Jenni stopped eating for three days to enable her to 'take the gap'.
For the caption above, he had to bow and scrape for 3 days. Rumor has it that penitence will need to be extended.
We obviously love hiking and all facets of this activity. However, to add to the long walks, climbs and other aspects, the real fun is the additions, side-shows and obstacles a person includes. One such aspect is free rock climbing. This does not mean we don't have to pay for the opportunity but rather, attempt to climb boulders and hills without the use of supporting equipment. It's invigorating, sometimes heart-stopping, often scary but always challenging and satisfying, particularly when accomplishing the task and free of injury.
I'm reminded of Winston Churchill and one of his many acerbic comments, which applies to this activity from our perspective. When told that Clement Attlee was a modest man, he retorted, "He has much to be modest about." Why this seemingly irrelevant but great retort? I said to Jen that I approach each of the risky climbs with much humility and a lot of fear.
"So you should," she replied, "I would too should I have your very modest talents."
"Ouch!" I suppose the opening caption was that bad.
Pinnacles National Park is another United States treasure. It's a recently developed park that specializes in rock-climbing. It's trails are probably the best maintained that we have seen anywhere. The trails are mostly inter-connected. While it has East and West entrances, one cannot drive through the park but one can walk. The atmosphere is marvelous, the formations delightful, the views extend great distances from the peaks and ridges—I suppose you can say we like it very much, probably even more.
We've met so many interesting and enjoyable people on the trip—it makes a difference. Pat, from New York but settled in Portland, Oregon for the last forty years, was one of them. As we crested a ridge the other day, he sat on a rock appreciating the lake or reservoir. We began talking and if not for Jenni giving me the 'eye', I may still be there. Many people are both decent and interesting which more than compensates for the 'uglies'.
We spent 3 days in the Pinnacle Park and covered some 24 miles of trails. On our last day, as we drove from the carpark, we noticed an elderly man sitting on a rock, eating. He was probably our age. I stopped the car and called out to him. "Excuse me, sir, didn't we see you sitting in the exact same position two days ago?" Hopefully, he wasn't stuck to the boulder.
He agreed and we even pinpointed the time. He said he was absorbing vitamin-D after a daily hike. To us, it looked like he was multi-tasking: multi-vitamins from the food and vitamin-D from the sun. While my memory for names continues to fade, faces always make a deep impression. What'd you say...um...oh, yes, Jen?
One of at least 8 climbs in 2 days.
Tunnel vision.
On the way down. The drop-off on the other side sent me packing.
A little further in it's pitch-black.
Jen begins her entry.
An incredible backdrop and 800 feet or so drop.
Lone tree on the peak. Why do you grow in such a place? I used to wonder. Then I learned a life lesson. We cannot always choose our places. We should make the best of our lot. 'I talk to the trees and they hear me'.
Mule-deer with attitude. The birds and animals in the wilds make a difference to our days.
A park of pinnacles, condors, splendor and mostly, tranquility.
The sights are remarkable and then again, some not at all.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
Continuation of birds from Morro Bay.
Can't say whether it's yoga or a cleaning routine.
Stalking or 'storking'.
Love the full-frontal, both eyes visible.
And then of course, 'the tough guys' at Pinnacles. Jen pushed me out the way and took on this guy single-handedly. It was a close encounter and fight with both coming out of it bloodied but better for having had the experience...What a load of trash! Dreaming again.
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