Hiking with the Halfmoon Bay women’s group is much more than getting some exercise on the winding trails of our beautiful forests. It is an opportunity to share life’s experiences and stories, to laugh and to commiserate. Conversations run the gamut from knee replacements, FaceTiming with grandchildren, and unruly husbands, to where to get a great pedicure and community service responsibilities.
With my to-do list long and my apartment cozy, I was reluctant to join Monday’s hike. I put myself through this Every. Single. Time, agonizing over whether I can spare a couple of hours, and then going anyways. “Aren’t you glad you came?” Kim asked. “Always! I never say to myself gee, I wish I hadn’t come on this hike today,” I replied, gazing up through the canopy of remaining leaves glistening in the sunlight, and down to the thick golden carpet below. It reminded me of Mary Oliver’s poem A Song for Autumn: “In the deep fall, don’t you imagine the leaves thinking how comfortable it will be to touch the earth…”
A large tree across Pterodactyl trail meant we had to shimmy over it; some managing a bit more gracefully than others. “Don’t worry,” said Cheryl, “Dan will be here later to clean it up.” The Trail Elves do a remarkable job keeping the trails clean, having logged in 10 or more hours in the days after that crazy windstorm last Friday night. (In case anyone missed the news, Dan was voted HBCA’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year!) Windfall reports, and thank you’s, can be sent to [email protected]!
Our doggie companions clearly enjoy hiking more than their humans! Lyra loves nothing more than to roll around on the moss in oblivious bliss. Donna asked, “Wouldn’t you love to do that?” and another remarked “Yes! Well, except for the fact that it’s cold and wet and full of bugs!” Little Remmie runs full tilt up fallen logs, through bushes, and across bridges and for just a moment you wish you could morph into her body and experience what she is feeling.
At the end of our hike, Ellen announced “Let’s do Meditation Trail on Wednesday!” When she sends the invitation to the entire group, will I spend time agonizing over it? Or will I save myself the trouble and spontaneously reply “I’ll see you there!”?
Yesterday I admitted “I have no idea what I’m going to write about this week!” “Don’t worry about it, you’ll think of something, you always do!” they declared encouragingly. And they were right!
In closing, I want to give a shout-out to Melissa, my wellness practitioner extraordinaire, at www.sacredearthhealingarts.com. She has filled her Christmas Artisan Home Stand at the end of Lohn Road with holistic products such as massage and essential oils, heating pads, herbal eye pillows and cleansing wraps, tea, candles, and bath salts. There are also spiritual artwork prints, cards, nature-based resin art, and photography. All lovingly created by her healing hands.
