I know nothing has happened on here for many, many months, nearly a year! But I'm getting back in the routine and will change that. I am resuming my research so that I may bring you useful information about toxins in our environment.
Much has happened since my last blog. My partner, Eric, and I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. It's a national scenic trail that winds through California, Oregon and Washington. It covers 2,650 hiking miles from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. It's hard to summarize the experience. It was hard and yet incredibly fun too. All the blisters, hot days, and tumbles were well worth all the amazing friends we made on the trail. While out there I wasn't sure that I wanted to do more long distance hiking. But soon after leaving the trail, returning to the hiking community was all Eric and I could think about. If you want to read more about our adventure you can visit our PCT trail journal.
We've had a slow transition trying to acclimate back to life with beds, tv, jobs, stuff and moving cars. Last April, we moved our belongings from Arcata, Ca to Ukiah, Ca, where we now live. Ukiah is where I grew up......sort of. My 'home' is about a 30 minute drive outside of town up a rough and bumpy dirt road on Smart's Mountain. But Ukiah is my hometown and we are now living in the house where my grandparents used to live. There is much cleaning and sorting to do in the house and the yard needs an overhaul. I feel that this home provides us a place to transition into the next phase of our life. The sustainable phase! I hope that in not too many years, we will be able to live up on the mountain, build our own natural home and grow a bountiful garden!
Aside my toxin research is my newest obsession, bicycle advocacy. Ukiah certainly is no Arcata when it comes to biking. I can go a whole day here and not see anyone else on a bike. Sad! Ukiah is not that big of a town and people could very easily bike to their destinations. Rather than let this totally bum me out, I'm seeing it as an opportunity to influence change. I've slowly found others that want to make Ukiah a safer community in which to ride bikes. Thus starts the quest to create a bicycling advocacy group.
So, stay tuned for some more toxic updates!
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