Things seem clearer in the silver light of the extraordinary - Harlan Ellison

The desert here in Spring can clear your head, shake the junk out and remind you of the glorious state of being insignificant.
I took Friday off, we left as soon as we could and headed out to JTree. The first place we went camping, before we knew each other well. We go at least once a year. We barely were able to get a site - but found one by luck.
We hiked, read, stretched ourselves physically - (10 Miles!), ate, got kinda chilly, gaped at the stars, the quiet, the subtle beauty that is there for the taking if you just sit with it. It is always a promise that is fulfilled. You forget anything petty, there is too much to ponder in a simple Joshua Tree - they are so very fragile(glad that the NFS is working to protect them) and within one of these strange trees - they all look like dancers to me - frozen in mid spin, turn, flip - there is a riot of life sustained - from the insects to the rodents, the birds and snakes that all depend in one way or another on some part of this unassuming creation. Who am I and my silly shit next to that.

Nature and how it has a blind eye and unrelenting purpose - when we leave it alone. I am grateful to witness this - in our hikes, camping and I still cant believe that after 8 years I am still with someone who digs it and craves it as much as I do.
Read a bit of Edward Abbey out there - it fit.

still sick. worked the day through. left right before 5 - wanted to try to go see the Errol Morris docu, but came home and just could not do it. want to rest up so we can drive to Jtree tomorrow to camp and see the desert in bloom. truly one of the magical places on earth - the desert in spring. we called the ranger, who confirmed that most the camp sites were gone, but we got a cheapo hotel room in case we cant squeeze in somewhere. i will see the cactus flowers and breath that air.

Simon and i went there 2 days after we met and camped - i will write about that full moon and the still beauty we shared another time. I used to take my son there for Easter Sunday - we hunted for blooms.

took an imitrex so now i am stoney, but the headache will leave me.
we have friends from the UK that are supposed to meet us there tomorrow. really looking forward to it.

Simon is bustling about getting the gear ready - he loves camping - getting the firesticks, the sleeping bags, the tent pegs - every thing all just so. The mountain camp sites we love will open up for spring in a few weeks and we will head up the hill on a Friday after work - seeking the quiet and the misty views above and beyond the city, sweaty hikes, sitting in front of a fire pit just gazing. .

going to be a good spring, i think