Over the Mts to Akaroa

Drove over Arthur's Pass, craggy mts and flat gravel plains, and then down to the East coast. I arrived in Christchurch, only to feel that I couldn't survive a Sat. night in the city. Drove on through the tunnel to Lyttleton, the port town. Cute, but decided to go on up into the hills to see the sunset and get to Akaroa. If I'd known how far it would be, I would have stayed put.

I arrived in Akaroa, a French-colonial coastal town. Unfortunately it was dark, and I felt tired, grumpy, whiny, and alone. Every sign I saw on the hotels said "NO vacancy." Aaargh. Oh the joy of traveling. In the next minute I walked into Chez la Mer, to find a gracious host, a fire place, a conversation with a fellow sailor, and invitation to join her on the Fox II the next day. And a soft bed with a hot water bottle to comfort me. Ahhh.

Next day, I wander thru the streets all posted in French! Very quaint. All the amenities: many cafes, kayaking co., a tiny movie theater, a yacht club, an old traditional boat to sail. The lighthouse sits shiny white far from the headland it used to perch on.

Aboard the Fox, they take us out into the bay, where it is obvious we are sailing in the ancient caldera of a volcano! South we leave the relative shelter, navigating out through the headlands where the ocean broke thru the side of the old cone. There, the extremely rare Hector's dolphins played alongside us in the waves.

The wind picked up to almost a gale. Motoring back against the wind and slop, most of the passengers got wet. I ducked into the wheelhouse to chat to crew and captain as he took us past seal and then 'shag' colonies on the rocks. (The latter still makes me giggle, the Kiwi word for the birds, cormorants.)

After, I dashed up the hill to catch the "Giant's House" before it closed. The artist created gorgeous mosaic figures in her gardens! Sailing and whimsical art all in one day!

Wild Foods Fest Hokitika--Mar14

I ate huhu grubs! Blech. Next to the booth, a guy was hatcheting rotten logs and picking them out. Very fresh. Decided against raw, or chocolate coated, and had the cooked. Sure, it tastes like peanut butter, but the texture ain't right. The thicker skin suddenly burst, squirting the guts out in my mouth. My stomach twisted.

I almost puked up the worms, eel and kava kava that I'd already had that morning...

Honest, some of it was really tasty. ( The worms were in a bon bon.) And the colostrum mousse delicious. Couldn't bring myself to eat prairie oysters or lamb tails.

Friday the 13th of March

Superstitious people might say it's an unlucky day, but I usually really like my Friday-the-13th's. Drove to the glaciers south of Hokitika. Wasn't convinced it would be anything much, but went anyway. So glad I did!

Franz Josef for brunch, whitebait for lunch, and Fox for dessert (with Aoraki/Mt. Cook in the background)! The glaciers are all the more stunning for how close they are to the sea. And for a bunch of ice they move fast, sliding down the steep valleys they fill. Just totally reaffirmed my love of big rocks, this country has a real spine. Not a fan of flat, marshy areas of the world.

Wild West Coast NZ

Mar. 12-- After Nelson, I rented a car and drove down the west coast of the South Island. Buller Gorge was stunning. Stopped at Lyell, to look around at a park/reststop that used to be a gold miners town. Now it's gone. Just some edu-ma-kashun-el signs, showing there used to be buildings on a muddy road, that is now a paved highway.

Next stop was Westport, nothing there but a stop at the grocery. On the way back to the main road (Hwy 6), I spotted the hitchhiker I'd seen on the way in. The young guy was now getting out of car that had given him only a 5-km ride to the turn off.

He'd obviously been hiking, his huge muddy boots were tied to the outside of hs pack, and his feet were bare. I stopped. He was from Nelson, just finished the Heaphy Track, and going to Hokitika to see his parents. I said I'd give him a lift as far as Punakaiki. And off we went.

I was glad to have the company, as the radio wasn't functioning out in the boondooks and I had no CDs with me.

At Punakaiki, we stopped. I promised I'd pick him up again, if he didn't catch a ride before my return from a short walk in the park. And he went to stand at the side of the road. I didn't see him again, even though I looked on the roadside and later in Hokitika.

The pancake rocks at Punakaiki stack themselves up like, well... a stack of pancakes. Craggy pinnacles, some topped with flax, a rock bridge that still supports tourists, all being crashed into by huge waves.


Drove on to Greymouth, looped through town a couple times, but it was getting to be late afternoon and shops were closed. This is supposedly the "wild west" of New Zealand, the last frontier they had, and it has that feel: late-1800s buildings, the saloon on the corner, all supported by resource extraction (they had gold fields along the coast), just lacking the tumbleweeds of the American west.



Coming into Hokitika, had to cross two one-lane bridge (no biggie, there's tons of those) that were also the railway bridges!! Ack. Decided to spend the night at a hostel there, as I felt too nervous to just go out and camp by myself. Seems a luxury, a room to myself (though it had a bunkbed, was all mine).


Went to the movie "Vicky Christina Barcelona" at the little theater, a heritage bldg made into a single room movie house, with a wine bar, and packed with comfy couches. Not to worry about getting a good seat.The owner/ticket taker/server let me in, and it was almost just me, until a woman showed up at last minute.

Nelson, South Island

Not to be confused with Nelson, BC, which is far inland. Definitely a funky small town, galleries, art and nearby, Abel Tasman track.

