So this is what happens when we’re on the road –
Time gets away, quickly. Too swift, like a bandit in the night, it steals the dawn and the day, asking for more and more, relentless in its pursuit to collect, not willing to let us catch our breath.
To experience the land is but a wild desire and writing about it has been near impossible. Every down moment we use to set up camp, cook, hike and sleep. I am thankful for this crunched time, it has allowed me to reflect. But now it is time to share.
Since Southern California…
Highway One, the giant pacific, home ignited in my heart. To date, Big Sur was my fondest experience. Our buddy Timmy drove up the coast from Los Angeles and met us late one night on a dirt pull off. As we all woke to the pacific, I recognized how lucky I was and am to be experiencing my country in this year of 2014. It is not Kerouac’s Big Sur I was living; it was my Big Sur, my own, a first hand account of the magic the pacific air ignites.
We decided to day hike, 12 miles of Big Sur’s ridges, rivers and tree giants. Timmy slept in the hammock by the river as Matt and I rest our heads in the tent. We were limited on food and water - we didn’t mind. We were, for the moment, in the elements with our dearest companions. After we hiked out we feasted, said farewell to sweet Timmy and drove higher up the coast.
On to San Francisco…
We met up with a fellow wanderer, a beautiful human being named Ashley who invited us into her home in Oakland. We shared stories of the road, learned of her heart for people and community as well as her newest project. This child is gold - one of the first involved with Invisible Children who currently works at camp held for adults in the Redwoods coined “digital detox” and who has also been robbed at knife point in Ghana.
This sister is a fellow road dweller. One day, she was browsing Craigslist and found a trailer for sale for $50. A few phone calls later, she owned a run-down, beat up, 1970’s pull-along Chinook trailer, and an idea was born. She decided to combine her love of thrifting, writing and the road into a mobile retail store, so she could be self-sufficient while traveling. She wants the shop to serve as a traveling community space, where people can hold workshops, share stories and engage in conversation. Her moving shop, called “The Living Room,” will be on its route along the West Coast coming soon.
She’s a legend; a light and we were instantly inspired by her life-lust. Little did we realize she would lead us to another great adventure…
San Francisco’s energy was full but saturated. I understand why many flock and have flocked to its port. It is tasty and golden but it wasn’t for us. A place we thought we would one day call home ended up being just a blink of our eye in staying time. That, we’ve realized, is OK. It’s better than OK actually, it is good. Our expectations have no hold on reality and by allowing the life of experience to flow through we are able to be present.
The Redwoods are rooted giants and all who wander should make his way to the forest.
We continued up the coast and made our first crossing into Oregon.
Oregon was a treat, and we have much to share about it.
Until then, headed north,
Kristen