Hiking Haul

We went in for one thing.

New Kicks

Looking forward to breaking these in.

Walking, hiking, scootering.

Smart View Loop

Apple Orchard Falls and beyond

We went hiking the Apple Orchard Falls - Cornelius Creek loop this morning. We got started later than we intended; the trail was longer than we had originally thought; emotions ran high and then smoothed out. We saw a bear, brilliant and beautiful mushrooms, and of course the majestic waterfalls.

Hiking is a good space for me.
Afterward, we ate some amazing burgers, picked up a movie at the library. Somewhere, written and directed by Sophia Coppola, is absolutely brilliant. I am glad I saw it, and the conversation along the way was just the right amount of accompaniment. Highly recommended, especially if you are able to watch it with like-minded individuals who are seekers leading or wanting to lead purpose-centered lives. By the time the day was done, I felt centered and whole.

Life is good.

Devils Marble Yard Gallery 2

Animation

Devil's Marble Yard - Belfast Trail

We went hiking up Belfast Trail near Natural Bridge this morning.
It was a lovely time, and there were no newts. There was a was a gorgeous butterfly and plenty of rocks, and a waterfall pool that just needed to be lounged in.

Afterward, we stopped at Natty B's for a roast beef sandwich which really knocked my socks off. The cole slaw was pretty good, too.
A good time was had by all.

Hiking and Walking and Wondering

Talking a walking tour through Europe has been on my mind lately.
Again.
And then the fires in Greece happened and I wanted to be of service.
I'm not going anywhere, but it's interesting how my dreams are manifesting.

Flat Top Hike

We went hiking up Flat Top, and man, were my hips feeling it by the time I brushed my teeth. It was a nice hike, a perfect misty early morning that felt like something out of the Lord of the Rings. The forest was shrouded in just the right diffused light to let me imagine elves everywhere. The newt and flowers were bonus, and of course there was a beautiful weird mushroom.


Six miles.
Four hours.
And then writing.
Hiking is good for my soul.


Also, I apparently have a deep fondness for newts. Harvey did some research after the hike and told me that the orange ones we saw are babies, that they will be green when they grow up and will live in water.

I wanted to go back and get one and bring it home with me. This is not a usual response on my part, and i am still vaguely discomforted by the whole thing, which is made all the worse by persisting. Yes. I want to go back and get a newt. From its natural habitat. For no good reason. I hope this will pass relatively quickly, for the newt's sake as well as for my own.

Read Mountain Hike

Went hiking Read Mountain this morning before it got hot and the trip was lovely.
Ended up coming home and having a lovely afternoon reading and writing and more reading. I'm not saying that it had anything to do with the name of the mountain, but I'm not saying it doesn't, either.

The rocks at the top always make me think a dragon has come out of his lair and is looking down the valley.

The leg did just fine, which was a relief. There was some aching initially, but it wore off, and the stiffness afterward wasn't bad at all.

Turmeric and hot baths.

Bottom Creek Gorge

Went hiking Bootom Creek Gorge today, and had a delightful time. It has been too long. I was enjoying the heck out of myself on the rocks in the river, doing yoga, adn then saw a flower and tried to go get it. I wiped out on some moss, and I'll probably be taking it easy for a couple days.

More reading and writing in my near-future, I predict.

Stepping into Summer

Trail walking this morning with a friend before diving into my day was a great way to celebrate the solstice and greet the season.