Life is to be lived

Brad has always been an amazing influence on my life, in so many ways, all the way back to his birth.  Initially it was me leading him into camping, hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, new friendships, travel, and design but that changed.   I can't remember when it was that he began to push me to the next more difficult step.   We were still doing all the same activities but with Brad's nudging, I would go harder, faster, further,   He radicalized my thinking in topic after topic.  He radicalized my efforts in activity after activity.   I've spend every day since 1968 teaching and learning; learning and teaching; and marveling at the unfolding adventures Brad has introduced me to.  The latest is his wonderfully sweet relationship with Yessi.

If you've been reading this blog, or Brad's blog you'll know that he hiked 5000 miles in 2012.  At the end of the year, his adventure was topped off with Yessi's company.  They met in New Zealand when Brad was hiking the Te Araroa trail and Yessi was spending a year traveling and working in New Zealand.  They got together again in China where Brad met her family and enjoyed a quick tour of Xiamen and surrounds, before they took off to hike the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.  Yessi's first hike was begun on one of our world's most challenging treks, not a hike at Ebey's landing, or some other wonderful, but relatively easy hike. 

Yessi on the Annapurna Circuit

Yessi is a go-for-it-person and she's hooked up with a go-for-it-guy.  Wavering isn't part of the relationship Brad and Yessi are tackling.   From Customs to hiking to cultural differences, their relationship has been one huge adventure.

With a traditional Chinese upbringing, Yessi's exploratory enthusiasm is especially remarkable.  Not that she doesn't suffer conflicting values, like us all, but she still jumps in to experience the new, taking her well beyond her upbringing in xiamen, China.  And, naturally, she takes all of us, especially Brad, well beyond the customs of America.

The latest, and perhaps one of the more remarkable activities she's engaged in on her return trip to America is climbing.  On a cold day in November, on Whidbey Island, she conquered her fear of climbing on Mt. Erie, WA.  Shivering with fear, she stepped over the edge with a smile on her face.

Yessi rappelling off Mt. Erie

Brad's life is far richer for knowing Yessi and her life has expanded to unfathomable places in her relationship with Brad.    All our lives have expanded.  We are grateful!

Yessi & Brad sharing a quiet moment on the Mukilteo ferry

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.

Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.

Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
Albert Camus
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html#2AHQCmQAJQmJVwKY.99

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
Albert Camus
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html#2AHQCmQAJQmJVwKY.99

Tramping, Hiking, Trekking - 2012!

5000 miles in one year!  How can that be?  A year of hiking in the US, trekking in Nepal and tramping in New Zealand concludes the year with 5,000 miles.   An adventure both for Brad in-the-doing and his vicariously-traveling-by-his-side, mom.  

Christmas day we drove to SeaTac Airport to pick up our traveling guy of many names.  As there are different names for hiking in different parts of the country, Brad had different names as well.  Here at home he is Brad.  On the TeAraroa Trail in NZ he was db.  On the Pacific Crest Trail in the US he was Freestyle.  In China and Nepal he was dbBrad.

From SeaTac we drove to Seattle and enjoyed Christmas breakfast at the Sorrento Hotel's Hunt Club.   We then returned to Whidbey Island for our small family gift exchange and a lovely dinner.  A very calm, quiet and delightful Christmas Day!  Not to mention a massive jet lag and missing Yessi day for Brad.

dbbrad, Nepal

Now, for Brad, there have been three weeks of settling in and getting used to being off the trail.  A letdown, of huge proportion, along with the stiff reality of what's next in his life.  For now, a small cabin in the woods for writing, photo sorting, job application completion, resting, recovery, and planning life's next adventure.

For me, what will I blog about?  Brad's travels have dominated this blog for the past year and now I suddenly feel topic-less.  New subjects will unfold, of course, but I have had a steady stream of new photographs along with wild and crazy adventures; changing friends and places; wild weather and high elevations to keep the blog flowing, almost without effort.

Brad is still raising money for his Heart on the Trail fund raiser and collecting press as he proceeds.  See his latest news story on his 2012 adventures.

