The Journey

A traveler born,

wanderlust galore,

never stops moving,

a wildfire out of control.

You plead for her heart,

but she’s in love with the world,

doesn’t commit, just quits,

starts again the next day.

A hurricane hits,

another natural disaster

she fights with ease.

Scars old and new

from climbing up tall mountains,

the physical kind,

others etched in her soul.

Maybe showers once a week,

owns two tees and some jeans,

living on the edge

of a cliff so high

vertigo would hit

if this wasn’t her life.

A broken girl who wanders

through the unknown

depths of the thick black forest

to a shadowy cave that lets

her quietly disappear.

She won’t admit to defeat

or to feeling alone,

she’s friends with the world,

a playground all her own.

She’ll send you a postcard,

or two or three, with stamps

nobody else can read.

Destinations bore her,

she never wants to arrive,

the journey keeps her alive.

- An original poem by Carly Kaczmarowski

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.

Camp Life in Tahoe

The past six weeks was well spent in the northern end of the Tahoe National forest area at a Girl Scout camp called Camp Wasiu II. After realizing that graduate school was not where I necessarily wanted to be in my life right now, I decided to go back to the one thing that made me happy no matter what- camp. Sure I dropped out of graduate school, gave up a full ride, and am now more poor than I was when I moved out here, but you know what? I'm happy. 

Who needs to sit in a classroom and be told what to write and how to write when you can just run away into the mountains and do two things you love; working with kids and giving them opportunities that they may not have outside of camp, and writing on your own time in a setting that provides much more inspiration than a brick room with no windows.

So without further ado, here are the summer happenings spent near Sierra City, CA.

Graeagle (pronounced Grey Eagle, or if you're me: Graegle)

Graeagle is a tiny little place on the way up to camp. From Reno, you drive into California, through mountains and fields of cows, through Portola, and right before you turn up the mountain road to get to camp you get Graeagle. To the midwesterners, this would be that popular 4th of July destination where there was a lake for boating (though this was small enough that no motor boats were allowed), great food, and a great community of people. We stopped there for some food and some ice cream, and the locals were excellent. (Although they warned me to not stop for the 4th of July because it gets crazy! But that's when you know it's one of those destinations that the world may not realize is there, but there are always those regulars who wouldn't travel anywhere else for their mid-summer holiday)

Sierra Buttes hike (about halfway up)

The Sierra Buttes hike is about four miles round trip from where we started, mostly uphill (although there are some nice flat areas of forest to give you a break), and you gain over 2000ft in elevation,  so bring water, and if you're like me, bring your inhaler.The hike seems long, but you get the bad hills out of the way at the end. I went with my CIT's who were about fourteen years of age, and we made it up in about two hours. Though we break halfway up for a snack and to lookout at the view above. Once we made it to the top, it reminded me roughly of a mix up between the mountains in Switzerland and South Africa. It was breathtaking. 

View from the lookout tower at the Sierra Buttes

My first ziplining experience

With both of my groups this summer, we traveled to a co-ed camp about twenty minutes away for a high ropes adventure. My CIT's told me I looked like a woodland fair when I shimmied up the vertical challenge. Crossfit for the win there. Alas, I got to zipline for the first time in my life and check it off of the ambitions list. 

I also got to check off whitewater rafting, we went down the Truckee river out of Tributary Whitewater Tours in Truckee. The grades of the rapids were mostly ones and twos, though we hit a number three rapid at the end. This is definitely something I will pursue in the future because it was amazing. White water kayaking still needs to be checked off.

Below is a photo of Frazier Falls. It's called a hike but is really a stroll on a paved path to see the falls (which is apparently more epic in the Spring time after the snow has just started to melt)

Frazier Falls.

My group stayed at Wild Plum Campground and hiked part of the Wild Plum Loop, which then ran into the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and eventually led us down to Love Falls where after a not so long and not so enduring hike (I would say it's basic-intermediate), we took a dip under the bridge in the ice cold water. And on a hot day in the mountain after working up a sweat, it felt grand.

Love Falls.

My excitement.

The pool we swam in.

Chilling on a rock under the bridge

 

With a summer full of adventures like hikes, high ropes, stand up paddle boarding, white water rafting, camping, and overall just challenging both myself and my groups of girl scouts, I can without a doubt say that although the summer may have been rough and tiresome emotionally (what camp life isn't?), I had a swell summer. Too bad I'm back in Vegas where it's a billion degrees and disgusting. Back on the job search, and still living on the edge.

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,

Carly K.

