Ok, so what have I been doing since May? At first blush, seems not too much. No states tackled, still nineteen to go.
I spent most of the summer in Maine, a long drive from any states I need. I made plans to be in Idaho in June, but had to cancel them a day later after my sister reminded me that we had my dad’s memorial service scheduled for four days after my return. Idaho will have to wait. The service was wonderful, and I did need to be there in the days running up to it.
Maine afforded Kip and I a chance to see what it would be like to spend significant time there. It was nice, honestly. It was summer. The weather was perfect. I met a new niece, Haley. I spent time with cousins, birdwatching, sailing, watching the harbor from the porches and decks. I cycled short sprint distances on Southport, ten miles with 900 feet of steep elevation gain. Day after day. Friends came to visit, finally, after years of our begging for someone, anyone, to come. Marcia and Jeff, Graham and Betsey, and an old friend of Kip’s from college who turned out to live in Camden, pretty darn close by. We went on a puffin cruise and bagged that little darling and the black guillemot as well. We saw bald eagles at the summer house and kayaked in our new lightweight bright blue singles. And I played pick up soccer with the local group. Amazing skill. Sick. So fun.
I did a puzzle.. Frustration! Every one of the 1000 pieces had the identical basic shape. First, I tackled the edge. I couldn’t quite get it to fit. Next, the fun stuff, the buildings, the transitions from sky to rock. And I thought, in puzzles as in life, a lot of the good stuff comes early. When that’s done, you see only slog and difficulty to come.
You want to quit. but if you persist, continued study and effort reveals complexity and beauty in the struggle for sky, rocks, water. And all of a sudden, close to the end, against all odds, the way becomes clear, and your brain knows the puzzle so well that you can just pick up a piece at random and place it correctly. The whole of it makes sense.
That doesn’t mean I ever want to do this puzzle again…
Next, I went to Scotland. This was mom’s trip, planned for prime time for state bagging, but it wasn’t optional, and it was great. Almost three weeks overseas with friends and family, a trip of a lifetime for mom, and it was so good to see her having such fun. Family first. And it’s impossible to say I suffered or sacrificed in going to Scotland. Wonderful memories, photos, and a journal to make sure I remember.
I had a possible chance to get states this fall, but Kip and I are headed to Crested Butte to visit Laura. I’m not sure how he will respond to the altitude, and Crested Butte is not well located to allow easy travel to Wyoming, the only state bordering Colorado that I still need (Well, except Nebraska… I also need a better understanding of geography, apparently.) I want to make a separate trip to Wyoming and be in the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area, which is near Montana and Idaho and just maybe… I don’t know when that will happen but it will have to if I am to accomplish my goal before sixty. And Alaska looms. I just noticed today how huge it is. Seems big enough to cover most of the contiguous 48, but on examination, that is a trick of perspective. It is one-fifth the size.
So that’s what I’m up to. Fit, ready to go, except for a broken toe. I played soccer on it, which may not have been a great decision, but like my hat from Old Friends Animal Sanctuary says, Game On, Dude!
I’m ready to dig in and enjoy Crested Butte, and I would like to go to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument. I want to try mountain biking, hopefully rafting. Lots of hiking. Maybe ride a horse. I realize as I take break from my quest that I should not pass up on opportunities to do new challenges in states I’ve already counted. If I accomplish anything blog worthy, I will be sure to make note of it here.