Day 11 Lummi Nation to Mt. Vernon (35 miles)

So, we had a great stay here on the Lummi reservation and the people here were very welcoming. It was really fun to meet our new relatives and also to rest a bit. Also, the food was amazing, I ate like 2 whole salmon. The guys are really tired but are ready for the bike ride back to home.

Yeah right. Haha. I am kidding. I think if the guys biked back down they would be Lt. Dan status with no legs. Everything went smoothly yesterday with the guys arriving to the Lummi Nation and the people were very welcoming. They had a lunch for us and they had a welcoming ceremony for Zach and Dad but I missed it due to stupid traffic outside of Bellingham (almost ran out of gas ahhhh).Troy (Dad's brother), his wife Katrina, and their daughter then came with us to show us around and help us get situated at the house on Lummi Island. We took the ferry over to the island and drove to the house that we are staying at. The house is really nice and the scenery is awesome here. I mean, it is no Modesto, but I'll settle for a waterfront house with a spa. Troy, Katrina, and their daughter stayed the night with us here last night and we went to a nice dinner at an Italian place in Bellingham. This morning we took it easy for a little and then my dad and I went into town. He dropped me off at the Gold's Gym here (on a side note, I have noticed after visiting various gold's Gym that I like the one in Modesto the least, all the other ones are really nice) and he went to get some grocery's that we didn't pick up yesterday. After that he picked me back up then we went to pick up Mommy, Thomas, Dane-o, and Katherine (BoBoBo) from the airport.

After crossing the ferry again and getting everyone situated at the house we took the 5:20 ferry back to the reservation for a dinner that Dean (the family elder) was hosting for our family (the Washingtons). It was really neat to meet all of our new family and we were lucky to have such a warming welcoming. Dean put Spongebob's cooking skills to shame with some incredible Salmon and we feasted on all other kinds of delicious food. Afterward Dean showed us around his shop where he builds canoes and showed us some of the ones that he had made. The canoes were really sweet to look at because the craftsmanship was so amazing. We then chatted a wee bit more, checked out the house which had a ton of newspaper clippings and trophies from pulling canoe, and then said goodbye so that we could make the 8:10 ferry back to Lummi Island where the house is. Upon arrival Zach and I constructed a fire rivaling that of Tom Hanks' in Cast Away. Dane-o and BoBoBo then joined us as we roasted some marshmallows (see pic) and made some s'mores. Naturally Dad and Mom showed up to grab some dessert and enjoy the masterpiece of a fire that we had going. Bo and Dane are sleeping and the rest of us are just watching some TV and getting excited for the beginning of the World Cup tomorrow morning!!!

Time to go to bed and get ready for the World Cup tomorrow morning. Also, good job Celtics, keep up the good work.

Day 10 Mount Vernon to Lummi

This is Ralph not John. I woke up too early this morning, excited, couldn't sleep, and thought it would be a good time to summarize our trip and to thank everyone for your love and support. So I woke John from a sound sleep and asked him to fire up the blog. Thanks grumpy:)

When I first thought of this ride it was as simple as "I'm gonna get on my bike and ride to Lummi". A very "Forrest Gump" moment considering Lummi is 1,000 miles from home. Over time, I've come to realize that there was a reason for my simple intention. During my life I've been blessed with loving parents who adopted me (Alfred and Clarissa Juarez), a loving sister {Sandra), my wife Michelle who loves me and who together we have created and raised (7) children, and her loving family the "Tuttles" who accept you for who you are and still love you for all your imperfections. I thought if I've been so blessed with the family that I've always known, would it be possible to again find that love with family that I've never known but whom I share a biological bond with? I cannot go back in time and create relationships that never existed but I look forward to and am hopeful of the new relationships that are in their infancy and those that are too follow.

First, I want to thank Michelle for loving me for all my crazy ideas. I want to thank Michelle's sister, Clare Devlin for all her words of encouragement during this journey. I want to thank Zachary for sitting in the saddle and riding with me on this great adventure ( I know you will remember this trip for the rest of your life). I want to thank John for being at Zach and I's beck and call and making this adventure run so smoothly and for having the talent to think of, and write this incredible blog. I want to thank Vela Kerkoff at Lummi enrollment for her emails and words of encouragement in directing me to family. I want to thank my new brother Troy George and his wife Cutrina for being the first to open up their home and life to me in discovering my new family. I want to also thank my new brother Tom Kinley and his wife Rachael for their telephone calls and emails and I look forward to meeting you both soon. I want to thank Danita Washington for all her telephone calls and behind the scenes work for putting me in contact with family, contacting the Lummi college, and for setting up a dinner on Thursday evening to meet my new family. And finally, I want to thank all our family and friends for their love and financial support of the new scholarship fund created in the name of of my biological mom, Kristine.

