ReflectionsFor most of us living in the modern world, we become easily caught up in daily living – consumed with our many responsibilites to our families, friends and just life in general. We very seldom give time to ourselves for a time of reflection.Though for me, I find reflection a very important part of my life, but recently I have been consumed with other less important things. Today while walking my dog, Shiloh and for that matter thinking about things this week regarding our environment, I would like to share some thoughts.Some years ago, I read a book by Steven Covey, and in this book he talked about how people tend to react to things based on how they see things or interpret things in their lives whether it is based on any reality or not. His example was, some people will feel down when the weather is gloomy or rainy and feel excited to be alive when the sun is shining. These people are allowing nature to dictate how they feel. I find this ridiculous, but while I was reading this book, a roommate of mine reacted in such a way pertaining to the weather. She was down when it was even a bit cloudy, but ready to play when the sun was out.Most of us allow the weather (nature) to dictate how we feel. It is evident in weather reports on TV with negitive connotations about weather. Nature has many moods, and these moods can be enjoyed by us just by seeing things a little differently and by allowing nature to come back into our lives. Living in the modern world has pulled us away from truly enjoying all the magic, beauty and magnificents nature brings into our lives if we only look and see.Back in 2009, I went camping for a month at a local camping area. Campers and motorhomes were allowed. I was in a tent. I was outside most of the time experiencing the many different changes in the weather. The people in the campers and motor homes were inside their little man-made cacoons missing all that nature was providing. Even people who camp in tents miss most of what nature offers because their attention is not to experience nature, but to do things to keep the minds occupied.Another time a friend and I went into the high country for two weeks in June. It was 2010 and we had experience a late winter. I knew the weather could be unpredictable where we were going. For much of the two weeks we experience winter conditions. Very light snow, just a little rain, but very windy and cold. Instead of complaining about the weather, I wanted to experience the weather and observe how the animals experienced the weather. It was like watching a movie, I was able to see in June the transition from winter to spring. I got to watch the beginning of certain wildflowers beginning to bloom, the young coming out of their underground borrows to experience the world for the first time. For me, this time was magical. I had spent three weeks in this area a year before in September and had the opportunity to see the many changes in different seasons. Once I began to reconnect with nature and to respect nature, she has offered me a new life and a new way of seeing life. She provides for us everything we need to survive as a species and she offers us incredible beauty in all life forms we share this planet with. The next time you are in nature, just sit quietly for a time and nature will begin talking with you.Rick Theile
“In the absence of the sacred, nothing is sacred—everything is for sale.”
~Oren Lyons
What do I mean when I say, “Finding the sacred in Nature”? It is an experience few know and, some want to know, but don’t know how to experience it. They look or search for this sacredness outwardly while in Nature, instead of looking inwardly, within the silent, invisible self. They hope Nature will provide them with her secrets, providing them with knowledge and understanding of why they are here, and their purpose in life. Finding the sacred in Nature is the experience of being one with Nature—having a deep connection and reverence for what Nature is. It is this connection with all life and its magical wonders and beauty that cannot be explained, only experienced in oneness with all things.
Experiencing the sacred does not have to be in Nature, it can be done anywhere. But Nature can be the perfect teacher, if we are willing to tune in and listen in silence, and by being in the present moment.
The late Dr. Wayne Dyer reminds us of the amazing wonders of Nature in these two lines:
“A little seedling has treeness in it when it is put into the ground.
You can’t see treeness, you can’t see the tree. Yet you know it is in there.”
Growing up I lived in the relatively small City of San Leandro (a population of 29,000), that connects to the metropolitan City of Oakland to the north, the city of Hayward to the south, the San Francisco Bay to the west, and the East Bay foothills to the east. In our youth, my (slightly) older brother and our friends would spend many adventures in the foothills, only a couple of blocks away from our house. I would come home with poison oak too many times to count. Although I dreaded this affliction, it never stopped me from going into Nature.
From the beginning, I was highly influenced by watching television shows like Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, and other westerns, and in the movie theaters, watching movies that were related to the outdoors and anything Nature—always dreaming about living in Nature. As a young boy, and as an adult, I was active in the outdoors, doing things like horseback riding, camping, hunting, fishing, rafting, canoeing, skin diving, scuba diving, and backpacking. At age 18, I got my private pilot’s license. For a time, I owned horses that changed my life, and I developed a special relationship with those incredible animals.
Some things I did not learn from my adventures being in Nature was the concept and understanding of our relationship with Nature and having a respect for Nature, or the idea of the oneness with Nature—with all life. This idea of being Sacred was an unknown concept in our culture, for most Americans. No one taught us at home or in the schools to respect Nature. It was not being shown on television nor talked about in our government with the exception of the Smoky the Bear’s slogan, “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires.”
It would be much later that I would discover individuals like John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, John James Audubon, David Suzuki, David Attenborough, and other Naturalists paved the way towards influencing me, and others, in our understanding of the natural world. I began gaining knowledge that Nature was more than just something to be used for the benefit of mankind—Nature being a living entity—the natural world being life that sustains all life. Artist’s paintings of Nature and Nature photographers, such as Ansel Adams influenced my appreciation of the stunning beauty of our natural surroundings.
It is sad to say, that the Native Peoples of North America were not, and should have been, a part of this influence in our relationship with Nature. We have chosen to ignore their very existence due to ignorance, and hatred of these first peoples.
When we had lost this connection with the natural world many centuries ago, the indigenous peoples of the lands were still living it in their traditional ways. During the period of the colonization of European settlers to America, these newcomers eventually banned such practices by the native people of their traditional ways of life in an attempt to destroy these cultures. These original peoples were part of the land—it was a place where their ancestors resided, it was a place they had a spiritual connection with. They had a deep respect and connection with all life around them. Their attempts to hold on to their traditions and ways of life became nearly impossible with the devastating impact the European Colonists had on them, through the genocide, forced removal from their lands, forced assimilation and horrific atrocities perpetrated against these peoples. For the most part, these indigenous peoples were not considered essential sources for the understanding of Nature—they were deemed to be inhuman savages—even unworthy of life itself by many—they were expendable. But on the contrary, they had a far better understanding of the natural world than most non-natives as they still do today.
We once were all indigenous to a land, and lived in a very primitive way—we depended on Nature to sustain us. Nature is in all of us, but most have forgotten this relationship, choosing ownership of land, choosing to conquer and control the natural world, choosing materialism over Nature, choosing consumerism over Nature. Knowingly or unknowingly or out of ignorance, we have become enemies of the natural world, destroying our own planet earth for the sake of progress. This place we call home may become uninhabitable to many life forms through our thoughtlessness to our planet and to all life. If we don’t act immediately on how we see and understand our role we must play, and the responsibility we have to the planet, we will likely suffer the consequences of our actions.
In today’s civilization, we have been consumed by, and lost our souls in consumerism and materialistic mentality, drawing us further and further away from the truth of our real dependence on the natural world. We continue to strip natural resources from the land without considering the consequences of our actions. Overpopulation is putting tremendous stress on our world, with an estimate of 9 billion people inhabiting our small planet by 2050. We continue to allow industry and corporations to pollute our air, water, and land with dangerous toxins impacting the health and safety to humans, animals, plants and trees—basically all life on our planet. We continue fighting wars that are not only devastating to human life, but to all life. And now, we are facing climate change that will most likely impact life as we know it for all time.
We need to relearn these valuable lessons concerning our relationship with Nature and the respect that should be given to all life we share the planet with—about life and our dependence on the Earth. We have forgotten our teaching from our ancestors from long ago. But there is still hope.
