"Disconnected"

It occurred to me this morning that I needed to bring some planning and order to bear on next week's portion of the sabbatical. I am exploring one of the most beautiful parts of God's creation during the height of tourist season. Accommodations may not be a cinch to secure. So...knowing that I want to venture deeper into the North Cascades I set to work on the Internet and the phone to see what was available. What I discovered was...almost anything!

There are campgrounds with tent sites available. Sorry, I sport no equipment. Wait...they provide sleeping bags. There are rustic cabins that sleep anywhere from 1 to 15, traditional hotel rooms, as well as ranches that offer not only a place to lay your head but horseback riding, guided hiking, trout fishing and wildlife watching. There are rooms with jacuzzis, flat screen televisions and breakfast in bed. I settled on Buffalo Run Inn in Marblemount. It was relatively inexpensive and located only 10 miles from Diablo Lake, the heart of the area I want to explore. And I really liked the pictures of the buffaloes on the shower curtains.

It is most interesting that I found absolutely no desire for a room with television. Neither of the "Pauls" with whom I have stayed are much on television watching. I brought to the attention Paul #2 today that it had been over a week since I have sat in front of a television screen and I haven't missed it a bit. He invited me to go upstairs and sit in front of the one that their family owns. "It's not connected to anything," he said, "and I don't believe it works, but you're welcome to sit in front of it as long as you want."

I ponder the many activities with which we often fill our lives. There is some joy that comes with being 'unplugged' for awhile. There is also irony in my writing this while on a laptop plugged into a system as powerful and expansive as the Internet. I also see that my Blackberry is perched on the arm of the sofa beside me and continues to hum with announcements, texts, e-messages and calls from persons with whom I am connected.

Tomorrow I will attempt to become as disconnected as I have been in some time. I will hit the red button on the cell, hibernate the laptop and head for the hills to become connected in the most meaningful, most often overlooked ways, i.e. prayerfully and spiritually.

No pic's to post today. I spent Wednesday finishing The Shack. Tonight, after supper, four Palumbos and I took Xela the retriever for a walk along a tributary that spills into the Columbia River and stood atop a mountain that looked down into a jagged gorge. From there we watched a golden eagle take flight and roost among the cliffs.

I will look forward to 'reconnecting' with you sometime this weekend. Summer has arrived to north central Washington and the forecasters are calling for near triple-digit temperatures. If there is no electricity in my destination cabin then I will assume that there will be no a/c either. I will give thanks for the elevation.

And I daily give thanks for all of you.