ON THE ROAD AGAIN

A friend of ours heard about our "journey of faith, fisher, forests, family, friends and fun" and suggested we set up a Blog. A what? So here we are....on the road again with Bocahontas and Buba. Blessed with the freedom of time, we were inspired by two of our favorite causes. So we organized a road trip to Alaska which should not only be fun but also an opportunity to spread the good word about The Fisher Houses , The Orthodox Christian Mission Center/Programs and some of our National Parks. We are participating in a 2 week Mission in Tyonek, Alaska with the OCMC group in June. Feel free to check out the planned trip on the calendar link. Caribou Cabins? Blue Moose? Tundra Lodge? and our soon to be "favorite" Motel 6. Any and all suggestions, prayers and good karma are welcome and very much appreciated....poor Buba, in a car with Pam for 5 months. Lions, and tigers and bears oh my! Toggle down to the calendar and see where we are over the next months. We ask for your prayers.

Grab yourself a cold one and come along for the ride. Enjoy and laugh along with us viewing the daily blogs which are archived on the left side of this page in chronological order. We started April 22- Happy Trails!

THE LONG & WINDING ROAD

THE LONG & WINDING ROAD

The Fisher House

The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The Fisher House Foundation, through the kindness of donations received, provides "comfort homes" that are built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable America's military families to be together during extended treatment for serious illness or lengthy physical sessions....very much like the Ronald McDonald homes for families of children in a similar situation. We were first introduced to Fisher House while visiting Brooke Army Medical Center (Burn Center) in San Antonio. We were so moved by the dedication and love of the staff and volunteers that we returned for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Currently there are 44 Fisher Houses (more in the works) and our goal is to visit all of them and spread the good word to family and friends. Please feel free to peruse their website for a detailed explanation about the Fisher House Foundation and programs. Perhaps you will be inspired by the work this group does on behalf of our Armed Forces.

Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is the official foreign mission agency of all the Orthodox Jurisdictions (i.e. Greek, Russian, Serb etc.) The goal of the OCMC is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ where it presently does not exist and to establish vibrant Orthodox Eucharistic Communities throughout the world. We have had the privilege and pleasure to admire the work of this organization (headquarters located in St. Augustine, Florida) for years and now that we are retired we have the blessing to participate. We are on the road to Alaska to join a Mission Team in Tyonek for a couple weeks to do some construction and teaching in an Athabascan Indian Village. "If I had a hammer"...you'll be happy to know I deep sixed the acrylic nails in anticipation of caulking and painting. :) Please take a peek at the OCMC web site for details on all of the programs they are involved with throughout the world. And do stop in to see Father Martin and his kind and loving staff when you are in St. Augustine! We will also be visiting family, friends and Orthodox Churches while on the road to share the marvelous work of the OCMC.

National Parks

Most people know that the National Park Service cares for national parks, a network of nearly 400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation. The treasures in this system – the first of its kind in the world –have been set aside by the American people to preserve, protect, and share, the legacies of this land.


People from all around the world visit national parks to experience America's story, marvel at the natural wonders, and have fun. Places like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Gettysburg are popular destinations, but so too are the hundreds of lesser known yet equally meaningful gems like Rosie the Riveter in California, Boston Harbor Islands in Massachusetts, and Russell Cave in Alabama.


The American system of national parks was the first of its kind in the world, and provides a living model for other nations wishing to establish and manage their own protected areas. The park service actively consults with these Nations, sharing what we've learned, and gaining knowledge from the experience of others.


Beyond national parks, the National Park Service helps communities across America preserve and enhance important local heritage and close-to-home recreational opportunities. Grants and assistance are offered to register, record and save historic places; create community parks and local recreation facilities; conserve rivers and streams, and develop trails and greenways.


We hope to see you soon in a national park and invite you to explore the ways we can help you preserve what’s important in your hometown.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Day 43 June 3 Crater Lake National Park/ Oregon


CRATER LAKE NP/ OREGON

The ride to Crater Lake was gorgeous. We drove through Whiskeytown-Shasta Trinity National Recreation Area in Northern California. Lots of ooooooooooooing and ahhhhhhhhhhhing. We are talking Big and Beautiful- over 217,000 acres/3 lakes. Then we hit Crater Lake - Like No Place Else on Earth- Crater Lake has inspired people for hundreds of years...reminding Buba he doesn't belong in Boca these days. A a deep, pure lake, so blue in color it looks like ink; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost two thousand feet high; a picturesque island in the lake; and a violent volcanic past. It is a place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and classroom for you outdoorsy types. That is if you love snow. The rim road is closed most of the year with half of the rim road opening in June and the other half....maybe in July. Today there were 10 other cars there with us.... Ranger Boy told us they get 500,000 visitors per year. Say what?

Crater Lake is located in Southern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Mountain range, 100 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1902 on 183,222 acres. This National Park is an example of one man, William Gladstone Steel, taking a stand for this spectacular area to become a National Park. He hounded and hounded ( for 17 years!) until President Roosevelt signed the proclamation-because of his relentless pursuit most people thought he was nuts . Today we are grateful. Another example of the enduring American Spirit. Crater Lake lies inside a caldera, or volcanic basin, created when the 12,000 foot high Mount Mazama collapsed 7,700 years ago following a large eruption. Generous amounts of winter snow, averaging 533 inches per year, supply the lake with water. Buba got the biggest kick out of the gazillions of snow poles along the road...some up to 14 feet tall! There are no inlets or outlets to the lake. Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet deep, is the seventh deepest lake in the world and the deepest in the United States. Evaporation and seepage prevent the lake from becoming any deeper. This lake is definitely a superstar and very photogenic.

The Park's Chief of Terrestrial Ecology gave Pleep what fore. Dr. Hudson caught him running all over the trails and cliffs in the snow. I guess Pleep didn't know what "CLOSED TRAIL" meant. I think the snowball fight he and Buba had (in their shorts no less) put her over the edge-what else can you expect from two Crackers from Florida. Terrestial as in ET?
ADVICE FROM A LAKE
Be Clear
Make positive ripples
Look beneath the surface
Stay calm
Shore up the friendships
Take time to reflect
Be full of Life!
Ilan Shamir

A good park to see. check it out www.nps.gov/crla
Posted by Sharing our Journey of Faith at 11:23 PM