“The plainer the dress, the greater luster does beauty appear.” (Edward F. Halifax)

Ruth and I concluded a restful, four night stay in Boise, Idaho to visit our friend Tina. My main activities during this uneventful weekend would involve washing my filthy car, and continuously walking the family dog, Molly every 3-4 hours. I definitely needed less mind challenging, downtime after enduring a multitude of steep and winding roads in mountainous regions from the Seattle coast region southeastward.

Proceeding southeast on Interstate 84 in early morning , our five hour, desert valley drive would skirt the western edge of the Wasatch Mountain range and then curve into them for a gentle climb to over 6,000 feet at our next destination, Park City Utah. As a past host community for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, we expected to settle into a thriving ski town atmosphere in our three night, Air B&B stay stay there. Yet the town to us seemed relatively simple to navigate and surprisingly desolate in off season, springtime mode with the town’s renowned Olympic ski runs now largely devoid of snow.

Sticking to our budget, we had no desire to buy expensive artwork or sign up for enticing time share presentations, Thus a simple walk around Main Street downtown would suffice for us after dinner on our first evening. As most shops and art galleries were now closed, we casually admired the classy western town atmosphere of historic saloons, ornamental street sculptures, live bird talks, and eclectic window displays.

Since Ruth and and share a keen interest in observing wildlife in their natural habitats, the next afternoon we decided to take a look at Great Salt Lake via Antelope Island State Park. As we crossed the entry causeway, a pungent smell of salt permeated the air. How “cool” we imagined now to have an opportunity to spot a free-ranging bison , pronghorn antelope or migratory bird species on the island. Stopping for a picnic lunch on a remote overlook facing the eerie presence of this hyper-saline shoreline, we were attacked by hordes of brine flies that infest these salty shores. Spotting an accessible beach nearby, we moved swiftly away from these pesky insects by descending downhill through brittle rock and briny sand surface to this ever still lake. We had found an excellent spot to taste the salty waters and photograph thick concentrations of small, black feathered birds floating aimlessly on the surrounding lake. Ending our tour at the lake informative Visitor Center, we relished our decision to step out adventurously on our own in the Salt Lake environs today.

Over thirty years ago, Ruth and I dined at a small and unpretentious Mexican Cafe In Salt Lake City near the historic downtown Train Depot. Having booked inexpensive concert tickets for the evening at nearby Vivint Smart Home Arena, we would “kill time” before the performance with a nostalgic meal at this same Mexican restaurant. Enjoying “Back to back” concert sets by Hall and Oats/Train, we would end this long day in “giddy singalong” fashion.

On our third day, we embarked on an old fashioned train ride on the Deer Creek Express in nearby Heber City, which provided a relaxing end to our Utah mountain adventure. As an added attractions, a menacing group of armed bandits ran onto the train at midpoint in our journey to stage a simulated train robbery. Upon angrily finding a box with no money, they filled the air with fake gunshots and boisterously departed the train. Immediate relief from such chaos was provided as a talented guitarist strummed traditional cowboy hits for our listening pleasure for the remainder of our rail journey.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” The Road Not Taken (Robert Frost)

Ruth and I often find reason to veer off interstate highways in our road trip travels. Consulting road maps, weather conditions and GPS routing plans, we elect to drive scenic backroads for obtaining a closeup glimpse of natural beauty/small town America. So our most recent route plan from Missoula to Boise Idaho would unsurprisingly take us along the twisting Lochsa River, titled Highway 12 or the historic Lewis and Clark Highway.

Highway 12 for us provided an eye opening scenery of rushing river headwaters carved by a steep canyon for over one hundred miles. Yet I could only imagine the mindset of Lewis and Clark as they traveled west along this isolated route in 1805. How could they have navigated these rock strewn rapids downhill by canoe successfully? What strategies existed for riding horseback along vertical cliffs for more overland passage? How did they cope with the high snowdrifts and food shortages faced along this weatherbeaten Lolo Pass Trail? How would they avoid hostile Indian attacks to end their mission?

