Yay! I woke up in the woods this morning. Barba Adams from the Vashon Choir told me about this campsite where she and her husband, Ken , like to come. I had a magnificent morning cooking & eating outdoors, making plans for November travels in Oregon and working on my van (in working towards an outdoor kitchen, I pulled out the van awning. It will need a repair, but I am hopeful I can get it working again).

There is no phone service or internet in the campground, but a rustically majestic lodge (much like the one at Asilomar) that is on the 10 waterfall trail offers seating, tables, hot drinks (free) and wi-fi. I write this as I sit next to the fire. The sun is shining outside, the trail is calling so it is time to disconnect.

By the way, in a conversation with Adina, my friend in Tacoma, the term “wonder driven” popped up when we were having a conversation about making life choices. I consider myself “wonder driven”, not fear driven,  and I think this phrase may apply to my van, as well.

 

 

After a full day visiting with a dear friend who moved to Tacoma from Pacific Grove, and a night in a rest stop, I drove to Portland. I was able to schedule a Miracle of Death Story Circle with six members of the fabulous Portland Threshold Choir on the evening of 11/4. We met at a member’s house and enjoyed a deep night of shared stories, songs and poems. It is always a privilege to facilitate these circles where such deeply personal experiences are shared. I’m grateful for the openness, the shared laughter and tears, and for the traveling contributions received from the participants.  I’m also grateful that I was able to see my new friend in Portland, Maria Simon, again. Our visit was short (we have come to call the late night talks that happen when I park on the street in front of her home , our PJ parties). I so appreciate her art, her wisdom and her generosity sharing meals and offering a hot shower.

 

 

I made it to Seattle in time for the afternoon Threshold Choir Dia de Los Muertos circle. Those who know my fondness for thes holiday will not be surprised that I traveled from Victoria , took two ferries and spent the night at a casino to make it to Seattle for this. Sweet stories, photos and songs for loved ones who have passed warmed the heart. I spent the night in Robin Rose’s driveway, the van pummeled by wind gusts, downpours and pinecones. Quite exicitng. The sun came out the next day, just in time for my foray into the big city. I did the sites, rising to the top of the Space Needle, visitng the Chihully Glass Garden, riding the monorail and visiting Pikes Market. Great city adventure.

 

A two hour drive south along the eastern shoreline of Vancouver Island landed me in Victoria just in time for the Threshold Choir singing circle on the afternoon 10/30. They regularly meet to sing songs for friends, family and community members who are struggling or in transition. The members of the choir demonstrated skillful communication and a beautiful compassion for one another, as well as the people they had chosen to sing for.

I was sorry I had to jump a ferry to Washington on Halloween morning with all of Victoria, and Vancouver Island, preparing for Halloween night with bonfires and fireworks advertised in the parks and community centers.  Leaving  my new friend, and kindred spirit, Susannah Day, was tough. She graciously hosted me for 4 nights and suggested the wonderful Provincial Park where I camped for 3 days.

I spent Halloween night parked in a Casino Parking lot in sight of the bridge to Bainbridge Island. I had planned to camp on the island, but the Casino cost the same ($30 a night) and was closer to the ferry terminal where I would catch a 10:00 am ferry to Edmonds, just north of Seattle.  Missing my opportunity to costume for Halloween, I assumed the Casino would have some ghoulish festivities underway. I prepared my dinner in the van, cleaned up and took a 30 minute stroll through the Casino to check out the costumes. One of the meployees was dressed as Mary Poppins in a costume very similar to the costume I made 2 years ago, right down to the parrot handled umbrella. It feels so foreign to me to be an observer instead of a participant. My Katrina costume would have blended right in with the Katrinas and sugar skulls in the crowd. About 20% of the gamblers sported some kind of Halloween garb, and a $500 prize for best costume encouraged some elaborate displays. Since gambling is not my thing, a short stroll through the casino was sufficient, and I was soon ready to move outdoors for fresh air. Clearly, being an observer of Halloween did not give me the satisfaction of creating a costume and parading around with a gang of friends or hanging out with Jill in her kid- friendly Pacific Grove neighborhood where hoards of cute kids gather for treats.

I have stopped at a few Casinos along the way, either to camp in the parking lot, or just to rub shoulders with humanity after a long drive, but it takes only moments to realize I am uncomfortable with the smoke,  the noisy ringing and flashing lights of the pop culture slot machines, and sadly, I have no connection with the folks throwing money at the machines. The small Casino on Sequm Bay, Washington, was the most inviting I have seen with it longhouse design, stunning totem poles and native artwork. I even ordered a happy hour Margarita for $5, but found the drink was not at all appealing and the bartender and patrons unfriendly (I am as foreign to them aas they are to me) and I left after a couple of sips.

 

10/30/18

Waking up alone in the woods is blissful. My morning coffee ritual is accompanied by music I have downloaded on my computer, this morning Joan Baez joined me for coffee. On camping mornings, I’m anxious to get outside to walk before breakfast. At Rathtreveor Provencial Park (the Canadian Province equivalent to a state park in the US), the island studded channel between Vancouver Island and the Canadian mainland is a short walk from the campsites. The water was as still as a mirror this morning, the surface broken only by the sleek dark backs of sea lions sweeping the glassy water for fish in a motion so smooth that barely a ripple appeared in their wake. A playful pup was the one exception, raising a splash with dolphin like leaps that launched its small arched body clear out of the water.

