My month at Penrose Point State Park is nearly over! I have enjoyed the experience immensely despite a few unruly people and some knocks on my door in the middle of the night by people with noise complaints. As I reflect, I realize that I have received many gifts here. That is always true when I volunteer; I walk away more enriched than when I arrive. Here is my list of gifts that I take from Penrose Point:

• People are by far the greatest gift. The people who work here are amazing, and I count them now among my friends.
• I am pleased to find out that most people(90%?)are good stewards of their State Parks. Most people leave a spotless campsite, which says a great deal about humankind, a lesson that is an uplifting gift.
• The opportunity to camp under stately Northwest trees. I was in a deep, dark, cool forest with Douglas Fir, Hemlock, Red Cedar, and Maple. The forest floor is covered in fern. The air is crisp and pine-scented.
• Cool mornings outside drinking tea in the forest
• Quiet evenings by the campfire
• Long, enjoyable walks with Tango around the campground loops
• A cool respite from the heat happening across the country; I still wear my super warm Baffin booties at night here
• The surprise visit from my friends Vickie and Jerry
• A great library nearby with a reciprocal arrangement with my library system; among other things, I was able to finish watching the six seasons of Downton Abbey
• The reminder that I can stay active and do valuable work
• The opportunity to pull out my dutch oven and cooking tripod so that I can cook over the campfire. I have so much wood here (everything left by campers when they leave) that I can light large fires, the kind that generates a good bed of coals for cooking.
• A spray of branches on a certain maple tree that lit up every evening as the sun slanted lower in the sky and sent rays into the forest canopy. Started around 5 and went for several hours
• Free, endless hot showers in the shower house. I had a special key to the utility closet where I was allowed to switch on the water without having to use shower tokens!
• Stellar views of Mt. Ranier
• Rediscovery of Gary Snyder’s poetry

Gary Snyder, now in his late 80s, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who often focuses on the great outdoors:

Next up: Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island