Extended Stay

We were supposed to leave the Forrest of Gifford Pinchot days ago, but we were captivated by the beauty of the landscape and the people. Despite scars from stinging neddles and yellow jackets, scrapes and scratches, we could not have loved a place more. We fished and hiked and climbed in the most amazing places, while learning about the diversity and preservation as well as the reconstruction after devastation at Mount Saint Helen's. I interviewed sportsmen, loggers, and forest rangers and realized misconceptions that I will use in my classroom to initiate debate and conversation that may lead to a common ground and understanding, which from my investigation has not been successful in the adult world. Maybe our students can be the mediator and concentrate on the "common" in common sense. 

We are now in Anacortes on the way to the San Juan Islands to meet a scientist with NOAA who runs the fisheries science for University of Washington. It is way too busy and the ferry is moving. I don't want to miss a thing!