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.

____________________

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

__________

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)

       

           

_______________

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.

_______________

Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 1)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

(Psalm 121:1)

  

Part 1 of 8

__________

This is basically the story of an elderly man - Old John.  Many people did not really know him, though a very few in the area did.  Many had heard stories about him, but as is often the case, most of those stories were rumors built upon other rumors.

As a result, most people believed he was mean-spirited, ornery and selfish – perhaps even with a criminal background.  Many thought he actually delighted in seeing bad things happen to good people.  Of course, there were many who just took the stories as nothing more than folktales - not attributing them to anybody who really might live high up on Baldcrest Mountain.

______________

Baldcrest National Wilderness Area was a very large expanse of beautiful forests with a large variety of mountain peaks and ridges, interspersed with beautiful deep valleys and wonderful clear streams meandering downward toward several larger rivers.  The fishing and hunting were generally very good, and the camping was excellent – especially if you preferred to leave your car behind, and had several days to explore bits and pieces of this captivating wilderness on foot.

Baldcrest National Wilderness Area was named after the tallest and most majestic peak in the area – Baldcrest Mountain.  Baldcrest was a natural name to give this large outcropping of rocky mountaintop, which soared several hundred feet above the timberline.  From a distance, Baldcrest looked like an old white-haired patriarch keeping watch over his large family.

If you knew the right paths to take, you would be able to hike for just over three days to get to the summit of Baldcrest from the end of the nearest dirt road.

It was on the summit of Baldcrest where Old John lived and worked.  You see, Old John was the fire lookout whose job was to keep his eyes on the vast expanse of Baldcrest Wilderness.  Day and night, he watched for trouble that could bring disaster – the destruction of thousands of acres of the most beautiful forests by fire – Or worse, could bring the death of any hikers who might be spending one day or even a couple of weeks fishing, hunting or just enjoying the beauty of this wilderness.

Old John had worked at this same post for so many years, that nobody really remembered where he had come from.  During the winter, nobody knew, or even paid attention to where he stayed.  But at the snow-melt each spring, Old John would briefly report in at the ranger station, pick up his supplies for the coming season, and make his annual trek up to his "home" on Baldcrest.

So there was plenty of room for rumors and stories about Old John.  And, of course, true to the way people's minds work, most of those stories were far from the truth, and certainly not representative of Old John's real character.

[To be continued - jad]

The Bibles Were Passed Out

The Bibles were passed out during the Pastor's announcements