I went to the Marin Headlands to try out my new stuff. I have new shoes, a new bag, a new sweater, new shorts and new socks. All needed a rigorous testing. I took the Rodeo Valley trail to the Alta Trail, then down to the Miwok trail. I saw two foxes, a bunny rabbit, two horses with riders (one wanted to eat my carrot-orange shorts), a million birds, and a million and a half beetles, some which were bright green. It was a magical day. The fog was thick and there was nobody out today. Fog is the perfect weather to hike in if you 1. know where you are going, and 2. have the right clothes. I had number two down but the fog was disorienting and it’s been a while since I’ve hiked those trails. I spent so much time on them in years past, I assumed I’d remember everything. I guess I’ve never been on the Alta trail before because it threw me for a loop for a while there.
I don’t really understand mountain biking. I suppose it’s fun for the mountain bikers, but I don’t have any desires to be one. I hate cycling uphill and the downhill part seems a little nerve racking. Speeding down a rocky, dusty trail seems a little slippery and dangerous. My friend Leon used to do a lot of mountain biking and he said you usually end up falling on the same body parts each time you fall. So he had injured and re-injured his arm so many times he decided to start calling it his scarm. Our friend Waldo traded in his butt for some scuttocks. No, they can keep their mountain bikes, on foot is where I find joy. Walking on a trail makes you so much more present than on a bike. And the Marin Headlands have so many treasures along their trails. I’ve seen a mountain lion chasing a butterfly, and nearly accidentally leaped on top of a coyote. I like to look at all the plants and try to identify them. Northern California has quite a few edible plants so I have to take nibbles here and there. Today made me want to go backpacking. I’ve actually never been. Can you believe that? I’ve just never had anyone to go with, or I guess I have had plenty of people willing, I just haven’t pursued it enough.
On my nature walk today I thought about how strange it’s going to be to spend 4 days on foot and have nothing to look at but cars and strip malls. What a long, strange trip that’s going to be. I started wishing this trip was in nature, but it’s ok, It’s going to be fun in its own way. I was thinking about parts of San Jose where I’ll be walking through and I think it’s going to be fun to take a stroll down memory lane.