A Moment in the Woods

Bill Marple Tracks

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:15:18 +0000

Hey There Magda,

Well, I know what you’re probably thinking. It’s been quite some

time now since you’ve heard from me. At this point, you’ve probably

wondered many times if I might actually have fallen off the face of

the Earth. Close, but not quite. Yes, as usual, its been much busier than

expected lately. Let me tell you what happened. Get ready! It’s a long

one, but the pay off is worth it!

You see, just recently, about 6 weeks ago, I bought a new (used) truck

thinking it would be a good investment for getting myself and my gear

to workshops and classes. It’s a diesel truck and some friends and I

converted it to run on Waste Vegetable Oil. The conversion is fun to

do and very simple(to see how, check out my upcoming blog on Grease Cars!).

After I took a look at the conversion process and budgeted out how

much I would save on fuel costs, I decided a converted truck would

really help in cutting down on travel costs. As you know, fuel prices

these days are not likely to go down anytime soon. There was only one

small problem: I’m not much of a mechanic. I’ve never truly spent a whole

lot of time working on an engine, let alone understood how they work.

Honestly, prior to beginning this process, if I opened up the hood of your

vehicle and there was no engine in there, I could tell you there was a

problem. Other than that, I would suggest calling a mechanic.

However, after researching things, the conversion process seemed simple

enough and made sense in terms of saving me a lot of money I would

otherwise spend on travel.

As well, converting my truck to run on grease appealed to my vanity. I

have to say I’ve always wanted to be one of those guys who could stand

in front of a truck with the hood up, leaning back on his heels, feet much

wider apart than necessary, with dirty, oil covered arms folded across his

chest, a wrench in each hand, who, when the engine refused to start, could

sniff, and say something like, “sounds like there’s not enough pressure in

the fuel injector. That fuel pump has a problem,” before drenching the

ground beside me with a huge stringy wad of tobacco juice. As if to say,

“I don’t have a problem. This engine has a problem with itself.” But, as

I found out, these things are often not as simple as they seem.

My friend, however, assured me he knew what he was doing, and he and

I could work on the conversion together, stating that I would happily be

on my way and running on grease within four days of work. We started

the conversion at his apartment with high spirits, but, as you can imagine,

it took a little longer than four days.

Needless to say, from the time I took possession of the vehicle to the time

I got back here to Nevada was about 6 weeks of constant work. The drive

itself across the country took 7 days, and involved what amounted to daily

bathing in oil and coolant, several trips to both local auto parts stores and

Home Depot, occasional huge clouds of electrical smoke, at least 5 different

tow trucks, 2 dozen oil filters, and one instance of the possibility of police

involvement(its better not to ask questions at this point).

So, how does this relate to tracking? The truck is now running great,

but to be honest, that’s not what I really wanted to talk to you about

today. What I really wanted to tell you about was a great tracking experience
I had while working on the truck.

After about 3 weeks of working on it with myself and friends, and having

made no headway, we decided to enlist the help of a professional diesel

mechanic. His name is Brian, and he’s been working on these engines

his entire life. When he arrived, I knew it was the right choice.

Brian is about fifty, but could probably pass for much older due to the

chiseled lines on his face from years of working outside. He weighs

about 135 pounds, is a retired lobster fisherman(pronounced “lawbstah”

in New England), is as weathered as driftwood, has a voice that sounds

like a wood rasp being dragged over hardwood but still manages to

come off as friendly and good natured. He’s trying to quit smoking,

but still takes an unlit cigarette and puts it in his mouth every 30 mins

or so just so he can think straight about what he’s working on. He’s

methodical, professional, and oozes competence when he speaks about

almost anything mechanical.

Not only this, but Brian is full of cool mechanic stories, such as the time

he was actually in an engine compartment that blew up in his face while

working on a boat, or the time he arcwelded a screwdriver to the bumper

of a military vehicle when high voltage passed through his body due to

his partner overlooking a loose wire.

How many volts? “I dunno. About a million, I guess,” he rasped.

“Took me about 2 weeks before I could remember anything real good

again.” What I mean to say is that for yours truly, this man was the perfect

choice for everything we wanted to learn-a veritable Elder of Auto.

However, what really impressed us was his philosophical views on

mechanics. We knew we only had a short time with Brian, and we peppered

him with questions as we worked, desperately wanting to learn as much

as we could. At one point he looked annoyed by our questions, and I

apologized to him.