Made it out to go 'tramping' (kiwi for hiking). Took a bus up to Takaka, to see the biggest fresh spring in Australasia (or some such claim), truly clear clear water. Cycled the last few miles from the hostel. Butt sure sore next day. That night almost full moon, crazy gusty weather and as dark clouds rolled in bringing rain on one side of valley, could see a moon 'rainbow' in the dark over the town! First I'd ever even heard of one. Of course no camera so can't prove it.

From there, bussed to north end of Abel T park at Totaranui, and took water taxi along coast. Gorgeous rocky area. Dropped off on beach to hike from Bark bay to Torrent Bay. A couple hours on easy track, nothing too taxing. Even without a huge pack I'm a bit slow, but stopped to take lots of photos. Then another water taxi to Coquille Bay to hike the last stretch into Marahau, and the bus back to Nelson.

There was so little bird song. Hoped it was only because of the helicopters, power boats, kayakers, and crowds drowning them out, not that they didn't exist. To think that Joseph Banks on his trip to NZ commented that the bird song filled the air, and now there are so few birds.

Met some great people while in Nelson area: My hosts, Kaye and Jim McNabb, Milo and his family from the boat show, John Moore and Woodi. Hope to make it back and explore somemore another time, but had to move on.

See more photos at:

Mar 7-8 Rotoiti Lake Classic Boat Show

Fantastic. Gorgeous boats, stunning setting on a lake in the mountains south of Nelson. This Classic Boat Show is in it's tenth year with over a 180 boats participating! Wood, fiberglass, aluminum. Sail, oars, steam, V-6 and, jet engines. Even a dessert-spoon powered bicycle on pontoon floats! Old as 1905, Otira, a Logan launch to young Bootlegger, finished just before the show.

The highlight for me being, I got to be a guest judge. For all the mass of different types of boats at the show, picking only 5 boats as winners seemed impossible: Power, Non-power, Jetboat, Originally Row (could now have engine), and Overall Winner. Luckily, I had the help of John Moore who has judged the show every year since it began and his wife, Woodi.

The criteria for judgement leaned towards effort and story, rather than fancy bling, though I admit the eventual overall winner had some amazing brightwork. Other than a list of boats that won recently, that we would not be choosing again, I could choose any boat to shortlist in a category. I wandered anonymously through the crowds, listening to owners' talk about their boats.

With shortlist in hand, we met at the waterfront as the boats were launched to discuss, and see how they looked in the water. Each type of boat competed in short races on a course close to shore, so the spectators could cheer them on! Our shortlists, got altered some and then even shorter. And it wasn't necessarily the fastest boats that won the prizes. We chose one of the slowest jetboats to win the trophy.

Finally, winners chosen, I got to do what I love most: sail. In a short sailing course, I steered and the boat owner and my host Jim McNabb, hauled the jib sheets calling the tacks of his Idle Along called Idle Hours. I think we came 6th or so. Have to say I was more focused on not breaking anything than race placement. Was great fun, if a bit gusty.

At the awards ceremony that night, each of winners got a bottle of wine from the main sponsor, Seresin Estates and a trophy. The overall winner being a cup made by Jens Hansen (jeweller of Lord of the Rings fame).

Back into Nelson, I stayed on at Jim and Kaye's house while they went on well-deserved holiday.

photos at:

Wellington and Kiwis

A lovely capital city, tucked in a bowl of hills on a harbour. Reminds me of Victoria, BC a bit. Would be great to go to the University here, almost same name as the one I went to, Victoria University (but 'of Wellington' added at end here.) The clouds are scudding by overhead, and out on the bay is supposedly gusting 35kts! Sun sinking behind the hills to the west.


Got to see Rogue the inspiration for the article I'm writing. Sweet looking Bailey-built sailboat from 1892. Will be a while yet before she is launched again, but quite a lot is done.


Had a great last couple days: finally saw a KIWI! Easy enough to find the kiwis (nickname for New Zealanders) and eat kiwi (fruits). Much harder to find the fluffy ball of feathers that is a bird which only wanders about at night. Had to resort to a bird sanctuary with an aviary that replicates nocturnal habitat. (I assume they turn the lights on at night so the kiwis will get some sleep.)


Took in some of the sights: Te Papa museum, cable car, botanical gardens, astronomic observatory, driving the coastline, at a lookout the wind blowing the sweet smell of fennel up the hill to me.

Apparently, Peter Jackson is a bit of a steamroller in this tiny city. Did see the hulk of the boat that he used for King Kong, now there's a movie that ran an hour too long.

photos at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81966&id=593011976&l=3c82e

I better get back to work.

Train south...

Okay it was a couple days ago. Still... here's the update.

I love trains! If there is a revolution, I want to join the one that brings back the era of train travels. Clickety-clack over the rails!!...

And gorgeous scenery thrown in between the towns: bridges over gorges, tall trees, mountain ranges, volcanoes (inc. the starring mt. in Lord of the Rings, Mt. Doom, also known as Mt. Ngauruhoe).

In the actual town, the tracks usually go through the industrial backside, blech. But on occasion, the train stops at quaint stations or near something obviously designed to entertain the passengers aboard. See photo!




