@formerlytdaniel, I’m glad you picked up that vibe, because there’s a deeper message in that picture for me. I attended my grand daughter’s high school graduation party (delayed celebration) and decided to stay overnight rather than drive the 40minute trip home at 12:30 am.
After coffee, to allow the work traffic to subside, I decided to take the relaxed back road to go home rather than dodge the ongoing road repairs along Interstate 83 between York, PA and Baltimore, MD. At 9:00 am. It was already hot and humid, as I descended the winding road approach to the river. That gave a vantage point to see the cool water from the depths of Pretty Boy lake as it condensed the warm air into a mist. I continued for about a mile before turning around for a closer look at a rare sight.
The bridge view is of the up-river side, then I crossed to the other side. A variable breeze mingled the distinct temperature pockets of fresh woodland air. I turned to leave and a copse in the open space caught my attention - a gnarly redwood, a mature oak, and a rock:
That was an invited to stay to speculate whether the cluster was too great an obstacle to remove, had to remain due to environmentsl mandates, or was it a spontaneous decision by a burly bulldozer operator who thought it lovely, thus sparing it. Regardless, it now serves as a sentinel over that spot, and I’m grateful.
At some point, my youngest daughter posted a text with the sad news that her father-in-law passed during the night. There was no good reason to leave as the sun intruded to melt the effect, but within 15 minutes, the mist was gone. In its place, as if on cue, came a father with a toddler, then a mother with her toddler. Within 15 minutes, a half dozen other visitors filled the space.
The spell broken, I left with an appreciation that the same area served many purposes, while being amazed that spot seemed unphased by the influx. There was no trace of errosion or discarded trash. The screams from the river confirmed my suspicion that the water was indeed cold. That small area had two distinct vibes within the passage of less than one hour. Meanwhile, several hundred feet away, you might find anglers catching trout. Although far from a natural setting, the changes made the area far more accessible.
Sometimes just sitting on a rock to witness the mist before it disappears adds clarity to the cycle of life. That short interlude reminded me that our ultimate purpose is to survive, regenerate, then move on; hopefully, after having a positive influence on our children and society. A great distraction, and I’m glad I didn’t let my bad knees disuade me from a short hike over broken trails.
I don’t consider myself a kayaker. I just use the kayak to explore places that I typically can’t reach by walking or driving. My goal is to minimalize the investment while limiting the impact on my surroundings. Paddling is a great way to capitalize on access to remote places.
