Note - 3

September 28th, 2005 | By April | 1 Comment »

I uploaded a few pics of Denali - Aug 15/16 blog entry.

Below are some pics of when we were driving through Canada to AK and back through Canada to WA.

Banff National Park

Jasper National Park, our first night camping in Canada!

Jasper National Park

Canadian School Bus

Jason in Jasper National Park

Yukon, Canada

Yukon, Canada

View from our tent on our 2nd night camping in Canada

note - 1

September 15th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

I figured I would be adding notes to the blog as we travel, so now I am numbering them.. but Aug 26 is updated with photos from our drive to arches national park.

Here is a pic of a view of Moad as we drove up arches national park. And this is a link of our pics from Arches and Cayonlands National Parks. For pics of Arches and Canyonlands CLICK ME You don’t have to sign in - just click on the album

More updating will be happening tomorrow and the next day

Sept. 8 - WY/MT

September 14th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

Day 38 - We woke up with the sunrise to the freezing temperatures in Yellowstone, it was in the high 30’s and as we packed up our tent our hands were not happy to be bare to the temperatures. Later that morning, we were graced with the skilled performance of the Old Faithful Geyser. A magnificent display of hot water under pressure and finally having release. In Yellowstone National Park we also looked at some colorful sulfur smelling water holes and mud holes. The landscape was beautiful with deep blue streams and bright yellow fields of grass, mountains, and colorful cliffs. You would never imagine how many bison live in the park. We saw about four or so herds wandering in the meadows and crossing the roadway. They even walked down the road as if it was there means of transporting themselves also. Maybe, they prefer the road over the grass…. Below are some pics of the other animals that came out for our viewing.

After our morning hours in Yellowstone it was a direct drive to Glacier National Park and we barely made it by nightfall. Camping just inside the east entrance of the main road that goes through the park.

Sept. 6 - UT

September 14th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

Day 36 - We went down to the Red Cross meeting for volunteers this morning and learned how the whole system worked and what Red Cross is doing for the hurricane relief project. Unfortunately, we couldn’t be much help due to two things – one, they have so many volunteers already that they don’t need help until mid-september and two we don’t have a local chapter since we are on the move. We were hoping that we’d be very usefully since we didn’t have to be anywhere at anytime could move anywhere, but it is not that simple. So, we will see how we can help out when we reach Seattle.

We also, stopped by my Uncle’s office for his business Bottman Design – www.bottman.com – and saw how it all works. Check out their website, they have very artistic and funny cards, magnet pads for the fridge, calendars, invitations, and pottery items. I love their work!!

We did our last bit of Black Rock City clean up by unpacking everything in our car and cleaning out the last spots of dust. Than, put everything back in – some how feeling more organized and clean afterwards. Even though I know we will keep finding more dust. The playa dust has a certain smell to it, almost like the natural shelled peanuts you buy in a bag that still have the dirt on them – you burners know what I am talking about. And it is still in our vents when we turn the air on – a nice reminder of the past week .

Sept. 5 - UT

September 14th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

Day 35 - After we wiped down the dust off the major areas of the inside of our car and the bucket we used was definitely dirty afterwards. We headed to Salt Lake City, UT to try and see how we could help with the hurricane relief efforts and to visit my Uncle Tom and Aunt Paris Bottman. We arrived too late for the last Red Cross meeting they had that night, so we moved on to my Uncle’s and enjoyed the evening with them on their back porch that overlooks a city park and also views their beautifully landscaped backyard.

Paris and Tom, I have to say I still love your house and we appreciate letting us stay two nights in your wonderful hospitality and comfy house.

