Taos

 June 16, 2013

Taos is amazing. There are so many local businesses and the primary theme is healing and spirituality. I understand why, it's so easy to feel the elation of divinity here. Connection to the source. Frank and I decided to not go to Albuquerque and stay here another day. We found a campsite near the river on the way up a mountain. All camping here is free and open, all they ask is to keep 200 ft away from the river. I feel like that's how it should be. Amazing.
After we got set up we went down to this beautiful rustic wine store. In the backyard there were swings facing the mountains. We also found a natural grocery store that juices and makes smoothies. As I was checking out I noticed these organic bars made locally in Taos and impulsively bought one, which proved delicious.  Next stop, the top of a mountain! Today is going to consist of hiking, and possibly swimming.

Taos, I love you.

We went hiking up Yerba Canyon trail. It was a really nice hike, wore me out for sure. Getting back into nature, it brought back the year I lived in Boulder and went hiking with Brida. The trail here is different though, the trees tower over us.
 We passed a couple and Frank asked if they'd made it to the peak, they said they've lived here for 5 years and never made it to the top. They said they just turn around when it stops being fun. They also warned us the weather can change abruptly up there. So, naturally I decided to not attempt the climb all the way to the summit... Frank on the other hand wasn't going to let anything deter him from his goal. As we progressed we ran into another hiker walking down the mountain. He had passed us up with all his fancy hiking gear a while ago and we asked him if he made it to the top. He said he had actually twisted his ankle on some loose gravel and had to make his way down... I took these things as signs, and it was getting steep and rocky. I also started to see some questionable clouds forming. So I told Frank I'd meet him at this big rock we had passed a ways back and he patted me on the shoulder and continued up the mountain. As I was walking down the mountain I passed a cool looking fellow with two sweet dogs. He had no shirt, long blond hair, a walking staff, and he was hiking up the mountain barefooted. I felt like I really wanted to talk to him, but let the moment pass. I made it to the big rock, read my book and contemplated how the divine feminine manifests herself in nature. It makes sense to me, being in nature is so nurturing and healing... 
A little while later the same guy came walking down the mountain and passed me again, and again we didn't engage in conversation. Just then the wind started picking up swishing the tall thin trees around and I heard thunder. I figured Frank heard it too and would be on his way soon so I left the big rock and headed for the car. For the third time I ran into the barefooted forest elf man... but this time we got to talking. His name is Brooks, has lived in Taos for 5 years, moved there from Dallas. He works in Taos making organic energy bars, the same energy bars I ate that morning. It was a really cool coincidence, but there are no such thing as coincidences. He said if I'm ever in town to look him up again, not many people named Brooks in a small town like Taos. I didn't ask him about the lack of shoes. Maybe one day our paths will cross again and I'll take a good look at his calloused feet...