Month: May 2018

Today on Catamaran trip, observed 26 amazing glaciers, fjords, waterfalls, sea lions, numerous birds, while chatting pleasantly with young parents of a delightful 2-year old girl. I knew synchronicities were to abound when my seat assignment was 29, a special number of my Mom’s and one of my brothers; but, then when I learned their daughter’s name, Adeline Lucille, one of my Great aunt’s name was Adeline, and she came through at Lilydale with a message for me, plus Lucille Ball’s uncle was married to Great Aunt Adeline for a period of time.  The chatting was, I’m sure, for Divine purpose especially since the parents said they want to see all the National Parks like I am doing! Ok, so the pics I’ve taken are just a minute portion of the grandeur in the experience.  The salmon run is on here in AK-how amazing it is that these fish should swim upstream hundreds of miles to lay eggs in the same location they were born-how do they know??? Was early for check-in on cruise, so stopped in one of the shops in Whittier where a kindly salesperson directed me to a place where I could see the salmon run-and I went! After the cruise, I headed to AK Wildlife Conservation Center to check out reindeer, wood bison, brown and black bear, musk ox, porcupine, elk, and black tailed deer. The tunnel to Whittier was $13 round trip, a good investment even though it’s one way traffic so every half hour it switches the flow and people just wait in their cars. Before today, I didn’t know there were so many different kinds of glaciers; but, last night I was blessed to stay at Portage RV campground and be surrounded by alpine and hanging glaciers-so awesome! Driving to Anchorage on Seward highway The Turnagain Arm section of the waterway was stunning! Life is awesome!

As a Mother’s Day gift, my daughter flew to CA to spend time with me, my son and daughter-in-law and their 3-month young daughter Cozy, son Colton (the dude), and Jan Grandmother-the hostess extraordinaire! It was absolutely wonderful, rather billionful! The adventure was an absolute delight at every level-lots of love and laughter being shared, including the dogs Abby and Toby. Of course for me, having my two grown children together has been spotty lately; but hopefully, we’ll at least plan once a year with all the family members present-so fun ’twill be! There aren’t words to express the depth of emotion I feel but My heart is full and warm, thanks to you Hans, new Auntie Alicia, Kolbi, Jan, Colton, and The newest family member Cozy (small in size but powerful in evoking love and smiles!) 🤟 love you!

Exciting to go over the 100,000 miles on this journey that really began when I left my daughter’s in Raleigh NC on 12/19/15! Almost 2 1/2 years! Monday 5/21, In CA driving 36 miles on the Avenue of the Giants, giant Redwoods winding about the Eel River-stunning! Heading towards Eureka-great name for a town, right? I stop at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge and rewarded with bird watching. If there’s a Wildlife Refuge by you, go and get relaxed in the rhythm of Nature-it’s so fun! Decided to spend all day Tuesday 5/22 playing in the bubbles at Vichy Springs with my skin feeling softer than ever and spirit lighter, too! The water has lithium and carbonation +. Wednesday 5/23/18, I spent the entire day at Rosicrucian Park which occupies a full city block in San Jose. I studied teachings of Rosicrucians for 6 years, but am not comfortable in continuing while on this road trip. The roots of Rosicrucians go back to Egyptian times. The grounds are awesome with a labyrinth, gardens and Egyptian statues, peace garden, pool with koi and lotus, wild flower health garden, planetarium, the Pronaos, and the Egyptian Museum in which I could spend days studying the history and artifacts. So, after walking labyrinth and seeing gardens, it was time for the museum’s 9am opening with my staying until after eleven. My brain was tired in taking in so much new information.

The best part of the Museum for me was the guided tour of the simulated burial area, the representations of the seasons of life, and the symbolism encountered there, such as family members bringing food for the deceased and the questions asked to be admitted, It is positively amazing! The section on Alchemy was intriguing, too; and I partook of the meditation there. I certainly didn’t grasp it all. I headed to the car for lunch and recharging my personal battery for the 11:55-12:20 Council of Solace, where Rosicrucians meditate and support themselves and others in their concerns. The free show at the Planetarium began at 2 pm and I was ready. The show was a well-done video about the heavens, citing scientific facts. I walked the grounds a bit more, then headed out around 3:30. I liked that there was an Egyptian game board set up with guidance on how to play. I rolled the die but I didn’t try the game.

Thursday 5/24, I drove to the Carrizo National Monument for many miles being wowed by the beauty surrounding me. When I arrived at the Monument, I was awed by the view of steam coming off the Caliente Range. It reminded me that the town of Geyserville houses a company that uses the geothermal forces of Nature to heat many homes in their area. After spending the night at Red Roof Inn in Lompoc, CA heading towards Balboa Island to meet up with family-woohoo!

