Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 3)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

(Psalm 121:1)

Part 3 of 8

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Old John had just finished another careful sweep around the vast wilderness with his powerful binoculars.  Then, he made his twice-daily routine report (brief and to the point) to the ranger headquarters with his two-way radio.

He settled back, and poured himself a mug of hot coffee – which always tasted wonderful in the cool, late-afternoon air at that altitude.  As he settled into his chair, he watched with interest as thunderheads began to build up to the southwest.  It looked like a good-sized summer storm was brewing.

Old John had previously caught a glimpse of campfire smoke in a valley near the end of a ridge down southwest of his lookout.  He new there was good fishing in the streams in that area.  And, he was not surprised to see that the hikers, whose presence in the vicinity had been reported to him, had settled there about six days ago.

On a couple of occasions, he had caught glimpses of flashes of light from down there too – probably off the lenses of someone's binoculars, someone who was just curious about the lookout.  They probably wondered what kind of a person would spend his life up here – and why?

As the sun began to set, the thunderclouds were growing larger and more ominous.  They began to look quite a bit darker and more menacing as twilight began to set in.  It was still quite clear around Baldcrest Mountain.  But further to the southwest, Old John could see the first flashes of lightening.

At first, they made beautifully spectacular flashes between the clouds.  Then, one large bolt of lightening seemed to connect earth to heaven, and it lit up the whole sky down in that direction.

It was still light enough to see the tops of the forest silhouetted against the clouds and portions of the darkening sky as twilight drifted into the dark of night.  It was getting quite cool as the sun disappeared.  A stiff breeze began to blow in Old John's face as he peered intently into the growing darkness from his vantage point on the exposed walkway that extended around the perimeter of his old lookout.  He put on his warm comfortable old jacket, and sipped his coffee.  That cup of hot coffee sure felt good.

  Old John would have to keep a watchful eye to the southwest.

[To be continued - jad]

Twelve, Five, Sixty

On December 5, 1960, I had driven across the old San Mateo Bridge in the morning, and then back home later as the sun was setting.  It looked so unusually beautiful that day, that I wanted to be able to capture it in my minds eye.  To create this memory, I decided to try to describe it in rhyme.

I stopped the car as soon as I got off the bridge that evening on the Hayward side, by the Leslie salt flats, and wrote my thoughts.

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With hills of brownish green

And bay a calm as a peaceful stream,

The sight was like a beautiful dream

Of what is possible could ever seem.

Not a cloud was in the sky.

No smog got in your eye.

The day was quite unusual - like

Meeting a man who could never die.

Today's was a sight not often seen

Around our beautiful bay of green;

For the air is not often so clean

As 'twas from six am to eight this evening.

The bay looked as if 'twere lighted below

By lights caught in he undertow;

And only one who saw it would know

That it was a most marvelous show.

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Yosemite Fire Falls - Sure, Sure!

Yes, there used to be a fantastic display of fire falls in the evenings at Yosemite Park.  I got to see the fire falls once – when I was in the Boy Scouts.  It was probably in the early or mid 1950's.  Our scout troop (#44 in Castro Valley) had gone to camp at Diamond-O, a Boy Scout camp  near Hetch-Hetchy reservoir – not too far from the north entrance to Yosemite.

Our Scout Master had seen the fire falls before, and decided that we should all drive over so that we would have the opportunity to see them.  We just barely had time to make the mountainous trip ("We have a whole hour before the falls start, and it should only take an hour to get there!") - Our Scout Master had been an ambulance driver!?  So off we went.

By the time we arrived, several of us, including yours truly, were quite carsick.  But we made it to the parking lot in the valley – and out of the cars – just in time to see the big fire at the top of the cliff pushed off and tumble down.  It was quite a spectacular show.  Unfortunately, they stopped this breath-taking show quite a long time ago. 

  

   Needless to say - I've never forgotten that unique trip.

Great Blue Heron

 

A Great Blue Heron must make sure that he keeps himself ready to greet his subjects
 as he keeps careful watch over what he believes is his kingdom.

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God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves,

with which the waters swarmed after their kind,

and every winged bird after its kind;

and God saw that it was good.

God blessed them, saying,

“Be fruitful and multiply,

and fill the waters in the seas,

and let birds multiply on the earth.”

