Sharon and I don't like to use the word "moving." I now live in San Diego and it may be temporary... or not. I don't know. So, before I left we spent a day on what we like to call The Transition Hike. We had grand plans of walking the Rim Trail which would begin with a quiet six miles around Mt. Wilson, stopping for a sandwich to say hello to our old friends and then back up the steep three mile climb to the top again. We would saunter among the tall pines and talk about all the beautiful parts of uncertainty.
The challenges began on the Crest Hwy, however, when my car called it quits well before reaching the preferred trailhead. Since success in my new life pretty much depends on going with the flow of things and not sweating the small stuff, etc., we changed our plan and smiled all the way. Sure, this wasn't a bother but a sign for something better to come. We made it to Red Box and thought maybe we could still hike from here up to the Rim Trail... it would be longer but we were game. Cut to... that Nalgene bottle i have which is guaranteed for life or some such thing pulled out of my pack with a crack all the way down the side and all my water was gone. There is no water down in Red Box right now and so we had only a small amount to share between us. The Transition Hike was shortened by about six miles.
We decided to keep moving forward and just hike until we got thirsty. We ended up on a loop of about eight miles on a a secluded trail we we had forgotten all about. We saw a bear on his way to breakfast and a snake headed out to catch some morning sun. We kicked through enormous pine cones in the shade while we thought only the best about the future. We didn't see another soul all day which we felt was a nice way to spend a sunday afternoon after all.
The move to San Diego was not spontaneous. I've been hoping for some time to find a way to go to school for a couple of years and learn something new. My husband and I felt the need to change our reality and challenge ourselves in a new way. I think the only way to change is to make a change. Some say that our personal situation is crafted by our own perception and that if we can find a way to see things differently than we can achieve any reality we want. How can we really change the way we see ourselves and the life we are living? We decided to step outside of our expectations and reach for something entirely different. We have wandered from security and certainty into contest and question but we are, so far, newly inspired and, thankfully, still laughing.
Sharon has reported that she has seen two bears on her hike and lots of old friends. I invite recommendations from anyone who has spent time in Cleveland Nat'l Forest. Drop me an email! footsafari@gmail.com