He looked back at me and said, “Hey, that’s not a problem, curiosity and

askin’ questions is good. That’s what makes ya smart. Actually, ya don’t

even need to figure somethin’ out. Just askin’ the question will help ya

ta learn most anything.”

Sound familiar? My friend and I were silent for awhile, thinking about

whether this was coincidence or perhaps Grandfather had momentarily

possessed the man in our presence and talked to us about the Sacred

Question.

After a bit, the conversation picked up again, and we talked about Brian’s

time as a lobsterman. He spoke about it wistfully, telling us about how

the currents affect the lobster populations, and how the lobsters migrate

through the area.

Finally, he stopped working on the engine, and looked at us saying, “I

spent 3/4′s of my life tryin’ ta figure out how a lobstah thinks.” He had a

grin on his face and one eyebrow raised at this point as his eyes bore into

us. “See, it ain’t enough to only study somethin’. You have to become

the critter you’re tryin’ ta find. You become it. Actually, it ain’t no different

then workin’ on this truckYou become it. Actually, it ain’t no different

then workin’ on this truck. You have to become this thing if you ever

really wanna figure out what’s wrong with it.”

It was then, that I had to excuse myself, as once again I wondered if

Brian had ever attended Tracker School. After all, how often have I

heard Tom say that you have to become the animal you’re trying to

track. And, I knew that while working with Brian on the engine, I’d not

only learned something about my truck, but I’d been reminded how the

process of tracking applies to so many things in our lives.

Quite frankly, if we’re problem-solving something, then we’re using

the part of our brain that was designed to track. We’re constantly looking

for patterns, processes, features of something we’re thinking about

and asking questions about it in order to learn. These answers and our

experiences with them then guide us to greater and greater understanding

of what we’re studying, until we can feel in ourselves what the problem

is or whatever it is we’re looking for. In other words, we become that

which we’re working on. As a matter of fact, we have to engage in this

process if we really want to gain any significant understanding of anything.

Awhile ago now, I wrote to you and let you know to give yourself a break

if you didn’t “set aside time” for tracking every day. The truth is that life

often gets in the way of us putting aside a whole hour or two every day

for tracking practice. Now, I’m telling you that if you’re thinking about

anything in this way, with a sense of wonder and curiosity about what

you’re studying, then you’re strengthening that part of you that is a Tracker.

Brian never attended Tracker School and has no idea who Tom Brown

or Grandfather is. But, his intense study of only a few different disciplines

in life(fishing and mechanics) brought him to many of the same truths

that Tom passes on to us in tracking.

With that in mind, I urge you to get curious about something as you go

through the day today. Remember, just being curious and harboring a

desire to learn something can take you an awfully long way.

Talk to you again soon!

Regards,

Bill

Earth Voices, LLC
5114 Mandalay Springs Drive
Apt 103
Las Vegas, NV
89120

Bill Marple Tracks

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:10:30 +0000

Hello Magda,

Wow, it seems like forever since I’ve had a chance to

sit down and email you! I can only say that after over

a month and a half on the road teaching it’s been difficult

to get to a computer. But, what a summer it’s been!

We finished up the Tracking for the Survivalist classes

in Vermont and Washington and I’m excited to say that

the first Tracking commitment classes went exceedingly well.

I’m incredibly happy with the results of the classes.

It was such a pleasure to work with groups of people

dedicated to learning the Art of Tracking over 4 seasons.

With each succeeding meeting, the students increased

their skill level dramatically and it was wonderful to see

how much progress everyone made throughout the year.

As a Tracking instructor, I know one of the biggest hurdles

people struggle with when beginning is confidence

in their abilities. So, there is really not much which is

more fulifilling to me than to see a student get to a point

where they have the confidence in themselves they

need in order to truly see, feel, and understand how

the Earth opens up to them through the Tracks when

they’re practicing survival.

I’m even more excited to say that these classes were

such a success that I will be running a Tracking for

the Survivalist 2 class this fall in Nevada for graduates

of the first class, where we will go even deeper into

Tracking while focusing on desert survival. In this

way, we can both continue their education by expanding

on the topics they’ve studies last year as well as

experience Tracking and Survival in a completely

different ecosystem.

I also have to say that the students from each class have

worked together in such a great way with each other

that when we meet now, it feels more like a Community

of Trackers than a class, which is one of the major aims

of this organization anyways. So, it’s been extremely

fulfilling to me to see these classes come to life and I’ve

been honored to be a part of the process. Thanks to all

who made it such a success, from the students, to the

volunteers, to my co-instructors, Mike Kessler and Ben

Sanford! It was such a blessing to be a part of it!

