Ten Years in Adventures

The overall theme of the Little Pink Blog is, of course, that life is an adventure, and not just because you're doing something huge, like moving to England. I've found that adventures big and small can happen in your own neighborhood, and that life can be made more exciting just by going for a run.

That said, over the last ten years, I've had a few opportunities to see some amazing places. Here are ten favorite adventures, in no particular order.

Flying the Eye

My first visit in England was in Spring 1999, and I left before the London Eye was erected. I remember thinking it looked like a blight on the South Bank, but when I finally saw it in person, in 2004, I was more impressed...and I had to fly it.

Sponsored by British Airways, you don't "ride" on this huge observation wheel, you fly. And believe me, it's worth the ride.

Off in the distance, the British Telecom Tower.

Middle of the picture, slightly up: that's Buckingham Palace.

St. Stephen's Tower, which houses Big Ben, the bell.

Shadow on the Thames.

In this one, you can see St. Paul's Cathedral (dome), and the Gherkin (blue
pickle-looking building).

This is looking straight down from the top.

France -- Paris and the D-Day Beaches

In April 2005, Mom and Dad visited me for Spring Break, and together, we all took the Chunnel train to Paris. It was a marvelous trip, catching up with my parents, seeing lovely Paris, and finally seeing the D-Day Beaches in Normandy--a very moving experience.

The Louvre

Mona Lisa

Venus de Milo

Arc d'Triomphe

Dusk at the Eiffel Tower

I call this one "Eiffel Flowers."

From Level 3 of the Eiffel Tower. 

American Cemetery

Omaha Beach

Bayeux, a gorgeous little town in Normandy.

Bayeux Cathedral, miraculously spared in World War II.

A Very Quick Trip to Ireland

In May 2005, my friend and colleague, Jo, rushed into the teacher work room one morning to tell me, "Airfare to my home airport is 80 quid. If anyone wants to spend half term in Ireland with me..."

Me: "YES!!!"

So it was off to Ireland, to County Kerry, for a few days. Ireland was lovely.

A pub in Glenbeigh, Jo's hometown.

It rained most of the time I was there, and was still incredibly lovely. This
is the Atlantic.

Shopping in the city of Cork.

Great old Guinness sign.

Jo's Mom drove us up into some hills. Coming back down, the view was
...astounding.

Ireland is definitely as green as they say.

Peat fire. I was so charmed.

The signs are all in English and Irish Gaelic.

So Many Keane Adventures

When I bought those concert tickets in 2009, I had no idea how much I'd come to love Keane, and the adventures I'd have and friends I'd make because of one band.

I've seen Keane 5 times, met all four of them, and I have their autographs. I have my dear duck ladies because of one ridiculous joke, and all of the ensuing Swimmy adventures because of that.

It's been so much fun. I truly hope they're simply on a long hiatus, and not finished for good.

The first concert, in May 2009.

Tim, 2010

Jesse, 2010

Tom, 2010

Richard, 2010

2010--the Perfect Symmetry Tour

Summer has been to all the concerts with me.

Meeting Richard, July 2010. "I like your shirt." I managed to squeak out
a "thank you."

And Tim. "Oh my God, you're so tall!" He just laughed at me.

Two duck ladies!! Maayan and I with Izzy and Cali in 2011.

Waiting for Mumford & Sons, another band we love (because of Keane).

Exploring Burnham

I love London. It remains one of my favorite cities in the whole world. That said, there if you really want to know England, you must see its smaller towns. My year in England was spent living in tiny, unheard-of Burnham-on-Crouch, deep in Essex County. I feel in love with it from the first day.

The Crouch river runs saltwater in Burnham, as it's so close to the North Sea. The town itself is small, friendly, and very walkable.

I still miss it.

An example of the fantastic architecture of Burnham's High Street.

The Marina (taken with film, later scanned).

Savages, the post office, pharmacy, and photography place. 

Cabin Dairy Tea Rooms

Clock Tower on the High Street.

Dusk on the Crouch--houseboats at low tide.

Taken from the train, just as it rolled into the Burnham station.

The High Street

This box was near home. A lot of letters got sent to the United States from
this box.

The Limes, a farm shop I walked by every day.

Another pre-digital pic.

St. Mary's. I could see this from my classroom.

Burnham Rail Station. 

Sunset on the Crouch, from the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.

The White Harte Hotel, on the quay.

Canada, Eh?

In April 2006, I spent part of my Spring Break in lovely Victoria, British Columbia. What a gorgeous little city, an absolute gem. I found everyone friendly and helpful, and I felt safe there. I drove from my home in Port Ludlow to Port Angeles, took a ferry across the Straight of Juan de Fuca, and drove from the ferry dock to my hotel (about a mile). There I parked Rosie in the hotel's lot, and proceeded to leave her for three days while I explored on foot, checking out my hotel room window once a day to make sure she was still parked there.

I'd love to go back.

The Inner Harbour

People told me Victoria would remind me of London. It didn't, but there
were definite British elements, alongside the Northwestern. 

Butchart Gardens

The famous Empress Hotel.

Tulips everywhere at the Empress

These are tiny ferries. They do tours as well as shuttling people around
the harbour. 

Seaplane

The Parliament building by night, reflected in the Inner Harbour.

