Fires raged in the Sierra mountains this summer, forcing my husband and I to cancel our long-awaited backpacking trip. So, what did we do instead? We thought “local!” We found Pantoll Campground located on Mt. Tamalpais that seemed like a good alternative for a peaceful getaway. Only a forty-minute drive from home, we felt like we had traveled hundreds of miles, entering into another world. Mt. Tam is a popular tourist attraction, but with packing up all the gear and necessities for camping, we always wanted to drive farther into the mountains. It’s funny how one setback unexpectedly leads to a pleasant surprise. Here’s a glimpse into our weekend…
A visitor quietly joined us in our site.Our cozy accommodations.Site #1 presented an open concept of a raised dining and great room with a rustic fireplace.Our backyard, perfectly landscaped. Hiking nearby with views of San Francisco Bay.Boiling water in minutesfor our freeze-dried feast. Our only fire because of the red flag warning for the following day.Our first beautiful sunset.Coffee and a gorgeous sunrise. Ahhh…..A different perspective.Our once-a-year bacon splurge, using my mom’s cast iron skilletthat must be about 100 years old!We hiked to the outdoor mountain theater – a wonderful, summertime cultural experience.After hiking uphill a few miles, our legs were ready for a break.Back on the trail, views of the SF bay entertained us again.It’s all downhill from here. 🙂 Must be 5 O’Clock. Cheers! Nature’s architecture.
Did you enjoy the scenery? I hope so! We’re glad to have found a local option now, maybe not for backpacking, but at least for camping and hiking. Here in sunny and drought-ridden California, everyone waits for some precipitation to reduce fire danger. We hope to slip on those backpacks next year…
Thanks for popping in and stay safe, Lauren ❤️❤️❤️
Tranquility embraces – the sun’s exit advances. Listening to whispers among the trees, our time here is a gift, and when we depart, the gift will belong to someone else.
All-consuming are these Murky, long winter evenings Becoming mood changers, Impeding hours spent in daylight – Except there is a means to Navigate through the blackness… Candles! Let them emerge from hiding; Entertain their glow and coziness.
Thank you for stopping by and stay warm! Lauren 💓💓💓
I have been a fan of Balroop Singh’s poetry for many years now. She has a magical way of weaving words together that mesmerize and inspire, which explains the spot-on title for her new poetry collection, Magical Whispers.
This beautiful edition is divided into two segments: Magical Whispers and Whispers of Life. The first segment effortlessly captivates as we read verses that truly convey Singh’s love and connection to Mother Nature. Since I am an avid hiker and backpacker, I resonate fully with each line and image the author paints with her enchanting poetic style. The poems that stand out for me are Stream Whispers, Celestial Lake, Love is Love, and Whispers of Soul.
The second segment touches on various components of life such as: love, dreams, sorrow, fear, and perseverance. Singh’s character holds a strong conviction that although life may be full of shadows, light always seeps through even if in tiny dewdrops. Her poetry expresses the epitome of strength and hope of which life cannot be lived to the fullest without. My favorites are Remember Me, Betrayers, Sentinels, The Magic of Love, and Sublime Sky. And yet, although I list a few poems that move me, Singh’s collection in its totality transports me into tranquility and reflection. Her book graces my home library so that I can sink into the magic of her verses over and over again. I highly recommend adding this lovely poetry book to your home library, as well.
Balroop Singh, a former teacher and an educator always had a passion for writing. She is a poet, a creative non-fiction writer, a relaxed blogger and a doting grandma. She writes about people, emotions and relationships. Her poetry highlights the fact that happiness is not a destination but a chasm to bury agony, anguish, grief, distress and move on! No sea of solitude is so deep that it can drown us. Sometimes aspirations are trampled upon, the boulders of exploitation and discrimination may block your path but those who tread on undeterred are always successful.
When turbulences hit, when shadows of life darken, when they come like unseen robbers, with muffled exterior, when they threaten to shatter your dreams, it is better to break free rather than get sucked by the vortex of emotions.
Balroop Singh has always lived through her heart. She is a great nature lover; she loves to watch birds flying home. The sunsets allure her with their varied hues that they lend to the sky. She can spend endless hours listening to the rustling leaves and the sound of waterfalls. The moonlight streaming through her garden, the flowers, the meadows, the butterflies cast a spell on her. She lives in San Ramon, California.
I encourage you to visit Balroop at her blog: http://balroop2013.wordpress.com/. While there, you can peruse her full collection of poetry books that she has published and findother ways to connect with her.Take a breath and dive into the magic and beauty of her words.
Do you trust me? Will you take my hand and let me lead the way to a place transcending the boundaries of our reality? Let us get lost in the tranquility – dancing to the majesty of the surroundings, feeling the rhythm vibrate through our bones. For as long as our hearts desire, this is our destination. For time is but a memory. Its existence leaves no trace on the path where we tread. There is only you, me, and the intensity of our belonging to each other.
I think of all the people who were led
to this quiet land by the stories in
their lives. Then I wonder if they had fled
from despair into this place to begin
again, to feel the magic from within
the beauty of the majestic giants
and to sense the calming stir of silence.
I hope their active minds found complete rest
in this shelter of spiritual guidance
and their ongoing journey remained blessed.
We sit on the shore feeling inconsequential in its vast presence, watching it sparkle like a rare jewel that has just been discovered
The dragonflies attend in their tiny-jet manner The damselflies gracefully flit about with their delicate bodies, and blue, iridescent wings
Then we close our eyes as tiny threads of peace weave into our whole beings, allowing worries to fall like the cleansing of raindrops
How fortunate are we to play a part with nature in this moment of our existence – for this point of time will soon transform into a most profound memory
