Interlude 2

So, when Nicole has pictures taken of her, she has a go-to pose that she, well, goes to. Do YOU see the common theme?

love you, nic.

DAY 7

snow in june. oxymoron?


Sorry it has been a little while since my last post. I have been hard chilling on Fire Island for the last week, spending my days reading on the beach, conquering the waves of the north atlantic, eating everything, and drinking cold beers in hot, outdoor showers. Even so, I have been sliiightly stressed, because I started this stupid blog and I can't fall behind! Just can't. Oy.

Anyhoo, back to where we were. Yes. The Rockies.

So, the best part about camping is that it really doesn't matter what time it is anymore. If it's 9pm, who cares? You go to bed when the sun sets and wake up when it rises. Alas, we woke up quite early, welcomed by a chilled air that was getting warmer by the minute as the sun became stronger. I loved this morning: being in dry, cool air, hugging a hot cup of coffee while staring at the snow-capped Rockies that were yards away. Try it sometime.

We drank our coffee, ate our oats, and geared up for an 8 mile r.t. hike to Fern Lake. We packed two gourmet pb&j's, four water bottles, animals crackers, and Clif bars. We knew with the altitude that snow could quite possibly be up at the lake, so we also packed some extra layers. I brought my journal, Nic her art supplies. Then we were on our way.

The hike was simply gorgeous. We encountered a pretty waterfall, some interesting looking bridges, and green! Everywhere green! The climb was intense at times, but doable, nonetheless. The trail is also popular not just for those on foot--many people take their horses up to the lake. That being said, every couple hundred yards we would encounter a bunch of horse shit on the trail covered by an army of flies (yum).

Here is a rather absurd picture of what greeted us near the start of Fern Lake: horses and snow.

The lake itself was a sight. We spent almost two hours there, eating our lunch and gazing at the scenery. At one point we sat out on a large rock in the water, which required us to walk barefoot in the snow and into ankle deep freezing water.

Overall, hike=success. Here are some more pictures because I am too tired to keep writing. Bye!

DAY 6

THE ROCKIES

Day six was actually day one of sorts; no more home-cooked meals, soft beds, or warm showers. We packed up our car, said goodbye to my fam, and took to the mountains-the Rockies.

Rocky Mountain National Park is located in Estes Park, which is bustling with visitors from all around the world. Think Lake George of the West. Even so, Nic and I don't mess around; we didn't have the extra cash to splurge on the cute little mountain restaurants or gift shops, so we drove on through the town and entered the park. We found a campsite that was a modest $20 a night, and pitched our tent.

Up until that specific point of setting up camp, we did not encounter a drop of rain. So of course, once we lugged allllll the tent equipment out of our car and out to our little plot of land, ominous clouds loomed overhead and decided to spit out dime-sized pellets of hail at us. Thanks, clouds. We stared at each other for a second or two before figuring that grabbing all our shit and sprinting back to the car was our best option. We waited for the storm to pass, and then finally got settled. Here is home #1:

(not a bad view)

The sun was setting, along with our energy, so we decided to relax around camp for the rest of the evening. We got out our lil' nifty stove, cut up some veggies, and grilled two delicious cheese quesadillas. We started them on our pan, but being the gourmet chefs that we are, finished them up over an open fire. Now, don't let the picture below fool you. Nic took this right after I finally started our fire, but it died about 20 seconds later. So, being the stubborn, independent people that we are...we immediately ran to the next campsite and asked for help.

This is how we met our friend Apple. Apple is a man, and he was camping with his wife and young daughter. Apple graciously came over to our site and helped our dying fire come back to life (apparently fire needs oxygen, who knew?....) So Apple, wherever you are, thanks. Our quesadillas couldn't have done it without you.

an interlude

I wrote this piece when Nic and I were in the Colorado Rockies, when I was hoping to freelance for an upcoming African website/blog in Manhattan. Well, that didn't quite work out, but I just stumbled upon the story and figured I would put it on my own blog. So there!

Ghana and Colorado: Mutual acts of beauty

I have always had an adventurous spirit. Part of the reason this is so, I believe, is because I love the feeling of escape. Most of my ventures involve leaving home—going to foreign places with foreign people—getting myself into situations I cannot picture prior.