It has been my habit to hunker down follo to prepare dinner following sunset. The tiny galley limits meal preparartion, but so far I have had no trouble preparing meals I would make at home such as tacos, stir fry, curry, rice, pasta, salad & soup for dinner and oatmeal, eggs, breakfast burritos or just yogurt and fruit with granola for breakfast. I do miss my oven. I prefer to cook outdoors, but chilly nights have kept me indoors where the propane heater keeps things comfortable. Cooking indoors is ideal when I am overnighting for free at a rest stop or casino parking lot. With the curtains closed for privacy and my string lights on, I am perfectly happy in my little cabin.

Once I have prepared a meal, eaten and cleaned up, I must admit that the urge to connect to the internet, send emails and watch PBS news, and other programing (like the Durrells in Corfu), comes on. As it turns out, The Verizon unlimited data plan I have is not unlimited, and streaming eats data up quickly. Many times on those long nights, a momentary panic has come over me when I can’t connect to the outside world, but it passes. Writing, reading, practicing Ukelele, ater color painting and singing are all available onboard, and much more productive than “tuning in”.  I also have a few DVDs along and there have been a few “movie nights” onboard.

Being alone and not being connected to internet is a new experience. I have realized that in my previous experiences living off the grid in a teepee, van, gypsy wagon or cabin in the woods, I was not alone. Those special times with my sons, and even former husbands, was filled with laughter, love and motherly duties. Now, the time has come to learn how to be alone and unplugged.

 

10/29/18

Mornings come slowly in the north. Officially, sunrise was 7:56 this morning, but here in the tall trees, it was still quite dark. I clumsily greeted the day with my car alarm, alerting all in camp that I was awake. The alarm system that has been so comforting is now faltering, along with the the rear window gasket and a squeak in the front end that hasn’t yet been solved.

By 8:30, I had walked through the woods to the beach, where my progress was carefully monitored by 3 curious seals just a few feet from shore. A sea lion called in the distance, probably from an island off shore, it was impossible to know how far the sound had carried in the silence of the morning. Once again, no Orcas in sight. I have yet to see a killer whale, but have seen eagles working slow easy circles in the distance.

I made my breakfast indoors this morning, envious of the kitchen structures some of my camp neighbors have set up to prepare meals outdoors while keeping the rain off. I have yet to unfurl the awning, but I’ve made progress with the other onboard systems that once had me baffled. The refrigerator is now maintaining temperatures above 32°and below 42°. This took some time to figure out because switching from gas to 12 volt power (it is not safe to drive with the gas on) was causing wild fluctuations. Ice packs solved the problem and stabilized temperatures. The gas heater is very efficient and heats the van in a matter of moments. The water pump and water heater are working perfectly. The sewer needed a repair, but is working better than ever now. I have calculated my gas milegage for the trip and am averaging closer to 16 miles per gallon, not the 10 miles per gallon I get in city traffic. Not carrying the full 26 gallons of water is helping.

Tomorrow is turnaround day. I have traveled north to latitude 49.31° (Monterey is at latitude 36.60°). Tomorrow I will head south to Victoria, and then to Seattle. Some fun facts I’m discovering about Canada: Brentwood Ca, is not Brentwood California; the native people of Canada are respectfully known as first nation people and most place names are in native languages (Sequim is pronounced Skwim, I learned the hard way); Vancouver Island has the mildest weather in Canada; the China town in Victoria is second in size only to San Francisco’s Chinatown, and at one time, the Chinese population was equal to the European immigrant population in Victoria, and Halloween is just as big here as in the US.

One sad note, I found  a homeless tent camp in the center of this small town. I feel so blessed to have the freedom I do, and a cozy dry and warm place to prepare meals and sleep. Why are so many without these basics?

I am exploring Vancouver Island, Canada, this week. After 3 delightful days visiting with Susannah Day in the very busy and very hip city of Victoria, joining a singing circle with Laurence Cole and meeting with members of Victoria’s Threshold Choir, I drove north yesterday to see more of the island. I’m camped in the woods north of Nanaimo where scores of  smaller islands are visible just offshore. The rain was loud last night dropping on my roof from the dizzying height of the old grown cedar trees around my campsite. The van is decorated with cedar debris today as I made my morning coffee and sang along to Laurence Cole, Bobby McFerrin and Sistah Monica tunes. I was surprised to spot 7 black bunnies running helter skelter grazing in the park when the rain let up.

So far, I have visited choirs in Oregon, Washington and Canada. I’m so grateful to the choir members who have opened their homes and hearts to me; Sarah and David in Corvalis, Maria Simon in Portland, Judy and Deborah Milton on Bainbridge Island, Bard Adams and Ken on Vashon Island, Lisa Kenney on Whidbey Island and Astrid, who made time to meet in Port Angeles, WA. My heart is full.

I will be heading back to Victoria to join Victoria’s Threshold Choir practice on 10/30 before taking a ferry back to Port Townsend WA, and hoping another ferry to join the Threshold Choir in Seattle for a Dia de los Muertos celebration. I will be heading south from there, and plan to spend the month of November camping and visiting TC Choirs friends and family in Oregon, including  another visit with the Portland Threshold Choir (known as the mother ship in these parts). I look forward to having time to visit choirs and rekindle friendships in California in December and January.

I’m finding my hot spot data time very limited, so I’m spending time in libraries to connect to the internet and the world outside of my cozy little van home. I still have not come up with a name for the van, please send me any suggestions you may have.