SOUTH SEAS TROWBRIDGE EXPEDITION

Tomorrow my wife and I will embark on our most exciting Trowbridge expedition to date. It all started when I received a tip from a noted New Zealand archeologist who is an expert in ancient Oceania cultures. He provided me with strong evidence of long-forgotten Trowbridge shrew civilizations in a number of remote South Sea Islands.

It has been my theory that, going backwards across many centuries, Trowbridge civilization began in the Mongolian Steppes, and in the mountainous regions of China. Over eons of time, the shrews of old “leap frogged” to the Americas by way of the South Sea archipelagoes. Their means of travel may have been as stowaways on human sailing vessels. Or they may have used their hot air balloons as a mode of trans-island transport, as has been discussed in previous Trowbridge Chronicles episodes.

Our research team will be visiting some of the South Pacific’s most remote islands. At present our sights are set on Aitu Taki, and possibly Mangaia, two islands where tiny mysterious petroglyphs have been found on black volcanic boulders (see pictures) at the edge of the jungle, near the lagoon shoreline.

I hope to bring back and present some exciting photographic evidence that would advance my Leap frog Theory. The next Trowbridge post should be an exciting one. Stay tuned.

Perhaps these photos look familiar. If they do, it’s because this is where Survivor Cook Islands was filmed. In a few days we’ll be standing on the very same remote islands, Paputa and Moturakau, where the Survivors endured their grueling 39 day challenge. Several Trowbridge petroglyphs have been found on these and other tiny “motus”, part of the Aitu Taki atoll.

LITTLE THINGS

Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference. What if I would have been born in Hoboken , New Jersey, or Muleshoe, Texas? If that were the case, there would have never been a Trowbridge Chronicles. The Trowbridge realm lies beyond those snow-capped mountains, the Olympic Mountains, in the northwest corner of Washington State.

It was in the Quinault Rain Forest deep in the heart of the Olympic wilderness that I discovered that tiny illustrated journal beside a stream known as Wild Rose Creek. As some of you know, the mossy banks of this creek was once the bustling rain forest village of Huckleberry Hollow. It was here that Mrs. Trowbridge lived, scribed, painted, and raised a family.

The pastoral valley in the foreground is the Dungeness Valley, and the town of Sequim (pronounced Skwim), my hometown. This isn't just another Northwest timber town. This lovely spot on the coastal plain between the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca was voted one of America's Seven Shangri Las. People come from near and far seeking their little piece of paradise in this verdant valley that boasts only 16 inches of rain per year.

Modern times have brought considerable change to the valley. The gray grain elevator on the right is now a Mexican restaurant. Yes, there's a Wal-Mart on the west end of town, and a big-name hotel on the east side. If you want to see Sequim before it becomes Paradise Lost, you better hurry.

The beautiful photograph below was taken by my good friend and hiking partner, Ross Hamilton, one of Washington's premier photographers. If you would like to see more of Ross' photographs of the Olympic wilderness, check out his web site at: www.rosshamiltonphotography.com.