The Coastal Trail, Marin Headlands, California
A crow floated in the air over the rocky cliff like he was dangling on a string from the sky. I watched him for a while, as the trail ahead of me meandered in giant S shapes that reconnected me to him on a few occasions. I wondered what he saw out there in the vast waters of the pacific. The ocean looked calm from high on the cliff and the rushing sounds of the headwind drowned out every noise, bringing a sense of peace to the moment. Perhaps the crow felt that peace too.
The waves on the shore a few hundred feet below were telling a different story though. They pounded the sand and rock, ferociously disgorging water in every direction. I was glad I wasn’t floating up there with the crow, or fighting with the waves down below. I liked my feet on the ground, the place in between.
The trail was muddy. I sloshed and slid over rocks, careful to take small methodical steps. This added technical terrain was welcomed and gave me something to concentrate on. After some time, I started to understand my connection to the ground’s surface. I could feel when I needed to pull back or could loosen the restraint and push forward. I felt a connection, and no longer was I at the mercy of the slick surface. I lost myself in the run. Minutes passed in what felt like seconds.
A peak, off into the distance, looked exciting and treacherous. I picked that space as my next destination. A few more minutes of climbing, then the trail gently gave way. With bounding steps, I loosened up and opened my arms, embracing the path in front of me. I eventually made it to the tip of the peak and when I did, stood just near its edge. Wind rushed up the rock’s contour and when it broke the surface, billowed out, ever expanding into the air surrounding me and with such force, it nearly knocked me off my feet. I took a few more seconds to admire the beauty surrounding me. Looking south, the shoreline turned concave to convex to concave again and I could just barely see through the fog the tower atop twin peaks. The city was in sight. Looking north though, the broken geometry of the shoreline continued until I could see no further.
The air was chilly and moist and aroused so many lovely sweet scents I wanted to put them in a jar and carry them with me forever. So sweet I thought, I’ll just meet the trail again tomorrow.
