It is improbably dark in this headland forest, just 30 feet from an open beach. Moss forms deep blankets over rock and tree to provide crayon green and yellow color in an otherwise muted space. Aki uses her nose to read the forest’s recent history of animal movements. As usual she sees what I can not and I vow again to bring the binoculars next time.
On the way home we pass though a frontier of large alders to the snow covered beach. Each alder trunk bends in an arc toward the water. I’ve misjudged the tide, which continues to flood, pushing us back into the woods. A forty foot granite cliff forces us back to the beach and I have to struggle through the tangle of a downed spruce tree to avoid knee deep water.
When the trail takes its final turn to parking lot I pause and look for something wild to animate this dull landscape of beach, ocean, and tree covered islands. In summer sun this place is as garish as a velvet painting. Today there are just two eagles playing grab ass over the water. But for color and carriage I’d taken them for ravens for the way they ride the wind.
