Hidden Treasures, The Next Leg – West to East and The Inner Experience

Hidden Treasures – all about the things we find within, without and beyond?!?

Which way shall we point ourselves? Due East?  East by Southwest? Retrace our Canadian route?

I am afraid to say Southwest out loud. Three times we have planned to visit the Southwest. Each time wildfires prevented our developing plans. What are the treasures I am hoping for? Truthfully I am not quite sure quite what to expect. And that’s a good thing. 

Today is Thursday, August 18th (need a little reality check) 

So on Monday (15th) we decided to leave Tacoma on Wednesday. Headed for Santa Fe.

On Tuesday morning we learned that excessive rains and flooding had closed roads we planned to travel. And more rain expected. 

On Tuesday night at 9:00 pm we decided to head for Pepperdine University (Malibu) and play in a pickleball tournament. 

At 1:00 am, neither of us able to sleep, we changed drastically and decided to travel the Old North, Route #2 across Montana, etc. 

At 5:00 am Steve woke me up and said. Let’s get going. We’re headed for Malibu. And that is how we roll. Sometimes we just flip a coin when we need a decision.

5:30 am. And we’re off!!!

Good morning Oregon. 

Using backroads instead of Highway 5. Feeling familiar with railroad tracks to one side and mountains or some body of water to the other. Constantly reacquainting ourselves with the Columbia River. 

Someone I met along a hike in an alpine meadow enthusiastically beseeched me to travel the Oregon coast. Just do it, he said!

So we meandered about, slowly working our way to Highway 101. Again, without a map until Reedsport where I found a most helpful National Forest Service info center. I love those women!  They gave me maps and smiles and ideas. 

And that is how we came to land gently on our first day back on the road. Randomly landing in the Oregon Sand Dunes. In a beautiful, quiet, inexpensive NFS campground. Sleeping well after playing in the dunes a bit. Dipping in the lake at sunset. And sharing a little wine and sky gazing. 

We will just have one night in Oregon. But what a beauty. And today the treasure I hope for is crab cakes!!!! I dreamt about crab cakes a few nights ago. This dream is about to come true. I can taste it. 😋

THE INNER-EXPERIENCE 

After 74 years I decided to take up meditation 6 days ago. 

In my meditation this morning I was floating in space observing my breath move in and out   Living in a world that was infinite and timeless. 

After meditation I had a rare moment. My senses told me that I was in a grove of hedges surrounded by quiet. It’s rare to be in a campground with no noise……so peaceful. The thought passes through me. Will I ever have an experience this wonderful again.

We are driving through the western United States where we see lakes, rivers, lagoons and Jack Ripper Park. the state is Oregon

We are searching for the Pacific Ocean. At dusk We know we are less than a few football fields from the Pacific Ocean. We can hear it, but we can’t see it or find a way to get to it. 

Sometime maybe 10,000 years ago when the glaciers retreated, Oregon coast got dumped with 50 foot high sand dunes that are soft and squishy to the foot. If you cross the dunes you are met with 

20 foot thick dense hedges that block the way and your view of the pacific Frustrated we walk aimlessly down roads looking for passage to the water as the fog licks our sandals as it pads by us 

Instead we pass a campground where almost every campsite has a couple ATV ( dune buggies) These rovers cut through the deep sand and roar up and down the beach. If my friend Greg we’re here we would all be flying across the sand leaving her leaping into the air as we hurtle all the dunes.

The aging process has some remarkable features. With very little effort you can forget almost everything including your worries. And experience wonder. 🎶🎈🎶🎶This morning I looked at Debbie and couldn’t remember who she was. I had a memory of yesterday when she barked at me for putting her apple pie in the backseat and the sweet thank you’s she said to me as we went to sleep. Does aging turn us all into mystical child consciousness.