Which brings me to my next point. So far, many folks

on the Tracking Update have expressed serious interest

in taking either the upcoming Tracking for the Survivalist

2011-2012 class, or the Tracking for the Tribe class. To

begin with, I should let you know, I am canceling the

Tracking for the Survivalist 2011-2012 class in Nevada in

order to run Tracking for the Survivalist 2.

However, the Tracking for the Survivalist 2011-2012 class in VT

is still wide open. As a matter of fact, despite so many

folks expressing interest, we’ve had few sign-ups. I know

a lot of people wait until the last minute to sign up for

these classes, however, if you intend to sign up for either

theTracking for the Survivalist in Vermont, or the

Tracking for the Tribe class in Nevada, I strongly urge

you to do so as soon as you have a moment.

The deadline to sign up for Tracking for the Survivalist in Vermont is September 30th and the deadline to sign up for the Tracking for the Tribe class in Nevada is October 31st.

I need to know if you will be taking a class by those

times so that I can make the necessary arrangements for

the classes themselves. So, if you are one of the those

Trackers that waits until the last minute, we’re getting

close!! If you would like to review the times and details

for those classes, you can either click on the class name

above, or, visit my class schedule by clicking here.

I’m sincerely interested and committed to seeing these

classes grow and take on a life of their own in order to

form a real community of folks who are dedicated to learning

this information and want to learn from each other. If you

are serious and interested in going much deeper into

Tracking than what you’ve learned at a mainstream Tracker

class, I truly hope to see you there. Both of these classes

will dramatically change how you approach Tracking as

well as be a lot of fun!

Talk to you again soon and happy Tracking!

Bill

Earth Voices, LLC
5114 Mandalay Springs Drive
Apt 103
Las Vegas, NV
89120

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Bill Marple Tracks

admin — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:06:30 +0000

Hi Magda,

This is a quick email to let you know that I’m

finally posting my next online class in my Tracking

Basics Series-Pressure Release Study #3, Floor

Roll and Head Position!

Click Here To Register For This Class!

You know, so many Trackers totally misunderstand

the importance of this Pressure Release Study. Most

folks put all their time in on Studies 1 and 2 without

ever really thinking about 3. Unfortunately, they’re

selling themselves short. Although putting in some

Dirt Time on Number’s 1 and 2 will take you far, I have

something important to tell you:

Unless you understand how Floor Roll relates to Pressure

Against the Wall and Floor, you’ll never truly realize the

full impact of how these first three Studies describe the

overall motion of the animal that made the track!

It’s true. Floor Roll tells you many things about a track,

but the most important thing it does for you is to tie the

other two Pressure Release Studies together. This is what

I want to focus on for this class: showing you how much

breadth and depth an understanding of Floor Roll will give

you in your Track Analysis so that you can really get the fullness

of what a track has to offer.

Click Here To Register For This Class!

I also have a special deal for you: I’m offering this class to

you for half normal price! Many folks on the Tracking

Update will remember that during the last online class I ran,

we experienced some “technical difficulties” with the class

recording, and I promised that everyone who signed up for the

last class would get the next class half price.

Well, I have decided that I will offer this class at half price

to everybody. So, the price for the class is only $10 if you

it at. And, as usual, the price for the class will be $30 if you

be able to watch the class as many times as you like after you

So, I hope to see you there. I’m excited about running the

class and have been thinking about it for quite some time

now. Talk to you soon and see you in the online classroom!

Click Here To Register For This Class!

Regards,

Bill

Earth Voices, LLC
5114 Mandalay Springs Drive
Apt 103
Las Vegas, NV

Elizabeth Cooper Terwilliger Naturalist

admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:34:42 +0000

Naturalist

“Spend the day at home and you’ll never remember it…spend the day outdoors with me, and you’ll never forget it!” Elizabeth Cooper Terwilliger

Long before “ecology” became a household word, Elizabeth Terwilliger, pioneered environmental education in Marin County. A legend in her time, she actively led school trips for children until she was 87. On Monday, November 27, 2006, she succumbed at age 97. She lived in the Redwoods in Mill Valley where she and her husband, Dr. Calvin Terwilliger, moved from their Mill Valley home in 1987. They were married 50 years, before he preceded her in death in 1990.

