August 2, 2022

Blonde grass brushstrokes, hints of an Andrew Wyeth painting.

I pull off to the side as i talk this through with Atticus. I drive ten miles in on a dirt road with no landmarks and describe the fenced in area for holding cattle. He does the logistical data mapping and I'm the feet on the ground. I then share a video of where he's landed me. He loves this and he's hit it dead on! He's right! I have cell service and every box is checked. No fires, no cyanobacteria, no city toxins,and only 35 minutes to a decent grocer.

A rancher with his boss cowboy hat slows in his big red american made truck. He speaks and is checking to see if i am okay or lost...or trespassing, I think. I have learned consistently that polite confidence is crucial. He listens to my spiel after introductions and offers to let me camp by the "corral." Oh yes, I think. "The corral" That is a real thing, not just a name for Hollywood.

The rancher says no fires.I agree and mention it is tinderbox dry. He is the Garrett of Garrett Ranch where a week ago (and another campsite past) my alarm on my phone went bazonkers at eight o'clock in the evening.I read the print with the highlighted red exclamation point. A pre-evacuation for the Garrett Ranch area. FIRE. Panic sets in.

Oh lordy! I had no signal. Where was I? What County even? The only way out of that last place was a narrow, rough road and it was at least two miles long. Not only that, it had seen fires before.The damage was devastating! It took me a good amount of waffling to decide if this indeed was an emergency.I had no option but to call 911. First i appologized not knowing if this was a surefire emergency, and then I quickly explained my predicament.The lady dispatcher calmed me and graciously patched me to the wardens office where i gave my exact location and was advised to keep my phone on through the night.

And so I said to the rancher, recalling the flashing warning on my phone,"Garrett? Of Garrett ranch?" He nodded.So now I am on this cowboy's land, though I am thinking he owns a million acres out here, as there is no sign of fire damage anywhere to be seen.

That was yesterday. No one except the rancher drives by today. Not another soul till bathtime and a helicopter flys low catching an eye full, whether he wants it or not.

This air feels pure today, though wind from wildfires in Idaho sent smoke yesterday.

Overnight, the rain washed it clean and it is so wonderful. I have never felt so good. I feel alive and young and hopeful. Tomorrow I will move a few miles down the road to free up the corral area and perhaps find a more discreet place for bathing. It is wide open here y'all! Feeling great is a wondrous thing, even if it is just a little light coming through the tunnel.