The End Of The Great West Adventure

My summer was everything I wanted and more. To be able strip away everything and embrace simplicity was something that my soul desired. I learned how to relax again. Both physically and mentally. It had been so long since I was able to finish a day of work and not feel like I have so many other things I had to do. The weight of all that I did was so heavy on my shoulders. I continually took on more then I could wrap my brain around. Even through meditation I couldn't quiet my mind. So much to do… It took about three weeks for me to to finally feel the sensation, that I don't have anything to do….  I felt my entire body from head to toe, relax… the tension in my head disappeared and my mind was at ease. Clear. I had been fruit picking for two weeks and it took that long to be able to actually realize that there was nothing I HAD to do. It was amazing. I hadn't ever slept so good… consistently, warm and cozy and comfortable. every single night of my travels. I got peace while I was out there. Something I could not find any longer in my hometown. I found inspiration and motivation. Another thing I could no longer find back home.

There wasn't a single part I disliked while I was out there. Its amazing what happiness can bring to any situation or circumstance. I never worried about finding work. I just knew that I would. I never worried about where I would find a place to park my van and sleep for the night, and would it be safe? I wasn't sad about the people I missed, or Marc being overseas so fresh into our relationship, knowing that the distance was only a taste of whats to come. I met people along the way who took care of me, and who I took care of, people who's secrets I'll never know... people who's secrets I do know.... And we each played a small part in each of our own individual stories.. like this one I've just wrote. Being in the orchards in the valley was such a different life then the one I had in Vancouver. It was a slow paced, quiet one where I was able to build relationships, observe and think.... write. And eat. Vancouver, was a fast paced, noisy, smelly, but oddly beautiful and inspiring city. But I had to lose myself on the beach many days to bring myself back to the peacefulness I was after. But I admire those who have learned how to make it work there.

And while I was there, and everywhere in between, I learned a lot too.  I learned how to let go. And I learned how to find peace. I learned how to build relationships again.  I learned that nothing is something worth doing. I learned that everyone has a story… some much like my own and others not so much. I learned to pick up hitchhikers. They are travellers just like me. And because we are all on the same road, but you can get there faster if you do it together. I learned that I don't need my camera to capture the beauty and the moments I see around me... my iphone did amazing... and so did my memory. I read a book that changed my life. I met a person that changed my life. I learned that I could trust a man who had taken lives. I learned that no matter where you go, there are always people who are willing to help you, feed you, give you a bed, or a shower, or a washing machine. I learned how easy it is to not worry about shaving your legs. I learned how to love unconditionally. I learned how to starve the ego, and how to feed the soul...  I learned how to be resourceful, to live without running water. I bathed in a lake, a river, under a tap, under a waterfall, in a crackshack with no door or hot water, in a stall placed in the middle of an orchard with no curtain, washed my hair in a bucket, washed my clothes out of the same bucket, and then hung them to dry in the hot sun. I didn't mind a single bit of any of that. I ate well, I slept well, I felt happy and I fell in love. I made friends that I'm sure I will keep for the rest of my life. I could have carried on the rest of my life this way. The happiness was endless, so was the freedom… so was the beauty. 

New life: A journey to the west

I decided it was time for a change. I found living in the busy city soul sucking and the atmosphere just wasn't right for me anymore. I decided to leave, and go where the road takes me. I left behind my cat, my job, my home, my friends and family, and photography for the most part. Packed up my van and headed west. My van is now my home. I brought very little with me, just enough to feed my soul while I'm gone. My camera, guitar, ukulele, drawing pencils, hula hoop, a few books, some clothes and essentials. some soap and my handmade jewelry hoping that I could sell to the hippies and make a few bucks :P

So, my journey begins. Travelling west down the trans-Canada always amazes me. You can watch the landscape change from farm lands, to forests, to hills, to mountains with rocky edges and waterfalls… and then somewhere the valley in between mountains start to widen and it becomes green and lush… and soon you are in the shuswaps. So green and fertile, beautiful lakes, welcoming cabins, fruit stands and always sunshine. And finally the Okanagan, desert-y and to me feels like summer all the time. Almost as if I stepped into a different country for a moment, landscapes like nothing else. And all of this within 9 hours of driving.

