Stumbling Onto Things As We Go Along

Stumbling Onto Things As We Go Along
            After graduating from college at 20, I worked several months to earn plane fare to Japan and a few months’ living expenses. I arrived in Kyoto at age 21 and stayed for five and a half years.
            Though many aspects of Japanese society are rigid and controlled, I learned some things about loosening up. A favorite Japanese term is ikiataribattari, which loosely translated, means doing things hit or miss, haphazardly, or trusting things to chance. It’s often used when we want to go out but don’t have a set destination. “Let’s just head out and wander, and see what we stumble onto that catches our interest.”
            When heading out for a hike with my autistic son and his hiking buddy helper, we don’t always have a plan set in stone. Even if we did, traffic, weather conditions, and energy levels don’t always cooperate.
            We jump in the car, head across the Golden Gate Bridge, and determine a destination as we go along. If we miss an exit while debating where to go, there are more options further up the highway.
            Sometimes you find happy new places by just stumbling along. This week’s Hike Notes, Stafford Lake Nature Walk, take us to one of those unexpected destinations. The Terwilliger Nature Trail in Novato is an easy, pleasant hike in the rolling hills of Marin that is great even for beginners.
            Please feel free to share. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photos! Check the Home page for the broader background story.
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New this week:
Hike Notes 73: Stafford Lake Nature Walk