Monday, April 6, 2020
I purposely try to avoid walking the headlands and beaches on the weekends and at peak visitation times. I am not unsocial I am just not a fan of crowds. I prefer the sounds of nature over human voices and I don’t like having to squeeze by people along the trail. It’s not the experience I’m looking for. It’s also about self preservation; a large portion of the trail is lined with poison oak. In addition, it perplexes me why one would wear a headset while on a coastal trail and miss hearing the sounds of the ocean, the birds, the buoys and the occasional sea lion. It’s part of the experience and obviously a personal choice.
Another reason I try to go early before the peak times is to avoid the rule breakers. The more visitors the more apt you are to cross paths with someone who doesn’t read signs or care to take direction. So this morning I got busy and broke my own rule. Baxter and I took our walk late in the morning and were reminded why we prefer not to do that.
Visitation to the headlands and beaches this past weekend must of spiked. When we got down to the beach I noticed the city had added additional signage to the parking lot. On Friday there were just two signs up on the headland, now there are a total of ten. The signage is very politely asking people to maintain social distancing by going clockwise on the trail, while walking on the beach, and when parking their cars if they have one. Not rocket science. By now we are all fairly well schooled in social distancing. One would think…..
Long story short, people don’t follow the rules. Hence the additional signage. I realize some operate under the philosophy that “rules are made to be broken.” Well, that doesn’t fly in this case. Today Baxter and I squeezed by people as they went the wrong direction on the trail. Social distancing?? The large-ish trillium I have been monitoring/photographing and promising to do a special post on, is now gone. Removed from the site. Somebody didn’t get the memo that you don’t pick or dig up native plants on public lands. Grrrrrrr.
Next time, Baxter and I will be out the door bright and early to enjoy the solitude of a quiet morning. #iluvtowalk #walkingmakesmehappy #baxteronthego
Perspectives From My Trail 