Well its time to get the day started and get back in the saddle for one final ride to Lummi. Best to all, Ralph

Day 9 Centralia to North Marysville (137 miles)

2nd to last day!! Started the day with the usual wake up routine and then I drove them to their departure spot for the day. I then visited the Nike Outlet store that I saw yesterday, but it was kind of weak. Too much Lebron James gear, I can't support a player who travels almost every play.
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[I got to write this down before I forget to mention it- Zach is on the other bed right now and has been snoring for the past half an hour (he missed the Finals game) and he just did some sleep talking, it kinda scared me. Basically, the dudes are pretty tired.]

I then met up with the guys in a city called Sumner for a lunch break. After the lunch break I had to drive the guys to another spot because they were not allowed on the route they had planned to use because bikes were forbidden. The guys then went into beast mode and rode their bikes for almost the next four hours while I hit up the really nice Gold's Gym in Kirkland, which is a little east of Seattle. During the work-out I remembered that I had a friend from Notre Dame that lived near Seattle so I got in contact with her (Didi) and she was in Kirkland at that time (coincidence? I Think not). So, we got to hang out for a little bit which I enjoyed a lot. I am tired of hanging out with Zach and Dad!! (haha just kidding). Shout out to Didi who said she would read this! The guys then met up with us in Kirkland where they stopped for another break. After chatting a little bit with Didi they took off and I left to find the next spot for a break. Luckily I left Kirkland right during Seattle rush hour so I got traffic everywhere, it was horrible. I am pretty sure my dad and Zach were going faster on their bikes then I was in the car. Eventually I got to Snohomish and waited for the guys to show up for the last break of the day. The guys showed up, snacked, rested a little bit, and then left for the final stretch. I got tired just looking at the guys (second-hand exercise didn't work this time though either). I went ahead to check into the last hotel of the trip in Mt. Vernon, it was a very emotional check-in. I then ended up driving back to North Marysville to pick the guys up. The team decided to take a mulligan and drive to Mt. Vernon where they will start tomorrow (I think they have earned the break).

The guys said that their legs felt great during the ride, the weather was outstanding, and it was neat to see some of the Seattle area scenery (The big pic above, it was taken on bridge over Lake Washington). However, they also added that they are more tired than the rowers from Ben Hur who went ramming speed!!! and Rocky at the end of the first movie. After chatting about the day, dad went and picked up pizza for dinner and we watched the Lakers squeeze out a lucky victory. (Damn you Derek Fisher, you're too clutch. But at the same time - come on Ray Allen and Paul Pierce!! Get your act together...jeeze.) The whole team is definitely ready to get to the destination and relax. So, wish the guys luck for the final trek tomorrow and keep them in your prayers. Finally - Thanks for following the blog and for all the support. I never expected so many people to actually read this. It was a pleasant surprise to find out people are reading and commenting.

Day 8 Portland to Centralia (101 Miles)

Don't worry loyal fans. I am back. For all those non-loyal fans who read my dad's post, I'll remember that. I heard there was an uproar in the blogging community over the fact that my dad wrote a post but he begged and I was starting to get typer's fingers anyway(it's a rare typing disease). The NBA Finals game was also on. Go Celtics! Special thanks to Ray Allen for destroying the Lakers. Anyways, here it goes-

I would like to start off by saying I am not a fan of downtown Portland, especially with a Suburban that has a bike attachment on the back. The guys woke up at the usual time today and took full advantage of the hotel's complimentary made to order omelets and breakfast. After breakfast the dudes came back to the room, got ready, and I drove them to a little outside of Downtown Portland so they could start their ride safely. I then went back and made a visit to Voodoo Doughnuts (see pic), a famous doughnut place in downtown Portland that was shown on the travel channel. You might want to Google it just to check out the menu, it's pretty sweet. [Side note- On the way back to the hotel I saw the mom from the TLC show Little People Big World driving around.] After packing up and checking out I spent 20 minutes trying to find a parking spot in Downtown Portland so that I could buy some BioFreeze, the magical elixir of life that heals all pain. Eventually I picked some elixir up then met up with the guys on the border between Washington and Oregon for a lunch break and to share some Voodoo Doughnut treats (As the team's unofficial nutritionist this was probably not a good idea, but they tasted too good to waste).

