California Coastal Trail Self-Supported Fastest Known Time Report : Day 30

The Inn at the Tides, Bodega Bay to Russian House #1, Russian River State Marine Conservation Area

From my notes:

"I realized on my walk through the park that I had lost my coat! Seeing this sunset made me feel that everything would be okay though. And it was. At the end of the trail were Andy and Kim who thought I looked cold and gave me their sweatshirt and hat, plus cliff bars, betel nuts for energy, and money! They are both very spiritual people who work in healing. They pointed me to The Russian House, just down the street, a pay what you feel place dedicated to expanding consciousness. They surprised me by showing up at the restaurant! It was the founder, Elliott's 72nd birthday and they were having a celebration with cake and wine! We all partook. That morning I had seen a show about the civil rights movement and thought somehow it would be relevant. Elliott was active in the civil rights movement and was thrown in jail for peacefully protesting, incredible.
He hitchhiked to San Francisco and was there for the summer of love. He traveled the world for years carrying nothing but a backpack and once had to outrun a hippo up a hill! He did his PhD dissertation in psychology on evil, and believes in fate. He was a friend of Peace Pilgrim, who walked the country for years spreading a message of peace. Elliott gave me another jacket, chocolate, and let me stay there for the night. He is Buddhist/Jewish and encouraged me to be grateful and focus on the journey, not just the destination. @ Sonoma Coast State Park"

Other reflections, from my notes:
This trip has given me a new appreciation for the utility of braids, trail mix, bungee cords
Insomnia is cured
Animals seem to like me: dogs on the beach, birds in SF, squirrels, vole in Bodega Bay
Reminded of an NPR story about a man who had an adventurous life due to his mistakes, and the "may you live in interesting times" curse (purported to be a Chinese saying, actually English)
See beautiful piece of driftwood and put my hand on it to absorb strength from its beauty
The sound of the wind on the pebbly sand, which sounds something like rain, reminds me of the sound I've heard waking up after fainting, is this a dream?
Saw sea otter today and deer
Closer to nature but nature can be scary life/death
See a sign that says "Danger: This is one of the most deadly beaches in California"
Did I lose my jacket because of the wine the night before? Or was it the strong winds all day long that blew it off my pack? Or fate?

I realized on my walk through the park that I had lost my coat! Seeing this sunset made me feel that everything would be okay though. And it was. At the end of the trail were Andy and Kim who thought I looked cold and gave me their sweatshirt and hat, plus cliff bars, beetle nuts for energy, and money! They are both very spiritual people who work in healing. They pointed me to The Russian House, just down the street, a pay what you feel place dedicated to expanding consciousness. They surprised me by showing up at the restaurant! It was the founder, Elliot's 72nd birthday and they were having a celebration with cake and wine! We all partook. That morning I had seen a show about the civil rights movement and thought somehow it would be relevant. Elliot was active in the civil rights movement and was thrown in jail for peacefully protesting, incredible. He hitchhiked to San Francisco and was there for the summer of love. He traveled the world for years carrying nothing but a backpack and once had to outrun a hippo up a hill! He did his PhD dissertation in psychology on evil, and believes in fate. Elliot gave me another jacket, chocolate, and let me stay there for the night. He is Buddhist/Jewish and encouraged me to be grateful and focus on the journey, not just the destination.

A post shared by Natalie Larson (@arationallens) on Sep 21, 2017 at 10:03am PDT