Cross 2 Ross 2103 {Preparations}

 

Twenty four hours before C2R'13 departure, we drove to Glacier to apply for our back country permit.

Who?
Our family of 5 + 3 additional Boy Scouts from Troop 3
or
1 Eagle Scout (Zachary), 3 Life Scouts (Caleb, Joseph, and Judah), 2 Star Scouts (Peter and Enoch), 1 Scoutmaster  (Tim) and 1 Assistant Scoutmaster (me)

Joseph, our crew chief, made sure each crew member's daily intake added up to about 3200 calories.

What?
High Adventure Trek called 'Cross to Ross 2013'  {C2R'13} over three mountain passes

When?
August 18-22, 2013
4 nights + 5 days

Pre-departure equipment checks

Where?
On this 50 mile backpacking adventure, we trekked through the Mount Baker Wilderness, North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area; in the far Northwest of Washington State.

Careful packing and double checking lists helps us "Be Prepared."

Why?
Silly question ~ a better question would be, "Why NOT?"

Weighing packs at departure (primarily for bragging rights)

Stopping to study up on our bear facts before departure

Words of Life

Peter with Uncle Craig at Point No Point, near Kingston, WA

Do not, my brothers, speak ill of one another. The one who speaks ill of his brother or judges his brother is speaking against the law. It is the law he judges. If, however, you judge the law you are no observer of the law, you are its judge. There is but one Lawgiver and judge, one who can save and destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?   -James 4:11-12

Donkey Days

The day before Ignite Your Torch, Joseph hung out at the cousins' place and helped with the farm chores.

Without intending to do so, I managed to make a real donkey of myself on several (back to back) occasions lately involving travel plans and coordinating slightly complicated schedules and routes.  In each instance, I was reminded of the importance of proper research and effective communication for an orderly and peaceful existence.

Cousin Sawyer hangs out with Boomer and Buster.

Donkey move #1:
Nearly botched an evening highway rendezvous with Tim, Joseph and Peter, after failing to properly communicate the exact location of our intended meet-up.
Back-story:
In order for Zachary to be properly prepared to volunteer as an Ignite Your Torch 'green shirt' we had to visit St. Mary's in Anacortes for a Safe Environment training a few hours before departure for the conference.  Unfortunately, this mandatory training conflicted with the weekly Boy Scout meeting, and so in order to include Joseph and Peter in the trip, we had to arrange for Tim to drive them to us before our hurry down Interstate 5 to the ferry in Edmonds.  However, I forgot to tell my husband that we would meet him right near I5 & Hwy 20, to save him driving the extra twenty minutes to Anacortes. So as Zachary and I were speeding along toward the (can't you read my mind) meet-up location, I happened to spot Tim and his unsuspecting passengers speeding along Highway 20 in the opposite direction.  Oops.  Thank goodness for cell phones and patient husbands.

Godson Samuel and Aileen spend a sunny summer day with us at the cousins' house.

Donkey move #2: 
Drove many miles and about half an hour out of our way to avoid a road closure and ended up driving directly TO the closed road (at about midnight).
Back-story:
About an hour before our departure for Zac's training at St. Mary's (with our final destination that night being Uncle Craig's house in Silverdale for a combined 2-night visit and Ignite Your Torch carpool destination from the nearby Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Bremerton early the next morning), I received a text message from Aunt Bethany advising us to "take the C.C. Road" route to their house, due to a road closure on the 'other side.'  Rather than pulling up a map to identify the correct route, I assumed that my sister in law was sending me around to the 'other side', not the side from which we always approach. WRONG-O.  At nearly midnight, after the three hour journey, we pulled right up to the closed road.  Nice driving, huh?  Thank goodness for cell phones and patient relatives.

See the resemblance?

Donkey move #3:
Missed the Southworth ferry bound for West Seattle by mere minutes, forcing us to rearrange our plans to visit Grandma to wish her a happy 96th birthday, and adding another night to our journey.
Back-story:
On the Feast of Saint Dominic, after our stay with the cousins (having sent both Zachary and Joseph off to the conference via Star of the Sea carpool and bus respectively), Peter and I headed toward Seattle, excited to join the annual Dominican Extraordinary Form Mass at Blessed Sacrament in Seattle.  With many different ferry routes from which to choose, we opted to take the Southworth-Fauntleroy to allow for a stop-over at my Grandma's house for an early dinner celebrating her upcoming 96th birthday.  Unfortunately, I did not take the time to properly plan our approach to Southworth, and consquently took the VERY long way to the ferry.  This also happened to be the VERY beautiful way, with the windy road hugging the coast line through Port Orchard and on and on an on to the little ferry passage.  When we arrived at the dock, the boat was still in sight, but the next one wouldn't be seen for an hour.  We called Tim first to consult, then asked Grandma if we could stay the night after attending Mass and visit with her the next day before driving home to Bellingham.  Grandma, a consummate hostess, put out quite the breakfast spread for us the next day, and we did enjoy a leisurely visit without any time constraints.  (And the Dominican Mass was truly Extraordinary!  There is something indescribably beautiful about Sacred Music...)  Thank goodness for cell phones and understanding Grandmas and husbands.

