The Adventures of a Wayward Saint

I leave for San Sebastián, Spain June 8th, but not before I take 10 students for a week to rebuild housing lost in the Ninth Ward due to Hurricane Katrina. The trip before the pilgrimage/quest trip.

 The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, or more commonly known as the American River Parkway. (A view from the Old Fair Oaks Bridge) It has been the geography of my youth. The playground of Tom Sawyer-like summer frolic; my first fight, first beer, summer swims, rafting, rope swinging to near death, and more recently running and riding the decomposed granite trails that snake along the river. I can’t possibly count the races I’ve run here, the miles of pounding, jumping the occasional rattler, avoiding the galloping horses with rider. I have taken the beauty of the parkway for granted.