Sept. 4 - NV

September 14th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

Day 34 - We decided to leave Black Rock City today, even though there was still one more event to happen, it just felt like it was time for us to go, and I have learned to go with my gut instinct. It was not too bad of a drive out taking in the fact that 10,000 other people were planning on leaving that day also. We reached the first town of the main highway and ate lunch and watched CNN to see the pictures that went with all the news we heard at camp. After the mellowing effect of the news, we moved on to the next town to bath our car clean of the layers of dust and our bikes. Than, cleaned ourselves and let me tell you, it took three shampoos and conditioner sessions to get my hair untangled and dust free. I also came down with a bug that night and had some bad stomach pain and a small fever. I was glad to be in a bed and sleep off the cold or whatever it was.

Sept. 3 - NV

September 14th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

Day 33 – The night of the burn. We joined Frogma for the night of the burn and ventured out on the playa early to find a good spot so that we could watch the fire dancers and get a good view of the man in all of his splendor. Slowly people started gathering and making a ring around the man. The art cars or mutant vehicles also made an outer ring around the crowd that gathered. The mutant vehicles were cars, vans, or buses that were created into art by decoration, sculpture work, and just pure artistic inventions that could move.

The event was signaled with a single flare shooting up into the air… giving people about 20 minutes warning that they were going to start. It would have been pitch black out on the playa but this city is anything but dark. It looks better than New York City with all the lights that decorate the camps, art cars, and people. Everyone wears neon glowing bracelets and necklaces all over their clothes and bikes so that people can see each other at night as they ride around town.

The fire dancers preformed for a good 30 minutes before the burn, the ones in front of us were not as talented as the Utah group – but they did pull out an unexpected surprise, a fire playing tuba – it was pretty cool. Than, the fire works went off (they were located out of the mans arms and around the base) and gave a brilliant show at the end creating the big fire that burned the man. Everyone was so excited and cheering and jumping around. Except for the protesters that each year carry around signs that say ‘save the man’ The fire was the brightest white I have ever seen, and once the man fully burned down everyone rushes towards it and runs in a circle around him, along with throwing things into the fire to burn. After the burn we walked around and looked at all the fire sculptures and art that was scattering in the playa, and enjoyed a good night out with Frogma.

Sept. 2 - NV

September 14th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

Day 32 - Today we met a great guy named Dale and a few of his friends stopped by once in awhile. He was gracious enough to Jason and I to offer to fix Jason’s bike when the pedal fell off while we were riding by his camp. We ended up spending about two hours visiting enjoyed wonderful conversations and his hospitality.

Sept. 1 - NV

September 14th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

Day 31 - New campers came into town and set up next to us this morning. Nick and Lara were great neighbors and we really enjoyed chatting with them. It is hard to meet someone here that is not nice or not open to saying hi. This community is filled with the most giving and caring people in the world, and yes there are a bunch of people from all around the world that come out for this event of temporary society. Though, most of the people are from California and than a bunch from the Northwest, Utah, Colorado, and Canada to name a few other places. It really shows that even with 37,000 people you can create an open minded gifting economy where everyone is extremely respectful of each other and also looks out for the well being of each other also. It is too bad that we cannot seem to create as nice of a community that gets along in the states with as many people. There are neighborhoods that have great moral and care for each other, but nothing to this scale in the states. I think people are too afraid.

Aug 31 - NV

September 14th, 2005 | By April | No Comments »

Day 30 - The day was a normal day of drinking water, visiting the port-a-potties, and exploring the city and art work. The night though was one of our best though. A soccer buddy of mine from the women’s team I played on in new york city was camping with a theme camp from Utah. Leigh was the one that gave me an idea of where we should set up camp and possibly run into each other there. The great thing was we ended up camping right next to them, it was great to see her – especially since I didn’t think we really would find each other during the festival. Their theme camp was called Beyond the Zion Curtain and they did a magnificent camp. They had four geodesic domes and a temple (going along with the theme) that surrounded with an open space with benches and a bar area. They had a huge entrance arch with lights decorating it all over and a strobe light. Tonight was their opening night of the camp, they just finished setting it up. They through a huge party which included a fire dancing performance. The camp had around 20 fire dancing members that were going to be dancing on the night of the burn also. They put on a show for us before the party started and were extremely talented and amazing in their performance, it was spectacular to watch.