McClures Beach Trail
3.5 miles
3 hours
Start: Pierce Point Ranch
End: Historic J Ranch
Includes: Pierce Point Ranch, McClures Beach Trail, McClures Beach, Pierce Point Road, Tule Elk Reserve, Historic J Ranch

Hike 2
January 2, 2013
Two-of-Swords
Decisions

We started from Pierce Point Ranch and headed down the short road to the trail to McLures Beach Trail. Some folks drove by and told us the trail was closed. We headed down anyway to see for ourselves and decide what to do.

Trash Picking at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

We got a good start on the trash pick-up with Desmond getting the hang of the trash-picker tool.

We were all pretty excited to find our first piece of trash. I told Desmond and Melinda what Richard, a local trash-picking expert, said about Pierce Point. He said

"You know what you'll find? Snot rags!" And he was right. People do a lot of blowing and throwing on that trail.

He said, "Be sure to bring gloves." We brought the trash-picker tool instead. It was a gift from Desmond's dad, along with a new toilet seat: both evidence of the time-honored tradition of holiday shopping at the hardware store. I was happy to get both.

Road to McLure’s Beach at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

As we got excited about trash and developed our picker skills, we moved toward the closed trail.

I was pretty sure my friend Melinda, who could be described as feral (in a good way), was going to want to jump the barricade and head down despite the warning signs and potential ticket from a park ranger.

I was right. I told her I was going to write-up the whole journey and I had to consider the ethical question of barricade jumping and its potential impact on my six-year-old son who stood looking at us with interest.

She said "I just want to see how bad it is," and jumped right over the caution tape. I said "This is perfect. The theme for this walk is decisions. On the tarot two-of-swords a woman sits blindfolded. She must drop one or both of the swords if she is to move forward."

Two of Swords at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

McLure’s Beach Barricade at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

Melinda crossed her hands in a karate-chop-type sword-cross, said something about screwing the military-industrial complex and disappeared down the trail.

Desmond said to me, "You're not supposed to go down there."

"I know." I said. "That is why I am not going down there. Not everyone believes the same things, so ultimately we have to decide for ourselves what is right for us.

Hi written in sand at McClure’s Beach trailhead, Point Reyes, California

In the meantime he wrote "Hi" in the sand with the trash picker, artistically dotting the "I" with a rock.

I felt like a liar; most of me wanted to jump that barricade and say screw you to the imaginary authority figure in the Gestapo-type uniform eyeing us from behind mirrored glasses. I've been a barricade jumper all my life. Now I have a kid. I have to think, to set an example.

Let the Fool decide

What would the Fool do? This was, after all, her journey. Her main concern is trash. Trash is broadly defined as anything created by humans that undermines health, true wealth, love and happiness.

Does jumping barricades lead to more trash? There is nothing trashy in jumping the barricade if it only endangers yourself. Life is dangerous; everyday we venture forth into the unknown. We can't have safety mechanisms for every potential danger.

Seat belts are a good idea as are bike helmets. They become trashy when the government tells us it knows better than us what we should do for our own safety. I'm pretty sure if we jumped that barricade we would have made it to the beach without hurting ourselves.

Tule Elk at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

I cannot be sure, however, that it might not also endanger other creatures. By climbing over a pile of dirt in the trail, we might trigger a landslide and open a channel in the hillside big enough for the tule elk to get on the beach.

They could then rush into the sea, collide with migrating whales and endanger marine biologist and ornithologist on boats headed-out to study the wildlife on the Farallon islands. The wildlife would not get studied and, therefore, scientist might miss the missing link and we would never know the origin of all of life.

I cannot risk it!! The Fool is going to trust that the park service has a good reason for putting-up that barricade (i.e. something beyond personal safety), because if it is closed for safety, it is really a weird idea to close the outdoors to keep us safe: talk about being removed from our animal origins. I'm sure the coyote and bobcat, like Melinda, are not getting caught-up in that red tape.

Trash bag parachute at McClure’s Beach Road, Point Reyes, California

So Melinda comes back, having seen no obstacle, and reluctantly submits to my decision. We stroll back into the parking lot picking-up trash and playing with the trash bag like a parachute in the wind.

Mary rolls by in her car. She looks decidedly annoyed when I tell her the trail is closed. Of course she is going to want to jump it and looks really annoyed when I say "no."

Trash-picking Fool at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

Friends of the Fool at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

We go to the top of the road and goof around for awhile and it is agreed that Melinda and Desmond will go home with Mary. It is a beautiful, sunny day, but the wind is strong and biting.

They drive off, taking my car three-miles down the road. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for it, or end-up late to work from walking all the way home.

Alone again

I am alone now as I was on my first journey, experiencing the manifestation of my recent decisions.

I am happy; I get to continue my Fool's Journey onto the next leg; I didn't risk a ticket by jumping the barricade; I remembered to bring a trash bag; everyone else got to do what they wanted and the day is spectacular!

Tule Elk Preserve gate at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

Tule Elk Preserve fence at Pierce Point, Point Reyes, California

I'm heading south on Pierce Point Road. I walk out the gate of the Tule Elk Reserve and into cow territory.

On my left Tomales Bay shimmers blue against the green grassy hills.

On my right is the open expanse of curving coastline distinctive to Point Reyes.

Cows at Historic J Ranch, Point Reyes, California

I ponder the elk and the cows, pick-up trash and swoon under the influence of nature's beauty.

Time to think

Working with the sword helps me clarify my thoughts. I see that my indecision about barricade jumping came from a conflict between feeling certain we would not be injured if we proceeded and the prospect of having to explain the nuances of my decision to my six-year-old.

Defying authority is an important act if it's for the right reasons. If I was out that day to make a political statement about the injustice of the park service using their power to close the outdoors for the purpose of keeping us safe from ourselves, I would have jumped it.

Instead, my goal was to enjoy the day with my kid and my friends, cover some terrain and pick-up trash. Having clarified my values, I made a decision that allowed me to do all three.

I ended-up on the last part of this outing alone, because the Fool's Journey is my metaphorical life. I can't expect my boy or my friends to have the same commitment to my journey. They each have their own life to live.

I also want to point out, that I could not do it without them. Where our goals intersect we help each other, but inevitably each of us must pursue life according to our own decisions, gifts and priorities.

Historic J Ranch, Point Reyes, California

As promised Melinda left my trusty steed exactly three-miles down the road. I found it parked by the sign at Historic J ranch. I threw the bag of trash in the car and drove to Mary's to find my boy happy as a clam following his own directive: mastering a new video game, and Mary hers: cooking and caring for others.