Best campsite ever! Or, at least that was Dave’s comment when we first arrived at Magnolia Beach. We found the location through an entry in the iOverlander app. It’s a boon docking site for RVs that is right on the beach. We could walk the 15 feet to the shoreline easily and yet were not too concerned about higher tides lapping at our tires. The Magnolia Bay is protected by a barrier island and provides many watershed areas and refuges for migrating and shore birds.
The first night we pulled into the spot was cold, cloudy and rainy. We stayed close to home that afternoon only taking Jackson for his afternoon / evening walk before closing the door and putting on the heater. Even with the doors and windows closed, we could hear the sound of the waves breaking on the shore. There were few campers on the beach that night. We said Hi to one set of campers who were eating their dinner while sitting with the sliding door of their van open. One of our favorite things is seeing other campers and connecting with them.
The next morning was much warmer and Yay! the sun was out. We watched a tanker slowly making its way into the bay and over to the refinery on the far side of the bay. We were fascinated by the ship’s wake and the way it produced larger waves on the beach long after the ship had passed by.
On our second night camped on Magnolia Beach, we got to visit with the couple from the van. They were walking past Gracie and stopped to chat with us. Our connection was immediate, friendly and insightful. We shared many similarities in places we’ve traveled to and the use of iOverlander. Although the woman was fairly quiet, the man was gregarious. He shared about a contemplative process he was introduced to at another RV gathering: Rose, Thorn, Bud Contemplative Practice. As he described it, the bud represents new ideas and things that one is looking forward to knowing more about or experiencing. The rose represents a highlight, success, small win, or something positive that happened. The thorn represents a challenge or experience, or something you can use more support with. He shared that using this process was very powerful for him when done in a large circle of individuals. He also told us about another blogger who started the blog, Diversify Vanlife. According to its website (linked above) it is a platform “of safety, created to intentionally celebrate and empower road travelers and outdoorists living at the intersections and taking up space in the margins.” One of the things Dave and I love best about RV travel is the fact that there is as much diversity in the “who” “how” and “where” of road travel as there is in the number and variety of people, birds, and flowers across this beautiful country.
We are all blessed when our individuality is allowed to shine the One Light from which we all come. As we got ready to leave our camping spot for more road travel, Dave and I reflected on who we talked with and what we observed at Magnolia Beach…the diversity of vehicles used for camping – RVs large and small, trailers, converted vans, and even a 4×4 truck with the spillover tent. The travelers were just as varied…hailing from the west coast states of California and Washington to Minnesota, Florida, Texas, and beyond; families homeschooling their kids on the road, couples of all colors, ages, and sexual identities, and elderly individuals male and female traveling alone with their pets. In all our conversations, we found some point of connection and could identify as One. Oneness expressed as Individuality.
Blessed Be!