Parliament Building by day.

I loved this pink building.

Tea at the Empress is a big deal...and so worth dressing up and paying
for it.

From the ferry--the land to the left is Washington State. To the right,
Vancouver Island. In between, the massive Straight of Juan de Fuca.

California Missions

In 2007 or 2008, I finally saw my first California Mission. Since then, I've made it my mission--pun absolutely intended--to see all of them. I'm not there just yet, but I've made excellent progress. There are 21. In the captions below I give the mission's name and the number it was in order of being built in parentheses.

La Purísima Concepción (11) -- Lompoc, CA

San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo (2) -- Carmel, CA

San Diego de Alcalá (1) -- San Diego, CA

San Francisco de Asís (6) -- San Francisco, CA

San José (14) -- San Jose, CA

San Juan Capistrano (7) -- San Juan Capistrano, CA

San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (5) -- San Luis Obispo, CA

San Luis Rey de Francía (18) -- San Luis Rey, CA

San Rafael Arcángel (20) -- San Rafael, CA

Santa Clara de Asís (8) -- Santa Clara, CA

Santa Cruz (12) -- Santa Cruz, CA

Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (13) -- Soledad, CA

San Francisco Solano (21) -- Sonoma, CA

San Juan Bautista (15) -- San Juan Bautista, CA

San Miguel Arcángel (16) -- San Miguel, CA

Santa Inés Virgen y Martír (19) -- Solvang, CA

Santa Bárbara (10) -- Santa Barbara, CA. I've only seen this one at
night, so I don't really count it.

Harley Dude

Throughout the life of the Little Pink Blog, I've always had Millie. Cat guardianship is definitely an adventure, and it was no less so when I adopted a small ginger terrorist in 2008. Called Khan at the shelter, I renamed him Harley for his huge purr, with Dude tacked on because he was such a little dude.

Harley was curious, annoying, adorable, loving, fat, naughty, and I adored him. Making the choice to let him go when he was only four years old was the hardest grown-up decision I've ever had to make. But in those all-too-short four years I had him, I lived every day with sweet kitty cuddles, exasperated shouts of, "Har-leeeeee!!!" and the most glorious purr I've ever known.

"You came here for an adult female, but...just look at me. Purrrrrrrr."

"NOT for you, Harley."

Completely innocent. 

Hangin' out with Mom.

"You didn't need this tampon, didja, Mommy?"

"What eBay account listing your underwear? I don't know what you're
talking about. I want to talk to my apurrney."

"Boxboxboxbox...BOX!!!"

"I IS FEROCIOUS!!!" (He was yawning.)

Twerpy Little Brother (Millie was just out of a three-day hospital stay,
hence the bandage). 

15-pound cat sitting on 8-pound cat.

"He's a total twerp, but he's really warm with all that fat, and he's not
biting my butt, so he can stay for now."

HUGS

Big Boy sleeps where he wants, how he wants. 

"I'm Not A Runner."

Oh, yeah?

I tried to run once in 2005. I was stressed, feeling bad about my body, so out on a walk in Burnham one evening, I started running, thinking, "Come on, how hard can this be?" I didn't last long.

Turns out, running is really hard...until it's easy. But then, it's never easy. Even now, when I'm pretty firmly in that "I'm a runner" phase of life, I still have hard days. Shin splints, cramps, you name it. They happen.

But it's an adventure. I've run several 5Ks, two 10Ks, and I'm training for my first half marathon. I've spent good money on shoes, a hydration belt, energy chews, and comfortable running gear. I go to bed early on Saturday night so I can get up early on Sunday to get a long run in. Apps like Map My Run, Charity Miles and Seconds Pro take up room on my iPhone, and are frequently used.

Of all the adventures I've had over the last ten years of this blog, becoming a runner has been the wildest.

My first 5K.

Runner Girl

Hydrating in style

I love personalized race bibs.

And race bling.

Exploring My Own Country

Living in Washington, visiting Idaho and Utah, driving across Nevada. Seeing San Diego for the first time, and exploring my gorgeous home state. I've had some great adventures in the western states over the last ten years. Here's to expanding to the East Coast sometime soon!

Bridge over the Snake River

Snake River Gorge, Twin Falls, Idaho

Driving across Nevada

North of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah

There's an old Mill and a bunch of relocated old buildings outside of
Salt Lake City that are now a nice shopping area.

Watching a huge storm roll into Utah from the Salt Lake City Airport.

Seattle

Fish-throwers, Pike Place Market

Seattle from the Space Needle

Mt. Rainier

Ludlow Cove, Port Ludlow, Washington

Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego

Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Island, San Diego

A perfect Southern California Beach.

The most perfect little church in the middle of nowhere--Nicasio, CA.

El Capitan, Yosemite National Park

Half Dome looming over the Yosemite Valley, taken from Glacier Point.

When I left England, I wondered, briefly, if I should stop blogging. I didn't want to, and I'm so glad I didn't. The Little Pink Blog is a record of the adventures I've had, the thoughts I've had about my life, and I'm so glad to have it. Every so often, I go back and look at past posts, and I'm reminded how much I've grown...how much I've lived.

Here's to many more adventures, Wild and Absolutely True.