Our time with Ken

We woke up this morning to the sound of a truck pulling into the campsite. Ken was back- with hot coffee and hot chocolate and an armload of firewood. By the time I got myself out of the tent, he already had a fire going for us! I could definitely get used to this.

Ken also brought along his dremmel and some walking sticks he had found on the beach yesterday. We watched him carve and transform this stick as he chatted away (when he wasn't using the dremmel to stoke up the fire!).


I'm quickly learning that Ken is a man of many talents. He brought us a bag of medicine as well- cedar powder to use as a tea when not feeling well on our travels. He kept us company while we made breakfast and tore down camp. He taxi us and all our gear back to the car and then invited us to see his sweatlodge at the end of the beach we had visited the day before.

As I mentioned, the beach was littered, completely, with driftwood. We joked that Ken should make commercials for Ford trucks ("Ford Tough"), because he just throws the truck in 4x4 and off we go, bouncing and climbing over anything in its path. We got to the end of the beach and walked into the forest to a clearing where there were several sweatlodges (different ones for the different teachings) and a big cooking shelter. It was such a serene, beautiful area.

We got back to the truck and drove around into the sand dunes (off-roading all the way!) to this gorgeous lookout. Ken pointed out the nearby mountains where he sends people off on fasts and gave us a little history about the area. The area is under protection and soon to be closed off to protect the sand dunes from erosion and traffic, so it was pretty special that we got to see them.


Before we headed out, Ken asked us back to his house so he could carve us a walking stick he had picked out for us.



His yard is a veritable gallery of his various carvings- some big, some small.


And they carry on into his workshop which is a treasure trove of his projects! Ken obviously has a very understanding wife ;)

He also took us to his planned site for his future eco-retreat, just across the road from his house. This is Ken. A big man, with a big heart and big ideas. It may take him many lifetimes to get all his ideas going, but I'm sure he'll figure out a way.

As we got into the car to leave, we waved goodbye and drove off, totally thankful for the time Ken had shared with us. I'm totally fascinated by Aboriginal culture in the first place, so meeting Ken was a complete treat for me. In many, many ways.

Thank you Ken.