On Saturday we went back to the trail head. No, not me and the dogs, but me and Bob this time! I had already decided that there was too much poison ivy, and too many ticks to risk taking the dogs on the unpaved trail!
And so, having donned hats, boots, and a day pack, we grabbed our hiking poles and took the unpaved path. I am so glad I thought it a good idea to wear long pants! The trail was a bit to closely grown with poison ivy, and I found a tick in our clothing too!
We hiked about a third of it before we got too tired and turned back.
I have a few things to share that we found along the trail.
I planted one of these in my yard last year. She didn’t make it. I think I might like to try again. I hope Bennett’s has them again this year!
We passed another such outcropping of stone and heard water. We looked carefully but no river or falls were evident. We then realized the water we could hear was from an underground river! The sound was coming right out of a large fracture in the rocks!
It is amazing how thick the vegetation on this mountain is considering that the whole mountain is solid limestone rock, but over time, rain, snow, and ice work on the stone. They seep deep into its fissures, eroding and freezing to expand, and break it apart.
Leaves fall and collect in the cracks and begin their process of decomposition.
Seeds fall into the humus… and miraculously they grow!
and they will further the destruction of the stones.
This mighty tree fell in a storm. I looked at her limbs and imagined a giant hand, fingers outstretched to the sky. On closer inspection I realized that she was not dead. She had refused to give up! Notice the smaller branches? The leaves have reoriented themselves to take better advantage of the sun. I also noticed that the forestry service has tagged her for removal as she is laying directly across the trail.
I stumbled into this stone and noticed the odd breaks in it. In places it seemed to have been incised by a knife’s edge. It also seemed to have an outer coating, almost like a shell…
I picked it up and that is when I saw that inside this potato sized stone was a surprise! On a nicked edge there were revealed crystal structures like jewels inside.
See?
I wondered what else might be found if it were cut open. Was it a geode perhaps? I decided I didn’t need to know and carefully placed the stone back where I had found it. 😉
On our way back we took a wrong turn! The path is supposed to be just one long loop around the mountain, but apparently because of all the fallen trees from last year’s storms, there have been a few alternate paths made. We realized that the area was small enough that we really needn’t worry, and we did have snacks, water and a cell phone.
However, later when I downloaded all my photos I found this one and thought about how very careful you must be when taking any unfamiliar trail…
Because after all, we wouldn’t have wanted to end up like this poor little fellow. He climbed up the cedar, out onto a limb, was totally lost, and then expired!
~*~
OK, because some of you said you were inspired to get back into a routine of healthy living I am going to share some BEFORE and AFTER pictures with you. This is a very hard thing for me to do, pride you know, but here is Buddy, and me in California when I was we were fit…
And here I am now, after no exercise and a lay-up from a back injury…
This is the fallen tree I mentioned above. Climbing over it I wanted to just stay there, but forced myself to get up and continue on. So I am not the same woman who left California. However, I refuse to go down without a fight!
~*~
This was my third hike this week and the most strenuous! I was tired and obviously out of shape, but my trekking poles really helped me both up and down the mountainside. I woke up this morning to a bit of stiffness, but no pain, so I guess I haven’t overdone it this week. Nine miles. NICE! 🙂
~*~
Hint to all with bad knees and backs: Get some trekking poles and use them! They really help to take the strain off your knees and back, and give a little workout to your arms too!
Life on the Farmlet 
Hi,
Very nice photos, looks like an amazing place to walk through. The flower in the first photo is gorgeous such a beautiful deep colour.
Thanks! It was, and that flower photo was not touched, only cropped. It really is that red! ~ L
The photos that loaded were great! sadly my connection does not always give me all the images so i have missed your before and after, however if they are of you i am sure your are gorgeous which ever period we are looking at! a good walk is such a joy! you feel so satisfied when you are done! c
“…i have missed your before and after… i am sure your are gorgeous which ever period we are looking at!”
LOL! I love you Celi! ~ Lynda
PS: I have a very powerful computer and this happens to me too. If you really want to see them, try hitting the reload icon in the address bar at the top of your page. 🙂
Looks like you guys went on a great hike! Sadly I wasn’t able to walk on either Friday or Saturday – the little one was sick. Can’t wait to get back to it next week. 😉
It was great and we did have a good time too. I am sorry your little one is sick. I hope it is a speedy recovery! ~ L
Great post. I really enjoyed seeing & hearing about your walk.
Excellent photos too.
I wish I could walk like I used to, but my poor feet won’t let me, let alone my constant sciatic pain which has returned since my back surgery. I have to be content with slow short walks in public gardens and the zoo.
I’m sure you’ll get fit if you keep this regime up.
I hope so, but in the meantime I am having fun, so that is half the battle. Praying for relief from your pain, Victoria. ~ L
Thankyou Lynda, Pain got to new heights near the end of my zoo visit today, but I got some amazing photos so it was all worth while.
In fact, some of the images were so good, I started sending little prayers of thanks as I walked around the zoo paths.