When I left Revelstoke the morning after I had stopped for the night, I saw a traveller holding out a sign for Nelson. I decided to stop and give him a ride. Not to Nelson, however, but he decided to go with me until Kelowna. The company was welcome. He was very pleasant, his name was Kjel. A social worker from Belgium, travelling around western Canada. He shared some of his music with me and was great company for the ride to Kelowna, where I dropped him off at the bridge. So long travelling friend. Its amazing, the people you meet… and why? And I wonder if our paths will cross again....

I got into Penticton and met up with Marc at the hostel, met a british friend he had acquired, named James. We all decided to find work together. We went out to an orchard we had an address for hoping to set up camp so we could start in the morning. Nobody was there, We called them and they told us there was no more work there. so we sat and made some phone calls to some other orchards in the area. Mark and I giggled to ourselves listening to James on the phone trying to get us a job. " 'ello sir! how are you t'day? We are three very enthusiastic cherry pickers, and we need to come and pick your cherries!"
Charming, but no dice. :)

We eventually found an orchard looking for workers, we followed a guy up to a place in Skaha and immediately went to work. Working in the trees, feeling the branches and the earth beneath my feet, the warm breeze… its heaven, and so grounding. The grounding that I've been needing. It does get tiring after a while in the heat, and hurts the fingers a bit. A few hours later a guy walked into the orchard with boss, he had such a calming disposition, sweet, shy smile.. I smiled his way and later went to introduce myself. His name is Anthony, from France. First time cherry picker. He stuck with us after that, Its so nice to find friends :)

Every morning we started early, at 6. Indian boss would come in and honk his horn, come knock on my window and make sure we were all up. Its perfect picking in the morning before the sun is to hot. I am not a very fast cherry picker, not like Anthony. Who picked 35 buckets on the day that I picked 24. Which was a lucky day for me because on other days it was 19, 15 and 14. Sonny called me lazy that day. The day I did 15, which was after the day I did 24. boo.

We set up camp for the night in the orchard. It was getting late and we had to wake up early. I prepared my van for a sleeping quarters, moving all my bags out of the way, as well as James' bag which I officially haul around now. I sat in the grass and watched as Anthony, set up his little camp stove and boiled a pot of water to prepare his supper. He crouched over the stove with a little head lamp shining down on his almost cooked meal. on the other side of me, Mark and James stood side by side against the car brushing their teeth. It was cute. I sat there and enjoyed the moment. I saw a beauty in it that Im sure no one will ever quite understand. We banded together that day and made a sort of home. And as the sun finally settled, and the soft breeze blew through and cooled us for the night, we said our goodnights and the boys took their sleeping bags into the orchard and I retreated into my van. I don't know if anyone else felt this way, but I felt a bit like a family.

Our bathroom at the orchard is amazing. Our wooden outhouse. The door doesn't even close, you can see right through the cracks in the wall. and there isn't even a hole in the ground. haha. Amazing. But still more comfortable then squatting in the bush.

The evenings, the four of us would drive down to the beach and lay in the shade, take a dip in the lake, have a nap, and eventually go get some food and go back to the orchard. James sat and played Mark's guitar while the other two were talking, and I caught him quietly singing a song about the orchard :)

My birthday was really amazing. I couldn't have asked for more. I am blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.... I really am. Half a day in the orchard, the rest relaxing on the beach. That evening we went to an Italian restaurant… so delicious. What a special day. Although each day so far has been more then special...

Five nights in Penticton. Sleeping first in a parking lot, then three beautiful nights in an orchard and the last on a dead end road, shared only by a family of quail and a couple deer. Today I carry on on my journey and continue west. to Vancouver. Mark will fly out to London in a few days, and I will explore the city a bit and meet up with a few friends.

Thats us.....