Author Archives: TA Loeffler

Happy 5th Anniversary Wokies

As has become tradition, as many WOKies (Women of Kilmanjaro) as possible gathered together to climb Signal Hill (the site of much of our shared training) this morning. Five years and four days ago, we shared the summit of Kilimanjaro … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #762 Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing…

Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing. ― Barry Finlay, Kilimanjaro and Beyond Happy 5th Anniversary to the WOKies!

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Visual Soliloquy #761 The lake and the mountains have become my landscape, my real world…

The lake and the mountains have become my landscape, my real world. – Georges Simenon

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Visual Soliloquy #760 Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul…

Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all. ― Emily Dickinson

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Visual Soliloquy #759 Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow…

Do not ruin today with mourning tomorrow. ― Catherynne M. Valente

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Visual Soliloquy #758 How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains…

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! – John Muir

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Visual Soliloquy #757 The more that you read, the more things you will know…

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. ― Dr. Seuss

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Visual Soliloquy #756 Must we always teach our children with books?

Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin to think, and to think … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #755 Our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible…

Our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible. No one can do more. –Loris Malaguzzi

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Celebrating with the Grade Four’s at Bishop Abraham School

One of the highlights of last week was visiting the Grade Four classes at Bishop Abraham School here in St. John’s. It was my second visit of the school year and great fun. They followed along daily on my latest … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #754 We delight in the beauty of the butterfly…

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ― Maya Angelou

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Visual Soliloquy #753 Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you…

Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder. ― Henry David Thoreau

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Visual Soliloquy #752 You have to do what you can, do your best with what you are. And you have to believe in wilderness…

You have to do what you can, do your best with what you are. And you have to believe in wilderness. If you do that you can’t go wrong. – Kirk Albert Walter Wipper

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Visual Soliloquy #751 Clouds very high look not one word helped them get up there…

Clouds very high look not one word helped them get up there. ― Ikkyu

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Visual Soliloquy #750 Education is not filling a pail, but lighting a fire…

Education is not filling a pail, but lighting a fire. –William Butler Yeats Congratulations to all of the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation students who convocate today!  Enjoy your day, celebrate your achievements and go light some fires.

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Canoeing Twillingate…

Marian and I hemmed and hawed about whether or not we’d bring our sea kayaks to Twillingate this time. In the end, we decided to bring our canoe…a 16 foot Esquif Prospecteur…because we’re doing a canoe trip on the Main … Continue reading

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Ice…We’ve spotted some icebergs

No matter how many times, I’ve seen an iceberg, there is always excitement in seeing another…we’re off to see if we can get a closer look or find a pond to canoe in, whichever comes first.

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A Geocaching We Will Go…More Adventures to be had in Twillingate

Our afternoon’s intrepid adventure started out from the Anchor Inn and Suites. We set out, smart phones/GPS in hands, ready to treasure hunt/geocache in both the urban and wilds of Twillingate. Bright colours and bright smiles adorned us as we … Continue reading

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Looking for Root Cellars in Tgate

A great pre dinner walk checking out some root cellars in Twillingate. They have many of the geo-tagged but we found this one on our own and had a lovely coastal bushwhacked back to the Anchor Inn to boot! Another … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #749 Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers…

Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey. ― Pat Conroy

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Visual Soliloquy #748 There are several ways to react to being lost. One is to panic…

There are several ways to react to being lost. One is to panic: this was usually Valentina’s first impulse. Another is to abandon yourself to lostness, to allow the fact that you’ve misplaced yourself to change the way you experience … Continue reading

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Visual Soliloquy #747 It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end…

It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end. ― Ursula K. Le Guin

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Visual Soliloquy #746 That’s what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing…

That’s what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing. ― Simone de Beauvoir

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Visual Soliloquy #745 All things in this world must be seen with youthful, hopeful eyes…

All things in this world must be seen with youthful, hopeful eyes. – Henry David Thoreau  

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Visual Soliloquy #744 Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top…

Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot buy with money or be given by others..it rises from your heart. –Junko Tabai  

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Visual Soliloquy #743 Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but witho ut it we go nowhere…

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere.–Carl Sagan

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Visual Soliloquy #742 If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it…

If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.–Steve Jobs file:///Users/TA/Desktop/945890_10152794441130551_117780212_n.jpg

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Visual Soliloquy #741 The greatest competitor you’ll ever come up against is self doubt…

The greatest competitor you’ll ever come up against is self doubt. – John McGrath

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Homeward Bound

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Peaks and Passes Extends Many Thanks to HKR 4210 Students

I hope you have enjoyed following along on this expedition and that you tried out some of the suggested activities along the way.  The activities were developed by students in HKR 4210: Teaching Leadership through Physical Activity class that I … Continue reading

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From Tea House to Raj Palace

We made quite the transition this morning transferring via twin otter from the small mountain village of Lukla to the chaotic metropolis of Kathmandu. We also moved from simple tea house to former Raj Palace-the Shankar Hotel. After 24 days … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 25: May 9

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 25: We hope to take an early morning flight to Kathmandu Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU KNOW? The jet stream buffets the top of Everest with hurricane force winds for much of the … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 24: May 8

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 24: Our final days trekking following the Dudh Khosi mostly downhill but with a last climb up to Lukla. We say goodbye to our support crew in traditional style. We stay in a tea house. … Continue reading

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Life in the Lukla Bardo

As you can see from this picture, we’re still in Lukla. Heading off to visit the Gompa and hoping for clear skies tomorrow morning.

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Peaks and Passes Day 23: May 7

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 23: Trekking via Thyangboche where we stop for a visit to the Monastery, and via the settlements of Phunki Tenga and Kangjuma, we reach Namche Bazaar. Camp (3440m). Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU … Continue reading

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11,707 Metres Gained and Now Back in Lukla

We made our last big climb into Lukla this afternoon and enjoyed a treat at the German Bakery that is attached to our guest house. We had “pig’s ears” as Oma called them or butterfly Wing cookies as they are … Continue reading

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Peaks and Passes Day 22: May 6

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 22: Descending the Imja Khola Valley via Dingboche we reach the main Khumbu Valley and pass through the village of Pangboche to our halt at Deboche. Camp (3710m). Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU … Continue reading

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Bird Songs

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Peaks and Passes Day 21: May 5

Expedition Itinerary Plan for Day 21: An early start for the ascent of Island Peak at 6187m./20,299ft. After taking in the spectacular 360 panorama from the summit we descend to our base camp. Fun Fact of the Day DID YOU … Continue reading

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Pangum

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