😀
Great post and photos. I love how you notice all of the little things along the way. I would have been totally into that rock with the pretty sparkles! I’m also proud of your progress with hiking. I put a large barn nail through my right foot while tearing down a horse stable some years back. Since then I have numbness and occasional pain. I haven’t allowed it to slow me down, but I have learned to take better care of myself. I use the buggy a lot when I have distance to cover on the place, just like your little “Violet” saves your back while gardening. I take breaks, putting my feet up for a spell. It’s all about listening to our bodies and making the best of it!
Lori, Just thinking about your nail in the foot gets me weak in the knees! I stepped on when when I was 7 and within days I had a red streak running across my foot. Mom soaked my foot in hot water with Epsom salts and it went away… And yes, we do whatever it takes so we can get along. ~ L
PS: The rock was hard to leave behind, but I have so much stuff in my life. I have been trying to let go and simplify. The rock was not going to help me. It would not add anything to the quality of my existence, so I enjoyed it and then put it right back where I found it, and besides, I have the pictures to look at now. 😉
A rather romantic day!
I like your definition of romantic, Julie. Thanks for reminding me. 🙂
~ L
Good for you getting back to hiking, and exploring your new area. Thanks for sharing the scenery. You’ll be fit in no time!
Patti, Keep cheering me on… I’ll be needing it as time goes by. 😉
~ L
Gorgeous photographs! I’m not sure if I could have left that cool rock behind.
I’ve heard coming back from back issues is terribly hard. Chin up, I think you look great! Keep hiking and you’ll be back to where you want to be in no time. 🙂
Thank you April! Trust me, leaving the rock behind was hard to do, but I just have so much I have gotten rid of, and so much more to go! I’ve hinted about this here and there, but I really want a more Shaker home style. You simply can’t bring it all home and not suffer from clutter. Thank you for your support too! ~ L
Like the pictures Lynda, so are you going out again? I also started back on my walking around Devore too. Ali
You bet! I’m glad you liked the pictures, and good for you on returning to walking! Love you, Sis. ~ L
Lynda I believe that rock is quartz crystal. If the rock were cracked open like an egg you would find crystals in different colors depending on where the rock is formed. Some quartz rocks are quite valuable.
I looked up geodes and was shocked at the price range of the crystals inside! But alas, I left it on the trail…
~ Lynda
Fun post, thanks for sharing! My husband told me I should get those trekking poles… I ignored his suggestion. I guess he was right! They actually make you look very professional!
Thank you! Actually, they really work very well. Even when I was in California, and in good shape, I took them along anyway, because they mitigated the pain of very steep grade changes. You will be very surprised if you use them. 🙂
~ Lynda
NOTE: I got mine through REI online. Their customer reviews are pretty accurate and their service is very dependable. One of my titanium poles got bent in a rocky riverbed and they made sure I got it replaced for FREE. Gotta like that. 😉
Cool! Thanks.
Linda learn what ginseng looks like and in the fall you can go hiking and make some money at the same time it is legal… [edited by moderator]
Charles
Charles, I went looking to find out more about American Gensing. This is what I found, that to me is the most important information to heed:
“American ginseng was formerly particularly widespread in the Appalachian and Ozark regions (and adjacent forested regions such as Pennsylvania, New York State and Ontario), but due to its popularity the wild plant has been overharvested, and is thus rare in most parts of the United States and Canada.[4] Ginseng is also negatively affected by deer browsing, urbanization, and habitat fragmentation.”
I found this information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panax_quinquefolius
If we continue to pillage the forests, then eventually the plant will become extinct. We can buy nursery product grown in Wisconsin, and also plant stock to grow our own.
I would be uncomfortable collecting whole specimens in the wild. But, perhaps I wouldn’t mind growing some to sell! 😉
~ Lynda
Linda, what you get into is that people that buy ginseng can tell the difference in home grown and wild and they will not pay as much for it. but if you decide to look for some in the wild, it will be in a place where there are a lot of snakes copperheads and rattlers normally. I know ladies that is how they get their christmas money.
I do love that first photo of the red flowers – they look like the hats on court jesters!
You’re the second person who’s advised poles – I just can’t get my mind around them. Of course, it’s so danged flat around here, they may not provide as much assistance. A one foot grade raise is pretty manageable!
Now, out in the hill country it’s different – it’s just that I can imagine impaling myself on one, like a skewered chicken. 😉
I did have a small victory myself last night. I stood in front of the ice cream section of the grocery store, strolled the length of it, opened the freezer doors three times, and left with some Key Lime Yoplait yogurt. It only took a half hour to get me out of that store without the Temptation That Knows Few Bounds!
And personally? I can’t see any difference between “before” and “after”. You may feel different, but you sure look good!
The poles are great, but you are correct, they are of no value on flat land, so UNLESS you have a problem with balance I can’t see any benefit at all.. On an incline they have actually kept me from going down on several occasions!
Hooray! I couldn’t have passed up the ice cream. Although the Key lime does sound pretty enticing! But in this house that a pint of key lime would go down just as easy as a pint of real ice cream!
Keep telling me that, I like it. But the facts are the facts. I have no stamina, my clothes don’t fit and although I have not gained any weight, I don’t have any muscle power at all. So yeah, I do feel different. LOL! (Oh yes, and Bob did say that the back pack helped to disguise a bit of my girth)
~ L