My work here is done
Success! I survived hiking the north section of the Lost Coast trail over this weekend, with one day taken off to spare (and let my legs stop hurting).
25 miles of sand and rock isn’t too kind on your feet and ankles. It was a good hike, actually nowhere near as foreboding and treacherous as I’d imagined - and true to it being California, there were at least 10 other people hiking it as I was, even as remote of an area as it is. Going in a group, though it would be slower, would also be a lot cheaper, since my shuttle ride from the parking lot to the trailhead was $185. It is a nice primitive-feeling area, with no maintained campgrounds anywhere, and plenty of steep gulches and creeks to explore.
That was my big adventure for this summer, and I feel really at ease having done it instead of planning for it and figuring when I can crunch it in. My other, lesser mission is to go to Monterey Bay and check things out sometime before I leave California . . .
. . . which could be when, again? As far as this job goes, I think I have the option of politely ducking out September 30, which some people do to travel while it’s still warm out. I could also stay until Thanksgiving, when it becomes too rainy to do any outdoor work. But I think I’m going to keep my eyes open and start applying for jobs I’d like, possibly even now. I mean, I like my job alright, but these 4 days off were a very nice change of pace. It’s a great location, and always nice to be able to work outdoors especially in such a beautiful place, but I’m not feeling it. I don’t know if this is standard day-in-day-out or not. It’s nice to have a job that keeps you active, but it would be nice to have something that I’m passionate about. I suppose I’ll just keep my eyes open and apply to things as they come up. I might apply for trailwork in a park far down south that works through the winter for money’s sake and to get to see another great place, but it’s starting to get to the point where I might pigeonhole myself into trailwork permanently.
Pride Day is this Sunday in the city, although even here there’s a healthy homophobic vibe below the surface. But what can you do?
Finally, I can’t believe the weather here. Up north there was a heat wave coinciding with my hike, the central valley is notoriously hot, and the bay coast is predictably foggy. Yet East Marin, and the Bay itself, is perfect today - cloudless, sunny, 70º with a constant cool breeze. I should gussy myself up for Berkeley so I can spend some serious time here. And finally I found an honest to God coffee shop, where I can just lounge with caffeine like any self-important intellectual.
25 miles of sand and rock isn’t too kind on your feet and ankles. It was a good hike, actually nowhere near as foreboding and treacherous as I’d imagined - and true to it being California, there were at least 10 other people hiking it as I was, even as remote of an area as it is. Going in a group, though it would be slower, would also be a lot cheaper, since my shuttle ride from the parking lot to the trailhead was $185. It is a nice primitive-feeling area, with no maintained campgrounds anywhere, and plenty of steep gulches and creeks to explore.
That was my big adventure for this summer, and I feel really at ease having done it instead of planning for it and figuring when I can crunch it in. My other, lesser mission is to go to Monterey Bay and check things out sometime before I leave California . . .
. . . which could be when, again? As far as this job goes, I think I have the option of politely ducking out September 30, which some people do to travel while it’s still warm out. I could also stay until Thanksgiving, when it becomes too rainy to do any outdoor work. But I think I’m going to keep my eyes open and start applying for jobs I’d like, possibly even now. I mean, I like my job alright, but these 4 days off were a very nice change of pace. It’s a great location, and always nice to be able to work outdoors especially in such a beautiful place, but I’m not feeling it. I don’t know if this is standard day-in-day-out or not. It’s nice to have a job that keeps you active, but it would be nice to have something that I’m passionate about. I suppose I’ll just keep my eyes open and apply to things as they come up. I might apply for trailwork in a park far down south that works through the winter for money’s sake and to get to see another great place, but it’s starting to get to the point where I might pigeonhole myself into trailwork permanently.
Pride Day is this Sunday in the city, although even here there’s a healthy homophobic vibe below the surface. But what can you do?
Finally, I can’t believe the weather here. Up north there was a heat wave coinciding with my hike, the central valley is notoriously hot, and the bay coast is predictably foggy. Yet East Marin, and the Bay itself, is perfect today - cloudless, sunny, 70º with a constant cool breeze. I should gussy myself up for Berkeley so I can spend some serious time here. And finally I found an honest to God coffee shop, where I can just lounge with caffeine like any self-important intellectual.