulKKTvJ3_tW_-MfWPLjEj_nFVDGkNHs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So now that we’ve figured out where we are going and what we are going to eat it’s time to start training for this hike. Yesterday was time…. but the food gobbled up a lot more of my free time than I thought it would. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have time now, so I’m off to get as many steps in outside as I can!</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Trouble</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.” Earl Shaffer</span></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-11306677034253605002024-01-15T16:42:00.001-08:002024-01-15T16:59:21.731-08:00The Food Plan<p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;"></span><img id="id_d28b_3d2d_a879_3ee9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRe42dpdc5BCzkHKPa_JmB71qLlKynzlkvipc7HIg4W7acuT8lgLhMth3NOM2jiO4X6hT6qnvbgYjp2O-twCOzwV8wFRA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>This was taken along the Selkantay Trek in Peru.<br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">The affiliate <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>links I’ve added are meant for future hikers who want to know what I’m using and where to get them. If you are family or friend please just ignore the links (unless you want to try something new).</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Several people have asked food questions like “How do you carry all your food?” Or “How much food do you have to carry?” And “How do you keep your food safe?” The easiest way to answer these questions is to just explain how and what we are planning on eating while on trail and then how to prepare for it. We will be eating all vegan meals. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Breakfast will mostly be oatmeal, cream of wheat, possibly chia puddings and every once in a while fresh baked goods from towns along the way. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We pack out proportioned breakfast in medium sized freezer bags (<a href="https://amzn.to/3vC30eF" id="id_af94_96f_6d02_c768">https://amzn.to/3vC30eF</a>) and then just boil water on our mini stoves (<a href="https://amzn.to/3tT2mZq">https://amzn.to/3tT2mZq </a> and the pot <a href="https://amzn.to/3SdEWq7">https://amzn.to/3SdEWq7</a> ) and pour the hot water right into the bags. I carry a little food cozy (that doubles as my kitchen bag) and we place the bags into the food cozy for up to ten minutes and wait while our food gets rehydrated or in the case of oatmeal cooked in the hot water. Most breakfasts will be eaten directly out of the bag. </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><img id="id_bad2_a1bb_1e6d_7db9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYT9UHtwt7ccNIFBAj5pnOuefdd-Ndb6biTOhD7NC9SgO0AZj6KHeqTYjApnJ_XLdk-HS8hyhJBCCQ8rajEOKjViAHCHpg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>This is the stove and pot I’ve used for years.<br></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Our lunches are mostly going to be cold soaked meals. “What is that,” you ask? A cold soak meal is a meal that has been made ahead of time and dehydrated in a dehydrator making it safe to eat months </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">later while making it a </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">lot lighter to carry and taking up less space in our packs. </span> <span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Instead of requiring boiling water to rehydrate we just need to add cold water and wait about half an hour for our lunch to rehydrate. To save time we will probably add the cold water as we finish up breakfast and let it rehydrate all morning while we hike. While some hikers choose to cold soak in freezer bags, we are planning on carrying small, empty peanut butter jars as our cold soak containers (we can reuse the freezer bags that way plus it ensures that there are no food spills in our packs). Some of the lunches we have planned are:</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Orzo Salad</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Greek style Pasta Salad</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Potato Salad</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Quinoa Salad</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Sushi Bowl</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mexican Bowl</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Broccoli Slaw</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Coleslaw </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Most of these can be fully made ahead with just a few additions on the trail. Fats don’t dehydrate well and can go rancid quickly <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>so to avoid that problem we will be adding any dressings, oils, mayos or avocados once the meals are rehydrated on trail. On days that we leave town we will likely pack out subs, sandwiches or fresh food that needs to be eaten within hours.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><img id="id_a3fa_1060_6cc1_eaa1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRkPalgAX7ppZowPBZQayCKu9Gap8uof9O6c4941Qx-1NxlkrMf7asvH8zqZa0WlaKyhLcoDheQjJ3WuBhwx05TG0YIVw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Dehydrating stuffing in my Salton dehydrator.<br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Our dinners will be hot meal made the same way we make breakfasts. Some of the dinners we have planned are:</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Spaghetti Mushroom, onions, garlic, gravy & rice</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Mexican quinoa Mashed potatoes, stuffing & mushroom </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Pasta with squash sauce</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lentil veggie stew</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Lentil, sweet potato curry</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Vegetable chilli</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So how do I make meals several months in advance? I dehydrate them! I have a cheap Salton Dehydrator (<a href="https://amzn.to/47DfD6v">https://amzn.to/47DfD6v </a>) and I’ve borrowed a second dehydrator from my step daughter (<a href="https://amzn.to/3HhQZxk">https://amzn.to/3HhQZxk </a>). Using two dehydrators will allow me to make 20 meals at a time! If we were to make all of our food we would likely need 816 meals! That’s a lot! And it’s also not realistic! Some days will be spent in towns where we will eat at restaurants that probably eliminates at least 90 meals right there. On top of that hikers get sick of what they mail themselves real quick. To minimize that problem we will likely use our meals for the first and third months and plan on buying <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In towns along the way for the other months. That means I only need to make two months worth of food for both of us which would be 360 meals. That is still a lot but when you consider that breakfasts are mostly just proportioned hot cereal it makes it so much easier! 240 meals! 120 lunches and 120 dinners. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Ok, but are you really going to carry all that dehydrated food in your pack,” you ask? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Definitely not! I don’t like to carry any extra than I absolutely have to! The plan is to mail our food first to friends in the US and then to post offices in towns along the trail. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These are called mail drops. We will arrive in a town, go to the post office and pick up our next weeks worth of food. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><img id="id_1ef7_f71_69ef_f45" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRVtZRjbp8ovRShrUq342C5NtI1XhnVvap6TOxtZ2jMJlE7NveBIVGQKkeuhk1dF3cK7uElRhmzEjlX0bHf_9DgQ9Vo9A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>The Ursack Major2xl Bear Resistant Bag<br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“But how do you keep your food safe”? As someone who works in a commercial kitchen my first thought when I hear that is about keeping my food from going mouldy or bad but I realize that’s not what this question is about at all! People want to know how we plan on keeping our food away from animals! Enter the “ Ursack Major 2XL (<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08BLW7C42/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_CC9TPQHW35F00ANXBXJJ?linkCode=ml2&tag=findingeden05-20" id="id_359c_7b12_9310_4f29">https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08BLW7C42/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_CC9TPQHW35F00ANXBXJJ?linkCode=ml2&tag=findingeden05-20</a>).” This is a bear resistant bag made out of an extremely tough material. It will hold a weeks worth of food for both of us! We each own a smaller version of this bag but it only made sense to save the weight of carrying both bags and just buy the bigger one that will store all of our food safely each night. There are two downfalls to this bag, one is totally preventable the other we would just have to deal with it if it happens to us. One of the disadvantages of this bag is that it isn’t smell proof so animals may be attracted by our delicious food. This is entirely preventable! We can put our food in an odour proof bag <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(<a href="https://amzn.to/4aPv1PM">https://amzn.to/4aPv1PM </a>) first and then put that bag inside the Ursack. The second “disadvantage” is that while no animal can get into our food, they can crush our food trying to get to it. Hikers who have had this happen to them are a minority but it does happen and they have had to eat powdered, crushed <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>food. But hey, they still had food to eat and didn’t have to starve till they made it to the next town!</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“What about snacks?” We will likely just buy snacks to pack out at each town stop that way we can get what we want at the time and not always have the same snacks. </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><img id="id_20f_ded1_d0f7_1ca6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSb5MZvWGD8qb0ht7PHcXP990MAGGbrosI2lm0E4n2Dud-oa6DNK5dG3WrGTCUPLpne6d9Rt754g_B0fJ9tifNN5fGSBw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Enjoying coffee along the Cape Chignecto Trail in Nova Scotia.<br></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I can’t believe I didn’t mention coffee! We haven’t discussed the possibilities yet but <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have been trying out different powder creamers. So far this one is my favourite: (<a href="https://amzn.to/48V7iw0">https://amzn.to/48V7iw0 </a>). On previous hikes we have used this pour over but we will likely just use instant coffee (<a href="https://amzn.to/48BxnQQ">https://amzn.to/48BxnQQ</a>).</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So that’s the food plan. I’ve already started dehydrating and will keep you posted on how that’s going occasionally. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thanks for reading and if you have more questions about food, feel free to leave it in the comments.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Trouble</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go."<br>Carol Burnett</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; min-height: 24px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-75404057193599371592024-01-09T07:28:00.001-08:002024-01-09T07:28:29.692-08:00The Continental Divide Trail<img id="id_cf1f_5b67_36d5_9e5c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYT1H_53d7nJks2t_7tgqR6ONKxPdsOi06B5iTm92dt6NUacmp7K5HWGA9dZCWTVrvxDTWsFXjg3XPya7Iv3jBtOD1cOZQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 355px; height: auto;"><br>There are more than a few dozen who have completed the Triple Crown. I think the current number is 85.<div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Before I hiked the Appalachian Trail I had been reading trail journals for years. I read so many amazing adventures (mostly of the AT) but every once in awhile there would be a hiker who would go on to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and then the Continental Divide Trail. It’s called the Triple Crown when you have thruhiked all three trails. Anyway, that’s when the dream began to hike all three trails. It was really just a pipe dream, my focus at the time was just learning all I could about the AT. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Fast forward more than a decade and here I am all these years later having hiked the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail with one more trail to go. In reality there have been many smaller trails that were just as much fun in between (and I’m sure there will be many more smaller trails in my future) but in my mind there is just that one big trail left to do! </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><img id="id_457f_5c55_7baf_dbf1" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSDPPBLbXFwcbNEAIX-yRp6og8bbd1lMt3LXXIu7F0kSj680pQQpIh-aaqTNO67b9wWSJMLbaVQNFzr51l4iODFleQh-g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>One of our shorter hikes was the Selkantay Trek in Peru!<br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Many of those shorter hiking trips had been taken with my daughter and there had been many conversations about her hiking the CDT with me but it still seemed like more of a dream than a goal that was actually going to happen. All of that changed recently when my daughter purchased seats on a shuttle to the border of Mexico and flights to Tucson,Arizona and said “We are going on a trip!” I am so freaking excited about this! It’s awesome that she wants to hike it and hike it with me (even though she already knows I am a lot slower than her). I saved this trail till the end because it is a more difficult trail that requires good navigation skills (most hikers who have hiked it say they lost the trail almost daily) but she is choosing to do it as her first long trail! I’m so thankful she is willing to do this with me and make my dreams a reality!</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_a243_1c47_88e7_ab0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSMuA7h5WxxRtcYUP4Sjg5XqUMP1o3k6xGnhe7ljNOaPYV2TUzciH2ZX3D3S7W3p_TwHyTvsFv2lFCTY8Tx7BKeKejp" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">About this trail:</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Continental Divide Trail (known as the CDT) is a 3,100 mile (4,988 km) footpath that starts at the Mexican border in New Mexico and ends at the Canadian border in Alberta. This sounds like a crazy amount of miles but it isn’t exactly a single path trail like the AT or the PCT, this trail is more like a choose your own adventure trail. It has a whole bunch of alternate route options that make the length of trail shorter or longer depending on which routes we take. Let’s just assume that we will be walking at least 2,600 miles (4,184 km)so it will end up being around the same length as the PCT. As long as we walk each step from Mexico to Canada it doesn’t matter which routes we take! The trail starts in a desert (I already am planning to hike the Gila River alternate as it takes us along a river, to natural hot springs and ancient Cliff dwellings) </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">and will take us up to Colorado and several 14,000ft hills to climb! Then on to Wyoming to the Great Divide Basin, the Wind River Range and Yellowstone! Next the trail will take</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">us to Idaho <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and then Montana where we will hike through the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Glacier National Park. It ends at the Canadian border at a monument in Watertown,Alberta. </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Wikipedia lists the hazards as:</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> avalanches</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> black bears</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">dehydration</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> falling,</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">grizzly bears</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">hypothermia</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">landslides</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> lightning</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> mountain lions</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> severe weather</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">snow</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Sounds like it’s going to be fun!</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Here are a couple of terms hikers use and I may refer to at some point in this journal:</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><font color="#ad1457">CDT </font>= Continental Divide Trail</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><font color="#ad1457">NOBO </font>=hiking northbound (on this trail that means starting at the Mexican border)</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><font color="#ad1457">SOBO </font>= hiking southbound (on this trail that would be hikers who started at the Canadian border</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><font color="#ad1457">Camel Up = </font>drinking as much water as possible at a water source in order to carry less water</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><font color="#ad1457">Baseweight </font>= the weight of everything you are carrying minus consumables (food, water, fuel) and <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>the clothes you are wearing</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><font color="#ad1457">Cowboy Camping </font>= just sleeping under the stars (no hammock, tent or tarp)</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">There are definitely more terms I can think of but I’m not sure if they will apply to this trail. I can add as we go along. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have been asked so many questions about not only this trail and about hiking in general and I will try get to them another day. Right now I have an adventure to prepare for! </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Thank you for taking your time to read and learn about this trail and our adventure. I hope this inspires you to go out and do what you love doing. If I can do it, so can you!</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Trouble</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“May your dreams be larger than mountains and may you have the courage to scale their summits.” Harley King</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 33px; line-height: normal; min-height: 40px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-78182498287930181502021-11-15T04:40:00.001-08:002021-11-15T04:40:38.631-08:00And the Landscape Changed<img id="id_d83_2044_f41c_3dbe" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UDVmmm1Ut3U3xVCP1Dgu-xY2B4kS8qX009SB_kxxtBhkkCtVkivg1ejJTM-l8s3QMyk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><span style="font-size: 28px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We spent a week travelling back to Ontario from Vancouver Island and saw so many beautiful places in such a short span of time! </span><br><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_501e_8dd9_9e75_f472" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vClqT6xiZ296-Fe2-252nWQzNAhng-o5Ao8Cw-czigVAKlp-uVS67I59bfTmQyYB6BY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>When we arrived back on mainland we took a different route than we have in the past and found ourselves driving just north of the American border. </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_9ac7_c7b6_9966_cbdb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/JbR1gUu3uKzgLF7GDpRF6TXatwfAo3GvqPPsNGjS-Q2v0mAGryRPw7ciYzGrxj_eXv8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Seeing the border markers made me feel like I was at the beginning of another adventure (and in a way we were, it just wasn’t a hiking adventure).