August 3, 2016 Port Coquitlam

Took a break from the blog and spent the last few days just enjoying my friends and coming up with the game plan for the end of the ride. The theme for this ride has become increasingly clear to me - it is all about the journey and not the destination. My first post on June 14 was about letting go of the rope securing the boat and drifting wherever the river took me, trusting that the river knows where to go. Not having to know and just enjoying the journey. Scary and exciting at the same time. An adventure. Now I am more convinced than ever that letting go of the rope is the key to my life adventure.  And, although I am no closer to knowing where I am going as I conclude this particular adventure, that's okay because I feel more confident and secure than ever that the river knows where to take this boat next. During my studies this morning, I was reminded again of Thomas Merton's prayer, which I could embrace as my own:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Back to the current journey.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment with Pam and Carin the past few days. On Sunday, they took me on a tour of Vancouver that hit all the high points in just enough detail to give me a real flavor of the city, and instill the desire to return again someday for further exploration. Queen Elizabeth park overlooking the city, with its colorful gardens; UBC Anthropological Center; Spanish Park Shores; Stanley Park; Lion's Gate; and Lynn Canyon. 

Monday was Pam's birthday and a national Canadian holiday, and we celebrated in the morning by hiking the Colony Gardens with Max, and having an afternoon snack at Swan E Golf Club.  For her birthday dinner, Pam cooked steaks Argentinian style and made a homemade pumpkin pie that was to die for. Lest you wonder, it was her specific birthday wish to fix the dinner, and Carin and I happily benefitted from making that wish come true. One of the things we have talked about is how our time together has felt like one of those special interludes in life.

Another experience that is firmly burned into my mind is the daily migration of Canadian geese. There are a couple of ponds directly behind the woods across the street from Pam and Carin's home. Their home is literally in the morning and evening flight path of these geese. Hundreds of geese fly out early in the morning, and return in the evening, making that loud "honking" noise. A cacophony to say the least. It is beyond amazing. I tried to take photos, but they are so fast it is hard to do.  Tonight, Pam and I walked across to look at the ponds and try to video some of the landings. This daily geese activity and the associated sounds are another experience I will be able to close my eyes and relive in the future. 

Link to Canadian geese video. 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9n96g1yze1kpjxv/File%20Aug%2004%2C%205%2006%2014%20AM.mov?dl=0

Tomorrow I am taking the ferry to Vancouver Island and reprising the 18 mile ride from Sydney to Victoria on the Lochside Trail. I will ferry over to Seattle on Saturday and arrange to have the bike packed for the flight home to Austin on Monday. Sadly, this adventure is winding down.