Elizabeth Terwilliger received two honorary doctorates and many prestigious awards in her lifetime, including the JC Penney “Golden Rule Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service”; State of California, “Trailblazer in the World of Conservation and Teaching”; Daughters of the American Revolution “National Conservation Award”; Chevron’s Conservation Award; Marin “Women’s Hall of Fame”; the Marin Conservation League’s “Peter Behr Award”, the National Education Film Festival’s “John Muir Award”; and the CINE “Golden Eagle Award.”

Perhaps the most memorable was the “Volunteer Action Award” in 1984 presented by President Reagan at the White House. Never missing a chance to spread her message, she taught the President how to imitate a hawk in flight, their picture together captured forever on the front page of the Washington Post. She then commandeered the podium to instruct the nationwide viewing audience to repeat her favorite doctrine for children: “This is my country. Wherever I go, I will leave it more beautiful than I found it.” She never stopped setting that example as she picked up trash at the East Gate of the White House, waiting for the ceremony to begin. She enchanted Washington, D. C.’s politicians, and television viewers with her enthusiastic, matter-of-fact love of Lincoln, books, and teaching children about the world around them. A local television crew accompanied Mrs. T. on the plane to Washington D.C. recording this extraordinary woman’s odyssey. The resulting TV documentary inspired a news team from “20/20″ to later join Mrs. T on a field trip and produce a segment, which was aired on National Television.

Copied from http://www.terwilligerfilms.org/id2.html

Our Amazon Store

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:32:59 +0000

My Amazon Book Store is open, visit! Find used books on healing and self-help http://tinyurl.com/7kbm7h8

A Moment in The Woods Picture Poem – 2

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:27:29 +0000

A Moment in The Woods Picture Poem – 1

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:14:37 +0000

“Love is the absence of fear.” Heard during a meditation

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:56:10 +0000

Fire Workshop with Chris

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:24:06 +0000

Hi All,

Here is a brief description of the weekend Fire Workshop and Children of the Earth Foundation fundraiser scheduled for December 2, 3, & 4. If you know anyone who may be interested, please feel free to forward it to them. We currently have 3 people signed up. I need a minimum of 4 people to do the class, with a maximum of 12. Hope to see you all there!

“Dancing with Fire”, a Weekend Workshop

Anyone who has spent time in the wilderness will tell you that Fire is an indispensable companion. Practically speaking, Fire will warm you, cook your food, make your tools, and provide light for working skills. On a deeper level, it gathers the tribe and provides the focus for friends and family to come together and share stories of their day. Perhaps most importantly, Fire is an Elder who will teach, advise, and comfort if one knows how to listen.

This weekend workshop is called “Dancing with Fire” because in order to dance with someone, there must be a connection between the two partners — a two-way communication whose give and take, ebb and flow create the rhythm of the dance. Anyone who has made a fire with a bow drill knows that it won’t work if you try to “bully” it and simply impose your will. To be successful one must be aware of what the Fire needs, paying attention to the fine details, and listening to understand how it is feeling — in short, one must dance with it. The class will include plenty of hands-on workshop time and coaching for both hand drill and bow drill, but we will also explore the Philosophy of Fire through a series of exercises and experiences designed to help you build a relationship with Fire that will lead to a deeper awareness of it’s Nature and an enhanced ability to create and use it under a variety of adverse conditions.

A portion of the proceeds from the workshop will be given to the Children of the Earth Foundation in order to support their mission of helping kids and young adults have experiences that help them form a deeper relationship with Nature and the Earth.

Dates:

Start: Friday, December 2 @4 PM (arrive by 3 pm to set up camp)

End: Sunday, December 4 @2 PM

Location:

Caloosahatchee Regional Park 19130 River Rd, Alva, FL 3920 (just north of Ft. Myers)

Cost

$200 (Includes meals, camping fees, materials for the class, and a donation to COTEF)

We will be sleeping in tents, but there are flush toilets and showers available!

To register, please email Chris Oelschlaeger at: wanderer777.co@gmail.com

Making Apple Cider w/ Susun Weed

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:27:19 +0000

Making Apple Cider with Susun Weed master herbalist. The Wise Woman, Susun Weed talks about making apple cider and the benefits of drinking cider.

She even tells us the cost of making it and the need haveher own press due to New York legislation that requires apple cider to be made using preservatives.

Click on the link above and listen in on the merry making.