9.24.22
Chapter 2
Charlie’s all packed up, with a couple of hours behind schedule, we hit the road. We went south to Watsonville and then east through the agricultural lands and took 120 east through Yosemite National Forest. It is a month later and 120 through Yosemite is now closed to through traffic - a friendly reminder that the Eastern Sierra are joyful and at the same time, serious.
I love knowing they are only a 6 hour drive from where I live. I would like to make a point to go more often. If any of you are into backpacking, please let me know.
One of my favorite things to do on roadtrips is find good pee spots - isolated with a view of nature. Loveless, was low enough that I could stop anywhere and sit on the floor bench of the driver’s side and use the back and front doors as shields. Pee spot hunting was a none-issue, even in big cities. Charlie doesn’t hide much, so I have to park and walk. This requires discernment of the pee spot hunt.
>>>Interruption<<< I had sent an initial writing sample to a friend who said he enjoyed reading about pee spots while at a urologist appointment. I love Life. OK back to the Sierra Show.
While beautiful from this view, this was not one of the better pee spots. It’s amazing how disgusting humans can be. And why do we litter so much? It’s really very easy to pack it out, especially when your giant American car is parked right there. OK enough of that.
Chapter 3
I like how things unfold as one settles into the rhythm of a new adventure. Pretty quickly, I realized that opening and closing the passenger window while driving is very tricky. Remember, Charlie is fully analog. No power windows, so reaching across and rolling up is tough, especially since the window coil is taut from seldom use. I figured I would leave both windows fully open and not worry about it. The breeze feels good and I love the sound.
On my next pee spot stop, I realized I was partially deaf in my left ear from the continuous onslaught from the open window. I put in neon green ear plugs, laughing while doing so and wondering if anyone would notice this spectacle.
Did you know at certain times of year, Yosemite doesn’t allow through traffic without reservations outside the hours of 6AM and 4PM? I discovered this when I arrived at 2PM at the Yosemite’s entry gates. And I sure as hell wasn’t able to charm my way through that one - what a tough bird!
It’s OK - I had a feeling my late timeline would be fine… I had been eyeing the Merced river on my way up but didn’t stop because I was ‘on a mission.’ So, disappointed, but not really disappointed, with the Yosemite rules I turned Charlie around and headed out of Yosemites’ gates. A lesson in going with the flow. Pun intended:
Chapter 4
It’s 4PM now. Charlie and I head up the mountain, past the Yosemite gates. I am frozen through to the bone, yet hot enough to be parched. An invigorating mixture. It’s cold in the shade. We’re gaining elevation and the sun is losing it. Continuing to wear wet clothes is not a wise decision, plus I don’t like cars behind me when I’m in Truckin’ Mode. I find a good pee spot, change into dry clothes, and put a dry towel over Charlies’ driver's side seat.
I like being the last car heading up and over the mountain pass. I can drive in first gear as slow as I want, drinking in the long view without having to stop along with the other Yosemite tourons [tourists].
Why am I heading to the Eastern Sierra? Another good question, thanks.
A physical retreat into isolation from everything, for a pause, and a healing.
My shamanic teacher gave me a pile of daily earth practices to help.
There was a lot of up on highway 120 and lots of places to stop. Highway 120 down was not as long in terms of time, mileage, or places to stop. The down view was dry, spectacular, and forever. Down wasn’t as long as Up; on this side of the Sierra, the bottom of the down is 6,400 feet above sea level.
Dropping into Mono Basin, we hang a right onto 395 South. I appreciate the counter intuitive feeling of going to the Big Mountains, and your destination is ‘south’. Sometimes I wonder if that’s why I end up picking south facing beach towns. Living in a counterintuitive paradox must help in keeping things interesting.
It’s been an embarrassingly long time since I’ve been out here.
I don’t know if I want to admit how long...
OK, I will, but don’t laugh - or do.
The world needs more joy anyway.
Over four years ago, and I’m not convinced I went over the Sierra on my way back from my new years at Joshua Tree. Whatever the time, it is long enough to forget how gray and brown and vast this world is. Endless dry dusty dirt and endless amazement at the ones who thrive out here.
Hanging right into Inyo National Forest, the sun was setting behind the mountains. I got the last golden orange light and was glad to watch the transition driving Charlie in Truckin’ Mode on an old canyon road. By the time I arrived at my cabin, it was almost dark and very cold. A good time to settle in.
Chapter 5
Fridge Dance
The fridge was recently turned on, or was the fridge broken? Not an ideal pregunta for a fresh arrival.
I turned the fridge all the way up to cold to get it working quicker - is that sound logic?
Next morning, the fridge was still not cold, but cooler. Was it because the night touched on freezing?
On the third day, the fridge had frozen everything on the top shelf. Hmmm, not broken...
Policy must be to turn off the mini fridge between cabin visitors. Still have edible food.
Chapter 6
The first morning waking at the cabin I laughed to myself because I finally remembered the quote I’d been trying to remember for several weeks.
“Wherever you go, there you are.”
Likely triggered by the Fridge dance and by the excruciating light from the main building that lit up the valley and my bedroom. I felt like the city lights followed me to hide the stars. I decided to sleep backwards on the bed, feet accompanying headboard. I fell asleep wondering if I was being the princess from the princess and the pea story.
Who has mini panic attacks when they wake up in the morning in the Eastern Sierra in a beautiful warm cabin? I do! Remembering the quote on my first morning was especially comical icing.
I kept smiling. My question was answered swiftly - what would I focus on during this week? There was a whole spiderweb of things to choose from, so now I had my answer. Every tech worker's best friend! Anxiety!
I had been having mini panic attacks before work almost every morning. Except Mondays and some Tuesdays. Why? Another great question.
On this trip, I realized I was road bike riding an average of 35 miles with 3,800 feet of elevation gain every Sunday. I realized I was doing this so I would be too tired to feel any anxiety on Monday. Sometimes I would do an even bigger ride and that inability to feel anything would take a Tuesday as well. I couldn’t always get my Sunday ride because my body had other thoughts. That’s a whole different and special sector of the spider web we won’t get into at this moment.
Tools of the trade for this trip:
Daily threshold practice - this is where one takes their time to unwind and wind up before going to be and when waking up. For me, the evening practices looked like visualized meditation of checking in with the body and clearing the mind. In the morning my Threshold practice was to write down my dreams, do a shamanic body clearing, and a second sleep. Second sleep is where I was telling myself there was nothing to be anxious about by going back to sleep for 10 to 60 minutes, depending on what the body needed. Then get the day going.
Daily shamanic earth practices - sand paintings to let go of things, or call things in. Gifts to the land to seek earth’s support. Gifts to trees, waters, etc. to be friends and further connect with the elements.
Below are notes I left for myself to continue writing about. They are from my last stab at writing about my Sierra Nevada sojourn… Likely, I will skip the part where I spend time reading whatever is written above from two years ago, trying to remember what I was on about.
French toast
Eating earlier
Waking up at dawn
Amazing what can happen when there is no reception. When you’re surrounded by nature.
I won’t go into detail about my daily practice, I outlined these things because they are the linchpins of my days and my thoughts.