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Work + Travel

Faces of the AT: Meet Marty. When He Went to Quit His Job, His Boss Said No.

May 27, 2016

Adam and I set out on Saturday to hike the piece of the Appalachian Trail (AT) running through Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia. Grazing along the trail are famous feral ponies. We were keen to summit Mount Rogers, but when we ran across a herd of ponies- “Squirrel!” I got distracted and we never made it to the summit.

While we were racing around the ponies and ooing and ahing over the babies, Marty joined in.

We were all amazed how comfortable the ponies were with us. They were working the camera giving me full-on nostril shots. Work it ladies! They were so comfortable, they were even biting at my sleeves!

Wild Ponies Grayson Highlands State Park

In a broken conversation between the ponies' fits of shocking behavior - “Ah, the pony just farted on me!”; “Oh, geez! What’s going on there? Ah! It’s not round— it’s flat!”; “He’s biting his butt!” to this thru-hiker jumping in for a quick selfie, we heard a tiny bit of Marty’s story with the AT. His story surprised me and I’ve been itching to share it.

**Looks like Adam's never seen one before! Ha!**

Marty’s from Virginia. He’s always known the AT was out there. It wasn’t until meeting a couple in their 70’s who had hiked the 2,000+ mile trail twice did Marty really get inspired. He started considering doing the AT himself. His considerations turned to “I’m going to do it."

He started taking steps to make it happen. To cut down living costs and save more, he moved in with friends.

He was so serious about hiking the Appalachian Trail, he went in to work one day to quit his job. When he sat down with his boss to give the news, his boss said, “No.”

"What? Wait. Huh?" I was confused. Marty was the one telling them he was quitting. How could they say no?

Turns out, they saw another option. His boss said they’d give him a leave of absence to hike, but they wanted him back when he was done.

What an awesome surprise!

I was amazed by this piece of his story. Quitting your job to go out and have a big experience isn’t the only option. Marty’s company proved that when we work hard and our work is valued, companies are willing to value our personal goals. Well, the ones who care about their people will do this.

You know it’s crazy, because some folks take six months to complete the AT. That doesn’t matter. His company supports his 2,190 mile quest from Georgia to Maine. They just wanted to make sure they got him back whenever he was done. Pretty awesome, eh?

His company’s response shocked me and I forgot all about the farting ponies. He continued to share how amazed he’s been of everyone’s encouragement for him to pursue this big adventure. Great friends are even watching his dog while he hikes.

We are inspired by Marty’s guts to drop everything for his big dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail. Sometimes we don’t pursue big dreams because we’re afraid of what people will think. He had a big dream and went for it, and everyone’s encouraging response surprised all of us.

A storm was a-brewin’. We were all reluctant to split from the ponies' free entertainment.

Wild Horses Grayson Highlands State Park

Marty found a spot to set up camp and hunkered down before the storm hit. Adam and I got caught in the rain running back to the car.

I imagine Marty’s moments on the trail- when he’s alone laying in his tent listening to the rain patter or during his eighth hour of walking by himself for the day- being filled with so much more comfort than expected because he knows everyone back home- family, friends and his co-workers- are cheering him on but also eagerly awaiting his return.

Adam and I can relate. When you’re so far from home and on a grand adventure, it’s the support from your loved ones you cling to during the hard moments. Their words of encouragement play through your mind over and over and continue to push you forward.

So awesome to meet you Marty! Thanks for sharing your story. You are an inspiration. Keep going! We're back in Virginia cheering you on!

...

Marty's story totally inspired me. When I dream big, I always come up with a list of challenges of why it won't happen. But maybe I'm just making them up. He thought he had to quit his job to go, but he didn't.

I hope Marty's story inspired you. Leave a comment below to share what you think and share the inspiration with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!

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Definite Top Experience of Nuventures

July 27, 2015

If you were to ask us, "What is the coolest thing you have done recently?" Adam I would both yell out, "Flying kites!" Well, we weren't even flying the kites, we were only watching! Then, we would argue over who would get to tell the story.

Hands down, seeing kites take flight in preparation for the Bali Kite Festival has been one of the coolest experiences we have had on our nuventures. We even have a video below so you can see one getting launched! You need to see it to believe it!

