The mind does wander while hiking up a steep hill. Recently, I started thinking about people asking where home is for us. I usually say "Colorado." That is where I grew up and raised my family. Home for us isn't a building or place but matters more who is across the table from us and how our days are spent when we are "there" where ever that is. Our cozy trailer is a good place as long as it moves from time to time. I guess for us "home" is more of a feeling than a place. But not for more than 3 months at a time.
We had been missing our hikes and decided to head to Escondido to Elfin Forest. We were glad to get an early start since it gets pretty warm inland and appreciated the clouds of May Grey during the steep climb up the Way Up Trail.
The creek as we crossed into the Elfin Forest
I have never seen bells offered for use at a trailhead for mountain bikers.
Olivenhain Reservoir and Dam is a good thinking place. It helps that there was a good breeze to cool us down.
The Elfin Forest is not only great for hiking but also for delving deeper into the mysteries that surround this area and is rumored to be haunted with hundreds of stories and sightings.
The most popular myth is about the white witch. As the story goes, her husband and son were murdered out here a long time ago. Rumor has is she is still looking for her family, or the person who murdered them. There are also stories of the Northern Diegueno Indians haunting these grounds.
The most popular myth is about the white witch. As the story goes, her husband and son were murdered out here a long time ago. Rumor has is she is still looking for her family, or the person who murdered them. There are also stories of the Northern Diegueno Indians haunting these grounds.
We didn't feel any spirits. We just sweated a lot. Maybe the bike bells help scatter the spirits...
This was a fat horned toad that would not move wither than his eyes would blink. Maybe, he thought we didn't see him or the sun just felt good.
Yep, we made it clear to the top. The lake is on the other side.
What makes your home a "Home"? We like to hear your stories.
The Way Up trail is aptly named, is it not?
ReplyDeleteHome is my RV, not a location. I am continually amazed by how comfortable and cozy our home is.
A very nice home for sure.
DeleteInteresting that another blog I follow and read just a few minutes before coming here, was talking about the same question ... "people asking him where he lived" while he was parked with a 40' Class A and a Jeep as his toad. Escondido is a great area. Have you made it to the Palomar Observatory? You better watch it, spending much more time in that are you might decided to become permanent residents. :)
ReplyDeleteNot a chance that I would stay longer. Too many people, taxes, cars and craziness. It was a good visit and crisis pay while we had some medical things taken care of. We will have to check out the observatory. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteIn 1994 when Carlsbad was still a small beach town, they tore down my neighbors single story beach house and put a sign on the property saying "San Francisco Comes To Carlsbad" I knew my days were numbered. The light purple 3 story condo went up just two houses away from the corner of Juniper and Carlsbad Blvd. It got so crowded with people and cars our home parking spaces would be taken if we ever left on weekends during the peak season, if it was just to the store and back. Ten years later I went back thinking I might move back but it was even worse with too many people, too many cars ... the whole aura of a small beach town I moved to in 1997 was gone.
DeleteThe same has happened to our ski towns in Colorado.
DeleteI feel at home wherever we are when we're in our sweet little trailer, but for a long time I felt more at home (in terms of feeling deeply connected) in places where we have family or a community of long-time friends (Ashland, Lopez Island, Apalachicola). Then again, the longer we travel, the more friends we make who are living this same lifestyle -- and that's a very special connection. So I guess home is becoming more and more "on the road." It's definitely an expansive lifestyle!
ReplyDeleteWe always felt comfortable in corporate housing but isolated at times when we started traveling. We found home with our trail and have found that same connection you spoke about.
DeleteHi Debbie! That is a beautiful area! How do the motorized vehicles treat cyclists there??
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty good depending on which roads you are on. The Coast Highway is my favorite with lots of cyclists. Weekends can be scary with all of the out of towners checking everything out. We are heading out on the trail this morning which should be crowded since it is a holiday weekend.
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