Home Spirit - 12/19/10

I haven't had much time or energy for kayakfishing lately, but I always try to maintain a steady stream of opportunities for Nature Interaction.

The real rains have arrived, and salmon are busy fulfilling their ultimate goal.  Sunday I knew that even the smallest, most pristine creeks would be high and muddy, but I had to get out to the forest to see for myself.  I hiked a familiar trail to a spot along the gravel bar of a creek that feeds the Eel River.  As I peered across the creek at the mouth of a smaller creek where I usually see salmon in clear water it was apparent that all waters were too cloudy and turbulent for salmon viewing this day.  I thought to watch the riffle at the smaller creek's mouth for a moment in hopes of seeing a salmon jump up over the rocks and into the smaller creek.  As I watched I was surprised to see 5 people cross a bridge near the mouth of the smaller creek.  They'd likely hiked there from a spot I know very well about a mile away, and they were geared for the weather with raincoats and daypacks.  It was a pleasant moment where I felt some measure of kinship with those who would venture out in such weather and wetness in the deep, dark forest.  They moved on and not 10 seconds later I became aware of a bird coming up the canyon to my left.  Standing on the gravel bar of a creek that runs along a 100' corridor between two to three hundred foot tall redwoods it was like I was in a city with skyscrapers surrounding me.  To see a bird or any other wildlife in the deep oldgrowth is not so common, and right away I knew that what I was sensing above me and to my left was a large animal.  Sometimes your perception, in the first instant that your attention is grabbed, can do so much deciphering, calculating probabilities as quickly as your defenses formulate potential actions to take.  There was something about the situation that made me feel so keenly aware and at home in this place that I have visited regularly for most of my adult life.  As I passed through that instant where my perception told me something out of the ordinary was about to fly above my head even as my defenses, always piqued when I travel alone in the wilderness, were literally ready for anything, I was empowered by my own readiness and anticipation of what interaction I may be about to have.  I looked up and not 40 feet above me a large adult bald eagle effortlessly stroked the air with 7 feet or more of wingspan, making its way upstream and around the next bend in the creek's majestic corridor of ancient trees.  The camera came out late, and the one image I captured was from far off, but that didn't matter.  I had found what I came for.

Thank you for the enlightening post my brother, I wish I could of saw that.

very cool!

glad you got out an found some peace.

I wish I could of saw that.

I feel like I just did.

Thanks, Eric.

One of these days,,,,,,

Great Post Eric, thanks for the prose, you created quite a visual,,,,

Down here I used to walk in the forest on rainy days, seems I have gotten away from it, need to find my way back to it.

Nice....used to love exploring around in the redwoods in the rain back in my Banana Slug days...

Stoked for you and that you had that encounter and experience.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

Sincerely,

Jim

Nice Eric, find any shrooms?

Nice Eric, find any shrooms?

I'm not a shroom hunter. 

Here are a couple video screenshots of the area I was in and the pic of the eagle.

Too cool!  It's OK to look up at birds.   

Too cool!  It's OK to look up at birds.   

Your advice is still highly valued, Martin.   

Eric, thanks for sharing your well-written report. Being literally all alone deep within Mother Nature is such an absolute serene aura. So awesome that you got a beautiful glimpse of our nation's bird!!

Lat year, I had a similar experience with a CA condor here at Big Sur. Just makes us realize and appreciate how lucky we are

Have a joyous holiday season my brother!!

Today I saw this along a highway up in the mountains.

Thank you for sharing Eric.  Love the waterfall picture!