</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_f392_6b_bdde_ce85" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DZDAoLvIyPcZBrNkBACqcnd_1ydrI-HuDBdEoM8ZJ0c3M4Nypk81zM90abxk8bQigTA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_cb3d_2ea_c70a_6267" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/GqTPKzwud37FBJCGGMY-P9zXVQ4B4BzbWiH7OOF0lxDYO9R6vdKOfnyb_C1tSAczWqw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Of course it made Michael feel like he needed to jump back and forth between the two countries.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_fdd9_357a_c89c_3ed2" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QSxNPM9flxDwTimObrtRbT3Tv6W_4VjHYAJoeVB3vowVrdapu0QghyzCKFqMb5UrmA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5e3b_ecc7_be7_3a43" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/y0I2coOLXh9XActbl_lfthV9WebrtwZHLkTpuXqVrF9ednTKx2yOEnZMgsNCBecraIQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Our only planned stop was in Abbotsford to spend a day with Michael’s brother Peter. We ended up picking him up and going up to Yale where the guys spent the day gold panning and I took lots of pictures and learned a little bit of local history.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_7b94_4dcb_e9e9_101e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8Q8YqQnPKZo0Vi2blD9zcnT3PnCa5ETgbrIos3368zVSz-IbifDu9DDAfOWX3eMRyzg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_9d01_23ef_e41a_c545" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Ow2medgNQefrXGGQsMO0xPHjmI6En2bt0uHHqCu0v4uryU9DU9QniPZzN28OQVDkljY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5c9e_1171_5a60_a1a9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GFwfiotROsrXZz1-fopJXoCicUBnSGp4SGk3gKoY0-BtRdcLvDM5SCXdCBcxnYmjto8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>It was a gorgeous area and one I’d like to come back to and really explore.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_4f06_7551_a533_3e44" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/u-nJfmReLaSOZYp9rqNGmoPXL8qBiTAXVhYn71jdjtFvMD0LSOp0uFuWrQrKYbuu_zM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ce00_a51d_fa91_4103" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/os8J0au4yiCSLw4nNWW13EGtmZ4pKAP6gKz-6EejYC0s53XqCHAEIEzWGxvJk5OBR88" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3a4f_aa0a_2c42_b410" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/K7gyT2gCWf5ry8ySUkEtlhPIyfa9D29P0dzcQI92hJJI4jxXsiYbjLxvGCAcnWqprzk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6f4f_788b_8d8c_4ced" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ARNebJrJh-3SXSQgvjvOyBHKVByukmGrsGGMSobigaDS4QrYhuPt8MyMMgZ8QxZTJOE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Peter found a ton of Rubies and Michael thinks he found gold!</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">I found pretty rocks!</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_6ce_d489_d4_4dbe" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9EAqzasAUeDZktSBT7i-Y7cfa-HDk8FqOSaI8gtxivK8Xc6aPuIKoiRZUi6fiiQa9Gs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_1cc4_8460_8ec4_af9f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QHQIWbnKZ7gXV5P3gRYKqsfN74yBIbVCXRRrrN000l9rEF07unrbC8MIhSTzGSLqy-c" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5da8_2df3_f084_ae47" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/TdAnRYXKkeoctEajXwqKiTNlcqoCDU9W-Lj8z560Dnflm5Mki3MnGMMsorqNhqkB1Wc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ac23_d621_b451_26c3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/nIys4alok9y9StZk0u_PLqPiZFaTycKx1ZLIN_Insp5USaScs1nxWejoVHcGsWze3YQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>We all enjoyed a perfect day!</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_e4f3_48b8_dcca_5a62" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/k5pYHTmIP_XOmyqEQRpAyIDsoePfyhdNbCxQ7dlWJDdkgvaHCWArnZc9b7PAYn6uYXU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4dc6_2ab9_68e9_523a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/euM32AzaAGXuA72C3nnTKLlGrqvpgiI4GzmYSAFkOAVSYspCLRC8DyDc9y5Ji0YGpBY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We spent the night in Abbotsford and headed east in the morning. At Revelstoke we stopped several times to take pictures.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_e8d1_8f38_40b9_bf96" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/bP5gSkVSJZUgIsTiOXMCqYATXjB46ZPR7QcC2xHDIWtJpvK8W1M4P5EowQBBEOF47Vs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_88f0_877d_a27d_c50d" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/T0J2wszdiE12Sz6QmeWL2kvMd04aZPurXA-V7vrr9y0AHkDlrrGwUHgXYeVyr50xRpw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_5a41_1708_3be7_2a8d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/k4PEG4Je87ixo7Vw9B_W1dXJC7RF3UVL8i1GML6Svv0zzQIVSHiFId7C0XhrFCi94pw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_d32d_c82a_9775_f920" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZBXMZ5wbppXzAs89L7gjA7rH0FGX44-k_W6ypKRsmO2ifW61AvTpaOnCnl8zPb476gM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>It was so sad to be leaving BC but our first stop in Alberta at Canmore was just as breath taking! I love this cute town!</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_ad35_8b61_5b63_a374" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KLlEfuPzjzpG0ztN9ktryfjkrCOwV2yuU7O6r5w89UOYNwzINgoUvId_0FAcXvnp5A4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e338_aa75_ae44_bfd6" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/g3lVKUZwbeFdu5fXgoWudNzcJ-N0mjiquuLoupRrZ4DwWWl1eMYAVVRaZg-4_EMEV5k" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>We are so grateful for the chance to travel and see these beautiful places. As we drove into the flat land we saw a different kind of beauty.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_13e5_ba69_f3bd_a449" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/0bv6af5377l88B-76kOQ2KrweFJejPFqkfQLcvndCqUG_7GyiMCm7hFRKb-nIBh69fM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ae2c_8c52_7c62_1c22" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/rvGFEQ0JGnEQcXRzrKlMRIGpuzd6pLp9atewhdRgta8UFiTLBZY7sQybfPW7SpjO1HQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_c2b_69cd_3b9b_4b86" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gm4jcRsaSnNx-MJPxOK-Bt_pFTI0YDYAT6ZEZ6y5B3bt1TRkU8g-FYonE9Ua7FWKzOU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_709d_d59c_6788_93ca" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/e8KJVX7ULgm6rvLHnriDMM2DqdssbYAJ0m3_2zVX7U7mbIWrSATK-3PF0GwSupJjnoo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a18c_b3c0_c70_5af4" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/1e2b1fg-meCxQdCn6SB-uRWxwYOzhvjOTzlMSSvjEbOtGRxiURQRvtOvpt4g2Gx9DD8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_87_9a7a_ca91_7398" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Uv2MSuZnr8dkDQQ2boG5KXWzbTsUfVyjZzqPnqRQUsmbwJSVrobw4oSQxIja1E-9W7c" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_3086_c75d_25e2_608b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7DcR4YtF2AQ6BTObhhMcXVb-W1D203QPNmcPi8DqWxnFDSesR1GnH3_vwck0adJfec" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_460f_80c8_deca_6c11" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/xL8kAl4f_J0B4lVqz-tzioukL8UNXekNiyw6S340DXMroDODjl_RZYMllh08spxzzDI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>And soon we were in the centre of Canada (east to west centre).</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_eb07_35b5_7e20_2216" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/46X7U6ivv_JszJSooUeBVgHHGs9BakIxL7wsY-ls8o6bmZaoQWL3dyEdhcfx-Ep3i30" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>And then there was the familiar landscape of Ontario.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_55ad_dec5_e04a_acbf" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/5ZTJmqUavjRlLfw5ByMOmhu0QIOI9kLF2FuLch39ZovZQPww9hDQWqjkwg8xXjQoQ7k" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2b10_699e_653e_4fb0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9HCgq1xnsdEyu9KqqkNtf_OygPSK4tsRVbKUMoLeOoHa7E-Ch4rdh8KQNrElC3gxVqY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">It was a whirlwind of a trip. We were in a bit of a rush to make it back in time for our grand daughter’s birthday and we made it! </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-91738444028499164052021-11-05T15:00:00.001-07:002021-11-05T15:00:59.568-07:00The Warmest Place in Canada<div><br></div><div></div><img id="id_94a6_bbb_11d2_2e78" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/hVm8_LHRSpjvdckCS1mEvWUTVedGi67Jzoo6q-AZujwLDx5NFSS7FeEovdnsVDis6KI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div><br></div><div>I can’t believe that it’s been almost a year since I’ve written anything. I had purposely decided not to continue the blog while we were travelling during the pandemic. I didn’t want to encourage anyone to take the risks we were taking and didn’t want to offend anyone who disagreed with our decisions. Regardless, I know that how we have spent this past year has been the very best decision for us. </div><div></div><img id="id_9f73_37cd_649d_db73" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/uRHmv1hk1EseP8GhRVq3prN60eV464t42LFso9fXSYQ5sxpohW74f-aZssL1WQv6yqI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>We have had an amazing time In British Columbia! We spent a few weeks in Vancouver to make sure we didn’t have covid before heading over to Vancouver Island. I was surprised at how many places there were to park in a busy city as big as Vancouver.</div><div><img id="id_aee0_7a43_139a_752b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/oFHrvom212_uC3w5YhYLJON9s5H7c2a0ivAfKQOCfREGw_EzA_UQxtHfYsEYUszoZ70" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>We spent days walking the beaches and a few days up on a mountain overlooking the city as well as a few days doing van projects with (my daughter) Rebecca. </div><div><img id="id_775c_2f45_e292_f2ef" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NJ4XmZzz7Fq6Ni6k7U2L-pCbkkO3QIdDq15RqoJkVcq0N3CGRjoLKb7K3ODwFGJUqfU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>When we left for the island I wasn’t sure when we would see her next but she had a job lined up within a week on the island in Victoria. It just so happens that Victoria is the warmest place in Canada so we had more than one good reason to stick around. </div><div><img id="id_4bde_993_2f74_f286" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DLLwfwtnuRRYEmGSc7hSWtij2ALrcziQPkqK5bvW6ts0BbsfCMYkxvzc-wHjuBV2_oI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>We have found travelling in a pandemic to be the best time to see the popular tourist destinations. We had the place almost entirely to ourselves even in Tofino, Ucluelet and at Pacific Rim National Park.</div><img id="id_f0a2_9180_84f3_5ee7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/APqkBKIJLANp_lnK6XCf5RnhMU3_zdLc2BafPKn598slSihmrAEcqi7X-4qMek78LN8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a941_cb3_e4b3_d855" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yRddj56z_nfp956JUem_JDPKU6FnpFNm1jBOOAEkcs4dH9Iu8amcw6WMqd9vUW-qL40" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_cba5_d7f7_494b_ef90" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zQrO70dq3ltgm5o9YOVrfICL0UjqcNq6CoVKBKbPpDx5OKO4G0wSHVzZGBf68PNueMg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>It was a little disappointing to see Cathedral Forest fenced off but the abandoned parks we found more than made up for that one area being closed. <br><div> We met other bus life/ van lifers who were more adventurous than us and had been island hopping but we left the smaller islands for a future trip and spent most of our time in Victoria.</div><img id="id_a714_168d_b037_48ec" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/cm_1PqFh7H65bpiDbxdXqs9SvArag6ZxbPRNRrDnDZncfXVYSTHDzoCdQPUaM5uEd88" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>We did make several trips to the beaches near Jordan River (where Michael learned to pan for gold). </div><div>Also multiple trips to the Parksville area.</div><img id="id_ceb_c413_b51c_cb9e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/n4ogm7etVhJHatDGOY2mUya6VsJ2dAGPzoffHud5k9fzX0wIBOvtTRQH2LmdjvedyF8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_77f9_69fa_2616_7131" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KRbTKaHA2LIaTfRIt7m5Ek4-lyAZ28jEinRLQ9tjrdDcYnDaRactWN54NHp0Bdk6sKM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_b5fb_1fd4_d08a_970" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/gh5pLj6DFz4AfDQREsAywFlk6TTDfCd_w8yiEunHgG6oG6wGRAz3agRZMwSa9PKVDd0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>I had an ordeal on the Juan de Fuca Trail where I learned just how out of shape I was (I’m in better shape now).</div><div></div><div><img id="id_6b0b_c85f_b662_5b84" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lrQplncsVQBHgUWVbLCjpX1NMCX2ByFvISsdztLdZ6QMLaS6vFFGR9WrG5D_cQxKcEE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2f89_5f35_5cb6_dd13" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/CaKFyOIzXXZuJYFnHtGSY_AVU46sRRm7XbqEWGdpNxiQ0ndLda3OqWZ8QZ7W27chSTg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>We are so thankful that we got to see so much and so many beautiful sunrises and sunsets. We are thankful that we had the time to explore a part of our own country.</div><div><font size="4"></font></div><font size="4"><br><img id="id_27ed_5edc_4562_6e9" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/7fhqWhrhHKcQg0EuNgO7jYmY65rVQKzZuNglyaX0vSlBx1YT6e7I_QGl3o4pnf36_5M" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4c59_732e_c899_5ca8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YruDMMg_kXsvqjZqqjJ08WhXHedUTvu3YHdgTU66pr9DMYXfE-btCZg5Lr0zJn32Ols" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ed55_8c70_9f82_8b85" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ogqhk9yfpU3JG7a56qJJVdp1_ODPcZt5oqQ0EjEzeDGiJy_3JPLh4YPOZEUJFxmnydE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></font><br><img id="id_e01e_ff8e_ef7a_68ea" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/05fQKmx-YG4I_xFCE-yT65e3E2bNiS53su1h1Sd71OH3Wzr4IJMz5uZS-fhlEVqeN6Y" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_37a7_cae4_1492_d144" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/jUmbvOMLrjSvh2W6iScMAeN6WXp16pRYMn1Hj7WLUPzb_DGnp5ZbsAqtvMh3_KOALK4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6ce3_b150_b338_b030" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ez3krJSmjEc_kHwDyfNiSASjPKg0wXm1UdYBBcoeLcgGejThpPDJbmZhvYYyjLlyI4A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-80057505681046810292021-11-05T14:42:00.001-07:002021-11-05T14:42:51.533-07:00The Warmest Place in Canada<div>The Warmest Place in Canada</div><div></div><img id="id_94a6_bbb_11d2_2e78" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/bxLv7akacTGwZmkNDbuYP3sUy-Wcjuz5rLQ_HlSHtKBSp1e9ZkWcyr1pq6VPNseOgC0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div><br></div><div>I can’t believe that it’s been almost a year since I’ve written anything. I had purposely decided not to continue the blog while we were travelling during the pandemic. I didn’t want to encourage anyone to take the risks we were taking and didn’t want to offend anyone who disagreed with our decisions. Regardless, I know that how we have spent this past year has been the very best decision for us. </div><div></div><img id="id_9f73_37cd_649d_db73" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nDS3GvIGcSFOCbtbN7ITiZU-dj-n1I97lm2lCRroayPoQV6-7MTmhJoDUKOGHXSFzRU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>We have had an amazing time In British Columbia! We spent a few weeks in Vancouver to make sure we didn’t have covid before heading over to Vancouver Island. I was surprised at how many places there were to park in a busy city as big as Vancouver.</div><div><img id="id_aee0_7a43_139a_752b" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/TBvLcWKPIqKVWxGd4GRHnh_IGNH1KCLSfpVKGs-JCUj_ekofu-6_BIhpFW5GlmNL6G4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div>We spent days walking the beaches and a few days up on a mountain overlooking the city as well as a few days doing van projects with (my daughter) Rebecca. </div><div><img id="id_775c_2f45_e292_f2ef" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZO8v1s8IWlI9NRkCNcuI5WqfQd-77-z1v8fL19GIaKWu0CVryuVX4ZI2fDI-d8Fhhso" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>When we left for the island I wasn’t sure when we would see her next but she had a job lined up within a week on the island in Victoria. It just so happens that Victoria is the warmest place in Canada so we had more than one good reason to stick around. </div><div><img id="id_4bde_993_2f74_f286" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/p8-rTIR4ungw3s3tz5CHYPMFJ9W6vkkRIzZChwhR8MInmG_EPI2EXxFzqXyx0Blf2rE" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>We have found travelling in a pandemic to be the best time to see the popular tourist destinations. We had the place almost entirely to ourselves even in Tofino, Ucluelet and at Pacific Rim National Park.</div><img id="id_f0a2_9180_84f3_5ee7" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/soGqN_xp7M5E7CV4VP64a72eMZAxY1cFflO2_mJacDinx5wo5kPEjPDIGHNEwJ0lg3g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_a941_cb3_e4b3_d855" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6Dk6cJqfrG1mno3zuR2iMvfjXBv9rj3HaHuWGwiaLlr5pVzHHw2GW2qRDu5bGuLehv0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_cba5_d7f7_494b_ef90" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UJEy3cB-ME9FjEcwvz3sFdJstUG-iGGRyx534XS0TLjmiDKh3OriWN51mrau83h86uU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>It was a little disappointing to see Cathedral Forest fenced off but the abandoned parks we found more than made up for that one area being closed. <br><div> We met other bus life/ van lifers who were more adventurous than us and had been island hopping but we left the smaller islands for a future trip and spent most of our time in Victoria.</div><img id="id_a714_168d_b037_48ec" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/itpinB2-uBkxeJRK_zSGaWo4Evbfs3htpDUbzYIlQJyxgskh3gXOJpAiqgFNO9zqrL8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>We did make several trips to the beaches near Jordan River (where Michael learned to pan for gold). </div><div>Also multiple trips to the Parksville area.</div><img id="id_ceb_c413_b51c_cb9e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/YS5LiZmxPzjjYfG8zHzplagQV-2iyEWArwSai9KSz0roS7cQlyjld-oMRUe9NUYF-Tw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_77f9_69fa_2616_7131" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/U5k-jtt8if9ahpc8T8QmIVrX4T_jGeu5ARw481Ff1UdBNmhrngKC5tJucEiV_BFRV40" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><img id="id_b5fb_1fd4_d08a_970" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UJjPWD-NNzyJ_A3ptpjXuPTUfF0OWxg-dsEGxnDYzqtYeIGNziVuuMFs7Us3u9O7ESw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>I had an ordeal on the Juan de Fuca Trail where I learned just how out of shape I was (I’m in better shape now).