WITH RW ON FIRE AGAIN THIS SUMMER
I HAVE GROWN TO APPRECIATE THE SOLO ROAD TRIP.
IMMENSELY.
THIS WEEKEND PAST, I VENTURED OUT TO THE CITY OF ROCKS, HERE IN IDAHO.
TOP NOTCH GRANITE.
ROPES.
SKIN.
SUN.
STONE.
I TOOK A MOMENT TO TOUCH A PIECE OF HOME, ON THE WAY. THE COMBINES WERE RUNNING FULL FORCE OUT IN THE VALLEY AND I WEPT AS I WATCHED THEIR SLOW CUT KICK UP DUST AND THE STEADY SPEW OF THEIR GOLDEN GRAIN, CHAFF FREE, INTO THE BEDS OF GRAIN TRUCKS. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND BURIED MY SENSES IN THE FIELDS. LONGING FOR HOME. INTENSE FEELINGS ASSUAGED BY SIMPLY GRASPING ONTO BLOND STALKS IN THE EVENING SUNLIGHT.
WHEN I DRIVE A DISTANCE, ALONE, I BEGIN TO FEEL RECKLESS. THERE’S A WILDNESS THAT SURFACES. I ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN. DRIVE TOO FAST AROUND CORNERS. PLAY MY MUSIC TOO LOUD. I WANT A VICE OR TWO. I CONSIDER BUYING CIGARETTES. IT’S THE WILDNESS OF THE WIND IN MY HAIR AND THE OPEN ROAD BEFORE ME THAT DOES IT…
AND THEN THE CITY OF ROCKS APPEARED.
SOLID AND STEADY IN THE EVENING LIGHT.
An anchor.
AND THE HOMESTEAD I DAYDREAM ABOUT
MADE A RUSTIC SILHOUETTE AGAINST THE BURN
OF THE EVENING SKY.
THEN CAME THE MEETING WITH FRIENDS. CLAMBERING ABOUT. HEADLAMPS ON BRIGHT UP THE BACKSIDE CLIMB TO THE TOP OF BATH ROCK AND LAUGHTER AND THOUGHTFULNESS AND HOWLING AT THE MOON AND THE SINGING OF OLD TIME MUSIC UP AGAINST THE NIGHT SKY. THE COYOTES SANG WITH US. THE GRANITE HELD THE HEAT OF THE DAY. WE SCRAMBLED DOWN INTO OUR BEDS AND SLEPT FULL. LONG. SLEEPS.
I FINALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THIS GRANITE PARADISE.
THE TOO WARM WARMTH OF THE SUN ON RW’S SLEEPING BAG (IN THE RUSH TO LEAVE, I COULDN’T FIND MINE AND HAD TO USE HIS…..IT SMELLED OF HIM — the perfect lullaby). THE QUIET CRUMBLE OF GRANITE CRYSTALS BENEATH ME AND THE VALLEY BELOW MY ROCK. [MY SALVATION?]
A FEW PITCHES AND LAUGHS LATER….
WE FOUND GERALD.
THE POOR CHIPMUNK WALKED RIGHT OFF THE SIDE OF A CLIFF…OR AT LEAST WE DEDUCED HE MET HIS END THIS WAY.
EM WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO PICK UP HIS SMALL FRAME WITH A PAIR OF PINE CHOP STICKS (WE’RE SO INSENSITIVE AREN’T WE?). FEAR NOT. WE GAVE HIM A PROPER BURIAL….AFTER WE CLIMBED THE ROUTE WE FOUND HIM ON.
AND THEN ROPES AND A DREADFUL APPROACH HIKE IN THE BLAZING SUN.
…AND THE IMMACULATE VIEW ATOP JACOB’S THUMB BEFORE THE THUNDER AND LIGHTNING CHASED US DOWN. WE RAPPELLED FAST. HOT BELAY DEVICES, SINUOUS ROPES, BARE FEET ON SHARP GRANITE.
