Unexpectedly Fort Bragg
We arrived begrudgingly, into town as the sun was setting over the pacific. Our plans for a three-day camping trip amongst the lazy Middle Fork Smith River and the Dusty pines at Patrick Creek Campground had been foiled by smoke from nearby fires. We stayed one night but the smoke coated our throats and dried out our eyes with every breath. I could feel my lungs filtering all the garbage and my anxiety nagged at me like the mosquitos in my ear. Even the dogs felt it. Darby could not be calmed unless he was sitting right next to us.
The last half hour of the drive into town felt like something out of Mr. Toad’s wild ride. With each twist and turn, it forced the contents of our hatch back to roll and knock to and fro. Despite, the queasiness, the view was worth the effort. We descended deep into the valleys where lush ferns grew in the shadows of the mountains and with every curve we witnessed sublime light rays glow through tendrils of fog.
As the Subaru rolled into the parking lot of the Surf Motel, a no-frills and cheap motel on the edge of Fort Bragg, we piled out of the car, and walked the dogs before checking in. That night we weren’t even all that hungry, so we snacked on our camping food and watched old reruns of Cheers while the dogs settled in their beds.
The next morning, we set out for the Mendocino river trail, a hike we had done in January 2019 with Zero. As we set off, we first walked along the river bank and let the dogs frolic off leash as they dove in and out of the shallows. I relished in the look on their faces once they realized they could run free.
Once we arrived at the trail, things changed. Immediately, we were swarmed by mosquitos and they stayed with us the entire walk. Despite being a warm and humid day, I sweated through my sweater to keep protected from the winged blood-sucking devils. If i stopped for even a second, 4 or 5 of them would perch on my legs and begin biting through my leggings. I made it only about a mile and a half in before I surrendered and we turned back. I felt like a failure and I could see on Jeremy’s face that this weekend was not at all what he intended for his birthday.
The last time we visited this hike, we had to turn back for a different reason. I had bad stomach pain and needed a bathroom. This second defeat just felt like I continually let Jeremy down. As we marched back to the beach, we walked out to the ocean and explored a few natural caves carved into the rock before retuning back to the car.
With the remains of the day, we decided to head back into town and enjoy a drink at a small brewery. In the evening, we walked out along the bluffs, listening to the deep horn calling the boats in. We walked by open lots for sale and day dreamed about buying one and putting our tiny home on it and living a simpler life. One that would certainly mean a career change for Jeremy. But in exchange, we would be given an opportunity to travel more with our dogs and just be together more.
It only took a day and I felt all the worries of work melt away. All the typical stuff we hold onto that weighs our life down and roots us into a routine that keeps us apart.
Despite the fact that Jeremy and I both are great planners and we always expect the unexpected, It’s still disappointing when things don’t go as planned. The best thing I try to do is to adapt and find a way to salvage the trip.
Even though this trip wasn’t at all what he wanted or needed, we found peace in knowing we were together with our dogs in a place we both enjoyed.