Background: The Bali Kite Festival is an international festival where teams from all over the world come to fly their kites in the seasonal strong wind. These aren't just any kites. We were hearing of, "Kites being so big, 14 men are dragged down a beach trying to control them!"

Over our month long stay in Ubud, Bali we were seeing the daily preparations of men and boys working on building these enormous bamboo structures in their banjar centers each night. As the nights progressed, we were starting to see the men working to fit beautiful fabrics over the bamboo frames. Then, we started witnessing these kites causing traffic jams because they were bigger than the trucks carrying them! The transport of these kites require police escorts to ensure the kites don't get caught in overhanging trees or electrical wires on the narrow streets.

For the entire month, we were waiting in anticipation like Christmas was coming! On July 18, the date of the festival, we were off to Sanur Beach with our hearts full of excitement to see these enormous kites in flight!

After the hour ride, we stepped out of the car and our hearts were immediately deflated. A parking attendant said, "No, it happened three days ago." What!?! I checked five internet sites for the date! We hurried to the beach to see for ourselves. No kites. I was heartbroken. I had been waiting in anticipation for an entire month and we missed it! I edged away from the group and pouted like a five year old. Seriously.

Adam was the man, stepping up to the plate and persevering in asking more people to get a better understanding of the real story. We are continuing to learn you can't trust to get the real facts about visas, kite festivals, or anything from one person or the internet in South East Asia. You need to ask tons of people and read many internet sources to get a big consensus on any issue.

A few people pointed down the beach and described a 15 minute walk. As we were heading that way, we asked a few more people just to make sure we were headed in the right direction and they said, "It's not today." Ugh! We kept on hoping for the best!

Then, with our ears perked, we heard the kites before we saw them! It sounded like we were approaching a small airport!

The walkway opened up into a huge field and kites were flying! I was so excited I felt like I was racing onto the field jumping and doing somersaults in celebration. Yes, we missed the festival, but we got to see some of the teams practicing for their future competitions!

A team bringing in a kite to launch! Check the dragon face!

The team starts tying on the tail of the kite.

We are so PUMPED! Look how big this kite is!

We met Laura in New Zealand and reunited in Bali! So cool experiencing this together!

We met Rich and his wife, Danielle, in Bali and we're all from Colorado Springs, Colorado! Small world!

The 20+ man team works together to control the flight.

They were constantly shifting and adapting to the winds.

They used exposed sand bags on the beach as a base to hold the rope.

Watch the kite being launched here!

Have you ever seen this? If not, you have to! Put Bali on your bucketlist and make sure to go for the Bali Kite Festival, whenever it is! We still wouldn't be able to tell you!

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A Birthday Like None Other

July 19, 2015

Adam's 28th year was brought in with a Balinese bang!

Our Balinese friend, Guli, invited a couple of bules (white people) to his family's temple ceremony. Thankfully, we were two of these lucky bules along with our new Colorado Springs friends, Rich and Danielle. The date of the ceremony was scheduled for an auspicious day on the Balinese calendar and just happened to fall on Adam's 28th birthday.

This kind of invitation is the ultimate travel experience for Adam and was quite the birthday gift to start off a new year!

This ceremony celebrates the birth of the temple and is celebrated every six months through two cleansing ceremonies in the clan temple and again in the family temple. We had no idea what this meant and what we were in for, so cheers to another #nuventure!

After arriving at the family's compound, we sat chatting with the men.

We sampled sweet Balinese coffee, rice cookies, purple sweet potato and spicy chicken. Yum!

All six senses were bursting with new and foreign stimulus all day. From our first step into the compound, we were constantly adjusting and soaking in all the new visuals, sounds, and smells that come with preparing for and taking part in a Balinese ceremony. Just imagine this scene: roosters constantly crowing, incense burning for the offerings being sent to the heavens, constant ringing of the priest's golden bell as he prayed, the tonal pitch of eastern hymns, mischievous boys running and screaming around the temple, and the vibrant colors in the decorations, the attire and in the fruit and flowers.

We were soaking all of this in whilst being creative in our communication with Guli's family through broken English, laughing, and enormous smiles. We wanted to make sure his family knew we were so thankful to be there with them on such a special day!

The family temple decorated for the second ceremony.

The family temple located right in the compound next to the bedrooms.

The ladies started taking the offerings to the clan temple.

Everyone preparing the offerings in the family temple.