</div><div></div><div><img id="id_6b0b_c85f_b662_5b84" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8qlapqmMznNd-fEc4KdqdLmtqHgkJX0QKhYg7t1iO__dWYL-4nbKZpWp3fNuq6nNwE8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2f89_5f35_5cb6_dd13" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uv1oknCbEqjUSR3moHXXUDymbh5XSlawRhMg0licxjqg9YmHm1MjKRQnSoNH6Df610o" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>We are so thankful that we got to see so much and so many beautiful sunrises and sunsets. We are thankful that we had the time to explore a part of our own country.</div><div></div><br><img id="id_27ed_5edc_4562_6e9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CmgiH_vo7420Vx0qcEpuUptEFjw8wf8Hk7hFGZTSvzYlFL9af_XOWlRqJAYjCnPKU8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_4c59_732e_c899_5ca8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1fzBICv2vMXi699kPxQlaOENxI0jAJFRaNWlRHnHXtSjbWGf1M03TrYZ7MYLo-hKy8w" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_ed55_8c70_9f82_8b85" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OXyJJBIaRMUwfBF02mvPrQq5SzaV4N_ypoXYydJrKsgFEjzl5iRfBxEz0rvH6WZQSk8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_26de_3ef4_8acb_24da" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ePZUSEiCpbI5QIoYPrD5Z-N9pc3WRvINTARcRWxq0siOHp3MC8PR8kCZfZdx7NIqaHI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e01e_ff8e_ef7a_68ea" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/rk3yKzJpnXM62v8nbMLMeTUO5NWsQ7umq5fC-qhAOA9rixrWX76ex89lFquhnTcrTg8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_fce2_b630_43ed_1c40" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Weds1QPicXWNMKB1lFbBumsMCbpJ5czFChCIDt-0wuzRpKb7hfWWpOp8KCyOGaySvWw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_37a7_cae4_1492_d144" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/n1wc9FK5nz3MTVhOWvDx-Awdh8NP_SnanCT32pfC_2cCrlwmlICrIU_mXbxkTfuqQlY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_6ce3_b150_b338_b030" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5PKlQ6-0kOfw7CTNTm2J9XbsBGmHInY7i_a-lbXuNgzoJyBHe7pG3i8kZai5UbLRfKA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-65823774768349439312020-11-30T14:51:00.001-08:002020-11-30T14:51:48.030-08:00A Long Drive<p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_c00d_513a_ea5d_55f2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/b4w5pLd9Z9rBxlvVauJiYg2Os2vLdFwiGcib54zSLkWnjFffNfzz2BaD7w7TGtk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>A quick stop at the Spanish River.<br></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">When we bought the cabin we planned for it to be a home for half of the time. The other half we planned on hiking and adventuring. Before covid we had a plan to go hike the Florida Trail but obviously that isn’t a viable option right now. The warmest option available in Canada was BC and it just so happens that my daughter is there too! Easy decision! As we closed up the cabin I could tell that Michael was sad to leave it so soon. I on the other hand was excited for another adventure! </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_eea4_53d5_8bd7_2f30" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/knM5Z_4qi6PQpCaqcx46wtHNqXTYgMXc0aGp3bG4G2Txvr0FRdtEIWYcIrFSzJo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>We found a moose!<br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">We loaded up on groceries so that we could make as few stops as possible and spent a week crossing the country. It always amazes me just how big Ontario is and how long it takes just to get to Manitoba. And then even though I’ve made the trip before and know how flat it is I am amazed again by how far ahead I can see driving through the prairies. </span>We started to get excited as we entered the badlands of Alberta. Almost everything we plan on doing this winter are outside activities, partly because that’s what we prefer but also because it seems safer while we wait for a covid vaccine. </p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><img id="id_1d07_3bfc_efe5_a05c" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/MX1r_uWKOFvCGG0GCPgF6FZ5241jK0XhegyKegdqk_x0TaBHB4cPRZNJ98Tid3g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The exception to this is the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Michael has always wanted to go to a dinosaur museum. We enjoyed the day learning about all of the bones found in Alberta and then headed to Canmore for the night. </p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_705b_7d6f_9f22_a6b7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5OghZLtdjnXOtYc3INPD6lIZwuAyl8OYk2vwHd_jKtxD7fbWYOw28FPIiraNw6M" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Canmore is such a beautiful town and it would have been nice to spend a few days but the weather! As we drove into Canmore there was a big wind storm. Really we should have just pulled </span>over and waited it out but we were excited to get to the mountains. We walked around town and then settled on a gorgeous spot for the night with a giant mountain behind us. It would have been picture perfect except for the clouds that ruined any attempt to capture the beauty of the place. In the morning we realized that the weather forecast didn’t look good for the next few days and we had a small window to possibly get up and over the mountains or at least to the next town if we left immediately. And so we did. </p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_995e_652d_a568_a4c0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/32DQ9GUbmik-BFZSdiTr8Mlb0ld2H-maCq7RDGSkl29sAYsAPa31vReguMJEznQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">The drive through the mountains was amazing! It was the first time we have chosen to just drive by epic spots like Banff or Lake Louis and Golden but we were in beautiful weather and racing a coming snow storm. And we made it up and over the highest of peaks driving all the way to Kamloops before stopping for the night. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">It had been a week of travel and we both could use a real shower. Because of Covid we had been hesitant to make any extra stops even though we knew we could have found places to shower along the way. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In our almost five years of bus living we had never showered at a truck stop always relying on marinas, campgrounds, gyms or family and friends. For some reason I mistakenly thought that they might not be clean but was I ever wrong! I had the nicest, hottest shower I have had in my life in my own private washroom! It was great from now on truck stops will be the first place I look for shower facilities.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">We were close to Abbotsford where Michaels’s brother lives but because we had heard that there might be sickness in his house we decided to skip that visit for now. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And so my daughter would be our next stop!</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">From Kamloops the weather along the scenic hwy 1 looked to be better than taking hwy 5 and so we spent another gorgeous day driving through smaller towns and native reserves along the Fraser Valley. </span></p><img id="id_6071_d395_bb54_4b1d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xlMReSNMe6QVKgs071dCSRRpsWLdCkTPYHt_howv-HSv2vy4dv1fGNzT8pe0hmY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One of our stops was at a replica <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>old western ghost town. It was cool! The owner had spent a lot of time finding old buildings all across the west, researched and documented each one and then returned home to build replicas. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><img id="id_aa08_81e4_41dd_161a" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ZWtug24bAZOqkil1H21BugDFDFT0yWa7FNgvJfZGOH3qLl36cPJpjMYn902NYuc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">It was just getting dark when we arrived at a designated meet up spot in North Vancouver. We made it to BC! </span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><img id="id_7c7d_a56c_479e_f1eb" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/WRYlu1Rv1dt555fAifxwWsIT7RlF5uXZo8SovLsOgZBufKpiullEPHvTADoSUNM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></span><br><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-66833588800999061472020-11-10T10:55:00.001-08:002020-11-10T10:55:43.155-08:00The First Six Months<img id="id_2dfc_7dac_da84_bd0e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5XTQIgxwI93GptPd-7Hm3KkHUsRXUkXlww1fQvXwJw1XwPhQ3hQ8RD8hQIWk8J8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Vincent climbing our Poplar Tree.<div><br></div><div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">It seems fitting that our friend Vincent who was the first to come check out the cabin and help out is also our last visitor for the year. He was hoping to cut down a dead branch on the poplar tree closest to the cabin but after climbing up a few feet realized it was unsafe. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Even though the branch didn’t get cut down, <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>this year has been a giant success. There were times when Michael seemed overwhelmed by the jobs that needed to be done but we ended up accomplishing so much more than I had imagined we would this year. This list will be boring for most people but for anyone attempting a shed to cabin conversion this will give you a pretty good idea of what you can get done in six months:</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Shovelled our way in.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Took down the old greenhouse.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Built a new greenhouse.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Stripped the old stain off the inside walls.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Stained the walls with a natural cedar stain.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Made forms and poured new cement pads for our foundation.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Levelled the cabin.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Cut down the big, old staircase.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Tore up the old floor upstairs.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">10.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Installed a new floor upstairs.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">11.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Painted upstairs.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">12.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Installed new floor downstairs.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">13.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Stripped the old paint off the outhouse door.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">14.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Stained the outhouse door. Added moon.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">15.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Rebuilt the outhouse.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">16.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Added a few new beams to better support the upstairs of the cabin.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">17.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Stained and installed the new stairs.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">18.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Made a nice mountain picture for the wall.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">19.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Cut an old maple table in half and stripped and re-stained it.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">20.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Installed it as our new counter.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">21.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Made under counter shelves out of repurposed safety walls.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">22.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Installed the RV stove.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">23.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Made a mountain backsplash for the stove.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">24.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Used leftover pipe to make a pot rack.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">25.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Stained and installed shelves over the counter.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">26.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Repurposed old coffee tins into beautiful containers for kitchen storage.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">27.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Installed a double sink.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">28.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Installed a new pump for the well.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">29.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Added plumbing for the kitchen sink.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">30.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Added a filter to our water system.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">31.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Added plumbing for the outdoor shower.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">32.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Added artwork to the wooden storage baskets under the counter.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">33.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Repurposed outdoor solar lights to a few LED tap lights.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">34.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Swapped out the roof of the outhouse for a sunroof.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">35.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Planted a small garden.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">36.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Landscaped a big portion of the property.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">37.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Dug a bigger trench for the stream that runs back to the creek.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">38.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Took down one of the smaller outbuildings.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">39.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Rebuilt the outbuilding in a different spot.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">40.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Made a really cool destination sign post.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">41.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Cut down too many trees.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">42.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Made a trail that goes around the property.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">43.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Took the previous owners junk to the dump. Two trips.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">44.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Insulated one of the man sheds.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">45.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Wired one of the man sheds for power. </p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">46.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Stained the outside of the cabin.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">47.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Created a nice campfire area.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">48.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Insulated under the cabin.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">49.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Made a copper wire tree picture to use as a safety rail upstairs.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">50.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Repurposed shelves and shutters into a boot and coat rack.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">51.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Helped with a downed tree in front of the property.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">52.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Dug around the cabin and added proper drainage.</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">53.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Mouse proofed the cabin. I really hope it works!</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">54.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Closed up cabin for the winter! </p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_b608_e348_da35_d3cd" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/L8SYHGfUkCWRlEstkq7lO_r5mya1o-zxV57TbnHWQUbJETflDbfMG7jC1NqekL8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-24724644688864260602020-07-21T08:36:00.001-07:002020-07-21T08:36:49.064-07:00The Outhouse<img id="id_6121_d326_a2bf_acb4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8XzYeMJo0QXXbLjBXzTHi0aSSP_FO0mH4fZ71Jkr1SBj1B6n8oAMs7LuY_LW27c" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div><div>For some reason, whenever I’ve done anything that is different from what most people normally do (like hike a couple thousand miles or live on a bus and now live in a cabin in the woods) there are always questions. Not the kinds of questions I expected to get but always “where are you going to poop?” Or “where will you go to the washroom”? And most recently “why would you want an outhouse?” And “how many steps from your bed to your outhouse?” Honestly, I can’t believe how many times I’ve been questioned about my toilet habits in the past eight years!</div><div><br></div><div>So here it is all of the answers people seem to want to know. Years ago while thruhiking the Appalachian Trail I had the opportunity to see and experience just about every type of outhouse imaginable. There were the typical pit</div><div>toilet outhouses (like you see in most provincial parks) and other odd pit toilets (imagine a small platform on a side of a mountain with a toilet on it - no walls and a perfect view of the landscape). There were “upgraded” outhouses that had fans under the toilet exhausting the terrible smells through a pipe out and away. In some of the more touristy areas of state parks I hiked there were compost toilets (like Sun Mar or Nature’s Head) complete with educational information about how the toilets worked and why they were so much better for the environment. As I hiked farther north I was fortunate to meet “caretakers” students working in the White Mountains whose job it was to literally “stir the poop” with big paddles (picture a canoe paddle) in giant bins to help the decomposition process before the bins would be helicoptered out be dealt with in a more appropriate environment. But the outhouse that fascinated me the most was one that had two toilet seats (no, not the one with the cribbage board in the middle for any hiker reading this). It was hilarious! There were explicit instructions on what to do and how to do it and included instructions and a pooper scooper for if you made a mistake. Soon after visiting that outhouse I met someone who was out doing research using that outhouse. He explained how it worked. One seat had a funnel that led to a 50ft hose with holes in it and was for urine. He explained that it is completely safe for urine to go straight into the ground and said that the capability to move the hose around so that the urine wasn’t always going to the same spot made it even better. Then he explained how they had tried different types of duff for seat number two (where the number two goes). Duff is the bulking agent (on the trail this is usually sawdust or dead leaves but could be peat moss or coconut coir) that is thrown in the toilet after a bowel movement to cover the feces and leave air pockets. This helps cover the smell and allows for faster decomposition. He went on to explain exactly how to create the ideal conditions for decomposition. Part of his job was to take samples from the completely decomposed bin and have it tested for E. coli levels. While</div><div>I thought that sounded like a gross job he was obviously proud that his last samples results had been perfect. Basically this system worked. At the time I thought all this information was interesting but to be honest I never thought it was something I would need to know (or want to know about) at any point in my future.