First stop: Waitomo Caves.
I had to see the glow worms. Some people come to New Zealand for the bird life, or adventure sports, or maori culture, but no, my highlight is some larvae stuck to a damp cave ceiling. They're fantastic. Makes the 14 hour plane ride well worth it! Seriously, I'll do some of that other stuff too, but how often does one get to see something truly unique in the world: a cave vault above the tour boat that looked like a sky of blue stars. I stayed overnight, not in the cave.

Next morning I caught the train again, on the 9-hour journey the rest of the way. We had one leg-stretching stop, where I got out to stare across the plains at the volcano, Mt. Ngauruhoe. Everyone else crowded into the small cafe, because the train had run out of most of it's fare. I should have followed, the change-over crew aboard, didn't open the food counter again until 3pm. Not like I'll starve, suppose it's my own fault for not thinking to pack a lunch.


Weird to see that so many of the "pest" plants here in New Zealand are similar to BC: gorse, and Scotch broom with the yellow flowers out now, thistles with their purple flowers and nasty spines almost as bad as gorse, and morning glory vines.

The last stretch into Wellington with the beach on the west side of the train was striking, steep cliffs, rocky shore with waves breaking. Into town, easily found friend's house (aren't taxis great for that) and I'm still here.

photos at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81949&id=593011976&l=33be0

Northland and Bay of Islands

Went to have a look up north of Auckland. Rented a car and drove out, managing to stay on the other side of the road. Definitely not instinctive. Lovely pastoral countryside, must say reminded me of California, but luckily without the hordes of Americans. And then suddenly there will be stands of those prehistoric tree ferns. Very cool. Was almost an hour out of the city before I actually saw my first sheep here.

After the main freeway became a crazy two lane, and often one lane over bridges, windy roads they call highways. Went to Bay of Islands. Stayed in Paihia and took ferry over to town called Russell now, used to be known as the "Hell Hole of the Pacific." All those naughty sailors, drinking and carrying on. Now it's cute as a bug, with a funky tall ship, the Tucker.

I couldn't find anything fun to do, so instead I lost the keys to my rental car, and walked around the whole town a second time retracing my steps sweating in the heat, an extra ferry ride and three hours later only to find that I left them sticking out of the lock in the car. Not only was the car still there, but I didn't have a parking ticket either! I think I love this country.

Went to Waitanga Treaty grounds to see where the Maori signed some mistranslated document, that the Brits wrote out. Still lots of controversy over it, but they did much better than the First Nations in Canada. Very cool war canoe on site.

Drove on to the northern cape of Reinga to see the famous Maori tree where the souls head off from. Pacific meeting Tasman Sea was calm that day. Sunny and stunning views. Then found the giant sand dunes! Weird to be in some of these places all alone. School is back in session so no one is around. Skidded on my butt down a couple steep spots Would have been better on a sled or skis.

Driving in the dark just isn't done. Hit some cute fuzzy tailed thing and almost smeared some hedgehogs. Worried that I was contributing to the extinction of a species. Luckily it seems most little creatures are imports and the New Zealander I talked to about it said it would be best to swerve and HIT as many as possible: possums, hedgehogs, rabbits, all of them need to be exterminated. Kiwi birds are so rare that probably will never see them on the road. Camped in car near Rangiahua, and Lake Omapere. Creek nearby, and fab stars at night, that I have no idea what they are.

Next day saw the kauri trees. Good grief they are huge. Not in the way that redwoods are huge, but like elephant legs, with no taper to the trunk. Straight up massive, and then the branches way up the top flare out from there. And the museum reminds me of BC, all that logging equipment, and before they knew it, the country was almost completely stripped of these trees. Not even the stumps left, because most of it's farmland now.

Right, for photos, check on facebook.

Bay of Islands www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80382&id=593011976&l=5e891

Cape Reinga www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80397&id=593011976&l=3215f

big Kauri trees www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80393&id=593011976&l=62756

Gotta get moving here.

New Zealand

Started my trip in Auckland for the Classic yacht Assoc. Regatta. Some fantastic old boats! Many of them over a hundred years old built by the famous yards of Bailey or Logan.

Anyway if you decide to come down here and look around, you won't be disappointed for the amazing emphasis on sailing boats! Everyone sails it seems. But make sure you have an onward flight or they won't let you in. There I was at midnight in the airport with my laptop, zipping on the internet to find a OW ticket back out to Australia, so they would give me back my passport, and let me get to the hostel to sleep!! Eventually got to the Brown Kiwi Backpackers in Ponsonby, good friendly place and close enough to city to walk to the regatta area in the Viaduct Harbor.

This year the harbour was taken up by the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, as in the pre-races to the America's Cup. So bit crowded on the docks. Rubbing shoulders with the big boys. Amazing to see the progress evident in sailing technology on that one wharf, from 1880 boat the Jessie Logan owned by NZ yachting historian, Harold Kidd to the massive Cup challenger boats both Swiss Alinghi and NZ Emirites also docked there. Quite the raucous party when NZ won.

In the Classics regatta, crazy winds the first day. And still they raced. (The LV Cup shut down.) Great to see the Kiwi built Ragtime, now homeport in Hawaii, come to compete in the race. And many Australian sailors coming over just to be crew aboard the historic boats. Spent last day zipping around in a historic launch, Lady Gay taking photos of the sailboats. Gorgeous.

Then off to northland...

