BIRTHDAY CAMPOUT
2001
BIRTHDAY CAMPOUT
2001
WELL. THE BIRTHDAY PLANS FOR THE GRAND CANYON FIZZLED. But, I did get a three day reprived from the hum-drum life I have led recently. I gave up my job at the Estates, a job I was not suited to, after giving as much as I could, under the circumstances. They did not want the things I was good at, qualified for, and required tasks of me that I was not good at, not qualified for. The residents easily became my friends. It was like taking care of Mom and Dad again. These elderly retirees. The kind of folks I have lived around all my life, the bourgeois, achievers, professionals and affluent enough to pay 1300 dollars or so a month for their apartment, and more for their meals, which was the department I found myself in. Dietary. Their children mostly were well on their way to prosperity, if not already there. Also their grand children. Many have great, and some have great-great! They were used to travel, independent, and resourseful, and had to resigned themselves to semi- independence in their sun-set years. Often to assuage the anxiety of thier children and grands. Mostly, they know how to have fun, and are continuing the good fight to get as much out of this life as possible. To many of them, relegion is a comfort. Others, bingo, card games, pool, etc. I sincerely miss them.I left work there mid February, my car needing transmission over-haul. I had foolishly let my warenty pass away before attending to this matter, and despite my manipulations, I had to rely on good old Thomas Myers to get me going. But the time was wrong. I had told Naren in New Mexico I was coming, but the work on the car continued, and all I could arrange was a weekend get-a-way with Kathleen O'Connel, my neighbor, fellow outdoors finatic, to the Hill Country. I should have called Naren! He was worried when I did not show, and sent the Hood police to check to see if I was dead in my cabin, or something!!!! My neighbor did not know I had gone, and was quite surprised at the arrival of the High Sherif!
It rained. A soggy soft rain. We left on my birthday. 65. I am still standing at least. Funny, but I don't feel any older than I did at 20. But at 20 I felt like 65. The end of teen spirit. Ugh. Now do I HAVE to grow up???? No more of this Peter Pan bull shit. "Hope I die before I get old", sing-along with the Who. I am glad I did not, if I am old now.
We drove to Lampassas and then on out to Bend. Sulphur Springs was deserted, except for a few truck camper-fishers. We were told that we could not get very far in K.'s new Ford, and sure enough the road along the river campsites was slick and muddy. We turned back at the sign, decided not to stay. They have increased the security since I was there last, with warning signs, and tighter restrictions. The mud made the great isolated places dangerous, so we will come back when it is dryer. On, then, to Colorado Bend State Park, 6 muddy miles ahead. They have a good place there, really. First time I have stayed there. Kathleen bought a sticker and pass for all the state parks, and we took a camp site as far from the other camp-party and head-quarter lights as possible. A good sign was that long Pecan tree, bent into an arch. A mystery. How did it grow to form that arch? Supper was some wild variation on a Cous-cous theme. Flavored with whatever we had thought to bring, mainly ramen flavoring and prunes!!! Raisins and craisins. (Dried cranberries, my latest craze.) Surprise. It was great.Soggy soft rain is not too unpleasant for setting up a tent, the temperature was about a muggy 65. The rain not very wet. My little green Eurika has been set up in wind and rain, and even snow. It has been set up in the dark. It has been set up and struck in high and low places. Deserts and deep woods. Mountains and Canyons and Plains. I have had it since 1985. Kathleen has this nice new dome tent. Very roomy. Mine is cosy for two, just right for one, but not much head space.Anyway we had to slide down the bank with tents and cooking necessities, dropping sleeping bags and dry clothes in the process. Parking was at least forty feet above the camping sites. The river was brown in the rainy light, and as always, looks like it flows north because a prevailing southern breeze seems to always ruffle the waters back upstream. Anyway this is the back up from Lake Buchanan. The georgeous Gorman Falls, which the park inhereted, is off limits except for guided tours, on Saturdays, if it doesen't rain!, as is the bat filled cave we use to enjoy in the old days, about 15 years back by now! The limestone escarpment on the west side is more continuous than on the other side of the canyon, and the creeks and frozen waterfalls at Sulfur Springs continues here at the State Park. I enjoyed an early morning hike up Spice Creek, much of the time through the slippery rocks and wild waters, as it storms down through the rocky escarpment. The weather did imporve after a stormy night. Gus had to sleep inside too. A blue healer does not make a good pet, but Kathleen, the softest heart in the universe, takes in strays, never quits trying to make silk purses from sow's ears. She saved seals and whales with Greenpeace, formerly. (I had carelessly run out of film, so Spice creek in all its wild beauty keeps flowing until I get back. Whenever!)
After a breakfast snack of gorp and fried bread (!) and hot chocolat (both forgot to bring coffee, assuming that the other had some!), we were of to Blanco. Service at the monastery was quite much. I had never been to the Russian Orthodox site, but had heard about recent scandals there. But the hill top installation is as unexpected and impressive as one can imagine.
After some inqueries among elderly robed persons, a hill top bell began to ring. The young monk father was calling the faithfull and the tourists and the gawkers to mass.The service was held in the strange little chappel with lines of Icons, made radient by the clear-story lighting overhead, on the wall, showing in Byzantine splendor, saints and martyrs of the faith. There were no seats, and the worshipers stood close together, men on one side, women on the other. Also close to the priest, who read the sacred texts from various tomes, bound richly in leather and gold, on a stand which he moved about the chancel. It was quite involving, very reminiscent of the Roman Cathlic services.
I noticed Kathleen had slipped out during the procedure, I remained fascinated as a hymn to the Virgin was intoned. A missle was passed out to the congregation, about 25 of us, after a few more defections. The lectern on which an icon of the Virgin and Child was promenent was placed before us. One lay person lead those of us that wanted to guess the tune, make the appropriate responses. I was surprized that I was moved, and felt the warmth of spiritual blessings inspite of myself! After mass we were allowed to see the weeping Virgin. Her tears of Myhrr are wiped on cotten swabs and those who wish, can get the insense wiped on their forehead by the priest. I abstained. Kathleen got anointed.
And then after church and the weeping Virgin, (weep tears of myrrh), we went back to Johnson City and Pedernales State Park to enjoy the beautiful rapids. It was sunny and almost warm for February! We headed north from Blanco, still on High-way 285 to Johnson City, then out to the Park. There is a little hike down to the falls from the parking lot, and the view of the wide river and Falls is breath-catching.
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