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_87b5_473c_a159_f028" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hf4L-k_4JyjWYXjUbQxM-FtK920pn5mZ8oGD60OLZ3R2_NJ9Zrxkxyw2sLWqjHc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Not my picture but this is one of the outhouses on the Appalachian Trail.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div>From the time we decided to buy the cabin I knew I wanted an outhouse and I knew which type of outhouse I wanted. I also figured this would be a hard sale for Michael. Fortunately the book I had wanted to borrow from the library “The Humanure Handbook” by Joseph C Jenkins became available while I was away visiting my daughter so Michael had a chance to read it first. The book starts out by comparing humans to pathogens with no care or concern of our host (Earth) and gives alarming statistics about our destruction of natural resources (wood, water, fish, animals) and the creation and release of toxic chemicals. It mentions our overconsumption of just about everything and then brings up waste (food waste, yard materials, agricultural waste and human waste). He suggests that by processing the waste rather than recycling it we are causing way more damage to the earth and depleting our soil and fresh water supply at the same time. I’m glad that Michael had the chance to read it first because even though he admittedly said “I don’t want to deal with shit!” He was much more receptive to the idea of recycling anything than he ever has been and acknowledged that having an outhouse is a more natural part of a cycle for soil nutrients than wasting water and flushing those nutrients away. Still I could tell he was a little skeptical.</div><div><br></div><img id="id_9391_6931_272d_c4ad" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xduUdt_ZFwhsOKYGUgPgKOeWthjx_EidpTlKcLZICXkIkkkCidnjzjLI4R5Sf4c" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><div>Again not my picture.<br><br></div><div>When we arrived early this spring to our cabin we quickly had to make a choice of which already existing outbuilding would be the outhouse. There were still several feet of snow but unless we were prepared to drive the 11km to town everytime we needed the washroom it had to be sorted out immediately. We quickly agreed upon a small outbuilding that was attached to the back of a metal shed and began to to adapt it. We bought a giant bin, peat moss to use as duff, toilet seats and enough wood to make a bench style set up with the bin sliding under the toilet. Ironically the only items that we needed that were difficult to acquire turned out to be toilet paper and hand sanitizer (due to the Covid panic). It looked better than many outhouses I’ve had to use in the past but it certainly wasn’t something we were proud of. But it worked and there was still too much snow and frozen ground to make it any better. It was okay and it didn’t stink but it wasn’t the outhouse I wanted yet. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f42a_7ceb_f4f1_98f6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/K9gK9rw6MJhXx45xDxXgf6c3xw6N4ygkWjKdUlE7un2SvApHvZqnutQRRZ-bLJY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Not my picture.<br><br>Unfortunately the poor outhouse didn’t become a priority again (there were so many other projects going on in those first few months) until the grandkids were coming up for a visit. I didn’t want them to be afraid to use the washroom so we spent some time making it nicer. I had stripped the paint off of the old door and restained it. Michael added a pipe with a built in fan that exhausts the air from the poop bin out and over the top of the outhouse. Adding the fan required setting up a small solar panel, regulator and battery for power. It’s funny that the outhouse has power capacity before the cabin does but that’s a whole other story. He lined the inside walls with plywood and swapped out the old, leaky roof with a clear roof that makes the outhouse bright all day long. We added a simple solar light for at night. We used the leftover flooring from the cabin to put a new floor in the outhouse too. Most importantly he set up the second toilet. It’s set up similar to the toilet I saw years ago on the trail for urine with a funnel and a hose. Michael dug a trench for the hose and filled it the area with gravel. The outhouse looks nice and still smells like fresh cut wood! </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_7c9b_fdde_7a2d_b5bb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4_kPPspVYzgUKy1lQQg1LIwp5t9fGPouGEBgOGM8oy7gymhy-uNJI2igbrJHGbY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>This is what the inside looks like now maybe one day it will be lines with cedar.</div><div><br></div><div>And I was happy for about a day... Then I realized that the new roof (that looks so awesome) turned the outhouse into a sauna. Seriously, if the toilet seats, or toilet paper and hand sanitizer weren’t there you would think we had purposely built a sauna! For now this has been fixed by adding a piece of screen up high to let fresh air in and leaving the door open when no one is in there. Soon we will add a 12v fan so there will always be fresh air inside. Eventually I would l would also like to add cedar veneer but as long as it smells like fresh cut wood I will leave it as it is. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5228_208f_7469_db18" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wRcr9t2e1R-M_9TtokDJaX6TYusgRDuEwiigHOmkneGQY1T1HHMtxy2qrQzvFJw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>I would love for this to be the end of the post but I can just imagine a few of my friends saying: “and who empties the poop bin?” I do. Michael doesn’t do poop. The bin probably needs to be emptied once a month but I am choosing to do it once a week to make it more manageable. It gets dumped on a compost pile in combination with the kitchen compost and the yard compost far enough away from our creek and stream. Every time I dump the bin I cover the compost pile with a rake full of dead grass to add more air pockets so that it will decompose faster and so that we don’t see it. So far it doesn’t stink! Up until recently we have used peat moss for duff but right now we are trying out coconut coir. I like the coconut coir even better than the peat moss as the peat has an earthy smell and the coconut coir doesn’t smell at all. However, the coconut coir is way more expensive and unless I can find it cheaper we will be switching back to the peat moss (@ $8 per 60L). I’m sure we could ask for sawdust from the local lumbar yard and we may try that out in the future but we have enough supplies to last us to next year right now.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_e1c8_6be3_5314_de5a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_IococP_hEAL8JDCI6aZ9eIHaK9ljMZjpwRkOrJ73OldShXnBLw-ZqGhoFYzk5I" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Don’t forget to wash your hands!<br><br></div><div>Very few people have come to visit so far (again Covid) but the ones who have ask if it bothers me that the washroom isn’t attached to the cabin. It doesn’t bother me at all and it’s nice to have the chance (or be forced) to go outside at night and notice all the fireflies or the amazing night sky that I probably wouldn’t have given a second thought to if I could easily stay inside. The outhouse isn’t that far away and is only 37 steps from my bed to my outhouse.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-48100360967420856712020-07-02T11:21:00.001-07:002020-07-02T11:21:52.481-07:00A New Kitchen<img id="id_6c6e_2a49_a7d7_d334" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2tHPEJXerRbc9V5iM5wPvlVtCY5KPqJo3GPtEGowcjxaNUdgN_C2aWu-SFLwkTg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">One of the first projects this month was getting the stove cleaned up and making sure it worked before installing it. A friend of ours who has several trailers offered it to us along with an RV furnace and a double sink (thanks again Vic!). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It cleaned up nicely and everything worked first try! The furnace needs a little more work but since it’s warm out it’s not a priority right now. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_12f6_a5c4_aacc_149f" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Zhr4Xjr8UTY2xh3cPQbLqGKvYyOz8aC6nC9mGs960m-2LOZ2-XDPiKf8XSInu5Q" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Michael has spent most of his time outside cutting grass, trimming all of the overgrown bush close to the cabin and monitoring my garden. So far we’ve had wild strawberries, the strawberries from my hanging baskets and radishes. The lettuce is almost ready. <span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_43a4_41f8_f34d_bd6d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ghufNpImu7z9lU29dyqu8JOqgbqi6C3V1n8PpMCiTNANYtRhssEUyg_Cp4Mcq6M" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>My friends seem to think that we are hard at work everyday here but the reality is that most days we have been working on fun little projects. We bought some pine boards and after I stained them Michael put them up for me. Since then I have printed off a few pictures I like and modge podged them to a couple of containers. </p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_1f09_1954_d90_6bf7" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0mfeQ9m8ibPMmoAi8cngrNgGRADx0HuBncH5ZR2OfoHa8NdYP7XlBslLmCO0uho" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">As you can see my kitchen area doubles as my storage area and everything is on display. To keep things looking tidy I mounted some leftover pipe from the under counter project on the wall and am using it to store my pots and pans. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_2b9_87f9_c2a4_e4ba" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QKcirW-2PCNcoSaWN2vrEKV6uGAa8kKUYu0NEYrJqOs_5LGt6wgroiLszPjUdWM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Seeing the pots up inspired Michael to finish up the kitchen area for me. During the winter we had planned a fancy backsplash for the stove that would take awhile to make. We found a place in North Bay that sold us the stainless steel and put the corner bend in for us. We already had the copper and Michael did the rest! He did an awesome job!</p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_287e_c56e_8061_6219" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gGHlZtr06imXfK77VH_F_xovxnaabkQeiCrKRrXP2ETK3f5qnp-HFC00icbQPn8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_8c6b_aa3d_7305_38c6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bym92OhBoeLX6QxzdmBZyWZU7jAgW3QNO3c_ZU6pr990sbCl9Mj1vnbLpnvtmKg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>I bought the rest of the wooden boxes that we needed and stained them but it took awhile</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">to decide what to put in them. I feel like we already had enough mountains in here. I was thinking maybe trail signs (like the PCT logo or a copy of one of the original blazes, the Camino de Santiago blaze, the AT logo or even just a white blaze) or maybe animals (a bear, a wolf, an eagle...). We finally decided on a parts of a landscape on each box and Michael just started to draw them on.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_735d_5538_301e_9b0e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Puv9LuIpW1gZo5Zy4Samx15Uc4bawi5EjnGcz85cY6cDsgkxgfqrYj6UHQf0tPI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">We had bought a few outdoor solar lights and Michael found old fashioned taps at the hardware store. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>After taking the solar lights apart and mounting the tiny panels outside and feeding the wire inside, we mounted the taps with the light bulbs attached and hooked up the wires. The lights turned out great and come on automatically when it gets dark outside.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_ff7b_f574_11cf_a029" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oydbQTsVkSuA6nLPa022XY-3OExESqt7zzxzQgLVjdVTQeQrdBOnZ-XNK6oVWTc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Although we already had the sink we have been waiting on a faucet to arrive that was purchased online. After months of waiting I decided to just buy a water filter that comes with its own faucet (we needed a water filter anyway) so that we could go ahead and install the sink. We have clean water inside now! <span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_1190_efa6_741_173a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XpdTAVWqgZZOAcGD7k2jIj6q7gK7soqBpNRrOAhi46DNUlD0bnedrhP3xROdqY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I’d love to be able to say that the kitchen is finished but it will be at least another month before we add a more permanent power system and buy a fridge for the cabin. We are still using the solar panels on the bus as our main source of power with occasional use<span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">of a generator. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We have a fridge on the bus but because we are keeping the bus adventure ready we are making several trips from bus to cabin anytime we need something from the fridge. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_804_a5c8_be0f_f1c7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/jpNAEqZcGhoSyal2ySM_2LvpaqyAaBLnk8EYEAJnUQ14ucvTFwfx-I1CFEPO9Sk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">The grandkids came up to visit and it gave us the chance to explore one of the local beaches. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s a beautiful area and the water was perfect! </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; min-height: 33.4px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_c51a_6370_5359_cd5f" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4xeMiZhkpOdTun0kA2FZd9C8abw5UvvmPyHMKqIdUM5iBPJdFFusiB2ZzlMi84c" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">I have been taking it easier this past month (I’ve taken the time to read several books and am starting to daydream of the next big hike) but Michael has been pretty much continuously working on one project after another and is ready for a break. I think we will really slow down on the work this month and just work on landscaping and a few small, easy jobs inside.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I’m happy to have a kitchen in the cabin and not have to run back and forth to the bus as much and am impressed that this much work has been done in three months. It’s amazing how many goals we’ve been able to accomplish in such a short time and I find myself starting to think about what is next!</p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-91112010356936330542020-05-31T11:59:00.001-07:002020-05-31T11:59:34.821-07:00From Bus to A Tiny Cabin<div><img id="id_1548_e5a0_a13_6c85" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XTjKjqufBYXptxgxL-IeYBVgjyHHFLN6c6hS7_Rk1r6YGbKC0CJzCYFiO5RkyD0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div>It’s been exactly four years since we moved into the bus and it’s a little bit sad to be moving out of it. We will still use the bus for trips and as a guest room but we are saying goodbye to life in 80 square feet and hello to a bigger living space (144sqft)!</div><div><br></div><div>It’s been two months of hard work getting the cabin move in ready but here we are, we have moved into the cabin and I have been decorating! It all started a</div><div>month ago when Michael was away helping one of the kids move and it rained several days in a row. I couldn’t do any of the real jobs that needed to get done so I made a picture for the cabin instead. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c828_9d2f_6c86_efcd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qi4d_jNoFicgvfVTjWZpykqwWrIPKkGtyuKcCdBSzhLS62Zbj4Ep-LSVh2xUnz0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>When the weather started to co operate I finished staining the trim for the main floor. I sanded down an old maple table we had in storage and refinished it for our new countertop. As soon as it was done I wanted it set up but the new staircase needed to be installed first. It was a bit of a chore to sand, stain and seal it and an even bigger chore to get it mounted to the ceiling. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_96c_13bc_8816_1515" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pGZdIq6tWUujtvxn4hsjj3tSF0ckmXesXweIhgAT5eDwtwSUUV3I_tzwlXspjq0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>The great thing about these stairs is that they are designed to be out of the way during the day when we don’t need access to the bedroom. Thanks again Vincent!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4d5b_c71a_ee15_ef3c" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/vx1Ouv3DFGVF7DaywabKa6z7XugLHBkM32QiOm6Z6OXVMBwmzqJpRGqCQoGm-eQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>And it’s kind of a cool system!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_29f0_51fb_d428_79bc" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yq9pNKvx8JpG1RwXXPzlQ0QA_DTHIP8_HAisJQ_RFIKQI-M3iF8RVLdlQipOrzk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>It’s a bicycle lift and it works great! We might just swap out the rope for something stronger and more durable.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div>Once the stairs were in it was time to set up the kitchen!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_6fca_9760_51fb_e825" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/bFt-jnWUVtERDoMU3ELv4FHSjHElpO2skDp8dcl4FUhCnx3K3Y5ofZEcm95Gzdg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>The stove and furnace will be on the left, the sink will be centred between the beams and the fridge will be on the right. I will buy a few more wooden bins and stain them a honey colour. Eventually there will be a shelf above the sink. It’s getting there!