Brad drawing hearts

A Year Of Adventure

This year our son, Brad,  set out to fill it with adventure while he reevaluated his life and future.  First, as you know if you've been following this blog, he went to New Zealand to thru-hike the Te Araroa Trail.  He arrived in NZ mid November 2011 and finished the trail the end of April 2012.  He returned to the US early May and immediately began another thru-hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, after resting and resupplying in San Diego for a few days.  He departed from the Mexican border in May and finished in late October at the Canadian border.  All told he walked 4200 miles in eleven months.

But, the adventure is not over, nor is the year.  On Tuesday, November 20, Brad departs for China.  He will fly into Hong Kong, but travel almost immediately to Xiamen to spend time with a friend he met in NZ.  The trip will also include dental work, sight seeing and hiking.  He returns to the US Christmas day.

Xiamen
One of China's top 10 cities on urban development index. 

Hong Kong
Bird's eye view of one of the world's greatest cities.

Three of the hiking destinations capturing Brad's attention are the Yellow Mountains, Leaping Tiger Gorge and Annapurna Circuit.  Stay tuned for the new unfolding adventure...

Yellow Mountain near Huangshan 

Leaping Tiger Gorge near Lijiang

Annapurna Circuit in Nepal

Green shows 10 day hike from Hong Kong to Beijing.  But, the map also is a nice overview of China,

8:00 a.m. and 3 miles down!

Had a call from Brad slightly before 8:00 and the group was on the march.

After hiking alone for a few days, Brad is once again hooked up with "the group", or at least part of it -- Hannah, Charlie, Mark -- and they're moving out!  Their destination is Kennedy Meadows in 10 days, or 25 miles per day.  The trail distance is 247.9, so they can slack slightly one day.  Once they reach Kennedy Meadows they will have hiked a total of 704 miles, and reached the entry to the High Sierras.

Brad's new look -- two new shirts, shorts and glasses

Yesterday was a zero hike day, but an important day of new purchases at REI.  The Hiker Heaven (***** hostel) provides rides, bikes, shelter, and almost anything else a hiker needs.  Yesterday there were about 20 hikers staying there.  Brad headed off to REI to replace his stove pan, which they didn't have, so he'll limp along with the broken pan for a while yet.  He also replaced clothing items which after the Te Araroa in New Zealand  five month tramp, and now another month on the Southern Section of the  Pacific Crest Trail, were disintegrating.  

Ug, Facebook! Really?

To the many in my life dismissing Facebook, here's an example of why I enjoy it.  When Brad was tramping the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand I "liked" a number of the Te Araroa facebook pages to see what was being said.  In the process I became friends with a few of Brad's tramping friends -- Charlie Barran, Richard Wagner and Ludovic Lemoine.  I was also following Brad's adventure on his blog, doing my own parallel blog and following other trampers' blogs as well.  With the delightful benefit of social media I followed along with Lude & Flore, Floppy Adventures, and more.

My computer adventure was clearly not as good as actually being in New Zealand, but quite the adventure nevertheless.  I researched every mountain, river, town and track.  I followed the weather and trail challenges.  Each estuary waded through, beach walked, hut stayed in and swinging bridge crossed was vicariously enjoyed from home.  And, the blogs, plus facebook,  filled in even more details with comments, photographs and tramping friends exploits.  Not quite, but almost, I feel like I've been to New Zealand.  I fell in love with the kiwis, adore many of Brad's unmet friends, and am in awe of the beauty of that country.  Sure beats the postcard every three weeks that my mother got.

Just yesterday I had a lovely Facebook chat experience with Charlie Barran about db's (all Brad's friends are calling him db) latest adventures on the Pacific Crest Trail, pros and cons of blogging and his photographs.  Charlie put together some fabulous panoramas of the Te Araroa Trail, which I'm sharing here:

Photos by Charlie Barran

My life is richer as the result of Facebook and blogging.  Viva la social media!

