It is Monday and I keep wanting to believe it is Tuesday already.  I will spend my second night here in Christina Lake and head out tomorrow for my nephew Bryan’s place.  Bryan has a house that he rents out by the night or week.  He invited me to use it if it wasn’t occupied.  Actually I think he kept it open purposely when he found out the dates we (his sister Ericka and her daughter will be joining me) needed it.  Ericka may not get there for a day or two after I arrive.  When I am there I will make plans as to where I will go from there.

I must admit it has been interesting being out of the country and not being able to use my cell phone for calling, voicemails, or texting.  I didn’t buy the service to use it.  I will be back in the states tomorrow and hopefully everything will go back to normal.  It just proves you can’t go anywhere without someone knowing where  you are if you have your phone with you.  It is actually sort of frightening when you think about the implication this could (and already does for certain purposes) mean in regards to the government keeping track of us for their purposes.

I finally fell into bed last night at 3:30 a.m.  I slept till I woke up.  I know that sounds like a weird statement because that is what most of us do but what I mean by that is that I did not get up with an alarm.  I woke up at 9:30 a.m. when someone called my out of service cell phone, which was being charged.  I got up, turned it off and went back to bed and slept until 10:30 a.m.  Now that was nice!  A full seven hours of sleep.  Now let’s see if I can sleep tonight because I have a long drive day ahead of me tomorrow.  I hope I am in bed by 9:00 p.m.  I’ll let you know when I sign off.  I still must figure out my plans as to which route I plan to take.

After eating breakfast at lunch time I soon ate another meal and my host volunteered to take me to see the Kettle River Gorge.  I know now why she took me.  It was a difficult hike to find.  We hiked on places that were not meant for feet.  It was steep, rocky, and I was a bit tentative at first whether I would do it or not.  I finally got up the courage and took it slow and easy and made it.  We hiked off the beaten trail and came to some of the most spectacular, scary and dangerous lookout places you would ever want to be.  Every step was careful.  The waters of the Kettle River were white with powerful rapids.  The story is that several people have been killed in the river and when someone goes in there are no rescue efforts to be taken.  The current is so strong and fast that you are gone before anyone could possible save you.  After seeing the tumult of the powerful water shrinking through that small gorge and the racket and force at work I could see why no rescue would be attempted.  Just seeing nature’s power was a thrilling event for me.  I am so thankful that Gail, my host at airbnb offered to take me.  I would never have seen the beauty of this day had she not been so gracious to use her time to do so.

Gail also took me shopping at Huckleberry Mountain Market.  It was a small country store that held just a sampling of the basics of a larger grocery store.  I bought some strawberries and then realized I may not be able to get them back into the US when I go tomorrow.  I also bought some great fruit at the fruit stand yesterday and haven’t be able to eat it all up.  I’ll just eat a lot of fruit on the way.  Wonder what my border questions will be tomorrow?

After the market experience Gail drove me down to the water’s edge of Christina Lake.  Oh my goodness, it was so beautiful there.  The weather was perfect, the sky was blue and the big puffy clouds dotted the sky.  And best of all, someone had left me an enchanted castle by the water’s edge.  See the picture I included.  We then came home, I wrote awhile then came in and prepared something to eat.  I ate out on the beautiful patio again, listening to the gurgling water fall coming down the backyard slope.  This house is incredible and I feel very blessed to be allowed to come here as an airbnb guest, trusted enough to be left alone and just enjoy the solitude of the evening after a totally awesome day.  God has blessed me with such incredible places to stay and such wonderful hosts wherever I have been.  When we arrived home I had an opportunity to get to know her husband Greg a little more.  I asked him for his wisdom and he shot back so quickly: “MARRY A SMART WOMAN”.  I could see by the way he talked about his wife that he knows he did just that.  It made my heart smile to hear a husband talk so highly of his wife.  And I can see what he is talking about.  He did marry a smart woman.

Here is my poem I wrote earlier today during my first interlude of uninterrupted silence.  I haven’t been able to spend my hours with the Lord everyday like I usually do when I am a home in more of a routine.  This trip has been anything but routine!  I’ve been writing most of my poems on the computer and it is not my favorite way to do it.  So as I sat down to write my first sentence came out as a statement and then I realized it was the first line of my poem.  Remember, I write about what is going on in my life at the present.

A PEN IN HAND

Kathleen Martens

June 14, 2015

Oh Man! A pen in hand!

With purpose and intent.

Dancing fingers on some keys

Does not make me content.

My mind composes best

In solitude and gentle peace,

A pen in hand is like a friend

And my thoughts never cease.

It seems my pen opens doors

That otherwise stay closed,

As if when I poise the tip,

To my heart, words, it shows.

And my heart sings a lovely tune

As my fingers scribble the words.

Quickly do I write down

The sounds my heart has heard.

P.S.  It is now 8:11 p.m.  Now I will get tomorrow’s directions situated.