As Chief Oren Lyons tells us during an interview,
“…And to Learn you have to have teachers. And who is your teacher? And the teacher is Nature, the Earth. You learn, you learn, and you learn how to get along. You learn how to be respectful. And so, from what I see and from what I know in my travels, it is the indigenous people, have about the best understanding of this. And I would say, that is probably the biggest loss I see in Humanity now, is loss
of understanding, of relationship. They don’t understand the relationship. How do you polish it, how do you keep it fresh?”…
Oren Lyons continues to talk about doing this with ceremonies, with prayer, with dance and song (Lyons is referring to these practices by indigenous peoples). He then continues,
“…Most important here is understanding how closely we are related to the Earth, and that we are part of the Earth, and we’re part of Nature. Nature is us, basically. We always talk about environment, something like, it is over there, or it is a category or something. No, we are in the middle of it, we affect it, we survive in it. We are part of the Earth. Once people understand that, that would be very helpful because they would be more careful about things. And so the question of recognizing where we are and who we are, why we call the Earth our Mother, is simple, because of respect. Everybody respects the Mother…”
To be clear, I am not saying we should take rituals, ceremonies, prayers, dances, and songs from the traditional native cultures, but indigenous peoples can provide guidance about the beliefs and principles behind those rituals and ceremonies.
Getting non-natives to understand this relationship to Nature, to respect her, to show reverence to her as the traditional indigenous peoples continue to do, can be difficult in our materialistic and synthetic world. Especially when we see Nature as a place to conquer, to overcome its power over us, to see her as our ultimate playground, a place for recreation, or merely an object to exploit. This also applies to sites or areas considered Sacred by a Native Peoples for thousands of years.
It took me a long time to learn this idea of Nature being sacred. When I began reading about Native Americans and other indigenous cultures, these concepts began flowing in my consciousness, and slowly I began seeing this sacredness in Nature and in all life. I began sensing this sacredness when I was in Hawai’i and through the Hawaiian Native people and their rich and beautiful culture.
When I first experienced a deepened awareness in Nature when my dog Shiloh and I went into the wilderness alone back in 2009. Our first trip was in the first part of June, and we had spent seven days at Kennedy Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness, California. This experience was the first run at being alone, and I went through a learning curve and the adjustments required with being alone. I was floundering through this experience but saw it as a learning experience of trial and error. And once I began asking, “what are the lessons I can learn from this experience?” The answers appeared, and I was able to focus on the planning of my next trip in the wilderness.
We left for our next trip at the end of August. Once again our destination was to Kennedy Lake for a three week stay. I had a friend come with us for the first six days, and after she had left, Shiloh and I would spend eighteen days alone. Our experience there felt more natural since it was a familiar place to us, but in the back of my mind, I was questioning myself if I could do it alone for the full eighteen days.
Throughout those eighteen days, Shiloh and I explored this small alpine valley, with the small lake lying at the southern end, a calming stream lazily meandering through the boggy meadow, and steep mountains surrounding us in every direction giving the area a majestic feeling of immense proportions. It was our garden of paradise. Most of the time we were there, we were utterly alone, giving us a sense of peace, quietness, and solitude.
Close to camp there was a spring at the northern end of the meadow (one of many in the area), where we gathered our drinking water that was. It was a short walk from our camp, and I never minded the peaceful walk once or sometimes twice a day with Shiloh by my side. On some afternoons, I would fill the water containers and then Shiloh and I would just sit on the wet grass next to the spring that overlooked the beautiful lush green meadow, the lake in the distance, mirroring the reflections of the nearby mountains, and the mountain peaks stretching high into the sky. I experienced with quiet observation and the awareness of our place in Nature. In these moments, I experienced Nature and connected with her at a deep level than I ever had before—I was touched by her in a very profound way. I remember saying to Shiloh, “We are Home.” On one occasion sitting by the spring, Shiloh and I were visited by a Ground Squirrel, and all three of us enjoyed those moments together. Shiloh usually chases these critters, but not today.
I have to attribute this awareness with Nature, a connectedness with the natural world, to my studies in bushcraft and survival skills. I have also gained a better understanding and relationship with Nature through the Native American’s and First Nations of Canada’s knowledge and relationship they have with Nature. These native cultures had taught me to show respect, and reverence with Nature and to all life. I began seeing Nature as a living, breathing Being—a source of all life on our planet and beyond. My relationship with Nature became more than a thing to use for my benefit or enjoyment, it was living organisms to be respected and shown reverence to. While learning more about the many indigenous cultures in the world and their relationship with Nature (with Mother Earth), I began understanding and feeling the special sacredness of our planet and the universe.
When most of us are in Nature or backpacking in the wild, we tend to bring our mental baggage, and the presence of companions provides us few moments, if any, to really be in and experience Nature’s wonders. We see, but don’t see, we hear, but don’t hear, we smell, but don’t smell, we touch but don’t touch, and we may taste, but don’t taste. What I mean by this is that we don’t experience Nature, we are not in tune with the present moment, and are not truly aware of what is all around us. Our minds are consumed with thoughts we should have left at home, more than the experience of Being in Nature.
It is unfortunate that only a few non-natives have discovered this truth. Most still see Nature as a place for recreation, a place to conquer, or worse, a place to exploit natural resources for profit. It is slowly getting better with more non-natives seeing Nature as a sacred Being and how they understand and define their definition as being sacred. Does it align with how Native people see it? Probably not. This is why I believe we can learn so much from native peoples and their relationship with Nature.
I am deeply concerned about the damage being done to our planet; the raping, pillaging, polluting of the air, water, and land by our governments and large corporations, and now the effects of climate change caused by all major industrialized countries. Will we change how we see, think, and relate to our Mother Earth before it is too late?
I believe we must begin to change our paradigm with how we relate to our only home. This does not simply mean going totally green and renewable, although that would make a difference. This means seeing all life as sacred, and having a deep respect and reverence for Nature. Since the modern-day world has been so disconnected from the natural world for so long, we must gain that wisdom and knowledge from indigenous peoples who still live their traditional ways. This is not to say the indigenous people need to share their sacred rituals, dances, songs and ceremonies to the seekers of this wisdom in relating to the land. This would create a whole set of new problems with non-natives copying these practices that native peoples have been doing for thousands of years, with no understanding of the purpose or reason why. The seeker must find their own way and understanding of the sacred through their own experiences in Nature, and I believe, learning and understanding the relationship indigenous peoples have with Nature can help one on their spiritual path and developing a deeper understanding and connection with Nature.
Not long ago I was watching the movie, The Day The Earth Stood Still (the 2008 version). Keanu Reeves portrays Klaatu, the extraterrestrialvisitor who came to save the Earth from the human species. The female scientist who developed a relationship with the alien asked him why did he come? What was his purpose? His response was “This planet is dying; the human race is killing it. If the Earth dies, you die. If you (the human race) die, the Earth survives.” Another line from a fellow alien who had lived on Earth for 70 years, told Klaatu, “This is hostile territory. I’m afraid they are not a reasonable race… Any attempt to intercede with them would be futile. They are destructive, and won’t change…”
This is something we need to think about as a people and stewards of our planet if we want to survive this madness and destruction we have created.
I have been writing about this for some time now, trying to get people to rethink their relationship with the Earth—our only home—and all life we share this planet with. If we continue on this destructive path, the human race will become extinct, and we will take many species of animals, and other forms of life with us. And as Klaatu said, the Earth does not need us. With the impact of climate change at our doorstep, we continue to do the same thing—we do nothing to make our planet a cleaner and healthier place to live for all life. Either way, the Earth will survive, but we may not.
We are not separate from Nature, we are part of Nature. We are the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land that gives us our foundation for life. We are the gift of life as are all the plants, trees, and animals we share our beautiful Earth with—we are all connected, all one with this sacred life force.
The simple practice of experiencing silent observation and awareness with no judgment or labeling, and spending time alone in Nature in reflection, Nature will respond by beginning to show herself to you, in her beauty, magic, and awe-inspiring wonder.
Nature is the miracles of all life,
All life is the miracles of Nature.
Be one with Nature because we are all a part of Nature.
~Rick Theile
I have been living in Nature with my two dogs, Takota and Nanook (Native American Indian Dogs, or NAIDS for short) for over a year and a half in tents. We spent the winter this year in Idaho, again in a tent. In the summer months of 2018, we spent most of the time in the backcountry and wilderness areas of Idaho, enjoying the quiet solitude of Nature. We began this journey back in October of 2017 from Northern California.
