At the World’s Edge

[ Day 28 — July 10, 2012 ]

Mendocino gave way to Sonoma, and with it came our last day along the North Coast. With only three days left on the road, I tried to savor the experience. Each mile brought me further into familiar territory, but I wanted to retain the traveler’s mindset with all its attendant awareness and curiosity.

Erin and I stopped for lunch somewhere north of Jenner, locking our bikes at the end of a small parking lot and hiking down to a clearing just above the bluffs. It was a beautiful day: a light breeze cut the daytime heat and the crashing waves punctuated our thoughts and actions.

We ate and we talked. The conversation came easily: we found the same things interesting and there was still so much that we didn’t know about each other. We lingered there at the world’s edge. It was a crystalline moment, balanced perfectly in the present. I’d wanted a moment like this, and there it was.

“I’m so glad we met,” I said. “I like you a lot.”

“I like you too.”

“I really want to kiss you.”

“Yeah?” Her lips parted into a smile. “You should kiss me, then.”

I returned the smile and leaned towards her. Our lips met and the whole world slipped away, save for the ground beneath us.

[ Daily Miles: 70 ] [ Total Miles: 1550 ]

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