Walk #2 Desired Lines

"No U turn".

Fuck.

I missed my turn and now it was taking me into a neighborhood.

I drove a little and saw a good spot to turn around. But then to my left I saw a gate that led to where I wanted to go all along.

It's interesting when you set out to do something and the world directs you to the contrary, somewhere, where your out of the control zone, the sphere of a plan, a set path, the so called desired line.

The Back Bay in Newport Beach is probably one of my favorite places to take a walk. Environmentalists have pretty much established their ground here, most of it is untouched and will remain to be. I like it that way. Paths and trails are usually created from the winter rain drain off. Small narrow lines pepper the ground, acting like a bike tire had flattened them on a soggy day.

It was around sundown, and if your ever thinking about hiking around here, just like mostly anywhere, this is the time to go. The idea of the golden hour really comes to play in this space. The amount of green and blue really begins to play. It's quiet. A gentle breeze comes through the bay. The smells. The smell of strong california leaves consumes the area. Sage. Basil. Lavender. All those come to mind.

Before I began to walk, a small family, well a dog, a mom, a dad and baby all were beginning to go on a walk. They left their car door open. I closed it after they left(and no I didn't take anything).

It felt like Australia. Back Bay feels like it did, I mean, I didn't live in California, nor was I alive 25 years ago, but if I could say it, this place feels like it was 25 years ago. My focus is blurred beyond a certain point. Cars, houses, planes, they all become a part of an idea and not a reality when I'm out here. They're blurred. The only clear thing to me is the ground beneath me and the sound that my boots makes when it hits the course dirt.

I went off trail a couple of times. The brush gave me a couple of friendly cuts and I was reminded of the time when I got poison oak behind my house. The strong smelly odor of the green gunk. Frogs. Cranes. Seagulls. A large Pelican began to fly. Then it dove splashing into the water. Every minute here began to unveil something new. As the sun began to go down, the Back Bay's curtain came up.