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I just spent the most amazing week-end and am still floating from the high. I was invited to go camping with a bunch of girls...there were 11 of us. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, it was a five hour drive and I hadn't been camping on my own before. This was a challenge to me, especially now, and I felt I needed to see what I could really do. Plus I love to camp and the idea of camping with these girls sounded great.
I drove for five hours through some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States...Yosemite National Forest. Yep, I had to drive through Yosemite to get to my destination somewhere north of Bishop (high desert). Each hour was as beautiful as the last if not more. I felt in awe of nature and its majesty...my problems seemed so minor...it lifted me up and made me feel at peace.
When I got to the campground, I was laughing to myself at how easy the trip had been. My good friend was there waiting and together we put up my tent in no time flat. A cot, sleeping bag, small suitcase and beside table and I was ready for fun. By mid-afternoon the rest of the girls (almost everyone had arrived the day before) came back from a long hike and I was able to meet them. They all are from San Diego, though a few had moved to different areas, so the camping trip was a reunion of sorts.
That night I helped with dinner; shrimp pasta, salad and garlic bread, then put out my treats for the dessert. We had such a blast, laughing till our sides hurt and beer was coming out of my nose. One of the girls is the booking agent for San Diego's House of Blues. The music was right on, and sooo perfect for where we were. A few more of the group showed up that evening
On Saturday morning after breakfast, we packed into a few SUV's and drove down to Bishop where we hopped onto innertubes and spent the day floating down the Owens River. It looked like the Nile as the river was lazy with just enough current to keep us moving downstream, and cattails and reeds edged the narrow river. Dragonflies landed on our toes as we drifted along, the beer was cold and by the time we finished we were some pretty happy relaxed women.
Dinner that night was again incredible; chicken fajitas with salad, grilled veggies and margaritas. The dessert was apple tort plus the brownies left over from dessert the night before.
On Sunday we hiked down along the stream and took the dogs. No one was in a hurry to go home so the morning was relaxed and easy. I took off and went to find some privacy (easy to do there!). I wanted to find a place where I could find some sense of the Earth and its presence. I started to realize where I hold my reverence...and its in the creation itself. I do not worry overmuch about any creator. Its bigger than I, so I do not wish to struggle comprehending forever and the vastness of the universe.
I came home, hugged my kids and collapsed with a smile on my face.
Life is good...
for more pics of Yosemite, this site has a nice collection.
That sounds great - I'm wary of going camping but it is restful to be somewhere remote.
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