Even living in Nature 24/7, from time to time I have my moments getting lost in my thoughts, taking me away from those magical experiences Nature provides to us. And I have to remind myself where I am on occasion. In this writing and my writings about my experiences with my canine companions in Nature, it helps me come back to this special place, we call our home.
In May of 2019, we are breaking our winter camp and we are headed once again to parts of beautiful Idaho, known and unknown, letting the winds take us to new adventures and experiences in Nature.
Shiloh and I begin another journey into the wilderness. We start out in the early morning with the fresh scent of pine and the coolness of the mountain air touching my skin. In the background are the sounds of the flowing river that will guide us on our walk. Its gentle course weaving through the valley floor provides us with a sense of solitude, freedom and peace of mind. On our accent, this calming river soon narrows into rocky crags churning these calm waters into a violent torrent beast swallowing up anything that gets in its way. Its origins are high in the Sierra Nevada mountains from the spring time snow melt where we have set our destination. And from the Kennedy Meadows Valley we began from, it then turns into the Stanislaus River.
Our final destination is Kennedy Lake, an eight mile hike with an accent of a thousand foot elevation taking us up to the 7,800 foot mark. The trail we walk we know like an old friend, though we have been on this trail only a couple of times. I remember my first time on the trail I had experienced a slight sense of fear of the uncertain and the unknown that followed my every step, due to the fact this would be the first time experiencing the wilderness alone. Shiloh walks ahead of me with confidence with his nose to the ground picking up all those familiar scents he had experienced from our past walks on this trail. His excitement peaked knowing we would once again be living in the wilderness. And for me, being back, experiencing nature with Shiloh was always a special time to share those wonderful experiences with. The wilderness was a place Shiloh and I soon fell in love with and happily called our home.
This journey we have shared together in the wilderness has become a spiritual journey for me and I always felt a sense of the sacred all around me. I had a sense of belonging in the magical wonder of nature and sharing it with my best friend and wilderness companion, Shiloh. Whether we walked alone or with a friend joining us, it was always a journey with Shiloh. The friend that joined us became just a shadow of our existence together in the mountains.
The trail we walk on has many stories it could tell if only it could speak of its past. The many hidden footprints of hikers, backpackers, fishermen, hunters, people on horseback, the workers and mule trains carrying supplies and equipment that built the Relief Reservoir, the lost footprints of the pioneers that explored these lands and of course the lost footprints of the ancient people who once lived here for thousands of years prior to the white man’s arrival. I wonder how many people think of these things while making their own story on this trail. How many of us think about the original people who once called this area their home and then were driven from their home by the white man and almost totally exterminated for just being there? How many Indian spirits still walk this trail, shedding tears of what was once a thriving community of Indian tribes who loved this land and their way of life living with nature and being part of that flow of life? In the central Sierra Nevada Mountains such Indian tribes as the Sierra Miwok, the Mono, the Mountain Maidu, the Washoe and on occasion the Northern Paiutes made their seasonal homes here or visited for hunting and gathering food and/ or trading with other tribes.
While sitting in camp at Kennedy Lake viewing the alpine meadow and surrounding rocky mountain peaks or taking walks in the small valley, I would imagine what it was like with the presence of Indian people living here. Camping here as Shiloh and I are doing, living with nature, living off the land for sustenance, hunting, fishing, foraging and gathering wild edible plants for food and plants for medicines – each person working in their role within the community, working together in a cohesive manner for the benefit of the whole tribe and for their survival.
The Indian tribes who visited these areas knew them intimately. They knew when and where the animals would be, their habits and behaviors, they would know when to find and pick wild edible plants for food and plants for medicine. They would have this incredible connection with their surroundings that few of us today could even imagine having. Most weekend campers today only see a small glimpse of what is around them in nature. They are usually there to use her rather than connect with her. Most don’t see nature as sacred thus having very little or no respect for nature – Mother Earth. On the other hand, the Indian People had a high reverence with nature, a deep connection and respect for all living things. Nature and all life were sacred to them. They lived in harmony and balance with nature because they understood this to be necessary for their own survival and their responsibility to the Creator for providing the sustenance needed for their survival. They viewed the animals, insects, plants, trees and even the rocks as relations. They understood that the land, water and air were vital and necessary natural resources for all life and again these resources were sacred. The whole of the Indian communities were to celebrate life in every part of their lives through storytelling, song, dance, ceremonies, language and culture. With all these things, they had a sacred relationship with. What type of world would it be if we all lived this way? It would definitely be a much healthier place to live on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.
The more I view into and experience this vastness of the natural world; I begin to feel the sacredness of all life and my reverence for all life on our planet. In a big part, I have to thank the indigenous cultures around the world for teaching me and sharing with me, their knowledge and wisdom on our relationship with Mother Earth.
It is very unfortunate that most have forgotten this connection and relationship with the natural world. We have chosen to live in a synthetic lifestyle, completely removed from the natural world where the consumption of stuff is more important than a healthy planet and with little concern for other life we share our home with. Nothing is sacred, but our need to make money and to spend it on useless things. These things do not give us a sense of being but rather makes our lives more meaningless. We have become a modern culture of people that intentionally and unintentionally destroys people’s lives and cultures who choose to still live in their traditional ways that are closely tied to the natural world. We call them primitive and uncivilized because they choose to live as their ancestors have lived for thousands of years. We have become so far removed from the natural world, we see traditional indigenous cultures as strange while we live in a world that continues to destroy and poison our planet with the very meaningless things we consume. Things that are not natural take on more of an importance than life itself in our modern world. To me this is very sad that we could even reach such a moment in time to simply ignore the destruction we are doing to our planet.
In the Lakota tradition they have the teachings of The Red Road and The Black Road through stories that convey the respect and reverence for life. It exemplifies the spiritual understanding that all life is part of the unified, interrelated web and that each part is precious and necessary to the whole. I would like to share with you what Thunder Horse has written in part on this subject:
“There are many roads in life, but there are two that are important; the Red Road and the Black Road. They represent good and bad in every one’s life. It’s the two choices people have to make frequently in life. The Red Road is the good way, the good side, and the right choice. It is a road that is difficult with dangers and obstacles that are hard to travel on. The Black Road is the bad way, the bad side, and the wrong choice. The Black Road is wide and easy to travel. The Red Road and the Black Road appear in our lives not as roads but as the personifications of right and wrong, good and bad, light and dark.
Truth is the marker along the roads we travel in life. The Red Road has many markers. If you choose the Black Road, there is only the illusion of truth. We can be influenced by the truth or by illusion. Sometimes truth is like the wind. You cannot see it, but you can see the effect it has. Truth is also like the sunrise and sunset. We see the sun come up over the eastern horizon in the morning and then disappear behind the western horizon in the evening. From the perspective of our existence on a spinning globe, the sun appears to “rise” and “set.” In reality the sun does neither. Living a humble and giving life keeps one on the path of the Red Road.”
The reason I have written this is because I believe we are now standing on the edge of the cliff of humanity ready to jump for the sake of filling our personal needs with empty and meaningless materialism and because of this need, we are dramatically impacting the health and sustainability of our planet. The voices of cultures that still live close to the land – to Mother Earth, are telling us, we must change our ways, we must begin to respect Mother Earth and once again live by her truths. I cannot convey in my words the wisdom and teachings of the North American Indians – the Native Americans of the United States and the First Nations of Canada, so I encourage you to learn more about what they can teach us so we can begin to heal our planet and regain a spiritual connection with all life.
In the morning I had to go back to the apartment to finish packing up my things. I thought it would only take a couple of hours, but it ended up taking a good part of the day. Once I got everything packed from the apartment, we headed for my friends house and our new home to unload the rest of my things at the house.
This day was also to be the first day Shiloh and I would begin our first month camping at Del Valle Reservoir Campgrounds. I was very anxious to get out of the apartment and enter a new chapter in my life living, experiencing, and studying nature, and sharing that experience with my best friend, Shiloh by my side. As for our future, it was uncertain.
