Gary-Summer: November 9, 2024

Saturday, November 9, 2024

November 9, 2024 - Delilah

Title: November 9, 2024 - Delilah Lookout
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Lookout

Description:

Dr Fiala in last Thursday’s OSHER class said that there is something about the sunrise which moves us in seeing the sunrise. I was anticipating a glorious one because of the smoke. Which makes me wonder do I chase sunsets and sunrises more to feed some inner drives of mine or is the drive to see beauty something innate in humans which connects the person to the source of this beauty? As I am writing this, I think it is the latter. Of course, with my beliefs, I think the source of beauty is my God, the Lord of All.

When I woke up this morning, I saw everything all light and I am wondering if like last night I missed this morning’s sunrise. But when I peeked out of the window-you cannot help but do that in a lookout--I see a sea of white. That must be the smoke I am lightly tasting. Delilah is slightly above this sea. The smoke is coming from the Happy Fire. I am seeing the pinks and slight oranges above Park Ridge. Then all of a sudden, there is the fiery ball of Sol. Not one of the more spectacular sunrises, and yet, it is always amazing. Each sunrise I see, I am reminded of William Law's statement, Receive, therefore, every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment of life; meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God's goodness, as if you had seen it, and all things, new created upon your account: and under the sense of so great a blessing, let your joyful heart praise and magnify so good and glorious a Creator.

I get up and go down to start the day. First, unlocking the gate which says, do not enter-this is our home. Then a lap around the lookout. By the time I get back up into the cab, it is about 0740. Sherri is up. I am glad she got a good night's sleep.

By the time we get things going, it is 0800 and time to go into service. Still no breakfast. I do a scan and pour myself a dish of granola. Sherri is more energetic in the breakfast department and fixed herself some hot oatmeal with toppings. That smoke which we woke up to? Well, it has not dissipated. Our visibility to the north and east is rather limited. Still we do our tasks of peering through the smoke for smoke which should not be there.

Today is also the last full day Delilah will be in service. Tomorrow a crew will come to close up. We have volunteered to do a few of the tasks today. We already talked about the number of visitors we have throughout the season-219. Buck Rock can get that in one day during the Summer.

We also take inventory of things which need to be accounted for. This does include pencils and pens, but also our supplies. I think this is so they know how much to bring up next season. Then there is the drudgery part--clean the outhouse. Actually, it is just dirty, not unsanitary. It is the dirt which has accumulated over the five plus months we have been open. Finally in the evening, we clean the refrigerator.

All of this takes most of the day, but we do our scans. I realized before we went to bed, I did not do our afternoon weather. I guess they can fire me-I do not think they will :-). But we do have a break in the action when three young men from Idaho come up. They are interested in all things lookout. One of them will be staying down in Yokut/Squaw Valley and teaching a class connected to a church there. He knows Marcus, a person I trained in June. Small world.Make that 222 visitors.

All of this makes the day pass quickly and when I look at the clock, it is 1532. Time to go out of service. I finish up the inventory and send the results to Mich and Richard.

It is a bit after 1600 now. Sherri and walk up Delilah Road. That makes up for not being able to go for my morning walk because of the 0800 start time. It is a delightful walk. We went about a mile up the road, and a 250’ rise. About the time we stop, the sun starts to set. We walk back in the fading, but glowing light. Enjoying the end of the day. Wendy texts me about things tomorrow. It is a conversation we have for most of the way back to the tower.

By the time we get up to the cab, it is dark. Sherri fixes a ravioli dinner. These meals up in the tower are usually simple, but special. No interruptions. We can see the lights starting to glow in Fresno. The rest of the evening is taken up with just getting ready tomorrow to vacate the tower. It is good to be here. Bed time is at 2100.