Terri's next adventure....off to Russia and France

As usual, I spent a pre-dawn moment multi-tasking. Brush teeth, assess spider-web accumulation on the bathroom ceiling, fill water bottles, make toast and feed Gryphon. Within the easy whirl of early morning prep I paused to catch a glimpse in the mirror of my “morning face” as I remembered how much I enjoy getting up before the rest of the world on a Sunday. When I saw the face I smiled, remembering my upcoming adventure. This particular quote came to mind:

“A man sets out to draw the world. As the years go by, he peoples a space with images of provinces, kingdoms, mountains, bays, ships, islands, fishes, rooms, instruments, stars, horses, and individuals.
A short time before he dies, he discovers that the patient labyrinth of lines traces the lineaments of his own face.”
Jorge Luis Borges, Epilogue, The Maker

I’ve often viewed my wrinkles and face lines as being earned, like the virtues we gain as endurance athletes engaging again and again in the mêlée of self. We are drawn back again and again to the journey because the journey feeds us. It also leaves us with permanent trophies, gifts, maturity, life shifts, face lines. The lines are earned via our travels, our experiences, and the visions we gain while voyeuring through various countries, eyeing the hardship, toil and the strife of other cultures.

I also have seen my face lines as enterprising; that the experiences they represent offer a confidence from which to matter-of-factly state things like, “I think I’ll go climb a mountain in Russia. I’ve read of and always wanted to see Chamonix, France, a spectacular icon of adventure. I may as well do a race there while I’m in Europe - what a perfect way to see the mountains…”. And thus the planning begins. The seeds are planted, and further opportunity to draw the lines begins.


I’m off on the 8th for Min Vody, Russia via Moscow. I'll be climbing Mt. Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountain range which is nestled between the Black and Caspian Seas near the border of Russia and Georgia. Post climb and before heading to Chamonix, I’ll check out Moscow for a couple days and hit up the Bolshoi Ballet in my new black dress.

In Chamonix, on the border of France, and Italy, I'll have a few days to hang before doing the Tour Du Mont Blanc; a brutal 98 mile trail race through the Mont Blanc mountain range. During the race I’m looking forward to viewing the entire range from various angles. I'm psyched.

You can also get info on these events here:

Mt. Elbrus climb:

http://www.elbrus.org/images/climbing_photos.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus_Mountains

Tour Du Mont Blanc:

http://www.ultratrailmb.com/page.php?page=Documents2

Would love to hear from you all while I am away!
Back at you from Eastern Europe…
xoxo
Terri