In the late afternoon I packed up our camping gear, stopped by the store for some food supplies and grabbed a chicken burger to-go in Livermore. We finally arrived at our second new home, Del Valle Regional Park at 7:00 pm. I was emotionally exhausted and sore from packing and moving for the most of two weeks and I just wanted to get camp set-up and try and relax a little before it was time for bed. My hopes were to get all my packing done early and to the campsite early to set-up and relax, but that was not the case. We are now here, and that’s what counts. This whole experience did not feel like something we were forced to do or something that was degrading to me, but was a time I was looking forward to, a time for a new adventure and a special time to share with Shiloh.
Checking in at the park entrance gate on our arrival to Del Valle, we proceeded to our campsite. It was Wednesday evening and our first day on our seventy-four day camping adventure and discovery for 2009. I got Shiloh out of the truck so he could sniff around some while I unloaded the truck. It was getting late so the first thing was to get the tent set-up before dark came. The tent went up fast and easy with no hitches to cause more frustration in an already frustrating day. Shiloh was exploring his new surroundings with all its new sights, sounds, and smells. We were the only ones in that campground area, so we had it all to ourselves and had a quiet evening to think about our new beginnings together. Shiloh seemed to enjoy his new home.
Dogs are required to be on leash in the camping areas, but since we were alone, I kept him off lease and he was great staying in camp. This was our first camping experience alone together and I was not sure how he would behave. Shiloh has an extremely calm manner to him, and I don’t think anything really bothers him to much.
Our campsite was small, but comfortable and somewhat private as far as these campsites go. A perfect spot for us. I picked this site for its exposure to the trees and plants, and with a good separation from the other campsites. Since it was our first time camping here I had no idea what to expect. All I knew for now was, we had the whole area all to ourselves. I was not sure how the weather would be treaty us in the spring time, but we will see soon enough. I have been camping on weekend excursions, and did some backpacking, but for this moment it is different. For this moment this is our home for the next month. And instead of doing it with a human companion, I had a canine companion.
After getting all settled in camp, we went for a short walk and checked things out around the camping area we were staying at. It gave us some time to relax, breath the fresh air, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature and become familiar with what will be our new home for a month. Shiloh had a lot of sniff’n to do with all the smells that nature provides. After a stressful day, it was really nice to be at this beautiful place and have some time to really experience it. I have been to Del Valle other times, to fish, canoe and to bring the dogs along for a nice hike, and even did a day horseback ride in an event they called the “Poker Ride,” but this is the first for camping.
Del Valle has four camping areas within the main campground area at the entrance of the second Kiosk, taking you to two on the left side and two on the right of the entrance. To get to our camping area we turn to the right of the main campground entrance just past the Kiosk, and general store, crossing two small streams through the middle campground. We were at the upper camping area on a knoll and this area is set back adjacent to private property at the southern most end of the park. It overlooks the lower middle camping area to the northerly direction in which we have to pass through to get to our campsite and on the southerly side (the private property side), it overlooks two large horse pasture and beyond a ranch house and barn that is still used for cattle ranching. The ranch is tucked into a small beautiful valley that eventually converges into a canyon with foothills on both sides, and where the Arroyo Seco Creek (meaning “dry stream”), continues flowing to the south. The west side of the lake along the foothills are thick with Oak trees, and the east side is covered in grasslands and scattered Oak. A beautiful place to experience flora and fauna. We campgrounds are very close to the Del Valle Reservoir. They also have an off leash trail for dogs on the east side of the lake, but must beware, this whole area is a perfect habitat for rattlesnakes. And they do start coming out in April.
This whole valley was big in cattle ranching at one time and still has some in operation today. Originally, this area was home to the Ohlone (or Costanoan) Indians before the arrival of the Spanish in the 18th century. The Livermore Amador Valley was primarily grazing land for the Mission San Jose’s thousands of cattle and sheep. This area was also mined in the early days for magnesite and coal. The reservoir itself was built in 1968 and the Hetch Hetchy pipeline lies underneath the lake, but does not connect to it. The reservoir storage is 77,100 acre feet, the area is 1,066 acres with a shoreline of 16 miles. Largely around the lake is the Del Valle Regional Park consisting of 4,316 acres. The park is a popular recreational area that offers hiking, equestrian trails, camping, bicycle trails, fishing, boating, picnicking and has a swimming area. It has opened up a large area along the east side lake trails that allows dogs to be off leash which is great for the dogs, and people as long as they don’t run into rattlesnakes. This is one reason this area attracted me, but it was also for its beauty and abundant wildlife. It is only about 11 miles from the City of Livermore, but once you get a mile or so outside the town, you immediately feel you are miles away from civilization. It is like you are transported from the city to a magical country side in minutes, driving it is a beautiful drive on a two lane road, through rolling hills, rows of sycamore trees lining the road side and oaks scattering the hillsides.
I have lived in the area off and on for many years and Del Valle Reservoir is just a short distance from where I have lived in what is known as the Tri-Valley area, but I have never spent a lot of time at this beautiful place in Nature, and never camped here.
The camping sites are small in most cases and close together. A typical camping area nowadays, unless you head up to the mountains, and even then, most campsites that are managed and have a use-charge are small and close together like being packed in like a can of sardines. It is great if you like being around people, but if you want peace and quiet and a true outdoor experience in nature I would personally avoid these types of camping areas.
The day was warm – it felt like it was in the mid-seventies. It began cooling down around 9:00 pm. I gathered a little wood for a small fire from around the other campsites and we went to bed around 10:00 pm. Shiloh slept in the tent with me, and he seemed very comfortable with his new sleeping arrangements. The tent was a five person tent, so we had plenty of room to move around.
My back was still stiff and sore from ten days of moving and it made it difficult for me to sleep. With all the stress of moving, the day ended very relaxed with a disbelief we were actually here and without a real home – basically homeless. But with the incredible beauty of Del Valle, it made things much easier to feel comfortable in our new surroundings – our new home.
Del Valle Regional Park
April 2, 2009 – Day 2 – Thursday
We got up at 6:30 am and Shiloh and I took a walk to explore the area once again – seeing if we may have missed something from our walk last evening. We walked down a dirt road to where the horses were on the private ranch. There were a good number of horses in the pasture enjoying grazing on the lush green grasses that covered the whole pasture. Once they became aware of us they went running in the opposite direction like a bolt of lighting hit their behinds. We stood next to the fence watching them and once they realized we weren’t chasing them and were not a threat to them, they stopped and turned to look at us. I don’t think they have ever seen a dog as big as Shiloh. Shiloh weighs about 120 lbs, but because of his furry coat, it makes him look much larger and much more threatening. He kind of looks like a big bear with a white body coat and large patches of black here and there. I began doing kissing sound to the horses hoping they would come. The first brave horse to approach us was a Red Roan gelding. Then three others followed behind. Once they realized we were no threat to them, the Red Roan came close enough to the fence to let me give him a gentle rub on his head. It was nice to be around the horses. I really missed not having my horses around any longer except for one that I still have that I must sell as well. As with Shiloh, and my other dog Shawnee, my horses were my whole life. Everything I did pretty much revolved around my four legged critter.
After returning from our walk I showered, got dressed and then headed off to a meeting at 10:00 am for a possible new job. My original plan was to have the flexibility to camp and work at the same time and Del Valle allowed me to do that because of the close proximity to civilization and also where I have my office set-up made it convenient. The camping area provided showers, primitive showers, but showers none the less, and with warm water occasionally, and if you were lucky.
During this uncertain time for me, I was lucky to have work and some money coming in. I thought I would save a lot of money camping, but in reality it was not cheap to camp here. It cost me twenty dollars a day to camp and then the cost of food, firewood, and gas for driving back and forth. I figured I would have enough money to carry me over for about a month and a half. I prepaid for the campsite for the month, so I just needed money for food, firewood, gas and a few bills I had to pay.
