My friend Sara and I headed up HWY 101 to get a view of the ocean breach at Big Lagoon. The Lagoon is a mix of fresh and salt water that is usually separated from the ocean via a long sand spit. We observed people walking in the sand along the spit but decided that trekking a few miles in loose sand was not for us. (In case you were wondering, the Lagoon is currently way too shallow to kayak on.)

Our next stop was Sumeg State Park where we could easily take a walk and also try to get a glimpse of the ocean breach. I thought the viewpoint above Agate Beach might provide a good perspective but I was wrong. Even with binoculars we couldn’t see the breach; it was too far north. We gave up on that part of our quest, and walked the Rim Trail, adding some extra cardio by climbing to the top of Ceremony Rock. Lastly, we walked around the ceremonial grounds at Sumeg. All in all, a beautiful afternoon.

I’m not a religious person, but rather what I’d call a spiritual person. I am a non-practicing Catholic who has great respect for tradition, the natural world and appreciates humility. The Sumeg ceremony grounds are a special site and for me have a calming effect. I also appreciate the craftsmanship of the plank house type structures. If you haven’t been there, it’s worth the trip. (I have included one of the site’s interpretive panels in this post.)

Unbeknownst to us, one of the local painted rock artists had visited the park before us, seeding it with some of their portable art. I checked online to see if the artist had a specific intention. It didn’t appear to be more than the usual treasure hunt encouraged by this art form. Five painted rocks were hidden by the artist; we found four. Often times I admire such finds and then leave them in place for others to enjoy.

As I’ve written in previous posts, my husband had a kidney transplant ten months ago. The theme of the rock art was very relevant to us so I took three of the rocks home to my husband. Sara took the butterfly rock to her house. Both of us appreciate what the anonymous artist had done. The timing of this find is somewhat serendipitous; these rocks have brought us joy and a smile. A simple and thoughtful act of random kindness….

Enjoy my pics. #iluvtowalk #trinidadcalifornia #sumegstatepark #paintedrocks #communityart #humboldtcounty #humboldt