To the Canyonlands

The hikers chat together, as they come off trail, “Well, that sure was GORGEous, eh?” “Yes. Oh I see what you did there. That was HILLarious.” The trail hosts smile. Who couldn’t use a good little canyon pun today?

The Vincents have migrated south to the ‘canyonlands’ of Southern California for the winter. We are just outside San Diego, about an hour from the coast to the west and mountains/desert to the east. After nearly a year at the snug, buzzing Bodega Bay RV Park, we are enjoying the quiet expanse of our solo spot as trail hosts in Cleveland National Forest. While we can’t begin to tell you how much we miss being minutes from the ocean, we are embracing new experiences here. 

As trail hosts, we check permits and share information with visitors, care for the trailhead facilities and are available as eyes & ears for the ranger staff. Hikers come daily to visit the Cedar Creek Falls in the heart of the San Diego River Gorge. A 6 mile out-and-back hike with a 1000 foot drop, the trail leads you to a rather secluded grotto. On our first hike down in December, the falls were a trickle down to a peaceful, algae green pool. After the New Year’s rains (our personal weather station has logged over 10 inches since the 1st!), the falls and surrounding seasonal creeks have filled with cold, rushing water. The hills have shifted from rosy sunset golden to Hawaii green. We can’t wait for the wildflowers! Between rains, we got to see the forest service methodically operating prescribed burns of debris piles along a stretch bordering the neighborhoods. Pretty bizarre view from the porch, but we are grateful for their work. Khara will shift into the primary as host because Jesse recently started working at nearby San Vicente Resort, offering opportunities for guests to imbibe at ‘the 19th hole’ (yes, they also have golf).

We have been fortunate to fill our non-service time catching up with friends who live close, checking out local improv clubs, eating pie in Julian, walking the palm canyons and desert sculptures at Borrego Springs, day trips to Solana and Carlsbad beaches, and of course hiking our local trails also popular with mountain bikers. As we know, life isn’t always easy and predictable. Outside of some new house repair headaches and a unique challenge backing the house up a steep hill to get parked in our spot, a bigger change to our little family unit came a few weeks after our resettling. Our sweet old Sally boy passed. A lovely, long 17 1/2 years of life with this perpetual kitten spirit has us feeling his absence keenly. We move on with the heavy hearts that strive to carry the best of him with us.

And so, here we find ourselves back within many kinds of transition. New home dynamics, new employment, new weather patterns (Santa Anas-ugh, cool sunshine-aah), new geographic orientation, new community… trying to balance the thrill of the new with planting some temporary roots. When letting go of one place and settling into the next with another move not too far down the line, it is challenging work to enjoy the stillness of the present. Perhaps being surrounded by these montañitas and canyons will inspire that everyday steadiness.
Think Tadasana: mountain yoga pose.