The Scot’s Cali III~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS

(click/tap to enlarge)

I am reading John Muir’s, “My First Summer in the Sierras,” published in 1911.

Note the horse hoof tracks in the sand, these are the wild mustangs of Mono Lake:

https://cindyknoke.com/tag/mono-lake-wild-horse-photography

Muir’s diary is replete with his illustrations.

As I walked where he walked, I was struck,

by how he views nature as a sacrament.

He finds not just solace here,

but spiritual joy.

Of Mono Lake, he wrote, “I never beheld a place where beauty was written in plainer characters or where the tender fostering hand of the Great Gardener was more directly visible.”

He went all over the world,

but his name and imprint are all over California forests and trails, and the university I attended.

He called Mono Lake “a marvel,” and knew the brine shrimp were the only permanent residents of “the ancient lake.”

He wrote this in 1869 and he couldn’t be more correct today. He traveled on foot in The Sierras with pencil and paper. I wonder how he knew all this?

Thousands of migrating birds rely on the lake’s brine shrimp for sustenance as they migrate every year.

Los Angeles continues to siphon water from the lake and the lake continues to dry and shrink.

My Scottish immigrant grandmother who arrived in the US in the early 1900’s never read John Muir, but she loved Scotland, and so did he.

Cheers to you from The Scotsman of The Sierras~

See: https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/my_first_summer_in_the_sierra/

Discover more from Cindy Knoke

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

246 thoughts on “The Scot’s Cali III~”

  4. Beautiful shots, Cindy.
    A moving post, too.
    Man cannot steal enough from nature. Will we ever learn to respect and work with nature?

    Reply

    1. It seems pretty discouraging these days doesn’t it. The perfection of natural beauty contrasting with ugly human arrogance. The human ‘winners’ may actually turn out to be the biggest losers ࿔*:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply
  7. Anonymous

    Beautiful pictures, and some things I didn’t know about John Muir. He must have been so observant! My family on my mother’s side (Urquharts) came in the late 1700s from the Scottish Highlands to Nova Scotia, and in the early 1900s my great grandparents came down to Maine from there.

    Reply

    1. Fascinating life history and synchronistic. Wouldn’t we love to be able to talk to them today about their experiences. My English paternal grandfather was a Barton, as am I, and his family extensively settled in Nova Scotia. I was surprised by all the Barton businesses in Nova Scotia. I hope to return to Maine soon to see your wonderful puffins! Thanks for stopping by ࿔*:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply

    1. Thanks very much. That is exactly what I wonder. How did he know so many really minute scientific details, but he did, and subsequent research has proved him eerily correct ࿔*:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply
      1. Mary Sweeney

        Hey Cindy! It’s Mary Sweeney. Don’t know why it came up an anonymous. Happens when I reply on my phone.
        I don’t reply often but I always love seeing your adventures of God’s beauty.
        Hope you and yours are well.

        Reply

        1. Hi Mary! Wonderful to hear from you. Yes, WP puts comments in the wrong places too, making them difficult to respond to, sorry. Hope you get this. I am so happy you joined me on this virtual journey to Mono Lake my friend and that you enjoyed it. Blessings to you and yours & take good care ࿔*:･ﾟᨒ↟

          Reply

  14. My goodness, you capture the breathtaking vistas beautifully. John Muir was a trailblazer. Thank goodness he and Teddy Roosevelt were friends and started our National Parks. I love how you write that he sees nature as a sacrament, finding solace and spiritual joy.

    Reply

  15. Mystery explained that we are more than kindred spirits with beliefs in the spiritual nature of nature, appreciation for the spectacular beauty, but now I find we are related with our Scottish DNA. Not at all surprised. Thank you for these images and reflections. There are no words.

    Reply

  16. What stunning scenery, Cindy! I’ve only been to California for business, so I’m afraid I missed sights such as these. Perhaps I’ll remedy that one of these days!