<br><br></div><div>We already had the countertop ready and the shelves are made of metal grid that we also had in storage. I used the grinder one day and cut the shelves for the kitchen along with shelves for a coat and boot rack I made. We are waiting on a faucet we ordered on amazon before installing the sink and the stove needs a little TLC before we install it. So for now we are still using the kitchen in the bus as well as the BBQ that came with the cabin. </div><div><br></div><div>We do have running water though! Michael hooked up the new pump and mounted a solar panel to set up our water system. We’ve temporarily set up the shower on the side of the cabin but it will eventually be set up in a more discreet location in a month or two once the kitchen is done. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_b1c1_9af6_caa9_a639" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/v6lDfpOER6e1D7LF8VSqXlj4NhK0OMgljtdZNB8-AoA54Vn0KdzNbZTD2J1Isis" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>The yard is starting to get cleaned up and the junk pile at the edge of the road gets bigger everyday. I think we will be searching out the local dump soon. I can’t believe the stuff that has been buried here! Everything from kids toys, a fake Christmas tree, a kitchen table from the 1960’s and a lot of smaller items both new and old. Not all of our yard finds have been terrible. Michael found a giant saw blade and I’m thinking of painting a landscape on it. Michael wants to make it look like a giant saw is cutting into the cabin. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_7dd7_c9f6_6c2e_63b9" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WIXF7ztQWZxz6uXkilHWC-6NR3OI_N9EeQ_uOOQKa7uLppnOhqhVYFHRegckQLk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>We also had a huge burn pile but with the province wide fire ban it just kept growing. The minute we heard the fire ban would be lifted for the long weekend we started planning the fire pit. To get rid of the pile quickly Michael made a temporarily fireplace and attached chicken wire on top so that we could burn even if it was windy. And burn we did! The first night we got rid of about a third of what we had. We are still working on burning the rest and soon there will just be a dump pile left!</div><div><br></div><div>With the stores closed due to covid19 I decided to start shopping online. Wow! What a difference! Stuff comes right to the door no hassle.... and it feels like Christmas every time the fed ex driver visits! </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5dd4_b163_3e7c_d32e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KdtS37OoBA4zqAg0U7P8kyMMP3I-XVr5SlOomqQ57BTzYNcDNIQtqoPsEaDYpz4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>The new couch and new chair are a few of the online purchases. Of course the day after the chair arrived I walked into the cabin to find this guy:</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_1486_be16_f6e4_ade6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/l-JZ3wPQYIWQQA1MzIdPxfCVluDADrb0rBZ8EPkmPeKrRkCLO1-cR-nH0uP2YzI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>I’m pretty sure he was just visiting though. I’ve managed to scare off the birds and they now longer fly into the cabin and stay a safe distance from the door but I think we are going to have a problem with the squirrels who are always scrambling up the sides of the cabin.<br><br>Remember the floor I ruined last month and had to replace? Well we decided that since we put a new floor down upstairs we might as well tidy up the walls as well. After a couple quick coats of paint our bedroom looks exactly how I imagine a cabin bedroom should look. I’m super happy with how it is all coming together! In the future I will swap out the trim but for now it will do.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_45e1_848_bfd1_e11d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mpNiioxg8akcYMsp5Kf4gyuXVtWtOR2StbpDx0sghajjlhBd8g4zLjYQrZt9lmo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>We are still working on the yard slowly. I’ve started planting a garden and I’ve sprayed a garlic barrier spray to keep the mosquitoes at bay. It worked great and there are no more mosquitoes, if only it also worked for the black flies!</div><div><br></div><div>With most places closed we haven’t ventured out too much but we have met a few neighbours in passing and the people at the hardware store know us by name. We haven’t even explored the roads near the cabin but I’m sure they lead to somewhere nice because several boats have been trailered past our cabin. On the one excursion we did take we found the biggest bear I’ve ever seen (about 2km from the cabin) but just like every single other bear he took off as soon as he saw us. We are both looking forward to a time where there isn’t a job that has to be done right away. Now that we are in the cabin we will slow down on the rest of the jobs.</div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-79005682433735557762020-05-01T20:34:00.008-07:002020-05-02T07:31:00.777-07:00Progress<div><br></div><div>It’s been a month of hard work everyday and there are more jobs to do everywhere we look. I’m not complaining it is absolutely beautiful here and the more we do look around the nicer it seems. But almost every job we have done turns into a slew of other jobs required just to finish the original job. Progress is very slow and there are more half done jobs here than finished ones. It makes me wonder how the first settlers managed. I mean, I have a bus (with power) to live in but what if I didn’t? I can just make a call and place an order at the hardware store (even with a pandemic going on around us) and then go pick up almost anything I need. Imagine the early immigrants who had to painstakingly chop down trees and cut every piece of lumber they needed using simple man powered tools. Think about how long that would take! A small town is 11km away from our little cabin. We can go buy groceries whenever we need to but those first settlers, what did they have to eat day after day until they had food from a garden? Even if they hunted, it would take time away from building. We have pretty much everything we need handed to us! I have a creek here and a well and yet I can’t wait to have a real shower set up. How long did the first settlers have to go before that was even a priority? And don’t say "oh they probably just heated up water" because trust me that is way more tedious than it sounds! I have two pots and even if I fill them with water and heat it up, it is barely enough to wash and rinse my hair. I can see why kids were made to share bath water back in the day. It reminds me of how appreciative of hot water I was getting into town after days of hiking. I wonder if I’m just so used to taking too much that I am less appreciative of my pots of hot water than an early settler would have been. I’ve already decided that I only need hot water from my shower head and not my kitchen sink. I’ve spent the past four years heating up water for dishes on the bus and it hasn’t bothered me at all. </div><div><br></div><div>Anyway, so what have we accomplished in a month? I took the stain off the inside walls of the main floor and resealed it while Michael was fixing the tool sheds or as I am calling them the man area. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4a40_4945_7b1d_b477" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7Sj3DvRl9LHNdWuLGmz-FM8z7IzhzY2AcHyYRz76nBjzGqbW1b_pYxcC4iawNzU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>This is what it looked like before with a solid colour stain on the walls.</div><div><br><img id="id_5c3d_ee4b_1e6f_16dc" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hnwbM3Q-H-SBiqMmJt_MorJdsaUiJqWG6NtGMsXuz1jWMslDw8y5fMRE6FPfb_A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>This is what it looks like now with a cedar stain.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Michael took down the roof of the "carport" because I wanted a greenhouse but once the roof was off he realized everything needed to be replaced. So now I have a brand new "greenhouse." It’s not entirely enclosed yet but I’m considering it a finished job.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_b6a3_4360_8e41_5c1e" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/4914aOzWMghlkJMFo8-zLxEeXLVqoNnU8Hz82NDzQKMh3K47xwWK3vVOgI7HkEw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>My new greenhouse! It still needs to be closed in but is good enough for now.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div>A good friend of ours came and helped for two days and was the first person to actually sleep in the cabin. We left him with the heater from the bus and it was so warm he had to get up during the night and turn it off. That’s a good sign! </div><div><br></div><div>The first job they worked on was levelling the cabin. Some of the supports were in rough shape so Michael had made concrete pads for everything to sit on ahead of time.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4dba_89f3_c79_7b3d" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/IN7RsYQ9UnBDaJ7tQ18LGkmhUmFCHLxQDP0DwwoYNcXxKYCg2C78k91A5wBYUJw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>The cabin wasn’t level and was sitting on all of this.</div><div><br><img id="id_ee1c_b20d_14af_94e5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sTXw2rUu5EUBXWGdwrpWGmJZHJlAeYzYjk_IlNwOLrF1LixIZKJa4QJ5lFoNiXI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Now the cabin is level and is sitting on cement pads. There is still more work to do in the future but everything is stable.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div>Next the big, bulky staircase was taken down and our friend offered to make a new set of stairs that won’t take up any floor space during the day. Awesome! Thanks!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_49a2_41f1_ac83_ab8c" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/4-SSvMy4ULTbuzK5ANTcXm0SsOvpO-DkbtjJRU-UHadf5EDjakwH8vFXLZNS8QA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>The bulky staircase has to go!</div><div><br></div><div>A few of the support beams inside needed replaced so that was also done with the help of a friend.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_db8a_d5fc_aa2f_8b9e" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/KMQLCC_Wf_7tkzWWUqgAmH18LH5ss21bEXpWpmC3XxHeVayfGsbZgQwmO6rfInw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>The new beams are behind Michael (and above him). This picture also shows the contrast between the new and old stain. The old stain is where the counter will go and will be completely hidden.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div>While Michael was working on replacing the beams he noticed the "nice" flooring upstairs that was being hidden by sheets of painted plywood. It looked like inch thick pine and so I destroyed the plywood floor upstairs only to find a floor that had been pieced together from beam to beam with short pieces of pine. Ugh! I should have left well enough alone! Upstairs wasn’t even a priority and now the plywood needs to be replaced! Several hundred dollars (not in our budget) later we now have a new plywood floor that we have sealed and will use as is for now.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_951e_e8e5_cc4c_e1a5" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QLvxWtu1tat_llI8tcpksqja0wDI2lkRT9owJnvCwkmEAREmHWLkflqbKhy3nug" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>This is what I discovered under the old plywood.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We spent an afternoon installing flooring downstairs. It’s not exactly the colour I was looking for but during a pandemic you take what you can get! It looks great and finally feels like we’ve accomplished something! It feels like we will have a cabin kitchen in the near future! </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_fd77_24a2_97d3_f78c" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/mq9zo6GBI16JCCswcoYli5d9Yxtfm64Ajz7_joQ7_rF8U_ymLGYYXsWLAXw4ELY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>New floor on the main level.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div>And I know this is silly and wasn’t a priority at all but there was a really ugly door on the outhouse and I thought it would be a simple job. There ended up being so many coats of paint on it and took longer than I had wanted to spend on it, but now it looks great!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_3c24_97d8_bf67_97bb" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xsYJwhVyn9pmCqgDNquq4Zh294QAB4UnetpMWPv4BbDQFWs72OZyReshibGgZCY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Old outhouse door.</div><div><br><img id="id_7e84_684f_1c22_f84a" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Lo_Qg5S7NNxKIicf0D6MPi5lO7NIPJKpECMtoTYFahRK7f8J_9-IWoBI0ZUstF8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br>Refinished outhouse door.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div>On our breaks from cabin work we have managed to rake up a good portion of the property between the cabin and the road. We’ve found lots of junk here that will need to go to the dump but we’ve also found a wall from an older cabin that has usable cedar logs and posts in it that will be perfect for a retaining wall we want to build between the cabin and the seasonal stream that runs down to the creek. Michael has also found really old glass bottles here, it makes me wonder about the history of this place. </div><div><br></div><div>We have already found raspberry bushes, two types of thyme, asparagus and wild strawberries growing on the property and have been told that there are blueberries that grow along the side of the road as well! We found logs covered in old dried up mushrooms (not sure what kind yet or if they are edible) but we will have fun finding out! I wonder what we will discover here next?</div> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-62104762933106714292019-11-21T07:30:00.001-08:002019-11-21T07:30:29.908-08:00Tiny House Dreams<img id="id_ea2a_2a4e_81a0_36fe" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/bTY-xTAHvJnI7waoGK3zUoSHCEKgZ7JlaNCSlpugBzDHqXulDE_MsOzhnXs" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br> <div><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Becca’s van is finished and she is off adventuring now. I would have liked to share a few of the finished pictures of her van or the ordeals that came up while building it but am waiting for her to share it with the world. She has set up an Instagram account if you would like to follow her journey </span>it‘s here: </p><a href="https://instagram.com/vanaste.vanlife?igshid=1h2q9ip7r4ag1" id="id_f14_c3d0_6c41_2023">Vanaste</a><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">With that project finished and Chris’s restaurant open for business it’s time for the next project. Michael has wanted a piece of land for awhile now and we have spent any free time we have had this year going and looking at property all over Ontario. We finally found a gorgeous property with a few outbuildings already on it near Mattawa. There’s a well and a septic system already on the property and a beautiful creek runs through it! There’s a ton of work to be done but the largest of the outbuildings will end up being our tiny house!</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_a09a_40a6_b50b_4a98" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6QFUyyLLq0KV1tEylIve_lMXlMFz0c4t2_fP9Vz1n_TUdJf9-01S6qs8-As" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>There are lots of hiking trails in the area, the Ottawa River is only a few kilometres away and even Algonquin Provincial Park is within walking distance (well walking distance for hikers at 19km). I’m can’t wait to explore the surrounding area and already have my first hike planned out! </p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br><img id="id_2e9b_9748_c393_b127" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/xliFpvUrsNCVCGZGPsQFewYi_7nUD2NtWKok4THRACW2Bs8kMOqSqBGK2Dg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">We had looked at this property earlier in the summer and had planned on being able to get some work done this year but there were delays and the snow is already here. The reality is that most of the jobs we want to do need to be done is warmer weather. Other than a few weekend trips between now and Christmas we will likely leave everything as it is until spring and manage to get an adventure in this winter before the work begins.</span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><br></span></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">This is what the inside looks like right now.</span><br></span><img id="id_9fc_9152_a6a2_3182" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bByagHGhCluhXmrJ3GgvBiys5tjQyH2e3YZjkuNqGS9TQhfjCYwDLRc5h6A" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><img id="id_db6a_7f81_60ef_644d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fQ4o8fRs2CbUa-a6O099lr6ErJHfrIL_LPQ6qxWNIVW4-4DKm-KiwtXdIvU" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_40a8_e840_a39_b939" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MFamNv-QQErC5u-rToz8AkarShIWpuH9O5lOPp1p68CIONcXMmlx3s-l-AA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>Hopefully by next summer this place will be transformed to our new home. Michael thinks he needs to landscape</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">But I think it’s perfect just the way it is! There are trees and trails, a creek and a big forest behind us!</p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 23px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><img id="id_bd5b_8671_4e0a_757a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tonPYnQnlwSrdpxY5kabUmlIyhiCX8-QjHAIOpwkUtO7ilnSrgoy_SK9dlo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_2de4_d3e5_1550_60b3" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XNubSf4tElQG3hu-k0VVClvV51Qrn3gVQRqHC_ixFmDRSgoz2BENVQoqjG0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_fbc4_e902_7e6b_e002" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/CY0nLnhjKS9eagVSv9DcUDj482UosxoU-VjNDrKA9lO5zSva4bvbG9IFS04" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_683f_5f79_7428_9f08" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/QGAZphhLgQc_2b-lVfTwggILsnpt_UQEXo0sxkf1KSjv1JF_o6qFKKHlPyA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><br><br><img id="id_7eac_b7ce_f99_5f6d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_OANx4ZZXnp4-z9GoFj7jLp6F-35HuYX0rOuofykTxKeFkCtP0aIDf3qqgQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_e3fc_5fef_ba90_47f8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_C6JmaaAYznGJB5cH0W50HQMCA3MWPF4bpiHeagVAoVYdqTWnIV87qXF2wk" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;"><br><br>The bus looks bigger than the cabin but it’s just an illusion. The cabin is just under 300 square feet (144sqft per floor) while the bus is only 80sqft. It may seem small to you but after living on a short bus this will seem huge to us! <br><br></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-71042479576486212422019-05-30T09:13:00.001-07:002019-05-30T09:13:47.752-07:00Some Changes<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8LnxHB8DQ44Lqx5wnxkw6kkUvBgWZZMwpLSQuzSf46E-60b5uUe_sQ9PAsirJ6cqsSHyRZsHeD3IrdXX7_4_yNoDI_HX6mrannrjXBvj6jGHCBuIwntAWSYNOSMBwfXVImM-vKVebso/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8LnxHB8DQ44Lqx5wnxkw6kkUvBgWZZMwpLSQuzSf46E-60b5uUe_sQ9PAsirJ6cqsSHyRZsHeD3IrdXX7_4_yNoDI_HX6mrannrjXBvj6jGHCBuIwntAWSYNOSMBwfXVImM-vKVebso/" data-original-width="" data-original-height=""></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">I have been quiet these past few months partly hibernating, mostly focusing on other people. Staying in one place has allowed me to see friends and play with my grandbabies almost everyday! But while I was playing hide and seek, pretending to be a monster and pushing little girls on swings my kids have been busy. </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUxUplZlY1SSy06ioiG3qwWYp87DZjmMeKP3gjp_4VEIa-Hoih7nJ0u2xjmB3P_HteQFRNfUm6nGFg8-7DD3nyHBXzeEeHzMZHEM86LqWxazHNynvIG89Vupf9g6zRD5-Q_GrudST-W8/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUxUplZlY1SSy06ioiG3qwWYp87DZjmMeKP3gjp_4VEIa-Hoih7nJ0u2xjmB3P_HteQFRNfUm6nGFg8-7DD3nyHBXzeEeHzMZHEM86LqWxazHNynvIG89Vupf9g6zRD5-Q_GrudST-W8/" data-original-width="" data-original-height=""></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">My son is getting ready to open a vegan restaurant in Petawawa and we have made several trips to clean, paint and deliver new signs. I will be there to help him as much as I can over the next few weeks</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaGbof3Kr8kP3NBIGh0T-CCfdQyMe3yV4nAR80IKTq1XPOSv_RvpdPMRA0WX1VixfwDG3LFBwPi66RVWRds8w5bsQEgigQNvq4Rggzfj_qA5aeL-OE5vJyITn6_OpRhl1IBnKMUzn2Qg/s1600/IMG_1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaGbof3Kr8kP3NBIGh0T-CCfdQyMe3yV4nAR80IKTq1XPOSv_RvpdPMRA0WX1VixfwDG3LFBwPi66RVWRds8w5bsQEgigQNvq4Rggzfj_qA5aeL-OE5vJyITn6_OpRhl1IBnKMUzn2Qg/" data-original-width="" data-original-height=""></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">My daughter has been making drastic life changes and minimizing everything she owns. She has this crazy idea (I have no idea where she got it from) of converting a van into a home and travelling the country! She picked up her new home last night and is planning on moving into it in two months time! Needless to say we will also be helping her convert it into a home in our spare time.