There is a crow that is apparently a regular visitor to my camp site. This crow has come by a dozen or so times since I arrived around 11 a.m. this morning. I get the impression that my visitor is checking out my camp, probably watching to see where I might leave something tasty laying around unattended. I would leave a couple plump sweet cherries on the far side of the picnic table,  but apparently I’ve grown up at least a little bit, and I resist the impulse, reluctant to mess with the natural foraging behavior of the crow. We watch each other. Time passes.

…It’s quite early to be “evening”, really,  but the moment has that feeling to it…

I took my time getting here, and I didn’t rush getting camp set up (sometimes I time myself and try to beat my previous set up times). Instead of my usual 45 minutes to an hour for set up time (from parked to feet up sipping coffee), today it was a relaxed 2.5 hours. Oh, I moved pretty quickly through setting up the Moon Shade, and the camp kitchen and solar power,  but I dithered over where to put my tent, and stopped for a break to buy fire wood and find the restrooms. Once I resumed setting up (just my tent and laying out my bed), I was done pretty quickly. I think it took me about an hour and a half of actual setting up.

As the sun begins to sink low in the sky, the mild afternoon sunshine begins to take on the chill of the coastal breeze. I started a fire about an hour ago with this change in temperature in mind. It crackles merrily, and even though it’s a smallish fire, I’m warmed through and the temperature in my camp generally is a bit less chilly. Besides, I really like sitting by the fire with my thoughts. I don’t even know if this post will upload when I hit “publish”… the connectivity is very unreliable. I like it that way out here every bit as much as I appreciate the reliable high speed connection at home. The context matters.

I sigh contentedly. I needed this.

The sun continues to drop lower in the sky, peeking through the Spring foliage. So many shades of green! I walked a bit finding the restroom, earlier, and noticed so many wildflowers blooming! Tomorrow I will hit the trail with my camera and see what flowers are blooming and take pictures of them. Maybe do some sketches or watercolor in the heat of the afternoon? Today I spent my energy and time just getting here and getting set up. That’s okay; it’s all I needed from myself. It’s enough. Now I can just relax by the fire.

Thimble berries blooming.

Tomorrow is soon enough to begin again.