Departure Day (SundaY fUNdaY) the day I refer to as Day 1:

 

Sunday was a bit of a challenge to depart… Unfortunately I was tardy arriving to campus at 8:45am, showing up in time to be backpack fitted. After, we began organizing the food supply into each van, we then opened up a BLOG called People of the Big River 2015, with our own handle of course. This was a time consuming effort, as the BLOG engine was not accepting some of us in a timely fashion. 

Regardless, we all connected to the BLOG site.

Next we loaded everything into the vehicles for departure.

Midway- We gathered everyone together for an Ice Breaker- 4 Students from Heritage University, 4 Students from White Swan High School, 2 faculty from White Swan High School, and later Dr. L. Black. Our Ice Breaker is one that I am familiar with (I forget the name of it, but it deals with a toilet paper roll), Krissy the conductor of this mini-meeting, led with a story about taking as much sheets as we can fit into our pockets, for sanitary purposes on our trip around the Northwest (jokingly of course); Next she explained this was just a humorous approach to get this particular Ice Breaker started. According to how many sheets a person took, that is how many details about us that we must tell everyone after we introduce ourselves. I only pulled one, since I already knew this Ice Breaker, plus I was taking photos.

  

Alyssa, and Sully

Judy, Tarrel, and Alyssa

Chrissy, Judy, and Tarrel

Chailene, Chrissy, and Judy

Chailene

Matt AKA Jimmy Falon

Mr. Clinton

Alexic

Monet, Ibeth, and Alexic

Big Chrissy, Monet, and Ibeth

Sully and Mr. Black

Towards the end of our discussion, Mr. Black arrived and introduced himself along with a brief description of what he does in his career now and previous to this day. Always awesome to hear his adventures.

Afterwards, we gathered to complete paperwork for legality purposes: Background check paperwork; Waiver forms, Alternate driver forms, take copies of our licenses… etc…

Messing with my color functions.

 

 

 

Finally our drive departed… I drove for Jessica Black, our advisor for this awesome adventure. I have had the opportunity to work for Professor J. Black with Work-Study at the Center for Native Health and Culture during the Spring Semester, which has been a pleasurable experience. I cannot forget working in the cornfield set-up process on those first hot days in May.

The drive was a bit long, all the way to Bend, OR. A few stops on the way, we have walkie talkie radios which adds a bit of fun with a smart way to communicate knowing we will potentially have terrible cell phone service. Each vehicle produced a name, ours: Green Machine; Van one: Misty Hell on Wheels; Van 2 Autobots; Suburban- Beast Mode. As we crossed the beautiful scenic routes down to Bend, OR. Our conversation were about the previous People of the Big River (POBR) adventures were shared by Professor J. Black, and insight on the current White Swan Students attending. We also listened to a book, I don’t recall the title, but I do recall the son of the father, was almost always filled with anxiety, so much anxiety. It was difficult for me to be entertained by this book, I would have liked to listen to music on such a long drive or a conversation about awesome travels… But I am respectful for others interests, therefore our journey consisted of this audio book. K