I’m in a serious beach withdrawal. Ever since O’ahu I’ve had to sit out June Gloom and a freak July rainstorm plus the usual coastal fog and low water temperatures. My previous weekends were spent doing land-based activities. AIDS Walk at Golden Gate Park last Sunday. Bear Valley and the ‘Gate two Saturdays ago. Parties and birthdays last month. Now it looks like it’s going to be me and my CamelBak tomorrow somewhere in southern Marin. Some Sunday driving and a nice long walk. I could bike again, but it’s windy as hell and I hate biking in the wind. It’s not windy in Santa Cruz, by the way.
Next weekend I’m going to watch one of my coworkers sing with the Cantabile Chorale at the Midsummer Mozart Festival. I chose the Gundlach Bundschu Winery outdoor venue in Sonoma because you can enjoy a picnic on the grounds before the show. I was going to take A. because she wanted to do something fun on the weekends to distract her from studying, but she has family party to attend. We haven’t hung out in over a year but I’m sure we’ll do something fun soon. Maybe surfing. Anyway, I’m going to take my mom instead since she loves Mozart and wouldn’t mind a quiet summer evening under the stars in the warm, clean air of Sonoma wine country.
I’ll partake of course. No shame in drinking in front of mother.
I really meant it when I said that I don’t force words onto paper when facing writer’s block. My poetry drought continues despite a few moments of recent inspiration. Earlier today I thought of some words but did not want to commit them to paper. Summer is here and the outdoors await. Creativity gives way to activity.
These days I’m content as an observer instead of a writer. Some of my observations have translated into sketches but most I have simply just committed to memory. It’s not that I’m looking or waiting for the right moment to write. I’m just not wanting to write at all. I’m wanting to live.
I had more to write out. Something simmering just below the surface, but the time isn’t ripe. The writing sabbatical continues. I don’t know when it will end.
IN OTHER NEWS …
I decided to tack this little bit onto the entry instead of starting a new one (too lazy) Today (Sunday, July 8th) I bicycled across the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time in pseudo-gale force winds. That was fun. Good thing I pack layers whenever I go out. I had just bought a new Rocky Mountain Trailhead at Mike’s Bikes in Sausalito last Sunday. Despite the wind from the rapidly moving fog, I had a great ride. Naturally I made it more interesting with a slight technical glitch earlier in the day.
I was on the Bear Valley Trail in Point Reyes this morning, having snagged one of the few remaining parking spots at the Visitor Center, and I wanted to bike and hike out to Arch Rock. But my seatpost kept slipping down. Was highly annoying considering there was a long ride ahead of me with some climbs that I wanted to tackle. I had a toolkit in my pack but none of the wrenches fit the quick release system installed on the seat post. So I had to abandon that ride and go to the nearest gear shop to tighten the bolt. After that I just motored over to the Gate and decided then and there to bike it. I’m glad I did.
Next week is the AIDS Walk and I won’t be cycling. But I’ll pick it up again afterwards. Summer cures all and I hope to have rock-hard thighs come October when I plan to escape back home again.
