grateful to be riding my bike again & grateful for warmer weather!

gorgeous Westcliff sunset before the "big storm" hit Santa Cruz, CA

Hello my dear friends & family,

It's been awhile since my last posting about the first half of my great train adventures ... been trying to continue my transition "back from Oz" in as gentle & peaceful a way possible. I haven't been as on top of these BLOG updates so much but now I finally have the chance to post another one. So far, my transitioning has been okay, although I really ache to be further removed from "all things urban" and more closely connected to tour beloved Earth, in its more natural state.

On that note, I am TRULY GRATEFUL that I have been able to be riding my bike to work for the past month! The warmer temperatures melted away the ice & snow from my bike route. Any snow that has more recently fallen hasn't stuck around longer than a day and my route has still been passable on my bike, no major icy patches to catch me 'off guard.' My bike is providing me with a certain amount of freedom by enabling me to ride in places where vehicles don't go and along less travelled streets. My bike rides are also giving me some of my much needed outside time, to enjoy the sunshine, blue skies & brief views of the Canadian Rockies (on clear days), bird calls & sightings, plus being out as Spring is arriving with all its many splendid signs of the Earth's new beginnings.

Two days ago, we had a MASSIVE dump of wet snow ... over the space of 4 - 10 or 11 a.m. ... much of which has melted away from the roads & sidewalks & is quickly seeping back into the soil but taking longer to do so if it has been undisturbed by passers by. Amazingly, this week-end looks like sunshine & 20 degree Celsius temperatures are in the forecast :) It will be great to get outside heaps over the next couple of days ...

I am planning to go exploring with my bike on Sunday by taking the train to the last stop at the south end of Calgary & then riding to the Cross Conservation Area where I am taking the groups that gather next week-end for the "EARTH DAY, Every Day" activities & hikes that I have planned :) www.ghostriverrediscovery.com/forms/11_EARTH_DAY.pdf

Here's a few more pic's from my time in California back in January ...

a very splendid waterfall near the school at Sebastopol, CA

Joan "red toed salamander" & me "banana slug"

another view of one of many monarch butterflies in Santa Cruz during their big migration

Over the week-end, I will add a few final stories from my great train adventures back in January ... plus a few pic's from a couple of trips out to the Rockies to enjoy the snow & ice plus the sunshine and some great hikes!

I have a home phone # finally, ... well, it's actually a mobile phone ... the number is: (403) 690-0504. Please give me a call, send me a note, or post a comment on my BLOG here to let me know "how you are going" (as they say Down Unda).

Be well & enjoy the coming of Spring here in the northern hemisphere ... & the coming of cooler temperatures "Down Unda."

Hugs 'n' Bugs, love,

Teresa