Several people have looked at this card and asked if I was the one who painted the words.
I wish I had, but no.
These words were graffiti on a rock, way, waay up in a remote area of the mountains in California. I had been travelling on my own in my van for over a month, and was on my way to find hot springs.
I was yearning for hot springs.
I needed hot springs.
My map showed hot springs strewn abundantly, flagrantly, all across the states of Washington, Oregon, and California.
They were, however, proving much more difficult to access than I had hoped. This was my last ditch attempt, and believe me, I was going to soak that day or heads would roll.
Unfortunately Google Maps had not received this memo and sent me off on a 3 hour expedition in the opposite direction from where the hot springs were located. It probably took me longer than it should have to figure this out. In my defense, I had no GPS or wifi.
As it slowly dawned on me that I was not even remotely where I was supposed to be, it also dawned on me that I was going to have to find a place to sleep. By this time I was high in the mountains, the ranger station was closed, and all I had was old-fashioned paper maps...and THAT, my friends, is when I came across this graffiti on a rock.
It was at a small suicidal pull-off beside a hair-pin turn. Other hapless travelers had felt the need to spray paint their names, their loves, and their grievances on this rock overlooking the valley. And some dear soul felt compelled to write "live wild - be free" right in the middle.
Photo #2 and 3 are the view, taken from the rock, looking back the way I had just come. Yes, those skinny ribbons are the roads I was driving just before sunset, lost and without a plan.
I'll skip to the end for you: all turned out well, there were several serendipitous situations, a crazy and slightly illegal camping experience, and a really beautiful drive. There was angst, stress, and possible heat stroke. There was fun, excitement, and some adrenaline. There were Mexicans with shotguns around a campfire.
I may not have found my hot springs, but I think I can safely say that I was living wild and being free.
PS. to whichever Guiding Force is planning my journeys...wild, free, AND hot springs would have been ok.
Next time.
For the whole crazy and humorous story of what happened on that trip, see my roadtrip blog at www.opentopossibility5.weebly.com/ojai-and-krishnamurti.html.
I wish I had, but no.
These words were graffiti on a rock, way, waay up in a remote area of the mountains in California. I had been travelling on my own in my van for over a month, and was on my way to find hot springs.
I was yearning for hot springs.
I needed hot springs.
My map showed hot springs strewn abundantly, flagrantly, all across the states of Washington, Oregon, and California.
They were, however, proving much more difficult to access than I had hoped. This was my last ditch attempt, and believe me, I was going to soak that day or heads would roll.
Unfortunately Google Maps had not received this memo and sent me off on a 3 hour expedition in the opposite direction from where the hot springs were located. It probably took me longer than it should have to figure this out. In my defense, I had no GPS or wifi.
As it slowly dawned on me that I was not even remotely where I was supposed to be, it also dawned on me that I was going to have to find a place to sleep. By this time I was high in the mountains, the ranger station was closed, and all I had was old-fashioned paper maps...and THAT, my friends, is when I came across this graffiti on a rock.
It was at a small suicidal pull-off beside a hair-pin turn. Other hapless travelers had felt the need to spray paint their names, their loves, and their grievances on this rock overlooking the valley. And some dear soul felt compelled to write "live wild - be free" right in the middle.
Photo #2 and 3 are the view, taken from the rock, looking back the way I had just come. Yes, those skinny ribbons are the roads I was driving just before sunset, lost and without a plan.
I'll skip to the end for you: all turned out well, there were several serendipitous situations, a crazy and slightly illegal camping experience, and a really beautiful drive. There was angst, stress, and possible heat stroke. There was fun, excitement, and some adrenaline. There were Mexicans with shotguns around a campfire.
I may not have found my hot springs, but I think I can safely say that I was living wild and being free.
PS. to whichever Guiding Force is planning my journeys...wild, free, AND hot springs would have been ok.
Next time.
For the whole crazy and humorous story of what happened on that trip, see my roadtrip blog at www.opentopossibility5.weebly.com/ojai-and-krishnamurti.html.
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