Shalom, friends, and thanks for nagging me enough to start posting again. :) No reply from the mystery commentator, and I am moving on from that mess. No worries.
So, in the two months it's taken me to start this up again, a lot of stuff has happened that has really shaped the way I view the world and the way I view myself and others. My travels have taken me to western Illinois, Colorado, and finally Massachusetts and Maine. The scarce months of summer have become the beginnings of my grand adventure.
However, the beginnings of my summer were not as grand as I originally envisioned. I mulled and stewed at home for an entire month trying to acquire a job, with little success. Everything I wanted to accomplish over the summer required sufficient funds to do so, and without a job, I was in a bad spot. Although the choices were limited, as few businesses were appparently hiring, I eventually landed a job working for a new restaurant that recently opened in town, as a waiter. So thankfully, that issue was resolved, and now I have a job.
The first trip taken was down to the little town of Tiskilwa, Illinois, to attend my second PAPA (People Against Poverty and Apathy) Festival on the Plowcreek farm. The byline for the event was "A convergence of communities and movements," but it was so much more than that. There were 750 of us camped out in a field for a long weekend, and our days (and nights) were packed with excitement. During the mornings, we had learning sessions, where we could hear people speak on different topics, such as "Dismantling the Empire," "Jesus for President," and several others about community, poverty, anarchy, and other larger focuses. Then there was an open mic concert after lunch, and after that, we ran through another round of sessions. These, however, were focused more towards different skills that we could learn to better our world and ourselves. These sessions ranged from West African drumming, circus acts, an informative talk on pilgrimage, and the lost art of pie baking. The latter session was one that merited the most excitement and pictures, as Nick and I were overjoyed to have baked a delicious peach pie all on our own. This excitement resulted in the "Pie High," which is documented among other photos here: PAPAFEST. And that was my adventure for June. It was great to have the time with my family, as well as two other families that joined us, and Nick and Taylor. Memories were made, and hopefully will be made again the next time around.
Once July rolled around, things began to get crazy. The first adventure of the month occurred from the 8th to the 14th, when I traveled to Colorado into the Rocky Mountain National Park. Thankfully, my friend Natalie was willing to pick me up from the airport and opened her house to me for the night, as my flight got in around 9 at night. The next morning, she dropped me off at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead on the eastern end of the park, with nothing but a pack on my shoulders and a warm farewell. I set off into the mountains for 5 nights on my own, to the concern of my parents and friends. However, I was prepared with a bear rope, water purifying tablets, a knife, plenty of food, a compass and map, rain gear, and all the other items I was constantly reminded about in the weeks beforehand. I made a 12-mile loop over those 5 nights, staying at three campsites. The middle site I was at was the Lawn Lake site, which I recommend for anyone traveling to that area of the world. It was breathtaking, placed right on the lake-front, with a smattering of nearby sites that were comforting yet not intrusive. On the 4th day, I hiked up to the Saddle, an amazing overlook between the Mummy and Fairchild peaks. I half-expected Julie Andrews to come running out singing the hills are alive with the sound of music! It was very alpine, very beautiful, and definitely somewhere I'd return. During that trip, I had a lot of time to sit and read Thoreau (which I found quite fitting), and think, and it made me realize how much I need other people in my life. Looking back, even though it was wonderful there, it was also the loneliest place I have ever been. Perhaps I'll type up my journal of my time there, and if anyone wants to hear more about it, about my bear story, or anything else, send me an email anytime. Oh, and here are the pictures: COLORADO.
And currently, I reside in Harrison, Maine, in the company of my mother's family, in the same small town I've come to every summer for 20 years. However, this year, we did make the usual trip to my dad's parents' house in Massachusetts, and the exception to the rule was the two day venture to Bar Harbor, to see Acadia Nat'l Forest. While it was a little foggy, it was still a gorgeous hike through the woods with my family. We stayed in a hostel for the night, which has always been a good experience, and then drove back down to Harrison. It's beautiful here as well, with two lakes nearby (one right across the street, practically), and an old dusty house to explore and write about. I'll be getting back into Stoughton on Sunday night, and there will be pictures eventually. For now, I remain here, still adventuring each day.
Each day, for today, for arête,
-Caleb-
