Friday, June 22, 2018 – Chewelah, Washington
I’m getting close now. Canada is an hour and a half away.
I am parked in the yard of friends–OMG, it’s so GREEN here. A towering maple tree shades the van. A rushing creek runs through the yard. It’s like a little Pacific Northwest paradise in the middle of a perfect little town, nestled in a sweet little mountain valley.
And the air is thick with mosquitoes.
I was afraid of this
Yes, I was actually afraid of coming up to this part of the country… or any part other than the drought-ridden Southwest… because of mosquitoes. I often joke that I have mosquito PTSD from my thirty or so years of living in Minnesota (“Land of 10,000 LAKES!”)
So I hope you recognize my COURAGE
Like a great adventurer, I am braving the wilds of this quarter-acre yard, protecting myself with essential-oils sprayed all over me and the van interior (Scout will not allow herself to be sprayed — we need to work on this before we get out in tick territory).
The spray solution may not work as well as I hoped; I already have a few bites. But I won’t use pesticides. That is my other phobia. Oh, and sunburn.
Covering up seems to be the best defense
In another week or so, we will venture forth from base camp at my friends’ house, and cross the border into the Canadian Rockies. Who knows what dangers Scout and I will face there—marauding moose, grizzling grizzlies, and mosquitoes the size of eagles, thirsting for my blood?
I need to gear up: long sleeves, long pants, hat, and essential oil spray for exposed skin. If I had a beekeeper-type suit with gloves and a net over my hat to protect my face, I’d wear it.
For someone who’d love to travel the world, this phobia of mine poses a bit of a problem.
