Coastal Campground

Good evening, and welcome to tonight's exploration of this secret coastal campground, perched at the top of a rocky cliffside, overlooking the swirling ocean below, hidden just beyond a cluster of ancient redwoods. This spot's secluded nature helps ensure its preservation. Lucky visitors with a shared sense of reverence for the space know to leave it better than how they found it. On a clear day, campers can gaze out into the ocean for miles in each direction, and on nights like tonight, the indigo sky is crowded with stars. With only these wise redwoods as companions, this is an ideal spot for thoughtful reflection and relaxation. So with the sound of the waves crashing below us, let's deepen this sense of relaxation with a short wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you are ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath. Just noticing where you feel it, in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin in for four, two, three, four, hold it for four, two, three, four, breathing out for six, two, three, four, five, six, in for four, two, three, four, holding for four, two, three, four, out for six, two, three, four, five, six, in for four, two, three, four, holding for four, two, three, four, out for six, two, three, four, five, six, in for four, two, three, four, holding for four, two, three, four, out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great, now returning the breath to normal. A sandy patch at the campground is the perfect spot for the ad hoc fire pit. It's an oblong shape, created like so many other features of the campground. Bit by bit over the years, visitors collected stones from the cove below one here, one there leaving them in a pile at the campsite until there was a drooping large enough to fashion a loosely curated ring around the fire pit. Examining the rocks, it's easy to get lost in thought. Some are perfectly smooth while others are pockmarked by the sea. The craters. Each rock has been meticulously carved and shaped over countless years by the ocean stained with salt water. Even though there's no evidence that someone has been here today. The musky odor of fire lingers in the air here. Small piles of ash have accumulated, remnants of meals past. This would be the perfect spot to make a morning cup of coffee or warm up after a nighttime swim. Tonight, however, with so much light reflecting off the moon and no fog having yet rolled in, there's no need for a fire. This cliff-side campground is plenty cozy as is. On the cliff side overlooking the cove, a hammock sits suspended between two sturdy...