Planet Earth in my Eyes

A few weeks ago I was blessed by capturing in my memory through visual interceptors a rare happenstance that most would only see on the Discovery Channel. I looked out of the guest room window over Bass Lake and proceeding to sip a hot cup of liquid GO beans prior to packing my things for the ride back to the coast, I glanced out the window. Stuck staring I turned on my personal steady cam of the eyes and glided close the glass to watch the curious movement that had caught my attention. A gaggle of ducks burst in every direction, creating a circle of water ripple V's pointing outward as they scattered, gradually rising up for flight.

The answer to my curiosity for why these ducks were acting so startled was the sudden appearance of a Bald Eagle flying into view. It swooped, then floated, hovering to a stall; timing its attack, then arrowed straight at its prey. Baldy slammed the luckless bird hard, breaking the water tension with ease. The great bird sat in the lake, floating over its meal, making little effort to subdue the struggling peon under water, drowning. It then proceeded to move toward the island, that was about 15 feet away, by doing the breast stroke with outstretched wings. Reaching the island it hopped up onto land with a limp something dragging underneath and began thrashing at it with its sharp carnivorous beak. Violently shaking its head with each bike, bits of the meal flopped into the lake and began floating away on the light ripples. These, I hypothesize, were feathers of the duck.

My eyes were spring stuck open and wishing to have the ability to zoom in, but very focused on this beautiful and terrible moment of the passing on of energy up the food chain, a life and death display at its finest. I wished I had a camera roling to share this with everyone or sell the footage somewhere, but am realizing and appreciating the simplicity of being the solo witness to this glorious tragedy. I don't think the duck was hollering "why me God?!"

Coastal Destiny

There have been many alterations to life since the pilgrimage west. This past summer in the sierras was more than incredible and well worth barely breaking even in the financial department. The courses I instructed with Summit Adventure were rewarding and challenging, giving me a sense of accomplishment and purpose as I help others to develop relationships with each other and God out in the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

The community at Bass Lake was something that I had never experienced before. Friendships were developed and people supported each other through difficult times. Climbing trips, ultimate frisbee, bike rides, fireside beach hangouts and planning backpacking courses were all essential activities. I set a new route with Jordan, called Renegade Hump. I Adopted my first sister, Brittany. And... I admitted fully to a special attraction to someone, now very special to me, Ann. My brother Louis visited at the end of the summer, which was very fun to show him Yosemite and take him up Cathedral Peak in Toulemne Meadows.

So, there's the whirlwind slacker report of the summer...and now, since August I've been working at Mission Springs, teaching 5th and 6th graders Outdoor Education on the coast, near Santa Cruz. It has been a great "job", one I don't really even consider a job because most of the time I'm having such a good time with the kids and the community of naturalists here that I don't realize I'm at work. It is tiring though, no doubt I'm ready for a weekend when it comes. So I've been exploring Redwood forests, learning Western birds, and teaching kids about it. I joined a climbing gym in Santa Cruz which I go to when weather allows (since i'm still on my motorcycle and it rains quite a bit in the winter months).

I went home over Christmas break and met Ann's family and she met mine. Big step... good.

Really i feel like I'm just spewing out some vague discriptions of what I'm doing, so let a couple photos help explain...

Ben jumps the gap after a group of us climbed Mathes Crest.

Me and Ann, El Cap and Half Dome of Yosemite Valley.

friends

Jordan dominating the entrance to Renegade Hump.

Teaching at Mission Springs about Plants, animals, and eco systems.

Learning about Marine Mammals

Joining the Banana Slug Club.

Getting ready for the climbing tower.

Beautiful.

Recent Photo after Christmas Break.

Thanks for ready friends and family. I love you.

California Pilgrimage

I would really like to tell you all about the journey west and describe in detail the variety of characters I incountered along the way... so I will.

I stopped in Wichita, KS for a lunch break and gas-up. After snarfing two unsatisfying hotdogs from a quicktrip, I waiting in line for the restroom and began talking to the man in front of me to get direction back to the highway. His name is Kendall Carpenter and after a few verbal volleys about the route I should take we began to share more about ourselves. At the end of our time together he gave me a card and told me to call him if I ever want to get into the electric supply business. He's a Branch Manager for City Electric Supply Co. "Suppliers of America's Leading Electrical Products."

