I had a staring contest with a bull elk yesterday.
I first spotted him last week as I was discovering the Muddy
Hollow trail, which extends into marsh lands and ends at an oceanic spit,
jutting into the vast, blue pacific.
He was on the trail, eating and didn’t notice me come up on him.
His horns were much more majestic than a buck. They were wide and tall.
Actually, he looked a bit top heavy.
I, of course, have not been with camera as I have been trying to
get to know the place. I have been hiking one to five hours everyday and I have
barely blazed the trails that are to be discovered.
So, last night, I went back with my camera in attempt to get a
shot. The elk come down at dusk to feed and I had an idea of where they might
be but I came too early just as they were coming down the mountain, the mama
and her three calves and the mighty bull. He stood on the mountainside staring
and then slowly made his way down the hillside with a delicate balance (those
massive antlers)–like a woman in high heels, slowly making her way down a steep
staircase.
When he got down he just stood there, too far away to catch at
200mm, and stared at me. I stood completely still, hoping he’d come closer. It
was getting dark and I had to cross a stream with my camera gear, he won.
Life is really peaceful here. It is an adjustment. A year in the
city had me anxious and fast and always on. Now, I can read books, I can watch
elk, I can hike for hours a day.
You know how retired people suddenly become so fun and chill? I
feel that way. With having a job I love, a paycheck, rent covered and a super
peaceful environment with west coasted minded folk–I feel fun and chill and involved and charismatic.
This
environment makes me a better human being. But, like I noticed in long term travel,
it takes a while to detox from that busy life. I am relearning how to sit in a
chair with a cup of tea and read a book for hours. Or how to write. And, bird
watch, even.
I do
miss my family/friends, though. It had been so long that I had them in my life,
I guess I didn’t realize how attached I got to being able to see them
regularly. I am at a point in my life where I want a community, a family, a
partner and it was a big risk to uproot again and go to where I have to start
over and I am quite grateful to have my cousin here because with him, I have
family and I feel blessed.
Plus,
the west coast is full of people like me. I went to a meeting at our head
quarters in San Francisco last week and everyone had similar life experiences,
all my co-workers have chosen to live non-traditional lives. I even met a girl
who was walking the camino in Spain at the very same time I first walked it in
the spring of 2006.
I can’t
tell you how wonderful it is to not have to go through the “but why have you
traveled so much?” question as if there is something “wrong” with me. The folks
out here, they get it. They are curious, as well and want to fully live the
life they have been given.
I hike
up 850 ft just about everyday. To instagram. No, I am kidding but that is where
I get my signal and quickly check e-mail and I have just remembered, I can
download podcasts! As I can’t even listen to NPR here. So, a little Alec
Baldwin as my after work entertainment! Ah, the simplicity is lovely! I do miss
instagraming, though.
A part
of me doesn’t want a car as I want to be forced to climb a mountain every time
I need to send an e-mail or make a call. I want to hike 1.5 hours to town. I
like the struggle. I like having to find ways to entertain myself that don’t
require a screen and a connection. With a car, I can drive to town, easily. I
can and probably will fill my free time with more consumption. But, I need
friends and a man and photo gigs and adventures and Napa and to join the
Mycological society, so, I am getting a car, don’t wanna be the crazy lady on
the mountainside. Though, I am sure Kerouac would think it was mighty fine but
in this day and age, dharma bums drive Smart cars :)