Other Places, Other Times

Other Places, Other Times
            Restricted from going almost anywhere but home. Unable to join in regular activities with groups of people. Feeling trapped, stress builds and tempers become short.
            Sound like the pandemic shutdown? This is the day-to-day reality for some people even without an international health emergency. Being restricted in terms of location, people interaction, what we eat, where we shop, the ability to get medical care… Welcome to the world of a special needs family.
            One day the havoc wreaked by this virus will lessen. Our ability to move freely will return, maybe in somewhat different form, but things will be easier someday.
            In the meantime, thinking about beautiful places we’d like to visit, activities we want to do, and people we want to spend time with is a healthy fantasy escape. This vivid daydreaming about future highlights can brighten our restrictive current reality.
            I enjoy tapping into the past to think about the future, and have archives of photos from past favorite hikes that I haven’t yet posted on HikingAutism.com. I dreamed of going to Big Sur for many years and finally got there a couple of years ago. Looking at images of the stunning scenery of Big Sur, including the glorious Pfeiffer Beach, transports me to another time and place, with happy thoughts toward a future when I can visit again.
            This week’s Hike Notes take readers for a walk on Pfeiffer Beach – Big Sur. Pfeiffer Beach with its keyhole rock is a stellar highlight of the already magical Big Sur Coast.
            The long list of Hikes can be found on the Quick View Hike List and on the main Hikes page. All past Insights posts can also be viewed in the Insights/Hike Update News archives.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Please feel free to share.
New this week:
Hike Notes 111: Pfeiffer Beach – Big Sur