Feeling the rich wilderness of land seemingly unchanged from 200 years in the past, our minds were also filled with freedom-filled aloneness in this quiet region. With no vehicles present. we would pull off to the narrow road embankment at will. At bridge viewpoints, we would sit idly to photograph intimate scenes of a river gone wild. Taking a short rest at Lolo Point Rest Stop, we threw snowballs instead for sheer fun.

The Lewis and Clark Trail was a most difficult passage for these famous American explorers. While long ago they became ominously preoccupied in this region amidst thick timber and a raging river to haul their canoes and rations over steep mountain ridges, we could more relaxingly appreciate the breathtaking scenery that amazed these early explorers. As we would later learn that Route 12 earned the title as the most scenic road in Idaho, we felt very fortunate that we had chosen to take the slower road today.

References:

http://www.onlyinourstate.com/Idaho/Lewis-Clark-Highway-Id
http://www.history.idaho.gov/Lewis-and Clark-idaho

Taking a northerly turn from Interstate 90, Glacier National Park near the U.S./Canadian border would become our next destination on our road trip. We realized beforehand that park facilities and most access routes would be closed now until at least June. Yet we “caught a break”, learning that sections of the famed “Going To The Sun” road had recently opened. As hiking trails remained partially covered in muck and slippery, melting snow conditions, we opted today to simply embark on a slow drive for eleven miles in from the “West Glacier” entrance.

Following a recently snow cleared route along Lake McDonald in mid morning, some captivating sights and sounds of nature’s awakening in early spring caught our attention. A hungry deer quietly munched newly sprouting vegetation near the road. Black crows cawed loudly, flying low over the glassy, unfrozen lake searching for an opportune time to catch fish below. Chirping prairie dogs poked their heads out from underground burrows to curiously greet our nearby presence. Rushing water furiously fell from spring melting conditions along alpine ledges. Tree branches snapped loose, providing instant relief from the weighted burden of winter’s snow accumulations.

Spring weather in Glacier became unpredictably fickle on this visit as our sunny morning drive would soon end in drizzle and cold for the remainder of the day. We chose then to rest, read, and practice yoga, in our cozy room at Cedar Creek Lodge in nearby Columbia Falls for the remainder of the day. Several travel options remain “on the table”for tomorrow. Perhaps more spectacular sightings of a bear or moose will happen on tomorrow’s park visit. Or maybe we could hang around town to visit a relaxing hot springs to ease our physical tensions. Yet I would seem to be quite content in just staring out my lodge window, ponder some glacier inspired thoughts, and settle for a five star mountain panorama in the present moment. Which of these options would you choose?

**This poem represents my inspired attempt to share a Seattle based ferry ride, giving us our last glimpse of the Pacific Coast before resuming our 2018 road trip eastward. Thankfully it was a sunny and clear that day giving me unobstructed views in all directions.

When One Needs To Flee From Mind Chatter Unbound
Escape To The Vastness Of Puget Bay Sound
When Life’s Toils Consume Us In Desperate Strive
Step Onto Blissed Islands In Nature We Thrive

When Thoughts Stray To Coldness In Clouded Mist Gray
Seek Bright Light Restored Into Gentle Boat Sway
When Sameness Dulls Heart In Emotionless Drowned
Curious Eyes Rise To Witness Immense Mountain Surround

When One Tires Of Striving For Crunched City High Time
Sail Slowly From Shore In Seaworthy Sublime
When It’s Time To Cruise Home Do Not Dread, Fear or Wrath
For Life Now Seems Infinitely Better In Such Enlightened Bay Path

Shed Rut Filled Routine Leave Your Auto Behind
So Consider Next Ferry Savor Fruitful Unwind

** Seattle, the state’s largest city, lies in the center of the Puget Sound region and sits between Elliot Bay and Lake Washington. Across the Sound is Bainbridge Island, the Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Peninsula.(Go Northwest Travel Guide).

