The Quest *

July 25 - August 14, 2008

As with most adventures, the ability to describe to others what you experienced always seems to fall short. I thought of many different ways to describe what the last three weeks were like for me…

The mission: Take sixteen 14-16 year-olds on a quest (road-trip) around the Northwest United States (Washington, Oregon, and California) and Canada (British Columbia) with 3 other co-leaders.

Accommodations: The Wilderness, State Parks, and other camping facilities.

Transportation: 1 Dodge Caravan, 2 Ford Expeditions each pulling a trailer

The Result: We all made it back with everything still intact emotionally, mentally, and physically and full of new experiences, firsts for all and numerous stories and pictures (close to 500!). Hopefully I will get to tell you many of those stories in person for they are too numerous to write.

Listed below are many stories and memories of this great road trip represented in words or short phrases. Some need little explanation, but others will cause many questions to arise which I will be happy to explain. All are filled with some laughter, some frustration, and much learning that I will always remember.

Sea-Tac ~ People to people ~ Parking sign ~ First Impression ~ Ferries ~ Bald Eagles ~ Pot stickers ~ Cold Water ~ Trains ~ Glaciers ~ Whitewater Rafting ~ Heave-ho ~ Classical ~ Drive by shooting ~ Cyster ~ Fight Scenes ~ Fencing ~ Wheelbarrows ~ Bear ~ Mountains ~ Border Crossing ~ Sandwiches ~ Taco Bell ~ Dirty Dozen ~ Hagazimba ~ Kelp jump rope ~ The spit ~ Sequim tide pools ~ Geronimo ~ Banana Slug ~ Elk ~ Skipping rocks ~ Volcanoes ~ Bear impressions ~ Maurice ~ Shabbat ~ Poky ~ Dutch oven ~ The BP Rap ~ Camouflage ~ Jamal ~ Ninja Reflexes ~ Earth & People ~ HAK-WACO ~ Shakespeare with music~ Gender campfires ~ Post Cards ~ Fondue ~ Photo 101 ~ Cliff Jumping ~ Shooting Stars ~ Singing ~ Positive Vibrations ~ Pumping water ~ Hot pools ~ Pizza in the Park ~ Town Time ~ Campfires ~ Laundry ~ Detours ~ Tarps ~ "You think I'm an ignorant savage…" ~ Stand-up comedy ~ Flat tire ~ Wrestling with God ~ Burma Shave ~ Talent Show ~ Quick Wit ~ The Beast ~ Coyote ~ U-turns ~ Canoeing ~ First aid ~ Lost & Found ~ LNT ~ Apple Cores ~ Smores ~ Tim Horton's ~ Rain Forest ~ Showers ~ Cards ~ Civilization ~ Disney songs ~ Essence ~ The Chipmunk ~ Quiet hours ~ Football ~ Ultimate ~ Bird talk ~ Cooking ~ Driving ~ More Driving ~ Chuck the phone charger ~ Airport dash ~ Hugs ~ Farewells ~ In-N-Out