My Post-Sabbatical Year(s) in Asia (or wherever): 2011

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

July 29th through August 2nd: Last Days

July 29th, 30th, and 31st: Laporte, southwest of Quincy:

kayaking with my old friend Jeff, from my college days, and a neighbor

We went on a hike to Lookout Mountain, and came across a lot of snow on the way. This is a photo taken of the space where the snow melted above the trail

A friend of a neighbor of Jeff's, playing in the snow

view from Lookout Mountain

Boomer (on the left) took us out on his boat

Jeff trying to entice his dog, Shaina, to join him on the kayak. Shaina was not interested.

We finally got her on the kayak, but not for long

August 1st: leaving Jeff and Laporte:

Sunrise at Lake Almanor

I left Jeff's cabin at 3AM heading east to Quincy then north towards Mount Lassan National Park.

Mount Lassan National Park:

The road takes you over a 9300 foot pass (about 3000meters). there is still a lot of snow

Views from Highway 299 to the coast:

I decided to continue my theme of staying off the large freeways, so I took highway 299 west to the coast.

near the coast

Northern California coast

August 2nd: Oregon coast:

The lupines are for you, Christy

August 3rd:

sunrise on my deck at home

It was a great month. Thank you to all of you who have followed my journey.
My next travel blogging will be in April, 2012, when I lead my 8th grade class to Turkey.
See you then. Bye.

Friday, July 29, 2011

July 26th through 28th: Leaving Fresno, arriving in Tahoe

July 26th: last day in Fresno

Paul, me, Bruce and Lisa wine tasting

This was my last family visit on this trip. It has been such a joy to be able to spend time with my family.

July 27th:

sunrise on the road to Tahoe

I was thinking about snakes this morning, and shedding skins. When an old skin is no longer useful, when it no longer serves its purpose, when it has been outgrown, the snake just sheds it. How I wish, at times, that I could be a snake.

The Merced River

Don Pedro lake

Sylvia and John Schofield

John and Sylvia live in a small cabin outside of Volcano, a small town of 200 souls south of Tahoe. They have spent much of their lives living in foreign countries, working as teacher and nurse in places like Germany, Brazil, and Korea, while raising 5 children. I met John and Sylvia my freshman year in college - parents of my first true love - 34 years ago. Our relationship started a little rocky, to say the least (which was fun to reminisce about on this trip). Their current project, inspired by their latest trip abroad to Africa, is to help the girls they met in a small town in Tanzania, with their educational expenses . I am honored to call them friends.

sunset from their balcony

It was so great spending a little time with John and Sylvia. It is such a blessing - this life on the road - the opportunity to explore, to be free of schedule, direction and path. What a blessing to meet a new person and connect in that empty space of newness. Maybe even more a blessing to reacquaint with old friends, share familiar memories, with the ease that trust allows.

July 28th: I spent my time slowly driving up to Tahoe

Silver lake, Highway 88, south of Tahoe

or maybe this is Silver Lake

Could be this photo too

picnic dinner on Lake Tahoe with Chris and Scooter

I have known Scooter since I was 14 years old. About every couple of years I come driving through Tahoe, and their door is always open. And though we haven't talked to each other for 2 years, it seems like it has only been a week. Some friends are like that. Good friends.