I tend to refrain from writing TR's mostly because it feels at times like stroking ego but also as many know, it's difficult to express a solid journey in words. As they say, sometimes these things are just ineffable. My first ever experience with Lucy was in the late 70's, on a warm summer night at the beach. An experienced friend and I dropped an hour or so before sunset and then drove farther north to a place I'd never been, which shall remain nameless but none the less it's always remained magical to me. I've wanted to return to journey there since aquiring some microdots but with the mission I had in mind it was important to me for set and setting to align with other factors and until this past saturday things hadn't been quite right for one reason or another. Things finally did fall into place... extra days off work, a full moon, no commitments, great weather. I headed out late afternoon, arrived around 6pm and found the beach still quite full of people and a wedding just breaking up. There was a small group rock climbing and repelling down the cliffs. I dropped about 6:30, hoping to be nicely into the rise as the sun was setting at 7:45 and I wanted to do some photography while there and was a bit concerned that at the peak operating the camera effectively would be just too difficult. That didn't happen although it was hard later on when I so strongly wanted to catch some shots of the moon over the bay. I wished the newlyweds good luck, watched and talked with the rock climbers a bit and went round the rocks to see the cove from the bottom. During my first experience there so many years back, there was a red-tide happening. While it wasn't like this, what happens with these plankton is they light up for a few seconds when they're disturbed, in water or in the sand. Walking in the sand would cause these little guys to glow like a tiny green dot, and it was endlessly fascinating and magical. But I digress... (not my picture) I proceeded to hike up to higher ground to find a perch to shoot the sunset and just admire the view and enjoy the come-up. I set up the tripod and just sat there taking it in. There really wasnt anyone up on the cliffs and trails so I pretty much just got to play observer and not have thoughts of tripping around strangers.
As the sunlight got to be that awesome just-before-sundown glow, a couple showed up down in the cove, a photographer and a girl modeling in a swimsuit. Interesting to watch in a distant, voyeur kind of way. She was obviously SI swimsuit model type gorgous, but from the hill it was kind of like watching a performance. He motioned her to move here and there, in and out of the water, laying in the sand, it became humorous yet from the vantage point it was like watching window washers on a skyscraper or some such. Watching the movements, their coordination, it all became like a function or job to do. Sort of surreal. I got several different kinds of shots as the sun set not at the horizon but into the fog bank off in the distance. It's always fascinating to watch the ball of fire sink out of view. Time to hike and wander, watch and observe the changes in this awesome place while turning on to Lucy. That wonderful glow and amplified beauty that everything from patterns in sand, to plants, flowers... the intricacy and interconnectedness of everything is such a gift to get to see so amazingly clear in a way that I rarely can in everyday life. Since back in the day walking trails have been marked all over this place, at one point becoming a wooden walkway. At one point along the walkway a sort of viewing area, a large square bigger than the width of the trail was built with railings and a seat. There was a group of middle-aged to early seniors having a little social hang out with wine and what not. I just passed through with a nod and just past them around a small bend saw a nice place to admire the moonrise and decided to try to take some more shots. While sitting there I couldn't help but eavesdrop on these folks, talking and chattering away, tipsy on wine and going on about things big money people talk about. To understand these folks (that obviously were from the neighborhood surrounding this place) you have to imagine the kind of money these places cost. This is multi-million dollar territory, West Palm Beach or Beverly Hills money with a better view. It was both hilarious and almost sickening hearing the various comments being made and after taking enough shots to be pretty sure I had at least one good one I had to move on as they were harshing my trip really fast. Not to mention I was pretty much riding the crest of the ride. I hiked part way down to the water, hoping maybe some of the seals would be ashore by now but apparently it was still early for them, they were out at the rocks off shore or swimming. In the past I had been able to see them but later at night and it was neccesary to keep a fair distance. One, it was always so uncomfortable getting too close to them while they were bedded down for the night, they would tell you so. But two, it always felt like barging in on their bedroom... not so cool. Still, it was a warm feeling knowing they're still hanging out there. Made my way up to the very top which now has a memorial plaque with a few words of history. The view up there on a clear day or night is amazing, but by now the fog had rolled in just enough to obscure the vastness of the coastline but not enough to be fogged in. From up there I could still barely hear the voices of the winos down below and the seals, and was just past the plataeu of the trip. For me that's always been the best time for contemplation which was one reason for this trip. I headed back to the north side, away from the winos and looked for a nice place to stretch out. Serenaded by the crickets, waves and distant sounds of the seals, I drifted off into reflection. The details don't matter for this and the subjects are pretty serious, personal matters of family relationships but the point is I made some major headway and had some pretty deep understandings come from my time on the sandy cliffs. I feel that what I wanted to accomplish for my own personal happiness and insights into how I can maybe go forward with these things is clearer and I'm much more at peace with the past and the present and more hopeful for the future. So enough about that except to say, I'm really a layman when it comes to teasing out the full potential of a trip. However the shear power and beauty of Lucy is still, and probably will always be, the pinnacle of psychedelia, at least for me. I haven't tried many, 4 aces and shrooms are close, but for me there is nothing like LSD.
That sounds like a great trip, and those are some great photos! I like your little description of the winos having their meal.. it's hard enough to understand a sober person while tripping, let alone a bunch of drunk people talking money and materialism.
great pictures man! i especially like the last one in your first post - of the sunset. so did you stay there all night or what? when did you have to drive back home?