While waiting for the ceremonies, Adam learned how to massage and condition cocks for cock fighting.

We made our way to the clan temple for the first prayer and cleansing ceremony. As we were sitting on the bamboo mats in the clan temple, Guli was guiding us through the Balinese prayer ceremony we were about to experience. Just before it started he said, "I hope after today you will be better Christians."

The family slowly trickled into the clan temple. The priest had started ringing his bell and the singing of prayerful songs had started.

How beautiful are these women? Waving flower petals and wafting their prayers to heaven.

We are so bad. We're supposed to be praying! I'm not a good influence:)

We loved how the boys could just play and be themselves during the ceremony.

The women, the colors, the offerings. Ah! All are so lovely!

Big contrast to Adam's Southern Baptist upbringing. This would be begging for a good switchin'!

Guli's uncle chummed up with Adam all day. He's holding a grilled chicken with the head, beak and talons still intact. It's snack time after the ceremony. Dig in!

While waiting for the second ceremony, we sat and chatted again. Everyone was amazed by Rich smoking his pipe. Never seen a pipe before!

The men were preparing a fire cracker to explode during the next ceremony to scare away evil spirits.

A fire was lit under three bamboo stalks right outside the family temple. Everyone laughed and made fun of each others' shock when each one exploded.

The women are still bringing in more and more offerings for the ceremony in the family temple.

The entire family squeezed together on the ground for the ceremony to begin.

The priest prayed, rang his bell, led us through prayers and drenched us with holy water. — The priest prayed, rang his bell, led us through prayers and drenched us with holy water.

Guli's uncle led the songs of prayer and guided us through the singing.

So many offerings of cakes, fruit, flowers, rice and chicken.

The camera just can't capture it all. Heaps of offerings were on the tables, in the temple's nooks and crannies, and on the ground.

After the ceremonies, it was time to eat! Guli presented Adam a cake from the offerings as a birthday cake. Balinese folks don't have birthdays, but are familiar with Western traditions.  He asked, "Should we light the candles?" — After the ceremonies, it was time to eat! Guli presented Adam a cake from the offerings as a birthday cake. Balinese folks don't have birthdays, but are familiar with Western traditions. He asked, "Should we light the candles?"

The family all followed us out to wave goodbye. Ah! What an amazing day!

The day ended and we crashed into bed with yet another day of our minds exploding from all the learning and our hearts full from the love we received from another beautiful Balinese family.

The next morning I woke up in a groggy stupor and realized I had no idea what had happened on Adam's birthday. I was in absolutely every moment. I saw it all, took in all the noises, smells, tastes, brilliant colors and smiles. We even took part in the same ceremony twice. I still had no idea what was sang, what was prayed, why certain colors were chosen, why they have three ladies praying instead of four, etc, etc.

Before I started googling the heck out of Balinese human temple ceremonies, I had a revelation. I was there. I don't need to google it. I don't need to know absolutely every intricate detail of what was said, what was sang or the purpose behind every small hand movement. The purpose of the day, the temple birthday and Adam's birthday, was celebrating life. Even though we all come from such different lives and backgrounds, we came together to celebrate. We united in celebrating life living in a world of the seen and unseen, the known and the unknown. To what we see and know, we all give thanks and for the unknown and unseen, we all get on our knees and pray.

Cheers to another year, Adam, of new, unknown adventures!

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Sheep Shearing in New Zealand: Ewe Need a Haircut?

March 24, 2015

Surprisingly, our sheep farming days weren't entirely over yet!

We had missed an opportunity to shear sheep and be shed hands during our first go 'round in Invercargill, New Zealand when we were captured at the launderette. So, we jumped at the invitation to be shed hands during a shearing at Gay and Ron's farm, Manuka Mire. Once we received her text, away we flew to Invercargill to get our hands in that wool again! As we were making our way to the farm riding down the familiar country roads we both looked at each other. It hit us at the same time. An overwhelming sense of comfort had over taken us. Warm and fuzzy memories of wooly ewes, overalls, gum boots, green paddocks, home made jelly and mince pies all started flooding back. We were pumped to be heading to the farm again!

Fulfilling our role as shed hands was quite an adventure. Can't say we have helped give a sheep a hair cut before! We were all smiles all day (probably from Gay's wonderful hospitality of keeping us loaded on hot tea and delicious biscuits)!