Snohomish Centennial Trail

On Mother's Day Ed and I enjoyed a sunny, warm, beautiful 45 mile round trip bike ride from Snohomish to Arlington and back, along with every biking family in the Greater Seattle area.  It was crowded and lively with the good cheer of having a family-bike-ride-with-mom.  It's a well-maintained and easy to ride trail that passes through beautiful countryside, including forests, farmlands and wetlands with stunning views of the Cascade Mountains, but especially Mt. Pilchuck.   We'd wished we'd taken a picnic (more on that further down in this post) as there were picnic tables and benches nicely placed along the way in pleasing spots.

Ed @ Machias Trail Head and Rest Stop

Fran @ Machias

In my home town, Langley, we now have signs marking the Langley Loop. The Langley Loop is a great idea for helping all sorts of people to find Langley, a village off the highway.  I'm advocating more "loops".  It's easier for automobiles, but much, much easier for hikers and bikers.   They are tired and hungry and can't just drive around until they find something.

Langley dancing the Langley Loop:
Here we go loop de loop

Langley Town Photo - 5/19/12 on the day Langley danced the Langley Loop de loop.

As with any town, when you live there, or are quite familiar with it, signage is insignificant.  As a result, locals can be somewhat cavalier about maps, giving directions and signage.  I remember, years ago, when my then young son, Brad, and I were still living in Seattle but doing a bike weekend on Whidbey Island.  We'd headed to South Whidbey State Park for camping and then the next day we were biking to Langley for the Island County Fair.  We'd been given directions to enter Langley on Saratoga Road.  The first business we came to, Langley Lumber, was closed on Sunday, so we asked a motorist where Langley was.  After they stopped laughing, they told us it was just down the street two blocks.  Obvious to them, not so obvious to us and exploring the possibilities of Langley's location on a fully loaded bike was not that easy.  And, this is my point.  If Langley had had the Langley Loop signs back then, we would not have had to ask where Langley was, so obvious now that I live here too, but not so obvious all those years ago.

Saratoga Road

Ed and I had that same experience when we arrived in Arlington last Sunday on the Centennial Trail.  We were wanting lunch but first we needed to find downtown Arlington.   Road map?  Nope.  Signage?  Nope.  Restaurant signs?  Nope.  Here's a trail dumping 100s of riders into their town and not one entrepreneur or chamber or city sign to be seen.  We finally asked other riders and found our way to Arlington's main street.  There we found a bike shop and asked for recommendations to a good eatery.  We got some hand waving but not very good information.  The restaurants recommended were closed.  Our Arlington lunch experience left us unsatisfied in a number of ways.

There's a message here.   Bikers do spend money.  Bikers do eat and drink.  Bikers will return in their cars if they've had a good experience.  Bikers are good for the economy.  As are hikers.  When Brad was hiking the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand he found lots of eager businesses along the way -- hostels, eateries, bars, bakeries, shuttle services, kayak services, lodges, sporting goods stores -- ready to serve the hikers.  He's finding that in some of the towns along the Pacific Crest Trail (of note so far is one of  the best sporting goods stores, south of Wander on Whidbey, and the town of  Idyllwild) hikers are seen as assets, but not all.

Welcome to Idyllwild

Bicycle Trails and hiking trails are awesome for the users, and the wise towns are capitalizing on the economic benefits of having trails in their neighborhoods.  When I rode the Galloping Goose Trail on Vancouver Island a few years ago, entrepreneurs were popping up from B&B's to kid's lemonade stands.  When Ed and I rode the George S. Mickelson Trail in South Dakota two years ago, the only trail-oriented business we found on the 114 mile route was a bicycle shop and on the Trail of the Coeur d'alenes we found a fabulous State Camp Ground, but few services. 

Now I'm not suggesting that the trails allow billboards and mini strip malls, but I am suggesting that there are missed business opportunities for the towns along these trails to provide services and information about their services.

http://youtu.be/UkNXKPKqG9U

Lucky Me!

