Passing Freedom
By Aaron Karmin

Biking along the Pacific, I’m passing the homes of wealthy, aristocratic families.  For a few hours I soak up the sights that they wake up to every day. The truly wondrous, childlike sensation of riding a bike as the wind whips thru my hair fills my senses as I take in salty air with each breath. I’m getting toasted by the sun and bitten by endless insects while peddling along the edge of America. Looking out at the enormous waves crashing into the jagged rocks along the west coast, I fix my gaze on the tide pulling at the sand. The sea-birds race after fish that are swept too close to the surface, their black feathers clash with the deep blue dyed ocean. The white frothing foam atop the waves’ crests endlessly collapses onto itself. The mystical and timeless energy being transferred here consumes me; taking and contributing to plants, animals, and people with the uncontrollable flow leading life forward.

Looking at the King's Canyon River to my left, I take in transparent green water rushing down from the mountains as it flows to the sea. This fluid starts as hydrogen and oxygen that melt from frozen flakes of snow and shards of ice. Billions of drops of water combine to a gentle trickle then start to flow into a stream that cascades over brown granite cliffs that are centuries old. Over time these streams have carved a valley out of the Sierra-Nevada Mountains. The water of these streams then collects into a creek before building itself into a river. The rushing current crumbles the soil and carries it down stream. The ceaseless movement marches on day and night, shaping the boulders, smoothing their surface, and creating titanic rapids. The scorching sun steams the traveling moisture back into the air and the cycle indefinitely repeats itself.

I feel small against such a complex system all around me. The sound of whoosh, shush, splash, roar, and crash emit from the water’s collision with a deafeningly yet soothing melody. The incredible backdrop of enormous slabs of brown dusty granite towers all around me. The earth stands erect; piled into lumps of tiny pebbles and gigantic boulders which have been dragged across the land from glaciers long gone.

The morning light of the dry Mojave Desert sun silently chars my exposed skin. I struggle forward, watching tiny lizards race across the sand and leap around a spiky cactus without a making sound. All sense of time fades away. The coast begins to curve revealing a cove far off in the distance; an oasis where the water collects and is mixed in a subtle current. The morning sun will have to be put on hold as I decide to go for a swim. I find my right foot enveloped in ice cold water while my left foot steps into a patch of warm waves. I get fatigued while attempting to swim upstream against the current that pushes my body back down with enormous friction. I pull myself onto a sizzling-hot boulder of limestone to bask. In no time I dry off and begin to regain my strength. I loiter in the soft golden beams of sunlight, watching the tiny black shadows of fish swim around my toes. I find myself rubbing the bottoms of my feet on the soft, slick algae that give this very pool its green tint.

  The peaceful spectacle of the universal forces that surround us leaves me thinking, reflecting and dreaming of the lonesome freedom that lies within my urban life. I ponder how the city masks the spirit of the wilderness. I conclude how odd it is that I was surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city’s smog and noise only hours ago. Now here I find myself, an entire world away, without having left our own nation.

It is these simplistic moments of nature that make me feel free; staring at the sunset while trying to recall the countless times I have watched it fall behind the shadows of sky scrapers. Yet here it is different and fascinating. I find nature’s majesty compelling and captivating. Even the little things; the sight of the closest star in the sky, this ball of fire we call the sun offering its heat and light. The same majesty can be found in my campfire's glowing dance of flames and graceful flow of destruction. Before me stands a powdery pile of white ash where once enormous logs towered. It gets very cool at night, but the sky is filled with thousands of stars; dotting the deep black canvas all around. Moon beams reach down to offer enough light to read by proving that people can adapt to just about anything.

I have nothing but high regards for those who help balance out the universe, offering sharpened skills that others have dulled. I have become a seeker of that which has been taken for granted by my species. I am one of those who make an effort to seek out the path over the mountains, following the cobblestone road. I deal with storms of wind and lightening only to find a tropical, fertile oasis awaiting me by dawn. The reward lies somewhere within the suffering. My diligent efforts are appreciated and admired by those who continue to wonder what lies ahead.

Suggested links:

The Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail
http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-parks/bike-path.html

Monterey Bike Rentals
http://www.adventuresbythesea.com/bicycling.html

Monterey visitor's info
http://montereyinfo.org/

About the author:
Aaron Karmin is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Illinois. Aaron has traveled extensively through: Egypt, Japan, Turkey, Europe, and Alaska. He recognizes the need for flexibility and creativity to address the mind and body. aaronkarmin@hotmail.com

About the route described:
Only a few miles from Monterey, CA on the south side of the Monterey peninsula, lays Carmel, CA. Here you will find 17 mile drive, where I took a day trip by bike in July of 2006. The trail is seventeen miles of sea and sky, along the Pacific coast of California. The trek begins at Pacific Grove Gate and follows the coast partially through the Del Monte Forest, where there are a number of large villas. The forest is impressive by reason of its rich abundant cypress trees and Monterey pines. The surrounding area is rich with lush green golf courses and decedent dream homes set graciously behind elegant gates. Ranging from zero to 150 feet above sea level, the entire route rises and falls over such a wide range that it feels fairly flat. The rises are moderate with a few slightly steep but short climbs. The first seven miles are graced with a comfortably wide bike lane. The last 9.5 miles follow narrow and often shoulder-less roads. Starting from Lovers Point in unpretentious Pacific Grove, the route follows the rugged shoreline on Oceanview Boulevard and Sunset Drive before turning into the gated community of 5,300-acre Pebble Beach Golf Course. The trail skirts along coastlines of pure white sand and treacherous rocks, and encounters flora and fauna found in few other places.  There are several scenic spots along the way. One is Shepherd's Knoll, which looks out over Monterey Bay and the Gabilan Mountains. Another decedent view comes at Huckleberry Hill, a higher elevation that is known for its native huckleberry bushes. In addition you will encounter Cypress Point Lookout, which offers magnificent views of the Big Sur coastline. Here you will find a spectacular a 200 year-old cypress tree whose tenacious hold on the rocks offers inspirational accolades.