In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
Went to see Bat Man Sunday. I went because Ray wanted to see the movie. I am not a fan of these types of movies. I couldn’t wait for the movie to be over. I must admit though, I was impressed with the acting and the action scenes.
What was fun was seeing Stuart selling tickets at the River Movie Theaters.
Stuart
On the way out of the theater I couldn’t resist this closeup of the larger than life HULK statue in the middle of the walkway. Four young girls asked me to take a group photo of them in front of the Hulk. I took 4 photos of them, with each girls’ camera.
Ok, I’ve been way too busy. I’m back on my blog again. Back until August 2nd that is. Aug 2nd Ray and I will head up to Mammoth for the month, hopefully avoiding the over 105 degrees temperatures here in Rancho Mirage.
Me waiting as Don and Colleen approach at the Bermuda Dunes Airport.
Colleen
Don
Don and Ray
Colleen, Don and Linda
About 2.5 hours later we landed at another small local airport 20 minutes from our motel and Lane’s house. A black rental car pulled up next to Don’s plane seconds after he landed and minutes before airport personal taxied his plane into the hanger 10 feet away.
I could get used to this lifestyle!
Flying on Don’s plane to Lane’s in Colorado.
Click on arrow to view video.
Don
Colorado snow.
At Lane’s.
Don and Lane
Lane kissing his girlfriend, Nicole
Later Saturday night at Lane’s friends’ 8th Annual Crawfish Party.
The Crawfish stew is cooked (there were a total of 4 large pots of stew) and then thrown on to a plastic wrapped table top where the feeding frenzy begins.
Everyone had their fair share of drinks. I was just crazy, not drunk! The girl in the photo was having fun with me and my craziness. My brother asked me, “How do you always attract the drunks?” Her t-shirt is NOT tie-dyed.
My handsome son!
Slideshow at 11:30pm!
Sunday and the Pig Roast.
Nicole and her Sister on the Shot Luge.
Lane on the Shot Luge. This and the next video are funny!
Click on arrow to view video.
Don and Colleen on the Shot Luge
Click on arrow to view video.
And finally, the pig.
Hi,
This will be my last entry on this blog until I return from my backpack. Future blogs will be made to my journal.
The time has come to say goodbye. I hate goodbyes. So, instead, I’m writing this email and sending it out a bit early (so I won’t get too emotional).
I am leaving town on April 25th and will be away until I return the beginning of July. I’m going backpacking on the Continental Divide Trail. The CDT runs through
4 states: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. I’ll be backpacking the state of New Mexico northbound, starting in the bootheel of NM, at a southern trail starting point called Crazy Cook Monument.
I will be hiking with a trail friend named LaZorra. We will begin our northbound hike on April 30th. Just before LaZorra leaves the trail to return to work, another friend, TrailDad (Roy Robinson), will join me around May 26th for the remaining 5 weeks of my backpack.
TrailDad and I will head into southern Colorado, if snow levels aren’t too high. Another option would be to skip up to southern Wyoming and hike the Great Divide Basin.
My Website
I have a website called Gottago’s Adventure Site. Check it out. You’ll find previous backpacking trips/journals and of course my current hiking trip itinerary, journal, mail drop list, trail links and guestbook (which I hope you sign).
Direct trail journal link
I always keep a journal when I long distance backpack. My journal is linked on my website from another site where the journal is posted or you follow my journal from the direct link on trailjournals.com – www.trailjournals.com/gottago.
Contacting me
Email: I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to drop me a line and keep me up to date with what is going on with you or just to say HI using this email address: gottago at pocketmail.com (I will only be able to receive and send email when I’m in a town, approximately every 5 to 6 days).
Letter: please place the following on the envelope:
In lower left corner:
Hold for PCT Hiker: Linda Jeffers
ETA: (put day, month and year here)
Phone: I’ll have my cell phone. (Keep in mind, I’m exhausted when I arrive in town and most of my time is spent eating, doing laundry, sleeping and getting my next trail segment food needs ready.)
Thank you for following along with me on my unfolding journey of life.
Love and will miss you,
Linda
We have a baby outside our front door. One of Mrs. Hummingbird’s eggs hatched. Ray found the baby hummingbird had come out of her shell early this morning. If you could only see us. We are like proud parents, tip toeing ever so quietly whenever we go in or out the front door. Letting anyone else who comes by to walk quietly. Mama Hummingbird doesn’t like us near her young one.
