My Renewed Sparkle

Summary

A father rediscovers joy and a sense of adventure by exploring the Sunken City with his son, an area marked by past tectonic activity and current allure for those seeking a unique outdoor experience.

Abstract

The author recounts a recent excursion with his son to a place known as Sunken City, a site characterized by its graffiti-covered concrete slabs and the remnants of roads and homes that fell into the Pacific Ocean due to a tectonic shift decades ago. Despite the need to bypass a "No trespassing" sign, they enjoyed a hike down to a rocky beach, where they threw rocks into the ocean and climbed to a peak with a view of Catalina Island. The experience, enhanced by the perfect California weather, allowed the author to feel a renewed sense of joy and intimacy with his son amidst nature. The article also includes a personal note encouraging readers to join Medium for unlimited access to content and inviting them to watch the author's journey as a writer on YouTube.

Opinions

The author values spending time in nature with his son as a means to rejuvenate his spirit.
There is an appreciation for the edgy and somewhat risky environments, as indicated by the choice to visit Sunken City despite the "No trespassing" sign.
The author perceives the Sunken City as a place of adventure and historical significance, shaped by both natural forces and human creativity (graffiti art).
The presence of container ships in the ocean view is noted as a backdrop to the experience, hinting at a reflection on contemporary issues such as supply chain challenges.
There is a sense of contentment and peace derived from the simplicity of throwing rocks into the ocean and taking in the expansive view.
The weather is personified as contributing to the author's renewed sense of joy, emphasizing the connection between the environment and emotional well-being.
The author endorses Medium as a platform for reading and writing, suggesting a belief in the value of storytelling and shared experiences.

Time in nature with my son rekindles my joy

My book from the UK is on one of those cargo ships (Selfie photo)

I get my sparkle renewed in nature. This past weekend, my son and I found a new trail where we didn’t have to drive an hour to hike two or three miles.

For this trail, we only had to climb over a wall and under a fence that said, “No trespassing.” Sometimes, renewing my sparkle involves a little bit of risk.

The place we went to is called Sunken City. It is a collection of concrete slabs with graffiti art from when a tectonic plate moved under the earth 60 years ago and some roads and homes fell off a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Yeah, it’s that kind of place. A little edgy with a combination of the smell of weed and fathers and sons willing to climb under a fence for an Adventure.

We went down a trail on the side of the cliff to a rocky beach with outcrop formations jutting out to the ocean, threw some rocks into the ocean, and climbed up a trail to a peak where you can see Catalina Island on a clear day.

The view was amazing. You can see container ships sitting out in the ocean because of a cargo jam at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports.

Sitting with my son and looking out at the ocean renewed my sense of joy and I felt intimacy with him and nature.

The temperature was in the 80’s in November. California weather. It might be chillier in the evening when my son and I like to take night walks at the park.

But right now the weather was perfect and I basked in my renewed sparkle.

I love reading and writing on Medium.

If you are not a Medium member yet and would like and would like to receive unlimited access to all Medium content, you can sign up here. It’s just $5 a month. I will receive a small referral bonus, at no additional cost to you, when you sign up using my link.

Check out my journey as a writer on my YouTube channel.