Showing posts with label channel islands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label channel islands. Show all posts

Saturday, October 5, 2013

in the blink of an eye




hellooo! one week ago i wrote a post that has caused tears everyday since. your words of comfort,
and understanding, your wishes of hope and so incredible, your donations. travis's post raised nearly eight hundred dollars (and even some euros!) for jdrf, and something we are so excited for, the artificial pancreas project, one of the research projects being funded by your generosity.

next week we will do the walk and you'll be with us. please PLEASE, if you would be so kind to email your address if you contributed, it doesn't matter whether it was by donation or wishes or even good thoughts, it's so important for travis and i to send out thank you's. many came anonymously and i don't know who to thank. i am here: lorix5@hotmail.com,  for those that wish to remain anonymous, thank you from the bottom of my heart, forever and ever. amen.

* * * 



~  it's been a week of heart touching and heart stopping happenings. one morning my son, the one who lives in tokyo called, it was one am his time. he was returning home from dining out and was switching trains, actually he said he was being pushed out of a super crowded one at shinagawa station and was rushing to catch the next when he described hearing a loud sound behind him, a sort of thud. when he turned around, he saw, passed out and lying on the tracks below, a man perhaps in his 50's. two men immediately jumped down and were struggling to lift him. kyle saw they were not able and before he knew it, he had jumped down on the tracks too and in his words, shoulder pressed the man up to the platform as he saw the lights from the oncoming train. everyone climbed out in time. kyle ran to his train as people were patting him on the back. (later, at his home he couldn't get to sleep thinking of all the what if's and for all the adrenaline running through him!)  just thinking about this makes me feel faint. it's one of my greatest fears with three of my kids living in towns with trains they take everyday. kyle told me all this happened in a blink of an eye, and that he was aware the next train was coming in under a minute, and it's japan, they are never late. he said the timing of it was just as crazy as actually pulling the man to safety. ai yi yi.
(eta; there was no security around that my son saw, this being the last train of the night. in nyc, where two of my other kids live, it is never advised to do this, but to always call mta for help).
to my son, there are no words to describe how proud i am of you. 




* * * 

~  then one early evening there came a knock at the door. standing on the step was my husband. unexpectedly home from his job on the islands. his used to be job. all guides and rangers were ordered to leave because of government shutdowns. to be continued...

* * * 

~  and on a much lesser scale, but heart stopping none the less...i am knitting a pattern that is taking every bit of concentration. it's made with the slightest strand of fiber, almost thread like. and very sharp needles, that have been utterly helpful, EXCEPT...one night i saw, three rows below, one of the k3tog (knit three together) strands, was broken. 

broken. accidentally cut by super sharp needles.

a strand interrupted. no way to repair  (feeling panic rise, irrationally, i thought, i'll tie a knot!) but to go back. and i can only thank my guardian angel because it was the angel that insisted i put in a lifeline that morning. i had been knitting true lace for three weeks without one. and i know better! 

hope you are enjoying your weekend! i am hoping for uneventful :)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx lori


Sunday, August 11, 2013

islands of the blue dolphin

 welcome to the magnificent and diverse
 channel islands national marine sanctuary & national park

close to the california mainland, yet worlds apart, the channel islands national marine sanctuary 
and national park encompass the ocean environment and five of the eight california channel islands 
(anacapa, santa cruz, santa rosa, san miguel and and santa barbara). the sanctuary and park bridge
two biogeographical provinces, and, in a remarkably small area, harbor thousands of species of plants
and animals. one hundred and forty-five of these species are found nowhere else in the world.
 cultural resourses date back 13,000 years. 
the islands' remote, isolated position at the confluence of two major ocean currents creates 
remarkable biodiversity. the mingling of cool, nutrient-rich waters from the north with warm
currents from the south form a dynamic transition zone that is home to a myriad of sea life 
from microscopic plankton to blue whales






 an aerial view of the channel islands


and scorpion anchorage at santa cruz island, our destination



we're here! 


 foxy welcome


 setting up the tent is strenuous work



just kidding!

 camp is set up, tommorrow we'll paddle, today we're going on a hike...



 we made our way to potato harbor, see the kayakers far below? they have paddled over from scorpion anchorage



 super exciting, my sister met us at the harbor this morning and came out for the day!


hiking back towards cavern point...do you see those small dots (people) at the very top of this very sheer, very steep cliff? 


four 'o clock already, my sister is taking the boat back home now


* * * 


the following morning, time to paddle!



chuck is our guide. we took two double kayaks, hannah and matt in one, chuck and i in another. i like this a lot since it makes it much easier to take photos...


the sights and sounds of sea caves!



we paddled in some caves that were almost entirely dark


it's a relief to see the light




this cave is named sharks tooth for the jagged rocks that hang down from the ceiling. at this tide you have to lie all the way back in the kayak and work with the surging water to inch your way out...


this cave is very large, we carefully checked for sealife that may have been using the beach
in the far back, so as not to disturb them. it was empty


just incredibly beautiful ocean water





a curious sea lion


















stopping for a little break


and a kiss



and a swim


my girl is part mermaid, the water is cold!




some caves require finesse to get in




a harbor seal resting upon a rock








back to scorpion, thank you chuck, so very much! you are the world's best kayak guide (even if i'm biased because you are my husband)   :)


* * * 

later that afternoon, another hike


this time there was a trail, and then there wasn't...


there was beautiful scenery


we rock hopped an hour up a canyon until we came to this


a bit of a road block


even though the guys made it up the boulders, it was decided this would be a good time to turn around
and head back...



our time on the island is over, we need to pack up, the boat is on it's way to take us 
 home to the mainland



waiting on the pier


bye islands, we'll be back


bye foxes, be good





bye blue dolphins, thank you for another magical time! thank you for reading, i hope you enjoyed,
it is always such a pleasure to share!

for information on camping and kayaking at channel islands national park click on the links below:


p.s. these are the islands that are written about by scott o'dell in this book, a favorite from my childhood