Oxbow Life meets Sláinte
Physical Geography, Geology.
a bow-shaped bend in a river, or the land embraced by it.
Also called oxbow lake – a bow-shaped lake formed in a former channel of a river.
At one point or other you’ve probably seen an Oxbow. It’s that divergence that pops out of a river to form a U-shape, much like the yoke placed on Oxen, returning back to the initial flow direction further down the line.
It’s also an analogy that was adopted by our dear friends the Murphy’s. Their ‘Oxbow Life’ moment represented the period of their life recently that involved purchasing a kitted out Sprinter Van and traveling to every state in the US with a focus on life at the present ground level, moving with a purpose to merely experience. Their directional compass included revisiting every national Park along the way as they touched all the States and various provinces in Canada. Such an Epic extended adventure.
Avid hikers, travelers and all around outdoor enthusiasts, Joe and Wendy have forever been collecting memories to fuel their collective souls. And they fuel ours with their friendship and as we live vicariously thru their tales of travel.
Which brings me to the point of this sojourn.
A few years back, before they hit pause and set off on their ‘Oxbow”, stepping away temporarily from the “normal routine of a working life”, we stumbled across a driftwood carving at a local craft show that we thought was most appropriate for what Joe and Wendy were intending to embark upon.
And it says: ‘ Not all who wander are lost ‘,
Certainly an appropriate quote for what was to become of their life in the coming year+ on the road. They carried that carving in their van across all the states, reminded of friends and the reality of their chosen path at that moment in life (and beyond).
Fast forward to Slainte. Joe & Wendy jumped on the opportunity to visit us in SA and share in our experience of living aboard a sailing catamaran. Bookending their trip after leaving us with a journey up the continent to Krueger National park for a proper safari, as well as seeing Victoria Falls.
True travelers at their core.
Collecting memories.
Making it happen.
Always traveling light (miraculously a smallish backpack easily seems to always cover their needs for 2+ weeks), they somehow managed to show up with our driftwood gift in tow. Such an epic moment and cherished effort.
And now this driftwood adorns the inside of Slainte, reminding us of dear friends and the reality of our chosen path.
Thank You Joe and Wendy. Your love and friendship means the world to us and reminds us daily how blessed we are to have you in our lives.
Oxbow baby! LFG.
