backpack roads

20 miles of logging road on a sunday
me and deer and plant life and river
oh river life, some life! that pulled me over and through
places that were new I followed bear creek up, north
passing over to follow west twin river down, north
to juan de fuca straight, my eyes found canada again.

I didn't expect to meet this geography,
and then to meet this land in human form.
Josey greeted me by the beach
a human married to the life force of a place
and to be giving, oh so giving, as the land.

to love a river is to sacrifice oneself to change
change heard in a rivers tumbling stones under water, over winter
change of running salmon, spawning, learning, birthing
to love a river is to reconcile control
to listen

They bolted, chained and cabled thousands of tons of wood
to slow this force, and river collected it all, placing it on a bend
while Josey listened and placed rocks appropriately
letting river do rivers work, protecting his cabin
respect

to listen well enough to a rivers work
is beautiful
and i'm blessed to have met, been gifted and learned from
a man who does such things.

Thanks Josey!

Gifted backpack that allowed me to leave the bike
and adventure the beach...