The Weathering Expedition

By Palmer Aces

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Reflections on Weathering

Weathering is a natural process of wearing or being worn by long exposure to forces in the atmosphere. It describes breaking down and dissolving of elements which are subject to being transported by the process of erosion. Usually, the process describes wearing of physical or mechanical, chemical and biological elements. Human exposure to biological, psychological and social stressors are also known as weathering forces in our midst which wear and breakdown individuals and the communities. These forces have the potential to enhance or hinder our well-being.

Reflecting on our Journey Destinations

Fortunately for me, Shad has no goals other than to enjoy the journey and live in the moment while assisting me in my goal to search for and make sense of my past in preparation of a larger undertaking which will happen following the trip. He has carefully planned our route and manages the driving and mechanical needs. I’m back to being chief cook and bottle washer.  Our first destination which we expect will take a week to arrive at, will be the town of Wabasha, where my ancestors lived in the 1700-1800’s. The next major milestone will be the historic Fort Williams, once a thriving Fur Trading post in Canada on the north shore of Lake Superior. We plan to attend a reenactment of a Voyager Rendezvous with First Nation people. The original Fur Trading post were the equivalent of our shopping centers and my ancestor Joseph LaRocque, a French Fur Trader from Quebec, was both a voyager and an interpreter for first, the French followed by British. He lived near Wabasha and married the sister of chief Wapeshaw, a Dakota Sioux with a diplomatic relationship with the government of the white pioneer settlers. The town of Wabasha, setting of the movie “Grumpy Old Men”, was named after the chief. The LaRocque/Rocque family donated land to establish St. Felix Catholic Church and cemetery in Wabasha. Joseph’s son, Augustin married Angelique, a Native American with Ojibway and Dakota ancestors. Her mother was also a descendant of Chief Wapesha. My grandma, Hazel St. Jacque Prouty was a descendant of Angelique and Augustin.  Our third major stop will be Voyager National Park near the Canadian border and International Falls MN. This park was established in the mid 1970’s, about the same time Fort Williams was rebuilt.  We will be attending the 50th anniversary of rebuilding the original Fort Williams trading post. The Seaport of Duluth MN will be another highlight as that is where Shad and I grew up, met and married. In 1980 we left town as newlyweds in a station wagon headed to Spokane Washington, where I would start my first job as a Registered nurse, and he would attend law school. Three years later we moved to California, he a Naval officer and me an aspiring nurse practitioner. While living in Spokane we heard about beautiful Banff National Park and Lake Louise in Canada, our next destination after leaving the St Croix River and William O Brian state Park in MN. Shad will have a reunion with a law school colleague in Spokane on our way south to Oregon and home in California. We will share our photos, thoughts, reflection, and observations on weathering in the communities we visit. We hope you enjoy following us on our Weathering Expedition. Shad and Deb

a couple of people that are walking in the dirt

Week One July 1-7

We traveled along the original California Nevada trail and Pony Express route, currently interstate 80 and the Veterans Highway, Interstate 90 through South Dakota to reach our first milestone, the Mississippi River and the town of Wabasha. Like the pioneers who traveled from St. Louis Missouri to California our halfway point was also Independence Rock, […]

empty road between trees on forest

The Weathering Expedition by Palmer ACES

Follow us From the California coast to the Mississippi river, into Canada, the Pacific Northwest and back to northern CA as we share our observations and perspectives on the process of weathering (aging or what’) since we left Minnesota over 40 years ago.