“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.” (John Paul II)

How fortunate Ruth and I were to have arrived on our current road trip to witness the natural beauty of Seattle on Earth Day. Even more satisfying would be our decision to donate our time today for landscape restoration efforts at Volunteer Park on this chilly, Sunday morning. To be honest, this holiday,in the past, seemed little more than a once a year dose of “New Age” optimism. Yet this year, our active involvement to beautify Seattle seemed to manifest as a personal protest activity against a callously negative attitude our current Presidential regime manifests about endangered lands, animal protections and the role of scientific involvement in our country.

While the work we performed today to clear invasive weeds, pickup human debris and grade soil was dirty and basic, these old trees and surrounding shrubbery would be more likely to thrive in their natural habitat in summer and beyond. It would also be satisfying to know that a sizable crowd of new generation students from the University of Washington cared enough about Earth Day to eagerly join in with us today.

Being curious to see more of this park after our work ended, we would climb the steep steps of the nearby Water Tower to the Observation Deck for spectacular, 360 degree panoramas of the Seattle environs. Along the circular walls, a series of educational panels would document the historic commitment to develop and maintain public parks/open space throughout the city. With the imprint of Frederick Law Olmstead’s legacy of landscape beautification notably accomplished here, over fifty public parks now exist in Seattle today.

An interesting Earth Day for us would conclude with a short stroll around the sprawling campus of the U. Of Wash. Springtime bloomed prolifically along stately pedestrians walkways opening into a Central Campus Plaza. A mystical glimpse at the faint outlines of Mount Rainer would now be revealed to us over a cascade of water sculpture in the southerly distance. Seattle clearly had given us motivation today to think of Earth Day as a recurring theme for environmental preservation for every day of our lives.

“Awareness of impermanence and appreciation of our human potential will give us a sense of urgency that we must use every precious moment.” (Dalai Lama)

Ruth and I just finished an inspiring walk near Jack London Historic Ranch in picturesque Napa Valley California. This famous American writer in the early 20th century, lived a busy life here, farming his vast crop lands, entertaining guests and writing many of his famous novels/stories. Sadly, I felt a sense of loss for him, as he would tragically die in the “prime of his life”at age 40. Strolling through his Winery Cottage, I noted his treasured book collections, cluttered writing desk area and well used travel bags now sitting unused, functioning as mere showpieces for brief tourist visits today. In fact , much of the original ranch and nearby farmstead buildings would be destroyed in his lifetime by raging fire and devastating earthquake.

London’s self-sustaining methods to nourish his fields would become a great source of personal pride. Using terraced irrigation drainage from a man-made lake as well as recycled, manure fertilization methods, he successfully farmed his land. As commercial vineyards have now have replaced his agrarian dreamland, few relics remained of these “horse and plow” times. His beloved lake, once used as an idyllic respite for hikers, swimmers and horseback riders, had shrunk to one quarter of its size , becoming choked by invasive algae.

Our tour of Jack London’s estate today would end with a chilly walk through thick strands of nearby Redwood Tree forest. Surviving for thousands of years, these massive behemoths of nature appeared indestructible to the naked eye. Yet a closer look at ground level would reveal the death of many species as their rotting stumps and branches littered the surrounding landscape alongside the trail.

As a world traveler, I desire to amass direct experience of place while I can. As a blog writer, I wish to use my present mind to inspire new literary achievements without dreading the future. In Buddhistic terms, nothing lasts forever and you control very little about when and where your life contributions will end. Clearly, impermanence” as expressed by the following “Eagles” song seems quite useful to me as I review the vanishing Jack London imprint on his ranch today.

