Point Montara - Dec 2017
Day 1 - The Caravan
Our adventure began with a rally point in San Jose. I determined that the Rosicrucian Museum would be an ideal place given its background and location but further because it contained a labyrinth. Ever since we began searching them out in October I have tried to direct us to them when the opportunity presented itself. As the cars arrived one by one, with no further instruction explorers walked the path of the labyrinth. Unlike the others we have trekked as a troupe, this one consisted of a beautiful array of foliage and wasn't lengthy, though it surely stood out as a remarkable specimen.
Once everyone took a stroll, we initiated our line in the sand protocol. I emphasized that the next couple days will have many challenges, not the least of which was getting out to our destination, which would involve a closer look into the mysterious path of the bigfoot, a stopover at an interplanetary refueling station, and the visitation of two lighthouses before we even got to our base camp. Like all true members of Troupe 001, everyone lept over the line and welcomed the adventure.
The first stopover at the Bigfoot Discovery Museum was mostly an effort to understand how does one scientifically research and document creatures which the rest of the world might not understand or even believe in (something that the Explorers Guild sometimes knows all too well). We met Michael Rugg, who welcomed us to get to know him and the pieces further. Through our conversations and observations, we identified that the best methods for research and documentation are:
Get plaster casts of footprints or other tracking markers
Get a map, place pins on it where the thing has been spotted
Write up about the creature and get published
Find organic fragments and preserve them.
Share organic fragments with scientific community.
When possible, create commercial products highlighting the creature to familiarize the world.
After a few photos and a discussion or two, the caravan needed to continue forward to the interplanetary refueling station known as Saturn Cafe. Here our caravan of 19 stopped for refreshments, some conversation and a bathroom break. We also met up with eXmarksthe, who joined the caravan in search camaraderie and cheer before her trip to the southern pole and to achieve her Light Guardian badge.
Together the now 20 of us, headed out to the Santa Cruz Lighthouse. It was here that the Troupe was introduced to the Light Guardian Badge, which to earn it Explorers are asked to act as lighthouses to their community by sending postcards while seeking the famed structures themselves. We collected our stamps from this location and then made our way to the next one located at Pigeon Point. Though the lighthouse was closed (which meant no stamp) we still filled out postcards and appreciated the sunset over the ocean. It was here that Stellar Historian eXmarksthe, had to make her way back to her home so that she could finish preparations for her next adventure. Luckily, it was during this time that we also got word that a new explorer, Lauren, was going to join us at our destination for the reminder of our expedition.
We finally made it to Point Montara Lighthouse, our base camp, shortly after dark. Our hosts greeted us and we were directed to the fog signal room, which would serve as our primary communal space. I directed people to their bunks so that everyone could start getting comfortable while Culinarian Binary led the kitchen staff. We warmed our bellies with a delicious pot of homemade soup and as a surprise I introduced everyone to the Waymark system that Denorae, Turtle-ish and Panopoticon have been working on. Field guides were handed out, and questions answered and the general troupe response seemed that of eager anticipation of what's to come of it in the next year.
With our thoughts wrapped around story markers dispersed around the world, we all started to find ourselves turning in for the night and letting those thoughts turn into dreams.
Day 2 - Goodbye 2017
I began the day by waking up to see the dawn over the Pacific. I came across Lark and shortly after was greeted by Tybeck, Byzantium and Turtle-ish. As each of us appreciated the awe of the scene playing out before us it seemed appropriate to begin breakfast for the rest of the troupe. Unfortunately, an error was made in the purchasing of the coffee as it was all still whole bean with no grinder in sight. Turtle-ish informed me that this is an error made only once by a coffee drinker (my solution was that we should purchase a hand grinder for the future). Turtle-ish and I mounted a small expedition team to get the coffee ground up and to pick up a few various odds and ends from the local town. For this secondary mission I have little to report other than by the time we returned all explorers were up and breakfast was in full swing with crepes, both sweet and savory, being happily consumed by the troupe.
I made a quick address to everyone, noting the various activities available during the day.The traditional Explorers Guild puzzle was out and needing to be finished by the end of the day, otherwise there was fear that 2018 may never come and we would be stuck reliving 2017 for another year.In the afternoon I was leading a trek out and to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in order to compare it with our findings from the earlier in the year.As our primary focus of this expedition was to give explorers a chance to recharge and appreciate our community, explorers were also free to simply enjoy their day in their own manor.From there we broke off, noting that dinner time is 8pm followed by the final troupe address for 2017 by me at 10:30pm in the fog signal room.
Many explorers immediately began double-time work on the puzzle, while others sat next to the fire with their noses firmly in various books. Others still explored the grounds, checking out the views and beaches. The whole troupe took their free time as an opportunity to just enjoy the last moments of year. Before any of us knew it, it was time for our saunter down to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Most of the troupe went, with a few exceptions - notably Yes who decided it was best to check in on STT, one our explorers originally slated to join but unfortunately came down with a terrible sickness last minute.
Luckily the Reserve was nearby and walking was an option. We were surprised to find a massive number of people all exploring the tide pools. What was a delightful expedition amongst the rocks and sea life several months ago, became a game of slalom as we had to make our way around the enormous crowd. We could still find a few beautiful treasures though: a 3 armed star fish, harbor seals, sea anemones and of course a smattering of crabs.
Not to get distraught, we then walked down the cypress grove to visit with Pa-tree-ce, the massive tree who had fallen over and who acted as our flux photo backdrop when we visited in March. We climbed and appreciated Pa-tree-ce's shelter for a good length of time, until I noted that it was getting late and the sun would set soon. We said goodbye to Pa-tree-ce and headed back.
