The commute: Then and now
Our current commute is the half-mile Redwood Access Trail from the campground at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park to the Visitors Center.
Then: Arizona 202 to The Arizona Republic in downtown Phoenix, where I was a reporter, 8 a.m. returning at 6 p.m. Tom took the same route off-peak, 2 p.m., for his evening shift at the paper, returning at 11 p.m.
Now: Volunteering at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in northern California, Tom and I walk from the campground to the Visitors Center on the Redwood Access Trail, a half-mile rise of nine feet through old-growth redwoods, ferns and blooming redwood sorrel, leaving at 8:45 a.m., returning at 12:45 p.m., three days a week.
Then: 45 minutes.
Now: 10 minutes.
Then: Honking horns, screeching brakes, blaring sirens.
Now: The police-whistle call of the varied thrush.
Then: Car air-conditioner at full blast, not making a dent in the 100-plus-degrees.
Now: Fleece jacket, topped with waterproof covering to ward off rain or ever-present drips.
Then: Rush hour, stop-and-go and, confession time, some yelling at other drivers.
Now: Banana slugs and snails set the pace and, confession time, whispered questions about their destination.
Then: Watching other commuters eat burritos and gulp coffee.
Now: Watching elk and black-tailed deer munch on prairie grasses.
Then: Occasional detour because of accidents.
Now: Regular detour to the Revelation Trail to ogle more old-growth.
Then: Dragging laptop, bags of take-home work, lunch and gym clothes that never got used.
Now: Carrying my coffee and knitting, for quiet moments between visitors.
Then: Arrival, email, phone messages, meetings, deadlines, break-neck pace until departure.
Now: Arrival, set up interpretive table to share amazing facts about ancient redwoods.
that’s awesome!
Thanks, Nancy
Love it – in so many ways.
Thanks, Keven.
Sounds delightful.
It is!
Very cool. The “interpretative table” is intriguing. Dan K.
Thanks, Dan. Today I shared with people from Switzerland, Germany and Minnesota, among others.
Love this story format. Hope the rain stops soon. Your photos are awesome.
Thanks, David. We have sun for the second day in a row. So excited to see it that I practically laid down in the road to bask in it.
now that is Living!
You said it!
LOVE it. The commute is the worst part. Except when you have a bike commute. Then work is the worst part.
So happy you’re doing this. I think I’m 75% of the way to convincing my Tom to go all in!
Fabulous! Come hang out with us somewhere on the road and we’ll get him over the last 24 percent!