These concrete walls will create combustion. A beach native briefly lost touch of her inner chi. Thankfully, I had a free Sunday and a great friend willing to un-cage me for an afternoon by heading North of San Francisco.
German auto windows down, feet up, kombucha bottle in grip, ciao concrete jungle. Driving North towards Marin county brought a flight of emotions correlating back towards my childhood. The snaking roads hugged the Pacific ocean's body with a scape of forever blue. We arrived in Point Reyes seeking a hike and ended barefoot in the hot granulated sand. Walking along the ocean reminded me that not all paths of accomplishment are solid. For the moment, the earth was all I wanted to feel.
Families enjoyed the short lived summer rays of Northern California while dining on home recipes served from a wicker basket. The shore line screamed jump in and the hillside whispered take a load off. I acknowledged both and continued my trek through the dark sand, challenging my legs to remember the exhaustion a beach could provide.
Headed towards Bolinas we passed Drakes Estero and the Limatour Estero Reserve. The rolling hills give mercy to the bodies of water cooling the dead grass they surround. The roads are narrow as foreigners catch themselves drifting due to the distracting scenery. We arrive in Bolinas mid afternoon ready to enjoy local cuisine. The Coast Cafe located on the main drive catches our eye with its bright painted building and blink worthy yellow tables. As we approach we are greeted by a tall gentlemen who informs us it is BBQ time- grab a seat! A spot in the sun sits in line of the smoke brewing from behind the big BBQ pit. The kind fellow creating all the sizzling, delightful smells asks us what we want. My partner in crime yells for the slab o' jack (a yellow tail tuna dish). I ask for the wild Oregon shrimp ceviche (naturally being from Oregon). Our food arrives within minutes and we feast on some of the most delicious seafood of our lives. Simple, explosive, and fresh all while conversing with the chef about traveling to exotic lands. I could not have been more content with the dynamic solitude offered on my paper plate.
After a fulfilling meal at an excellent price, we head towards the beach to catch the locals soaking up the salt water on their eight foot boards. The sands push energy into my heels begging me to remember where it is I belong. This summer has made me distant from what it I I truly love- nature. Being carried by coastal breeze and being cushioned by grass that surrounds mountains; Breathing in local roots and dining on made for YOU food; A parking lot awaiting your arrival and a restroom that has no mirror while relying on natural sunlight instead of electricity. This cannot be found on every corner like a Starbucks or on the elevator shooting up the Trans America building while pacing nervously for Monday's briefing.
In the words of Matt Berninger, "So happy I was invited, give me a reason to get out of the city. This pricey stuff makes me dizzy."
Driving home after this brilliant day of relaxation created a great cloud of fear: returning to the daily grind. I recognized this sense of actualization and tucked it in my pocket for future reference. Note to self: must leave city as much as possible. Caging an elephant should be a crime, and caging myself is a crime.
The Coast Cafe is located at Lat N37.5494/ Long W122.41090 in Bolinas. They serve lunch and dinner featuring Pacific calamari frite, BBQ pork ribs, crispy catfish sandwiches, and BBQ oysters. Call (415)868-2298 for reservations. Bon appetite!
