Sometimes the River is Still. June 22-23. Part 2

Continued from Sometimes the River Is Still. June 22-23. Part 1. 

My peak moments came at the Peter Iredale shipwreck (and the clusters of people around it, one of whom I asked to take photo 8) and when I got flagged down and told that there were military exercises (with shooting) in the next 4 miles.  Both experiences interrupted the boredom and offered surprise and human engagement. The woman who took the photo was excited about my hike and that helped me feel excited too. (Just as when I saw children and dogs delerious with joy to be at the beach I woke up to a little of my own capacity to feel a similar joy). 

 

The home security folks told me that the military exercises were taking a 40 minute break so I could walk through (very fast) or they could drive me. The young man who drove me spoke of other thru hikers including two women headed for Oakland and a northbound man, whom we saw walking north as we drove south. It turned into an adventure as well as an encounter with human kindness. The young man (photo 9) drove me about three miles of the four and I walked the last one. 

 

As soon as I stepped out of my homeland security trail angel's truck, I knew I would walk to Seaside. I called to make sure there was room at the hostel and felt relieved I would not have to violate the law or infringe on snowy Plover habitat by camping on the beach. I also looked forward to a day of rest. Which turned out more important than I realized. By the end of my 15 mile day I was very exhausted. I think the sand, even firm sand, requires subtly different use of foot and ankle and leg muscles from the hard dirt trails I trained on. 

That's all for now. I'm just going to lie here and let the water lily pads float on the still surface of the river. I hope you have the freedom to pause in your busy life and experience some stillness too. 

Tomorrow we will hike down Seaside Beach and over Tillamook Head to Cannon Beach. Photo 10 shows the beach and Tillamook - I'd been looking at it the whole hike wondering how I would get around it. Over it sounds like a good idea. 

 
I thank you for walking with me and I especially thank you for resting with me. 


Comments

  1. RochelleJune 24, 2017 at 5:48 AM

    Open spaces may represent what is happening in your psyche as you are more open to those you randomly encounter. Beautiful way to walk the path with an open heart.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJune 24, 2017 at 10:18 AM

    What a fine launch, River. You seem to have a gift/knack of drawing good people to yourself and lightening the load a bit. What a grand way to learn about the area you are in or moving through

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River MalcolmJune 24, 2017 at 5:33 PM

      I sure have been lucky on the trail and off. Chris sure has roughy lovely people into my life - present company included!

      Delete

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