De-Liver Me Tour ~ A Little Magic ~ June 15, 2015

We just returned from a couple of weeks of free range exploration in Northern California and Oregon, a well deserved time out before we head to UCSF tomorrow for my 7th TACE treatment. Journals and photos to come in the next couple of weeks. For now I'm taking you on a little side trip.

On the way home, June 9th, we headed south from Bandon to McKinleyville to spend the night with friends Tom and Linda. One of the prettiest sections of the journey on Highway 101 is from Crescent City to Eureka through the redwoods. As we started down the ridge towards Eureka we spotted a juvenile Black Bear at the treeline. In the many decades we've traveled this road this was our first sighting. This had to be some sort of sign. When we got home I looked up Bear Medicine. Clear as a bell. 

California Black Bear

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When you invoke the power of the bear totem, reflect on the qualities of inner strength, fearlessness, and confidence in yourself and how you can project them in your world. Since the bear is often associated with shamans in many traditions, this spirit animal can symbolize healing abilities and stepping into the role of the healer. Standing against adversity; taking action and leadership.The essence of Bear teaches us how to dream what is desired into physical reality. 

Post Script: The doctor doing my procedure tomorrow called this morning to introduce himself and remind me when to be there, to fast after midnight, and that I would, as before, be there overnight. I told him I had a very important question and he "sure anything". What I wanted to know was if the televisions in the recovery section (at each bedside with headphones) got the local station that will be televising the NBA finals (I am not normally a basketball fan, but we all have the fever this time around). He said "I think so, but as a back up plan bring your iPad. They have WiFi and you can probably stream the game". How's that for patient support and customer service? Off to San Francisco at o'dark thirty. 

Just a Thought Series ~ Time on my Mountain ~ December 10, 1970

Thinking of a sunshine day

On the dark lime velvet 

Of Tamalpa's robes

Sentries oak and noble redwood

Watching for the spirit wind

Mt. Tamalpais Glow
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Far below

The ocean's cycle

In lake like calms

Toy boats rock in the crispness

Of a December morn

Looking down from Mt. Tam to Stinson Beach

The clarity of winter

So defines itself

In the timelessness of the day

The innocence of truth's heartchild

Holds me in the peaceful void

Of non-seeking

Time
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Transcending the duality of

Observer and observed

I rest quietly in oneness

With the moment between

All time and no time

19 Ought 70 was a year of transition for me. I moved back to Marin County after six years away at college and spent part of the summer exploring British Columbia and Alberta with my dog and two friends I met along the way. Home in the fall to start the next chapter of my life. Growing up on Mt. Tamalpais is a gift that continues to shape my world. It's always a calming and magical place to spend time. 

Top of the Fifth ~ June 08, 2014

Wild Pitch ~ Ah, the battle of the titans: Best Laid Plans vs. The Monkey Wrench Gang. We thought we might have most of June and July to hit the road, but avast mateys we've hit a wee snag.

Snagged

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Razzafratz ~ On May 28th I had my quarterly CT scan to check on resident tumors, Audrey and Carmine. Well, it seems Audrey found a way to escape her chemotherapeutic bondage wrap, picture muffin top over the bikini bottom. There is an area about .50 cm wide (that's about a 20th of an inch) that is lighting up on the scan. My doc called after talking to UCSF Interventional Radiology. The spot is easy to reach and the recommendation is that I return for another TACE. My appointment date is June 27th. Not at all happy about this development but it is what it is and keeping my tumors in check until Fall surgery date is a priority. 

Hot off the Press ~ I met with the Hepatitis C Clinical Pharmacist on June 6th to get more information about the drug therapy I'll be starting sometime in August. It is a combo of Ribivarin and Sofosbuvir (now known as Sovaldi, the new warm and fuzzy name that patients can spell and pronounce). There is a good chance this dynamic duo can rid my system of Hep C before the transplant, but until we find out how I tolerate the medications we'll probably stay close to home. The other good news is that my insurance will cover the costs other than my normal copays. This is a huge load off our minds. 

We're Outta Here (Thank you Duane Kuiper) ~ We have a window of opportunity the next few weeks before the proverbial shit hits the fan so we be outta here.  On Wednesday we're taking off on one of our infamous Shall We Turn Right or Left Tours: back roads and blue highways. We'll probably be off the grid for most of the time, but will take good notes and lots of photos so stay tuned. 

