It will still be an hour or so before the sky begins to get lighter. The rain has stopped for now, but the sky is only gray, lumpy clouds and there’s no reason to think that we’ll actually see the sun at any point today. Everything is at least a little damp, a little cold, and the forecast for the next few days calls for it to get down below freezing again. Spring has not sprung here yet, not quite.

As part of the kayak guidebook rewrite process, I’ve been looking through some of the things from years ago that I’ve written about the area. Shades of Gray was the book that came out in the time between the South Sound and North Sound guidebooks and it has been a little like time travel to see these areas again through my descriptions of 20 years ago. There are places that have grown and changed and those that have not, just as some things about myself have evolved while other things have remained constant. There are some interesting comparisons.

I don’t remember exactly why I included an ancient salutation to the sun on the dedication page at the beginning of the book, but I did. And this morning, before the day really gets started, I’m glad I did. It’s worth reprinting here…

Look to this day:
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence.
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendor of achievement
Are but experiences of time.

For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision;
And today well-lived, makes
Yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.