Feeding my Soul

This trip is getting better and better. To backtrack a couple of days, my first attempt to find Baker Hot Springs was an abort both times and I believe that was good judgment. First time it was getting too late and the next day between hiking and then deciding to drive and not finding it - I realized if I'd kept with a 2 1/2 mile hike I would have found it, but was feeling lazy. Then driving I couldn't find it and after two hours, I was hungry. Also the vague and vaguely alarming rumors that it might be "contaminated," without specifying how it may be "contaminated" dampened my enthusiasm somewhat. So that night I stayed at the Soap Lake Inn and had hot springs mineral water poured into my own private tub. And came to realize that mineral spring water has a different texture than fresh water. The water felt thicker, slippery, almost like an oil. And it had the notorious rotten egg smell, even after being filtered. Day one: Total wus

Day two was when I got lost trying to find the trail in coming dark and had to go back to the pools where Shad walked me back to the parking lot. Wus but used good judgment.

Day three: Aaahhhhhh..... Hiked a mile to Jerry Johnson hot springs and will be coming back in the morning for more. No catastrophes, starting to get my groove and a series of four pools in this meadow by a creek after a mile walk through the woods. It's amazing the effects of soaking for an hour with a view of woods, the sound of the creek. I felt completely at peace, and blissful all at once.

Each day, I get more and more excited and have more fun. I'm looking forward to sharing the hot springs caves with Shadow. But for now, strangely enough, the best part of this trip is how much fun I'm having alone. It's been a long time since I could make that claim, and does it get any more empowering to thoroughly enjoy myself with just myself.

I'm so glad I'm taking this hot springs road trip. It is totally feeding my soul.