I took a small team of four along the coast edge where we found a nice patch of dirt for sitting and took in the last sunset of 2017. ✪ We had heard rumors of a green flash over the Pacific when the sun was setting, but none of us could confirm it that night. With still more to do before the New Year, we headed back in the twilight.
Our night was filled with merriment. The puzzle was coming along and confidence was high we'd complete it before midnight. Meanwhile Lark and Celsius donned the explorers aprons to start the evening feast. Denorae provided entertainment with the game Happy Salmon and the music was fueled by Lark and Wisp's curation of vinyl. As dinner approached, the puzzle hit a snag; it was complete except for one piece! The whole fog signal room was up-ended but the missing piece was still lost. Byzantium used a bit of engineering to fashion a brand new piece out of a stray piece of cardboard. She even filled in the art as best as she could. Perhaps being an omen that we would need to construct parts of the coming year how we wanted, we took it as a win and just in time for dinner. ***
The feast was a selection of twice baked potatoes with various skewers and sauces. The original plan for food over the course of the evening was changed as the kitchen was separate from the fog signal room but no one seemed to mind. We all happily feasted and celebrated our chefs who did an excellent job taking care of us. Lark even provided the Explorers Guild with new guild aprons for future culinarians cooking up a storm. We cleared our mess from the kitchen and all reconvened in our community space.
I began the final address of the year by handing out the honors and patches earned. First noting that all in attendance had earned their Light Guardian badge. Each attendee had visited three lighthouses and accompanied these visits with a postcard to friends. It seemed appropriate that these first badges were given out in a lighthouse. I also acknowledged Lark, Wisp, and Tybeck for completing their Labyrinth Keeper's badge. There was also a recognition of Scylla, whose efforts on this trip earned her the title of Culinarian. Lastly, I also got to acknowledge Tybeck for a few previous achievements. Tybeck has been far too busy to focus on the details of badges, but upon closer review he had indeed accomplished many. Specifically acknowledging Navigator (for the countless logistic hurdles over the years), Stellar Historian (not just a flux photographer) and most recently the completion of the Labyrinth Guardian badge design leading him to earn the Skills Badger Badge. Congratulations to all explorers and their earned titles.
I was also presented a precious new guild artifact, an original Explorers Guild flag. This flag, discovered in the lighthouse storerooms by Wisp, was aboard the Aculeo when it wrecked off the Montara Point in 1872. It has all the traditional indicators of our guild design and is beautifully constructed. The fact that a piece like this still exists in this form is surprising but is a welcome sign for the new year.
Lastly, I had a special surprise, The Explorers Guild Compendium, which is a 44 page compilation of captain's reports, selected stellar cartography, updates and other writings from out last year. Between the covers, all explorers can get a sense of what we all accomplished in the last year. For whatever reason, while presenting this, I was a bit overcome with emotion and had trouble finishing the presentation. With the help of the explorers present, we pushed on though and finally into the night's festivities.
Over the next several hours we kept the fire burning and danced the night away. As the clock struck midnight, we celebrated with joy then collected outside for our first image of the New Year. As we came back in, I could feel the fatigue setting in and I gave into sleep over the sounds of beautiful music and dancing feet; a perfect way to say goodbye to the year.
Day 3 - Ahoy 2018
I woke up in the night and let my thoughts wash over me a bit. I was compelled to get up and find the washroom and was greeted on my way out by The Unflappable, his few words for me were clear and gave me a purpose to my rousing: "Go see the moon."
I walked around the corner of the building to see the most brilliant sight of the moon setting over the Pacific. It was a rich golden hue that was slightly obscured by some clouds. As it was so near the Pacific, it seemed to be leaking its gold right into the waters. I was paralyzed with awe despite the cold. My needs to use the washroom broke my trance after which I went back to sleep. I was not long for my bed though, I grabbed a jacket then headed back outside to take in the first sunrise of the New Year.
On this day, the mood amongst explorers was a little less jovial due to clear sleep deprivation. One by one, explorers awoke to the smell of coffee and breakfast as we convened around the large dining room tables. As this was our last day at Point Montara we were primarily tasked with packing up and heading out. After getting everyone going and assuring that everything was on time, I struck up a conversation with the hostel keeper, who was very impressed with our group and our cleanup effort. By the time we were packed up and cleaned out, she and I agreed that this wouldn't be the last time we saw one another.
For those heading back immediately we concluded with a group Semper Explorandum. Of our initial twenty, eleven of us pressed on to one final expedition for the day. This splinter group met up at Grey Whale Cove. We were a bit unprepared for what awaited us. As we headed down the steep road, we came across our first view of the beach. It was here that Denorae met Pinkie, a dowsing bird of paradise (and what we didn't know at the time also an interstellar traveller). Pinkie led us down the steps and into a lava field. Using the rocks nearby, and Turtle-ish's protective shoes, were carefully made our way north along the coast to an idyllic cove. It was here that we made camp to make our daily observations.
Deonorae crafted a special labyrinth in the sand with the help of Pinkie, an explorb was spotted nearby (which of course explorers got trapped inside), superb stellar cartography was made by Byzantium, we found a seapertinger(!) and in general we all just took in a moment to appreciate the last moments we had together. Pinkie asked to be left at the labyrinth but told the group about their interstellar transport pod back up near the first observation view point. We carefully made our way back and sure enough we found it. Quite exciting and certainly worth a visit for any explorer looking for a side quest. ✪
By the time we got back to the cars, we made one last line in the sand to indicate our venture into 2018 together. We were all happy to be moving forward and to see what this new year will bring to us and the guild.
***A special note is to be made that the missing piece of the puzzle was found! On our exodus from the lighthouse, Lark reached into a bag of chips and was startled to find that one of them had a weird consistency. Upon closer inspection, it was the missing piece of the puzzle! Somehow it had fallen into the bag but rescued before a stomach-y death. 2018 has officially arrived!***