Howdy,

I’ve come to see how dependent I am on routine/structure to get things like…like writing a weekly update.  For the past six years, I’ve sat down most Sundays and have reflected on the week and send out an update.  I’m in a stretch where I have been traveling the last several Sundays and low and behold, I’ve struggled to get updates written.  So, it’s Thursday and a good as any day to send out a quick update.

The car is packed for a road trip to the far side of the island.  Marian and I are headed to St. Antony for a mushroom foray.  A few action packed days of collecting, identifying and learning all about mushrooms and fungus.  After that, we’ll drive south to Gros Morne National Park.  We are hoping to complete the Gros Morne Traverse from Western Brook Pond to Gros Morne Mountain.  I first tried to so the traverse in 1996 but we arrived at the park without reservations and couldn’t secure a transmitter for the trip (people so often get lost on this trail-less route that the park service requires that we be “collared” like wildlife to make us easier to find).  Amazing that 14 years has gone  by since then…

We’ll backpack for six days and I look forward to being outdoors and having a good navigation challenge.  We’re hoping the weather’s a bit nicer than when we climbed Gros Morne last September when we appeared more like drowned rats than hikers.

I am pleased to report that my mom is doing much better.  She spent almost three weeks in the hospital but is now on the mend.  I’d like to send special thanks to my brother and family and friends who visited my mom in the hospital.  It’s tough to live so far away sometimes.  Thanks for your prayers and good thoughts.

My Oma turned 93 this week.  We had a grand chat on her birthday and I played some polka music over the phone so we were able to dance together.  Though Oma doesn’t always remember them, I’ve been cherishing the conversations we’ve had lately about how she views the world and how she came to be blessed with 93 years on this earth.

I continue to mull over climbing and other adventure possibilities and I am having to be patient with various scheduling/logistical issues as I try to set the blueprint/map for the next while.

Thanks as always for your support.  I’ll catch you next from the far side of the traverse.

TA