Bridge to Bridge

Quiet, early morning runs from the Waterloo to Westminster Bridges--solo footsteps along the historical steps of London. A chill on my skin and a skip in my heart. Westminster Abbey and Big Ben stand strong as the London Eye watches over me awaiting my thoughts, awaiting the words the bubble to the surface. So many stories to tell.

Blessings of Tuolumne

Stellar's jay morning, squawking to the rising sun. Out of tent and dive into hot cocoa in tea. Talk of stories in the early morning sun that slowly warms the mountains. Everyday a view of the breathtaking Lembert Dome and sprinkles of the rushing Tuolumne River. Two friends sketching by the water, capturing in color what's in their heart. Tubing. Catch and releasing baby trout. Two friends laughing and reminiscing, basking in their love for Tuolumne Meadows.

A perfect place then and now.

An ascent to Gaylor Lake. Alpine drops, deep basins of granite and shale, spongy grass and a few seagulls soaring over the water, and in the reflection, he floats on the grayish, blue ripples. Collecting butterfly wings and wildflowers-- Indian Paintbrush, Alpine Daisies and Ranger Buttons. Surrounded by an army of peaks. A bounty of beauty. 

Push hard up to Hoffman, sun baked and tired. Lessons of overcoming obstacles. Believing you can do more than you think. Marmot, marmots, everywhere! The view is a payoff, as you become a fleck of dust in such a vast universe. Jingle with the ghost of a tambourin on the descent. 

Tuolumne Meadows at sunset after a mountain rain. Golden glow sparks into pink and orange and purple. Following deer and stars. Breathing it all in. Enough to chill my soul with dazzling blessings of being a live.

I am blessed with a life-long friend and the love we share for this place.

Thank you again, Tuolumne Meadows.

Pieces

There are places you visit in your lifetime that leave mark on your heart. A time and a place that cannot be erased. Cannot be denied. It's at the center of these places that we often discover again where we've been, who we are, and what we want to be.

Tuolumne Meadows.

My first rock climb, meadow crossing, hot springs, and impression of the glowing Cassiopeia in the sky. Tuolumne has meant so many things to me for so many years. And the gifts continue.

I retrace the steps I took five years ago on the Glen Aulin trail with a two-year-old girl on my back and memories of my dog, Mo, tucked away in my heart. Together, we search for just the right spot to mark her remembrance. The late August afternoon brings sweat upon my back, achy legs, and an anticipation of letting go of someone so interwoven in my life.

As we cross glacial mountains, pure mountain emerald streams, and shaded deer paths, the perfect place opened up to us. We named it Mo rock. Over the small falls, we released our memories of her: our countless treks to the Sierras, the rocks and trees she climbed alongside me. Mo wasn't just my first dog, but my best friend. In her honor, we splashed in the water, tossed sticks, and ate lunch along the bank. Her perfect day.

And now, five years later, I find myself right back there with her. Everywhere I looked, I feel pieces of my dog, my compadre, hidden under rocks, in whistling pine needles, and running through the veins of every tree. With each step along that trail, my goals in life become more clear. It's not to leave a grand legacy behind me, but to leave tiny pieces of myself in many places. Bits and remnants of where I've been, who I am, and what I want to be all over the world.

Just like Mo. Over five years later, she's still teaching me.

So once again, I share the trail with friends. Awed by the beauty. Peacefulness. Power.

Welcoming in all the pieces of Tuolumne Meadows that add up to perfection.