Returning to Familiar Ground
Moraga, California
Adventure #3: Sunrise Hike through Bollinger Canyon, Moraga
Intention: Reconnect, take in the surrounds of SMC, a place so special to me.
This adventure took pace on stolen Saklan, Me-Wuk (Bay Miwok) and Ohlone land.
For my first official adventure in the Bay Area I thought it only fitting to start where my life in the Bay Area had begun. Our beautiful and small, Moraga. These hills are so familiar to me from my time living on campus, the past three years. Domi, Courtney, Jocelyn and I (Trailblazer Covid bubble) left our off-campus apartments for Bollinger Canyon at about 6:45 am. Luckily, the winter sunrises offer us a bit of time to sleep in. It was surprisingly warm for a winter morning, and reflecting back on this hike, I think about how we have been blessed with very mild weather for almost the entirety of Jan Term this year. As we enjoyed the pre-dawn warmth, my friends and I hiked through Bollinger canyon up towards the hills above the cross and observatory, to take in the sunset, breakfast and views of the rapidly greening hills. Courtney packed warm lemon barley, a hikers drink famous in New Zealand, to accompany our yogurt and fruit.
This was a chance for us to breath some fresh air, catch up as old friends, and start our day off on a rejuvenating note and enjoy a place so special to us. Luckily, this trail has a short detour that connects the canyon through to the Saint Mary’s Statue by the Redwood Grove. It was important to me to make this slight detour as the chances to be back near campus are dwindling everyday with graduation approaching. As we arrived at the statue, I broke off from the group to do a bit of journaling.
I contemplated the importance of this adventure to my reconnection with my memories and spirituality in my college years. I reflected on how this statue and these redwoods were the first experiences I had in my college life purely alone in nature. I would walk back here whenever I needed a break from hectic college life. It became a refuge for me. Anytime it rained, I would run to put on my Wellies and walk back through the dripping redwoods. If you ever make it back here, there is a small notebook stowed away behind the Mary statue with notes and quotes by travelers and students. There are a number of pages dotted with friends signatures, drawings and reflections from over the years. We each took a turn writing a little phrase about the morning.
“Live well. You reap what you sew. ”
Individuality and growth in solitude are seeds I planted early in college and have had the wonderful opportunity to nurture. Solitude was never something I was comfortable with in my early college days, but now I crave it. I owe that desire for connection with myself and nature to the small moments I had in these woods freshman and sophomore year. They were small moments, but monumental to my journey as an individual learning to enjoy my own company. Like I said, I would run back here in the rain, hike before class, listen to music and books, sketch. It is so important to make those moments for reflection and intention, even when in company. I feel so lucky to have stepped back on this land today, and reflected on the ways I have grown into myself recently. Grateful for reconnection on this sunny morning.