This is why I chose to study abroad in Ghana during my junior year of college. I was an anthropology major, so it made sense to travel to Africa. Yet, anthropology is a study of culture—any culture—so it would have been just as fitting to go to France, China, or Prague. But Ghana was exotic, Ghana was disconnected, Ghana was far. I wanted to hide away on the Gold Coast and experience adventures so unique that I wouldn’t even have to try and explain them to friends and family back home.

Indescribable, far away adventure.

Well, here I am now in the Colorado Rockies, sitting out on a rock off of Fern Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. I have just graduated college, and my best friend and I have decided to skip the whole Western Europe thing and drive cross-country from New York, camping out in Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. So far we’re saving money, seeing some of the most beautiful places in the world, and I too, once again, can escape.

And as I sit on this lonesome rock surrounded by snow, (it’s June) I cannot help but think about Ghana, my four-month home nearly two years ago. And the reason it comes to mind is rather interesting, for in many ways Colorado and Ghana are actually quite alike.

The feeling of similarity poked at me when I woke up the other morning in our tent, and headed out to the main ranger station about a mile down the road to get fresh, cold water. As I walked down the road, the heat soaked into my skin—warmth that comes with the rising sun. While hot, the heat was dry, something I prefer to the humidity of the Ghanaian tropics. Still, my walk reminded me of morning walks I would take in Accra; I would get up (the heat a continuum of a stifling, muggy night, rather than a new presence with the sun) and walk to pick up ripe plantains for breakfast from a woman down the road. These hot, morning walks in both Colorado and Ghana were calming and exciting—a soothing start to a new day.

Let me return to the walk in Colorado. I continually passed other campers and their tent sites as I made my way down the winding road. I shared a friendly encounter with each and every person I saw: “Good morning! How’s it going?” seemed to be my go-to phrase. Every now and then others would engage in a small conversation with me: “Where you headed today? I hear Cub Lake is a nice hike, and there’s not too much snow up there for once.” These encounters automatically lifted my spirits; the simplicity of friendly acknowledgment and conversation was all I needed.

My elated mood brought me back to my Ghanaian mornings, for I would always greet and talk to people as I made my trek to buy plantains. I would also say a version of “Good morning! How’s it going?” yet it would be in Twi, the language of the Akan: “Ma ache!” “Ete sEn?” Everyone I passed on the road was always smiling, even amidst the sticky air that never seems to leave. These smiles were infectious.

On both walks, I feel content just being.

I believe that the general happiness I have observed and experienced in these two vastly different places is thanks to the simple, natural beauty that surrounds them. The hikes I have taken in both in the Colorado Rockies and the forests of the Volta Region in Ghana have showed me how nature, too, exudes a contagious feeling of bliss.

I compare my hike to Fern Lake with one taken in Biakpa, Ghana, nearly two years ago. Mosquitoes join me on both, although only one comes with the threat of malaria. I am given an organized map, and embark on a clear trail on one. The other—I am provided with a bicycle helmet, a walking stick, and a hand-drawn map with landmarks such as “tree” and “big rock” to help guide me through the cluster of trees. Despite these differences, I find a common sense of elation as I am immersed in nature. You can hear silence in both these places, whether walking toward snow-capped mountains or through a maze of plantain farms.

I feel alive as I adventure farther and farther from the norm, from what I truly understand. Colorado and Ghana are unique, in that I have learned to value daily interactions with others, along with a natural stunning beauty that is embedded in their communities. So while these two places are thousands of miles away, there is a sameness I cannot disregard: satisfaction, elation, and peace.

DAY 4+5

Colorado- pt 2

After spending a majority of the afternoon in Denver, Nic and I headed about 60 miles north to Ft. Collins, CO, where my cousin Rich, his wife Dorinna, and their darling son Nate, live. You can see and explore Rich's blog here.