The Great Escape ~ March 07, 2014

Do you remember the 1950 film noir classic Sunset Boulevard? In the last scene Gloria Swanson, the fading silent film star, utters the infamous line "I'm ready for my closeup Mr. DeMille". Well for me the was "How I Spent my Thursday Morning at Kaiser" posing for a couple of internal closeups. 

Our response to Thursday was that it must be time for a road trip. Over breakfast Friday morning we picked a general direction: North by Northwest and left the house about 10:30. First stop was Pacific Market to build a picnic: potato salad, mixed fruit, organic lime corn chips, and Sandwich #3 (chicken, Havarti cheese, greens, sliced Gravenstein apple and sweet Vidalia onions on Ciabatta bread ~ oh so very good!). 

We drove north on Hwy 101 and took the Stewart's Point Skaggs Springs Road out of Geyserville towards the coast. The world is electric green from the rains, wild mustard abounds in the vineyards, cherry trees are in blossom and the oaks are starting to leaf out. 

The paved road, though some would call it a trail, is about 40 miles of incredible scenery: steep canyons, high ridges, creeks and oak forests that give way to redwoods and ferns near the coast.

We stopped on a ridge top near the gate to the Wolf Creek Ranch and had our picnic on the tailgate before continuing west to Stewarts Point to pick up Hwy 1 north. 

Walk On Beach is just south of Gualala at the north end of Sonoma County. There is a bluff trail through Sea Ranch that takes you to Gualala Point. We made a three mile round trip. It was sunny with a light breeze, not your usual March day on the coast. The wind is often screaming this time of year. 

Next stop is Trinks Cafe in Gualala to share a slice of warm blackberry pie with vanilla ice cream and a cup of green tea before we head home down Highway 1 through Bodega Bay back to Sebastopol. 

The perfect getaway ~ close to home and time out of mind. Life is short and it's important to just leave reality and the to do list behind once in awhile and embark on a spontaneous adventure. Go explore your neighborhood: unplug, walk away and feel the sun on your back. You'll be glad you did! 

Reaching for the Sun ~ July 25, 2012

I grew up in Mill Valley on the middle ridge of Mt. Tamalpais, a magical mountain to all who climb her slopes. My girlfriends and I spent countless hours in the woods hiking and exploring: fire roads, deer paths, creeks, the old rail bed of the Crookedest Railroad in the World, and the ruins of old inns and cabins that had burned in the 1929 fire. It was better than any modern day amusement park. The only criteria from our parents was to look out for each other and be home by dark.

It continues to be foggy in Stinson Beach so we decide on a trip up Mt. Tam for a picnic and walk. Sure enough we break into sunshine just before we get to the end of the road at the top. Perfect!

Blue sky at last!



The fog hovers to the west, but it's warm on the bench where we have lunch before taking the trail around the crest. The views are spectacular. There is such a simple and serene beauty here it captures the heart. While doing a little research, I found this wonderful poem by poet and artist J.L. Stanley.

Fire Trail at Midnight on Mt. Tam

I walk by starlight

Up the winding fire-trail

Between sandstone and scrub oak,

Up to the edge of a terrible cliff

And listen to the waves break

So far below.

The stars explode here

Away from the city glare,

They skitter and hiss

Making me gasp

As they fall from the sky.

I feel several thousand years

Younger, as I pause,

Closed in and breathless

On this moonless night wondering

When I had forgotten the sea

And the stars and roads that wind slowly.

And if I could believe

This road would lead

To other roads and on and on

It would be enough.

Me thinks the next time we ascend the robes of Tamalpa it will be by the dark of no moon. The State Park closes at dusk but some of my childhood haunts and trails are no doubt still in existence.

To the Redwoods ~ June 4th-5th, 2012

We're headed for the Smith River on the north coast of California. Hwy 140 out of Lakeview, OR is another great blue highway that takes us west to Grant's Pass where we turn south onto Hwy 199 and head deep into Redwood country. It's about a 280 mile drive. The weather is continually changing: sunshine to a dusting of snow, periodic showers to heavy rain.  There are large ranches in the valleys of SE Oregon. Juniper, pine, and wildflowers dot the landscape. Once back in Redwood country we breathe in the aroma and marvel at the majesty of our north coast forests.