Samuel and Weston enjoy the fine sport of downhill rock running.

Peter reads to Saywer.

Donkey move #4:
Gave Grandpa Pete a nightmare of a commute, collecting Joseph and Zachary from the conference.
Back-story:
My dad recently expressed his hope of a northern-area gathering before Zachary returns to Notre Dame in a few weeks.  Enlisting him to collect the boys from Olympia and meet up with us and the other relatives in Anacortes had the potential to make his dream a reality.  However, the dream became a nightmare when their departure from the conference was delayed by over an hour and the traffic through the Tacoma-Seattle-Everett area resembled a horrific rush hour rather than a sunny Sunday. 

Cousins Violet, Sawyer and Weston feed Boomer and Buster.

Donkey move #5:
Drove straight to the wrong grocery store in Anacortes to meet up with the cousins coming from the San Juan Islands ferry to the family gathering.
Back-story:
On speaker phone receiving the news of the disastrous Olympia to Anacortes drive and subsequent hour+ delay to the restaurant in Anacortes, I missed Tim's subtle suggestion to exit the highway to reach the meet-up spot at Safeway from where we would lead the California cousins to dinner.  I drove DIRECTLY to a different grocery store, having assumed I knew right where we were going.  Thankfully, Tim DID know exactly where we were supposed to meet, and kindly re-directed me to the correct spot, where we did rendezvous with the California cousins and we did (eventually) find the hidden away restaurant and enjoy a wonderful seaside meal together with a host of wonderful relatives, enjoying stories from the conference and being reunited with our boys.  The End.

German Travels 'Ende'

An after Mass with the bros pose on Zachary's 19th birthday; outside Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bellingham

After a month's stay in Munich for German studies at the Goethe Institut, and a grueling 24 hour trip home via Vancouver, BC, Zachary landed on US soil a few hours before his 19th birthday (PST).  Clean-shaven and nearly twenty pounds lighter due to a schedule that was light on cooking and heavy on walking, Zachary stepped off the adventure trail and back into life at home.

Castle view in Heidelberg, Germany

Souvenirs in tow, Zachary gifted each of us with a few treats, including sporty gear celebrating the 2013 UEFA Champions League winning soccer 'FC Bayern Munchen' football team and a beautiful Rosary from the Basilica in Munich.  So sweet.  A little board book he brought for the young cousins will likely bring many smiles; although the words are foreign, the cartoon-ish images of animals making doo will be easily understood and enjoyed without textual support.

Old jail cell for naughty students at University of Heidelberg, Germany

Castle damage from French canon ball, Heidelberg, Germany

World's largest wine cask, Heidelberg, Germany

All aboard for Zachary's 19th birthday celebration on the shores of Lake Whatcom

We showered Zac with birthday love on Sunday, celebrating his 19th birthday at a breakfast out with Grandma Billie and Grandpa Cliff after Mass, and a dinner party with the same great company +1 in the evening at their lake-front home.  Zachary shared the 50+ photos of his month abroad on Grandma's big-screen iPhoto, and his narrated slide show gave us insight into his travels and daily German experiences. 

Scheming for a return trip to Germany for a lengthier study abroad is already underway, but we are celebrating these precious days of having our family all together at home (and around) before Zac returns to Notre Dame for sophomore studies in late August.

Monks and Platypus {Anomalies}

Mary Lake at Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC, Canada

After collecting Peter and a friend from another live-in weekend at the Benedictine Monastery's high school seminary in BC, a long and boring border wait was followed by a bizarre exchange with the customs guard in the booth.

We suffered the usual stern exchange once our ID documents were in his possession, including, "Where do you live?" and "Why were you in Canada?" I answered, "The boys were at the monastery in Mission for a weekend visit," which launched a series of strange follow up questions:

"What is that?  Church of England? Roman Catholic? Orthodox? Protestant?"
"It's Catholic, Benedictine, the religious order founded by Saint Benedict."

"So do they walk around in floor-length sackcloth whipping themselves all day?"
"No. They do wear habits, which are full length, black garments with hoods."

"So did they beat their hands with rulers?"
I turned around and asked the boys, "Did the monks beat your hands with rulers?"
"No."
"The boys got to swim and play roller hockey, they had prayer time and talks.  They have a great time up there. The monks are very holy," I added.

"I think God has a sense of humor."
"I hope so."

"Otherwise why would he have created the platypus?"
"Now why does everyone always pick on the poor platypus?"
"I'm not picking on the platypus..."
"The platypus is an anomaly, that's why people pick on the platypus," said Peter's wise friend.

Indeed.
Anomalies do seem to invite being singled out, don't they?

Seminary of Christ the King; Monastery of Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC, Canada

Uprooted & Replanted {Journeying}

Final tagging of baggage before check-in at the departure gate

Another family transition officially transpired without (reported) incident: Zachary has been transplanted to European soil.  Zac's departure via Vancouver, BC, went off without a hitch; other than a very random series of questions by the Canadian Peace Arch border guard, the event was fairly uneventful. We officially received word that he landed and found lodging:

"Couldn't sleep on flight...took a train to Innsbruck and am here now."

