That’s a wrap!
We have now finished shooting our Go Gently TV show. It was such an incredible adventure through California and Oregon traversing so many different landscapes meeting up with so many incredible humans doing powerful work to protect our planet. I had the most heart warming time with Pattie and when out of drag Wyn as we drove many hours together, listening to music, chatting about the world, plus lots of snacking and laughing. This project is so dear to me I cannot wait to get into post production and start piecing together the episodes.
It’s hard to pick favourite moments as it was all so special. But some moments that really stand out for me was going to the Channel Islands, where I have always wanted to go. We learnt through a Chumash elder the history of the islands and her ancestors, we kayaked around the island into sea caves and even got soaked by a big blow hole. I loved visiting the Ojai Raptor Center and getting to do some very cool things with them that I can’t wait for you to see. Another highlight up the coast was Big Sur staying at Deetjens Inn a forever California favourite of mine. Making pizza in San Francisco! To then canoeing along the Klamath River with members of the Yurok tribe in their traditional dugout redwood canoes.
Then into Oregon we went and wow the southern coast of Oregon is truly beautiful. So rugged and raw as the cold big waves crash against the headlands that sit tall with trees. My highlight here was visiting a seaweed farm and eating lots of dulse seaweed! We then headed inland through the snowy mountain pass to Bend where Pattie lives. I had such a special time meeting members of their queer community, we had such a fun afternoon at drag bingo together! The following day I finally found a snow based activity I like, snow shoeing! Much more my slow calm speed than skiing. Back to the coast we headed, meeting many people on our way as we headed north to Portland for our finale event of the show the first Go Gently The Gathering. An event we hosted at Cooper Mountain Vineyards. A day of ideas, workshops, community, good food and wine! I hope this will be the first of more gathering events.
I will leave you with some beautiful photos from our shoot…