AND COLD BEER, CRACKERS AND CHEESE AT OUR CAMPSITE.
THEN THE CAPTURING OF BLUE.
[WINDHOVER, YOU’LL LOVE THIS…]
[FOR BEING SO LARGE IN SPIRIT, I SURELY AM SMALL IN BODY…]
MY GIRLS AND I IN OUR LITTLE HOLE. PERFECT FOR SLEEPING THREE, FOR LISTENING TO THE EVENING MUSIC OF THE VALLEY (SUPPLIED BY COYOTES) AND FOR WATCHING THE RISE OF A BLUE MOON OVER GRANITE.
AND STILL,
IN THE MORNING,
MORE SHADES OF BLUE:
FEELING SUNKISSED AND CONNECTING WITH THE SURFACES (and depths) OF THINGS
IN THIS TIME
AND THIS SPACE:
THINGS ARE RARELY THE SAME TWICE.
THIS GRANITE WILL BE WORN MORE THIN NEXT TIME I VISIT;
NEXT TIME I GRASP ONTO IT AND PULL DOWN.
AND THAT’S HOW LIFE SHOULD BE LIVED!
IN THE HOLINESS OF A TIME AND SPACE — KNOWING THAT IT’S A SACRED MOMENT. CONNECTING WITH IT FULLY BEFORE IT WASHES AWAY IN THE SANDS OF TIME.
AND THANKS TO YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A WEEKEND AWAY.
MY PERSONAL SPACE IS SACRED.
I NEED IT
TO REBUILD AND REFOCUS.
I NEED IT TO FEEL CONNECTED AT ALL THE BENDS OF MY MIND.
AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I NEED IT IN ORDER TO CREATE.
LOVE AND THANKS TO YOU,
JSL
I'm so glad you were able to have such an amazing trip!
… but selfishly, it's wonderful to have you back 🙂
Simply beautiful – I can feel my soul soar with your words and I can feel the warmth of the granite beneath my fingers and toes. I can feel the presence of the Sacred Soul whose words buoy my own soul.
Thank you, M
Holy crap!
I'm the only person I've ever known that climbs barefoot!
🙂
Sounds like an freakin' awesome weekend! Also how hardcore are you climbing barefoot? 😛
I am SO HAPPY to hear that you had such an amazing time (your photos are a beautiful addition to your magical words)! Thank YOU for sharing those sacred moments spent away with all of us here. I know I speak for all of us when I say we TRULY appreciate it. And, I too, feel EXACTLY as you do when venturing out solo with the wind in my hair…I am a definite *free spirit* who, in this town, in this day, in this age, quite often forgets to let herself roam free. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, dear Jilli, for inspiring me as you do. Words could never really express how much it means to me.
looks amazing.
and hey, if you miss the wheat fields so much…just keep on considering your move back north. sasky will always welcome you with open arms and even openner skies.
xoxoxo
Spectacular photos. Especially the bluesy ones. So glad you were able to get away and get with your friends. We need respite in this crazy world of ours.
Good for you for feeding your soul…and for commemorating Gerald's life!
As another solo driver who indulges in classic rock at top volume and generous speeds on the fine highways of the northern plains and Rocky Mountain West, I say do not–do NOT–give in to the seduction of cigarettes.
Substitute licorice or some kind of sour candy. Remember, you like bon-bons! 🙂
And thanks for sharing the inspiring words and photos about your experience….
Swoon! What a fantastic mini vacay.
So happy you enjoyed yourself!!
What a fantastic voyage! I am yet another woman who loves the combine feel of wind swept highway and loud rock.
Oh and poor Gerald – how sweet and sad!
I love how you climb giant rocks and wrangle small(ish) ones into silver corrals.
So appropriate.
your photography is profound, your words make me long for the wheatfields of my childhood in Northern Ohio, recurrent dreams that call me home.Thanks for the gift of sharing. Laura
don't ever buy cigarettes. they'd do horrible things to those wonderful lungs of yours. but the music… turn that up.
