According to my mother, when I was five and first saw the Blue Ridge mountains I said, “Those mountains make my heart hurt”. Lest one think that intolerably cute, apparently also on that same road trip I drove everyone in the car crazy by obsessively saying as we followed the contours of the road, “Uppa dee hill…. downa dee hill….” And thought myself a genius of comedy.
But it’s true I have always loved the mountains. Sharon was an ocean person, and I found my peace with it by bringing my guitar and staying under the umbrella. I’ll write more about the various locations as I go, but I’m enjoying having geographic associative memories of places we’ve been together. I pulled in to Estes Park and found the place where sat by the babbling brook in 2013 when we came out here for a conference. It’s a common phrase to say our departed loved ones live within us, and of course that’s how it is. I get the closest to her when I become present to the sensations around me and imagine her with me. I almost feel Sharon can experience the sensations of living through my sense perceptions as long as I keep her in my mind. She bought an Estes Park cap that day and never lost it. I think I gave it to Julian. I bought a replica. We’ll see how long I hold on to it.
But, the mountains…
I was able to get a campsite at Aspenglen in Rocky Mt National Park. The next morning I hiked six miles roundtrip to the summit of Deer Mountain. It felt great to be in the alpine air, no bugs, cool breeze, scent of the pines. It also felt good to be doing my intention of being active in nature. As I ate my lunch I was harassed by chipmunks so fat they could be squirrels. If I were a hawk I’d be “dropping by” every day. People obviously aren’t complying with the “Don’t feed the wildlife” rule. I did get blisters from my hiking boots, but I had brought my moleskin. After the hike I did most of the scenic drive through the park. The road reaches the highest elevation in the country. I’m happy to report the van performed like a champ. Let’s officially name her Joy. In the Blue Highways book William Least Heat Moon’s car is Ghost Dancing, after the wishful-thinking dance that would send the white man up to the sky and bring back the buffalo. In Steinbeck’s Travels With Charley in Search of America the vehicle is Rocinante, after Don Quixote’s horse. So I’m on the road with Joy. I discovered I am basically following Steinbeck’s route, but he did it in four months, while I will be at least a year.
While on the scenic drive at another spot where Sharon and I had been I met Jeff and Monica, who invited me to look them up when I eventually drive through Tennessee. At the campsite I met my site neighbor Beth and we ended up sharing a campfire and watching the stars. Both Steinbeck and Moon said the only place they had luck striking up conversations were bars or churches, so I count myself doing well in that regard.
The next day I reverted to sneakers and did a roundtrip 9.6 mile hike up to Yipsalon Lake. It was 95% uphill there. The view was worth it, and the swim in the lake refreshing, despite the “guggy” bottom, to use Sharon’s term. Yes, kids, I wore a bathing suit.
I’m back to being with people. I’m staying with my friend Mark, whom I’ve known for 40 years through our connection to Noyes Rhythm, a dance retreat for women in CT. His mom was a master teacher in the method, and I was a pianist there, and Sharon and I were directors of the Family Weeks at the junior camp for several years. Mark has kept his connection with dance and has made a career doing Renaissance Adventures for kids, a kind of Live Action Role Play (LARP) summer camp. I’ve met a bunch of his friends, and turns out I’m doing my first road trip house concert this Sunday! I’m also joining him in an adult LARP event tomorrow. I had to create a character: I will be a rogue archer, former farmer named Robin Roman. Robin for Robin Hood and Roman because I’m a Rowe Man.