Tried again, made it, last day, Point Lobos.
Foggy cool perfect through mid-day.
Never enough rocks to climb on.
Locale like I remember it, blessed. Lots of people here and there. Popular spot.
Great views, great rocks, great water.
Excitement on the way home, safe arrival, given the circumstances, all good.
Sleep well? That’s the plan.
Week off with the kids, vacation time, stripped down, shifting mindset and schedule to them, focused on them, us.
This particular post a good example. Three in the morning, awake, listening to the sounds of the night, listening to the kids sleep.
What’s the big deal? Not so big maybe; maybe just different. In a tent in the back yard; all of us together. Had visions of a bigger adventure; scaled back to stay closer to home, for the old dogs’ sake. Still lots of fun in store. Local adventures; some news places; some old places; all good places. Focused on them, focused on us.
Spent a little chunk of change for a bigger tent and new sleeping bags, upgrades for the crew this season. All these an investment in many of these strings of adventures to come in the years ahead. Focused on them, focused on us.
A year ago marriage was failed, the beginning of the end; now, the end nearly concluded, this is what’s left; unexpected, family camaraderie, us four, me and the kids, quite unexpected, this is what’s left. Pretty special all the same; three in the morning, lying in the tent, dim light from the night creeping in, soft sounds of three little kids in slumber, not one lover, but my three little kids from a try at love, now left with this particular love, love them so, I do.
And so this alternate vacation, alt vacay, just what the doctor ordered, for us, for them. Us together, on the roads, highways and by-ways, exploring, and tent time, alt arrangements, together, most important, together.
It’s that alt vacay attitude, shining through.
Things came together today. I’m pretty grateful.
I really want to take my kids on a summer adventure. My older daughter suggested Yosemite not too long ago.
Until then I had been thinking camper road trip. When she said Yosemite, the trip drew into better focus.
Yosemite. More than a thousand square miles of mostly wilderness. A blessed place. A protected place. A holy place, really.
I spent maybe ten Mother’s Day weekends in Yosemite; it was our family tradition growing up. I packed in the back-country maybe another half-dozen times when I was older.
I can’t think of a better place to bridge my child / growing-up experiences to my own children.
Usually you need to make plans way in advance, it’s such a popular destination. Covid Times, we’ll see if maybe I can get luck. A reservation is in process. We’ll see. Hopefully soon we’ll know yea or ney.
And so I watched Free Solo, about a climber who free soloed El Captain four years ago. I’m no climber; a minor boulder guy at best.
But watching an hour plus documentary centered in Yosemite? Just the primer.
I love that place. I love those rocks. I hope it works out. Even as one of the more popular outdoor destinations on the planet — and certainly here in the west, it will be peaceful, and change, and outdoor adventure, and exactly what the doctor ordered (as they say — no doctor involved just now on that front).
This trip, this place, much needed. For me as much as my kids. I need it. They need it. WE need it.
YOSEMITE.
Don’t know it? Maybe do, but want to read more. Here.
Let it be, as it is, plain and simple wisdom, so easy and true. The path of least resistance presented to you.
So often we might try to turn things around, make them bend to our will, standing our ground.
For me I will say, that’s oft not the case, much better to go with the flow, no time to waste.
Especially with kids, at home or away, stay with them, tuned in. Pick and choose your battles. REALLY difficult sometimes – like just now, as our kids go through their final chatter of the night! – really difficult, but not worth blowing a gasket.
Often better to let it flow, let it go, and not force. Measured influence, plying without shouting, guiding, not demanding. Take this approach more often, you’ll be glad you did.
Let it be.
