In my last post (which was quite a while ago) I was leaving the next day to go to a Mudgirls workshop. The Mudgirls are an all female natural building collective based out of Salt Spring Island in BC. I decided to ride my bike from here to there. This journey was 3 ferrys long and about 20 or so miles of very hilly terrain. I totally forgot that Salt Spring was very hilly. I've never REALLY ridden with weight on my bike, so it was an intense first experience. Before I did the ride I was anti-walking my bike and I just wanted to power through it. However, on the first large large hill I realized it was simple impossible at that moment for me to do it (it was a very hot day). It was good to learn to give up my biking pride and just be safe and take care of myself and pace myself, needless to say I walk up many huge hills and it took my 5 hours, once on Salt Spring, to reach my destination (most South point to most North point). As the ride progressed I became more and more de-clothed. I cant stress how fricken hot and muggy it was...haha...what an experience. When I arrived at the Mudgirls destination (all participants camp on-site) I swiftly saw familiar faces from last summer's workshop. It was so so nice! We proceeded to build a slip-straw/cob 2 story cottage. I met so many great people. As always, a very lovely international crowd. I ended up convincing 4 people there to make the journey back with me to Lopez. My friend, Adam (Adam Nash Photography), was such a sweetie and picked me and my new buddies up at the US Customs Island on his sailboat and ported us all back to Lopez. Table was also with him for the pick-up, it was perfect.
After my new buddies left (a few days) I made my transition to cabin sitting my friend's cabin in the woods with two love bug cats, Raven and Kava. This is the first time I've ever truly lived alone. Living alone was a wonderful experience. It was interesting to only be around me. What would I do? think about? cook? Did I mention that this cabin has no electricity or running water. It was true living. Go to bed when the sun goes down and get up when it rises. I got lots of sleep! AND I was always on time for work because I was about a 20 minute drive from work, so I left very early everyday. It was interesting not living with electric and water, because it was pretty easy. Barely any hardship based on those limitations. It made me see how little I need either of these things. The only aspect of electricity I missed was a refrigerator. There's ways to get around this and I tried a few of them, but the truth is that without a fridge you food is in a constant and evolving state of spoilage. Makes the stomach stronger :) right? Also, I thought I'd get more freaked out being out in the dark woods alone, but it didnt happen too many times. I find it really helped to have two loving cuddle kitties around. I would go in to town pretty much everyday so I could have all the comforts of the modern world anytime I wanted and see friends and have person interaction. One of my favorite things about the house---and outdoor kitchen...no need to sweep the floor or wipe of the counter into a rag just wipe it on the floor or throw it out the "window"!
My friend came back at the end of August and I have kinda been floating ever since. Floating felt uncomfortable for a little bit, but now I'm house sitting a house at the housing coop that I work at and its been really great to feel the change of being able to stay up later because of electricity and easily accessible internet. Also, living at work hasn't been the worst :) I get to sleep in a little bit, come home for lunch, or run home if I forgot something.Though, something really exciting happened after the cabin experience. My two bestest buddies came to visit, Jess and Sarah. They put in so so so much effort to come visit me. It really made me feel special. And it was so surreal to have people who I am close with experience this other place I've been on about for years now. They are both gone to/towards home now. I'll miss the company.
But I'll be here working for the Land Trust until the first week in September. And then I got a really exciting professional lime plaster job in Idaho for a couple weeks. I'm stoked! Then I'll head to Oregon to help my mom get settled in her new spot.
I got in a car accident here a few weekends ago. My first time dealing with someone else's insurance on my own. Its been pretty easy, i just have to be on their ass about fixing my car. No one was hurt it was low speed, but this older guy passed a stop sign and I ran in to him. My truck was damaged and has been away to see if it was a total loss. And luckily it was not a total loss and I'll have it back in a few weeks. Just glad no one was hurt and my truck is fixable. With car accidents.....you have to wonder if they happen for a reason; 2 people's paths physically colliding. If I had talked with someone in town for 2 seconds longer before the crash I would've had enough time to react. I just cant believe a meeting such as that is so random.
Here are some photos that recap the whole summer:
I decided it would be a good photo series to give everyone at the workshop a piggy back.