As we were driving up, Rich so thoughtfully called me to ask what my favorite type of beer is (brown ales). I had yet to try drinking in the altitude, and I've heard you get drunk muuuch faster a mile or so up from sea. Essentially, you become a cheap date. Beer aside, I was so excited to visit both Ft. Collins and my family, for I haven't seen Rich and Dorinna in years, and had yet to meet their new son. Their home and hospitality was so wonderful; we had a great dinner of steak (well, Rich and I did), along with grilled veggies and an assortment of salads. Nate and I bonded as I helped him take a bath and read him his favorite bedtime story. Then Dorinna, Nic, and I left the boys to themselves and went out in Ft. Collins for margaritas.

The next morning we had a scrumptious breakfast in town, and then headed out to Horsetooth Mountain to do a 7ish mile hike in the foothills near their house. The hike was a nice introduction to the trips we were soon going to embark on in the Rockies and Utah, not to mention that we were surrounded by pure beauty. Here is a modest selection of what embraced us:

view from the top of Horsetooth.

This is the town we drove through to get to the trail head. Can somebody say utopia land?

Nicole and I left the following morning, and I must say I was pretty sad. I fell in love with Ft. Collins and was so happy to have seen my family. My new cousin Nate is probably the cutest/most well-behaved baby I have ever interacted with, and I am not just saying that because he's family. Although I felt melancholy, I was also excited, for Nic and I had many other places we wanted to see. That, and I know I'll be back.

DAY 4

Family Galore in Colorado-pt 1

Our second day in Denver was much more tolerable than the first, for the whole altitude-shock was wearing off. Nic and I bonded with Corrine's housemate, Champ, and then spent the late morning/early afternoon schmoozin around Denver--seeing some art, doing a little shopping, and just getting a feel for the city. I must say I was not overly impressed; my draw to Colorado is its mountains more so than its cities. Still, Denver has to be the capital for something, and maybe one day I'll figure out what. In any case, since pictures are more exciting than words, here are some photos for your viewing pleasure:

So here is Denver. We thought it looked like D.C.,

minus its awesomeness (sorry Denver lovers).

And here is Champ. He is 3/4 wolf. Say hello!

Lastly, here is Nic, Corrine, and I. We discovered that we all have blue eyes. So we took a picture.

DAY 3

A foreshadow of things coming full circle, and Colorado.

So, after waking up at the wondrous Rath Inn, we took full advantage of the $50-a-night- amenities (filled up on the free coffee, filled our cooler with the free ice) and made our way towards Denver, Colorado. Nicole's cousin Corrine has been living there since the fall, so our plans were to spend the night with her and then head north to my family's home in Fort Collins the next day.

However, before we get to the Mountain Man state, I want to tell you about a "small-world" story. In somewhere- bumble-fuck Nebraska, Nic and I stopped to get gas. I specifically remember having a dandy conversation with a man inside, who was trying to convince me to attend a festival in Northern Nebraska. All the while, another NY licensed car with two guys was pulling into the station. We obviously talked to them: "so, uh, what draws you to Nebraska?" Turns out that one of the two is from Saratoga, which I thought was small-world enough. I asked if they left from the small-town in upstate NY where I happened to live for the past three years, and they said they actually left from College Park, Maryland, since they both attend UMD and run xc/track there.

So here I am, in Nebraska, with two guys that know my best friend, Danielle, who also runs xc/track for Maryland. If that wasn't enough, we ran into them again in another bumble-fuck gas station two miles off the highway in Colorado. Aaaand to make things come nearly full circle, we saw one of the two guys once more at Danielle's house, on our last stop before returning home. It wasn't in person, though:

(he's the bottom left)

Anyway, that's my story. I guess it's not too exciting. Whatever.

So, back to Colorado! We made it to Denver, only to be greeted with what we soon learned to be altitude sickness. Yes, Denver is situated one-mile above sea-level. And yes, Long Island is one-mile below one-mile above sea level. So all in all, Nic and I were blasted with headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Despite ill-feelings, we took a nap to get back on our feet, refueled with pasta and soup, and had Corrine take us out in Denver. We had a relaxing night, spending most of the evening at a hippie-type cafe/bar downtown, where people were swing-dancing upstairs. There was also a palooza of free books for the taking, so it was all-in-all a successful evening. Here is a sub-par picture of the dancers, and here is a picture of us and our new books outside the cafe.