Death Valley - Incredibly beautiful, incredibly hot

 Death Valley, Nevada - Incredibly beautiful, incredibly diverse, incredibly hot...

Three fantastic days in no cell signal range, in awe of the views, and in search of shade (no luck there) - exploring fascinating ghost towns and incredibly creative outdoor art exhibits, sweating along winding hiking trails with fantastic panoramic views, driving switchbacking, straight-as-an-arrow cutting across the landscape, scenic and, for one 20-mile stretch, white-knuckled, cliff-edged roads, noodling amongst colorful and the definition of majestic mountainscapes, walking the salt flats at the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere, watching the sun rise and set on spectacular sand dunes, and meeting interesting locals and other travelers, all with intriguing stories, pandemic-related and otherwise.

On day one, I was reminded to mind the direction of the wind when peeing outdoors. On day two, I discovered that what I thought was a trapped fly buzzing inside a cupboard in my van was actually the sound of the little fridge recharging. On day three, I finally figured out how to recline my driver's seat and discovered some really neat features about my van, like the tires all have auto sensors that read air inflation levels and the brakes have a setting for grade control, coming in very handy on some of the steep roads! On day four, I bid farewell to this incredibly beautiful, incredibly diverse and incredibly hot place, and began making my way north to another dream destination - Route 50, America's Loneliest Highway. From 96 degrees and waiting for midnight to at long last have it be cool enough to fall asleep, to a forecasted 36 degrees, I'm happy I purchased the winter camping pack with my van rental, which includes a hot water bottle and two extra sleeping bags! 

I feel blessed to be out here, grateful to feel safe traveling on my own and in this way, and overjoyed at being able to interact with others. Everywhere I go, most people are wearing masks, even outdoors on trails and wide open spaces, and every small business, gas station and store I've been in are requiring them, although like in Homer, not actively enforcing that. 

The people I met during my time in the desert include Tyler from Fairbanks on a trip to visit a friend in California and see a part of the country he's never explored; George, a retired school teacher in her 60's revisiting her former nomadic lifestyle; Jason, a functional art artist from Las Vegas who moved from the city to the small town where his mom lives, and built and operates a shaved ice in the summer/coffee stand in the fall/winter to make ends meet until he can return to his art; Darren and Lindsey, a couple who met in and work year round in Yosemite, he for 24 seasons and her for 13 and who spend their downtime wandering about in a 1982 VW van with their two dogs, and Charlie, 81 who walks three miles a day, twice a day, around his hometown, is excited to vote for Trump again on election day, and loves to play pranks on local youth. 

Thank you to each of my project supporters who have made donations through my Go Fund Me and to me directly, and/or in-kind support! I couldn't be out here without your encouragement in so many ways! Chris Long, Ed and Sara Berg, Emily Ward, Janet Higley, Karri Wickstrom, Linda S. White-Canfield, Lorraine Stoby, Monica Sallee, Pam Breckenridge, Rika Mouw, Susan Braund, Taz Tally, Terry Talbot, Tina Day, and two Anonymous individuals. Thank you all!

Later Las Vegas, Hello Big Dune!

After relaxing and exploring the Las Vegas area with a friend for two days, I picked up my van this morning, heading for Death Valley. I didn't make it far along the wide open road, after shopping for groceries, snacks and supplies (aka: hand sanitizer), only about 70 miles, when I was distracted by a road sign that read, Big Dune! Nearing sunset and with my awesome home away from home van that is spectacular in nearly every way except that I can't take it off road, I am camped nearby with a front seat view, literally, watching the sky meld from blue to pink to red to orange to grey. Tomorrow morning, I'll wake early and make the walk in for sunrise. Or I'll sleep in and enjoy the view from my campchair. Either way, there's so much to see out in this vast expanse of landscape!

Dark now at 8pm, and finally cooling from 92 degrees to 79, I'm nesting, putting this here and that there, and preparing my first dinner in the desert - fruit salad and a pb and j sandwich. Kneading a twinge of homesickness that's been growing all day, twisting deep inside my chest, I finally give space to let my tears fall, acknowledging my feelings of loneliness, nervousness, and gratitude. My mom, who lives in Alberta, sent a package to me via my friend in Vegas and I just now opened it up to find some of my favorite Canadian candies, which I will be sharing with my sister and niece and nephew in Colorado, as well as a colorful array of hand knit hats, washcloths and socks, to be given to people I meet along the way. What a fun and thoughtful gift! Thanks mom! Between these, the nearly 15 pounds of painted rocks given to be by my Homer rocks friends, and the dozens of facemasks Karri made, I have oodles of thank you's to give out as I meander my way, collecting stories and memories and hopefully, making new friends! Grateful to be out here! 