Sticky-Beak vs. Sticky Date Pudding

In Australia, a "sticky-beak" is slang for someone with a long nose poking into everyone else's business. And has absolutely nothing to do with "sticky date pudding", which is actually a cake, but you could snort it out your nose if you eat it too fast.

Auzzies and Kiwis call desserts "pudding", regardless if it's actual pudding or not; a bowl of fruit, pie, chocolate, whatever. I include the recipe here below, because it's damn good "pudding" but do pour LOTS of the caramel sauce on it if you make it.

If you're feeling sticky-beak, and wondering what's going on with me, I'll add more in here about my travels in a minute.


STICKY DATE PUDDING

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup Butter, room temperature cut into eight pieces
Plus extra to butter pan
1 1/4 cup Chopped pitted dates
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1/4 cup Granulated sugar
2 Eggs
1 1/4 cup All purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla1
3/4 teaspoon Baking powder

***CARAMEL SAUCE***
1/2 cup Butter
1/4 cup Whipping cream
1/2 cup Firm packed brown sugar
plus 1 tablespoon Firm packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
TO PREPARE CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch round baking pan with sides at least 2 inches high, such as a springform pan. Place the dates in a saucepan and cover with water (about 1-1/2 cups). Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Add the baking soda (the mixture will foam) and set aside. In a bowl, cream the cut up butter, sugar and eggs, adding the eggs one at a time. Gently mix in the flour, salt and vanilla. Slowly stir in the baking powder and 1/4 cup of the liquid from cooking the dates, until the cake mixture resembles thick pancake batter. Drain off remainder of date cooking liquid and discard. Stir in the dates. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until cooked in the center.

TO PREPARE CARAMEL SAUCE: Combine the butter, whipping cream, brown sugar and vanilla. Bring to a boil; reduce to simmer, and cook for 3 minutes.

TO SERVE: Drizzle some of the sauce over the cake as it is cooling. Serve the rest of the sauce separately. Hell glop it on, it's yummy yummy, though probably up's the calorie count a little.

Per Serving: Calories: 384 (4% protein, 47% carbohydrate, 50% fat) Protein: 4 grams Fat: 22 grams Cholesterol: 100 mg Carbohydrate: 46 grams Sodium: 441 mg Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1-1/2 starch, 4-1/2 fat

Back Down Under

Seems I've abandoned this poor little blog all to itself for so long. Thought that as I'm traveling, I'll take another swipe at it.

I'm in Sydney again. As in with a "Y" and in Australia. (Not to be confused with the small town of Sidney, Canada, where my Dad lives.)

The bush fires are no where near me so not to worry. Currently staying with my friend Ali, at her place in French's Forest. And she is in a forest, right on the edge of the reserve, with the kookaburras giggling in the trees.

I leave tomorrow night for New Zealand!
I'm heading to do research on some gorgeous old wooden sailing boats, and if all goes well, WoodenBoat magazine will be publishing my article about triple-plank construction of these 100 year old beauties.

More as I go. I'm just so excited to be here this time.

Hope all goes well with you.
Hugs

Tampa, FL

So far I haven't written the "great American novel" but I finished a kid's book already send out to publishers (fingers crossed!) and managed to get an article into Pacific Yachting! Guess that's not bad.

Took a stab at getting an article about Sailor's Valentines into the paper in Key West but sent it too late.

Birthday Party

Hello friends...

My sister and I are working on getting out invitations in the mail for our birthday party, but just in case it takes us some time (or yours doesn't make it through the post), I thought I'd just give you more details now.

(drum roll)
You are cordially invited to our birthday party on Aug 18th, at Ruckle Park, on Saltspring Island, BC.

If possible, please please come! I would so love to see you. Even if you are far, far away I am inviting you, just in case you feel like taking a holiday out to this part of the world.Check for more details at our
blog,http://our-birthday-party-2007.blogspot.com/

Now, as to updates, I haven't heard from so many friends in so long I'm beginning to wonder if you've all left on summer holidays!... will do my best to contact each of you separately to say "HEY!"... but if I don't, please please write me soon and at least tell me you are still alive!

hugs and sunshine to you

Australia: June 19

G'Day Mates!

In case you didn't know, I'm in Sydney, Australia!...

Almost finished my stay here (just over a month), and realised I haven't really written to anyone about it... NO time, been 'slaving' away helping my friend Ali move into her house...

crikeey! what a lot of work... (I actuallyheard someone say, 'crikeey'... cute huh) when I was here 10 years ago, the journey was about seeing the Outback and wilderness: kangaroos, koalas, wombats, agro crocodiles, emu (is that the plural? one emi?) and cassowaries (never did find a platypus)... wide open spaces and new people daily... an adventure, driving in the desert in an old beater car...

this time here in Auz has been all about interior decorating adventures (thank goodness I was out last summer with my bunged up ankle, sitting on the sofa watching the Home and Garden Show Channel! or I'd never know all this stuff... ) much hard work, nose to the grindstone doing renovating and helping with settling them into the home they bought in the suburbs north of Sydney...

so it's been prep work and painting: high tea greens, marakesh red, york stone, oak stain... sand sand sand, stripping wood down to bare with nasty chemicals that despite the mask have affected my brain tonight... (hopefully this note isn't too disjointed!) been doing a work schedule that finally caught up with me last week, slumped into exhaustion: up early, collecting materials and supplies and then working thru until sometimes 10pm and later at night...

