I thought we were going to have rain last night. The wind picked up, blew in a front of clouds and after three drops of rain fell on my tent, it abruptly ended. Now that’s a perfect storm in my book. No rain but it definitely cooled down. This is about the laziest backpacking I’ve been on in some time. Up and out at a quarter past eight. I’m liking this new way of doing things!
The morning walk was the nicest yet. We had another minus tide so there was plenty of beach walking. Sally talked with a guide yesterday who warned her to be especially careful at the first Headlands. If the tide is up, you have to take the Overland Trail. But don’t worry, there’s a rope. A rope? For what? To help pull yourself straight up the cliff side. Well I’m quite content walking the beach and not pulling myself up any rope,with my backpack. And so we walked.
There was another huge rock with one proud Bald Eagle guarding the sea. He turned his neck, almost like an owl, looked straight at us without any needless movement. He was so regal, staring out at the sea, like a lighthouse waiting to guide his mate home. Or maybe just looking for a meal, but maybe just maybe, his bride is soaring above and he’s keeping watch. What an incredible bird.
We walked to the Headland which was standing on wet sand but no water. There were numerous starfish attached to the rock in vivid colors of orange, purple and brown. The sea urchins were making a meal of crabs and snails, filling up until they were content. It was like walking through the Monterey Bay Aquarium without a fee and outdoors. I was intrigued by how each little creature has some unique purpose and balance in this ecosystem. How God created every last one of these sea anemones, and different versions of snails, conks, crabs and fish. It blows my mind that us humans are so complex yet can only live on land. And these tiny creatures are just as much intent on doing what they do, with or without the sea water. When the tide goes out, they are exposed to light, to air and that can be for hours at a time. They adapt to whatever the tide does, and changes within. It just boggles my mind.
Once we circumnavigated the rock, there was a section that had some water, and I had to get my feet wet. It was well worth it, getting my feet wet, just to witness that little piece of marine life. Honestly, I don’t mind submerging but Sally has waterproof Trail runners, and she does not want to get her shoes wet. So she walked on water, jumped from one rock to another and escaped the wrath of the sea.
And then the games began. Around the headlands was a rocky beach for the next 3-4 miles. Or at least that’s what it seemed like. I could see the next Headland and planned a path that would keep me from bouldering any longer than possible. I told Sally I was going a different route and she watched me as I submerged up to my knees. She took the boulders. I followed the seabeds that had grasses, small fish and other seaweed looking stuff floating. The shells were alive. Hermit Crabs be-bopping along, fish narrowly missing this Alcatraz walking through their neighborhood. The sand was soft under the water and not slippery as I expected. I periodically popped out of the water onto a spit of sand, and then back in the water. It gained me some distance ahead of Sally as she had to negotiate all the big boulders and rocks, but she kept her shoes pristine and dry.
I finally emerged from my water garden and back on the boulders. It went on for most the morning, boulders, rocks, and some crunching of live seaweed underfoot. It crunches when you step on it. Almost like bubble wrap. We finally came to a rocky cove and took a collective sigh. The miles are short but the stress level, at least for me, is a bit high. I feel like I’m watching every single placement of my feet with caution, making sure I don’t slip or fall or twist or snap or do something I can’t get out of. Before we left, at Cave Alava Trailhead, there was a Search & Rescue SAR Shack. On the door it read, “Be careful out in the wilderness. If you need us, it will take a long time for us to reach you.” Those words have been my motto for this trek. Don’t call SAR! I had listened to a podcast on my way here about the men and women who volunteer for SAR. My friends Curt & Atsuko have dedicated their lives to this group of foot pounders who get called out night or day, during dinner or on their way somewhere, and they drop everything to save a strangers life. It’s a true calling and takes an extra specially trained person to do what they do. I’m glad there are people like that, but I surely don’t want to be that person who needs their help! So I walk purposely, every step is planned. Well, most of the time. Let’s be honest!
After our little snack break, we continued on. Sally had looked at the map and we only had one mile to go. That’s music to my ears, even if we have to walk on boulders. The last headland had a bit of water, so we sidestepped as much as we could. There were plenty of crabs swimming in these tiny tide pools. We have been so lucky with the tides and being we came right after a new moon, it’s been definitely in our favor. We came around the final point and saw our cove, Chilean Memorial Beach. It boasts that many sea otters reside here, and with all the kelp beds, I imagine we will spot a few.
The cove is small but has a sandy beach. There were three young students sunbathing with camp chairs relaxing on the beach. We talked briefly looking for sites and asked where the Privy was? The FarOut App stated that there are sites on the way up to the privy. Sally looked at the buoys and found a Buoy marked Privy, but wasn’t biting. I walked down the beach and found a spot above high water mark, tucked into the trees with two relatively flat tent sites. I think this is home for the night.
The plus about this place is the fresh water is directly south of us and an easy walk. A Spring is flowing from above the beach on the hilltop and the water is cold and clearish. Not brackish like some of the water we’ve captured, but not crystal clear either. Just clearish! We set up camp and I pulled out my stash of Italian Salami and Manchebo Cheese, along with dried Jackfruit. It was delicious, in the sense that we had little choice. If we were daring, we could try a little sea kelp or grass with it, but we both passed.
After a few minutes of getting all my stuff placed in my new home, I took my mat and went to the beach. Not much of a walk, being I’m already here but I found a shady spot to read. Then after reading, I Kelly Baraga, took a nap. That is not my thing but it seemed like the most appropriate way to spend this lazy afternoon. Like I said earlier, I think I could get used to this kind of hiking.
So I was thinking of all these creatures we have seen. Big and little, majestic and fragile, furry and rough around the edges, yet God created them all. Just as we are designed, I have a lot of respect for God’s ways. I know that He created us in His image and has plans for all of us. But why do we all look so different? Some are tall and bold, others are short and frumpy, some are old and gray, while others are young and pretty. So why is this what we see? The Lord says that we are not to look at the outside, but to see the inside. To really know someone is to know their heart. Sally and I have been friends for twenty years. We see each other maybe once a year to backpack together. She is fifteen years younger than me and in much better shape. She takes on boulders like she owns them. I call her my Gazelle. She’s long and lean and can do things I only wish I could do. I’m more like a tank. Strong and sturdy, slow and somewhat-steady but she always is going to wait for me. So why does she keep coming backpacking with me? I think because we know each other’s heart. And that’s what Gods sees when we are together. He laughs at our differences but marvels at our similarities. He knows that whenever we are together that we glorify Him. And that just makes Him smile. So next time when you look in the mirror, look inside and see your heart. Because in the end, that’s all that really matters to our Lord. And that’s what’s truly important to the rest of us.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””
1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
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