“Let’s go, it is getting dark.”
“I’m coming. Give me a second” I said this and looked back
at the blowhole where cool fresh air was blowing out of it in that hot August
day. I was with my friend, Yuri, in the middle of a long road trip from Atlanta
to San Francisco. We had left Albuquerque earlier that day to go to Flagstaff,
Arizona. We had decided to visit the Native American ruins on our way and here
we were in Wupatki National Monument. Next to the ruins there was this blowhole
in the ground that was fenced off with a rope around it. There was a note next
to the hole explaining the physical mechanism and mentioning that the exact
purpose of it is still unknown. I hold
my hand over the hole and immediately felt the cool air was blowing up from the
hole. It was surprisingly fresh and cool. I looked back. Yuri was busy
investigating the ruins. I crossed the
rope and sat next to the hole. It was a dark deep hole around 10 inches in
diameter. It was a mysterious phenomenon
and I was tempted to experience it first-hand. I bent over the hole and popped
my head inside. What I experienced was as magical, as mysterious, and as
refreshing as that whole historical site. A fresh flow of cool air pushed
against my face. I could feel it passing through my skin and entering my body.
I could barely keep my eyes open. Even if I could there was nothing to see.
There was absolute darkness inside the hole and I could imagine myself from
outside, bending over this hole in the middle of deserted ruins of Native
American tribes. I felt I was being baptized by the spirit of those people and
their authentic way of living. I pulled out my head from that hole and looked
around. The big desert was empty and quiet but I was feeling a rush deep inside
me. I stood up and called Yuri. “Let’s go!”
On October 11, 2015 almost one month after my first mission
run, I started my second run. I started running from my home in Pacific Heights
going back to San Francisco mission. After a brief stop at the mission building
I started my journey back on the mission street.
This time, though, I was going
north towards the ferry building. First I ran up to Marina Boulevard and then
turned left to continue running by the bay passing through Presidio until I
reached the Golden Gate Bridge. It was busy as always, there were lots of tourists,
runners, and bikers all over the bridge. From Presidio onwards, I noticed that I
was accompanied by an uncoordinated running mate. Sometimes when I do these
long runs it happens to me that I share few miles of the path with another
runner.
They are usually local runners from that area and they run for few miles maximum before they turn around and go back home, while I have to continue my journey for many more hours to come. Anyway, I passed this runner right before the park but he took over before we reached the bridge and then I again passed him on the bridge and to get to the Lone Sailor vista point on the other side of the bridge.I stopped to rest and get some water when I spotted
him again. We greeted each other and then he asked me where I was running from
and I told him that I was coming from mission San Francisco. He was impressed
and told me he is headed back to the city after this stop. I told him my final
destination would be in San Rafael and he looked at me in kind of surprise and
disbelief.
From the vista point, I ran down Alexander Avenue to
Sausalito and from there, I took Mill Valley – Sausalito path to go to near
Camino Alto preserve. There is a big hill next to the preserve near Corte
Madera. It is a hard challenge but the view at the top of the hill is
rewarding. 
San Rafael mission and its beautiful palm tree top the list of my favorite missions so far.
Duration: 5 hours
Length: 26 miles (40 km)