one day my ankle swelled up again, really got totally burnt out... then this week, the moving company arrived with their stuff, unloaded from a 40ft container! all 294 boxes!... some big enough to hold a sofa, other just small boxes of books... piles everywhere... can't believe she has collected all this stuff in the last few years...

so I've spent most of my time inside (first few weeks were nice but it's now winter and raining hard so I'm rather glad to be warm inhere)... a storm last weekend, pushed a freighter onto a beach near Newcastle... (so very glad to be inside)... so really haven't seen much...

but when we had a few breaks we did some great fun things: highlights include --- saw the Dalai Lama this weekend!!... what a brilliant man, he really does emanate happiness... he spoke on kindness,and his comment on 'war being an outdated concept' got a huge applause... luckily it only sprinkled rain while he was speaking, he finished and moments later it poured!!

two separate nights we went to see some music in Glebe Pt: Liz Frenchman with Fred Smith one night, and with her band JigZag the other... two movies: Oceans 13 (yesterday after DimS um!) and Pirates of the Caribbean 3... day off to go to the Maritime Museum and wander the city... lunch at Doyle's near the Heads at the entrance to the Sydney Harbour, and a Sunday drive to Bondi Beach...

and best weekend being of course the Writers fest: funny to cometo the other side of the world and meet a Canadian publisher here!... didn't have the guts (because I didn't prepare) to pitch him a book: met, shook his hand, and 'choked'!... oh well, hopefully next time... so manyauthors and famous folk: Madeleine Thien, Shane Koyczan (both Canadians), Raimond Gaita (for a movie premiere from his book, also actors Eric Bana and Marton Csokas), Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Andrew O'Hagan, Richard E Grant (also an actor), Pico Iyer, Lionel Shriver, and my fave, Joanne Harris who wrote Chocolat (just finished reading the sequel she was promoting, Lollipop Shoes, such fun)...

in general, I've only hung out with my friend, going where she goes so we can get the projects done... or staying in the house painting and practicing my Spanish with the Nicaraguan painter, Marlon (from Matagalpa)... so I haven't picked up an Aussie accent, nor any hunky Aussie surfer dudes!... no souvenier shopping yet, though I do have an order in for a kangaroo scrotum change purse (anyone else want one?) ...

and seen some nature because out the back of their house is a reserve that connects to a large park, so tons of birds in the amazing trees: fern trees (huge!), eucalyptus, palms, and others grown to huge size that are usually small tropical plants in peoples living rooms... the kookaburros are hysterical with their rollicking giggles, and theres a sort of mimick-type bird sometimes sounds like a cel phone, sometimes like the 'shave and a hair cut' tune, and the brilliant noisy loikeets...

seen a few parts of the city... have done some driving around to go to the shops and supply stores... my friends have a great GPS plotter in the car that says how to get from A to B, “stay left over the Harbour Bridge” ... of course stay left or I'd hit the oncoming traffic!... (only once did I pull in an exit instead of entrance, oops) but I have discovered Tim Tam biscuits (a type of chocolate cookie) much to my waistline's chagrin, I can hear my jeans yelling 'stop stop stop, don't put that in your mouth!'... and sticky date pudding, which despite it's lack of chocolate is so good it should be outlawed...

and though Ihaven't hung out with Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban and Russell Crowe, I keep looking out for them... so I fly out of here on Sunday, back into Vancouver... the plan is to finish my book that I'm fired up about once again!... and work, hopefully on a movie set, we'll see what I can land to pay the bills... hopefully, I'll get a chance to see everyone over the summer...

it will be my 40th birthday this year (wow how time flies), and I'm planning a big shindig with my sister, Tiffany (she will be 30)... setting it for the Sat, Aug 18th so leave that date free and I'll send you all the details in an invite soon! hope to see you then...

hugs

Jan 20, 2007: Key West, FL

Headline: BEEN HERE A MONTH...

WHERE: Here I am in Key West.

WHAT: Job Searching sucks!

WHO: Me and everyones door I knock on to plead plaintively for a paid position. (hows that for aliteration?)

HOW: In bits and starts because some days I just can't handle rejection.

WHEN: Since I got here, well... except for that brief fling in the Bahamas.

WHY: Because otherwise I won't be able to buy food soon, and I'll end up hanging at the soup kitchen.


ALL ABOUT ARRIVING IN DEC:

I'm sitting in a cute little coffee shop that has free internet, and an old friend Chris Fleming is here with his computer and showing me beautiful photos!... Beth is sitting on the other side doing art work... ooo, she just snapped a polaroid of me and glewed and drew until I became ART!... I'm now a mermaid!... very cool... wish I had a camera here

I'm staying a few nights on the schooner Appledore, a bit humid and lovely stinky boat smell, but I love that I'm there!... right in the harbor... looking for a place but first I need a job so I can afford it!

did a job interview this morning, so may go out tomorrow on a boat doing Eco-tours, to see if I want to do it... but when there are no people booked there is no money... the owner is a bit intense...

will do the kayak guide stuff this afternoon as a training run to see if the routine is about the same...


had a good journey down... stayed up way too late the night before in Austin TX with Kurt at Antones Bar, listening to amazing music (Storyville: Malford Milligan an albino black guy as the singer/songwriter, with Stevie Ray Vaughn's old band, Double Trouble and a couple awesome guitar players)... so tired and grumpy the next day

flight was fine, but at Ft Lauderdal airport in the hot, humid struggle of trying to find the bus stop, I was just in time to see the Greyhound bus go by; I missed it!... AARRGGHH... so I stagger back into the AC looking for the rental car place....

