walk

I Got Distracted – Day 234

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Setting Out – Photo: L. Weikel

I Got Distracted                   

I’ll admit it; I got distracted this evening. I became engrossed in trying to edit my Listening Retreats page on my website, and when I looked up, I was (am) appalled to discover that it’s 12:41 a.m. Even worse, I could not for the life of me manage to substitute the photo at the top of the page!

I don’t know where the evening went tonight. Well, yes, I do.

Karl and I took an amazingly wonderful walk this evening.

In spite of the rain that fell sporadically throughout the day, the air just kept getting thicker and hotter. So much so, that we knew we weren’t even going to bother walking until the sun was much lower in the sky.

As a result, we didn’t set out until 7:30 p.m. or so. Since we took the walk-about route (4 miles), by the time we got home the clock was pushing 9:00 p.m.

Oh, but can I tell you? It was SO worth it!

The mists of the Faerie Kingdom – Photo: L. Weikel

We Walked Into a Magical Kingdom

It was as if we walked through a magical storybook. At first, high swirling clouds and the setting sun painted messages in the sky. About half a mile later, we encountered fields where everything was muffled under a blanket of light fog – which even, quite eerily, crept out onto the road.

As we continued into the shelter of the towering trees near High Rocks, darkness started seeping into our consciousness and we became quiet and pensive. But of course, this quietude lasted barely an eyeblink because – of course – the lightning bugs started their evening ascension, which never fails to bring delight and a light-hearted joyfulness to our time together.

I must try to get those photos uploaded right now, so I can share them with you. The lightning bugs, though – they are elusive, at least in the eye of an iPhone’s camera.

Mist Crossing the Road – Photo: L. Weikel

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No Excuses – Day 197

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Irises along Tory Road – Photo: L. Weikel

No Excuses   

The weather on this Memorial Day was so exquisitely perfect, I was left with no excuses not to renew my commitment to walking.

Karl was particularly supportive this morning. He suggested that we walk as soon as we finished drinking our coffee and picking our cards this morning. I was touched by his enthusiasm.

A cool breeze ruffled wisps of our hair into our eyes as we set out, the sun shining but not yet burning. Even Sheila trotted gamely along the roadside, getting sidetracked by tall grasses, butterflies, and many a marker left by fellow four legged travelers.

But…Traffic

The worst part about our walk was the traffic. We try to find joy in the fact that so many people are coming to the state and county parks that surround us because we know how essential it is for all of us to feed our souls with connection to Mother Nature. But wow.

Sometimes it really seems like people have their heads somewhere else. (I’m being kind in my description.) We – meaning Karl, Sheila, Spartacus, and I – can be completely off the road when a car approaches, with no cars coming the other direction, and still they seem to not even think that they should give us a wide berth and perhaps slow down to, say, the speed limit (since most people speed on country roads).

Add to that mix the many bicyclists who were out today and you may understand why we were so relieved to get home, in spite of the beauty and serenity of our walk (between cars).

Many Sharing the Road – Including…

Beyond the simple beauty of the day and the joy of walking together, and in spite of the traffic, we did encounter a wonderful box turtle. For a moment, I was afraid for what we might witness: I spotted her just as we were being passed by one car from behind. I saw a bicyclist coming toward us (and the turtle), and another car, also coming toward us, was waiting behind the cyclist for the car that passed us to pass them. (It sounds confusing, but I wanted to capture the confluence of actors in this potentially perilous scene!)

This girl, at least I think she’s a she, was in between all of us. And quite frankly, I’m afraid we may have been the only ones aware of her presence.

Eastern Box Turtle – Photo: L. Weikel

I’m pretty sure this is our first Box Turtle discovery of the 2019 season. My heart leapt into my throat when I realized the vortex of us, cars, bicycles, and turtles that was swirling and playing out before our eyes. But all resolved safely for everyone.

My feet and legs are a little bit sore at the moment, but the 6.5 miles I managed to walk today were worth it. There’s something to this walking thing. I’m still not quite sure yet what, but I know it feels important to me on a fundamental level.

(T-914)

What Do YOU See – Day 193

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What Do YOU See?

So much of what we perceive is influenced by our expectations. Our beliefs about lots of things, but particularly the nature of reality, shape our perceptions.

Obviously, this can occasionally have huge consequences and at other times less significant (indeed, some might argue inconsequential) impacts upon us and our lives.

I try to pay attention to my surroundings. I try to see details and, let’s face it, I try always to remain ‘open’ to whatever messages or meanings might occur to me when I encounter aberrant things in my environment.

Back In the Walking Saddle

I’m glad to report that Karl and I managed to squeeze in a satisfying four mile walk today. It’s been a while since I logged anywhere near as much mileage s as I did through most of April. In fact, that reminds me – I was going to write a post about the number of miles I’ve walked since turning 60. I surprised even myself.

Anyway, we were walking early this evening along a long straight stretch of road that leads to High Rocks. We were marveling at the explosion of growth in all the plants along the road.

As we were walking along, my eyes lit upon something that seemed extremely out of place. I’m sure I did a double take, and know I bent down close to inspect.

First take a hard look at the photo that’s at the beginning of this post (and the one that hopefully showed up in the teaser on Facebook).

To quote a famous Christmas carol: Do you see what I see?

Can You See It?

Candy Cane Surprise – Photo: L. Weikel

Here is the close-up. If I asked you to take 100 guesses as to what I found along the road today, hanging daintily from some sturdy green grasses/weeds, I doubt you would guess what’s in this photo.

And while I don’t particularly ascribe any meaning to this discovery, I do appreciate the magic it brought to our walk. Who finds stuff like this on a walk in the middle of nowhere?

Which reminds me of yet another discovery I made while we were walking a few weeks ago. Hmm. Maybe I do have a few more blog posts left to write!

I wish you all a wonderful Friday filled with ‘sweet surprises’ to be discovered in the most amazing places!

(T-918)

Back in the Saddle – Day 176

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Breathtaking Beauty – Photo: L. Weikel

Back in the Saddle

We managed to get back on the proverbial horse today, Spartacus and I. We walked. Gratefully. Without incident.

That does remind me, though. The next chance I get, I’ll have to take a photo of the Wolfhounds that now bark at and chase us aggressively all along their masters’ property line (as it follows the road). They live on our road but are only now on our route when we take ‘the longer way.’

These dogs are massive and there are five of them. All appearances would indicate that they would all enjoy an evening snack on some tasty Boston Terrier. Honestly, I can’t tell if they’re just big talkers or if they would try to eat him for lunch. But they sure do bark a good game.

Recent Days Have Felt Distorted

It felt great to be walking again today. Although I did walk on Saturday (I’m pretty sure I even posted a photo of the lonely empty path before me – without Spartacus or Sheila leading the way), it’s felt like I’ve been away from my ‘habit’ a lot longer. I can’t quite explain it. The last few days have felt like they passed through a thick jelly-like atmosphere. It’s sort of felt like I was trying to run in a swimming pool.

The clouds were particularly magnificent this early evening. They caught in my chest, filling my heart with awe.

And you are all probably on to me by now: When I run out of words, I post photos.

Some Days Silence is All One Can Muster

Karl and I were silent during most of our walk today. The majesty conveyed by the clouds felt like it would be profane to make small talk when surrounded by these massive intermediaries between the Upper World and the Middle World.

And with practically every step we took, these Beings shifted and parted. Danced and obscured. Pretended they were bringing wild winds and whipping rain.

It’s at times like these that I feel so small.

Bank of Clouds – Is that a Silver Lining? Photo: L. Weikel

 

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