April 4, Friday With Sticks

[[NOTE: Due to the isolation of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park I have a very slow uplink so I’ll post pictures for the entries made from March 31st to April 4th when I get to a better data transmitting location.]]


I have this internal battle that is constantly waging inside of me. I must be doing something. I can’t sit still. I’m trying to work on this during this trip. To do the “Sacred Pause” stop, be still. To “not to be doing something” was to be seen as being lazy. The overpowering urge was to hitch up the Jetta and head south for Big Bend National Park. No, stop, breath. Take a day to be slow. Meditation is my resource. To unplug. It is a resource that I have not yet tapped into so far on this tour. Yesterday a man sat on a bench near my RV for 45 minutes watching the morning sunlight creep down the mountainside. Why not I? It will happen when it happens.
This morning I stayed. This morning I hiked up the canyon to Devil’s Hall. This morning I had the canyon to myself. This morning it was mine. Texture and light; colors and shapes; hot sun; deep shade.
For sixty years I have lived in the outdoors hiking, climbing, camping, sailing. Still I smile at the primal mind of fear: fear of rattlesnakes; fear of cougars. I give my hiking sticks an extra click on the rocks to warn the critters that I’m in their stronghold, to relax my primal mind. To let it rest so that I may see.
The walk up the canyon produced yet another concern of mine. Must I see through the eyes of the camera lens? What do I lose if I use only my eyes? Will I not be able to recapture the moment?
Devil’s Hall was a wonderful three hour hike with pleasant surprises. It would have been nice to have shared them with someone special. A disadvantage of traveling solo. Am I going to keep count of the pluses and minuses?
Came “home”; had lunch out of the refrigerator; showered; wrote. I love this Rving!!
I’ve made a commitment to talk to someone (other than in the tourist trade) for at least 15 minutes everyday. Doing pretty good (well?)on this. {oh, just stop!}
A day of sticks and questioning