"how much to rent one day and drop in Key West?" I ask. -- "$120, it is Christmas week"
I can't afford that and I turned to walk away.

"do you have any discounts?" she asks-- "nope"

"triple A?"-- "that would be a good thing, now wouldn't it?"

"that will make it $56.88" and she starts writing me up... "oooo, so you're saying it's Christmas, thank you."

she consults the computer and then looks up, "I'm sorry we only have the hard top Mustang, will that be okay?"

"Mustang? sure!" ...that's one of those zippy little things, oh boy...

just to put it into perspective, I've been driving a 1989 Isuzu Trooper for the last month that has the "aerodynamics of a refridgerator" (and that's according to the owner) and the power of a sewing machine (okay a big sewing machine, and it did get us from Oregon to Texas)...

I had trouble just getting out of the parking lot because when you step on the gas it goes... no I mean, GOES!!

I can't believe you can rent that kind of sport car, that is all about prestige, and sex appeal... it's a bit heady, the power of possession!... it's almost like it comes with an "attitude" and how could you not drive fast!?

so I drove like a nut case down to the Keys!... music blaring, singing along, windows down, sunshine, blue sky, sunset and the last stretch in darkness zipping past Christmas lights... of course most of the time within the speed limit, can't imagine the nightmare it would've been hitting a key deer in that little plastic car!

got into Key West just in time to see the lighted boat parade, and bump into friends John and Elio, and Chris Fleming in town... found my yoga friend Siobhan... planning to go to a Spa today with Beth to help my sore ankle

will do the kayak guide stuff this afternoon as a training run to see if the routine is about the same... and then the hot date later tonight... I'm so stoked at all this interaction and people to catch up with!...

down side is the panicky moments, when I wonder what the hell I'm doing here... and it's so expensive and how wil I be able to live!... just can't seem to think of it as a long term place, at least not without someone as a partner to pay half the rent!

well, that's future ... today I'm fine, I've eaten... I have a place to sleep that isn't my Mom or Dad's house and life goes on...


Weather:
Its sunny and warm most days. Some wind too, so the yachties here for Race Week couldn't complain too much.

Sports:
Race week means tons of race sailors are in town taking up space but they all seem to spend very little money and have limited interaction with anyone in town. Strange week here.

Book reviews:
I actually read Clive Cussler's Sahara to see how they translated it to a screenplay. Interesting exercise. Made the mistake of asking one of someone at my writer's group if the chapter could be compared to it as he was apologizing for it being so "guy" oriented, he was not happy with the comparison.

Movie Reviews/News:
Saw "Painted Veil" last night. Period piece with beautiful scenery in the limestone outcroppings of China, but so sad. Wept walking home.

Quote of the Week:
“Where are we going and why are we in this hand basket?" --bumper sticker.

Coming Events:
Ping pong game night at the Blue Heaven restaurant.

Dec 4, 2006: Austin, Texas

ALL my NEWS...
that's new and improved, or at least mostly fit to print.

Headline: ROAD TRIP TO AUSTIN, TEXAS

WHAT: See headline, duh. Further details include that the vehicle we tortured was a 1989 Isuzu Trooper that paid for it's involvement with a ruptured heating system. More on that later.

WHO: me and my friend Kurt -- once sailed on the Victory Chimes, but most recently doing the Grad School thing

WHERE: From Corvallis, Oregon (where the Grad school is located) to Austin, Texas (yep, I'm repeating myself here) via San Francisco, London Bridge (it's in Nevada now), Grand Canyon, and Albuquerque.

HOW: By driving (hence the Road Trip title and reference to the Isuzu).

WHEN: We left on Sunday the 26th of November to stay the first night in Newport(Oregon) on his sailboat, and got here last night.

WHY: For him it's moving house back here, for me I suppose it was just the thrill of sniffing vaporized antifreeze blowing thru the kaput heating system for the last few hours of the last day that enticed me. No, it would be for the adventure, and seeing the miles and miles of nothing that is west Texas (if I'd done this years ago, I'd have skipped travelling the Outback in Australia.)

DETAILS:
Newport - Small coastal town, with a great seafood place called Local Ocean and a good pub that brews up Rogue Beer as it's claims to fame. It was slushing snow and hail when we left. Hydro-planing and cold toilet seats, yuck. Driving the Oregon coast is always amazing for stunning views of trees and rocks and shoreline in jagged cliffs.

San Francisco - It hasn't shaken into the sea yet. Great City, and fun to catch up with friends. You know who you are! Plus the mandatory walk on Fishermans Wharf to the Maritime Museum to oogle the tall ships there. Looking out from Sunset hill to the Farralone Islands where the schooner pilot boats used to wait. Riding the L-line train in town, and having Chinese food.

