I'm trying...

A wise Opera friend said to me , "The soil of your soul is ready for the seeds of love." Made me smile.

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and the crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward people...re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your very soul, and your very flesh shall become a great poem. Walt Whitman

This is one of my favorite places to hike. Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. It's only a short drive, maybe 15 minutes from my home. Some of the trails are very accessible and on a weekend it can be quite busy. Nice that people of all ages can enjoy the beauty of this region though.

Anyway, even with lots of people on the weekend, there are always places where you find yourself completely alone and in wonder.

The rainforest is so dense here. Huge red cedars, douglas firs, vines and ferns.

The terrain is very steep in parts, deep canyons dropping into rushing water and clear green pools. Many of the steepest areas are heavily fenced. People die every year here, either slipping off the trails in the back country areas, or...

foolishly cliff jumping into the deep pools.

Fall in the rainforest.
Next week, weather permitting I plan to hike further into the backcountry.
More photos here.

And...what better way to promote a clean healthy environment but by showing you one. Let's keep it this way.

Our souls sit close and silently within,
And their own web from their own entrails spin;
And when eyes meet far off, our sense is such,
That, spider-like, we feel the tenderest touch.

John Dryden (1631 - 1700)