With over 6000 miles in air, boat, ferry, shuttle, bummed rides, and rental car travel we are finally back in Michigan.
I’m already dreaming of our next great (family) vacation. I’m trying to talk kristen into going to Oslo and Helsinki.
sound like fun? it does to me!
They have burgers n stuff. we are chilling in ballrd. bad place for parking and cool place for art.
Kristen is chilling and sam owns me.
As we arrived in friday harbor we were joined by brian and johnny from ymx as well brians family, dana, sam, and emma.
Yesterday was a really nice sunny day. I have no idea the name of this island but I like it because it is flat and hiking around was effortless. We tooled around the forest and walked the stone beaches. There isn’t a ton of wildlife here but loads of semi-normal things for the islands like otters, seaguls and bald eagles.
The thing that sticks in my memory about wednesday is how the pace was just right for me. I’m kind of finding my space and getting into some nice conversations. It is really nice to be around other folks who get the pressures of church leadership as well as understand the dynamic of ymx.
One thing I haven’t mentioned about the catalyst yet is the great food. Shannon is wearing a few hats this week since the regular crew is off. She is holding down the food part extremey well. We are getting treated to gorgious meals on a regular basis… Or more than regular basis.
Its hard to imagine that in only a couple more days it will be over. As soon as you fall into the rythym of vacation it seems to be over. I am trying hard not to think of the things I need to do when I get back. Yikes… Better if I don’t do that.
Kristen has gotten a chance to check on the kids the last couple days. They seem to be doing quite we’ll without us but we really wish they could have come. A couple more years and that will be much more possible. Part of me just gets sad when we see something cool because in my head I can hear what paul or megan would say if they saw or did what we are doing.
Next time.
Hard to believe our trip is almost over.
today is the day todd and I go swimming. YIKES
Every trip has a joke and apparently its been decided that I am he so far . that is no fun for me and a reminder of why we generally travel alon3. so rather thawhine about being called a whiner, I guess ill just make myself a little less of a target. time to focus on relaxing and reading books.
all jokes and silliness aside, here is my impression of our first days on the boat.
The first hours aboard catalyst have been incredible for kristen and I. the first things that strike about it are….
1. it is beautiful. I had the pleasure of getting here a smidge early and they allowed me help them move the catalyst from the harbor to its dockside position at friday harbor. eli, bill and shannons son, talked me through how I could help them. but what an indelible impression on me was the other captains who came from their wheel houses onto their decks to watch catalyst move. when captains of larger and newer ships are coming over to say how beautiful the boat is you get the idea how beautiful it is. likewise, while dockside loads of people would slowly walk by, take pictures, and ask questions.
2. it is sturdy. I am the first to admit I was leary about going out on a small, 75 foot boat for a week. I was afraid it would rock a ton and feel unsafe. I could not have been more wrong. it is a very cool ship. bill makes you feel completely safe in his fun way. the simple fact that they don’t have a thing to hide speaks volumes to me.
3. bill and shannon are great people. I love going into peoples lair that so clearly demonstrate the spiritual gift of hospitality. I don’t just feel that as a guest. you see that in how other people regarded them at the docks, how they treated fellow guests, and in one other cool way. as we arrived at our anchorage last night, ben (bill and shannons son) saw the catalyst and called to say hello. mom and dad instantly invited him over for dinner. right in the middle of all that they had to do bill took the smaller boat over and got ben and two of his friends. remarkable hospitality.
of course, we are also here to talk shop about YMX. today I want to lead a discusion about the company’s identity. because if the end result of the conversation is going to be… who and how will we represent ourselves at our biggest marketing opportunity of the year, that needs to flow strategically out of a deep conviction for our identity.