Double side Note?!?!- [No offense to Oregonians but I was happy to be in Washington: I was tired of Forrest Gump rain, having people pump gas for me into my car, and semi-trucks that were carrying logs. However, I really enjoyed the stop at the Azevedo's, it made up for the rest of Oregon's downfalls. Zach added that it was too green in Oregon with an excessive amount of photosynthesis]

After lunch I drove ahead and stopped for the next break and fell asleep in the car on the side of the road, so much for reading when I had extra time. The guys woke me up about an hour and a half later for the 2nd break of the day. My Dad and Zach then took off for the home stretch to Centralia. I went ahead and got the hotel ready for the aching bodies of the bikers. More importantly, I spotted the stores around Centralia and I'm pretty sure there is a Nike Outlet store here so I am definitely going to visit that tomorrow morning. For dinner we went to some sushi place that had an all you can eat sushi buffet. Zach and I got the sushi buffet and I am pretty sure we put them out of business. Sorry I'm not sorry.

The guys are very physically tired, but they said the ride today wasn't bad in regards to weather and elevation. Zach is giving the old man an intense massage right now (looks painful) and I am suppose to give Zach one in a bit (suppose to). Only 2 more days left and then we're done. So pray for us as we hit the homestretch, the riders are pretty warn out. Thanks to everyone! (Even the non-loyal readers, you know who you are). Also, Go Celtics! Big pivotal game tomorrow.

Day 7- Eugene to Portland (117 miles)

Dad is desperate to become a celebrity so he wants to write today's blog-

I (Dad/Ralph)woke up from the best nights sleep at Dan and Melissa's. They treated all of us like kings from the moment we arrived to when we left! This morning Dan made custom made omelets for each of us while Melissa made home-made Banana Bread (very, very yummy). While Dan was making omelets I had the chance to have a deep conversation with Hagen. He wanted to know where I was going, and being a smarty, I told him I was going north to the North Pole. Of course, he asked if I could ask Santa for a "pirate telescope".

We started to get ready for the day and as we were packing it started to rain and it continued to rain for most of the day. Which leads me to the real reason for my portion of the blog. To this point I've thouroughly enjoyed my son John's blog, every time I read the daily blog I see that John has a gift with his writings and his humor. But, John hasn't had the chance to sit in the saddle and with that I have the following good and bad list:

Good list first:

1. It's been great to ride with Zach. I've gotten to share this trip with him and rely on him to carry me many times. For example when we were climbing the last (3) miles of the Cascades over to Ashland, Oregon I needed Zach to take the lead and set the pace, or I wouldn't have made it over the top. It's nice to see Zach growing up into a young man.

2. The wind. For the most part (with the exception of the first day) we have had either light wind or the wind has been at our backs (when you're riding into the wind you have to work that much harder to get to the end of the day and visa vera).

3. John. John's been at our beck and call. When our bike broke down during a rain storm near Dunsmuir John picked up the bike, gave us the backup bike and drove to Redding. He had the bike fixed and back to ride within (2) hours. And that's the dedication he has had with everything related to our adventure.

Bad List:

1. The saddle. Sitting on that seat hour after hour leaves you with a sore bottom and blisters. Everyday before I ride I have to apply new band-aides on my bottom and "bottom butter" to keep everything sliding on the saddle.

2. The rain. Both Zach and I have waterproof caps over our helmets, waterproof jackets, waterproof pants, waterproof booties over our shoes, and fenders for our bike (you get the idea). But hour after hour in the rain, the water seeps in and we not only get wet but sweat a lot because of our gear. And wind is a lot like rain, it slows you down, and seems to slow down time (depressing).

3. Aches and pains. After riding (7) days my right knee has hurt for the last (4) days and I think I've strained a tendon in my left leg. I've iced up my legs nightly and twice a day when I stop for break and during lunch. Zach has done the same.

I'm very glad we're doing this ride. It's been fun watching the boys interact and it's great to have done this adventure but I don't think I'll try this long of a bike ride again. Three days left and counting!!! I look forward to finishing and getting to the Lummi reservation and meeting my family on Thursday.

Best to all:)

Day 6 Canyonville to Eugene (98 miles?)

