"The best intangible find was more volunteer time for Longview or Pine Tree schools. Carol told us that she wants to start volunteering, and that is great news for the school kids of our area!"

Meanwhile, David was making a run back home to get hats that could be tied down for Sarah and himself. Sarah stood around waiting for him to return as long as she could stand it, but finally  the lure of all that litter got to her, and off she hopped.

When David returned with two hats but only one head, he offered to share the extra hat. Frank, who had been hatless, gratefully accepted. Sandra, who brought her walking/litter retriever stick with her, joined the hatted fellows and, bags aflap, they headed into the wind and down Judson Road.

Less than two hours later we were all back at Annie’s Attic, tired, but richer in many ways. Huey found a huge, functioning umbrella, perfect for sheltering a fisherman from the blistering sun as he ponders things deep and mysterious by the water’s edge. Marolen found a pair of tennis shoes (wrong size, but kept them anyway - one never knows) and, apparently, a lot of cigarette butts since she was overheard growling to herself, "There sure are a lot of smokers left in the world and most of them throw their butts out the window. grrrrrrrrr!"

Asked what she enjoyed about the day, Julie said, "It's always a pleasure when the weather is as beautiful as it was (loved that wind) to amble slowly in the midst of great friends. And of course, since it's a high priority with us, we can't forget eating lunch together after (with Huey brave enough to be the only Brother amongst all the Sisters.)

So after piling all 20 bags of trash into our truck, Huey and I joined the rest of the lunching litter patrol at IHOP for a leisurely meal and lively conversation.

Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area?

The UU Bed and Breakfast directory, UU’re Home (formerly Homecomings) can help you fulfill your dream. For 25 years, we’ve provided a network of hosts in North America (and a few abroad) who enjoy meeting new friends and who are happy to open their home to like-minded people.

The directory is published every year in April. For a copy of the 2005 directory, please send a check for $18 to UU’re Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville, NC 28806. UU’re Home has just launched a new web site at www.UUreHome.com, which includes about half of the listings. Entries are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added.

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(1838 - 1914)

Scottish-born American naturalist, inventor writer, rover and crusader for wilderness preservation.

John Muir was a lifelong pacifist who moved to Canada during the civil War conscription. He was a mechanical wizard who refused to patent his inventions because "all improvements and inventions should be the property of the human race." When a factory accident temporarily blinded him, young Muir resolved to devote the rest of his life "to the study of the inventions of God." Upon regaining his sight, he set off alone on a thousand-mile botanizing walk from Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico.

"Only going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness," he wrote. "All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter."

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