I got to the meeting on time, considering I was not sure how long it would take me to get there from Del Valle. The meeting lasted for about forty-five minutes and I thought it went well. I had Shiloh with me and he stayed in the truck during the meeting and as always he was a good boy, patiently waiting for my return.
We headed back to my new unorganized office at my friends house and organize the office a bit and picked up a few more camping things. I put my drafting tables together and cleared the floor of some of my boxes. Shiloh found a spot on the floor to rest. I grabbed some books and camping gear and we were off to the store to pick up some food. I spent one hundred and eighteen dollars on food and miscellaneous items at the store and then spent another fourteen dollars for firewood at the Del Valle Marina store. We returned to the camp late in the afternoon and it was partly cloudy and windy. I was looking forward to a nice meal, a small camp fire and a relaxing evening with Shiloh.
Shiloh and I took our first walk along the lake after getting things unpacked at camp. The first chance he had, he headed for the water. Shiloh enjoys wading in the water. He was not a swimmer, but he loved to play and splash in the shallows. After our walk, we returned back to camp and just relaxed for a while and enjoyed the beauty and solitude of our surroundings in nature. It felt great to be here. I felt I was in a place that was home – in nature.
“But love of the wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need – if only we had eyes to see.”
~ Edward Abbey
My feelings towards being homeless really has not entered my mind. I suppose one can say you are really not homeless since you have a place to stay, and that is true, I do have a skeleton of a room temporarily, but then what? I don’t have my own home and my own things. I had lost almost everything I had owned, or gave it away. I did keep all my camping gear, most of my books, and my office equipment. But, I am in a place I want to be, and having Shiloh with me, always giving me great comfort. I suppose if I make enough money and a place to work and sleep, I could also look forward to spending as much time as possible camping in the wilderness, but would I? This economic challenge has forced me to walk another path.
A new camper drove into our camping area and set-up camp next to us. He brought his camper and had a full set-up. It looked like he was set-up to stay at least a week. I was hoping he would be quiet. Later, another small group arrived in our camping area. The weekend group of campers are beginning to show up for the weekend.
The wind was blowing pretty good through camp, so I decided not to cook and just have a couple of sandwiches and a few beers for dinner. You could hear the wind coming through the valley and through the trees like a mighty freight train roaring closer and closer. It was an incredible sound. We had a small fire, and the firewood only lasted this evening and the next morning. It was pine, so it burned fast. We bedded down around 10:00 pm.
At 1:00 am Shiloh woke me and I heard the sound of music playing and people talking. When you are out in the open landscape, sounds travel easily and with only the thin fabric of the tent to buffer all sounds, it can make a very disturbing night with little sleep and this was one of those nights. It was very annoying. It lasted until about 2:00 am – so much for “Quite Time” at 10:00 pm in the park’s campground rules.
I am finding that for only a few people, like myself, they use the parks for the enjoyment of being in nature and possibly some peaceful solitude. For many it is a place just to get away in a nature setting, but they really don’t care much for nature on a much deeper level – too truly experience nature in the beauty of their surroundings, in the plants, the trees, or the animals. Most people in our culture have lost this deep connection with nature. Then there are the ones that are mostly in their twenties that come here just to party, as do older adults as well.
I too remember those days, so I can’t blame them for doing what so many young people like to do. But now, for me, it is about nature’s quiet and solitude. I came here to study plants, observe nature and to strengthen my ability of observation and awareness. I figured and hoped I would only have to deal with the crowds and those consumed in being loud, getting drunk, being obnoxious, and simply being rude to other campers, as with a disrespect for nature, during the weekends, and having the weekdays just for me and Shiloh. I would soon realized this hope would not happen.
My way of thinking now, does not coincide with most people, and my way of thinking foolishly believes that people who visit our parks really come to experience the sights, the sounds and wonders of nature. I am quickly realizing that most have become so disconnected with nature they bring the city life with them into the country and they have no desire to reconnect with nature. It is just a place to go to have fun. And I am not saying people should not enjoy nature, just show some respect for nature.
When I told my friends what I was planning – to live camping out for a month, I don’t think they really understood. They were probably thinking how can one live like this? They saw me being homeless. But for me, I actually felt a sense of freedom being there and I always enjoyed coming back to camp to relax, to read, write in my journal, enjoy the wonders in nature, having Shiloh there, and going for nature walks with Shiloh. It was a place I felt as Home.
Ancient Indian Proverb
This we know… The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites one family. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself.
We left Upper Payette Lake Campground at 10:00 AM this morning and drove a short eight miles south arriving at our new camp that will be our last camp in Nature. I call it “No Name Campground”, because I don’t think it has a name. It is a piece of land that is part of the Idaho Endowment Trust Lands.
I have passed this camping area many times and only stayed there for a quick over night camp a bit over four years ago. It covers only the basics – land to camp on for free. There are no Pit Toilets, no trash bins, and no drinking water, and no picnic tables, (there was a rock fire ring, fires weren’t allowed back in 2018) and it has a 14 day stay limit. I found out later the 14 days starts when the people that checks the camping areas of these lands takes your license number down to keep track of time there. The nice thing about the camping area we picked is that we were only two mile south of Northwest Passage State Park, where it has Pit Toilets, garbage disposal, and drinking water that we have access to.
When we arrived only a few campers were there – perfect! For the past two weeks it was packed with campers. I picked a large camping spot next to a smaller one where a small two person tent laid. I found out later it had been there for a good month and a half with no occupancy. It was deserted. Once in a while people will leave there camp and there stuff for whatever reason. The tent was left, with an air mattress, a tent rain fly, and a car battery, as with some litter. It was later removed by two Fire Fighter employees. I usually don’t like dispersed camping, but this place was very appealing, especially with few campers here. And it was easily accessible for our needs.
The camp we chose was definitely used by hunters and used for bleeding out cooling off, and cutting up deer and elk with racks built on the site. There were a couple of other sites in our area, but weren’t taken, and jumping ahead, we had the whole area pretty much to ourselves for the whole time of our stay, with the exception of some campers I told about the site available with the abandoned tent. Before I said anything to them I sized them out to make sure they would hopefully be good neighbors. The abandoned tent served a purpose for me to keep other campers away.
NanookTakotaNanookTakota and Nanook
The clouds begun rolling in while we were, rather I was, setting up camp. The boys were supervising me as they always do. We got a few drops coming down on us, with little wind. Upper Payette Lake, and Payette Lake got some good wind. We must have been in a good spot where the wind was diverted from us.
Once I got the tent set up and furnished with my bed, and the boys three beds, we left for McCall to resupply on food. McCall is about a 14 mile drive south from our camp. A nice drive taking us along the Payette River and Payette Lake with a beautiful view of both. When I go into town it gives me the opportunity to check emails, facebook, and post some photos or writings on facebook.
I got a message that my renewed Driver’s License is ready to pick up in Cascade. This is good news and it will free me up to leave anytime for our final destination to Washington. I will pick it up on Tuesday.
Returning to our new camp, I put the food away and just relaxed with the boys for a bit, and enjoyed our beautiful camp and surrounding woods of Lodge Pole Pine, Fir, and some Aspen. Because I didn’t think or I hoped the campground wouldn’t be busy, I could enjoy the quiet for the week. The road 55 getting here ran right next to this camping area, and was not bad with traffic noise. It is always nice camping along side a river, next to a lake, or even in the forest. I would be happy with any of them. And even better with few people.
The forecast for the day was suppose to be a 40% chance of Thunderstorms coming our way with rain in the afternoon. We got a few drops in the morning while setting up the tent, and enjoyed a beautiful clear afternoon and evening.
NanookNanook and TakotaTakota
Evening Entry
On our evening walk we met two guys camping at a different site and chatted for a bit. One was in a Motor Home, the other sleeping in his Van. The guy in the Motor said he knew us from Ward Mountain, in Ely, NV. I didn’t remember him.Then another guy pulled up, talked with him for a bit. He moved into a spot across from us. He lives in a camper. He moves around a lot and knows Idaho well. He was the one who told me about the tent story on the tent next to us. There were two signs stating how long one can stay, one was for 10 days, the other for 14. I found out later it was 14 days maximum stay.