We did not wake up at the usual time today because Zachary Juarez is not only a handsome athlete with a sense of humor, but also a scholar. (Ladies just leave a comment with your number, he'll get back to you). Zach and I had to wake up at 5 a.m. to drive to Eugene to take the SAT. To make matters worse, Bronx Bagels (a bagel place at one of the random exits before Eugene)did not open until 6:30 so we settled for some breaky at the BK Lounge (Burger King). I dropped him off bright and early at Sheldon High School in Eugene where he managed to get a standby spot so everything worked out. Since the SAT takes like 5 hours I left him and went and fell asleep in front of the nearest Gold's Gym. Unfortunately I did not get second-hand exercise by taking an hour long nap in front of Gold's Gym so I had to go in and actually work out. Post nap and workout I went to Safeway and used the money that Zach won at the Seven Oaks Casino Resort to buy food for the next couple of days. I then picked Zach up, we had some Safeway sandwiches, and we were off to go meet Dad in Cottage Grove so Zach could join him for the last part of today's ride. When we got there my dad said the ride up to this point had been good and that the weather was great. During departure Zach was refusing to ride because he was tired from biking the past 5 days, waking up at 5 a.m., and sitting for a 5 hour long SAT(Well that's original, I'll file that next to the dog ate my homework excuse.) With a little persuasion the Coup d'éZach was squashed and he saddled up for the last bit like a true warrior. While the two were riding I went back into town to find some BioFreeze for the aches of the riders. Unfortunately the only places that seel this magical elixir are closed on the weekend. So, I went back and picked the dudes up and we headed for Casa de Azevedo in Springfield. Since arriving, the service has been terrible; we were forced to eat all kinds of delicious and nutritious foods, sit in a relaxing spa, and sit down at a dinner that put Beauty and the Beast's "Be Our Guest" scene to shame (See pic, it is the aftermath of the feat). However, I think we'll survive. (There is a dessert concoction staring me down right now. I think it is an apple crisp). On a serious note: Zach, my Dad, and I are very grateful for the hospitality shown by the Azevedo family and wish that every place we stayed at was just as wonderful. Everyone is tired so after I battle the apple crisp I shall probably hit the hay (Zach and Dad are already making friends with the couches). Tomorrow we'll be saying goodbye to G.I. Joe-Hagen, Sophie, and the rest of the gang and we'll be heading up to Hillsboro.

Day 5 Medford to Canyonville (74 miles)

Woke up at the usual time and the guys grabbed some breakfast while I grabbed some extra z's. After they left I eventually woke up, washed their dirty jerseys they had worn, checked out, and grabbed a small pump that can fit on the bikes. Afterward I caught up with them somewhere in the mountains between Medford and Canyonville (see pic). The weather was awesome all day and the guys said that the first long climb was really tough but that the rest of the day was mostly downhill so it was fun to ride. After the snack I left and checked into the Seven Feathers Casino Resort. Unfortunately you have to be 21 years old to gamble here, so we still have funds for food. The dudes showed up not too long after and we chilled for a bit in the room while they told me some of the stuff they saw. Some of the observations they told me about included: the fact that they have seen a lot of skunks on the road, an argument the two had over whether they had seen more cows or llamas (it's cows hands-down), an intense river, and the fact that they were chased by a pack of four rabid dogs that were hungry for cyclists. After swapping war stories we hit up the buffet called "the gathering place"; my favorite dishes included the banana bread (with frosting), the shrimp, and hand-made flour tortilla chips. Pops then left to get another old man leg massage. Meanwhile Zach and I hit up the blackjack tables and Zach went Rainman on their ass and made tons of money; or maybe we went into the arcade like 5th graders... Post massage/arcade we all took a dip in the spa/pool then retreated to the room to watch some television. Zach and I are going to be waking up extremely early tomorrow so that I can take him to his SAT's in the morning. Thanks for all the prayers and wish Zach good look on the tests!

Day 4 Weed to Medford (82 miles)