We're in a day early to the Smith River. We have reservations for the 5th-6th but they find us a space for tonight. It's raining cats and dogs but the sound is magnificent. It's late afternoon and we're curled up drinking green tea and reading ~ Rod with Mark Twain and me with a "bodice ripper" from Harlequin called Operation: Midnight Cowboy. I traded it for one of our paper backs at Junipers Lake. It has a cowboy, a redhead and an international terrorist, what more could you ask for?. Tomorrow is supposed to be only 20% chance of rain so Rod's looking forward to some fishing and I'm looking forward to hiking with my camera.

After dinner we set up for the night and continue to read. The lights start dimming. Say what? The rig battery is failing so the pilot light isn't firing on the propane refrigerator. Rod tries to start the generator, but it wouldn't fire until he starts the rig to give it enough juice. We run the generator for about 10 minutes and that seemed to do the trick. We've had the rig plugged in at all our our camp spots, and this is the first attempt at "dry camping" on the trip. We turn off all the lights and get out the battery lantern for the rest of the evening. Now we're sure there is a short somewhere in the system, perhaps damage from the separated tire treads that beat up the underside of the coach on day 2.

We wake up at 5:30 am and Rod 's ready to throw in the towel and head home. He's disappointed in not being able to spend a couple of days fishing on the Smith River. I mention that if we camp at a place where we can plug in we'll be okay. He sees logic in my suggestion and off we go to Trinidad and Emerald Glen Park where we started the trip. Expecting the usual north coast summer weather of cold fog and drizzle, we are oh so pleasantly surprised to find it clear, sunny and about 70 degrees. Perfect!

After lunch we headed for Trinidad Harbor and walked on the beach. Walked back up into town and down a large number of steep steps to the cove on the harbor side. Our knees were barking like harbor seals by the time we got back up the stairs. After that little workout, we're back to camp for a shower, dinner, a movie and early to bed. Home is calling.

Just a Thought Series ~ Feb 14, 1971

An adventure to Humboldt County

~

Grey brown smoothness

To electric green

Redwoods, wild mustard and me

 

Back roads

Dressed in bottom land farms

 

Redtail hawks and the sea

Reveling in the solitude

Of a blue highway drive

An adventure of freedom

And of being alive

The photos were taken between 1984-2009: Richardson's Grove State Park, the mustard is along the Hwy 101 corridor, the farm is on the Lost Coast near Shelter Cove, and photo of Mussel Point was taken from the Bodega Marine Lab after a great storm in Winter of 1984. The elevation of the bluff is about 85 feet so you can see the power the ocean generated that day.

The Turn for Home

Did you ever ride horses when you were a kid? A horse always seems to sense when you make the turn for home. Ears perk up and each step has a little more spring. We've been out for a little over two weeks on a grand adventure: some places familiar and some new ~ but for the first time in ages it's been on our terms, at our pace. Once back to the coast we begin the journey south, excited about getting home.

We camped in the Redwoods north of Crescent City and spent the next night with old friends in McKinleyville. Our last night out was at Richardson's Grove on the Eel River just south of Benbow. There's magic in the grove that's enthralled me since I was a kid. Posted on the nature walk in one of the groves are words from John Steinbeck:

The redwoods, once seen,

leave a mark or create a vision

 that stays with you always...

they are not like any other trees we know,

they are ambassadors from another time

An afternoon walk along the river and up through the redwoods back to camp for dinner, cribbage and reading was the perfect last day out. We read seven books between the two of us ~ time well spent.

We got "back to our barn" around 1pm yesterday and took a deep breath. As much as we enjoy travelling we love getting home even more. Friends and neighbors cared for the house and gardens in our absense. The weather is quintessential summer with foggy mornings and warm breezy afternoons. A few chores have piled up, but we have ripe tomatoes, blackberries to pick and the Gravenstein apples are almost ready to harvest for pies and applesauce. The Sonoma County Fair is in full swing so that's next on our to do list. Hope you've enjoyed the journey.