Where's Dan Now?

CANADIAN CROSSING

Hey there. We just completed a nine day marathon drive across Canada! Would have written sooner but the folks up there don't know what the internet is. They communicate over hills and valleys via smoke signals! Just kidding. It's all very much like the states except the roads are really bumpy. Drove up into British Columbia and stood in awe of the fortress-like mountains. Then a long haul thru the plain states where we saw lots of grain, grain silos and wind whipping across the lands. The Moonlight Chronicle i am making on this trip is different in that i am drawing lots but also writing down all the things i hear people saying, then adding thast under the sketches. We very much enjoyed the Lake Superior area and even saw a moose, which Lynne was pining for in a big way. There she (the moose) sttod in all her glory surrounded by reeds and water and lynne just went bonkers, for real, i had to calm her down with a cool rag! We loved Ottawa to pieces and almost lost little van after walking around late into the night. Montreal was a mess, period. We raced through it not wanting to deal with the snarl of traffic and too bigness of it all. Still have a big trip back plus time out here on the est coast so stay tuned and check out the pictures too. HOBO

BACKPACKING IN THE WILDERNESS

This has been the absolute craziest summer of our lives. Since i last wrote we attended a family reunion, did a backpacking trip with my sister and nephew, finished up and mailed issue number 60 of the Moonlight Chronicles and repaired a broken camera, water pump and lamp in the studio!!!! There hasn't been time to breathe. But i did want to tell you about the hiking trip. My camera was broken, so no pictures. Guess you'll have to read M.C. 60 for the imagery. We had perfect weather and walked with our huge packs about 9 miles in the first day. No mosquitoes? Camped at a beautiful waterfall and the water was so warm we got to take showers! That's totally unheard of up there at elevation. Usually you freeze your digits off just washing your hands! Lynne developed a really sore foot and we had to pack all her stuff for the remainder of the trip. Next day was a short hike to the lakes basin where we set up camp, hiked, drew and relaxed by a nice fire. Sister Suzy said she froze all night, and I'm like "what...?" having slept in a summer bag cause it was so warm. The last day was a long march out to the car with Lynne in major limping mode. We fashioned a couple of trekking poles for her out of long sticks and she did better. Once out we dove into showers and had a great meal out at a local cantina. Now we are getting ready to head across Canada all the way to Maine to see my publisher. Just finished up a brand new design for a Simple Shoes kid box. Check out their blog. It's funny. Will write next from the wilds of the north country! HOBO