Today was much better than yesterday. The guys started off pretty early at 8 to beat the bad weather and left me behind to check out and eat a pizza bagel toasted to perfection with cream cheese. There were no misfortunes so I met up with the guys somewhere between Weed and Ashland at a rest-stop that was under attack from seagulls. The guys told me that they saw a bald eagle flying over the river next to them which is pretty sweet. Zach summed it up by saying the eagle was, "the embodiment of the American dream" (I thought it was a pretty good description). After eating sandwiches and getting their rain gear on I left to go check into the hotel and get the room ready for the tired dudes (spa not working at the hotel?? Devastating). Meanwhile they took a stop at a Starbucks, warmed up with some drinks then met up with me at the hotel. When they arrived Zach was covered in mud because he was behind my dad during the trek. He said that Dad's bike was nice enough to kick up gravel and blacktop into his face, but he eventually got use to the taste. They then relaxed and got clean as I made full use of the Gold's Gym nearby. Afterward we went to a sports bar & grill to watch the NBA Finals but they did not let minors in after 5!!! Dammit. So we ended up getting some Indian food nearby that was awesome, but we missed the game because we had to take my dad to get a massage because his legs were hurtin'. Post massage we got some Coldstone and got back to the hotel to find out the Lakers won (And I thought yesterday was a bad day). Everyone is tired so we'll prob hit the hay soon and wake up for tomorrow's short trek to Canyonville. That's all i have to say about that.

Day 3, Redding to Weed (72 miles)

The phrase "third time is the charm" had no application whatsoever to today's trek.

The third day started off fairly early around 8? and after a little continental breakfast the guys took off as I hit up Extreme Fitness to make full use of the 24 hour pass. All was going well until the end of my workout when my phone rang. My dad's tire had popped and he needed me to come so that he could get the supplies out of the car to fix it. Luckily they were only about 8 to 10 miles out so I got there pretty quickly. After hooking them up with the supplies I drove back to check out of the hotel and then catch back up with them. During the packing of the car my phone rang AGAIN and none other than dear old dad was on the phone telling me that one of Zach's tires had popped. So I quickly checked out then caught up and saved the day once again. I then sat in the car for a little bit (read some good stuff) at the off-ramp where we fixed the second tire and then caught up with them at a Subway not too far away. After a delicious sandwich the guys decided to put on their rain gear (see pic) because it started to sprinkle. Wise choice, the sprinkling was just the tip of the iceberg. I then drove ahead and stopped at an off-ramp not too far away from them in case the rain caused some complications. The rain gods did not disappoint. Just as I was getting into some wonderful Descartes (reading for school) my phone rang AGAIN. It was dad again telling me that Zach had called the flat tire and raised it one with a broken derail-er which was not fixable on the spot (luckily it broke right at the off-ramp that I was parked at). I think this is about when it started to rain Forrest Gump style in the mountains. "Little bitty stingin` rain... and big ol` fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath." So, Zach took the spare bike and they went on in the rain as I drove back to Redding to get the bike fixed at Sports LTD. Side note- [While the bike was getting fixed I almost went to the Best Buy nearby to buy a couple of CD's because I realized I was in great need of new music as I caught myself singing along to Ruben Studdard's "Sorry 2004" on the freeway.] The bike was ready to go so I raced (of course going under the speed limit, don't worry mom) back to the guys who were biking through mountains in the rain. We eventually met up in Dunsmuir (See pic) for some much needed Pizza, garlic with pepperoni, it was awesome. Afterward I went ahead to a city called Weed and checked us into the hotel. They are finishing up the last leg of the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Luckily no one was hurt so I am thankful for that. Tomorrow should be similar to today in regards to weather and terrain (hopefully not bike issues) so pray for the guys as they push through the mountains in the rain.

Night 2

Well, my dad tried to write a blog but after writing three sentences he ran out of things say and realized his sentences rivaled Katherine's. So here it goes: he said,"It was hot, hot, hot today. Lots of wind in all directions and my body definitely felt its age today (we rode 122 miles). But its been a real pleasure to ride with Zach!! Looking to tomorrow we have some hills to climb as we head to Oregon and a high likelihood of raining." He continued on to say that the highlight of today was seeing a live rattlesnake on the side of the road that looked ready to attack Indian Jones style, "Snakes! I hate snakes!". I plan on staying perfectly dry but have been given orders to stick close in case the rain starts to complicate things. My highlight of the day- I saw a group of what I thought were buffalo but then I Googled it (when you have as much time as I do, these things excite you) and found out they were actually bison. I know what you're asking yourself now, what is the difference between the two animals? If you have the extra time like I do, check it out- http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-bison-and-buffalo/. Also, I received an excessive amount of e-mails from concerned readers about whether I found a gym or not (not really), but I did find one: "Extreme Fitness". It wasn't as extreme as I expected, but it got the job done so you all can stop worrying. From the crew here in Redding - Goodnight and thanks for all the prayers.

