Officially in Alaska

I just spoke with David a couple minutes ago, he is officially in Alaska. He camped just over the border two nights ago but had no cell and internet service, but he is doing well. He sounds very busy and a bit tired but hopefully we will be able to talk to him longer tonight and here how he's been doing :-) Only a week from teh Arctic Circle!

Big Horn Sheep

David is staying a motel tonight with a big horn sheep mounted above the front desk. He showed us on Skype as well as an elk which Emmett decided was a tiger. Staying at a motel means some luxuries but also a lot of work I found out. David has been getting laundry done, mapping out the next week of driving, campgrounds and grocery stops as well as cleaning out/organizing the car, showering, skyping with us and of course drinking some bourbon.

He looks clean but very tired, staying up late and getting up early, and driving all day with a broken car radio. I think he is looking forward to the week of the new moon where he won't be able to photograph a couple nights and be forced to sleep more. But we are all happy he is doing so wonderfully.

Internet service but no cellphone service!

We skyped with David tonight, he had no cell phone service but he had internet service so he went on Skype, saw Colleen (my sister) was on so he sent her a message asking her to call me and have me go on skype. And it worked!

He looks really good, relaxed, proud of how things are going so far. It was such a relief to see him and Emmett had a ton of fun talking to him. He emailed us some pictures that I thought I would share with everyone.

This is the roof garden he photographed from in Vancouver, breathing taking view, isn't?

This was often the type of scenery he was looking at while on Cedar Sky HWY, it makes me feel small in the world but so thankful to be here to enjoy it.

Here David is on top of the fire watch tower where he photographed around Wednesday. I guess he camped inside and photographed through the windows which seems cool. What little we can see over his left shoulder, the view looks amazing.

When I asked about this photograph, David said that there is a lot of farm land and he is hoping he is brave enough to ask someone if he can photograph on their property and catch the moon ellipse in a hayfield. It does seem like a beautiful idea.

This wooden man was seen on his way past Prince George, ha! 

I asked David to take candid shots of himself throughout the trip, of course here he is being silly. He was hoping to camp here at Lake Burns however it was quite full, and full of people who were homeless and living a the campground. He found another campground that was still pretty cool.

Another breathtaking view while he is driving.

As I mentioned I think on facebook, we were doing a beer tour as we drove through California and Oregon, so he has continued to tradition however he said B.C. beer is expensive and terrible so he bought beer from Montreal.

He is off toward Watson Lake tomorrow. And thank you to everyone who continues to keep him in your prayers for safe travels.

David's Map

I spoke with David last night on the phone, he is doing very well. He was sitting by the fire, all his photo equipment set up for the moon shot, enjoying some bourbon.

He is missing everyone very much but he also is meeting some very nice people. He enjoyed chatting with a gentleman, who I believe he said was from Finland but I could be mistaken. This young man borrowed his hatchet to chop wood and chopped some for David as well hence sitting by the fire with bourbon.

The next two days David is planning on trying to find a motel to stay one night to be able to skype with Emmett and myself as well as shower. Emmett is not a big fan of talking on the phone but last night he did say 'I love you' to David when I put him on speaker phone.

Below is the map that David left me that I am updating as he goes, writing some short stories, tagging where he is staying. I believe by posting the URL here, you can all see it and keep up where he is as well.

Please keep him in your prayers.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210368009599651438183.0004dc2419293762fa20f&msa=0&ll=54.657946,-127.617187&spn=2.70117,6.679688

Whistler

I did not get to talk to David today but he is staying just north a Whistler in a campground and I am missing him so much tonight.

This evening Emmett and I were in the backyard playing and as I was pushing him on the swing I looked up over the house roof and there was the moon, rising. I had so much comfort in that image, thinking of David 2,000 miles away from us but looking at the very same moon. Studying it and capturing a beautiful image of it.

Tomorrow night, the 19th, I will be in Phoenix at a gallery opening for David's work. Since he is not here right now I will be Mrs. David Shannon-Lier and will do my best to represent him as best I can and answer questions. He has 5 pieces showing with 4 other artists in a show named "What are we doing here?" The few pieces I have seen look amazing, I am so excited to be able to see the show together and meet the other artists.

I spoke with David tonight, he is spending his last night in Vancouver on a roof deck taking his first moon scape tonight. He says he has an amazing view of the city and he thinks it will be a great photograph.

He has spent the last two days with cousins there and seems to be having a blast. He told me twice (he just have really enjoyed his time) that he went for a bike ride with the cousins to go out for ice cream. And had to chuckle when Phillip Maynard mentioned it was so dang hot he was going to fall off his bike! (it was in the low 80's, wimps ;-)

He is off tomorrow to his first campground and in two days will be headed into Alaska for the Arctic Circle.

6wk Research Expedition

Most of you probably have not heard but David was awarded a research grant from ASU to continue photographing the moon this summer. He has decided to use this money to rent a car and drive north to the Arctic Circle in Alaska, which is about 200mi north of Fairbanks.

The trip began July 6th with Emmett and I joining him for the first week through the Sierra foothills up to Portland, OR. Emmett and I have now returned to Phoenix after an amazing trip of visiting cousins in LA, Albany, OR and Portland, OR and camping for 6 days in Sequoia National Park, Calvaras Big Trees State Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Diamond Lake just north of Crater Lake National Park.

The camping was fabulous, Emmett was a superstar on the trip and the views and surroundings were breathtaking. Each day had it's own special feel.

Well I will do my best to update everyone as David trip progresses with stories and pictures if I receive any.