Happy Valley, Sad Day

[jbeegoode]

DF and I make the most of a sad situation. We get a spirit awakening hike in on the way to a memorial service.
https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2017/10/27/happy-valley-sad-day/

Jbee

[nuduke]

I know of a spot on the way, that I haven’t visited for probably 35 years

This is what I admire so much.   Inveterate hiking craft.  How the heck did you remember the spot after 3 decades?

Another bit of nice prose to round up the blog: 

The fire is unusual. It burns very hot. There is a swirling vortex swishing the flames around and then up. We look above. The firelight in the tree reveals dancing leaves. The wind is calm; the rest of the tree is still. There is a vortex up there. The wood seems to have multiple torches popping out of it. This is a small fire. We have two and three inch diameter pieces of mostly dead manzanita. It is a fascinating dance. 

Hand in hand, we mosey out into the big sky. The stars are sharp and bright. Pleiades, a dipper and Orion are old friends. The Milky Way runs across it all.

It may be trite to mention but the passing of your friend gave cause to draw you there to experience the pleasure of the hike and camping along with remembering her.  Her memory was well served, I think.


John

[jbeegoode]

There aren't many train bridges out there. It is an old road that runs along the wash and the tracks. I think that it is from before ther interstate. It may be the old main road  from the times of the early settlers.  There aren't many 90 degree sharp corners out there. It is surrounded by desert grassland. So, I made note in my mind and it stuck. I had only been on the road a handful of times back then and to these trees once. I still have a picture in my mind of the ranchers barbed wire fence and distance from the road and the sense of three beings that I was with. Bridge, bend, park, walk, fence, due east, trees in the short distance.
Jbee