My two favorite places we went to on the southern California trip were Joshua Tree National Park and Channel Islands National Park. We stayed in Joshua Tree first. There, we hiked and did some rock scrambling, which is mainly just jumping from rock to rock. The view was incredible, even though it was a desert. I have never camped in the desert, so the experience was new and exciting to me. We also got to see the things from which the park has its namesake, the Joshua Tree, which look like they come directly from a Doctor Seuss book. Along with being my first time camping in the desert it was also my first time bivying because I had received my bivy before leaving on the California trip, along with a new mummy bag made it wonderful.
After a few days in Joshua Tree, we caught a ferry to the Channel Islands. It was a great trip, even though it was raining the first night. We manage to make camp during a light pocket of rain, with tents from the ones without the “hardcore” bivys like mine. The next day it was a clear sky and a nice day for the hike we went on. We began to see many foxes . Some got close, others did things to make us laugh. One even returned to a table we had removed stuff from and it had a look that seemed to say, “There was something here before, where did it go?” The rest of the hikes lead us to beautiful views of the water. During the hikes the group did a lot of bonding. My two closest friends here, Kyle and Connor, had some wonderful conversations with me. One day we went to the beach and I did some sun bathing. During that time I had a nice conversation with our new team member AC. We also played a hide-and-seek variant called Camouflage, where we had to hide in bushes and behind trees while the seeker had their back turned. The seeker then turned around and tried to spot the hiders, either by calling out the color of clothing visible or by sending a spotter to the exact location. It is a game I am going to tell my friends about when I get home. I loved California and can't wait to go back.
Sounds like your having a fabulous time!!! I'm jealous!! I've always wanted to go to Joshua Tree!! Keep up the GREAT work!! Looking forward to seeing you and some pictures upon your return!!!
ReplyDeleteChristopher,
ReplyDeleteWe have been trying to send comments on your blog, but we have not been able to get most of them to work.
HOPE YOU GET THIS ONE, WITH OUR LOVE AND BEST WISHES.
PJ & UC
Christopher, Finally I am getting thru. This is the 3rd time in as many weeks. Oh well! You know me, challenged. Me and Papa Joe went to Plymouth, Massachussettes over the weekend for me to convert my book to an infomercial. It was very interesting and exciting and nerve racking all at one time. But my folks there say that it was awesome. I guess we will see soon enough.
ReplyDeleteIt is so exciting to hear of all your conquests and achievements in just this short amount of time. In your last letter to mom you mentioned being worried about grades meeting effort put in and so on. Don't worry! It is so wonderful to hear you mention effort in your work, pride in your self for what you have accomplished and how you feel about where you are currently. This has not been easy for you I know and it was with that thought in mind that I pursued the infomercial. Some times we step outside of our normal comfort zones to do something grand. That is where you are right now. It was never intended to be a punishment and i hope you never feel that way. You are awesome and we wanted you to see that. The last few years have been tough for you and mom no doubt. Now, your life perspective is changing daily and you are seeing are seeing the value first hand of risk/reward. Imagine if this were all one of those "show and tell" for school bits as when you were in 1-5 grade? HELLO! You would rock the house.
This first segment is almost over but you are far from done. There are going to be some amazing things happening in your life in the next few years. More than would have ever happened in the BR area code.
I miss you and love you very much!
Uncle Carey