Although the first 5 nights of his European stay are unstructured and mostly unplanned, we trust in his survival skills and good intuition, and eagerly await his occasional email updates and hope for photos, too.  As his first update arrived ~at the very moment Tim read it at work~ a customer who lives in Garmisch-Partkirchen, Germany, happened to be in our shop.  The customer overheard Tim sharing Zac's whereabouts and offered him lodging in a six bedroom apartment with a view of the highest peak in the Bavarian Alps, where her husband is currently stationed.  Whether or not Zachary takes the free lodging offer shall remain a mystery for the time being, but talk about Divine Providence at work!

Zac fires away during a pre-departure target practice session for fun on our private property.

Zac's unarmed on this journey, except for his trusty pocket knife, but he's packing a whole host of prayers and an extremely talented and holy guardian angel.  His hammock and lighter may prove useful; whether or not he'll miss his sleeping bag and hiking boots remains to be seen.  He's traveling light, with backpack and day pack, yet stuffed in his Church clothes ~ hand-me-downs from our former parish priest, Father Qui Thac~Marion who passed down and gave away all his belongings before taking the Benedictine habit and living the vow of poverty in extreme simplicity during this past year of discernment.  So in a way, Father QT~M is along for the journey with Zachary as well!

Quote of the day:
I announced, "Zachary is in one of the most beautiful places in the world today!"
Peter replied, "So are we." 
So true.

On top of the world

Like father, like son; at the target range with Mt. Baker looming in the distance

Family supper with our very special guest from Mission, BC

Speaking of Benedictines, we had the pleasure of hosting Father Peter Nygren, OSB, rector of Christ the King Seminary in Mission, BC, for dinner at our home a few days ago.  Father Peter makes a few stops after the school year ends to visit families whose boys have attended the live-ins and made connections with the Catholic boys' school.  We served grilled pork chops and corn on the cob and in return received a beautiful blessing and the opportunity to chant Vespers together in our living room (more or less on key).

Zachary, Peter, Father Peter and Joseph

Dr. Dude gives Zac the business over his beard

Speaking of special visitors, our Goddaughter Hope, and her family are visiting from San Diego.  Former neighbors and faithful parishioners of Sacred Heart, this adorable, growing family lights up the whole city upon their return.  We have cherished a few rowdy suppers at home and some squirming in the pews.  Things are always more exciting with little ones running around, and the timing of their visit coinciding with Zachary's departure helps ease the heart strains a bit.  

Zachary and Dominic chill in the company of Dominic's wiggly sisters: Miriam, Hope and Hannah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three brothers; apart for the time being, but very close at heart

 

 

 

Time Flies {Zachary to Munich}

At the Ballard Locks on Zac's first day home from Notre Dame; Ascension Thursday, before Mass at N. American Martyrs on Joseph's confirmation day

Another bittersweet parting with Zachary looms on the near horizon as he packs his backpack for a month of German studies in Munich.  Last minute errands are on our to-do list today, including a possible stop at a local strawberry field to pick a bucket of berries for dessert.  We have thoroughly enjoyed having our whole family together these past two months, and anticipate a few withdrawals as we adjust to life without Zachary again.  

Hitting the Chuckanut trails on a training hike with the Scouts

After spending the past two months at home, Zac eagerly anticipates his European adventure, which begins in Canada, land of the cheaper departures.  After an hour's drive to the Vancouver airport, give or take depending on border traffic, Zac will spend eleven hours or so en route to Munich.  Upon landing, his plan is to find a place (or a few) to visit for 5 days before his classes begin; maybe in Vienna, maybe somewhere else.

Tutored by a pro, Zachary learns the art of cooking dumplings with Grandpa Cliff.

After a hard day's work at the sawmill

Many hours laboring in the sawmill for a few dollars

The product of many hours' labor

Zachary's primary endeavor while home on his first summer break from university involved holding down a full time minimum wage job at a local lumber mill while maintaining constant contact with friends and balancing family time and recreation.  Quite a juggling act, but by simply and consistently reducing the total number of hours of sleep, Zachary made ends meet.  Unlike my first smelly job packing pickles at Nalley's in Tacoma, or Tim's first stinky job gutting salmon around the clock in South Naknek, Alaska, Zachary exited the lumber mill each day smelling like a cedar chest.  On one of his more educational lunch breaks, his co-workers boasted of places where they'd done time.

Zachary and Roy taking off on the 18 mile canoe leg of the annual Ski 2 Sea race on the Nooksack River.

Zachary trains Peter in the fine art of Polish dumpling cooking.

Floating Lake Padden on a sunny Sunday afternoon

3 bros ready to hike the shores of Baker Lake

A revival of sorts: all the men in our family assisted with the Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession; Zac crossbearer.

Manly men celebrating bearded faces

With only hours left before our next farewell, we pause to remember (and document) the wide variety of wonderful events and experiences we've shared with Zachary and his awesome peeps during these past few weeks of togetherness.  Godspeed, son.  We're all praying for you!

Zachary, Joseph and Tim (with Caleb) honor David at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

In one last pre-departure attempt at raising cash, Zac flags traffic toward our family fireworks stand.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for Zachary's German adventure.