Water Falling

Cataract Falls, Marin County, 2011.

Marin County is, no doubt, a Utopia. Orientation when in Marin is kept by the ever-looming Mount Tamalpais, the namesake of a 25,000 State Park within the county. 60 miles of trail that span multiple habitats and vistas are available to give every citizen a sense of solitude when needed.  

This basic human need, solitude, is something we horribly under-appreciate. By solitude, I mean more than just being alone (also vital): I mean immersion in wonder; a feeling of intellectual and temporal insignificance; inquisitiveness about the world -- leading you to create your own explanations, values, and reasons; feeling comfortable not knowing; losing track of time, as well. Only Nature can do these things. We under-appreciate this by finding insufficient proxies like television, video games, fast and loud, or efficient, machines, hi-tech this and that, et cetera, et cetera.*

How many insects does that barn swallow have to catch as it flies in order for that equation to balance? How many calories are packed in those tiny power pellets to keep those wings flapping, and still have enough energy left in the tank to be able to survive a night of sleep and wake up the next day and do it again (it becomes frenetic), not to mention laying several clutches of eggs a season, which involves gathering sticks and mud and feeding young to boot?! How does this relate to my own caloric intake and output? The average American's?

The Cataract Falls Trail ventures down one of the park's canyons. It is a must-see refuge for numerous ephemeral wildflowers seen few other places. And many waterfalls.

*(yes, blogs too.)