photo creditThe Fourth of July really was Independence Day for me this year: the boys were in the middle of a four day trip to Huntington Beach with Papa and Nana, and Chris was in the middle of his work week, leaving me free to do as I pleased. Since I was on my own for the holiday, I decided to make the most of it by taking a solo trip up the coast – something I’d always wanted to do. My goal was to hike, relax, and enjoy some quiet time taking care only of myself.
I ended up at Green Gulch Farm near Muir Beach, about 15 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Green Gulch Farm is a Zen Buddhist practice center that also offers overnight accommodations to the public. I was drawn to Green Gulch Farm by their affordable rates which also included three meals in their dining hall, their lush grounds and gardens, and their beautiful coastal location. All in all, it was a perfect place for my mini-getaway.
Once I pulled into the driveway at Green Gulch, I felt like I was in another world – or at least another country. Most buildings on the farm were built in the Japanese style, and a very deep sense of peace pervaded the whole place.
I stayed in the Lindisfarne guest house, a two-story octagonal building with twelve guest rooms situated around a bright, airy common room. I shared a bathroom with one other room and a shower with all the rooms on my floor. Everyone really worked to maintain a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, so sharing the space was very pleasant.
As a guest at Green Gulch, I was welcome to join in as much of the community’s activities as I wanted. I could have joined in the morning meditation in the zendo, or helped with farm chores, or attended the “Interdependence Day” festivities. I could have spent a whole day just wandering the path that wound through Green Gulch’s gardens and farm fields, which covered a couple of acres and held every kind of flower and herb imaginable, and a whole market full of greens and cool weather crops. However, my feet were itching to walk far and long, and the miles and miles of hiking trails just outside the farm gate beckoned me too strongly.
On my first afternoon, I stayed fairly close to the farm as I had no desire to wander too far and miss out on the dining hall’s dinner hours. The next morning, after enjoying a leisurely conversation about organic farming with one of Green Gulch’s farm interns over homemade coffee cake and fruit, I set out for Tennessee Valley Cove, about 5 miles from Green Gulch on the Coastal Trail. What I pleasure it was to walk as long and as far as I wanted, carrying only enough supplies for myself, with the birds and the wind and the waves for company! When my hike was finished and it was time to leave, I felt refreshed and renewed, ready to dive back into my amazingly full life – and ready for the next adventure life presents me.