World of Warthogs

This is the video I created when I went to South Africa. Spent a lot of time hanging out with the warthogs, who are scared off more than any other animal I've seen.

If you get the chance to go to South Africa, I suggest stopping off at the Schotia Game Reserve, it's really awesome. The food is awesome, they have their own garden where the grow most of the vegetables they feed us. On special nights you get impala or some other deer species straight from the reserve.

Enjoy my video!

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.

Date at a Wildlife Park

My fiance and I went to the Living Treasures Animal Park in New Castle, PA for a date today. It was surprising worth the money of $10 a piece. I think we were expecting something of a children's zoo, which I guess it was, but you can feed pretty much every animal that is there except for the big cats.

The adventure starts off viewing some flamingos, cranes, and a sloth. Then it's off to the races to feed as many animals as possible.

My fiance, Chris, feeding some baby reindeer

The alligator pond had food that you could toss to them, these suckers are quick on the jump!

Feeding a baby zebra!

The cute small aviary is full of parakeets and cockatiels that you can feed

Don't be afraid to pet the kangaroos, they love a good scratch; they also don't mind being fed by hand

Although you can't feed the leapord, this guy was cute and really fun to watch

Like I said, definitely a nice deal for this small place. They also sell giant buckets of feed and bags of carrots for $3.50 to feed the animals. One bucket of feed lasted my fiance and I through the entire park, plus some spare quarters for feed for the alligators and a kudamundi -- which was awesome since I've never seen one before.

The park also has buffalo, a big lion, giraffes, emus, ostriches, muntjac deer, and so much more that serve to entertain the child inside, or real children.

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.

Filming in South Africa

Big Mama

Today I started planning my documentary; what animal I wanted my documentary to be on, problems the animal could face, problems I could face while filming, the cutaways I could get while filming so I could make the story more dramatic while in the editing room. Filming documentaries is almost like shooting a fictional film, you work with real subjects but the editing is what makes the story real.

I chose to work with warthogs and lions to create a television trailer for a new documentary series I made up called World of Warthogs, based off of Meerkat Manor. I created the story of big head honcho Boris in charge of keeping his clan, the Tuskers, safe from his outcast brother Scar with his War-Thugs and bigger threats like lions. Other characters are introduced in the trailer which I will post soon! 

I realized that one of the worst things about working with warthogs is that they are incredibly skiddish and will run away and almost any movement. I learned a lot of patience while working with these creatures and recommend anyone that ever does a documentary to have much more patience than I do to even attempt to work with these awesome animals. The one neat thing, though, is that even though Big Mama is super protective, I got to know her and the twins quite well and was able to get within ten to fifteen feet of them and sit with them for long periods of time and record them. I think Big Mama was able to sense that I was not as threatening as some other creatures, considering I wasn't threatening at all. I really grew to love my warthog 

The twins, Gerdy and Forrest

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.

Schotia Wildlife Reserve, South Africa

Today was the arrival at the Schotia Wildlife Reserve in South Africa where I will be spending ten days of spending time with and filming the wildlife to make my documentary short.

Bush Camp at Schotia Game Reserve, South Africa

Guests are allowed to stay here in a small hotel like area in the safe zone. There are different building with different amenities included, I don't really know any of them because I got to stay at Bush Camp. Literally, two cabins in a bush. I was told that at first they didn't have the bush labeled,  and it looked like every other bush on the reserve so the interns previously would always get lost trying to find it. I definitely appreciated the sign.

Giraffe interrupted from eating

Bush Camp is in the 'safe zone' of the reserve where the animals that roam free are not ones that can readily eat you. When I wake up, outside my door I get to see rhinos, giraffes, warthogs, wildebeest, zebras, and more.

The fence that crosses into the 'danger zone' is not too far from Bush Camp. There are things like jackals, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, lions, and more. The pride has a total of nine lions, three females and five males. The big daddy male is easy to hear roaring during the night, that was probably one of the coolest things to hear in the wild.

Crocodile ready for action!

Upon arrival, we were informed that a hyena had broken into the reserve, probably using a warthog hole underneath the fence since warthogs tend to dig and escape in and out. They only see it once and a while, but with nine lions to contend with for feeding purposes, I don't think I'd stick around too much if I were a hyena myself.

The highlight of the first night was being stalked and surrounded by the nine lions. The five of us were in an open land rover with our guide, while other tourists have closed land rovers. So the young males and especially the young female that was born without an ear found us especially entertaining and worth pursuing. The first time we saw the lions they came up to our land rover quite inquisitive but Leandi, our guide, revved the engine which seemed to scare them off a little bit. 

