Author Archives: Carolyn

Miles and miles of precariously parked cars are parked cheek to jowl with busses of every description. A reckless metal seam threaded along steep mountain edges reveal days of blatant disregard of clearly posted signage “no parking this side.” More … Continue reading →

“Only lunatics and children speak before noon on July 4th” so goes the wisdom of the old timers at the Gathering. The morning of the 4th is for contemplation, prayers for world peace, and only the quietest and most necessary … Continue reading →

There was a lot going on. The day was crisp with excitement as preparations were made for a wedding at “Musical Veggie” a nearby camp of amicable and peaceful hippies (rumored to have the best food in all the camps.) … Continue reading →

Every evening the drumming intensifies. Obfuscating all but the most determined frog or cricket. A gentle murmur and sweet rhythm during the day, at night it is crisply carried by chilly air across the miles of scattered camps, ignited by … Continue reading →

Safely (and comfortably) settled in, on the “Ridge” far from the drugs, bedlam and drumming of the “downtown” campsites. The following days were a mix of quietude, companionship, fireside gatherings, sharing of meals. During the day I sometimes went alone … Continue reading →

Cold, wet and sorely in need of a hot cup of tea, I found Brew ha ha and to my surprise, the 1 person I remotely knew from the Seattle event out of 19,998 strangers. I was warmly welcomed by … Continue reading →

Wrung out the campsite and backtracked to where the paths diverged marked by a small sign saying “brew ha ha.” A camp serving hot herb tea to the masses, a legacy begun by art car artist Marilyn Dreampeace (now deceased.) … Continue reading →

Morning finally came, I grabbed a couple of boiled eggs from the snowbank cooler and HB and I went for a long walk. 2 camps down I found “hobo coffee” and gratefully filled my cup. Further on I met a … Continue reading →

Slick sleeping bag atop Slick pad atop another slick pad, on an uneven lumpy surface. But wait there’s more. Ongoing rain wicking off rigged tarp, into “waterproofed” tent. Dripping, dripping, dripping. Then shivering dog rattling dogtags outside tent. Poor dog. … Continue reading →

I jettisoned the bug and headed up to a National forest (Wa.,) to be joined by 19,999 others. I remotely knew 1 of them (from Seattle event) and perhaps 1 more. I was 1 of the earlier arrivals and only … Continue reading →