After a wonderful time Mother’s Day, explored Salton Beach CA State Park, soaked at Desert Hot Springs, explored Soledad Mission /Big Sur staying at Pfeiffer Big Sur Campgrounds, / Los Lobos National Wildlife Refuge where new pups of Harbor Seals and sea lions were playing, took in Vista View at Beneficia CA, experienced Old Faithful of California in Calistoga finding 4-horned sheep, and the biggest surprise was in Ukiah-the Vichy Springs where I played in the bubbles for almost 2 hours, Richardson Grove of Coastal Redwoods /Bat tree / 9th tallest coastal redwood tree, trail to Point Carrillo Lighthouse hearing seal pups but not able to see them,-a fun and educational experience!

Vichy Springs was not even on my map, but each time I looked at the map the town Ukiah kept drawing my eyes to it-and when I got to Ukiah – there was Vichy Springs! There are only 3 places in the world that have this type of water: here, France and Madagascar! I have been finding pennies and feathers,too; which some say is a sign of angelic presence. I am grateful for signs and wonders always! Hoping signs and wonders come your way!

Scottsdale Library/Rock Shop, Wendy, SanCarlos Apache Tribe Wildlife & Rec Area, Roper Lake / Dankworth State Park, Essence of Tranquility !

On Monday a delicious lunch with my son-thanks, Hans! Then was led to call Lost Dutchman State Park which on two prior calls in the past two months had no availability; but today, I reserved for 2 days, Monday & Tuesday with electric, water and hot showers, but no campfires because of ban. Tonto National Forest covers a good portion of AZ and borders on this State Park. Rockhounding and use of a metal detector are permitted on Tonto lands. So, I bought a metal detector at Harbor Freight Tools, asking if I could use rechargeable batteries in it to find out on returning that rechargeable won’t work! So, I’m practicing using the metal detector.

Krumkake ! Thanks to Norwegian Bird and Katrina, a great visit at Essence of Tranquility, Safford AZ-so fun eating Krumkake and I got to eat them the next couple of days-yummy! Of course the water of the Hot Springs there warms and nourishes my soul-thanks to Owner Clarisse & son Mike for providing such a lovely place!

On Wednesday headed to Roosevelt Lake which is 24 beautiful miles long with swimming anywhere you want. I drove on the Apache Trail route to get there. En route past Superior, over mountains, there was an accident after the tunnel which backed up traffic for quite awhile. As I waited for traffic to get going, I pulled off, got out of the car, took pictures of the beauty, picked up roadside trash, and contemplated getting a van with California plates that was waiting as I was. I camped overnight at Roosevelt Lake which is beautiful and peaceful.

In the morning I stopped at Tonto National Forest Ranger Station / Visitor Center in Roosevelt, to check on email, for I had data access in their parking lot. Then I headed to Roosevelt Dam and Apache Lake. The road to Apache Lake was a forest, dirt road with mountain curves and stunning views. I camped at Burnt Corral campground, went for a swim in Apache Lake, enjoyed the birds, especially the male cardinal that landed in my tent, and the raptors flying above.

Friday morning it took me an hour to go the 6 miles from the campsite back to Roosevelt Dam. I learned that there is a group of people who yearly swim the lengths of the lakes in AZ; this morning they did Apache Lake. I pondered what it might be like to swim 24 miles of Roosevelt Lake! I saw two mice with mouths overflowing with long grasses-perhaps for new nests? I stopped at Tonto Visitor Center and got a map of Coconino Forest with a nice chat about weather. This day Roosevelt would probably reach 100 degrees but Payson would only be in 70s. I’m sold on cooler

temps, then decide to go to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park which preserves the longest natural travertine Bridge in the world. It was discovered by a man hiding out from Indians. I love driving through forests! Drove through portions of Tonto and Coconino Forest, getting to Lake Mary at pre Sunset when I stopped to eat overlooking the lake-fun! I take a side road to experience the oldest schoolhouse in Arizona. On to Lowell observatory in Flagstaff where I took my first telescope picture of the almost-full

moon. While I drive through forests, my mind pops up with interesting ideas-this time it was the Meteorite Crater that I want to see and tomorrow is the day for it.

Lowell Observatory is open until 10 pm and I arrived around 7. I was so excited to go, but I set my expectations too high. I still enjoyed, especially taking my moon through a fancy telescope picture. I also liked the 1888 telescope.

To be ready bright and early for the Meteorite Crater, I car camped at the rest area off I-40. I was not disappointed in any way with this adventure. A meteorite represents to me the collision of the Heavenly and earthly. There is work/ research for identifying threats to earth in this manner and ways to divert the threats-I am impressed. The man who purchased the property spent 26 years of his life looking for the iron meteorite not realizing that it consumed itself in the heat and pressure.

Saturday night to Sunday morning at Homolovi State Park where it was very windy. Homolovi are today’s Hopi with roots back to 600 AD in what is now part of AZ. Pottery was their special talent. The Little Colorado has destroyed much along with human destruction of the dwellings. I was moved to tears on the viewing of Homolovi II ruins. Sunday morning to Scottsdale to love on my new granddaughter