The Free Radical

The vacationing mind is a detestable thing… but it provides a surety of contrast which affirms “I can get past this.”

I had been absent from the Forest for two days due to family commitments over Easter. Also, I live in a resort town, a vacation destination. I am very familiar with “tourist mind,” which is truly no mind at all– and not at all in a zen-like way.

I noticed right away that dirt bikes had been enjoying my trail through the Forest. That’s alright; I don’t mind. The trail had been created by quads in the first place. People are certainly welcome to have a bit of harmless fun here.

I’ve also written in the past how this particular area has suddenly become very popular ever since I began the Forest Reports. It’s not that these people read my blog; I’m pretty sure they don’t… and suspect that they may not be able to read at all. It’s more of an energetic thing. There’s an energetic attraction that works on animals and humans alike; it is part of my intent.

Sigh… When I’m there, keeping a watchful eye, I usually very conspicuously film the vehicles, making sure that I get a clear shot of their license plates. If the people involved see me doing this, they invariably behave themselves and tend to clean up after.

I had to clean up an exploded tube of caulking, numerous beer cans, pop bottles, sponges and a shot-up bucket. I left the piles of toilet paper be because I wasn’t too keen on discovering what might lie beneath. You think to yourself “Filthy animals!” But then you realize that this is totally unfair to the animals who live here. Honestly, the pond scum in the swamp has more redeeming qualities than these brain-dead yahoos!

The area belongs to the critters who live there. On this day, other than a couple of grouse on the way up the mountain, there were no animals anywhere to be found. It is my hope that they all wisely fled the area before being shot at… as I’m quite sure they would have been.

My challenge this day was to smooth out the energetic disturbance and not let the whole thing fester in my mind. The rest of my walk was rather peaceful and relaxing, as I knew that I would have ample opportunity to vent here on my blog.

On the positive side of things, I discovered the first two dandelions of the season… and proceeded to eat one of them.

The other hadn’t fully opened yet.

Well, the long weekend is over now. The tourists have gone back to their mind-numbing lives. Hopefully things will be back to normal again… and by normal I mean awesomely spectacular and mythic! I’ll catch ya tomorrow.