                                                            (Genesis 1:21-22)

Photo - Discovery Bay

October 10, 2011

Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 2)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

(Psalm 121:1)

Part 2 of 8

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August 1st had finally arrived.  Another year of hard work at the small factory where Jerry worked had finally come to a close.  During the first two weeks of August every year, the factory closed for inventory, and most of the employees were off for their annual vacation.

Jerry and Annette had been married for several years now.  The timing of the plant closure and their vacation was always a pleasure, because it left them free to celebrate their August 3rd anniversary any way they wanted.

This year, like most years, they planned to take their two children and go hiking in Baldcrest Wilderness.  The kids were old enough now to be able to carry packs big enough so that among the four of them, they could hike in about a two-days journey, camp by a good fishing-stream for a week, and then hike back out with a couple of days to spare.

Saturday was spent getting everything in final order.  All the essentials were laid out on the living room floor in four piles, according to the weight each of them could carry.  They each carefully packed their packs, and a few extra items were packed in a box to be left in the car for the first night when they arrived back at the car at the end of their anticipated 11-day round-trip hike.

Sunday morning, they were all up early and on their way.  About four hours later, on a comfortably crisp and beautiful morning, they parked at the end of a dirt road where they would leave their car for the next 11 days.  There was only one other vehicle there – an old, well-worn pickup.  It looked like it was probably a mid-50's old Ford, and it had apparently been parked there for several months.  It was very dusty.  But, from what you could see through the windows it seemed fairly well cared for on the inside.  Jerry's son, John, was left with the impression that it was still used by somebody, and had not just been abandoned there,  The tires were certainly in pretty good shape.

Jerry, Annette, and their two kids locked up their car, took up their packs and started down the trail – leaving their cares behind them, and striking out into the wilderness on their long-anticipated adventure.

[To be continued - jad]

God Makes the Sunset Shout for Joy

They who dwell in the ends of the earth

stand in awe of Your signs;

You make the dawn

and the sunset shout for joy.

Psalm 65:8

September 24, 2011

Mt. Diablo as seen from Discovery Bay

Kamakura

On May 30, 1966, according to the note I wrote at the time, "I went to Kamakura by train this morning to see the shrines, Great Buddha & countryside.  ¥100 for ticket on train, which took about one half hour."

At Kamakura there is a lovely pond in the middle of a very beautiful park or garden.  After walking around the pond and thoroughly enjoying the quiet beauty of this picturesque place for a while, I was impressed to start writing the following description.  I ended up finishing it on the train ride back to Yokosuka later that same day.  I still recall sitting quietly glancing out of the train window at the passing countryside as I wrote.  (jad)

       

           

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At Kamakura, by the temple, where the different hues of green sweep smoothly but rapidly down the hillsides to the pond with a small island and a few green trees and green bushes and a small building of Japanese architecture; And there is a small red bridge in the form of an arch reaching across to the island.

Everything is filled with life and even something more.  Even the pond is filled with life; for even though it is a small, murky pond, you can see a small motion just under the surface, which turns into a circular ripple as the turtle sticks his head through the surface for a breath of the pleasantly warm air.

And as you watch, the turtle pulls his head just below the surface and his shadowy form moves slowly but surely on through the pond, and between the few Lillie pads which lay smoothly on the surface.

Then, a sudden motion off to the right draws your attention to a big golden carp, which has jumped from the water after something to eat, and you wonder just how much it takes to fill up a fish that size, or if he even knows what it means to be full as you know it after a long slow, relaxed evening meal.

Suddenly you are aware of the presence of some others.  And as you glance at them, you know that they are lovers.  Because, as he talks and walks, she follows his every movement and listens to his every word, and is all of the time looking up into his eyes with all of the trust and admiration which is possible for anyone to imagine.  And the young lovers walk on the pond's edge hand in hand, and he whispers something to her and she smiles and tightens her grip on his arm.  They stop and look at the pond together and throw a small pebble into the water, and they watch the ripples spread out on the smooth surface in ever widening circles, content to be able to admire life together.

And as you watch the ripples move outward, they push under the shiny Lillie pads, and push against the back of the turtle's head as he comes up for yet another bite of life-giving air, and the ripples meet the ripples caused by the carp coming up after some food.

A small water spider scoots off along the pond's surface, trying to outrun the ripples, but ends up ridding over the ripples as they catch up to him and pass by him, and he goes on searching for his food and continuing his existence.

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