One More Friend

August 2010

Don't ever forget to enjoy the fruits of life!!!

New Friends

August 2010

Lola sneeking kisses to Karen












Strange Charecter named Lief Erickson.....honest....real name!

Silver Lake, British Columbia

August 2010

My new friend Bruce is traveling about 5 days ahead of me and stumbled upon this little gem of a campsite. It's near the town of Hope and is part of the very most north section of the Cascade Mountain Range. I met a wonderful new friend Karen. We spent quality time sharing our stories. She is true gem of a lady and full of a very bright light. She was camping by herself too. Yay! I was only going to spend 1 night;but I loved it so much here and the weather was so delightful I spent 3 nights. I ran out my battery for the first time! I am learning about the inverter. Can't seem to get off the grid!

Quiet Passage

August 2010

I've been on beautiful trails, a meeting every night, and have met many new friends. I sprained my ankle and overdosed on oregano oil (deeper respect for herbs!). Life, a journey to experience your personal legend.

Early morning, quiet mind, and a joyful heart I cross the Howe Sound back to Vancouver. At this moment I decide to make the sun my lucky star!

Fair thee well my friends,
Pioneer Janet

Leaving the Sunshine Coast

August 2010
I marvel that I didn't run over or I should say I didn't feel one "thump".














I love the simplicity of a single pier in what appears to be in the middle of endless unoccupied beaches.  I've had some amazing moments of a quiet mind at the end of this pier looking out toward Vancouver Island.

an incredible flower photo

Flower Farm or Flower Shoppe?

August 2010

Now this I could do!  They're not organic flowers but I could convert it eventually.  Inside the barn here is a flower shoppe.  I applied for a job.  When I told her my story she was surprised that I lasted as long as I did in the business.....florists work hard........don't they Leslie!

yurts

August 2010

My dream home!  I found a fiber artist colony of yurts!
They were very helpful and informative.  Langley, BC and Portland, Oregon are the pacific regions largest distributors.  They are made for rain; unlike the original mongolian.  They have vinyl exterior vs felt for rain.  A 650 sq (round) foot with electrical and plumbing runs around $20,000 canadian.  The energy feels really good inside!  Now to find where I want to put it.

The Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada

August 7, 2010
On the road of the Sunshine Coast with just me and my Dog and God.  I've said my "fair thee wells" to family for awhile and off to explore and try to figure out what I am up to! Tootling around is what am doing! I am learning to tootle well! 
We're having a heat wave (32 celsius)....and I feel like I am back home, temperature wise. This is an unusual temperature and there is actually a water shortage going on!  Hard to believe that they conserve water way more than we do and they have 10 times more water than the US. I hiked through this cool furry forest near Egmont.
It boasts the Skookumchuck Narrows which are the most powerful rapids in the world.  It was a like I was in a dream or a movie set of Lord of the Rings or Avatar. I was chased here by a horse fly till I could barely breath. I was quite a spectacle to other hikers as I was screaming and batting at it with giant fern leaves.  As I surrendered to the fact that it was going to win and take my arm or leg off because I was so out of breath and would probably die from lack of air anyways, I remembered reading from Gina P's book "Backcountry Betty" not to wear certain bright colours and I had bright orange on.....well the minute I took it off....bug be gone!!!!  I survived with all my parts and lungs.  Lola thought I was playing chase.

I spent the rest of the day lounging around this lake contemplating life.  Questions that come up for me are:  Mexico this winter to learn spanish and should I put down money to reserve a place at the herb school in Shasta?  What am I expecting to learn through this experience?  I want to control my outcome and it's really hard to let go.  I am not into the flow yet, whatever that looks like, since it's a whole new flow! I am constantly reminding myself that its the joy of the journey and allowing life to summon me through that joy.  Fear is a companion that I new was there but had been able to keep at bay.  Now my tools of the program are foremost in my mind to use, thank God!  One thing for sure:  I am going to learn a whole lot more about this woman named Pioneer Janet from Free Range
Fair thee Well my friends,
Pioneer Janet  

Keats Island, BC, Canada

August 3, 2010
Some of you may ask, "where is Keats Island?". It's a small Island about 2 square miles off the coast of Vancouver in the Howe Sound.
It has around 80 full time residents.  There's no ferry access.  There's a shuttle service that takes you to the ferry and then there is Tony the water taxi man who can take you across the sound (15 minutes) to the town of Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast.  There are no stores on Keats so you must come prepared or learn to forage with the deer and 1 bear. (black berries are in season! and so are huge crab and salmon!) I love this quaint, picturesque place.  For me to get here it took a bus, subway, bus again, ferry, and a boat.  I had to hide Lola all the way!
Some of you may ask, "what do you do here at Keats Island?"
Well upon my arrival we all took naps.  It's appropriate here and encouraged to nap every couple of hours.  Reading and backgammon are a necessity along with cooking and walks through the forest to find a sandy beach suitable for swimming if you are inclined.  Meeting your niece Angela on the dock is a highlight.  For my big adventure I
                    hopped a ride from Tony the water taxi driver over to Gibsons to do some art gallery gazing, organic produce shopping, juicing and a meeting.  Gibsons is the main town in a stretch of coastline called the Sunshine Coast.
The mindset of this area is similar to Encinitas, Laguna, Berkley or Santa Cruz.  These are my people!  Sustainability and organic is the name of the game here.
There also many survivor schools that use this place as a jumping off point.  I am bringing my van over on the ferry next week to spend a week or so tootling around.
This is the area I flew up to check out last year to move to.  I haven't completely shut the door to move here it's just that it is expensive and the growing season is rather short.  The Sunshine Coast was voted the number one place in the world to live last year for a community under 30,000.  The vote was within the western world to include education, sustainability, beauty, libraries, health care, transit, and pollution.  The flowered houseboat below welcomes you as you embark on to the marina and you feel you have stepped back in time.                                                                             


After a day at Gibsons I was welcomed with my family for a gathering of old, ethnic Ukrainian cooking.  I failed to learn the recipes before my mom passed on.  I was so grateful my cousin Carol had learned the 2 most famous ones:  Pierogies and Pedaheir (cabbage rolls).  We had a blast cooking for 2 days!!! 

