Page 11 - October 2019
P. 11
The Journey Is the Destination: Some Lessons Learned
Emilie Taylor, DTM - District Director
road is narrow, there are sheer dropoffs on one always a good thing to do. Yes, I am condensing
side and steep hillsides with many boulders, this two-day adventure and three-hour drive
that could fall any moment. In the more- into a few paragraphs.
or-less level areas, there were potholes and The reward was Olallie Lake (it means
strange, football-sized rocks that appeared to be Huckleberry Lake). Mount Jefferson was reflected
chipmunks anxiously waiting to meet us. How in it’s mirror-like surface. The lake is pristine. No
did they get there? I heard that our destination swimming in it and no power boats on it. The lake
was intersecting with the Pacific Crest Trail. I water is what you drink. It’s beautiful. Peaceful
thought we were actually on the trail sometimes. and relaxing—a rustic place. No cell service. No
The closer we came to our destination, the electricity. No shower. We were blessed with an
deeper the potholes and larger the rocks. There outhouse and a spigot of water outside our cabin.
were times of strategy, going around, over or The water was refreshing, the outhouse—not so
through the pot holes. Steven reminded me much. Our cabin had an oil lamp for light and a
to be mindful of not just the potholes but the small wood stove. Truly a place where the outside
rocks. Soon enough we saw a protruding rock world seemed so far away.
and a trail of black oil,and around the corner, an Since we arrived near sunset, we unloaded to
abandoned vehicle. Getting there with whatever Cabin #8, rented a paddle boat, and discovered
you have is the journey and adventure. It was why we do not own one, did a few circles for 15
an ARE-WE-THERE-YET event for me as the minutes and watched the sun set. We then fired
journey was so Indiana Jonesish! In retrospect, up the stove and roasted our hot dogs inside the
I began to settle in and enjoy it. Learning how to stove as open fires were prohibited.
get there, with the least amount of fretfulness, is Sitting on the porch we were overwhelmed
VOICES! | OCTOBER 2019 11
