Saturday, December 30, 2017

Return


Return

By Armando Ortiz


I want to return to my youth

where I saw untouched landscapes

and from my youth to that imagination

where parking lots were dense forests.


Will I play with diecast cars?


Return


I want to go back to that mind

that saw the Yosemite valley

and from that mind to the eyes

that see the coast expand before me.


Will talking sea-lions and coyotes be there?


Return


With every blink of the eyes

I'm transported to that collective memory

in the eternal conception of time.


Will the sky be as blue as it is today?


Return


I want to be in the land of stone and water

and return to a world forever remembered

crashing waves and misty fog greeting me

seagulls and warblers talking to each other.


Will those sounds be there?


Return


Sunday, December 17, 2017

Embers


Embers

by Armando Ortiz


The music stopped

idyllic melodies came to an end.


Her kiss

carved on his mind

left him floating in smoke


the central coast

forever virgin

together camp they broke.


Returning there

always reminds him of the time


they found lost canyons

and saw hidden grandfather trees


but she was looking for true love

and all he knew were magical places.


She thought he was interested in

better things, but all he wanted

was a smile that meshed with the present,


a memento of them

enjoying the simple things of life.


There were sparks,

and fires were lit


she left him sweltering

and now everything is dead


limbs, legs and mind are exhausted

the ground completely burned.


She flew while he scorched,

and the cold winds blew


feeding embers through the night.


Sunday, December 10, 2017

Comforts of Night


Comforts of Night

By Armando Ortiz


Moon rays bombard

the anchored boats


Off the coast

they sway


We follow owls

through the night


Evening desert winds

pass through the canyon


Blowing out

to the silent bay


While your hand

feels my back


Rustling leaves

flood the arroyos


The cool oven jet streams

feed our burning fire


We sleep naked

warming each other


Mockingbirds

cut across


Manzanita trees

surround us


We embrace

under a blanket


The night is a starry splendor

sleepless but fully awake


We enter each other’s eyes

and find comfort


Saturday, December 9, 2017

Montana De Oro State Park

Morro Bay at a distance
Camping in California: Montana De Oro State Park
By Armando Ortiz
Watching the sun go down.
I drove through the area where this campsite is located a few years ago. It was past midnight and I was coming from Nor. Cal., the sky was onyx, and the moon’s light reflected on the coastal waters, like an old Mayan carving made of obsidian. At times I could see the white of the ocean water that was crashing onto the coastal crags. The tree groves seemed to just grow wild along the side of the road. This time around I came here to camp and to do some hiking.
Montana de Oro State Park is a very beautiful park that has lots to offer to any visitor. This park is located along the coast of Los Osos, which is about ten to fifteen miles west of San Luis Obispo. Along the way to the park one can find convenient stores and grocery stores where you can stock up on goods. The park gets heavily visited by day hikers, college students and people that are into outdoor sports.
My camp at Montana De Oro
I camped on the Environmental Site 1. Finding parking lot where I had to leave my car was not difficult, but the spot where I’d set up my tent was initially tough to find, but eventually I did. Initially I was a bit unsure of the location where I’d be staying for the night. My site was a quarter of a mile away from my car, and I seemed to be unprepared for a hike. After setting camp, and relaxing I discovered that there was a trail to hike right next to my location. In addition, the coastal sand bluffs were a few minutes away walking. I’d never been or seen such a place. The sand bluffs were new to me. I’d never been to coastal dunes, which make for some majestic photos.
Wild buck at a distance
As I climbed a dune I saw a wild buck. I tried getting closer, but still keeping a fairly good distance from it and took some photos of the wild deer. After having a light snack, and seeing the sun set, I began making my way back hiking around some more and once the sky began to darken returned to camp.During the night coyote visited me, it was outside the tent, all I could see what the shadow that its body created after I turned on the lamp. The rustling eucalyptus trees had woken me up as the midnight wind blew. Nights speckled with shinny pearls and owls watched my every move. Throughout the night coastal waves said, everything would be alright.
Morning at Montana De Oro State Park
In the morning I had instant oatmeal with a packet of trail mix. The tweet of fly catcher families greeted my morning walk.  As I headed towards to my car I saw butterflies float bye. They seemed to be following the northeastern sun. They seemed to be fluttering their wings, like black eyelashes on mocha skin. They moved gently, as if following the push of the breaking wind.

While I hiked the cliffs, a Condor glided bye and followed the edge of sand cliffs. I couldn’t help to imagine an aged cuirass protecting a soldier from an old armada galleon setting foot on the coast. Climbing these sand dunes for god and glory and finding maidens sitting, watching the sun go down. The smell of wild sage and sweet blossoms mixing with the desperate sweat of danger and opportunity, for a moment a flash crossed my mind.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Leo Carrillo State Park

The sun sets at Leo Carrillo beach.
Camping in CaliforniaLeo Carrillo State Park
 By Armando Ortiz
Camp site 59, at Leo Carrillo State Park.
Its Thanksgiving break, the weather is cooler, and during this time Angelinos tend stay indoors. So I decided to see if there were any campsites available. I logged on to the California state parks website and found site 59, which was available for the night.
            Leo Carrillo State Park is at the edge of Malibu, so it took about an hour to get to the park when coming from Los Angeles. Right before arriving I stopped by the Pavilions up the road and bought lunch and dinner. I arrived at the park, checked in and went to my spot. Lots of squirrels scattered as I got out of my car, and scanned the area. I sat on the wooden bench and ate my lunch. Then I set up my camp, and went for a walk. The sites to the left and right of me were empty though online it appeared that they’d been reserved.
Leo Carrillo tide-pools.
            The state park is filled with old California oaks, making the walk to the beach a pleasant one, which took about 10 minutes. The sun was setting, and rocks jutted out of the beach creating a large area of tide pools. A few minutes later I headed north, trudging through the sand, and sat on top of a cliff and saw the sun set.
            At night the neighbors across from my camp were loud; a lady’s laugh sounded like a scandalous parrot, and didn’t stop talking till around 11pm. People shatter doesn’t compare to the sound of cars speeding up the road that borders the park. Mullholland Highway is next to the park.

            Overall, this is a nice place to visit and camp. It seems more family oriented than other campsites, since there are tide-pools and beaches, being very kid friendly. To wrap things up, I highly recommended for families and for a nice romantic outing with that special someone. I imagine that in the summer nights are long and the park is always filled to the brim.
California oak at Leo Carrillo State Park.