Aug 26
Took the yellow trail in Shelburne up to Mt. Crag. It was a beautiful day, a bit humid, but really not too bad. Luka was ecstatic. Then again, when is she not where hiking is concerned.
Evidence of fall approaching; from the red leaf to that scent in the air.
The view at the top was spectacular; these pictures really do no justice.
evidence of a woodpecker
and of course, an after hike dip in the lake.
oil on canvas 11″x14″
The couple at the post office this morning was waiting on a package of provisions for their next leg on Appalachian trail. That they were hikers was clear. They were on an adventure; but then, so is everyone.
So many people come up to this area to hike the White Mountains, accumulating 4000 foot peaks like charms on a bracelet. I came here to live.
I am settling into my new home. I want to see and know every corner of my new landscape. Summer is slipping away and I know that winter will be cold and long and exploration will be slowed. I already find myself revisiting places I’ve been, wanting to know them intimately. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the vastness of this land..so many trails, and rivers, creeks and waterfalls. How will I ever get to know it all?
For the very first time in my life, I want to be..want to feel..attached to a place. I am choosing to be home. I am choosing to stay, connect, and put down roots. I cannot say that I have ever done this. I have lived my life as a perpetual visitor, never once have I really been home.
Until now.
“The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings.”
Juan Mascaro
Luka knows where we’re going before I even get in the car. She sees me grab my bathing suit and the whining starts. I can hardly blame her. Durand Lake in Randolph is her paradise…a nice loop trail, long grass, a lake. What more could you want? I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
“Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances”
I am never alone
I am a part of a whole
so vast it is unknowable with my own thoughts
I do not need to understand
I came here not for understanding
not to grow
not to become
or even to learn
I came here to Be
fully present, wholly here
with open eyes and heart
and with compassion
as only myself
Luka is the best dog ever. And she’s in shape. She kicked my booty today on what I thought would be a simple hike. 1.3 miles…that was it..how hard could it be? Well if the 1.3 miles is straight up, it’s harder than you think. And if you’re a bit out of shape, it’s harder still.
Luka is in phenomenal shape. She went and up and down that trail always coming back to me with looks of encouragement..”Are you coming?” “Let’s just see what’s around the corner; just one more corner, you can do it!””Hey, I’ve doubled back for you at least 30 times, if I can do it, you can too, keep going.”
We took the lookout trail in Randolph. It’s great because it offers a view of the Presidential Range and the trailhead is right across the road from a nice lake for after hike swimming.
I need to get into better aerobic shape; seriously, I thought I was having a heart attack at one point I was so winded. I then decided that I needed to slow down and not necessarily keep Luka’s pace. She’s got four legs; I’ve only got two. The viewpoint was smaller than I had expected, but it was lovely and I felt relatively safe so high up. We were high!
Down the trail was much quicker and Luka ran, which meant that I ran. It was actually pretty fun. I love running (well…jogging, or plodding quickly) down trails. We were rewarded with beautiful flowers and a quick and wonderful dip in Durand Lake.
I can honestly say, if I hadn’t had Luka with me, I probably wouldn’t have made it to the viewpoint. She keeps me going..in fact when we (I mean I) were done, Luka was ready for more.
deidre noreen 