London Bridge - The town of Lake Havasu is a Snow Bird retreat, and seems like the lake is dropped into the middle of rock pinnacles in dry desert. (I'm sure Snow Birds also leave droppings but not sure how to work that into a pun here.) And as the tacky tourist draw, the town bought London Bridge (that was falling down) and shipped it here brick by brick (numbered for easy reassembly) and put it all back together in a way that it hopefully won't fall down and then dug a channel from the lake so that it could go over some water. Pretty silly, but found a cute cafe under the bridge that had good coffee. (location location location)

Grand Canyon - It's BIG! It's awe inspiring! It's enormous! And really that doesn't even come close, I'd show you a photo but it wouldn't be worth it. (Take it back, I'll show you one anyway) You really have to stand at the edge and look into the abyss! Next time there hopefully I'll be drifting down the river in the sunny warmth of summer, though the cold of winter (snow in the tree shadow) certainly keeps the tourists at bay, mostly just the international crowd while we were there. Stayed at the rustic Bright Angel Lodge (www.kaibab.org/tr972/gc972109.htm) for only $56/night, less than you'd think but I'd bet the suite on the Rim edge costs more than you'd think. Sage brush and scrub Juniper trees, hawks and amazing rock buildings designed by architect Mary Jane Colter in the 1930's. Plus talking to a Hopi Nat'l Parks Interpreter, very interesting.

Abuquerque - The flatlands where the major Hot Air Balloon festivals are held. Went up the Tram to the top (10, 378ft) of Sandia Mt, so called (it means watermelon in Spanish) because indeed at sunset the mountain side turns pink!... Went with Kurt's friends to a wonderful Mexican food place the original (in-town) Gardunia's. Even the leftovers in the car next day were good.

Austin - A city of music and the black sheep of Texas (also home of Dixie Chicks-- and look where that got them!), but we seem to be stuck out in the countryside (40 miles out of town) at his folks house until we can get the Trooper fixed.
What a trip!

Weather:
It may be sunny and dry here in Austin Texas, but damn it's cold! (especially when the heater in the Trooper is broke!) Broke records today. Possibly the constant swirl of Willie Nelson songs is assisting in the flow of the Jet Stream keeping the weather clear and bright eyed?

Environmental news:
Save the Whales. I know it's just a charismatic mega-fauna, but still doing something can seem like a better day, than watching it all dissappear. Hard to bring people together over a slogan like "save the shipworms."

http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=474&aid=7741&msource=DR061103001&tr=y&auid=2173841

Checking out the Planet:
There are even riots in Tonga! What is the world coming to? It would seem that Corporate Hegemony is being passed off as "democracy" and people are getting angry? If I'm not angry, I'm not paying attention? At least its motivating, so I'll donate to Oxfam again for my Ho Ho Gift and know that somehow the money is put to good use.
Found out that a Oceanography group is heading out to do core sampling off Indonesia in hopes of better understanding the tsunami pattern/process. Now if we could just re-vamp the human process that assists people in need, instead of cutting off budget funding to these distant places (like New Orleans.)

Sports:
Does shifting gears in the car count? Still waiting on my ankle, it makes me nervous that isn't healed up yet but I'm trying to be patient and just care for myself... So here I am still not working on a boat... and feeling some dissconected from that scene, that is so far away... Right must do my exercises.

Book reviews:
Reading "Probable Future" by Alice Hoffman to do an adaptation to screen for a Grad School application, but just found out she already sold the rights and the film is in pre-production. damn.
My own book -- need to keep going on the writing so I can get it to the publisher on time... the publisher himself is 80yo and at our initial meeting was making jokes about being dead before I got the book done... doesn't actually instill confidence, huh?!
Another publisher has also asked me for a proposal, and I was told that never happens (that more than one publisher might ask for a book)... "show me the money?" ha, none of the green stuff so far on a long shot first book that isn't written yet!

Movie Reviews/News:
Saw Tenecious D: the Pick of Destiny. Not for the Movie Connaisseur/Gourmet, fun trash for Jack Black and his band fans. Wishing I was in Key West for the Sound of Music Sing-A-Long Event with the drag queen dressed as Julie Andrews assisting the crowd. Probably a too much Rum and Eggnog kind of night!

Quote of the Week:
“Those who love it call it the canyon. THE canyon. As if there were no other topographic feature on the face of the Earth.” -- Edward Abbey

Coming Events:
Possible travel to Key West to search out my long lost friends, who obviously spend much less time than I do online.

Oct 20, 2006: Sedgwick, Maine

Made it to Maine. Just in time to rush about madly, preparing for Mum's wedding. A lovely ceremony and a great gathering of people!...

The vows were wicked short... brilliant! and the crowd went wild, hooray! The cheesecake Jonathan made to die for. And dancing, and giggling over Dark and Stormies (rum and ginger beer).

All my siblings made it out here! Tiffany, Crosby and little brother Bryce (he was so easy to make fun
of, came with his new girlfriend and they were really inseparable in that so mushy first love attached at the hip way... didn't really get to talk to him)

Crosby came across country on his motor cycle and then decided to ship it back!... he has no fat on his ass... his girlfriend couldn't make it out... (those two statement have nothing to do with each other.)

Tiffany came with her boyfriend Scott, which meant games of Scrabble late into the night... And with all of us there, lots of good conversations late into the night...

My friend Maria who came travelled with me in Cuba, came over from New Hampshire where she now is staying... Great to see her after 2 year without visiting... "I brought a bottle of Gatorade and Tylenol. I'm ready!" Which she so graciously shared the next morning when my brother rolled over and groaned, "So that's why they call them Dark and STORMies."

