April 29, 2022 still moving north...

 

To create a life of balance full of love, light and joy.

That’s my desire. Not a goal. A goal is something that once you achieve it, it ends. Like painting a room. My goal is to change the color of the room. Once I get the paint on the walls and put away all the tools, that goal is done and it’s on to the next thing. Or like training for a half marathon. I need to put in the energy and effort to do the training to prepare for the day of the event. Then once I have run the 13.1 miles, it’s done. 

To create this life is an ongoing process. A continuing work in progress where I can learn new things about what it takes to actively be and do this thing. I had plenty of time to do that while driving from Silver Springs Nevada to Mt. Shasta, California. 

The drive was beautiful and the road was good, except the scars of past forest fires. There wasn’t much traffic which I was grateful for as there were not many pullouts for me to get out of the way of others who felt the need to drive much faster on this narrow winding road. A few times I felt bad about slowing down others, but maybe I saved them from getting a ticket or helped them arrive at their destination safely. 

Driving at this slower pace puts a different perspective on what I can see. As driver, navigator and tour guide it makes it easier for me to take in my surroundings, and the fact that I am towing a trailer behind me and I can’t drive too fast. Instead of speeding by in an effort to get somewhere I have the blessing of time to ‘get there’. I know some people like to just get where they’re going and will drive long distances and long hours at a stretch. Sometimes that’s the way to go, when time is limited.  I’ve done that in the past too, when my adventuring time was limited to 2 or 3 weeks and I needed to try to see ALL OF IT!! Because I may never get back here to see it again.

What do I do while driving long distances, you may ask? Listen to podcasts, listen to music, sing to myself and sometimes perseverate. You’ll have to look up that one, I did, a new word for me, and I love words. For me it was reflecting on things that in the past would have triggered me to feel bad in my gut or my heart center. For instance, as navigator, being distracted and missing a turn, or not finding the place where gas was the cheapest never mind if it was easy to get to or not. Spending too much time in the grocery store, spending too much money at the grocery store, staying in a campground instead of a rest stop or truck stop or Walmart parking lot because it’s cheaper. 

Then letting go of all of that, all that perseverating. The things I think are triggers no longer exist for me. I am safe. I am at ease. I trust myself to make the best decisions for me. This is the other journey I am on. 

I am so blessed to be in this beautiful place during their off season. There are 363 camp spaces plus cabins. Currently only about 25 campers here and a few of the cabins occupied. I’ve watched a few boats launch onto the lake with fisher folks skimming across the quiet surface, fish jumping. During the summer it will be full with people enjoying being in nature. 

by 10:00 she was covered with clouds    

one of the primitive sites

imagine a whole bunch of trailers under the trees

bears have big appetites!!

Brownie and I had a yummy breakfast in the little town of Mt. Shasta at the Black Bear Diner. I love their pancakes and it’s one of the treats I give to myself. And this is the location that started it all!

A short drive up I-5 and I am at Valley of the Rogue State Park. Lots of fresh mown grass, tall evergreens and a stones throw from the freeway. As I knew it would be and the reason I didn’t want to volunteer here. I am looking forward to tomorrow and seeing the ocean!!