At first glance baby wasn’t moving and I thought it was dead. We noticed some nights Mom hadn’t been sitting on her eggs. But after another peak I noticed some movement. Now 10 hours later, the other egg is still unhatched but the little black blob of a baby moves non stop, wriggling like a circle worm.
We haven’t had a pet in so long. It’s great caring again for our new pet birds. I hope I don’t leave on my trip before the babies fly away from their nest.
More photos to follow.
12/31/07
Twenty two years ago my Mom passed away. How can that be? Twenty two years have passed and I still remember her as if no time has passed. So many thoughts, memories and feelings come up as I take this time today to post Mom’s photo in honor of the anniversary of her passing.
I’m so different than I was the first 41 years she knew me. I was always a problem for Mom. I wasn’t an easy child. Toxic insecurity and over sensitivity manifested rage; frustrating and confusing my parents. How I wish she could have known this Linda today rather than the Linda I used to be. If only I could have seen how much I must have hurt her with my punishing silence and withdrawal.
Later when I was about 39 or 40 I remember we tried to spend a bit of time together. I was so uncomfortable. I didn’t know how to be or what to do the few times we planned dates to be together. Truthfully, I didn’t know how to be with anyone, not even myself.
Years later as part of living amends to my Mom and Dad, on Sunday, October 08, 1995, my sponsor asked me to list what I admired about my Mom and Dad.
Here is that list:
DAD
Incredible businessman
Great desire to be responsible parent financially and wanting us to thrive for the best.
Loving parent
Generous parent
Bright – witty – interesting
Good looking
Direct
Responsible with making us be responsible kids
Loved his work/life
Informed re: world happenings
Fun
Loved travel
Gentleman
MOM – (After I wrote this list for Mom 12 years ago I was surprised. You see my Dad had always been my hero. My Mom was just, well, just my Mom. I had not fully seen my Mom’s incredible qualities until I put a pen to paper for this assignment.
Also right now I am surprised looking at this list again today noticing how many similar traits Mom and I share – minus of course being a Linguist, Historian and Knowledgeable about everything! I’d always thought we were so different.)
Beautiful
Intelligent
Artistic
Linguist
Historian
Gardener
Well read
Knowledgeable about everything
Self sufficient in entertaining herself
Loved travel
Kind, patient
Loving parent
Responsible
Gracious
Selfless
Mom, you are in my thoughts always. I know you feel my love, respect and gratitude today. And, I feel your love too.
I’ve been sick with a cold since last Sunday that now has rendered me pretty useless from the energy exerted blowing, sneezing and eating….(I remember an old belief of my Mom’s, “Feed a cold, starve a fever.”) It sounds like as good an excuse as any to eat. Ray has been busy doing 2 food runs a day. And, guess what? Ray is now sick too, 2 days behind me with his cold. He keeps asking me how I feel so he can tell what to expect..
In between phone calls, answering emails, working on Ray’s 30th Birthday Book (which is coming along great), watching old movies, getting all the documents and paper work ready for our upcoming Club Med vacation, drinking Theraflu and eating, eating, eating, we have been watching funny You Tube Videos. Here is Ray laughing his head off. Who says being sick can’t be fun!
Lane writes in his email, “We’ve attached a Christmas photo from Koh Tao, Thailand where we are currently having a very wonderful time (reminiscent of Cabo, in the 60′s -70′s, style Christmas Holiday, Thanks again Gramps, For Everything!).”
Boy do I ditto Lane on Thanks to Gramps, My Dad, AND of course, the same thanks to my Mom for the life we “Shers” and “Aherns” live.
I got some flowers from Lane! Thanks Nicole.
This recording was made in bed after the previous recording last night, the night before my birthday.
We, Ray and I, sing Happy Birthday to Linda together!
I can’t believe how many calls and emails I’ve received today wishing me a Happy Birthday.
Ask and you shall receive.
Thank you everyone. I feel very loved.
Happy Holidays too. Bah Humbug:-)
10:00pm last night I got in to bed with Ray. I brought my new voice recorder and the manual.
Here is a test recording and an example of how goofy Ray and I usually get around bedtime.
Josh is now stationed aboard the USS Winston S. Churchill 3 miles off the shoreline of Iraq.