Aryn Adventures

I left Vancouver yesterday. I hung out for a bit in the morning, helped a little during farm camp, then caught the ferry over to Salt Spring Island. I took the bus to the ferry terminal in Tsawwassen , as recommended, since it is neither possible to bike through a tunnel on the way nor pleasant to go around or maybe not that great of a ride anyway? I try to take suggestions. It was the first time I’ve put my bike on a bus in quite some time-not because I’m so opposed to it theory, but because it seems like a hassle to unload all the things from it and carry them onto the bus. It went fine, though.

I met some cool people on the ferry, and have run into them since. There are lots of artsy people here, and the island has a lot of open galleries and farms and hills and beaches and a huge lovely farmers/crafters market on Saturdays which I’ve been wandering around. Continuing to explore here, then on to Vancouver Island (at least the southern bit), and back into Washington later in the week. (that is my plan)

I’m in Vancouver. I keep trying to sit down and write about more, but it hasn’t happened here, sorry. I’ve been staying at Southlands Farm, which is nice. They have some cool projects going on, and summer camp and so kids running around all day. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the farmer folks here. I think I’ll move on tomorrow.

it has been an odd day, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to do with myself, stalling even? and a little time riding my bike. Another border crossing on a stat holiday. Fewest questions yet. I’ll sleep near Surrey tonight.

I left home 110 days ago. People ask what you are searching for when you set out like this, and I’m sure I’ve said all kinds of things. For a while I felt like I wasn’t finding much anyway. I was seeing a lot and moving a lot and thinking and visiting, sure. It occurrs to me now though that something has changed. It isn’t huge, just slightly perceptible, a little of that peace I may or may not have admitted to have needed. A while is relative, of course, in retrospect, a few months of wandering does not seem unreasonable to ease even slightly some restlessness. 

If it isn’t about getting places or being places and it is impossible to stop going places then there is no need to try so hard. Relax and go. Let myself empty and fill. Everything ends and starts and will work out how it will. It looks the same and feels different.  

  
I think I am improving otherwise. I feel more honest and open, a little more flexible and patient maybe. I have not found routine easy to come by, every day is so different, though I’m not sure that it would necessarily make me a better person to have fit into one. I know I am a grown up because I have been eating celery and cilantro- I have successfully convinced myself that even if I can taste them it isn’t necessarily bad, and if it is in something I am offered I do not even mention that it is a thing I don’t like anymore, and eat it, often without even complaining in my head. This is how to learn to like foods, it is a skill I am proud of, though I had resisted with these things in particular.               
I went to a concert earlier, a very passionate woman and a piano and a lot of melodramatic songs and stories, she laughed after each. It was wonderful. I’d wandered by during her sound check and somehow still had to convince myself to get a ticket and I’m so glad I did. Even if it left me feeling oddly emotional and excited.After that I came out to the end of the spit, got my ferry ticket and sat to watch the sun setting, staring over the Kachemak Bay, the light on the Kenai Mountains and the glaciers and all the boats and creatures in the water between.  

Tonight I begin exploring coastal and island Alaska by way of the Alaska Marine Highway.