Along the ridge road I get my first visit to the pacific. It seems so close, flat, and muddy. An armada of clouds floats above the sea ready to snake in between the hills to invest the interior with water.
Further down the way, past pastures and pickup trucks full of curious men. A cross road, my lunch spot. What have I been thinking about? A relationship, a lot, much more than I would like. Talking to a simulation of a person in my own head. I want to opt out of that game.
I fix coffee so it’s ready for the rest of the crew once they arrive.
Once they do we snack on peanut butter, honey, and caramel covered tortillas. I add crushed salt crackers to mine to give them a little extra crunch.
The path becomes more trail than road as we wind down into the valley. Here we cross landslides and waterfalls. There are some very challenging spots where the land has slid away leaving only loose rocks and sharp, long falls. Crude unstable paths are shaped into the gravel.
Watching dad struggle over the rocks is scary. I imagine seeing him fall to a terrible death. Strange how the mind ideates in this way. I wonder if other people see this and think of the best possible outcome? I suppose we consider the worst to prepare for it, even if it’s just to feel the potential trauma a little less.
I’m shooting video, if he falls I suppose I’ll just have to throw the camera down with him. After the hike when we watch the video with mom she simply yells “ok, never again”.
A flat patch of trail becomes a lunch spot. As we pass larger and larger waterfalls. It begins to rain for the first time on the hike. Then almost as soon as the rain starts we arrive at a cabin where we will sleep tonight. The small slat floored structure had a squat deck with stumps for seats. One of the stumps is painted with a Toucan.
Once again we are in the clouds and they squeeze into the house through the floor and windows. Birds and bugs sing as the day turns and the clouds begin to melt away in sorbet pinks and oranges. In the night I awake into the front yard and marvel at the stars.
Everything is so far away, most of the matter that makes up everything isn’t here, but everything that matters is right here, right now.