Belly Acres...part I

We were invited by a member to stay at Belly Acres for a couple of nights. February is members only month, so it was a rare and much appreciated invitation. Belly Acres is 10 acres of jungle on the west side of the island. A bunch of jugglers and other performers bought it about 25 years and carved out a little jugglers paradise. Others bought in since then, but it has been closed to new members for the last several years. There are a few other long term renters who live on the property while the members are away and there's only one member who lives here year round. Blah, blah, blah. We've been welcomed with open arms and here's some pictures.

Also... Hawaii Hairdo

Serendipitous, Beautamous, Hawaii

Pele received us to the island with a warm and embracing hug. We were met at the airport and whisked away to an already set-up campsite by the friend of a friend named Pamela Sue, surely an angel in disguise. A better hostess could not be imagined. She met our fiend River on this very same island a few years back via the juggling community here called Belly Acres which we have yet to visit but are anxiously anticipating.
We arrived after dark, threw our things down and went straight to the ocean for a full moonlight skinny dip. Beautiful!

We awoke the next morning to dolphins playing within reach and whales waving their tails at us from a stone's throw further. Beautiful!

On a short walk to see a blow hole in a rocky shore, we met two locals tending to some property who offered us coconuts, avocados and tales of growing up on the island. We've been gifted avocados twice since, big and delicious. Beautiful!

A man approached our picnic table (a common occurrence in our friendly campgrounds) recognizing P.S. from the other side of the island where they both live. Turned out he was another person we'd been in contact with through another friend. He had been casual with previous contacts, but has no invited us to stay at his place for a few days later in our visit here. Beautiful!

We were caught in a rare rain storm on the "dry" side of the island and took refuge in athe shelter of some nearby campers, one of whom is a singer, dancer, and ukelele player that used to work with "Iz". He told us great stories and serenaded us in English, Hawaiian and Japanese while we shared food and laughter. Beautiful!

After scrambling up some lava rocks above the beach this morning, Becky and I explored the depths of an old lava tube, a cave hollowed out by flowing lava years and years ago. It was so dark and quiet inside that light and sound seemed practically nullified like in a black hole. That is, what I imagine a black hold would be like having never actually entered one. It was both creepy and cool in equal measure. Beautiful!

Its nice to be out in the world again, its nice to slow down, remember my breathing and open myself to whatever opportunity presents itself. When I am open the whole world is open to me. Can't wait to see what finds me!

Liberty and Justice for All

So this is what "back stage" looks like. Not pictured is a recent addition to the family, a gigantic foam-headed Lady Liberty that I never see unless its on the street. I think they keep it under lock and key.
Its kind of a funny little office and I could almost see myself working on the inside at a different time in my life, but I'm glad I don't. Unless there are people there getting their taxes done, its as quiet as a tomb. Very rarely do the employees actually speak to each other and if they do its about work. They're all very polite though in a way that feels like its only their job to behave that way. I'm a little guilty about the pleasure I took in telling all of them that I was leaving for a month to vacation in Hawaii. But only a little.

A trip to Sequim

I took a trip out to the peninsula over the weekend to go to a bonfire party. THE peninsula of Washington is a beautiful, spectacular place, if you've never been. Home to a dense and ancient rain forest, it feels like truly magical land.
Our trip was adventuresome at the start when we discovered we wouldn't be able to take our car onto the ferry from Keystone. The big ferry is out of commission and they only have passenger service. We were planning on driving the 40+ miles to Sequim from the dock in Port Townsend, so we were scrambling to find a ride to avoid having to hitch or, worse, trucking it back home. We ended up connecting with a local farm worker who was selling some veggies at the local co-op and after a brief stop to pick up some whey for the pigs (pictured below) we were on our way -- in the back of a flat bed truck. I've been warmer, but we had a blind Husky to keep us company and the stars were out in full.
We arrived in good time and the hosts of the occasion - friends of Becky - were lovely and warm and made us feel right at home. We feasted, chatted, juggled some fire, and the ladies did a little acro. Good times were had by all.
The house pictured is the home of Jim and Tanya (notice the totally sweet living roof) . It was originally built by Tanya and her sister, but is a ever-changing work in progress. Its built on Tanya's parent's land whose beautiful home (not pictured) can be seen across a large and lovely pond on the property.
After a great big breakfast in the morning at a local favorite eatery with a waiter that was just on Jeopardy!, we went to the Goodwill, walked the streets of Port Townsend, then boarded the ferry back home. It was a sweet little adventure and just what I needed.