</span></p><p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-19981953772059639762019-02-04T07:52:00.001-08:002019-02-04T07:52:37.719-08:00Misadventures with Propane<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHXl-OVvxgr3o3wMzz3x5rDokvQdp8ZmO6vvhNuk-ebnoisEFo6lTLlLkmokE6l81VWckKLZN8p16CFHVtghvaOVT1cbkQ2Kizmxmk8oMq1DXCM4r_rn3S8xg_hoPAFx-Vgq3P5PgryM/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHXl-OVvxgr3o3wMzz3x5rDokvQdp8ZmO6vvhNuk-ebnoisEFo6lTLlLkmokE6l81VWckKLZN8p16CFHVtghvaOVT1cbkQ2Kizmxmk8oMq1DXCM4r_rn3S8xg_hoPAFx-Vgq3P5PgryM/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p dir="ltr"> There are several disadvantages to using a Mr. Buddy heater as your only heat source. First of all it off gases carbon monoxide which can kill you! We have a small battery operated smoke and carbon monoxide detector on the bus to alert us when the levels are unsafe. It goes off more than I'd like to admit. Often in the middle of the night when the heater has been on straight for hours, requiring one of us to get up and open the window to let some fresh air in and/or turn off the heater for a bit. The other concern with Mr. Buddy is that he creates water. As the propane burns another by product is water which then collects on all of our windows and sometimes our ceiling. Somehow we have managed to avoid any mould problems but it could happen any day now. I wipe up the water or scrape the frost each morning and clean the bus more often than I used to clean my house but without a vented heater or an alternate heat system there isn't too much else we can do to get rid of the extra water.</p><p dir="ltr">Those are the natural disadvantages but what about when you add the human error factor in? We are both pretty careful when it comes to using the heater and where it is placed but accidents can happen.</p><p dir="ltr"> One night as I set up the heater I forgot to tighten the hose. I turned on the heater and watched as it lit up. When I saw everything was good I turned my back and that's when I heard a "pouf" sound. I thought for a second that my hair had caught fire! When I turned around I quickly realized what had happened and could see the flame growing on the side of the heater where the hose attached. Michael turned off the the propane from a safety valve he had added when he originally installed the propane lines. By the time both the safety switch and the heater had been turned off the flames had melted the edge of the heater. I immediately wanted to buy a new heater but Michael checked it over once it had cooled and said no serious damage had been done. Just forgetting to tighten that hose could have burnt the bus down or cost us our lives! </p><p dir="ltr">Another instance of human error happened to us on one of the coldest nights of the year. In general a twenty pound propane tank lasts for about two months in the summer months but only a week in the winter. If there is a really cold spell and the heater is on all the time we will go through all that propane in five or six days depending on how often we have had the heater on its higher setting. Well on a very cold January night after several of the coldest days of the season we ran out of propane at 2am. I thought for sure I would have to get up and turn on the bus to warm us up but thankfully the bus stayed relatively warm. By morning the air in the bus was cold yet we were still warm under the blankets. Fortunately we were in a city and could easily refill our propane tank first thing in the morning. If we had been out in the wilderness it may have been more of a problem. </p><p>
</p><p dir="ltr">These are the problems we have had using propane over the past two and a half years. Using propane is cheap, readily available and easy to use for heat, cooking and possibly powering your refrigerator. So far we haven't regretted our choice to use propane in the bus. If you have had misadventures with your propane system feel free to add your stories below.</p><p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-67824758001993492552019-02-01T13:51:00.001-08:002019-02-01T13:51:33.551-08:00Clutter Intervention<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvFgJi5SQy750PGQqDt65PlLJVAf2dn3TH6tmeeAuocTh73_2l6BtmY82OE0z1Ei_vtAI3oB46KzoS8qa1BLL0i_Iclff7UfHeY8ICVlyR2mQpLe0oXV2r6swwQRGq8dRo_zJMjmO2Uw/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvFgJi5SQy750PGQqDt65PlLJVAf2dn3TH6tmeeAuocTh73_2l6BtmY82OE0z1Ei_vtAI3oB46KzoS8qa1BLL0i_Iclff7UfHeY8ICVlyR2mQpLe0oXV2r6swwQRGq8dRo_zJMjmO2Uw/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p dir="ltr">Recently a friend of mine decided to host a "Clutter Intervention." The idea is to eliminate an item everyday for forty days (she is calling it 40 for 40). In forty days the group will get together each bringing their pile of items. There will be an opportunity to pick through everyone else's pile before the items are donated to Wendat. </p><p dir="ltr">I thought this was a great idea but then realized that I have downsized so much over the years that I don't think I have forty extra items on the bus. So I put the idea out of my head thinking I had no clutter left. But over the next couple of days I found myself assessing each item I had and asking myself if I really needed it. I was also looking at my overhead cupboards realizing how rarely I open some of them. Surely there are items behind those doors that I am not using. </p><p dir="ltr">With that thought I decided to go through the bus over the next few days and see what I could find. I was shocked at how much I found in this tiny eighty square foot bus that I really don't need or even use! I started looking in the overhead cupboard that I open the least and found nineteen clothing items just in that one area! </p><p dir="ltr">I started to get excited thinking this was going to be easy! As I sorted though the rest of my "stuff spaces" I found a few more items and managed to collect thirty two things just from our living space (not the storage space under the bed)! </p><p>
</p><p dir="ltr">40 for 40 turned into a one day event as I am sure I can come up with at least eight items that I am not using in the storage area under the bed. I honestly didn't think I would be able to participate in this and if I can find this much extra in my tiny short bus I bet you could look around and host your own clutter intervention.</p><p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-13850261480100064162019-01-30T05:23:00.001-08:002019-01-30T05:23:40.949-08:00Top 8 Places to Park at Night.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXBjyeVApVkGsSX17d8ylrOCGlXLX3HuIvtJQldAWGVts4G8pkR7DjJZL0HbfJduDz3LzRFAeHs3H9kuaW791uTphNXG8C2Sv5N4UTLxL-NuZ_0cN_Qao6NI6n2vaCMJrfoGQI4xLQIs/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXBjyeVApVkGsSX17d8ylrOCGlXLX3HuIvtJQldAWGVts4G8pkR7DjJZL0HbfJduDz3LzRFAeHs3H9kuaW791uTphNXG8C2Sv5N4UTLxL-NuZ_0cN_Qao6NI6n2vaCMJrfoGQI4xLQIs/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p dir="ltr">So many times in the past month I have been asked where we park at night. I'm sure I have written about where we stay while we travel but right now while Michael is working we choose places close to his work. These spots could be utilized in just about any city across the country. We follow these guidelines and haven't had any problems:</p><p dir="ltr">1.We never stay in the same spot two nights in a row and hang out in different places during the day. <br>
2.We clean up after ourselves and follow all leave no trace principles. <br>
3. We follow our guts. If something doesn't feel right about the spot we don't stay.</p><p dir="ltr">So here are our top 8 places we stay:</p><p dir="ltr">1<b>. Parks or wooded areas</b>.<br>
This includes <b>forest service roads </b>on the edge of town, <b>conservancy areas</b> or <b>historical sites</b>. Anywhere with an awesome view or that is naturally sheltered is our favourite. Most of these places are also perfect for walking the dogs.</p><p dir="ltr">2. <b>Tourist Information</b> parking lots. <br>
We look like we belong here.</p><p dir="ltr">3. <b>Mall, Grocery store or Wal-Mart parking lots</b>.<br>
This is my least favourite but sometimes the most convenient. We usually look for the darkest corner away from traffic to park but recently learned that our solar panels will continue to collect power if we park right under a light post.</p><p dir="ltr">4. <b>Costco</b> <br>
Especially on days when you need to refill your propane tank and/or get gas.</p><p dir="ltr">5. <b>Recreational Centres, Arenas or the YMCA.</b><br>
Sometimes you can even grab a shower!</p><p dir="ltr">6. <b>Churches</b><br>
This is perfect for the nights where it's really snowing and you need to be out of the way of the snowplows.</p><p dir="ltr">7. <b>Outdoor Gear Shops<br>
MEC, Sail, Sojourns, Cabellas, Bass Pro</b>, or any <b>fish and tackle shop</b>. <br>
The bus just looks like it's supposed to be there.</p><p dir="ltr">8.<b> Pet Stores</b> and <b>Dog Parks</b><br>
Because we have a logo on our bus that pertains to dogs we fit right in and go unnoticed when parked in front of a pet store or a dog park.</p><p>
</p><p dir="ltr">Hope this gives you a few new ideas about where to park for the night.</p><p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-38642615743803834982019-01-27T11:26:00.001-08:002019-01-27T11:26:59.318-08:00How to Live on a Bus in Winter.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z8ZP2vvQIdIvsFTA9-IdjhdoIGGKUWH4GpcKJsLPDQ_EgmynKnfOYsqngQrxANeXQi61mf5yS950WRn_km8-poyGCJzXgwY423XbyATi6U2WeKB6BjqH8u8StXUvy7RRUZ4diO8cokE/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z8ZP2vvQIdIvsFTA9-IdjhdoIGGKUWH4GpcKJsLPDQ_EgmynKnfOYsqngQrxANeXQi61mf5yS950WRn_km8-poyGCJzXgwY423XbyATi6U2WeKB6BjqH8u8StXUvy7RRUZ4diO8cokE/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">After living out of a backpack for five months coming home to the bus felt like a luxury! The seemingly endless propane to cook and heat up with and the giant water tanks compared to my small water bottles make my eighty square foot bus feel like a palace when compared to my hammock. Even though it is now winter in Canada the bus is so much warmer than sleeping in California in the desert. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">This isn't our first winter on a bus and yet we are still often asked how we manage. These are the steps we take to ensure we stay warm:</span></p><p>1. <b>Insulate</b>.<br></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;"> Michael had insulated and covered over all the windows (including the back door) with styrofoam and plywood and added underlay and a carpet over the hardwood floor for the winter before I came home. I much prefer the 360 degree view that all of the windows offer but realize that it's more important to be warm. It's also been handy being able to open the back door to access the under the bed storage area from outside without having to worry about making the inside of the bus cold.</span></p><p>2. <b>Cover the front windows at night.</b><br></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">In the past we have used an insulated sunshade on the windshield at night along with a thick wool blanket over our passenger door along with another thick blanket that separates the driver area from the living space. This worked well but this winter we decided to try to use all the space in the bus as living space. This winter we are using cheap bamboo beach mats that are lined with a thin silver layer on one side. I bought them last spring from a dollar store hoping they would work to cover any remaining windows this winter. They work great! We hang two of them from clips from the overhead wall on the front of the bus and they are long enough to go right to the floor. The third one we hang over the passenger door. Not only does this keep the warmth in and the cold out but the light reflecting off.of the silver layer really brightens up the bus at night.</span></p><p>3. <b>Cover the stairwell</b>.<br></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">We use a spare pillow in the stairwell and cover it over with a board insulating the stairs and creating a few more feet of usable floor space at night. By far this is the coldest area of the bus and the hardest to keep warm but this year it doesn't seem as cold using the beach mat over the door.</span></p><p>4. <b>Add heat</b>.<br></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">We are still using our Mr. Buddy heater we bought a few years ago. Because we remodeled the bus it can no longer be permanently mounted to the back door. Instead we have to detach the propane hose from the stove in order to use the heater (which is a bit of a nuisance) but now the heater is in the middle of the bus where it heats up the entire bus quickly even on the low heat setting. Just remember that if you choose to use this method of heat you need to make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector near your heater as well as some.method of air exchange. We just leave the driver side window down a crack and that allows enough of an air exchange to dry put the damp air (a byproduct of burning propane is water) and allow and keep enough oxygen in the air. </span></p><p>5. <b>Choose a sheltered location to park.</b><br></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">I prefer to park in the protection of the trees every night in the winter but that isn't always possible. We pay attention to the wind direction and when we can't park surrounded by trees we park somewhere where we are out of the worst of the wind whether that is up against a building or a giant snowbank or a semi truck.</span></p><p>I am sure there are a few more things we do to keep warm (like wearing extra layers or drinking more hot chocolate) but these are things that everyone does in colder whether regardless of the size or type of house you live in. I hope you are all as warm as we are in our little bus!<br></p><p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-28569178576685319442019-01-21T11:44:00.001-08:002019-01-21T11:44:15.985-08:00The Mojave<p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MJop5taTkd-BSYlwggxFTTAT9y2aVZLsRDPDKjiZ87kwEzBqXkO0y6a3ud-L1x0q8v4Cy1pJwkqsGbnvy6Zepo4P2lnrI2WEusLPGw79kO8GorQnQeneSBnymGtkAXo8Gp7Uz3YpK3o/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MJop5taTkd-BSYlwggxFTTAT9y2aVZLsRDPDKjiZ87kwEzBqXkO0y6a3ud-L1x0q8v4Cy1pJwkqsGbnvy6Zepo4P2lnrI2WEusLPGw79kO8GorQnQeneSBnymGtkAXo8Gp7Uz3YpK3o/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Miles 1951 to 2652</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmzaPhFpYGEEKCLyi-De-6B9savpE3PEFfhMpxooGJxwSYFbhAP8rLtFbWCrJ7F9coFiDw71nUnFr89_sbhU7Ed4rX3Xt4ojHXv0-BKVbdoLvxmPLawxfS-TPoHusYU0SD-Eqfwi-buM/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmzaPhFpYGEEKCLyi-De-6B9savpE3PEFfhMpxooGJxwSYFbhAP8rLtFbWCrJ7F9coFiDw71nUnFr89_sbhU7Ed4rX3Xt4ojHXv0-BKVbdoLvxmPLawxfS-TPoHusYU0SD-Eqfwi-buM/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p>This is my last and most dreaded section on the PCT. I was thankful it was at the end because I am sure if it was first I would have quit (another reason I am glad I hiked southbound). Even though I was dreading this section I couldn't help look forward to the lower elevation (and warmer temperatures) as I entered. The hike into Kennedy Meadows South was enough to let me know that this would not be my favourite part of the hike. As the terrain changed from majestic mountains and pristine lakes to brown hills and sparse, prickly shrubs the sun became more intense and made my head feel hot even when the wind was cold. Sure the elevation gain was less but it felt like I was looking at the same scene over and over again. The monotony got to me. The trail wound in and around every nook and cranny of the same valley over and over and over again. Mentally the hike was hard and physically my body was exhausted. I was still feeling light headed and dizzy every time I stood up and I was likely malnourished but I only had seven hundred miles left. "I can do this for a little longer"I told myself repeatedly throughout the last seven hundred miles. <br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2_PvReWBu4d9H6dpwHHRZo-GUTh_pValyyU8eUquaB2SHiRfw_IJNfalN4W3ZV2FlJv5IkzbshwkZh7Oe24ef4GNtNDpzOp32hPI8cWQFDWDLV29JVi7JZ6UIPf_PJ4e8YVdVrQAQ3Q/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2_PvReWBu4d9H6dpwHHRZo-GUTh_pValyyU8eUquaB2SHiRfw_IJNfalN4W3ZV2FlJv5IkzbshwkZh7Oe24ef4GNtNDpzOp32hPI8cWQFDWDLV29JVi7JZ6UIPf_PJ4e8YVdVrQAQ3Q/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">I don't want anyone to get the impression that it was all horrible. I saw more animals in the desert than in any other section. Condors, lizards, coyote, deer, bunnies, mice, a tarantula and a mountain lion who hissed at me when I got too close to its den at night. There were absolutely gorgeous sunsets and the night sky was amazing. The Joshua trees and the many types of cacti made the brown sandy background a little more interesting.</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEbgyknULfeHbapk9wua1zoFltFnhWLQvN0hTY0kR3OaH5M2YFktJpx2A1Nroc8PCsOZ5Ptv3AvsqBuM1uSARa0G1dxE4gtPkh3q4fPHi2QWtb7kT-MH9X3wup5xyP-0zPTwxUS4fGow/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEbgyknULfeHbapk9wua1zoFltFnhWLQvN0hTY0kR3OaH5M2YFktJpx2A1Nroc8PCsOZ5Ptv3AvsqBuM1uSARa0G1dxE4gtPkh3q4fPHi2QWtb7kT-MH9X3wup5xyP-0zPTwxUS4fGow/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">The redeeming factor in the desert was the people I met and the trail angels who helped me! I never had to carry more than three litres of water in the desert because so many kind people left water caches every twenty miles or so. This on its own is huge! Some northbound hikers said they had carried up to eight litres at a time through this section. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have to carry all that extra weight especially in the state I was in at that point. Thank you to anyone who leaves water caches along trails for hikers!