I have sadly neglected writing and have not yet paid proper tribute to Agua Caliente and our last days there. Once we found out about our Hawaii projects, time really flew by. During workdays our pace had slowed significantly and time was very dedicated to enjoying our final days with the staff and volunteers at Agua Caliente.
Work that we did do included:
Taking down a huge Tamarisk tree with chainsaws, axes, and shear human strength...
(Danny and I did Tree Pose on the tree)
We also left our mark on Agua Caliente, each painting stones that made up a rock path lining around the playground...
We also worked for several hours to chisel out steps on a rock face on the Moonlight Trail.
Aside from work, there was a great deal of play and goodbye celebrations. Our second to last night there, Miles, on of the park attendants, had us all over to his house for a goodbye party. The following night we made dinner (Dom's famous stuff Bell Peppers) for the rangers and park attendants and all ate together at Kevin's house, which had become a popular hang out spot over the past few weeks. At dinner we gave the staff a parting gift: a framed picture of us (including Brett of course!) with a few park attendants which we signed around the matted edges.
The next morning was our tearful goodbye and long journey back to Sacramento. Mark, Jake, Tyler, and Kevin all got up to see us off. I miss them all and the rest of the Agua family. We really had a wonderful time in the desert and could not have asked for a better sponsor. We have been so lucky with placement and so lucky to have the positive energy on our team that is infectious to those around us.
We have promised to go back and visit and have a reunion in the desert. This absolutely has to happen! And it will happen.
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