Thx CS. Ya, that was so alien at the time. Actually, would be sober too but it was so odd being in such beauty, and these folks talking about bonds and investments, drinking wine and carrying on. Considering your pictoral TR's, thats a complement Back in the day we would stay all night. Now the beach parking is limited to midnight. I would have had to park way up by the hwy so I timed my departure to get back to the truck at midnight, hung close by in case the local constables showed up and left at 1am to go to a nearby place and chill until it was safe to drive. Hung out by this sand castle. This one belongs above, but I can't add it there. This is inside the cove.
^^now that is fucking impressive. (the sand castle) about "stroking ego"...last night i was feeling like that's all this forum is about - except for stroking others' egos. i mean, i log on, type in the bump thread about doing drug x y or z, and get encouraged by my online buddies. i felt like i was dominating the bump thread with all my silly little comments, to see if i could get a rise out of people...i dunno, it just felt sorta lame. i've always known that my forum activity is "dorky," but last night i was feeling really self-conscious about it. when my fiance worries about me having an obsession with psychedelics and/or hipforums, i think she has a valid point i don't mean to contaminate your TR with my negativity, but it just happened that your statement inspired me to type something out. i'm sure you won't mind. just another one of those insights that "lucy" can bring. my trip last night had the same type of dark vibe to it as i had two weeks ago on 2cb, which i chalked up to bad set. there's something up with my psyche that i can't put my finger on....or maybe i just need to realize that tripping at my apt. around my non-tripping fiance isn't the best setting. i think it's time for a short break for this guy.
Naw, I hear ya bud and no negativity taken. Ya know, I don't take it too seriously, there's some cool peeps round here and it's not all about psyches and what not. Sometimes its fun to be on here whilst tripping, GM and I got silly once when we both happened to be on and tripping. I started that one thread about hanging on to experiences and one person wrote about liking to write tr's for that reason. It's not all bad. And I've enjoyed some others write ups, yours being some of my faves. So, it's all good :sunny: As for your dark vibe trips, ya, might be something to examine. As close as you two are, i'm sure it's not the awesomest to just be one of you tripping. I've always enjoyed the outdoors, but it's hard to have the musical experiences I've had in an outside environment. A little of both works for me. A break might be in order, it's good to take a step back and examine the lessons.
^^you need some headphones riding my bike through the nearly pitch black cemetery, with flaming lips blasting in my ear was quite a musical experience
Awesome tr and amazing pictures! What a beautiful, natural place to take lucy. I laughed at the bourgeousie picnic, i'm sure we all know some people like that, if you're not in the millionaire's club, you ain't nobody.
Beautiful TR, beautiful trip. I agree - there are many wonderful psychedelics; there is only one LSD. It's just unbelievable, isn't it, that we're around when all this is happening! Maybe some momentum building again...
Thx man Ya, it seems trivial to add it to the story but at the time it was so abstract and odd. Almost like a scene in a Hunter Thompson story when he encounters 'straight people'. Ya TM, I know you know. :love: I've actually taken mp3's and earbuds with me everytime I've journeyed outdoors this year, even on Maui, and it never "feels" right to plug in while outdoors, particularly when its a beautiful setting. Do you ever feel like you need "more" when you listen to good tunes thru headphones? They seem shallow to me (but then again mine aren't that great) compared to laying on the floor in the middle of 7.1 speakers. That feels like an interstellar journey in the mind.
more sound or more LSD? yeah, i just have earbuds for my mp3 player, but at the apt. i have nice noise-blocking headphones, which i don't use often. i have a decent set of speakers, but nothing too fancy. i guess i'm not too much of a speaker connoisseur. remember, i watched baraka on my ~19" box tv with mono sound
That makes me cry. :bigcry: If I had good headphones, that might make a diff but earbuds just don't cut it. Even so, outdoors i'm just not inspired to listen to music. I meant more sound. Earbuds just don't seem to "fill my head". On the other hand, my sound system is pretty decent (for my old ears) it's a 7.1 Onkyo surround system and laying in the middle of that is a real trip. Edit: when the follow-up to Baraka comes out see if you can catch it at a good theater.
I've tried many headphones, and even many expensive ones. The ones I use while tripping, though, are Bowers and Wilkins P5s. Not only is the sound excellent (with high quality audio files), they are the most comfortable cans I have worn. Made of New Zealand sheep leather and steel. Very strong and durable and very soft and supple. Also, the cord can easily be replaced (the one with he iphone mic direct from B&W costs 30 bucks with shipping to Canada). These headphones cost about 300-350 bucks and are excellent and would probably be worth it just for all the trips I have used them for and how much they improve the trip. I personally would never pay that much and only got them through a paypal error :2thumbsup: A lot of people say to make a change in your environment if you feel anxiety during a trip. Many say this is as simple as changing your shirt or going to a different room. Slipping these on gives me a sense of warmth and security I just love. I can choose WHATEVER I want to listen to. So definitely get some headphones and use them tripping if you don't already, very enjoyable. BTW for my first trip I forgot these babies and borrowed my buds earbuds and they did work just fine, it's just kind of like looking at cool images on the computer while tripping, you notice the pixels and the low resolution a lot more.
Awesome trip report voyage!! I really like the photos as well. I really need to take a trip out to you and experience your neck of the woods. Oh, and that was funny when you talked about how you were listening to those people conversation as they were drinking their wine lol. Lucy never ceases to amaze eh?? Good vibes! :sunny:
I have been slowly growing old of hip forums and then i read this trip report and it reminded my why i used to love it so much. Thx voyage. I hope to experience a trip at a place like that, natural, raw, and beautiful. I would just want to be with at least one person for those "too weird" moments. Great TR.
