Fresh Air

Several years ago Denny and I took a drive up the coast. I believe it was our first vacation together. For one week we were adventurers without a sure plan. We loaded the car with our camping gear, music, a deck of cards, the guitar, and our favorite snacks. We set out early one morning, coffee in hand. Denny drove this easy leg of the trip. We talked and laughed and loved. Every 50 miles or so he would squeeze my hand.

Our first stop was in Solvang. Our friends here are always so kind to us. They welcomed us, fed us, spoiled us. Denny played his guitar and sang. The kids were dancing. It was the perfect beginning of our trip.

With a tank full of gas, we continued north to new territory. Well, it was new to me. Denny had been here before and was eager for me to see it. We stopped in San Luis Obispo for lunch and a quick tour. We took our time wandering through the little town. I'm sure we had a coffee too. That's just what we do.

Our next destination was San Francisco. We opted to take the coast because don't you have to do that at least once even if it is the long way? I saw coastline that I never knew existed. I drove the winding road while Denny rested his eyes. I had to keep reminding myself to keep my eyes on the road. The great Pacific was a clear blue green color that was shocking and awesome all at once. Trees met sand and the waves crashed against giant cliffs. The sun was shining between clouds and it looked like there were huge spotlights way out at sea. Maybe that's just what they were. Something bigger than us was proudly displaying magnificence. I was so lucky to see it. How many people will never see that?

We finally made it to San Francisco. The sun was setting as we navigated over bridges and highways into the city. We dropped our stuff off at our boutique hotel and headed for food. It felt big and tall this city I'd never seen. The wind blew and it was cold. We walked close for warmth. We packed as much as we could into the next couple of days. We made stops at Golden Gate Park, the pier, John Muir Woods, and many other spots that we captured in pictures. We enjoyed good food along our way.

The next stop was Yosemite. Denny was always telling me stories about Yosemite and how it left an impression on him. We were happy to finally experience it together. I had no idea what to expect. I was just thrilled at the thought of camping under the stars with my favorite person. We drove in and I stared out the window in awe. We were surrounded by pine trees and huge boulders and rock formations and endless beauty. The sky was the bluest of blues and the air was fresh. We spotted Half Dome and Bridal Falls. Stepping out of the car I felt revived. We took a walk that evening and saw deer and bears. We cooked our dinner on our little stove and toasted each other. Denny built a fire and we enjoyed marshmallows and a game of Yahtzee. As we drifted to sleep we could hear our fire popping but not much else. That night there was a mama bear and cubs about 25 feet from our tent. I'm not sure I'd like to relive that but it sure made the experience all the more memorable.

The following morning was cold. We made coffee and bacon. Coffee always tastes better when you camp. Come to think of it, so does bacon. It warmed us up and prepared us for our day. We hiked and napped. Denny played guitar. We took walks and did some reading. We explored. We sat by a creek and listened. We found a place that served ice cold beer. That night we walked to a bridge to check out the stars. They hide from us in our everyday lives but when you make it out to the wilderness to see them, they put on a show like no other. There were millions. The second night was more restful. The bears didn't come back again. We went to sleep that night feeling renewed and possibly forever changed.

This experience still remains vivid in my mind. I long to go back. When people talk about trips to Europe or Mexico or Hawaii I wonder if those places could bring me the same peace that Yosemite brought me. Would I love it as much? I know we'll go back when the time is right but for now I'll keep daydreaming about the fresh air.