Sometimes its nice to disappear. More accurately perhaps, to make all else disappear. Responsibilities, communication, the myriad human noises aimed at us and occurring around us. On nice days my boyfriend and I like to set off exploring on foot. We have found many beautiful trails and abandoned places this way!
When we moved recently I was sad to say goodbye to our old haunts, abandoned mills and empty yacht husks snaked with blackberries, beaches where you could climb over jungle gyms of driftwood to gaze at blue ocean waves. They aren't so far I can never go, but are no longer close enough to wander to.
Since coming to this new location, which is surrounded by more businesses than homes, we've found new retreats. My favorite is actually reached by cutting through the drive thrus of several fast food places in the busiest part of town! Past the abandoned floors (painted red!) of an old house mostly covered by flowers this time of year, is a little opening under the trees with the remains of a tree fort. To its side lays a narrow trail twisting steeply upward. It goes up and up and up with the view growing ever lovelier, and peaks with a view of the harbor and great spanning bridge.
That is not however the best part. Farther past this wide logging roads begin, and even more trails branch out from them. Here you can hear no cars, no human noise at all! The forests are flickering lights and shadows, softly creaking trees. And in the golden sunlit clearings acres of foxgloves grow in shades from white and yellow to violet and hot pink, deep amethyst. They sway gently waist high, tangled some places with other wildflowers in every color.
We have the most wonderful conversations out here. They are much like what our feet are doing, wandering easily to new and beautiful places. Many years before dating we were friends, and these conversations are a large part of how i fell in love with Chris!
I'm so excited to have someplace like this, which we don't even need a car to reach! I hope we find many more lovely places in our time here.
For those living in Grays Harbor County, all this loveliness is past the bluff.
