Happiness is a Yurt
We finally got away from the pox of civilization this weekend, visiting for the first time the Washington State Park system. It seems that perhaps once again WA has one-upped OR, because the quality and privacy are a lot better in Washington Parks than in Oregon State Parks.Anyway, the real draw for us was the yurt. Don't know what a yurt is? You are missing out!
That's me standing in front of the yurt we stayed in (Y91). I think this one was made by Rainer Yurts (www.rainieryurts.com); the ones in Oregon are made by Pacific Yurts (www.yurts.com). The quality of both kinds of yurts are about the same -- outstanding. But the yurts in Washington have real floors (hardwood or laminate) instead of just plywood, which is what's in lots (most?) of Oregon's yurts. This makes a big difference when in sock feet.To me, the circular shape of the yurt is a big part of its charm. It doesn't give the wind anything to grab onto, and it's like being hugged by the structure. (I'd call this kind of space "sacred," although my definition is probably a lot more loose than most. For me, it's safe and comforting and clearing.) The walls are canvas, much like a tent only insulated, so staying in one of these during the rain (which we did) is infinitely relaxing.We think we'd like to have a yurt on some property at some point. It would be a neat guest space, or a writer's alcove. They are amazingly affordable, and there are hundreds of approaches to making a yurt, from the hand-made gers of nomadic peoples to the sleekly produced models like we stay in at state parks. All in all a really enriching structure, providing a soothing experience in nature without getting pummelled by sleet and wind (which happened to plenty of tent campers this weekend) and without the monumental packing effort that accompanies car camping.The superlative thing about this location (Cape Disappointment) was that the sound of the ocean drowned out the sounds of People. (Why people spoil the silence of nature by being inordinately noisy, especially with radios and loud conversations ... this I will never understand. It's just more of the viral "lack of consideration for others" thing that typifies my species. But that's another musing for later.) Between the rain and the surf, it was Mother Nature's sound machine, and it can wash a mind clean of stress.Cape Disappointment is part of the Lewis and Clark Trail, perhaps the culmination point. (I have to check into that.) I have my own concerns about Lewis and Clark and the impact their exploring had on native cultures in the area, but for now I'll focus on the positive, which is that there's been a lot of nice effort done in preserving details of their trek from the Missouri River to the mouth of the Columbia. That kind of historical perspective fascinates me.There is a boardwalk at Cape Disappointment that has comments and notes from Lewis and Clark's field journals, and it's quite absorbing to walk and read.
I may have discovered hundreds of story titles inlaid into these slabs!