Afternoon snooze after catching and eating an impala

The second time we saw them, though, they were much more daring and we actually got surrounded by five or six of the young lions wanting to 'play.' The young female without an ear took a small leap at the car, but not enough to get onto it or get any of us. It was quite terrifying and excited all at once, but since I didn't die it makes for one great story. Leandi didn't stick around or rev the engine after that, she just slammed down the gas out of there. It was exhilarating even more so that the pride continue to follow us in a stalking matter until we were out of the danger zone for the night. It was crazy! If you go to South Africa and want to stay somewhere awesome with game drives and such, I definitely suggest staying at the Schotia Game Reserve.

Sunset at Schotia

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.

Jukani, Wildlife Sanctuary

Spent the day earlier in the week at Jukani, a wildlife sanctuary in Mossell Bay, with everything from white tigers, white lions, Siberian tigers, lions, cheetahs, jaguars, panthers, caracals, and other animals like jackals and African wild dogs.

Snoozing caracal

I have seen most of these animals at zoos before, but I have never seen a jackal before and never seen nor heard of a caracal which is almost a small bobcat without the fancy markings.

The white tigers and lions were absolutely stunning. I have never heard of a white lion before, because I guess they are so highly hunted for their coats that they are very endangered. I was thankful for the opportunity to be able to see these animals up close.

Male lion

Female white lion, so beautiful

White tiger

Pacing cheetah

Curious tiger, sniffing at the fence

I wish I had more to say about this place but some things are really harder to put into words than others. I can just hope that the pictures I shared can help get the breathtaking feeling I felt across to you guys.

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.

Ever Ride and Ostrich?

Sunday was an exciting time here in South Africa. I started off the day eating a quick breakfast before leaving to make the journey through the mountains to Oudtshoorn.

The excitement began at the Cango Ostrich Show Farm where I learned the difference between the coloring of male and female ostriches (males have black and white feathers, females have gray and brown feathers), finding out that ostrich eggs are thick and sturdy enough for a human to stand directly on them, and best of all learning the techniques behind successful ostrich riding.

You would think riding an ostrich would be quite complicated, but really it's just like jumping onto your older brother's back-- except you have more control over the ostrich whereas your brother will run around like a mad man. Steering an ostrich is as simple as pushing their long neck left or right to turn them, just like a horse without reigns or a saddle. The key is to hold onto the wings for your reigns and lean back so you don't go toppling over the front of the ostrich. The only thing I did not appreciate about this place is that they really were in a rush to get us in and out, not everyone had the opportunity to ride an ostrich.

The next adventure was off to the Cango Caves for adventure caving.

 I was the only veteran caving-adventurer so the rest of the interns that decided to do the adventure were quite surprised at the small spaces that were required to squeeze through. At one point there was a tiny opening on the ground with a light shining in, the interns thought it was a joke to make us think we had to crawl into it. Still thinking it was a joke, the interns all laughed and gasped at once as I shimmied straight up the tiny chimney for about three meters. I was pretty graceful so it was nice to make the recovery from the not so graceful cage diving fiasco. Although this was deemed an 'adventure' tour, I've been on more exciting caving and spelunking escapades in the states so as a veteran I was not as impressed as the other novice cave explorers.

Lunch was a nice meaty ostrich burger, which for some reason I expected to taste like alligator. That was not the case at all. At the ostrich farm they explained that ostriches have barely any fat to them and I think that is what made the flavor so odd. I was glad I tried it, but could only guzzle down half the burger before getting sick of the flavor. Perhaps I started to feel bad at the fact that I was riding an ostrich not too much earlier in the day as well.

The day ended at the Cango Wildlife Ranch, which was almost a mini zoo. We went on a walk through tour with a guide that involved animals like the Nile crocodiles, pygmy hippos, and cape vultures in which they said there were only 22 left in the wild. 

The wildlife ranch focused a lot on conservation and preservation especially of cheetahs. Other big cats in the park included white lions, tiger cubs, and white tigers. 

One of the neater things about this place is that they constantly have the opportunity for visitors to encounter any of their big cats close up, a few of the big snakes, as well as cage dive with the crocodiles which I would have done if I brought extra money with! The prices are actually insanely affordable as well coming out to the most expensive one being maybe $30 or so U.S. dollars.

Overall, I think the adventure to Oudtshoorn was a success and another one that I would take if I were to come to South Africa again, especially to the wildlife park to cage dive with the crocodiles.