Tag Archives: hike

Musings From A Nature Walk

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Our winter thus far has been so mild, even calling it winter is sort of insulting to the season. We had snow for like three days and we had some frigid temperatures for about a week. This week has been sunny and in the forties and fifties, confusing my internal clock and making me think it’s March.

Yet the weather has successfully made weekend hiking difficult. Torrential rain or frigid temperatures seem to hit every single weekend. While I have enjoyed being cozy at home, I have craved time in the woods.

There’s just nothing like it.

So I made a point of leaving work on time yesterday and went outdoors for a while with my fella. We didn’t go far and weren’t even outside for that long since it’s still getting dark kind of early. All the same, it was exactly what I needed.

Luckily, there’s a spot nearby and the tourists were mostly absent last night so we had the place to ourselves for a while. We marveled at the muted shades of greens, greys and browns in the trees and the variation of colors and textures in the rocks. The sound of flowing water was the soundtrack to it all and shadows cast by the fading light created an air of mystery.  

When you stand in nature with your feet on soil, the sky overhead, and trees, rocks and birds all around, it’s impossible to not feel a kind of reverence. I call it going to church.

I’ll never understand those people who march into the woods, talking loudly and looking at their phones. They miss so much simply because they don’t connect to their surroundings and appreciate the bounty that only nature can offer. 

My hope for you is that you can find time this weekend to spend in nature. Even a few moments of peace in nature can lower your blood pressure and bolster your mental health. A little fresh air can change your perspective. It can give you curious things to look at and consider. It can bring you joy. You remember what joy is, don’t you? 

Don’t worry. I’ll practice what I preach.

Want to see some pictures from my evening in nature? Visit Make The Journey Fun on Facebook!!

Now I’m Home

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Anytime I travel, I make an effort to hike one of my usual trails soon after returning home. It’s one of my rituals and is as important as unpacking, doing laundry and restocking the fridge.

It’s a way to ground myself, to settle my mind and reconnect to my surroundings. It’s the perfect way to find myself again.

That’s exactly what I did last night, hitting a familiar trail with an old friend and a new one. Ohio’s heat wave has broken so it was a perfect temperature for an almost six mile loop through pines and past a lake.

This was exactly what I needed before returning to work and to the stress that seems to naturally come with life lately.

I’m grateful for the time away and for the adventures that came with it but am glad also for a chance to engage with the natural world.

Come back tomorrow. We will talk Michigan adventures!!

Outdoor Inspiration From Durango

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One of the things I like best about visiting Colorado is seeing how active people tend to be. Everywhere you look in towns and cities there are people out walking their dogs or jogging. They are kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and on horses.

They seem to just accept that the weather will do what it wishes and they will simply dress for comfort.

It helps that there are so many bike paths, state parks and well maintained sidewalks.

Fast food doesn’t appear as readily available as it is in Ohio so people seem more likely to sit and eat real food and their waistlines show it.

Visiting here always makes me want to do better at getting outdoors and eating my vegetables. I have high hopes for better habits based on inspiration gathered on this trip.

We hiked one morning at Horse Gulch Trail System on the outskirts of Durango. The parking lot is paved and then you hike or bike to the top of a hill to access several miles of trails.

The trail we chose had some old telegraph poles, wildflowers and gorgeous mountain views. There’s little shade but it was still a fun experience.

It reminded me that discomfort, like the harsh sun, isn’t a good excuse to skip out on outdoor time. Ohio’s ridiculous humidity is a better excuse but I eagerly hit the trail last night and thoroughly enjoyed that experience too. Even in the humidity.

I hiked about two miles at Cedar Falls- not a long hike but enough to relax my mind and work up my heart rate.

Time in nature is vital to physical health and mental well-being. I felt better after our hike at Horse Gulch and feel even better after my hike last night despite my sore muscles.

Time in nature can calm the soul and can heal old wounds. It can relax the body and quiet the mind. It can make sleep easier. It can make everything better.

Wherever you are, regardless of weather and all the other excuses, I highly recommend a walk outside. You can thank me later.

Lake Katherine In Spring

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Lake Katherine State Nature Preserve has become one of my favorite places on earth. I had hiked there a few times over the years but it was always in the dead of winter or on sweltering Indian Summer days and always with someone else.

Last year I had a chance to explore solo and saw the place with new eyes.

The trails aren’t too long or too difficult for most hikers. But you can piece together a few trails for a longer experience. Each of them offers something outstanding to enjoy.

I stopped by after work one night earlier this month and was struck by how beautiful it is everywhere you turn. I was a little sad that I didn’t pack my camera that day because I saw a ton of birds, butterflies and dragonflies that my iPhone simply couldn’t manage. One dragonfly seemed to stick with me, providing unexpected company for several minutes.

It was a delightful end to a work day and much needed respite from life’s chaos. We all need that sometimes, don’t we? Remember this- there’s not much that can’t be fixed by fresh air in your lungs and dirt beneath your feet.

Here’s something I wrote about Lake Katherine last fall. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed composing it from the trail.

Wellness Wednesday

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I have been unnaturally tired for the last couple of weeks and I endured a headache yesterday. It made for a long day.

As my workday ended, I decided that Wellness Wednesday would be the theme of the evening. So I stopped for a walk on the way home and savored the fresh air, stopping occasionally to touch the bark on a tree or to examine the light hitting a shallow stream.

My house needs a good cleaning, my closet is in shambles, the trash needs to go out and the list goes on and on. Fortunately, these things can wait a while so I fed Scout and went to bed.

Warm pjs, soft pillows and a purring kitty cat are my idea of self care. Here’s hoping today is better.

Sometimes self care is candles and a bubble bath. Sometimes it’s doing the work you have been putting off. Sometimes self care is drinking the water and eating the vegetables. Sometimes it is surrendering to the demands of your body and just going to bed.

Learn to listen to your body and learn to know the difference. Understanding what you need is a true skill and one we all should master.

First 2023 Adventure Day

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Yesterday brought a break in the No Spend Challenge for a little Adventure Day. I intended to stay home and use the time to do a couple of projects, get some rest and read. But the forecast for sunshine and 41 degrees was simply too tempting to ignore.

Instead, I set off early and headed to Dayton to hike at Aullwood Audubon where I visited the trolls or the forest giants, depending on what you call them. It was 21 degrees and the weather app said it felt like fifteen but I was so happy to be in nature I did not care.

Then I hit up the Waco Air Museum in Troy.

And, I needed lunch so I found a fantastic little diner nearby. It was cramped and busy so my pictures are all awful but the food was delish and I really liked it there. I will tell you all about it soon.

And I mostly window shopped at Antiques Village but did score a couple of good deals. This is one of my favorite antique malls so I couldn’t leave town without a stroll through.

It’s funny because I was so happy at home and focusing on my January No Spend Challenge that I never felt deprived. However, this day that was heavy on experiences and light on spending was just what I needed. I felt more like myself than I have in a long time.

It was a long day but I would have stayed out longer. We are probably lucky that I didn’t continue West when I found myself on the National Road. Don’t think I didn’t contemplate running away from home to the great state of Indiana!

Along the way, I chatted with people, looked at some interesting things and even saw a mink in the wild. So check back to hear more and to see more pictures!