You might wonder what the LEJ staff does when they have downtime. The answer is often, what downtime? If you have been on a field trip or joined in a work day at the nursery or Sunrise Point, you are well aware that they are always in motion. Which means at times it is really important to take a moment to unwind. That just what the team did on a recent visit to Heart’s Desire Beach at Tomales Bay State Park for our fall staff retreat.
Almost the entire team (Ryan, Lucrecia, Patrick, Anthony, Alyssa, Ildiko and myself), along with two of the adult eco-apprentices (Victor and Macie), headed off to enjoy a day of relaxation and to share our mutual enjoyment of nature.
Trekking up to Marin may seem like a monumental task on a weekday, especially when the truck you are in is also hauling a trailer full of kayaks. It is and was. Four hours in the truck, two each way, is no joke, especially considering Bay Area traffic. And the windy roads between the freeway and the park. And the road construction. Never the less, Ryan handled it like a trooper. Expertly navigating narrow roads and his fellow team member’s music choices calmly and ably. We were lucky to have one of the mellowest members of our team driving. If it were me, I probably would have torn out my hair before we even reached the Golden Gate Bridge.
No road trip would be complete without a beer run. Just a few miles before the park, we stopped in nearby Inverness. With six of us in the truck, the ride up was cozy. I suspect, the opportunity to stretch our legs was our biggest motivation. That and the idea our mother’s ingrained in us from an early age “always bring something to a party.” They had a decent selection of local brews, but I was particularly delighted by the card selection. They were selling handmade cards by a local photographer. They were beautiful and perfect for sending a “thank you” note. I bought several.
Back in the truck, we were delighted to see a really cool chapel (Russian Orthodox?) over the water and paddle boaters out enjoying themselves. A few more twists and turns and our next stop was the park. We paused to pay for parking before heading in. We passed a lovely ranger station on the way. I say that because it looked like a nice place to live, the kind of place you would want to be for an extended stay in the woods. That though last just a few moments because we were finally on the winding road down to the beach!
We picked the right day. The weather was warm enough to be out for several hours and to be in the water, but not so nice that everybody and their brother was at the beach too. It didn’t hurt that it was a Tuesday. I imagine a weekend is pretty crowded. Parking the truck and trailer was a breeze. We also didn’t have to feel guilty for taking up so much space. After getting everything unloaded, it was time to really begin the day!
I won my bet with myself when Ryan was the first to dive into the water. Based on our previous conversations, I knew he was a water baby. He proved it by jumping in and taking delight in the calm and invigorating water. Patrick seemed equally delighted with the water, although he limited himself to kayaking. He went out at least three times, each time heading out in a different direction. Almost everyone took a turn kayaking. In addition to enjoying the water, some of the team went hiking and exploring. Ildiko collected seeds and Alyssa had such an invigorating hike, she ended up taking a nap under a tree!
No visit to the beach is complete without a picnic. Anthony laid out a massive spread that included barbequed oysters and a taco bar. Puttering around in crocs and an apron, you could tell that he really enjoyed being a host. He made sure the cold drinks kept coming and that everybody was relaxed.
As for me, I am not a water baby. Not in any regard. However, I Do love looking at the water, smelling the water, and enjoying the quite you can find in nature. No horns were blaring, no rude people, no rushing from here to there — just peace and beauty. I also have a good time when I see everyone else is enjoying themselves. The scenery, both the beach, the water, the woods, and the people were lovely. I simply took it all in and RELAXED.
The town of Point Reyes and all the scenery on the drive home was just as picturesque. We got to see some Redwoods and a burbling creek as we meandered through Samuel P. Taylor State Park. And, finally, we saw fog rising over the Golden Gate before we crossed back into the city.
It was a good day. I would be lying if I said it didn’t make me physically tired. It did. But the day freed up my mind. It gave me the reboot I needed to keep marching on.
I think sometimes people think nonprofit workers are slackers. I would say to them, they obviously haven’t worked for a nonprofit. There is always more to do. The work can seem insurmountable at times, and there never seem to be enough hands. It can wear you down, even when you are doing something you love and believe in. Sometimes you just need to stop, reflect, and take time to appreciate those folks who help you in achieving the mission. That makes a day like the day we spent at Heart’s Desire even more critical.
Now on to tomorrow….
