I like running in the rain. Not at first, but after I get going and warm up, it’s exhilarating. Plus the smell of the air and the negative ions.
So I set out last night around 6PM, heading south along the coastal cliffs from Muir Beach. I had on my one layer of Maxit tights and a rain parka tied around my waist. The storm was just starting.
By the time I got up to my lookout spot (a point of land projecting out into the ocean that feels very much like the bow of a ship), the wind in front of the storm was blowing at maybe 30-40 mph, and I put on the parka and faced into it, taking in the wind energy and the sweet smell of fresh storm air, leaning into the storm and it holding me up. The lights of San Francisco across the water.
As I headed up on a fire road inland, the rain started. It got foggy and pretty soon it was like being in a tunnel, darkness all around and a six-foot circle of misty light in front of me. These small owls (actually, I’ve been told they’re not owls, but related to whippoorwills) fluttered up from the sides of the road as I ascended; I think they wait for mice to cross the road.
It was getting darker and rainier. I got to the top and started back down. I could hardly see. I was sending good thoughts to my Black Diamond headlamp, because I hadn’t brought any backup light, and if I lost my light in this gloom, I’d be out there all night.
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If you believe in family farms, local food production, and — yes — environmental responsibility, I urge you to sign the petition to allow the Drake’s Bay Oyster company to renew its lease in the National Park. It’s the very best type of food production — no chemicals, fertilizers, watering, soil or water pollution. Plus the oysters actually filter and clean the water. Go here to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/petitions/secretary-of-the-interior-ken-salazar-renew-the-lease-for-drakes-bay-oyster-company
Here’s something I wrote last December:
Local Oyster Farm Controversy
The Drake’s Bay Oyster Company is being threatened by the same well-heeled “environmentalists” that recently forced the shutdown (in the next 5 years) of all trailers parked at Lawson’s landing. See my photo-report here: https://www.lloydkahn.com/2011/06/29/lawsons-landing-under-threat-by/
“…Some observers see a David versus Goliath struggle, with a federal agency and moneyed environmental groups picking on a family-run business.…” https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/12/10/norcal_oyster_farm_dispute_spreads_to_capitol_hill/?page=2
For a very complete refutation of the National Parks Service’s bad science and underhanded tactics (in cooperation with the Environmental Action Committee) in an article by John Hulls and Todd Pickering, see: https://russianrivertimes.wordpress.com/
And something I wrote last November: https://www.lloydkahn.com/2011/12/05/national-enviro-group-smears-loca/
“Hi Lloyd, I read about your attempted trip around Point Reyes and got really inspired to try it myself. My girlfriend and I, plus a couple of friends in Point Reyes Station, are currently making plans and building out our ultralight kits. In our studies we came across this page and thought you might find it interesting: Click here. Thanks for the ongoing inspiration, keep it up! -Sean”
It may have occurred to readers of my post on backpacking that I was on federal parkland, and I didn’t say anything about getting camping permits. Here’s my attitude and policy about the National Park Service, its regulations, its stewardship, and its rangers:
I have never got a permit for camping in the national park and I have never camped in one of the designated park camping sites, which are scorched-earth and military looking. I and my natural-world-loving friends camp in places that are not visible to hikers or rangers, and we are immaculate about camp sites, leaving everything as originally found.
A couple of years ago, scoping out the territory for this hike, I was talking to a ranger in the North Beach parking lot; he was in his SUV, I was in my Tacoma, and we were parked driver side-to-driver side, windows rolled down. He was the best type ranger—one who has the job because of a love of plants and animals and seashore and mountains. We were on the same page, so I told him about my forthcoming trip circumambulating the park, and then I said, “And I’m not getting any stinking permits.” He looked at me for a minute, then put his hand over the park service badge on his sleeve, and said, “You didn’t hear this from me, but you’ll be fine as long as you stay far from where a ranger can drive a vehicle.”
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Last night drove my truck up in the hills, went for a run. On the way, a red shouldered hawk was fluttering in the wind, wings outspread, just floating and scanning. It was foggy, bit of a breeze, I went swimming in a pond. No one for miles. On the way back there was a very large and very dead buck, with three turkey buzzards feasting, in a field. I ran in my Sanuk sandals, a very good option for barefoot runners. You can feel the ground with your toes. On the way home on the radio, Jon Cleary was doing Everything I do Gonh Be Funky.
Jonaven Moore and friends having a party at his “caboose” in the British Columbia woods; shot by Jeff Patterson with a remote controlled midget helicopter:
We just got this globe last week and I find myself looking at it all the time. I should have had one of these decades ago. With all that’s going on in the world, in unfamiliar places, it’s great to see just where various countries are.
This one is called the Explorer Globe. It’s about $45. The stand is plastic and a bit lightweight. The map itself is bright, clearly delineated, and has slightly raised areas indicating mountain ranges. The manufacturer,Replogle Globes, has over 70 different globes.
https://shltr.net/worldglobe
