Another wonderful day, but then again aren’t they all. I checked email in the lobby and had breakfast before setting out on the trail. First I went on the recommended 1.6 mile Falls loop trail. It was so special not having to share the morning with hordes of tourists. In retrospect it was a blessing that the Galapagos cruise was sold out and we had to come to the west first, we missed all the crowds. I was strolling slowly (making my bear noise) and just feeling it all. At one point a couple came pressing up behind me and strode on down the trail. It is a short LOOP TRAIL! It crystalized my understanding of what most of us do, certainly myself as much as anyone: we drive onward toward the “destination” without realizing we are already there. THIS is the destination, the journey is all there is. I don’t mean to say fast is worse than slow, just that the focus has to be where we are, not where we might be some day. Ram Dass said it succinctly: “Be Here Now.” I did enjoy that moment. Thought about commissioning a real artist to paint my picture of the nature of reality. Perhaps I will start a sketch on this trip. Thought about the intertwining of the parts of the forest, each piece fits in and does a part, none more none less than the other, just their own part. The sunshine is very special here. The way it seeps into the forest in little spots and plays with the shadow areas is sometimes very surreal. I slipped on down the road to see the “worlds biggest Sitka Spruce.” Gotta say it was some big assed tree! Scored a 922 on the American Forestry Association Scale whatever the hell that is.
Hemlock,Fir,Cedar,Spruce
Then I went to where the heart is: the 1/2 mile “Rain Forest Nature Trail” near Willaby creek. Simply the best walk of them all, definitely an E-ticket ride. If you walk this trail and God doesn’t touch your heart, then the Devil already owns you. I remember being here with the kids 15 or so years ago. It is such a wonderful mix of water, open forest and then large old growth trees. I think I found the fallen tree we walked on, smaller than the giant my memory had created, but then again what could compare? Again alone in the forest, except for the perception of everything of course. The briefest of glimpses of the way I used to feel the world around me, and I can’t stop the tears.
On up to Amanda Park for a burger and homemade Clam chowder. Wouldn’t you know, divine providence; right next door is a liquor store (in Washington no less!) Then a slow and easy drive along the north shore road, about half of it paved and over to the south shore road to get back to the Lodge. A two hour, twenty miles of heaven. Only had to back up once to let the second other car I saw get around, and I was on the drop off side. I got a nice look at the large black bear in the glade. He was a big boy! I noticed the rather large square built log/dirt/rock structures in the river bed. Asking at the ranger station was told that the First People were pushing the government to do something about the run of the river. Before anglos came here the large trees slowed the channels and made good spawning areas. Now the river runs too fast and wild, and the fish don’t live. Appropriate that it takes the First People to push the rest of us to restore what is right. As I have said to myself so many times in the past few days, “it is just stupid beautiful here !!” I wish that the pictures could show the amazing colors of green in the forest, but they are only pictures. As I used to say sarcastically at work but now mean it: “another day living the dream.”
James