Day 43 National Park 2011
Woke up at 6am but I didn’t roll out of bed until
8:30am. Opened my eyes and saw the sun
shine through the tent window and said to myself, “If only I had gotten up at
six I would have noticed the sun and I sure would have enjoyed that much more
sun today and the sunrise.” I recited
and meditated. I noticed my body was
tense from all the distress of all the things I wanted to get done by 10am and
it just wasn’t going to happen because I did not get up at 6am. “It’s done,
it’s too late, let it go,” was all I could tell myself.
I squeezed fresh orange juice with five oranges into 32oz
bottle to pack for my day trip. Seeing
how the sun was out, I took paper towel and wiped down my tent to get as much
mud off the outside and for the inside, as much puddle as I can. The mud rolled into clay balls when I
wiped. I had to get over how muddy I was
becoming in this process and how the mosquitoes were having a feast over
me. In this process of cleaning I also
found pee spots from birds on my rainfly.
This morning’s challenge was to not complain and get upset or fuss over
the things that still had to be done or the process of it.
I rolled off for La Push village and Second Beach at 1pm. Second Beach is a part of Olympic National
Park. The zoning in this area, in terms
of what belongs to who is difficult to navigate without a map as private land
and enterprise seems to mix in. When I
entered the area of Olympic National Park, I felt I hit the zone, the bubble of
protection for National Parks. It’s
clean, it’s clear, and has a standard of pristine chi that is recognizable like
a good Chan meditation hall.
The trail of .7 miles into the beach through rainforest
terrain was beautiful on this sunny day.
I missed the sun. I looked at the
ocean and thought to myself how I can spend a week on the coast like this.
After La Push I went and did Twilight tourist
things. I saw the following signs,
“Jacob Black Vacation Rentals”
“Treaty Line, No Vampires beyond this line”
“Twilight firewood”
“Bella First Aid”
Lots of menu items are named after Twilight
characters. I followed the Twilight tour
map from the Visitor Center. I drove to
the hospital and there was no Dr. Coullen Sign.
I drove to the Swan House and it really wasn’t it. Neither was True Value Outfitters where Bella
worked. The only thing that was true to
the movie was “Welcome to Forks Sign”.
I ate at the super market, the only one in Forks, I ate
out of the deli. I didn’t want to cook
and I wanted something hot to eat, not a good choice as most super market deli
are the same mostly fat and carbs.
At the parking lot I saw local native Quilout. They looked Chinese Philippino Pacific
Islander, I see why people assumed I was local.
They looked angry, unhappy, and miserable. I wondered which came first, their addiction
to pain and grief that brought them to this life as native Americans in
reservations or the other way around? Is
pain, suffering, misery the only history they have, the only stories to
tell? Make new history, stories, and
cultures! How was their experience
different than all the Chinese tribal villages of the past 5,000 years of war,
unrest, change of culture, killings, and lost of land? The road sign says, “Don’t DRUG and
Drive.” There are big flashy casinos
everywhere. There are more casinos than
grocery stores. That sure says something
about the states of Washington and Montana.
There are giant Casinos with road kill giant flashing Las Vegas
multicolor fancy electronic images billboard that lights the street instead of
street lights. Am I the only one who
sees something is terribly wrong with this?
I don’t understand. I thought the
natives are suppose to be spiritual, full of wisdom that others look up
to. What is freedom? Is freedom to hunt and log enough? Are drugs and alcohol and gambling American’s
freedom?
It’s a Monday and when I got back to camp at 7pm, all the
sites were filled. A male deer had
dinner next to my tent. He was beautiful
with velvety antler. I tried to meditate
tonight, I struggled through it. I was
just too tired. I think it was all the
junk food I had at the deli, all grease and sodium and microwaved. I picked up second wind in the restroom after
heating up hot water to wash my hands and face with.
In the restroom I met Girls Scout kids from Cilbourne,
Georgia troop 1640. They are bright
girls. I chatted with the staff and one complained how my day was better
because I didn’t have eight girls with me.
This restroom chat room was becoming a nightly thing. It’s like the coffee shop, pub hangout, it’s
the hot spot, the happening place at 11:30pm.
I noticed when people commented on my clothes and things I had, that it
wasn’t about the things themselves, it was a female acquaintance friendly way
of validating, in awe, seeing exchange saying, “You exist and you are
beautiful”.
I thanked the park for their support and hosting my
growth and transformation during my stay here.
I told the bugs I was leaving and it would not be my fault if they are
injured and died during the process of tent packing tomorrow morning. The rain was not the lullaby that sang me to
sleep tonight. The birds and the river
was my lullaby. How wonderful I finally
got to listen to them on my last night here.