And So It Begins...

And so it begins - taking my documentary project Behind the Mask - Our Stories on the road! Follow here for stories, photos and audio and video clips of the people and places I encounter!

Vegas Baby! After a beautiful fall drive to Anchorage and time with my friend, Tina Day, I flew into Vegas on Tuesday, greeted by another friend, Karri Wickstrom and 90 degrees! We spent two days hanging out and exploring the area, and now this morning, I pick up my camper van, my home away from home for the next two months, and hit the highway!

Exhausted from the long drive to Anchorage, getting just a few hours of sleep before catching my 6am flight out, and the stress of flying during Covid-19, it took a bit for me to shake off the ickies and start reaching out to strangers, asking if I could take their photos and hear stories, but once I got going, I was all in, making connections! Coming from a small town Homer, Alaska, Las Vegas is almost other worldly! Only my second time here, it's not difficult to connect with people, even during a pandemic, even in a large city. You just have to be willing to be open, vulnerable and interested in others. I believe that all stories are important, that all stories matter, and that we all deserve to be heard.

I'm excited and nervous to embark on this documentary project, out here in the big, wild, Lower 48 world, and here I go.

If you'd like to receive personalized emails with photos and stories before they're posted, as well as postcards from the road, and to be recognized in the coffee table book and traveling exhibit I'll be creating from this project, come along for the ride as a project supporter, gofundme.com/f/behind-the-mask-our-stories. A big thank you to each of these individuals for participating in this way - Chris Long, Ed and Sara Berg, Emily Ward, Janet Higley, Karri Wickstrom, Lorraine Stoby, Rika Mouw, Susan Braund, Taz Tally, Terry Talbot, Tina Day and two Anonymous individuals.

Care to share your story with me? Catch me at 907-435-7969 and behindthemaskourstories@gmail.com or post at Behind the Mask - Our Stories on Facebook. Stay safe out there!

One Week To Departure!

"For listening to the stories of others... is a kind of water that breaks the fever of our isolation. If we listen closely enough, we are soothed into remembering our common name." Mark Nepo

I created Behind the Mask - Our Stories in May 2020, inviting others to share photos that provided a small glimpse into life during the pandemic. In doing so, I was eager to create a community of storytelling while learning how others were coping, or not coping, to these unprecedented times. These are just a few of the images that were shared early on and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who posted them, inspiring the evolution to taking this documentary project on the road.

Beginning October 20th and through mid December, I'll be traveling across the country, searching out stories, connecting with others and documenting how the pandemic has impacted, people, places and perspectives. My short-term goal is to create a community of storytelling and connection and my long term goal includes producing a coffee table book of images and a multi-media traveling exhibit. I hope you'll follow along and share your own story! 

 Thank you to the following individuals who have made donations to my Go Fund Me to help offset project expenses. Chris Long, Ed and Sara Berg, Emily Ward, Janet Higley, Rika Mouw, Susan Braund, Taz Tally and Terry Talbot all receive my gratitude, along with recognition here and on the Facebook page, as well as within the coffee table book and exhibit. They will also receive postcards from the road and personalized email updates! If you'd like to join this group of Go Fund Me friends, you can do so here -  Christina's Go Fund Me.

 

Welcome... the adventure begins soon. On October 20th, I'll fly from Anchorage, Alaska to Las Vegas, Nevada to pick up the camper van that will be my home away from home for two months. During that time, I'll be meandering the country in search of stories, connecting with others and documenting what life has been like during the pandemic - people, communities, places, landscapes. I'll be sharing a window into these encounters in the way of photographs, videos and writings here within this blog, as well as on the Facebook page, Behind the Mask - Our Stories.

My short-term goals are to inspire a community of storytelling and connection across the miles as I chronicle glimpses into how lives are being lived during the pandemic. My long-term goals include the creation of a coffee table book and a traveling exhibit.

Should you like to make a donation to help offset project expenses, you can do so here, Go Fund Me All donors will receive recognition on this blog and the Facebook page, as well as within the coffee table book and traveling exhibit, and, will receive personalized postcards from the road! Thanks to all of these individuals who have already donated - Taz Tally, Terry Talbot, Janet Higley, Susan Braund and Chris Long - thank you, thank you, thank you for your kind consideration and generosity!

I hope you'll follow my journey and perhaps be inspired to share your own story of what life has been like for you during these unprecedented pandemic times. I encourage you to share your story, little bits here and there or a whole lot all at once - with me, with a friend, a neighbor, a family member, a coworker, anyone willing to lend an ear. When we show up to share our stories, we give ourselves, and others, permission to belong somewhere...

Blessings to you, wherever your journey finds you today...