Breathing It In

After almost five months here in Humboldt County, I am still discovering just how much pure natural beauty there is to behold. Friends yesterday took me on a two-hour-plus hike deep and high up into the woods where not a person, animal (aside from insects) or vehicle could be seen nor heard and where I'd be scared to death to get lost, which could easily have happened five minutes into our trek were it not for my formidable guides. My friends here are far more skilled in the art of backpacking than I am, venturing gleefully off the beaten path, bravely snacking on various plants and berries and bounding across questionable bridges with no noticeable fear, whereas I approached such things with humbling trepidation, peering sadly down at my worn sneakers, so inadequate for proper trail hiking. Sigh.

But we soldiered on, despite my slowing my three trailmates down a tad with my childish insistence on gentle footing down steeper slopes as well as my pathetic hesistance to pee in the dirt (ewww!). Nonetheless, it was a fantastic hike--exhilirating, intoxicating and exhausting. Cool temperatures and recent rainfall have left the deep forest we explored stunningly green, lush, almost tropical. I regret not having brought along my camera, but one needn't venture a mile into the forest to take some gorgeous photos around here. They are set up right before my eyes on a daily basis, from my bedroom window, from the ATM vestibule, from the java joint where I like to sit and write--it's natural beauty overkill! Whatever transpires over the course of my days here, I consider myself very fortunate to live in a region so completely surrounded by beauty and to feel such a wonderful, essential and surprising boost in my creativity by immersing myself in nature.

So am I insane to still miss Central Park so dearly?