    Reply

  18. I am so pleased you mentioned John Muir’s writings, which I believe are essential for anyone seeking a deeper connection with nature and understanding of its profound impact on our well-being. His reflections evoke a sense of tranquility and reverence for the natural world, encouraging readers to appreciate the beauty and serenity that nature offers. Your photos are exquisite, Cindy!

    Reply

    1. Thank you very much Rebecca, for knowing so much. We are all nature’s children. And those who feel/know this are truly blessed. It makes me sad that some people don’t appreciate or want to understand ࿔*:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply

  21. John Muir was born in Dunbar, Scotland. We visited the town a few years ago. There is a park dedicated to him outside the town. We took a boat ride to the Bass Rock and saw lots of puffins and gannets. It was springtime, and still very cold. I’m thankful to John Muir as I also enjoy exploring USA’s National Parks.

    Reply

    1. Yes, people are mentioning the park and trail that sounds so beautiful. I have never gotten close enough to your puffins, although I have tried. I would love to visit. And yes, Thanks to John Muir, our National Parks are treasures. Hope all is well with you ࿔*:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply
  23. Spark of Inspiration

    Thank you for all the spectacular photos. I want to go to Scotland, so thank you for making me smile and reminding me of this goal. You come from a beautiful place too.

    Reply

    1. You are so welcome and thank you for your thoughtful comment. Scotland is amazing and so varied as you travel the length. I hope you do go and blog about your experience ࿔*:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply

  24. I love Mono Lake, Cindy, and have also blogged up about it. When I was executive director of PCL, I supported the Mono Lake committee in their efforts to protect it. I’ve done a couple of blogs on the lake. I’ve also wandered up and down the Sierra many times, always remembering John Muir. Good post.

    Reply

  28. It’s fascinating how John Muir was able to describe the beauty of nature so powerfully, and amazing that his words remain relevant today. His ability to capture the landscape and its importance to wildlife demonstrates not only his passion for nature but also his deep understanding of ecological relationships.
    It’s sad to hear that Mono Lake continues to suffer from water depletion—it sheds light on the challenges many natural habitats face today.
    The connection between your grandmother and Muir is also interesting; they both share a love of nature, even though they lived in different times. It’s thought-provoking how such appreciation can endure across generations.
    Thank You, Cindy, and have a nice day….
    Rosie from Germany

    Reply

    1. Yes. Thank you! You get it exactly Rosie. Muir loved nature implicitly, but he loved every aspect of it specifically. Since he spent so much time in wild places, and wrote and drew while there, the result are these incredibly detailed observations, of every plant, flower, squirrel, bird, animal, stone, rock, and mountain. He loved squirrels and devoted a lot of time writing about them! He is an enduring amazement to me. Thank you for your sensitive perceptiveness Rosie & be well my friend *:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply

  30. Wow and to think that I feel the touch of this sacrament just looking here. The amount of peace I get just looking through your images astonishes me! Like I can hear the silence and it permeates by being. I can barely John Muir writing with pencil and paper 📝 and what sort of lamp, or in the sun.

    Reply

    1. You can “hear the silence…permeate my being.” This is exactly what it looks, feels, and hears, like to me. The profound sound of silence. The fact that you hear the silence astonishes me. Thank you more than you know ࿔*:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply

  40. Pingback: Please Enjoy This Beautiful Post From Cindy Knoke! – charles french words reading and writing

  46. What a wondrous post, Cindy.
    The idea of Nature being not only sacred, but a sacrament – how interesting.
    Reading it makes me wish I’d met Muir. But how lovely that he left journals and drawings.

    Reply

    1. I feel just like you do about Muir Cynthia. He would be a delight to walk with in the woods. He would now every, grass, flower, tree, insect, bird and animal! *:･ﾟᨒ↟

      Reply
  47. Anonymous

    Your article is truly inspiring! You beautifully connect your personal experience with the work of John Muir, who viewed nature as a sacred place. Your respect for his legacy and deep understanding of nature, especially Mono Lake, make the text emotional and captivating. I’m impressed by how you write about his influence on California and nature in such a personal and poetic way. Beautiful!

    Reply

Leave a Reply