No Maps
“Yeah, I noticed your post on roads was a bit car-centric.”
“That doesn’t seem unlikely, though it wasn’t intentional. I miss my car.”
“You should get a ZipCar tomorrow and go for an adventure.”
“Yeah… But… Money.”
“Well, that shouldn’t stop you.”
—
After a delicious breakfast this morning with my friend Josh and his son, Josh commissioned me to make a delivery to lower Southwest Portland, which meant I grabbed a ZipCar, because I was already thinking about renting one for a couple hours today.
I had no particular destination in mind – there are no short trips I have on my immediate list of Places Outside Portland. Almost all of the places on my list are a bit farther away. So I picked a direction, without maps or guidance or destination – though partly a friends suggestion – and drove east. I followed signs, arbitrarily making decisions based on appeal and prior knowledge.
I took Interstate 5 up to Highway 84, and headed East. I decided to pull of 84 at a sign for the Vista House.
My first stop was the Womens Forum State Park.
This is the first time I have been to this park without it being absurdly cold and windy, which was nice. From there, the road East next stops at the Vista House.
Again, nice to be here without it being freezing cold.
Next up, Latourelle Falls.
When I visited Latourelle Falls around this time last year, with a friend, I actually ended up getting soaked by venturing too close to the base of the falls when a gust of wind picked up some water and drenched me in freezing cold water. This time, I did not venture that close.
Then I drove past a few places to Multnomah Falls. I decided to park and get out. Last time I was at Multnomah Falls, the bridge was out, so I was excited to at least walk the 0.2 miles up to the bridge. As I walked, there was mist from the fall. All of the trees were covered in a vibrant green moss, and I felt my affections stirring for Christ.
About a month after I moved to Oklahoma, I lazily flipped my Bible open, hoping for some encouragement in a difficult time. I rolled my eyes as the Bible flipped to a page in Deuteronomy. Specifically, 30:1-5. Then I read the verse. I feel like after the time I spent in Oklahoma, I am now in my land of prosperity. I feel like a promise was made to me, and it was kept. The moss, the mist, the perfect temperature, the constant damp around me, it was all so perfect.
I made it to the bridge, then kept walking. Soon I was away from water, and it was hard to even remember that I was walking to the top of a waterfall. I thought about how tired I was, then I saw parents with strollers and a parade of children and realized that I could keep going. Maybe just one more switchback. But if I have already made it this far, why would I not go the rest of the way?
Near the top, the trail changes from paved to dirt. Given the amount of rain we have received over the weekend, a dirt trail is more like a mud trail. The trail turns downhill, then to stairs, then to a tiny, circular overlook platform.
I watched as the water fell over a mountain, and thought about how even as close as the parking lot, the water falling over this mountain could barely be heard.
Then I headed back up the trail a bit and played with the timer function on my camera before walking back down to the parking lot and driving away.
I think No Maps is important. I think people rely on maps and knowing where they are going, and that is all well and good. Shoot, I look at maps a few times a day to see which bus I am going to catch to work, then back home. When I friend wants to meet at a new place, I look at a map to see how I will get there. But whenever I can, I want to travel without a map. I want to experience life and the world around me without a guide, but for what it is.
The important things have signs, after all.
This is that happens when you set your phone on a rock with the camera timer on and it falls. pic.twitter.com/iz2yY4Bfh2
— nathanial (@nathanialjg) January 19, 2015
This is another thing that can happen when you set your phone on a rock with camera timer on and it falls. pic.twitter.com/663ZhCoFzh
— nathanial (@nathanialjg) January 19, 2015
For those who want to know what successful timer-camera on a rock placement looks like, I give you this. pic.twitter.com/HuDOYLqAmm
— nathanial (@nathanialjg) January 19, 2015
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