I spent the night in Oklahoma City where I had planned to stay with a 37 year old missionary and web-designer who makes hemp jewelry, but that fell through. I was taken in (via couchsurfing.com) by a girl name Jessica. It was a very powerful experience for me.  We went to a house show where she played and sang some of her rootsy toons and a few other bands performed as well. There I met a large number of people who seemed to flow in the subculture of the music and art scene in OKC. Everything was fine, except that my hostess fell asleep on her friends bed, slightly intoxicated and very difficult to wake up. After waking her with help from a friend of hers I took her to Sonic for a little 2am dinner. We walked back to her place where I quickly crashed on the extra futon. The morning brought excellent conversation over coffee and breakfast at the Red Bean Cafe down the street. I was given an opportunity to share my faith and hear from her about her desires and spiritual questions. When I left, I asked if I could pray with her and was excited by her willingness and desire to participate. It was a beautiful prayer from a seeking individual hurt by past experiences of "christian living." I felt honored to be included.

The second night was in Amarillo, Texas.  There I stayed with a few great fellas who were preparing for leading worship at their mega church the next morning.  We had some delicious Mexican food and then grabbed Blue Moon's summer ale.  For an evening conversation of religion, politics and art.  A very uplifting time.

I stayed with the Browns in Albuequerque NM.  Thanks to Clint for the last minute hookup with his parents phone number when another couch surfing host fell through.  There I had an excellent dinner with green salsa and enjoyed a fudge sunday while watching a Ninja Warrior tv marathon with Mr. Brown.  I also slept in a big comfy bed for instead of a couch or futon... thanks Whitley.  

There were some bikers who sounded like the guy from Snatch somewhere in the first big empty section of Arizona.  I stopped to get gas and grab an ice cream cone from Dairy Queen, and in they swaggered, two tough guys with those cheap glasses and bandanas with flames imprinted on them.  I tried to have a conversation with them about where they were riding and figured out they lived only about 30 miles away.  They were just out cruisin'... to DQ... middle of nowhere.  I could barely understand what they were saying.  

On the fourth evening I stayed in Flagstaff, AZ.  Quaint.  I received a very thorough tour from my couch surfing host... who bailed me from yet another host who fell through at the last minute.  Michal-Lisa.  We made some gooood lasagna and ate some random fruit that looked like a blow fish.

I wish you all could have met the Chevron Gila Monster man.  He was a spindly old man, insistent that there were these giant lizards nearby that stood up like a little T-rex with little front claws, strong back legs, a stubby tail and razor sharp teeth.  "They're four feet tall and strong enough to knock over a car."  "If they grawl or roar once you better get movin', cuz after the second roar... they're gonna eat ya!"  "Once those little front claws get aholda yer leg, they ain't lettin' go."  "A man came in just yesterday... says he didn't believe me, then came back by later in the day, says his dog was eaten by one a them Gila Monsters."  

On the last night I stayed with Phillip Green in Visalia, CA.  I was only a couple hours from my Destination, but ready to fall over after a hellish ride through souther Cali, where the temp is 105 and the humidity is 105% and the wind 105 mph from the south.  For a few hours I held on with a fear grip they gave me an illusion that I was somehow escaping death by squeezing my handlebars harder to remain on the road.  The side wind was outrageously scary.  I was lean to the left, into the wind, even while going around right curves.  Phillip and I caught up a bit in his fiance's parents guest house while he studied for some finals.  It was great seeing him and riding back roads with too.  Still hoping to go for a ride through Yosemite Valley with my motobro.  

Welp... that's the gist of my trip west.  Better late than never, eh?

Now I'm just working, climbing, lookin' for post summer options and lovin' my time here at the Summit Adventure community.  I just returned yesterday from the Go For It course for people with special needs.  That was more than an incredible experience equally for me and the participants.  Thanks for your prayers and love.  God is.