Karen is heading to France!

More specifically I left Sitka on schedule on Sunday, March 27. After a Seattle overnight I arrived in DC this afternoon (March 28). Tomorrow afternoon (March 29) I depart for JFK and then on to Paris arriving 6:45 am Wednesday the 30th.
I had great plans to post photos of trails I hiked near Sitka as part of my training. I was going to post general photos of Sitka for anyone who has never been there. I was going to post photos of the apartment that I will be renting upon my return in July. I have photos on my camera of two fellow Sitka pilgrims wishing me Buon Camino Sunday morning and another shot of me getting ready to go through security at the Sitka airport that I could have posted.
Instead I am typing this post late at night on my iPhone from Brother Bruce's house in Virginia!
I have no idea what Internet access will be like in France but will try to keep you updated even if it is just a couple of paragraphs like tonight.
Anyone reading this is either a friend or family. Thanks for all your support and encouragement - from going on walks with me to technical and logistical support to simple expressions of "I wish I could go with you."

February/ March Update

Just a quick update to let you know where I have been and where I will be soon.

I flew out of Barrow on February 2nd instead of the 1st because the earlier flight was canceled.  This then pushed my flights to Mexico back by a day and I arrived in Guadalajara early on March 4th - Mom's 88th birthday. 

Suddenly, here it is, the day before my departure.  The time has flown by.  I've put in many km of "training" for the Camino walking all over between Chapala and Ajijic.  I've climbed up and down hills with light and heavier packs.  I've even been taking some Pilates classes.

Mom and I went to Manzanillo on the Pacific coast for five days. 

Cousin Denise was here for eight days.  She was a good sport and went on all my training walks with me although she refused to come to the Pilates classes. 

Denise and I took a three day trip to Patzcuaro in the state of Michoacan.

I leave Guadalajara early on March 2nd and return to Anchorage.

I'll be in Anchorage until March 8 when I fly to Sitka.

I'll depart Sitka on March 27 for Washington, DC.

March 28 I depart DC and arrive in Paris, France the morning of March 29.  The plan is to catch trains that will get me to Le Puy the evening of March 29.  The plan is to meet up with Chris and Gitte McKay - my walking companions - who will be arriving from Scotland on March 29 as well.

April 1 the plan is to attend the Pilgims' Mass at 7 a.m. and then begin the 1500 km walk to the cathedral at Santiago de Campostela.

I'll try to be better about updating this blog in the future. 

Karen

Victory Tour 2011/ Tour de Fudge: The Early Years

Victory Tour 2011 is the name I gave to my nebulous, disjointed plan to celebrate turning 55, being Tier 1 in PERS and retiring.  While I was still working and I was in the middle of a crazy day I would fantasize about traveling the country, visiting everyone in my address book and completing a Volkswalk in all 50 states and all 51 capitals.

It would be great fun.  And, as I drove from here to the next point if I saw a hot springs along the way I would stop at the hot springs.

Maybe it's just me but everywhere I go I notice shops selling homemade fudge.  So, in addition to visiting everyone in my address book, completing Volkswalks and visiting hot springs I decided I would also have to sample homemade fudge along the way.  Law Clerk Leah dubbed this my Tour de Fudge. 

The Early Years.

Nieces Moira and Audra happened to be competing in the Western Regional Oireachtas in Sacramento, California in November.  One immediate benefit of being retired is that I don't have to worry about scheduling a vacation around work.  Come watch the girls compete in Irish dancing?  You bet!  Sacramento is the capital of California?  Even better!

So, I flew to Sacramento,

 

got to watch Moira and Audra dance . . .

was able to complete a Volkswalk in the capital of California. . . .  

AND on the Volkswalk I found a shop called Turtles that had incredible home made fudge. 

Not a bad way to kick of my Victory Tour 2011 even if it is the early years..

My New Job

Anyone reading this is either a friend or family member so you must be aware that I have officially retired. 

My last day of work was September 30, 2010.  My first day of retirement was October 1, 2010. 

 On the journey to retirement I envisioned taking Friday, October 1 off but on Monday, October 4 I expected to start "my new job" of sorting through 19+ years worth of "stuff" that has accumulated in my house. 

Instead, I spent most of the October 4 week staying up late, sleeping in, going to lunch with friends and not having to rush back to work.  And, I was able to volunteer with the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management.

Barrow received twelve strikes for fall whaling.  Because of rough water no whales were caught until Thursday, October 7.  On that day I went out as a tourist with Law Clerk Leah to the old NARL runway to watch the butchering process and take photos.