The synopsis for Keats:  relax, read, reflect, read, relax, rejuvenate, relax, read and make sure you get at least 3 naps a day!

What did Lola do?  She chased deer!  (I'm serious)

More photo's below

more photos

flowered houseboat on Gibsons Wharf





Learning to roll cabbage...it's quite a nack---"kushkita"


















Nap # 2 of the day. Rolling perogy dough and chasing deer is exhausting!

Chancellor Avenue, Vancouver

August 2, 2010
This is Dan and Fran; the most phenomenal couple in the world....the ones you always hear me talk about!  They have opened their hearts and home to me and have brought so much God and heart healing to my life over the years.  They are truly a gift from Great Spirit to me. They "knew me when" and they loved me even through the worst part of my life....I know that it is through their prayers that I was restored to the blessed life I have today.  They live a life of service and they are a very hard act to follow!  I am so very proud to have them as relatives....we don't get to pick our family....but I would have picked them!  (Wally, if you read this...I would have picked you too!)  We all 3 share a very

similar path and this has opened our hearts to each other.  I have been doing nothing but catching up on this blog, lying with Lola in the hammock, admiring Dan's dahlia's (aren't they superb?) praying, meditating and going to a meeting.  I have been restored again! I am no longer disoriented to my personal legend and my fears have turned back into, again, the enthusiasm and excitement that I first started with.  A new pair of glasses!
Fare thee Well as I pack tonight for Keats Island!
Pioneer Janet

Beautiful British Columbia

July 29, 2010
Beautiful British Columbia!
I have made it to my homeland, the country of my birth, my family.  I am exhausted and exhilarated.  I plan to rest when I can settle my mind down....right now being in my head is a very scary place!  "What have I done?"  I feel as though I am in a play, following a script that I didn't write....but I know I did.  Part of me is scared; but there is another part deep inside that is excited at the idea that I am not just cherishing a dream but living it.  I still haven't taken time out for my body and mind to catch up with the Spirit that has led me this far.  R and R is what my dear friends are telling me so I will take them up on it or collapse!
This is the view down the street from my cousins house and this forest is intermingled around all the houses in the area.  They live on the University of BC endowment land and it's a truly spectacular part of the city. I feel truly blessed to have their home to come to as my safe sanctuary!
  
I will be spending time here until Tuesday when we leave to go over to Keat's Island.  This is another paradise (you'll see!)
Fare thee Well,
Janet

Powells City of Books, Portland, Oregon

July 27, 2010
On the road again but not without a quick look see to find out what all of the hoopla is about over Powells City of Books. OMG!!! You must go sometime and find out. It's a full city block long and 3 stories full of new and used books....a readers paradise.....my paradise for 3 hours! (you were right Gina and Leslie)
Leaving Portland sooner than later as I'm not into cities right now....dah
Fare thee Well!
Janet

Ashland, Oregon

July 24, 2010-July 27, 2010
I spent time with my friend Lisa in Ashland, Oregon. We had a great hike in Lithia Park. The park has natural lithium springs so everyone is really mellow!  The beauty and park trails are superb dotted with the the characters from "hippydom".  I love this town and I love Lisa!  Thank you for showing me such a nice time.  We also saw the movie Inception.  Wow, great movie, a must see! Russel, Scott Bush's son came and joined us for dinner.  He has moved to Medford....you go Russ...you broke the Orange Curtain!
Ashland is rapidly becoming a sustainable town.  They boast a huge local food co-op .  Most people here are very eco aware and the town offers numerous classes in sustainability from food growing, herbalism, and alternative power.  You see local food growing everywhere.  Alternative health care is in abundance and solar panels dot the roof tops.  This is definitely a town worth considering based on it's beauty, it's character and mentality.  I was reminded of Laguna Beach without the ocean....Lithia Park makes up for it and the lack of people!
Fare thee Well!
Pioneer Janet 

Cave Junction, Oregon

July 23, 2010 After realizing that there was remote and REMOTE I found a beautiful little campground by a nice creek to sit and ponder what just happened with my fear of remoteness climbing to the mystery community.  I am questioning my reality of what I truly want and what I think Spirit wants for me. That fear I felt on that black hole mountain has not left yet. I am needing time to integrate and contemplate my purpose and direction. This beautiful spot of serenity and peace helped me to get quiet and reconnect.  I had expectations about the intentional community and I was very disappointed.  Part of me wanted to "search no more".  Mind you, I only just started and have a year to find, I do like quick fixes!
Later, the next day I met 2 beautiful women and a small gorgeous boy from the Bay area. They inspired me to be back on purpose by their enthusiasm of my story.  A female nomad.  The personal legend.  One of the gals told me of the Women's Herbal Symposium later this year in Mt. Shasta. Hmm, a plot developing???  We shall see.
I left a bit rejuvenated but not at all rested....I am craving and needing a week to unwind and integrate this new lifestyle.  I stopped at a noon meeting on my way to Ashland, Oregon.  Yes, my people, the real rest I need!  After the meeting I stopped along the Rogue River, prayed and wrote my thank you's to Great Spirit and emailed them off to my Gratitude Group (I do this daily) and was sooo happy to have the life and opportunity that I have!
"Fare Thee Well"
Pioneer Janet