</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEGdK8ZW3kzMQew7-7hoQmtipWk6OaoaLQA8MsLN2CkJbiNZQRpqkkwHgjxW0bK57Z0rfkE-1xietVII8SQZu3RDWGZFNfXd7MU0mEfCAeeE6vyCIfPTjWhxw1t0YwSeyzcGzSyjL2_4/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEGdK8ZW3kzMQew7-7hoQmtipWk6OaoaLQA8MsLN2CkJbiNZQRpqkkwHgjxW0bK57Z0rfkE-1xietVII8SQZu3RDWGZFNfXd7MU0mEfCAeeE6vyCIfPTjWhxw1t0YwSeyzcGzSyjL2_4/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">While it was harder to get a hitch to town in this section, some kind soul would eventually stop and offer us not only a ride but offer to drive us around town to get groceries or find a hotel. Several times here I was told "God told me to turn around and pick you up." Every single town here was filled with people more than willing to help a hiker!</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZyTJugIC8W_KJdRsUDMdZ-dKHwmbCIErGTfbJtDphH9CP8OePML_gi2wNP1OgWGvWtW5LKProUzSD8AwwZkD8iValDXGaTa8xG0Pcbek4-2slHQROvizjUTSXxX-aR_MrH6IEupAfpQ/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZyTJugIC8W_KJdRsUDMdZ-dKHwmbCIErGTfbJtDphH9CP8OePML_gi2wNP1OgWGvWtW5LKProUzSD8AwwZkD8iValDXGaTa8xG0Pcbek4-2slHQROvizjUTSXxX-aR_MrH6IEupAfpQ/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p>By this point in the hike I had already purchased my return airfare home and was in a bit of a hurry to stay on track and finish in time. Because of this I missed out on a chance to stay at Casa de Luna (the Anderson's). They host and feed hikers and I would have loved to take a break. Online I had posted a picture at the five hundred miles to go sign and so when I didn't arrive Terri Anderson sent me a message on fb making sure I was okay and giving me a personal invitation. Of course I was already past her house and kicking myself for not stopping in. As I walked into the next town an older gentleman called over to me from a restaurant patio offering to buy me breakfast. I definitely took him up on that but then skipped Hiker Haven run by another famous trail angel family who hosts up to fifty hikers at a time. I realize that if I had taken the extra time with these trail angels it may have completely changed my perspective of this section. <br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvVjGQje_4Mh88sZPxOT-gtaTLMTCo3gAvR_xXJPHYEKlCHzuVHJEbNZz0lVRjvum_ES3CePoLS6qQqGZ2hSPd7ZHMU0TICWPR8IwdD0hq_hKHHM5Mw9EhArsRoUXmUlezuBS5RnILLw/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvVjGQje_4Mh88sZPxOT-gtaTLMTCo3gAvR_xXJPHYEKlCHzuVHJEbNZz0lVRjvum_ES3CePoLS6qQqGZ2hSPd7ZHMU0TICWPR8IwdD0hq_hKHHM5Mw9EhArsRoUXmUlezuBS5RnILLw/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Still I feel blessed. It was in Julian that my big trail magic story happened. We hitched into town on a cold and windy day. All of the hotels were way overpriced and we were deciding to just head back to the trail. As we walked back through town we noticed people gathering near Mom's Pies. This place was known to give thruhikers a free piece of pie so of course we got as close to the door as possible. When they opened to sell pies from the door they saw us and invited us in to get warm and enjoy a free pie! We were so excited and thankful for the warm place to sit, recharge our phones and enjoy the pie. But it got better! They invited us home for thanksgiving dinner and said we could set up on thier property! This family is awesome! It turns out that this wasn't the first time strangers had been invited to a big family meal. Thank you so much for your hospitality it came at just the right time for me! </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupFa1JPTfAAuRaulkS5qJ4tLfpXAMt2VqFNTEEkPkcZxrvNJ0znhBQmmgJkeObANcCbHfRtD3H-b9ztXvJyPwu8jP1pI0UW2GuvT5p8JusI7HwoFSQzrsa0n6fTKSU5m1BQFboUxL1BE/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupFa1JPTfAAuRaulkS5qJ4tLfpXAMt2VqFNTEEkPkcZxrvNJ0znhBQmmgJkeObANcCbHfRtD3H-b9ztXvJyPwu8jP1pI0UW2GuvT5p8JusI7HwoFSQzrsa0n6fTKSU5m1BQFboUxL1BE/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p>Every town stop seemed like a reprieve for me close to the end and every little kindness no matter how small seemed huge! In Warner Springs the community had set up an area for hikers with outdoor bucket showers, laundry and an area to set up camp. It sounds simple but it was so nice to be able to get clean and wash out my hiking clothes. We didn't stay though as Eagle Rock was only a few miles from there and I really wanted to camp beneath the eagle.<br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7mHMBU_rrYkwzKxvQLJbrpn0eYaWxxwHgwPefe-tfhEUahN2KCBS-B3dLv1LV5RTVm8UsJYhONcbzD3-euTk1mo8mOaU1OsDjR1x4Bbtjqqko46cRBoAteTBCkpc6WnRVSydJQ7tsQM/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7mHMBU_rrYkwzKxvQLJbrpn0eYaWxxwHgwPefe-tfhEUahN2KCBS-B3dLv1LV5RTVm8UsJYhONcbzD3-euTk1mo8mOaU1OsDjR1x4Bbtjqqko46cRBoAteTBCkpc6WnRVSydJQ7tsQM/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p>The closer I got to the Mexican border the more excited I became to finish. I started hiking out from camp earlier in the morning leaving Rogue on his own to pack up. He was still faster than me so he usually caught up within an hour and was soon ahead of me for the rest of the day. The last days on the trail seemed to fly by and the miles came easy. On the very last day we had planned on just getting to Campo (the last town on the trail) and then hiking the last mile to the border the next day. But when we arrived in Campo we were excited to be so close to the end. After a short break spent stuffing our faces with chips and root beer we were soon racing through the very last mile of the PCT. I was happy to touch the monument and gloat to the border patrol agents that we had hiked the entire trail when they drove up to check us out. It wasn't until we started hiking back towards Campo to find a spot to set up on the trail one last time that I realized I made it! I thruhiked the Pacific Crest Trail!<br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDzQtrZLSS8CDlPInOcB4ppVq1jyQcclS9wWDwJ-7clFVUfddDPDOKaxpo_cyn74J6x-AD7RDIuN9HwFYL5z5hTA3CKwIKCOaR-xEQfgEsXiqXlWjtJL-CytgNG5-bHbcBWMBjdDl7fk/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDzQtrZLSS8CDlPInOcB4ppVq1jyQcclS9wWDwJ-7clFVUfddDPDOKaxpo_cyn74J6x-AD7RDIuN9HwFYL5z5hTA3CKwIKCOaR-xEQfgEsXiqXlWjtJL-CytgNG5-bHbcBWMBjdDl7fk/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;"><br></span></p><p><br></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-47802743946106012019-01-15T12:07:00.001-08:002019-01-15T12:07:13.755-08:00The High Sierras<p><p></p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IHFiot6jTp8gwWiWWAJ61lrHcN9Yu_I47TN8YdM_g-DDOcXcDhjVPnKQoIVNE5V68d5FIizWKYCyBK3loCVbBVqsgDH8uerXpCqeRG_iHl0l86fk8_ZMfXuSa3joCkXsFv0pC83cjKE/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IHFiot6jTp8gwWiWWAJ61lrHcN9Yu_I47TN8YdM_g-DDOcXcDhjVPnKQoIVNE5V68d5FIizWKYCyBK3loCVbBVqsgDH8uerXpCqeRG_iHl0l86fk8_ZMfXuSa3joCkXsFv0pC83cjKE/" width="320" height="180" class=" " title="Only a Thousand Miles to go!" alt=""></a></p></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I should have posted this awhile ago but better late than never.</p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6ZltrJMSYf5DSoER_C1m6_mWUAa5loXfKUsHW1ruYlh-UrqH4gnIS1EIjXtDiE3FX06XtCKBo_pEUilJRWMwjNpG59tgtSSMfOtJYYyyhA9OV59dYAwg4mhZraTHh5LDkqdRHFUWTZ8/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6ZltrJMSYf5DSoER_C1m6_mWUAa5loXfKUsHW1ruYlh-UrqH4gnIS1EIjXtDiE3FX06XtCKBo_pEUilJRWMwjNpG59tgtSSMfOtJYYyyhA9OV59dYAwg4mhZraTHh5LDkqdRHFUWTZ8/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Miles 1635 to 1950</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOugG8YKSAqySzH8-1x-JoaX6t6ZHY3g2AqSjExs-iYFx9eq2Uds4PFbVf99sqTUo0cPLJEWn7KkiuNyn0qgbmKtmvWqf7y6pOQlFxBkgUCt7NKy5YWrX-dthYk0Yd6hD6wlNS0dMXGCY/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOugG8YKSAqySzH8-1x-JoaX6t6ZHY3g2AqSjExs-iYFx9eq2Uds4PFbVf99sqTUo0cPLJEWn7KkiuNyn0qgbmKtmvWqf7y6pOQlFxBkgUCt7NKy5YWrX-dthYk0Yd6hD6wlNS0dMXGCY/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">I was so excited as I entered the High Sierras even though the weather was less than ideal. I'd dreamt about being here in this place for a long time and it was really good to finally be here. It actually felt like the weather was greeting us with its hail (like confetti) and then snow and wind as if it was showing us what it could be like here. </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfo0boxvpAecdKUh-8n2pmY5zd1epMqamhD7essRQvEYcxHvwkY771SH-M8hB2msZtLhA8qVj8YkV6tU7wp2S7J_HWu-NvxAXn2muUSFNIzVqalY5s0ULTykj6Kr2Ol0L5wqk9l7607tw/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfo0boxvpAecdKUh-8n2pmY5zd1epMqamhD7essRQvEYcxHvwkY771SH-M8hB2msZtLhA8qVj8YkV6tU7wp2S7J_HWu-NvxAXn2muUSFNIzVqalY5s0ULTykj6Kr2Ol0L5wqk9l7607tw/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Hiking up to Dorothy Pass and entering Yosemite National Park was another monumental moment. And it was so beautiful to sit along Dorothy Lake for a break and enjoy the amazing scenery.</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5NbN4R6lA8by_cMAihtDNXq48s4qMHz1vfgiHBVxNWgHKTxZYdalZ3dlxmSLIzGPb89xTDw5o3gqmNPN3rWtb5h9YqjOFvb_n2G8ASMw08BtccvCZ6VI16cK1WtzkjdNoGIqhhUk8zg/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5NbN4R6lA8by_cMAihtDNXq48s4qMHz1vfgiHBVxNWgHKTxZYdalZ3dlxmSLIzGPb89xTDw5o3gqmNPN3rWtb5h9YqjOFvb_n2G8ASMw08BtccvCZ6VI16cK1WtzkjdNoGIqhhUk8zg/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">My pace slowed here and soon it became apparent that this rugged section was going to wear me out! It's true that my legs are stronger now and I can just hike straight up any mountain but when there isn't enough air in my lungs I begin to fall apart. I got dizzy, woke up with headaches and just felt like I had less energy. In short I was exhausted! The daily mileage slowed a little and I started to wonder what was wrong with me. I was in such a beautiful place but just getting through a day was an effort. </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfEZ2hZvkI_VQl-5j7on0GQVJg_MoIdMYuyeS_s2mmwn7DnhKUlPgOQnkwy2kJ39MTDU3z36BWjK2kcS05nC1Qs03lIZK5yvDtdb03qp0IUIE0QqOqoDztSPeE_qUrkFsjUUN-B5UV-k/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfEZ2hZvkI_VQl-5j7on0GQVJg_MoIdMYuyeS_s2mmwn7DnhKUlPgOQnkwy2kJ39MTDU3z36BWjK2kcS05nC1Qs03lIZK5yvDtdb03qp0IUIE0QqOqoDztSPeE_qUrkFsjUUN-B5UV-k/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Getting off the trail to go to Mammoth Lakes turned into our first end of season road closure experience requiring us to walk out to the nearest open road and try to hitch from there. In town we met a trail angel who treated us to an amazing green curry meal before taking us back as close to the trail as she possibly could. As we put more miles in the landscape became more beautiful. Kings Canyon was gorgeous! And every single day I spent there will be cherished but I was happy to leave. I think places like this deserve fresh eyes and fresh legs. Being a thruhiker in this section, I felt like I was just rushing through rather than enjoying this beautiful place. The trees here are amazing! The mountains overwhelming and the many, many lakes in the remotest of places were surprising. I will definitely come back to the Sierras. </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr055KxNevqEYuUOE97wsm6azX_rLCc09zK_MHZnBaLMllHWkxeWa4Yl3F_3FI5_SIOqTh35xgKaquq-ZdwUFT76RgLX2lA8lpcv4mJBkCw4giafZiv_iE9nDwHVzGhGbamszsqTFoa3U/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr055KxNevqEYuUOE97wsm6azX_rLCc09zK_MHZnBaLMllHWkxeWa4Yl3F_3FI5_SIOqTh35xgKaquq-ZdwUFT76RgLX2lA8lpcv4mJBkCw4giafZiv_iE9nDwHVzGhGbamszsqTFoa3U/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Hiking southbound was a definite advantage here as we started with the lower more manageable passes and worked our way up to Forester Pass at 13,153ft. As a bonus we hiked out at Whitney Portal and had not only breath taking view but also got to deal with snow and ice one last time on this trail. </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVjhAWsgjOL-qL_49LTeYnm2XMNp3_kiQSrruNDXNl3NSLAFKK1wg5IijDJegSfULXlhcAUf9LRo-zA1DPEUY6U1Naato82LOqvk8xRi00sbPW1G80_wO0e7QM3w-xseqFPYDU3q-2dI/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVjhAWsgjOL-qL_49LTeYnm2XMNp3_kiQSrruNDXNl3NSLAFKK1wg5IijDJegSfULXlhcAUf9LRo-zA1DPEUY6U1Naato82LOqvk8xRi00sbPW1G80_wO0e7QM3w-xseqFPYDU3q-2dI/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">At Lone Pine we tried to eat at just about every place in town trying desperately to get as many calories into us as possible. This town has epic views of the mountains on either side and a rich history of movie making and mining. Now it is mostly a tourist town as the main entrance to the John Muir Trail and to Mount Whitney (the highest summit in the contiguous US). As I hiked down and out of the Sierras and said goodbye to Sequoia National Park it was sad to leave.but I am sure I will be back to this magical place one day!</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP6ffLF17zR3KIIuDZFLTsGMrRNHjLOtPP9PjSLOKU0_k8vR_-74UmuLGcmsyjip_8uWO0ZXraKCn62khPEWs8xI-diDC_72Yh6mW1Hjo7CEfHh0-Ubmh57hNQRVtOs9hBjoNI9A9ZZE/" imageanchor="1" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAP6ffLF17zR3KIIuDZFLTsGMrRNHjLOtPP9PjSLOKU0_k8vR_-74UmuLGcmsyjip_8uWO0ZXraKCn62khPEWs8xI-diDC_72Yh6mW1Hjo7CEfHh0-Ubmh57hNQRVtOs9hBjoNI9A9ZZE/" width="320" height="260"></a></p><p><br></p><p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-61155736895809788202018-10-11T11:15:00.001-07:002018-10-11T11:15:17.931-07:00Northern CaliforniaMile 960.9 to Mile 1635.7<p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJ3Twtk1saEvUCjQCIJE2Rv_9nhaTfP4AVOkd0vu3rAnEHNG8_gGCMYU4dbyODL9-4BbhT59dyoigUpNePXultN4I8s9Jpla6NvoWOv533Nq83DLf-ECuYnyrF541C9ly-aHKTMJ6VeU/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJ3Twtk1saEvUCjQCIJE2Rv_9nhaTfP4AVOkd0vu3rAnEHNG8_gGCMYU4dbyODL9-4BbhT59dyoigUpNePXultN4I8s9Jpla6NvoWOv533Nq83DLf-ECuYnyrF541C9ly-aHKTMJ6VeU/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p>The excitement built as we <span style="font-size: 1.1em;">approached the California border. The landscape was changing from dense coniferous forests to open grassy areas with sparse tall pines. At the actual border we dropped our packs and I piggy backed Rogue across into California joking that now he needed to carry me all the way to Mexico!</span><br></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABVNJOZR0VXLgFcKY20RL7h5YjDqm1l0yRs6msujd6ztl2HwuUc2xJjEVy2ZSxN7WENcRzaeg7s44sjmbvmjMda9INVSUmwqQoGtRj4Vq9WDCpJhZWSe4TPm8lf3Mn8e6Vh7eRsxaZRw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABVNJOZR0VXLgFcKY20RL7h5YjDqm1l0yRs6msujd6ztl2HwuUc2xJjEVy2ZSxN7WENcRzaeg7s44sjmbvmjMda9INVSUmwqQoGtRj4Vq9WDCpJhZWSe4TPm8lf3Mn8e6Vh7eRsxaZRw/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p></p><p> We waited for So Good just behind us and congratulated her on her achievement. Then it was on into California! </p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsS5DIdusB3VfgwkOOom9OzYrVowYsJbpfyUcmndlT1kh847HoS7IAM7vLnkATNR4CrboASXIgvi1ACzmQTarnJIFgrdP4XwvpKFD2pfdK0zA5F4WvslpTu8anJ49iJ15dl4tMlIVMZA/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsS5DIdusB3VfgwkOOom9OzYrVowYsJbpfyUcmndlT1kh847HoS7IAM7vLnkATNR4CrboASXIgvi1ACzmQTarnJIFgrdP4XwvpKFD2pfdK0zA5F4WvslpTu8anJ49iJ15dl4tMlIVMZA/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">The scenery changed almost instantly. Now we were hiking on red dirt mountains that looked almost bare and suddenly there were little lizards everywhere. It was so beautiful! I often felt like I was hiking through the setting of an old western movie. The trail seemed to change as well. Instead of hiking in one direction for most of the day we were now snaking around each mountain and would spend hours in each area getting to see each nook and cranny of the mountains. The trees got taller and bigger and there were several different types of pine, cedar and fir that I couldn't name but loved instantly. </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv176e5WiXhwJPbHIj37FdL3hFgnIeu5bcDt4S2n5MoiobG136eJJIGOtaRkMjdcsHxGI_PXwOLv3Z8PwcmmGw0SvXD6-JoFFSJCtheBBlfrpdSJQqBmflQeTy01mJEOCH1ocBsYQGJQw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv176e5WiXhwJPbHIj37FdL3hFgnIeu5bcDt4S2n5MoiobG136eJJIGOtaRkMjdcsHxGI_PXwOLv3Z8PwcmmGw0SvXD6-JoFFSJCtheBBlfrpdSJQqBmflQeTy01mJEOCH1ocBsYQGJQw/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p></p><span style="font-size: 1.1em;">It was here that a deer chose to follow me for over a mile. Cautiously at first but soon close behind me.</span><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Sadly this is where we lost most of our trail family. Most of the hikers we had been hiking around in Washington and Oregon were racing on ahead while we seemed to be slowing down. At first it seemed appropriate to be hiking in such a desolate place alone but as the days of solitude turned into weeks I began to look for other hikers at every town stop hoping someone else was out there with us. </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6sFlYLCGdi3kfauZd4KnLhx3LZlEHqUv0F_K24GDMLXRkiFLg0nNHB-O9iCuZFnUiobXMQQ4HsLlSSi2wvXXWBCO5EbBpt1GP4zOCdBCBeGFDyzreVflUKodng5Zu1LmOElruuVRJ_Y/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6sFlYLCGdi3kfauZd4KnLhx3LZlEHqUv0F_K24GDMLXRkiFLg0nNHB-O9iCuZFnUiobXMQQ4HsLlSSi2wvXXWBCO5EbBpt1GP4zOCdBCBeGFDyzreVflUKodng5Zu1LmOElruuVRJ_Y/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">The towns here seem to be very, very different. The first town was a bit of a shock in that it was a tiny, run down looking little hamlet but the people were so friendly! The restaurant owner had made an area outside for hikers on her property with a picnic table, washrooms and outlets that we could use even if her business was closed. There was a town event happening the evening we were there and we were invited by almost every local we talked to. Leaving Seiad Valley we encountered the longest road walk we have had so far in order to cross the Klamath River safely. Along that road walk we passed the thousand mile mark and then had nineteen miles of up to hike. I dreaded it but that hike up out of the valley was so enjoyable that now whenever I look at the map and see a huge up in front of me I hope that it is just like that hike up out of Seiad Valley. The next town was pretty and quaint. It was still a tiny, rural town but there was definitely more money here. The people were so friendly here! We loved Etna. Then came Mount Shasta which was huge by contrast with those first few towns. Generally bigger towns mean more amenities but less help getting to and from the trail but not here! A local picked us up and then offered his number telling us to call him if we needed anything including a ride around the first and only fire closure we experienced. </span></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikg-vAVKpt61amvFdZXWQNLlSquPdzrF4cbuHAey6h8pN4ZSlodHXHJ2AA7xgQZEqtaX3NlQMHHdkL76qciVbZm8g2jaV3vxK70OmyuZKeDvGW3L-EOhBnYJex0gAgz3xrHGqM5lwC4oA/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikg-vAVKpt61amvFdZXWQNLlSquPdzrF4cbuHAey6h8pN4ZSlodHXHJ2AA7xgQZEqtaX3NlQMHHdkL76qciVbZm8g2jaV3vxK70OmyuZKeDvGW3L-EOhBnYJex0gAgz3xrHGqM5lwC4oA/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">I won't mention each town stop but as the miles added up these towns were my only opportunity to talk to other people (and we all know how much I like to talk). I was starting to feel isolated from everyone on the trail and worried that we had slowed down too much to safely hike through the High Sierras. On the other hand it felt so good to slow down and find the most epic spot to cowboy camp each night plus it's hard to say no to an extra town day!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;"> </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlu8d6KU_pZ4CT2mRfF5lFJElbanyYmo_11xV9khqens78sA4YeqVjVbNNvEC_RY5AiCRgOLPcuHfxTsamvy3BMQmUYhjvPPx_JKdY6ec7Lyq8AypkFFSrJTnNWCNMW4FeXZtSHURbQg/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlu8d6KU_pZ4CT2mRfF5lFJElbanyYmo_11xV9khqens78sA4YeqVjVbNNvEC_RY5AiCRgOLPcuHfxTsamvy3BMQmUYhjvPPx_JKdY6ec7Lyq8AypkFFSrJTnNWCNMW4FeXZtSHURbQg/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">By the end of Northern California the nights were starting to get colder and although most of my gear has held up well it became obvious that my sleeping bag wasn't warm enough. I added new wool layers and hoped it would be enough. Northern California surprised me with its beauty and diversity and was a great introduction to the California. I am excited for what will come next!