Last year I took a 2 day/2 night solo bicycle trip to stretch my legs. It was backpacking the two prior years. This year I decided to try backpacking again. I like to have something to plan for and to exercise for. That gives me a chance to be in fair shape one week out of each year. It's a goal. Maybe I'll be in fair shape two week out of a year in the future.Since I sketch more now, I'll pack my sketch gear. Had to reduce some, though. The graphite pencils and erasers and gel pens didn't make the cut. Only the watercolor pencils and Pitt Artist pens. The journal is the one I just made from Roz's class in Minneapolis. Looking forward to trying the new paper, and to carry my own handmade creation.
This day's post is the first half of my travel journal. The other half will follow. The trip went well. With no long distances planned and only myself to accommodate, I'd stop hiking when something struck my fancy to sketch, and I could hang around camp to get sketching in. Works well. Missouri has some beautiful country out there.
14 comments:
These are lovely! I haven't been backpacking in a very long time. Thanks for taking me along virtually. I really feel like I was there! (I admit I'm glad I missed the rain!)
Love the sketched sprinkled within the daily recap. Sounds like you had a delightful walkabout!
I too haven't backpacked in many years. Your blog brings back those memories - especially thinking what if I had been inclined to sketch way back then, what it would mean to me now. Great post - looking forward to part 2.
John, On Wednesday we were still in Minneapolis - I had another class Wednesday evening, learning the coptic stitch binding. It was a good class, but not as good as Roz's. And I too love the journal we made in Roz's class - as you can see from LTJ, it's got me journaling again, so that's a good thing.
I love your journaling style, and your travel sketches are great. It will be a great way to remember this trip. I don't have any desire to backpack anymore, but DH still does it (he doesn't sketch though). So how many watercolor pencils did you take along, and how do you decide which colors to take?
I forgot to say - I find it interesting that we both have sons named Brian - and our Brian attended the University of Missouri, too - but at Columbia rather than Rolla. Small world!
Thanks for sharing your trip. Great journaling.
Scrappy Cat (Cheryl)-One advantage to not buying the huge pencil collections is that I don't have to whittle it down for weight. I use around 24 pencils, which can all be held in one hand if need be while sketching outdoors. Wish I could have stayed for the coptic stitch class, too. Fun stuff. I remember your husband still backpacks, too. Even thought of him when I was waking up on the trail with my aches and pains and wondering if he experiences that, too, as we both age.
Looks like you have lots of great memories here. I have family in the Ozark foothills on the Current River. It sure is beautiful there.
Great pages and a great story. Can't wait to read Part II. What do you cook with? Twigs and such?
Sounds like you had a good trip in spite of the rain. I think it's good to be able to get away by yourself if you are going to seriously journal. Now your new journal is broken in. By the way, we haven't seen the cover of your new journal yet, have we?
Barbara - in Part 2 you'll see a sketch of my stove. Twigs would not have been a fun way to cook on this trip. It had rained for many days and dry firewood hard to find.
what a great idea! A walkabout! Lovely journal pages.
Terrific pages...
"I like to have something to plan for and to exercise for."
This grabbed me, because I need something larger than just me to keep in shape for... and your pages inspire. You've got my brain working (no small feat).
just FABULOUS - this is what travel sketch journals are all about, you described it Perfectly!!
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