CHANGING SEASONS IN CALIFORNIA
An Ode to Solo Travel
NOVEMBER, 2022 - PERSONAL
For as enjoyable as a trip with good company is, I find that it’s often easy to overlook the benefits of traveling alone for a short time. Especially when I find myself in nature it becomes a chance to slow down for a little, to take in what is going on around me, and let my thoughts wander. This past November I had the chance to do just that - with a barebones itinerary and desire to experience some new parts of California I set off on a couple day adventure that would leave me feeling a little more appreciative of those moments where I can check in with myself.
Cold, clear nights where the stars shone above and a few colorful leaves remained on the trees as a remnant of an autumn which had given way to winter. During this time of the year the roads are a little less travelled, the trails become an icy and snowy path, and the views that await those who are willing to brave the ice and cold seem just that much richer. This is a place of stillness, of peace, and natural beauty that just takes your breath away. I had to remind myself to look closely at the details of this impressive landscape, whether it was the unique frost that developed on a log or the charred remnants of a past fire.
WHERE THE PACIFIC OCEAN MEETS LAND
Dawn to Dusk in Big Sur
With my time in Yosemite at an end, I spent my last full day in California along the coast around Big Sur. As I sat with my eyes closed for a moment I heard the distant sound of the waterfall crashing onto the beach and the rhythmic motion of the surf. I was, unmistakably, on the ocean, and a chill in the air reminded me that it was still early, even before the sun rose properly.
As light was fading at days end I was further north along the coast and witnessed dozens of sea lions bobbing in the surf as the last ray of light disappeared below the horizon. A blissful day surrounded by natural beauty.
