beach backpacking

Olympic Peninsula.  July 2-4.  With Brenda and Katie V.   Memory highlights of the trip include B's backward's trucker hat (see picture below), our collective inability to remember more than two lines of any given song we attempted to chorus during our walks, my goofy leg sunburn from beach meditation, stripping down to basics and jumping in the ocean, purple starfish, road trip rap music... the nostalgia is fresh.  The trip was a welcome reprieve from action and agenda; we meandered along the beach and cliff trails to our campsite the first day.  Near Strawberry Point.  We camped on the beach, and set fire to driftwood at night to warm ourselves and cook Field Roast dogs.  Our second day was spent exploring the beach and rocks during low tide, practicing yoga in the sand, relaxing, and watching the beautiful sunset.   We left camp relatively early in the morning on Monday the 4th, so as to avoid heavy ferry traffic and return to Seattle early-ish.  Brenda is a professional photographer.  She took some amazing shots during the weekend that might show up on www.bergreenphotography.com .

Being on the coast was a dramatic change from the prior weekend's mountain adventure on Shuksan.  Snow to sand.  Layers to bare skin.  I feel more like myself when I'm in the backcountry camping.  During this particular trip, I noticed that I had no mirror to look into.  Without a reflection, I felt more in touch with my insides.  There is so much emphasis on the external world in my life; what I look like being only one facet.  External identities consume much time and energy; my profession, my attire, personal relationships, speech, living environment, financial means, and on...   When I go hiking and camping for a night or more, I remember the peace in simplicity and space.  And how little space I give myself in my usual life.
I also noticed how much I enjoy being immersed in nature, even when not pursuing a high-intensity goal.  Typically, my adventures have an outcome attached; reach a summit, hit a certain mileage per day, complete a trail, reach a target destination.  While my inherent nature moves me towards 'get it', I now know that a slow pace fulfills me.  Balances.  I wanted quiet and stillness going into this weekend.  Felt that desire inside, though wasn't able to put it into words until I felt the experience.