During the evening two doe Mule Deer walked by our camp and a little bit later a young Buck came by to check us out. He was very curious about us. I did discourage him from getting too close to our camp.
August 23, 2022 – Tuesday
I was told about a writers group at the Library in McCall. C Marie who conducts the writing group focuses on Poetry. I attended the group and found it helpful. I found C Marie a good teacher. The group was a small group of six people including me, and the size can vary from week to week.
After class was over I loaded some photos from my Smart Phone to my laptop. We then headed south to Cascade to pick up my new Driver’s License. Then back to McCall to pick up some food, then back to camp.
It was a pretty nice day. The mornings are starting to cool off, but Boise was in the high 90’s into the 100’s. The whole summer was hot and much hotter than usual. Usually August feels like the beginnings of Autumn in the higher elevations.
Steak for me and the boys for dinner.
August 24, 2022 – Wednesday
I had a bad morning, thinking about our journey in Nature, and how I felt little was accomplished, for close to five years. This of course wasn’t true. I did accomplish a lot, just not what I had hoped for. Having high expectations, oh what a tangled web we weave, comes to mind. I have been dealing with these thoughts every morning for over three and a half years, thoughts of no purpose, doubt, fear, uncertainty, feeling hopelessness… but once I step out into nature, nature brings me back alive once again.
It has been a long journey we have been on and surprised we have made it this long. I began getting tired of constantly moving camp every one to two weeks, dealing with the weather, and people having their dogs off leash in the campgrounds, and campers just being disrespectful to others and to Nature. I was also getting little writing done. With climate change here and impacting the whole world, it was becoming more dangerous, more uncertain how the weather will react being in Nature and in a tent.
These thoughts of, “this could be the end of our journey living in Nature,” began when my thoughts drifted to us heading back up north into Idaho from Southern Nevada. It was a feeling of this is quits. And yet, I couldn’t think of leaving this lifestyle. Nature was our Home, a place where we wanted to be.
The thought of being able to write for a whole winter in Washington State, got my mind into writing in camp with a sense of inspiration. We decided to stay for at least two more weeks. The boys also agreed.
At around 7:30 in the morning, Nanook was alerted to some sounds outside of the tent. I looked out the tent window and saw a doe walk close by, then a fawn, then another came following their Mother. Nanook was curious, I was excited to see them in the stillness of the morning.
We took our time getting up to Idaho. I had no idea where we would go in Idaho. We did find our way, staying in campgrounds we have never stayed in before.
On our walks we found the narrow river of the Payette moving slowly by our side of the roadway. The campground was still quiet from human noise, and no issues with dogs being off leash. It was peaceful here.
For being a dispersed camping area, it is pretty clean from trash, with the exception of toilet paper found here and there. There are little signs of garbage, and broken glass, which is nice, considering the use this camping area has. Returning to camp from our walk, the scent of Fir, and Pine filled the air.
On our evening walk we wandered on some dirt road in the area, and we crossed a bridge. I noticed a plant on one side of the bridge growing in a dry stream bed. and thought it might be a mint, then on closer observation and doing a Stinging Nettle test by rubbing the back of a figure on the leaf and waiting if I would experience a sting. It was slow coming, but I finally felt it. It was nice seeing one of my favorite plants. I looked in some other areas away from the road, but with no luck. It has been a long while since I have had Nettle Tea.
Walking back to camp from our walk I spotted a plant with beautiful red berries, the Red Baneberry, which is also poisonous. Back at camp, Nanook spotted a buck close to camp. It was an exciting walk. Another beautiful evening in Nature.
August 25, 2022 – Thursday
For the last couple of mornings I believed I heard the sounds of a Great Horned Owl. Always nice to hear the sounds of Nature.
During our morning walk we dropped by the guy’s camp with the camper that is camped at a site close to us, but is hidden by a nice tree covering that surrounded the campsite. While I was talking with him, Nanook reacted to some sort of bite or sting in his mouth, as if he tried to eat a yellow jacket, which he has been known to do. He started with horse flies and progressed to yellow jackets that were not so friendly or tolerant of being eaten. Something I was very concerned about. But Nanook seemed to feel it was very necessary. The guy I was talking to said, it was an Ant that he got a bite of, and the Ant took a bite out of him.
At our last camp at Upper Payette Lake before here, I was walking the boys in a different area, and Nanook reacted like he was bit by a nest of yellow jackets. But I could not see anything that could have bitten or stung him. When he got bitten by the Ant this time, I thought maybe it was a nest of Ants at out last camp that he got into.
August 26, 2022 – Friday
We awakened to another beautiful morning in the Idaho mountains.
Last night, the buck that came in twice the past couple of night didn’t show last night. But the boys were picking up a real strong scent behind our camp. Observing them it was a very strong scent. I was wondering, could it be a bear(s)? Maybe a moose, or elk? I also heard some crackling in the woods behind us. I took a peek walking back there a bit, but couldn’t see anything. The boys were definitely focused on the scent for a short time. I am as well when they tell me there are critters around. Nanook is really good at telling me to stay alert. Soon the mosquitoes were buzzing, so it was time for bed. The evening became quiet.
It is Friday, and I expect this camping area will be crowded for the weekend. Usually camping picks up on Thursday for the most part, and it does depend on the time of year and campground.
August 27, 2022 – Saturday
Last night we waited for the buck to come for a visit, but must have had other plans. The campground was also pretty quiet for a Friday, which I am not complaining. Not many campers came in last night. They probably went to Northwest Passage and Upper Payette Lake.
This morning it was cooler, but is suppose to heat up again back in the 90’s. This high heat is very unusual for this time of year, it is usually much cooler weather. In the west it has been much warmer than usual weather.
Before we got up this morning Nanook was looking out the tent window and was alert to something, maybe some critter near by. Outside the tent, we saw a white tail doe with two young ones romping around. The two young fawns full of energy. The doe looked at us carefully, Nanook and I returned that intent gaze. The doe standing perfectly still blending into the trees behind her, her body facing us minimizing her profile, making her almost invisible in the shadows of the forest.
I notice a lot of traffic on the road, many speeding way too fast for that road and all the animals that cross it – bear, deer, moose, fox, and elk. Must be a lot of road kill along 55. Do those driving this road think about this? Do they really care? I was careful on our walks not to spook any deer that may be in the bush when we were close to the road. On most of the road side there was zero visibility from heavy brush from both sides.
I had a feeling of uneasiness and restlessness about leaving our home in Nature, but then, I was tired. Not tired of Nature, just tired of all the other stuff we have been dealing with for these almost five years in Nature. I wasn’t looking forward to the city life, the traffic, the constant loud noise, the toxic air pollution, the foul smells in the air, the water pollution, and people – lots of people – everything that make city life undesirable to me. But, the convenience of getting things done, and being able to concentrate on my writing over came being in Nature, as with dealing with weather, and the cold. And I was out of money – at least close to out of money.
Our camping experiences consisted of constantly moving from camp to camp, state to state, dealing with short summers with never ending biting bugs that can irritate the hell out of me and the boys, and the very long, dark, and cold winters that seems like an eternity, before spring shows it’s slow presence.
Yesterday a butterfly visited our camp which is not too unusual, but this one landing on my chair arm rest. And was visited by a yellow jacket hovering over the ash in the fire pit creating a wash of wind stirring up the ash. The force of the wings blew the ash every which way. Never have observed that before.
Thinking about when to leave this camp to avoid the possible crowds of Labor Day. We will play it by ear.