On Friday,  October 8 I was fortunate to be accepted as a volunteer with the Wildlife people.  The North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management attends each whale to take measurements and take samples of blubber, various organs etc.  Most of what they do is way over my head.  I just know that it is important work.  They know what they are doing.  I was there to write things down when they needed it, to hold something when it needed to be held and to "take this to that person over there."

 I've lived in Barrow for 19 1/2 years and have been out to many fall whale butcherings.  However, I was never there from the beginning until the end.  I would go as a tourist to watch until I got too cold and then go home.  That's what I did on October 7.

On October 8 things changed.  As a volunteer I was able to go to the ARF and pick out some official Wildlife gear: bunny boots, overpants, down parka and leather gloves.  What a difference proper clothing makes!  On both the 8th and the 9th I was outside for 5 hours and was toasty warm the entire time.

As a volunteer I was able to play an ever-so-small part in the important scientific research conducted by the NSB Wildlife Department scientists.  If possible, I now have an even greater respect for my friends who work there.  And, as a volunteer I had the warm clothing and a reason for being on site from the time the whale was brought to shore until the shares were distributed.  Because of this, I have a profoundly deeper appreciation for the importance of whaling to the people of Barrow.  Whaling is why Barrow exists.

At a recent University of Alaska seminar on risk and offshore resource development that was videoconferenced between Barrow, UAF, UAA and UAS Ethel Patkotak stressed that whaling is not just a lifestyle choice.  Whaling defines who the Inupiat people are.

I've seen the truth in this statement when I have attended the spring Nalukataq celebrations.  As a volunteer with Wildlife for these few days I came to understand this truth on an even deeper level.

Barrow still has three strikes left.  Unfortunately, high winds have kept the crews on shore for the past two weeks.  When the winds do subside I'm ready to gear up at the ARF and head out once again as a Wildlife volunteer.

Volkswalking in Barrow, Alaska

What is Volkswalking?  Volkswalks (pronounced "Folks walks") are non-competitive walks for individuals and the entire family- even the dog.  The American Volkssport Association (or AVA) is the national organization in the USA.  The International Federation of Popular Sports (or IVV) is the international umbrella organization.

Walks are set up around the country complete with directions and maps.  You simply go to the designated starting point and ask for "the walk box."  The walk box has the registration book, your start card, directions and maps for the walk.  The only time constraints are the business hours of the location where the walk box is kept.  Once you finish the walk you return your start card to the box.  If you want to receive AVA credit there is a $3 fee and you can stamp your AVA books. 

Volkswalking in Barrow?  Yes!  There are two seasonal walks in Barrow, Alaska.  The City or "Top of the World" walk is a 10 km walk that begins at Pepe's North of the Border Mexican Restaurant (the starting point) and takes you through Browerville and Barrow returning you to Pepe's.  The Freshwater Lake walk takes you from Pepe's (the starting point) on an 11 km walk out to Freshwater Lake and back again.

"Seasonal walk" means that the walk is available during only part of the year.  In Barrow that means from the end of May until the end of September.  (If you are wondering why the Barrow walks are "seasonal" note the snow and ice in the May 2005 photo taken by Chris Finkler at Freshwater Lake)

Over the years that the Barrow volkswalks have been available a number of local people have completed the walks along with volkswalkers from Alaska and all over the lower 48.

In fact, on September 11, 2010 I had the pleasure of walking with four women from the Seattle/ Tacoma area, a man from Dallas and a man from Chicago.  The four women came up specifically for the volkswalk.  The two men had never heard of volkswalking when they headed to Barrow but by the time the Alaska Airlines jet landed in Barrow they had been convinced by their new friends to walk 10 km around Barrow! 

Fran Tate, owner of Pepe's North of the Border Mexican Restaurant, has been a huge supporter of volkswalking.  Pepe's has been the designated  

starting point from the very beginning and Fran has walked both of the Barrow volkswalks a number of times.  And, she rewards all volkswalkers with free hot chocolate, tea or coffee when they complete their walk.  Here's Fran at Freshwater Lake with fellow walkers Dan Endres and Ralph Davis.

Although I won't be in Barrow during the summer of 2011 fellow volkswalker Dorothy Savok has agreed to be the Barrow contact person.  So, if you missed the walks this year be sure and do them next summer.  And remember, there will be a cup of hot chocolate waiting for you at Pepe's when you are done!