Day 2, Yuba City to Redding (117 miles)

Hey Everyone!
Thanks for following along. Yesterday's 132 miles took a toll on the guys, but they still woke up ready to go today. After a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast at Lumberjack's (I didn't know Zach drank coffee) they took off for their first break in Chico. After loading up the car and checking out of the hotel I took off and met up with them in Chico after I went to another Target and got some stuff we were missing. We all took a little rest stop at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico (see pic); Sierra Nevada is the new electrolyte. They then left as quick as they came and I went ahead to Red Bluff where I tanked up the Suburban, checked out a local bakery (see pic), and then set up for the lunch break at a park nearby. The guys left and I went ahead to check in at the hotel, set-up, and hunt down a local gym (the guy's exercising so much makes me look bad, so I got to keep up). I'm at the hotel watching TV waiting for the guys to show up. Luckily the weather did not seem too bad and the cyclists had tailwind at their back so they should be here anytime soon.

Day 1 Pic

The Whole Gang preparing to leave.

Day 1!!

Departure Day!! (aprrox. 130 miles today) The day started off bright and early and in proper fashion with a visit from Uncle Jeff and Aunty Clare and their posse of bikers. I sneaked in a quick workout after the guys took off then met up with them for the first break (see pic) on Thorton road in Stockton. Zach decided to switch gloves because the other ones were hurting his delicate hands. The guys wolfed down some electrolytes and then took off for Old Town Sacramento. I went ahead to buy a couple of chairs, chap stick, headphones, and an i-pod for Zachy at the Target nearby. We met up near old Sacramento and I made the dudes some sandwiches, they hydrated, and took some much needed rest (see pic). I asked Zach how he was doing and elegantly/poetically responded, "My legs were tired at first, but then I got use to it". He also mentioned that the wind made a big difference but because he was so nice he let my dad lead as he drafted behind him. After planning their route, the guys took off again for today's homestretch to Yuba City. I went ahead and I am now sitting in a Starbucks in Yuba City (I didn't know you had to pay for wifi here...but the tall mocha frappuccino was pretty damn good)booking tonight's hotel and writing this masterpiece. I saw that it was 80 degrees outside (a cool 65 degrees inside the car) as I was driving to Yuba City so hopefully the guys have enough Gatorade and water to last!

Day Before

It's the day before the launch and the packing is coming along (see the pic.). Zach Juarez was so dedicated he even got a haircut, making him much lighter and much more aerodynamic. The route is all planned and you'll hopefully be hearing from us from around Yuba City tomorrow night. Zach and Ralph are going to do their daily prayer to the cycling gods and they'll be leaving around too early o'clock tomorrow morning (7.a.m.?) and I'll be following shortly behind. Time to hit up Barnes & Noble so I have something to read along the way.

Rain?!? and Appreciation

Zach and Ralph are driving up to Palo Alto today to pick up some rain gear for the trip. They are expecting 4 days of rain. I am expecting 4 days of dryness since I'll be in the car. Only three days until they leave for the trip and things are starting to really come together. In addition, another bike was added o the arsenal today in case one of the main 2 don't work.

Also, I would like to thank everyone who has donated or has assisted with anything in regards to the trip. Ralph and Zach thought of the idea, but is those who helped who really made it possible. Thanks!

The Lummi Nation?

Ralph and Zach are biking up to the Lummi Nation, but some of you may be wondering what exactly the Lummi Nation is. Here is a little information I found from a booklet my dad received-
The Lummi Nation is an Indian reservation that is populated by the Lhaq'temish, "the Lummi People". They are the original inhabitants of Washington's northernmost coast and southern British Columbia. For thousands of years, they worked, struggled, and celebrated life on the shores and waters of Puget Sound. Their culture was built on the abundant gifts of the sea and forest - food from fishing, hunting, and plant gathering - yo'mech; the spring salmon; soxuve, butter clams; kwawach, the elk; skao's, wild potatoes; and sqw'elengexm, blackberries. the towering red cedar tree, xe'py, gave them life, shelter, clothing, transportation, and spiritual well-being. They lived in villages throughout their territory - the San Juan archipelago and the mainland, including the present Lummi Reservation near Bellingham, Washington. The sea was their highway, the canoe their means of travel, sustenance, and contact between villages. Their Elders believe that through the union of canoe-pulling, they achieve perfect harmony and balance. The idea of harmony and unison is the basis of Lummi spiritual and community existence. It is called schelangen, the Lummi way of life.

Modesto Bee Article

Hey everyone! Here is a link to the article about the trip in the Modesto Bee. Enjoy.

http://www.modbee.com/2010/05/16/v-mobile/1168908/search-uncovers-surprising-heritage.html