When I mentioned to the boys, saying, “Do you want to go see Mike and Dundee?” They immediately perked up, their large ears erect focused on me. I was watching Nanook, and he was laying down, head up, and crying a low cry. I believe they understood what I was saying. We met Mike and Dundee while camping at Clear Lake State Park, in California back in January 2018, and occasional
we would meet them at different campgrounds mostly in the winter months throughout the years we were camping. Every time we would meet them at a campground, the boys would get really excited. Mike told me Dundee would recognize our truck with the big red canoe on top of the truck, and get all excited. I when I say, “Do you want to…” any time to them they will get excited. I think they know it when I am referring to Mike and Dundee. But how do they know, how do they process this information in their brains? Do they have an image in the brain of our friends, do they hear them, or smell them? Is it in the tone of my voice or in? I found it interesting how dogs just know things. They have a very keen intelligence, and maybe this is why we love them so much. I have noticed that we communicate too each other in silence at times.
While sitting in camp, in any of our many camps we have been at, I feel a sense of peace within, being in Nature. I can just observe in silence and experience the simple, yet magnificent wonders of Nature. Feeling, a sense of Being in Nature brings us closer to a deeper connection, and relationship with the natural world. And on occasion when my mind gets in the way, it can be unsettling, especially dealing with people.
We went into town for a few things at the grocery store and while getting some cash at the ATM, I guy came up behind me and when I turned around he got in my face saying, “your dog killed my dog! And you did not even say you were sorry. That is the kind of person you are.” The reason I did not was I did not know, and there was no way I could have known. I obviously felt bad about this. It was another issue with people not having their dogs on leash in the campgrounds at all times. This is a story I will write about later, but basically the people were camping across from me, their two small dogs came into my camp, and my dogs attacked them. My dogs were restrain as they always are. This was an ongoing problem for the time we have been camping, and with many conversations with Rangers, and campground Hosts both on Federal and State campgrounds.
Luckily we haven’t had any problems our first week here with any dogs, but this will soon change.
August 28, 2022 – Sunday
We awoke to a beautiful morning and much cooler typical for a late August in the high country in Idaho. It is suppose to warm up again in the 90’s tomorrow We are enjoying this camp, especially with very few people here.
August 29, 2022 – Monday
This morning I awoke once again to the emotions of fear, doubt, and uncertainty. (For those who are new and just joining my blog, I have been experiencing this pretty much for over three and a half years.) These unsettling feelings have been with me for way too long. They began after our winter camp in Idaho when I was dealing with cabin fever in the winter of 2018/19. And every Morning when I step out into Nature it seems to vanish. The healing powers of Nature.
So far we have not had any issues with dogs off leash or any dogs for that matter. It makes for a peaceful camp for us.
We went into town today and found out hunting season begins this week. The hunting season will be for deer, and elk for bow hunting. Our camping area should start filling up with hunters and for camping for the three day weekenders on Labor Day. I met a hunter later today pulling a pony trailer. It is loaded with large goats he uses for pack animals. I found him to be a really nice guy. I just hope he keeps them in camp and does not tangle with the boys. I found out he lets them loose to graze at night. We had no problems with them.
August 30, 2022 – Tuesday
I talked with some friends in Oregon and while they were camping near La Grande in their motorhome, the town and my friends got hit by a bad hail storm with baseball size hale, and 90 mph winds. Something that never happens there. It did a lot of damage to their motorhome and to their Jeep. It also destroyed the small town, leaving devastation in it’s wake. The weather extremes are becoming much worse throughout the world due to climate change. Climate change is here.
Idaho got hit with a late wet Spring this year creating a lot of biting, stinging, blood sucking, and irritating bugs. We had yellow jackets, Bald faced hornets, horse flies, deer flies, house flies, small flies, tiny flies, and of course the mosquitoes. They never seem to disappear during the Summer months creating a miserable time to be outside. We had very little rest from them the whole Summer. In the morning the mosquitoes come, when it begins to warm, the flies come, then at dinner time the hungry yellow jackets are out for a meal, my meal.
The beauty of the clouds against the blue sky background, the sweet smell of the clean fresh air of the woods, the magnificent beauty of the forest, and the sounds of Nature that always consumes me in gratitude.
August 31, 2022 – Wednesday
We will stay in camp most of the day and later do a garbage run a couple of miles to Northwest Passage Campground. We will begin packing up for our departure towards Washington tomorrow. When I looked at the weather the day before it looked halfway decent for travel.
We have this one butterfly that has been flying around camp, and that we have seen in other camps in Idaho. It is about medium size. It is mostly orange on the top side of the wings and dark gray on the bottoms of the wings. The back edges of the wings were roughly serrated. I did not pay much attention to this until I saw the butterfly land on the bark of a pine tree. It had it’s wings closed, and resembled the bark, blending into it as a perfect camouflage. I thought maybe this is why this particular butterfly likes my chair, since it is a dark gray color.
I was talking to a fellow camper this evening and he told me we are heading for another warming spell tomorrow and lower elevations will be getting into the triple digits. So this will put a hold on our departure until after Labor Day weekend. He got on the subject of tires on trailers and said the trailer tires are more impacted with higher temps, and having the right air inflation is important. Also the asphalt could be 20 degrees hotter then the air temperature. Since my trailer tires are wearing thin, but still legal tread, and we will have a long drive, I thought it wise to delay our departure until to cools down a bit. We are dealing with very unusually warm weather for late August.
Whether I stay in a State Park Campground, a USFS Campground, or in very rear circumstances, dispersed Camping, I always look at potentially having greater problems with campers with dogs not following the leash laws, campers coming to camp just to party, or campers that are just to loud, and usually they are the three day weekends that seem to be the worst.
September 1, 2022 – Thursday.
Once in a while I would notice these large shadows flying over the trees above us. I never saw what they were. Today I saw them again was able to follow the shadows passed the trees and the shadows appeared as a pair of Bald eagles. Seeing them are always a treat.
September 2, 2022 – Friday
There was some heavy equipment behind our camp when we arrived here, and when they were working it was loud. Luckily they did not work everyday. They were moving large rocks and breaking the boulders into smaller rocks for places unknown. Maybe creating a clearing in that area, possibly for parking next to a trailhead. This morning I was listening to the extremely loud rumbling of the heavy equipment of metal to the ground, scraping, and grinding, filling the silence of Nature with the irritating noise of man on this early morning. They were moving the equipment to a spot close to State Highway 55 where they could trailer them out. Good thing, no more loud equipment noise. I am sure the birds, the animals, and possibly the plants, and trees prefer not having it.
This morning was cool and smokey. It was also smokey yesterday and last night. More campers moving in as I thought, on this three day weekend.
On our morning walk we decided to walk highway 55 along the Payette River, while zigzagging through the forest, and open meadows winding its way to Payette Lake. It was a nice walk with very little traffic and traffic noise. I heard the beautiful sounds of the pair of Bald eagles screeching away, calling to each other.
The usual thing locals are doing now is going into camp grounds early and saving a spot for the weekend. They may come in a couple of days early or a week early to save a spot, parking a trailer or tent indicating the spot is taken. Most of the time they don’t even stay until the weekend. This is obviously unfair to those who need a campsite, and against most Campground Rules. Simply stated, campers must stay that night it occupies the site. Usually this is never enforced.
September 3, 2022 – Saturday
The camping area was full and we did have some close
encounters with loose dogs coming close to our camp. Because of the boys possibly meeting up with other dogs at camp, I took them for walks near Northwest Passage Campground.
Since Takota is blind in both eyes, I have been watching him closely to see how he is doing with getting around. He is doing amazingly well. He likes leaning against the outside of the tent, and prefers going into the tent for his hiding spot, but because of bugs, I keep the tent closed up. Takota gained the title and responsibility of Camp Protector, and although blind, he still takes on that role very seriously, and does very well at it.
September 5, 2022 – Monday
It was a cool morning, the feeling of Fall in the air. We are dealing with smokey days most of the weekend.
Most of the campers should be clearing out today. So we will stay in camp most of the day and enjoy the peace and quiet.
I was thinking about our journey we have experienced for close to five years, living in a tent, and traveling through eight states. And very soon it will be over. We are the Three Old Boys, Takota the blind one, Nanook with his skin allergies, and me getting too old for this, although I loved it for the most part even with all its challenges. I am ready to leave, but I will also miss Being in Nature with the boys. Overall, Nature has been very good to us. She was a good teacher.
