Happy places…
Last Friday I took SJ for a quick trip up to Gold Country (Auburn/Grass Valley) and within two hours we were swimming in a crystal clear river. It was downright magical and reminds me that *someday* I need to live closer to a decent swimming hole! It was hot up there… three digits hot. But I didn’t even notice once I was in that water. Truly one of my happy places.
On the way home, we stopped to photograph the field of sunflowers we spotted in the Central Valley… along with every other Instagrammer on the 80 west that afternoon.
It was flipping great to get out of the house for a bit but it was worrisome that almost no one in Auburn had on a mask. Two hours away but many worlds apart from our little Bay Area bubble. Why is it so damn hard to wear a mask?
I digress…
So, we’ve planned another nearcation for the end of July, to another one of my happy places: Guerneville/Russian River. More swimming, more nature, more “pretending everything is normal” for a few hours. One interesting thing I’ve noticed is that it’s super easy to get reservations of all kinds right now. Get this, I was also able to secure camping reservations in frickin’ Yosemite over LABOR DAY WEEKEND. I may not end up going, but getting last-minute-ish Yosemite summer reservations is unheard of. (Though, I did hear that they stopped taking reservations a day or so after I made mine, so YMMV.)
Anyway. Nearcations are where it’s at this summer. Wear a damn mask, pack lots of disinfecting products and go soak up some nature.
— Rusty Blazenhoff
P.S. I need a new mask. Any recs for a spectacular one (elastic over-the-ear type)? HMU. (Um, but definitely NOT the one my brother found on Twitter.) |