A Happy Mother's Day! for sure.  I saw my fabulous son last week between New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail tramps for seven glorious days.  I live in a beautiful home built by dbBrad, the sun shines, the birds sing, the flowers bloom and tomorrow I'm off to ride the Centennial Trail in Snohomish with dear Mr. Ed. 

Fran & Brad 

Mother's Day - Brad in camp on PCT

Technology

When Brad did the Te Araroa in NZ he didn't have a phone or computer and depended on computer service at hostels and libraries for blogging and getting messages home.  Before he started the PCT he purchased a smart phone.  Here are the first two photographs sent from the trail.

PCT Trail literature says people get lost in the first 20 miles on the PCT.  According to Brad the first 20 miles took no GPS, were well marked and the trail clear enough to hike at night with a full moon.    After completing 1800 miles on the Te Araroa perhaps trail instinct sets in.

In Between the Te Araroa and the PCT

A delightful visit with Brad in San Diego.  He flew in from NZ after finishing up the Te Araroa Trail and I flew in from Seattle to meet him, visit and hang out with him, and help with preparations for the Pacific Crest Trail.  The Te Araroa was completed on April 20, 2012.  The PCT was begun on May 5, 2012.

Fran & Brad, San Diego

Brad, San Diego

San Diego Hostel

Brad catching up on computer work, hostel, San Diego, CA

view from Cabrillo National Monument & Pt. Loma Lighthouse

Fran & Brad, Cabrillo National Monument

One of San Diego's many weekly markets

Te Araroa Trail's End!

Bluff, New Zealand 4/20/12

Brad, one happy guy!

The Southland Times

NEIL RATLEY 

Visiting hikers near end of NZ trek 

Celebration after four months in the wilderness 

Last updated 05:00 21/04/2012 

A group of international trampers were getting ready to celebrate surviving more than four months in the New Zealand wilderness 

when they reached Bluff and the southern tip of the country yesterday. 

After taking their first step at Cape Reinga at the northern end of the North Island on an epic 3000km journey, Australians Richard 

Wagner and Charlie Barran, French couple Flore Lasne and Ludovic LeMoine and American Brad Hankins set out from Invercargill 

yesterday morning to complete the newly created Te Araroa trail. 

Mr Wagner said everyone had started the tramp separately with some getting a head start last November before the trail officially 

opened in early December. 

"I have been on the road for about 166 days," he said. 

The story is a similar one for the other trampers with Ms Lasne and Mr LeMoine marking their 150th day on the trail, Mr Barran 

had been walking for 171 days and Mr Hankins was clocking up day 134. 

"It's quite nice to have evolved into a small group for the final few stages of the hike because at times it has been a very solitary 

experience that I think has physically and mentally challenged each one of us," Mr Barran said. 

It was only in Riverton the five came together along with Arnaud Zdziobeck a French tramper who had traversed the South Island, 

Mr Wagner said. 

Te Araroa Trust chief executive Geoff Chapple said to have so many separate trampers all converging at one place was unusual. 

With the end in sight, all of the trampers showed appreciation for the country's environment but all agreed the highlight of the 

journey had been Kiwi hospitality. 

"Along the way all of us at one time or another have been invited to camp on lawns or even stay in local people's homes," Mr 

Wagner said. "There have been offers of cups of tea and helpful directions." 

For some the sight of Bluff was a welcome respite but for others it was the starting point for further journeys. 

"Arnaud [Zdziobeck] and I will be going to hike around Stewart Island," Mr Barran said. "You can't stop at Bluff when there is still 

another island even further south." 

Mr Hankins who comes from Seattle in the United States is taking the long way home. 

"I'm going to fly to Mexico and walk 4500 kilometres back to the Canadian border on the Pacific Crest Trail," he said. 

neil.ratley@stl.co.nz 

- © Fairfax NZ News 

Bluff
Photo by Charlie Barran

Photo by Charlie Barran

Bluff Today!

Six trampers finishing the Te Araroa together today!
Flore, Ludo, Brad, Charlie Arnaud,  Richard

Live from Oreti Beach