As Steppenwolf put it:
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace…
Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high…
Born to be wild…
So glad you took this time! Thanks so much for sharing it so beautifully–life both fragile and strong, the reckless highway, the glimpse of golden home, the friends, the rocks, the views, the light!
D 🙂
dear b mcb,
i'm about to take my first solo road trip (6.5 hrs…does it count?) this weekend. i'm apprehensive and also SO excited. i've never done anything like it before even at my advanced age. reading about how it feels increases my happiness that i've decided to do it and push back the wall of fear that in previous years may have stopped me.
all,
she.
… beautiful post!
Yup…nature is beautiful, all by itself. Glad you had a great weekend.
xoxo
There is nothing more beautiful than a woman in her element.
Why do you live in a house again?
Loved the photos AND the words – a beautiful story of a part of your life! Thank you for sharing it!
I love solo travelling/driving but like only the sound of the engine and the view from my motorhome – big windshield=big view – and the occasional visit/kiss from my dog Karl who rides on the couch behind me.
A few more weeks and we will hit the road again…
awesome.
beautiful words and images..how long have you been climbing for? Truely amazing..
Sometimes I wish I could do it all over: my youth that is. I'm proud of you you strong bad-ass woman you.
I did climb Mt. St. Helens before it blew and Mt. Hood in my youth. But, it's been a long, long time.
ANYWAY, I'm glad to see you're not wasting time.
d
Thank you for the beautiful writing and pics; it took me away just briefly. Love it… xxx
I just wanted to leave a note to say THANK YOU. I got your post today and it gave me such a pleasant surprise, just as your posts do!
Stay chirpy and happy.
Ah to personal space! You share such vivid descriptions, its as if we are with you on your trips.
<—I can totally relate to the driving. Racing a lil Mini Cooper around those orange cones with accuracy and surges of adrenalin make me feel very exuberant. (Until I see someone beat my race times by a long shot)
You're making me want to kick on my cowboy boots and go run through fields with a giant cup of coffee!! (hehe, I guess that's just my dream at the moment!)
Oof!
Look at all these magnificent comments! You're all so amazing. I appreciate your words SO much this week. More often than not, I'm just blown away by your support. I've had a tough couple of weeks (things are boiling just beneath my surface: frustration, sadness, feelings of being overwhelmed, fatigue and then the constant bouts of elation, joy, peace and contentment mixed in for a chocolate vanilla swirl feel). I don't mean to come across as mentally unsound, I think this is just life. And I'm just me, learning how to live it.
As usual, words fail me, but your graciousness, your kindness, your encouragement, your love and your gentleness with the very heart and soul of me makes up for all the darkness.
Thank you for residing in this community and for laughing in these halls. You're a bright and merry breeze!
Love you,
Jillian Susan
PS I don't climb barefoot, I just happen to rappel barefoot, usually, after leading and setting an anchor my shoes usually need to come off for a bit and then I just never put them back on until I'm on my next route… And I started climbing in 2001. Thought I took a 5 year break between living in Arizona and Alaska. My life here in Pocatello marks a return to something I really love and excel at. It's been positively blissful to live so near to so many kinds of climbing.
PSS Fear not. I'll stay away from the tobacco!
PSSS Here's to the open road! XO
Keep persevering. From what I can tell, you've done a very brave job this summer.
Doesn't mean you have to be perfect all of the time. We should all be so lucky as to love our spouses like you love yours.
Thanks D, you wise woman. I always appreciate you very much.
Awww. Someday… Idaho will be in my future.
Hang tough.
d
Oh, Jill, What can I say. Your words are so beautiful and such a pleasure to relax and enjoy. I was born in Pocatello and thoroughly enjoy your words and actions. I'm happy that you are taking a few moments out of life just for you, enjoy and God Bless. Sally