Immensity

After all the land I've seen on this trip, I thought I understood the scale of things. The openness of Iowa and Nebraska, the vast skies of Montana, the Continental Divide, a first glimpse of the Columbia River Gorge -- these all inspire a measure of awe. The Pacific, though -- it floors me. Especially from Jack's Beach, up in Pt. Reyes.

Miles of this...

Traveling there with Bob and Sally, I had forgotten how long it can take to get to the ocean once you think you're at the ocean. When we finally did arrive, it became clear:

Wave after wave after wave

Bob and Sally settled in like the veteran beachgoers they are

While Sally scouted for kelp (not to take home and use for artistic purposes, of course -- after all, it's a national seashore) and Bob got comfortable with his book, I made my way to the water.

Whether on the Cape, in the Maritimes, or here at Pt. Reyes, being at the ocean brings back memories of sea glass expeditions as a kid. Now, though, I find myself looking out more and down less, drawn to the expanse and away from the details. This is the big picture I try to keep in my head. Here, where one can feel so small in the presence of the ocean, the idea of this trip becomes clear once again: it's all about connection.