Me, Maria and Cros all went down to Camden to go sailing with my ex-boyfriend Perry and his now girlfriend Bethany on the Appledore... Great to see old friends, and be able to get out sailing....

A fantastic sunset sail despite the bizarre man with his bugle! trumpeting at passing boats and sunset and whatever else would set him off... and the weird woman hitting on my brother ... "My husbands out of town"(nudge nudge) he ignored her... "Oh you so look like a Kennedy."

And another occasion, we went down with Mum, her now husband Ed, and Tiffany and Heather's relations to go sailing again. There was no one else signed up for a trip, but luckily the Commodore was feeling generous and with Franklin as our witness we were off across the Bay.

Such fun to visit with everyone, and then like being at summer camp everyone leaves. Sigh. Worked for a few shifts at the coffee shop Jonathan and Heather have in town. Ate way too much pastry and watched the days go by.

It is beautiful here in Fall ... Too bad it will soon be so cold.... The leaves are starting to turn that gorgeous red!...

May 11, 2006: Duncan, BC

Trapped in the Inbetween

I suppose this prolonged period of rest means I have lots of time to think about stuff. But I find myself numbing out on television far too often.

At this moment I am housesitting a HUGE, beautiful farmhouse with 6 bedrooms (4 cats, and a bearded dragon)... one of the cats has adopted me, even stooped to being an inside cat just to keep me company, sitting with me infront of the TV in the evening and sleeping on my bed at night... otherwise, I'm feeling completely isolated

I went to high school in this town and have little love for it... still seems the same small back-water, no cafe-culture, boring, dull place... I'd say only the local First Nations Cowichan band has any culture...

And I felt like such an outsider here as a kid, what would I NOW possibly have in common with those who live here?!... I do like Maple Bay where we had our boat and home so much better... its only 15 min drive from here... I have a truck here I can borrow if I must drive, even though it makes my ankle sore, the physio doc says its okay!

Grey and cloudy today... but mostly the weather has been sunny and Spring-like, just not warm enough... far too much clothing required here in BC... I need a new pile of DVDs to keep me occupied... Last night, watched "Blue Crush" the surfer chick movie filmed in Hawaii ... makes me want to get out surfing, somewhere down south where the water is warm!...

Otherwise, I am bored out of my mind... Spending my time watching the Home and Garden network... how to reno, re-design your house... teehee... my reaction to having no house for so long... I am mesmerized by paint color and fabric teztures and acessories...

And I have been practicing the GRE test... didn't make it into Grad school because they needed my GRE scores WITH the application, NOT later as I had thought I'd read on their website... ah well, they'll keep my application on file... if I can get the test done this Spring maybe I'll get in the following semester... we'll see...

Did go into Victoria to see the incoming boats from the Round the World sailing race (www.clipper-ventures.co.uk/2006)... wish I could have been a bit more mobile and interactive... sounds like quite the challenge... the final boat comes into today they had to re-route for a medical evacuation so are way behind

So next up, reading "What color is my Parachute?"... Anyone have any good job ideas on what I should do next that a weak ankle will allow me to do?...

Quote:
A good friend will help you move.
A really good friend will help you move a body.
Let me know if I ever need to bring a shovel.

April 10, 2006: still in Victoria

Headline: NO SURGERY NEEDED!

WHO: The orthopedic specialist said ...

WHAT: that surgery on my ankle is definitely over the top, don't need it! hooray...

WHEN: Found out this morning, and it may take from 2 to 6 months to heal

WHERE: she was in Colwood a fair drive from here in Sidney but really nothing compared to other distances, (like fly me to the moon)

WHY: the injury is probably a resurfacing of an old injury from 20 years ago when I chipped a bone in that ankle, hence the instability... and going in barefeet on the boat aggravated it... damn I'm getting old

HOW: so I will be going to Physio for ultrasound, laser, accupunture, massage, exercises, whatever it takes to aid the healing... I am so excited to be able to do things, exercise as long as its not weight bearing: swimmming, bicycling....

Topics of Interest: So now to figure out what I will do for the next few months and into the future... hmmmmm... anything that doesn't mean standing on my feet all day, no retail jobs... haha

Community News: Can't wait to get out the door and find out what's going on out there... Other than the huge building of luxury condos going up in the middle of town, I have no idea what's going on...

Environmental news: its SUNNY... oh wait that's weather...hmmm... okay its probably this sunny because of global warming which is bad but at this point being a person who loves sunshine I am thoroughly pleased.

Checking out the Planet: the States is trying to make being an illegal immigrant a felony... great... ever see the film A Day without a Mexican?... where would they be without their immigrants? NPR just keeps playing the same cllips again and again.... if I have to hear Bush way "WILD speculation" one more time... okay time to change the station...

Sports: Can't wait to go biking and swimming.... and sailing and canoing and kayaking... Curling made the front page of the newspaper! I am SO in Canada!

Book reviews: I'm in the middle of a fantasy on about a soldier woman, it's okay but very factual and no humour... think I'll pick up the Myth Inc books again... and try to find the last in the Game of Thrones series...

Movie Reviews/News: Saw "Brazil" again... had forgotten most of it, twisted and enjoyable in that dark humour sort of way...

Quote of the Month: "Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." ~Sydney J. Harris

Coming Events: Easter... enjoy... think Spring and bunnies and eggs and all those other fertile symbols!!