Moving north up the California Pacific coast from Morro Bay, the rocky shores of Monterey Peninsula would become an ideal place to “kill time” before checking into our next Air B&B destination in Aptos, California. Having little incentive in “playing tourist” to visit the famed Cannery Row/Monterey Aquarium today, we instead embraced moments of spontaneous discovery as we drove slowly along the beachside shoreline. I would thus capture several of these moments in closeup camera range.

TV SHOW IN TAPING PROGRESS

Passing Lover’s Point Park, a large crowd had formed to watch the taping of “Big Little Lies”, a popular HBO series. These pictures captured my sense of the visitors excitement in watching the anticipated arrival of stars Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern, in contrast to the tedium of watching the film crew/cast extras lazily standing around. How odd that so many involved in the show seemed oblivious to the surrounding buzz surrounding them.

Parking at a desolate headland near Point Pinos Lighthouse for a picnic lunch, I spotted some mule deer munching grass on a nearby golf course unafraid of my human presence as I approached them for closeup photos. Nearby seagulls then posed eagerly for me in hopes I would throw them a sandwich morsel.

Being curious to walk along these irregular, rocky shores and tide pool formations, an exciting maze of rock shapes and colors captured my photo interest. Mindless searching for the perfect rock became a pleasurable way to “pass the time.”

The arrival of spring along this weatherbeaten shoreline of Pacific Grove State Marine Park sparked my interest today as brightly colored colored wildflowers bloomed amidst cool, ice grass formations. Returning now to the town center , I spotted a magnificent red bougainvillea cradling the front porch of a rustic home.

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” – Henry Miller

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike”(John Muir)

Why do Ruth and I return to past visited destinations on our road trip travels? Beyond the scripted allure of slick marketing for tourist friendly destinations, Buddhistic images from our yoga practice have motivated us to seek places of inner harmony and peace. In the ensuing paragraphs, I thus reveal why booking our 5th extended stay in this quaint , Central California town provides such positively uplifting experience we so desire.

I first must consider how the natural beauty of Morro Bay and surrounding environs remain a memorable sight on every occasion we visit. To the west, a towering, volcanic rock mystically stands over a foggy and overcast harbor. At this Morro Rock, I observe a bird watching paradise of nesting sea gulls and ferns terns…. while sea otters and harbor seals playfully surface in the surrounding waters. To the south and east, green pastures sprout spring flowers blossomed in a gentle rise to the coastal mountains beyond. This Alps- like appearance of rustic hinterland shelters the busier, urban communities of the San Luis Obispo Valley below. To the north lies an open beach expanse of rocky crags hugging majestic shoreline points leading to the famous, cliffside stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway.

The relaxed feel of the town center itself, also stands out to please my emotional longings. Strolling along Morro Bay Boulevard, my wife pops into the local bead store to browse sale offerings. I can now sit quietly in the adjoining garden to witness a slow dripping waterfall and exotic plant sanctuary. On the street, I can admire a procession of classic American cars as they cruise downhill to the bay. How enlightening to realize that driving could be made enjoyable away from the daily rut and routine of the daily commute on a busy highway. At night, we watch a contemporary film at a one -screen cinema house where popcorn and Milk Duds snacks cost less than the movie. To end our day, we return to our funky retro, Air B&B apartment for a daily workout routine and silent meditation thus celebrating the simple pleasures we experienced that day.

In addition, I continue to find great enjoyment in feeding hungry seagulls near Morro Rock each day. A sizable flock of ravenous birds typically follows me as as I tightrope the rocky coastline to obtain suitable feeding sites. I have even trained some of the them to perform aerial theatrics to obtain their precious bread morsel. Imagining their freedom to fly at will now, my inner child” of free play at these times feels exhilarating.

As Morro Bay becomes more tourist friendly, some inevitable changes of youthful gentrification can now be observed. The bustling presence of the Yoga Center and marine life aquarium are gone, many “mom and pop” restaurants have closed, and parking spots have become increasingly hard to find. Yet we remain deeply attracted to the inner serenity experienced in this fog-shrouded town with a mystical rock by a blissful bay.