</span></p><p><p></p></p><p><br></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-21859555347881099522018-09-28T20:21:00.001-07:002018-09-28T20:21:09.795-07:00Oregon<p><br></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeUxniIx9OklFtXo5j7iN-TL8AFyu5XcZqPHqYGA2PfYEesqtnPncg2HbrZqu3F4lBTRoYbaG3t1NWsmxgVeeLzJc1YkO7xptvZp_YHo45-asEnnWrXCgM4fNHDZQXqI7AMoAfb6nzNI/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeUxniIx9OklFtXo5j7iN-TL8AFyu5XcZqPHqYGA2PfYEesqtnPncg2HbrZqu3F4lBTRoYbaG3t1NWsmxgVeeLzJc1YkO7xptvZp_YHo45-asEnnWrXCgM4fNHDZQXqI7AMoAfb6nzNI/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>This is a guest post from my hiking partner Rogue.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"And it came to pass that they entered the state of Oregon on the thirty-first of the month of July in the year of two thousand and eighteen, full of anxiety and trepidation, for it was foretold that it would be wearisome and desolate of feature."</span><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">- Gospel of Rogue 4.31</span><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The "Bridge of the Gods" welcomed us into both Oregon and the small town of Cascade Locks with beautiful sunshine and strong winds. The bridge's grated surface also allowed for fear inducing views straight down to the river far below and at the end of it we hugged, both to celebrate our arrival in another state but also that we'd made it across the bridge safely.</span><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Although a diner is conveniently situated right next to the bridge we naturally decided to take the long walk into town instead to get our first meal. After our famished stomachs had been pacified we decided to have a second breakfast straight away - then beer, then ice cream, lunch, dinner, second dinner, ... Oh well, I guess all in all we had eight meals while we were there. The "Thunder Island Brewery" is particularly noteworthy, as it is hiker friendly, offers good craft beers, and truly fantastic food. Alas, we couldn't stay for long, or they might've had to roll us out of town.</span><br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJE0JPHBIehuXDCRErOxqfD8PQGvq5RbIknyzsh6Dm38D0sJ45h4X20rzpoAI4zf3YtQzCIwGG8Pcz2Rj6UzPueNEun33Hs5GxUWWnDek5qoJiet3CIKj5Gf5NPaRX6Rbh13FVTI0BKE/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJE0JPHBIehuXDCRErOxqfD8PQGvq5RbIknyzsh6Dm38D0sJ45h4X20rzpoAI4zf3YtQzCIwGG8Pcz2Rj6UzPueNEun33Hs5GxUWWnDek5qoJiet3CIKj5Gf5NPaRX6Rbh13FVTI0BKE/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Instead we made our way towards Mount Hood, which we reached on August 3rd. Cold clamminess not withstanding, we enjoyed the days very much. The scenery was breathtaking and magical and the morning fog at high altitude added to the atmosphere.</span><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">On the southern flanks of Mount Hood sits Timberline Lodge. It is both a registered historic place and landmark. It was also the (outside) setting of the "heeere is Johnny" hotel in "The Shining". On top of this, it's also a welcome break to hungry hikers, due to their fabled all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. It took us three visits to the laden counters, before we waved defeat and left the cozy interior - in search for some more food to take on the trail. At the marvellously overpriced vending machines (20oz bottle of pop for $3), we ran into "The Kid", a very nice 18 year old thru-hiker who explained to us the virtues of paperless pooping in the woods and the various advantages and disadvantages of different materials one might find along the way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Even past Mount Hood, the landscape was fabulous, and surprised us with plenty of variety and awesomeness. "Little Crater Lake" was small but very blue indead, and gave opportunity for some trail magic from some well meaning tourists, who came after us to drop some freshly plucked strawberries into our eager hands. Fresh water from a hand pump made our day complete.</span><br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjsB_bHEaws3rAACQs7IlnRR8EnEun2fO3GudsOxlc-3fLNLMX4rpYsYxW5jc5nOKz8Q8OcYu27pEcKOZTaqJPuD8Glpuxx4qgmR628fakbKKFGf66_KC6RJ1Le7AdsIFOxjACLUxzOE/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjsB_bHEaws3rAACQs7IlnRR8EnEun2fO3GudsOxlc-3fLNLMX4rpYsYxW5jc5nOKz8Q8OcYu27pEcKOZTaqJPuD8Glpuxx4qgmR628fakbKKFGf66_KC6RJ1Le7AdsIFOxjACLUxzOE/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Olallie Lake was a nice change from the trail routine and offered beer and snacks and an opportunity to wash some hair - that needed it, apparently. We also received some awesome trail magic in form of hot dogs, bananas, and drinks.</span><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">After a restful pit stop in Bend, we were back on trail only a scant few miles, when our weary and tired feet took us into the marvel that is the "Big Lake Youth Center". They hadn't just built a house - specifically catering to through hikers, with kitchen, coffee machine, laundry, and showers - they also fed and watered any hiker who made it there. Three meals a day, sometimes serving twenty or more hikers. We accepted this outstanding hospitality and then found a spot by the lake, where we cowboy camped for the first time on this trail and had a great night. </span><br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyGxz2npE72g9fA06SxWmHMugHsqS4kFxtnwKpWxjSNcNfVkOcmbNgQHEaWpY7gMu0-8zvZCOnUSC_83OWYfW30L5Vn6xzQObwKNh5PNeHYRb6Z7VowzetbEPZYagbJVWGcIwm0ka6Ao/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyGxz2npE72g9fA06SxWmHMugHsqS4kFxtnwKpWxjSNcNfVkOcmbNgQHEaWpY7gMu0-8zvZCOnUSC_83OWYfW30L5Vn6xzQObwKNh5PNeHYRb6Z7VowzetbEPZYagbJVWGcIwm0ka6Ao/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The lava fields near the "Three Sisters" were the next attraction we stumbled across. A volcanic eruption over 2000 years ago had spewed forth a jumbled mess of basalt in which we found endless opportunity to take pictures and play around in, like we were kids. The slight smokiness from the distant wildfires enhanced the visuals dramatically.</span><br style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQr7H_R4QBFX3NioPdMDzSSv2c8bbsHJb6XZC8onwJZQFFBdH8hqJNppFHYFlzVrhCwiv_DyWr3yzM57BC-L-w1k_zV9CGQ7aQgHqKGUAg7qTVF6xv5Uvbhfbh1lm_lSSra3JQWLER1w/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQr7H_R4QBFX3NioPdMDzSSv2c8bbsHJb6XZC8onwJZQFFBdH8hqJNppFHYFlzVrhCwiv_DyWr3yzM57BC-L-w1k_zV9CGQ7aQgHqKGUAg7qTVF6xv5Uvbhfbh1lm_lSSra3JQWLER1w/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">After a delightful evening and exquisite sunset at Charlton Lake, we carried our tired bodies into Shelter Cove Resort, where we gorged on pizza and beer. The night was spent in the PCT area, where multiple thru-hikers mistook Trouble's hammock spot for a washroom at night. Once she actually had to shout out to prevent an embarrassment.</span><br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg0ONM52b8T8IR3yCRQbNOf02zO02YtS2q6GZrvOkekAa9IoSZP67q6-CB5ScRK8msK8K_z_xv8EOBLXXksBalQW0t2CeBw0eZfcu1B2ApDGMcRccQyeFSyp6jXNbVhfIS3cm7uHHe1s/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkg0ONM52b8T8IR3yCRQbNOf02zO02YtS2q6GZrvOkekAa9IoSZP67q6-CB5ScRK8msK8K_z_xv8EOBLXXksBalQW0t2CeBw0eZfcu1B2ApDGMcRccQyeFSyp6jXNbVhfIS3cm7uHHe1s/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">At the shores of Summit Lake, we ran into our old friends Pokerface, Jack the Ripper, and Full Moon and spent the evening and night with them. Copious amounts of fresh air and good humour made us decorate Pokerface's mattress with a likeness of her future husband. He looks like a dashing young chap.</span><br></p><p><p></p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zgZe9G6-HWPC6p6HcbL19H-DXaeDbFIGHbhJkBJDuOfVqJC6XdGJgdDRUMSbSW6i7Gt1IbKfHwrOrw6W2iWqCPx3h0Og4He5jEFJ-y826ENZhmaRlAyDsTBsMdVbMg-9ZOVkpfmYchE/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zgZe9G6-HWPC6p6HcbL19H-DXaeDbFIGHbhJkBJDuOfVqJC6XdGJgdDRUMSbSW6i7Gt1IbKfHwrOrw6W2iWqCPx3h0Og4He5jEFJ-y826ENZhmaRlAyDsTBsMdVbMg-9ZOVkpfmYchE/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><div id="m7284248880012148713" class="mail-message expanded" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><div class="mail-message-content collapsible zoom-normal mail-show-images " style="overflow-wrap: break-word; margin: 16px 0px;"><div class="clear">On August 17 we finally reached Crater Lake. We woke up especially early for this side trail and managed to view the sunrise over the crater rim. Although the area was shrouded in thick smoke from the nearby wildfires, and we couldn't even make out the opposite side of the rim, it made for an extra special sunrise experience and transformed the crater into a magical wonderland that offered mystical view after mystical view.<br>The later meal at Mazama Village was rather less exciting, but it gave us opportunity to resupply in the neighbouring convenience store, to down a bucket of ice cream, and to catch up on hiker gossip with fellow ramblers who were hanging out in front of the store.<br><br>After this, Oregon said slowly goodbye to us, as we were making our way along some of the smaller resorts on the way to the border. The scenery changed from green woodlands to the more Northern Californiesque dry grasslands and different wildflowers. It was beautiful to observe the changes as were getting closer and closer to the border.<br><br>We crossed the border on August 24th. I was somewhat tired. But I wasn't worried. I had backup. Thus I made it across the border to Northern California - without any effort. Life is good.<br><br>"And they passed into the next realm, full of happiness and good memories. The portended insipidity had not come to pass and they were grateful for it."<br>- Gospel of Rogue 4.57</div><p><br></p></div><div class="mail-message-footer spacer collapsible" style="height: 0px;"></div></div><p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-61204969733629431242018-08-01T10:42:00.001-07:002018-08-01T10:42:05.722-07:00I have walked 500 miles...<p><br></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCAFHPgxp793dMeNmttEPFe9cEXBOIHwYbgDGwLiY3QDjSaxeVVwkGf-uHVxzg_8ZddwlxfqlHuQJGjrrJSddnFld1YrrgRLCE-b2pCKwNFtRgs5JteRyCx0VDL_NjHfgsYvVlRGiJQ4/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCAFHPgxp793dMeNmttEPFe9cEXBOIHwYbgDGwLiY3QDjSaxeVVwkGf-uHVxzg_8ZddwlxfqlHuQJGjrrJSddnFld1YrrgRLCE-b2pCKwNFtRgs5JteRyCx0VDL_NjHfgsYvVlRGiJQ4/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">I have walked 500 miles ......and I will walk 2150 more! That first part sounds like something to celebrate until you read the second part but I am still celebrating! I've walked through the incredibly beautiful state of Washington! The state with the most elevation changes and the steepest sections I've walked over snowfislds and gripped my trekking poles tightly as I've maneuvered carefully across steep, snowy slopes. I've held my breath as I've trusted narrow sections of loose rocks not to give away along miles of a catwalk trail and watched as a giant rock fell from above wiping out the trail ten feet in front of me before continuing down the mountainside.. I've hiked through snow, hail, rain and scorching sun and come out at the other side stronger, leaner and more agile than I was twenty years ago. Yes, I'm celebrating! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Washington has absolutely blown me away with its beauty starting right from day one in the northern cascades. It was so beautiful that sometimes I would listen to the music I brought to distract me on the hard ups not because I was actually on a hard up but because I was stopping every few seconds to take another picture or cry because I couldn't believe the view or start laughing because I couldn't believe my good fortune at being here and seeing this. I know it's hard to believe but taking in too much beauty is so overwhelming! The Goat Rock Wilderness was another gorgeous section where it was hard not to get distracted by beauty in every single direction I would look. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">And it's not just the trail that makes Washington so awesome but the people I have met here. Every little town has it's own character and the sense of community here is something that has been missing for decades where I am from. The kindness from total strangers still astounds me from the initial offer of help to pick me up at the ferry hours away and help me with my mail drops and get me to the trail to the man who just walked up to us as we were hanging out at Cascadia Inn and offered us a ride to the trail to the woman who overheard a part of a conversation and brought Moonshine to her home to shower and do laundry and then back to the trailhead. Washington is full of people who help the minute they see a need. Thank you Washington!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">And I found a hiking partner in Washington! Rogue is great fun and I am so happy to be hiking with him! He always has me laughing at something, is very considerate and apologises even more than most Canadians (I will cure him of this and by the end of the trail we will both be badass and not sorry). And besides with trailnames like Trouble and Rogue we sound like we were destined to hike together. Because I am going southbound I didn't expect to see very many hikers and certainly didn't expect to meet anyone who had a similar pace as me or hiked the same number of miles each day. I have been amazed at the number of southbound hikers this year and have actually only camped on my own on three occasions. Thanks for everything Washington you have given me so much more than I expected!</span></p><p></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2501249265182264881.post-786572420768787092018-07-14T06:51:00.002-07:002018-07-14T06:51:42.620-07:00The First Two Hundred<p><span id="selectionBoundary_1531576202622_8171004681400866" class="rangySelectionBoundary" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span><span id="selectionBoundary_1531576202638_8490118131687667" class="rangySelectionBoundary" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span><p></p></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><span id="selectionBoundary_1531576217945_6428775501193869" class="rangySelectionBoundary" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11dI315zFZ37xrZlZ17TPC3yrJD3DZWJtLxjVtOk5hB-vnOSppfU5mzmKbaUOT_ilI7ttI7pXHnYmrboPl1n4EjUlqyzIcaPdcXne-ejHEDhNyVgWZxbmRP5L4zFuDxzrQMMfEtQENLw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11dI315zFZ37xrZlZ17TPC3yrJD3DZWJtLxjVtOk5hB-vnOSppfU5mzmKbaUOT_ilI7ttI7pXHnYmrboPl1n4EjUlqyzIcaPdcXne-ejHEDhNyVgWZxbmRP5L4zFuDxzrQMMfEtQENLw/" data-original-width="" data-original-height="" /></a></p><p>Expectations.... They can ruin a hike when things don't quite turn out like you think. I was so excited to start this hike. And right from the start I had trail angels offering me help, how awesome is that! The day I started the trail was beautiful, more beautiful than I could have imagined. Blowing all of my expectations away. And the ups! The ups weren't that bad! Easier than I thought really! Again making my expectations seem irrelevant. Then the weather changed and I started into a snowy section. Still everything was so stunningly gorgeous that it was hard for a little bit of snow or rain or hail to change my mind. I was loving It! And the trail was easier than I had imagined. </p><p>I made it back to Harts Pass where the ranger was keeping my food cashe safe. And then I made it to my next resupply and was so proud of myself for managing to get in and out of a town on the same day. All the while the trail was blowing my mind with how amazing it was. Sure there were snow sections but I knew that going in. Yes, it was hard but did I ever expect it would be easy?</p><p>Then the snow sections turned into miles and miles of snow in the most treacherous areas. There was a day where I had planned to get to a certain campsite but when I arrived it was covered in feet of snow and so I kept walking. The next campsite was even worse and I knew I couldn't handle a night hike on a snowy mountain. I searched for the safest place to set up camp and woke up to rain on slushy snow making that next day even harder than the last. I got lost that day...a few times. I fell that day... a few times. I actually slid down part of a mountainside and was saved by trees. None of these things were expected. None of these things were welcome. I knew I needed to keep moving to keep warm but I also knew I needed to eat something. I sat completely soaked and dirty with my tarp wrapped around me forcing tasteless food down my throat while I tried to regroup. What did I expect? And does it matter? I am here. Right now. Dealing with these conditions. I wanted to be out here doing this so I had better think like I am doing this. I know whati need to be doing. </p><p>Now that I have had some.food and given myself a little pep talk it's time to keep moving. Get back on trail and get off this mountain. I need to get as low as possible, beyond the snow. Just for a night, I tell myself. The walk down is cold but the longer I walk the warmer I start to feel until I realize that I'm not cold anymore. </p><p>At the bottom, I still have energy and it's still raining so there is no use in stopping so soon. I make promises to myself that I will stop going up and set up camp before the next snowy section. I end up walking for miles in a gorgeous forest that had giant redwoods in it. It soothes me and I find myself happy to be here again. I set up in such a good sheltered spot that several hikers walked right by not noticing I was even there. </p><p>The next day I walk up into the miles of snow again but it is sunny. The hikers I meet today all tell me of their misadventures from yesterday. I feel better. I was not alone yesterday. I am never really alone. We get lost again in the snow, this time together and in the sun and it is funny. We laugh at our mistakes and each pull out our phones to search for the real trail. We laugh at the problems from yesterday, each of us reliving yesterday's awful experiences yet today for some reason they seem funny. </p><p>I don't know what this trail is going to throw at me. The expectations I have or even the problems I expect to face might never happen. I will take what I am given and try to adapt. </p><p>So far just in this first two hundred miles the trail has surpassed all expectation of beauty and ruggedness. So far I have met more southbound hikers than I imagined and I realize that I don't have to hike alone if I don't want too. There are many out here doing the same thing and going through the same struggles. What will come next? Who knows? This time I am trying to get rid of all expectations and take what comes.<span id="selectionBoundary_1531576302571_442172693318881" class="rangySelectionBoundary" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span><span id="selectionBoundary_1531576302588_5943997102169578" class="rangySelectionBoundary" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span></p><p></p><span id="selectionBoundary_1531576150470_19279334663979242" class="rangySelectionBoundary" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span><span id="selectionBoundary_1531576150494_8304514210698788" class="rangySelectionBoundary" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16474938169640133167noreply@blogger.com3