Immediately following the Outward Bound Lead Instructor training I jumped into the end of Logistic Coordinator training. This summer I am filling in my time between instructing courses with logistics work. It is a great set up for me. I can be an active member of the Outward Bound community for the entire summer and hopefully save up enough money to spend my winter traveling and volunteering in South East Asia again.
The last night of logistics training we decided to throw a little celebration. We played lots of games that outdoor educators are famous for and then settled around a bon fire. Around midnight, my new coworker Lilita, announced that she had decided to drive down to Chico for the long weekend to visit her boyfriend and attend her friend's graduation party.
For months I had been wanting to go to Eugene that weekend to see the Michael Franti and Spearhead concert. I had reluctantly given up the idea because I didn't want to waste so much money driving there alone.
"I would love to give you a ride! ... uhh, I'm leaving at 4:30 tomorrow morning though."
A few short hours later, I was in Lilita's car with two other new co-workers, Joe Bob from Texas and Rolando from Chile, whom had also elected to come along for the adventure. She dropped us off at the bus station in downtown Eugene later that afternoon.
My uncle Don happened to be giving a slide show of Burma that night in Eugene. It was a benefit to promote Close Up Expeditions and a non-profit organization called Thirst Aid that starts factories in Burma to make clay water filters.
My friends and I walked across town with our packs and made it just in time. I even had the opportunity to meet the founder of Thirst Aid. She generously offered me her card and invited me to contact her while I am in Burma. That was one business card I made sure to put directly in my wallet. I have a feeling it will come into play in a future adventure.
The next few days I spent playing the tour guide for my home town, staying at my Uncle's house in Brownsville, dancing at a concert at the Cuthbert Amphitheater and visiting with a few loved ones. We made it back to basecamp with 10 minutes to spare before work on Monday morning.
With a month to go before I instruct my first course of the summer, I have been living the life of a "logistician". I have already made four trips back and forth between basecamp in Mazama and the San Juan Islands and I will head back there again tomorrow.
My last trip out was to provide training to the new logistics coordinators, Lilita and Paul. I was to show them the ropes of supporting an Outward Bound course and to run a recon mission on other course areas in the San Juans.
This mission took us from Lopez island to Shaw where we easily hitched a ride with a woman that drove out of her way to drop us at the campground. While there we met an old woman that had been peacefully walking down the beach picking things up and putting them into a bucket. Lilita asked what she was hunting for.
"Oh, me? I'm just picking up trash. I used to collect shells, but then I was noticing a lot of trash. So, several years ago I switched over. They leave a trashcan out for me year round." She humbly admitted.
"Thanks a lot! No wonder it always looks so good here." I told her.
"Oh, no thanks necessary." She giggled. "I enjoy it anyhow."
On our trek back to the ferry we discovered bushes filled with ripe Salmon berries. That did it, I was ready to move to the islands. Great people, great scenery, you can take off at any moment in a kayak, and salmon berries. It's almost too much.
We made our way down the road one salmon berry bush to the next until we caught another ride. They took is right to the ferry heading to Orcas Island where we planned to spend the night. Although I have circumnavigated Orcas Island many times, I have not spent much time on it's shores. Paul was the only one of us that had been to the mountain on the island.
"Hmm..." Paul said. "This might make for an interesting night if we don't catch a ride to the park. It's really far to walk."
"Well, that's alright." I responded. "These things have a way of working out, or they don't, and we'll deal."
Both Paul and Lilita full heartedly agreed.
Knowing quite well, the stress that comment would cause for most people, I had to smile to myself when I saw how they responded. I knew I had the perfect two people with me for this mission.
Unbelievably are luck was about to get even better. Our driver picked us up and literally went the extra mile. He took us quite a bit out of his way and into the campground. He then proceeded to call in a personal favor with the park ranger to get us the best available spot. The ranger then takes it upon himself to encourage our driver, Norm, to also drive us all the way up to the top of Mt. Constitution.
"Ah, what the hell!" Norm said. "I'm supposed to meet some guys about work, but what are they gonna do? I'm the one that signs the checks."
He drove us up to the top to show us the world class view of the San Juan Islands. I was a little concerned that he would feel entitled to something from us. I was put at ease when he admitted that he drives by the mountain all the time but hadn't allowed himself an excuse to come up for over two years. He was just as excited about it as we were.
I could have spent all day up there looking down at all the islands and reminiscing over past adventures in the San Juans. Eventually Norm decided his workers had probably waited long enough for him, and so he drove us down and dropped us at our lovely little campsite.
As we were about to snuggle into our sleeping bags under the stars Lilita realized that it might not be a good idea keep the food inside of her borrowed backpack. We didn't have a car or tent to put it into and we had failed to bring rope to do a proper food hang. So, we settled on stuffing it into a bag and hanging it from a tree branch. I know, I know, I'm still embarrassed about it.
About 4 am I was brought out of a deep sleep by the sound of something crunching. Our granola!
I let out a loud "HEY!" and clapped my hands hard. Once I got my headlamp on I saw the culprit. There was a raccoon poised above the bag on the scrawny tree. It didn't want to give the granola up. It stood for a moment then returned to crunch some more of our breakfast.
"HEY!" I yelled again. I have a long held great fear of raccoons from a traumatic experience as a young girl, so there was no way I was going to go over there. Lilita on the other hand, apparently has nerves of steel and stepped in on my losing battle. She just walked right over, grabbed the bag only feet away from the raccoon and kept it safely with her for the rest of the night. I think that I was more scared from watching the scenario then she was walking up there.
The trip back to the truck was accented with more easy ride catching and a fare share more of characters. After such an awesome time, it was difficult for me to leave the islands and go back to the mountains. Although the mountains are beautiful and I love many aspects of living at the Outward Bound basecamp, my heart and soul are with the sea. Most of my favorite activities involve the water. I was comforted knowing that I will be spending more time there again this summer. I suppose things could be worse.