September 7, 2022 – Wednesday
Checking the weather (NOAA), it looked pretty good for today and tomorrow. Tomorrow we will begin our two day trip to Washington.
I talked with our neighbor this morning and he told me 40% chance of rain from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. At about 9:00 AM a light rain and some thunder began. I had my rain fly off, and with the coming rains this afternoon I decided to get the rain fly back on. And just in time for our surprise light rain this morning. The skies were gray with the occupational rumbling of thunder in the distance. So far no signs of any wind. We will stay in camp today and prepare for our departure tomorrow.
Most everywhere in the mountains I am always aware of the dangers that can fall upon us, such as high winds, microbursts, lightning, and widow makers. We have a lot of widow makers in this place we are residing, with many dead standing trees. There are signs everywhere in this area of dead fallen trees. A very dangerous place to be if lightning, high winds, or microbursts appear.
I was feeling a little frustrated with the weather this morning, then I directed my focus on the present moment and my focus changed from frustration to the beauty in everything around me, even the weather.
It is nice having easy access to the weather reports so as to try and prepare accordingly, but, weather forecasts can be wrong, and shouldn’t be totally relied upon. Weather can always change, as for what happened to us this evening. In this weather event we were getting up to date forecasts from our neighbors wife in Oregon.
Our neighbor came by early evening and gave me a current weather report for our area. It did not look good. A large thunderstorm cell was heading for us with predicted extreme high winds. He was thinking about moving to another area with no trees.. This report go me very concerned. I have been in this situation many times and obviously we survived them. But this concern seemed to haunt me with potential falling trees. Should we leave too? I did have my trailer hitched and would be easy to leave camp. Going back and forth in my mind, should we or shouldn’t we?
Then the neighbor mentioned, we could go to the area behind our camp where they cleared it with the heavy machinery. I knew we could all fit in there with his Van, and my truck and trailer, so we headed up there. It was only a short distance to go from our camp. We parked and waited. We were still getting weather updates from our friend’s wife. She said it is right over us and moving fast and with high winds. We both looked up to the skies and it didn’t look bad, and we were not experiencing any wind. It was calm. I forgot to mention, large hale was predicted as well. And we both laughed, and commented, “time to go back into camp.” A big relief and calm replaced the fear trembling in our bones.
We did find out from a camper that just came in, that he saw a Mama black bear and two cubs going through the camp. I did see sign of bear in scat, but did not see any. Maybe it was the bear the boys were intently sniffing the other day.
During the night, it was peaceful outside, unfortunately my mind was not. We left the next day for Lewiston, Idaho for one night. It was like going into a different world, that I learned to despise and avoid at all cost. A world that was blind to the natural world. A place of noise pollution, air pollution, and water pollution, a place void of Nature, and replaced with concrete, asphalt, buildings, and houses. A place our natural humanness of love, grace, beauty, and truth for Nature and for all life have been lost and replaced with empty materialism, empty gratifications.
We then stopped at a quaint mountain town in Washington, named Cle-Elum. Cle-Elum means “swift water,” in the language of the Kittitas Indians. We stayed for a night, then moved onto our winter home in Lynnwood, Washington.
When our home is in the woods, we gain a deep intimacy and reverence for her. She provides everything we need to survive and live. While in the woods you are always looking, observing, listening, smelling and tasting. You find that you are always looking for the best firewood, you develop a close relationship with all life around you, in the plants, and the trees. You learn what animals live with you, their habits, behaviors and the signs they leave. You are always looking for clean sources of water to drink, you become in tune with all that is around you. The trees become your friends because they can provide you with so many things such as fire wood, food, medicinal medicines, resources for clothing and for shelter. Every tree can provide a gift of life once you know them and respect them. You always find you have your head down looking for nature’s gems, the plant life that can provide food and medicines and for the shear beauty they provide for the eyes and senses. The woods provide so much and ask for so little, she just wants a little respect. We have so much beauty and wonder all around us, but very few can see it. We have lost our ability to truly connect in a deep and profound way to the land, the sky, the oceans, lakes and rivers, to the animals, trees and plant life. In modern day life we cannot even comprehend looking back to the places our ancestors once lived—to live a simple life in the woods and going home. Nature is truly our home, and not living in the synthetic world we believe we belong.
What is our true purpose as humans, as individuals and as Beings (Spiritual Beings), that have been given great opportunities to do great things in our short stay on this planet? Is our purpose to take what we think we deserve without giving back? Is our purpose to ignore the less fortunate? Is our purpose to divide ourselves from other peoples and cultures because of differences? Is our purpose to trash our planet with garbage and toxins that pollute our air, our water and our land? Is our purpose to look at all life as insignificant compared to our own, thus caring little for the outcome of their habitats that they rely on or their very survival or their extinction? Or is our purpose to love, respect, honor, promote joy in the world? Is our purpose to live in harmony with all people and to all cultures? Is our purpose to learn, to seek to understand and to have compassion towards our fellow beings? Is our purpose to honor and respect all life in it’s magnificence and beauty? Is it our purpose to respect and honor our Mother Earth that gives life to all creation on this planet? We have been given a choice by our Creator and our choices effect all living things and it effects our very survival. We have a choice to do evil or to do good. We have a choice to create positive change in our lives and to the lives of others and to the lives of all the creatures that have no choices under the dominance of mankind. Are we going to continue to think that the Creator will take care of us, when we choose to look at our planet, Mother Earth as a dump site for all our superficial wants and needs of material things? Or are we willing to take the responsibility, the commitment to act as stewards of our home and create a healthy environment for all people to live, to create a healthy future for our children and their children and to all life.
Most of mankind can’t hear these silent voices. Not because they can’t, but because they won’t, because they don’t want to.
These silent voices come from the forests, mountains, deserts, the prairies, and savanna’s. They come from the oceans, rivers, and lakes. They come from the animals, trees and plants spirits.
Places and creatures we have become so distant from, so disconnected from. They are only shadows that are unimportant to us, having no meaning in our lives.
Silent voices come from the ancient ancestors who’s voices can only be heard by those selected few who seek the wisdom and who can transcend into the worlds of their ancestors and spirits.
If one wants to change ones behavior and move towards healing the soul, one of the key steps in this process is deep reflection. We must look at not only the good things we have done, but most important, the bad things we have done. Things we are ashamed of, things we just rather not think about because it may give us too much pain, or discomfort. It is easier to be just in denial.
This process also applies to the healing of a country, and its people. The US, Canada, Australia as with other countries who have committed genocide against indigenous cultures in lands they believed were theirs for the taking despite the fact that the original people had lived on these lands for thousands of years. If we choose to be in denial about these truths we will never wake up to this false reality we have chosen to live in. If we choose to open our hearts to these truths, then maybe we will have a chance to live in a world where we can all live together in peace and respect and appreciate the many diverse cultures that are living on this very small planet of ours.
When I began learning about indigenous cultures both in the past and present, I began having a deep and profound respect for these cultures who live in their traditional ways. Their understanding and deep respect and reverence for the natural world is what most of us are lacking and is the reason the planet is in so much trouble environmentally as well as socially. We can relearn so much from these cultures if we just listen from an open heart and begin to heal ourselves and the planet.
We cannot deal with climate change effectively until we change our relationship with the natural world. If we do not see and feel a deep connection to all life, a oneness with all things, we, the human race will continue to create the same outcome.
As I have written many times, we can learn this deep connection and relationship, this deep reverence for all life by learning from the indigenous peoples and their wisdom’s of Nature.
We must go deep within ourselves to see the shear beauty and awe inspiring wonders in Nature. We must experience the sacredness in all life.
And this is not happening because we are not willing to make the changes from within to create a better world.
We must love, deeply love our planet and all life before we can see real change for the betterment of a healthier world. Be a seeker of a better life, for all life.
We cannot create the lasting change if we are not willing to change who we think we are, and find our true self.
Be grateful for all that the Earth provides to us – life.
Blogs In Nature 