A long "ralk" on the beach...

Photos by: Mathew Gershater

October 28, 2011

After a long night of entertaining the eclectic nature of downtown Eugene, OR, Mati, Lel, and I were more than ready to take off for the coast.  We drove west into the night until we hit the water whose waves would sing us to sleep. 

This day has been one of the best.  I grew up near the ocean, where the saltwater, seagulls, pelicans, and waves will forever hold a dear place in my heart.  Mati and I set off to the beach where I was excited to find a few pieces of sand dollars that I planned to take home.  Mati brought up the belief that sand dollar pieces bring bad luck.  I hung my head superstitiously and reluctantly put them back as he assured me we would find a whole one. 

A short while later I decided to go for a run along the water line.  I’ve been having some knee pain lately, and wasn’t sure running in the sand would be the best idea, but I went for it anyway because my days running along the beach are few and far between. 

I gave myself the goal of running to the end of the beach where the cliffside met the sand and sea.  It was a magical kind of run with springs trickling from the hillsides, and faces of giants carved into the sandstone walls.  My knee began to hurt about 400 yards from the cliff.  Convincing myself that I should at least reach my goal I began to "ralk" (that’s a run walk combo that I’m really good at now).  About 100 yards out I didn’t think I could make it anymore until I looked down to find a perfectly intact, 4 inch in diameter sand dollar.  I bent down to pick it up, and when I lifted my gaze to the oh so close cliff wall I saw that there was a cave.  I limped my way to the cave and the first thing I saw was another perfect sand dollar propped up on a rock as though someone had placed it there just for me to find. 

 After a short sit in the mossy cave that dripped sea water from the top, I decided to take with me the sand dollar that was in the cave, and replace it with the first one I picked up for someone else to discover. 

As I walked out of the cave, I discovered that the sand in the area was littered with full sand dollars-I just had to take my time and open my eyes and heart.  Thanking my knee for the slow down, I began the long "ralk" back to the Airstream to share the story with my friends.