At the Preparing for Change training at CUSO-VSO in Ottawa. This was an informative, insightful and delightful course where I met more members of my family (the whole group) who inspire me infinately. Thanks to all.

Travel-Log: Jan 13 -21st

Flat. This southern route through the Rockies and the other mountain ranges is flat.  Sure there are some distant little peaks here and there, but the valleys between are broad and …. flat. This is not like the northern routes in which you are meandering the valleys through the high snow capped peaks.

Nonetheless, there is still some beautiful scenery to enjoy.  I’ll soon post my pictures, mostly taken at high speeds through the window of my car, up for viewing.

I had an enjoyable evening with Paul in Albuquerque.  I tried to help him set up his new computer onto the internet, but there was more there than I could accomplish in the short time I was there. I discovered to my chagrin that I underestimated the mileage to my next destination of Chicago and my uncle Bram. So I needed to cut short my visit and head out across the flat New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma landscapes.

I made good time and arrived in Evanston (a suburb just north of Chicago) early Friday afternoon.

Bram was waiting for me and we began our chat. An enchanting chat that seemed to go on without stop for the two and half days I was there. Topics ranged from international trade (the business he was in) to politics, statistics and demographics of India, family histories and more than I can now remember. He took me to the Shed Aquarium on Saturday which like SCUBA diving without the gear or getting wet.  Great fun.

We went out for dinner with his good friend Donna and a old friend of Donna’s Andrea from Duluth. The next day we met up with Jim, Karen, Alison and Jake Falduto. Alison is Bram’s daughter, my first cousin.  I had seen them almost a year ago when I first traveled west to BC.  It was real nice to see how both Alison and Jake had grown and matured. Great kids.

Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day found me driving on the cold flat roads of Illinois and Michigan to Toronto. Crossing the border into Canada took less time than stopping at a traffic light.

I arrived at Heidi’s around 7:30pm that night where I still am until tomorrow when I head off to Ottawa. However, watching the US Presidential inauguration yesterday was awe inspiring.  How often can you say that? Obama’s speech was inspirational.

Regarding being assigned to a project, I have been seriously considering a position in Barmer, Rajasthan, India that would begin in late March.  I have been in communication with volunteers who have served in India and some who are still there. And as I mentioned I have been researching the various elements of India, such as culture, economy and politics.  I will let you all know if this is the direction I finally take, but my feelings right now is that it will be.

Peace,

Mark

“Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” - Rumi

 

 

Travel-Log: Jan 9 -12th

I left Sechelt earlier in the morning than I planned. It seems I couldn’t sleep that night and so caught the first ferry to the Island via Powell River. I went over to Neil and Monika’s and left my kayak there and played Monika a few tunes on my dulcimer.

After meeting up and taking Ann to lunch I had the opportunity to visit with Mom and Owen (and Jim) at the same time to say a final good-bye.

Then I skirted down the island to Victoria and Katie. Victoria wasn’t home but Katie was. After spending a lovely warm day on Saturday with Katie I left her sleepy-head early Sunday morning to catch the ferry to the mainland and then drive south.

Sunday was a rainy foggy day and I made good time to Miriam and Thomas’s in Oregon. The only event I can report is that the border guards at the US border pulled me over because I didn’t have my Green Card with me, so they made me “abandon” it. That is I no longer have a green card. It was about to expire anyway and I wasn’t planning on renewing it, so this was no great loss to me.

It was really nice to see Miriam and Thomas again. I think the last time I saw them was in Toronto many years ago for a brief visit, and before that in 1979 in England where we met and lived just outside of Farnham, Surrey. Other than just catching up on life and events and having a wonderful supper that Miriam made, their cat left me a present on my bed while I slept. Very thoughtful. (or not)

So today (Monday, January 12, 2009) I drove for 12.75 hours (half in fog) from Eugene, Oregon to Bakersfield, California where I will recover from today only to do it again tomorrow when I head off to see Paul Labarre in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’ll spend a day with Paul. But this drive should be more scenic as I now head East across the Rockies.

Mark

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. --Albert Einstein

Up Up and Away!

January 4, 2009

My last week in Sechelt and I have a hundred or so little errands to do. One of them is to hopefully get a root canal done in the next four days.

While I travel through the USA I will have my cell phone with me for emergencies. If you call, you can leave a message and I will use SKYPE each night were possible to retrieve my voice mail. Otherwise the best way to communicate with me is via email.

I estimate I will be back in Canada after I visit with Uncle Bram on January 19^th.

Peace be with you.

Mark