Last weekend I finally went camping! A group was planning on going...but the threat of rain was a bit much for some....did that stop me? Of course not. (for the record I am a very determined person and when I set my mind to do something, nothing will stop me) We set out late and thus did not have time for much beyond driving through the dense George Washington National Forest, trekking through the woods to find a suitable camp spot, and setting up the tent. It rained a bit in the night, but we stayed nice and dry in the tent and in fact welcomed the decrease in temperature due to the precipitation. As much as I love camping and can 'rough it' as well as the next girl, I also welcomed the fact that there was no sleeping on the rocky ground beneath the tent due to the presence of a thick foam mattress. Don't judge....I pulled a muscle in my lower back recently...
The morning dawned cool and misty, with a thick fog enveloping the forest, obscuring the sun but making for a storybook scene and a welcome reprieve from the harsh heat of this past summer.
We meandered through the forest as the sun rose higher in the sky and burned off the low cloud cover. We were hoping to come across a trail in the National Forest or some kind of ranger station to point us in the right direction, however after a time of driving along, we realized we had left the forest and happened upon a few quaint towns. One of which had a couple old historic churches right across the street from each other... which made me wonder if both churches actually had full congregations seeing as the town only seemed to consist of 1 post office, a cemetery, and a handful of homes surrounded by farmland. It was an idyllic sight and we admired the country scenes as we continued along the highway.
We then made our way into the new favorite of all VA attractions, Shenandoah National Park. Due to overall sleepiness and lack of defined direction, we rambled along Skyline Drive, paused at a few overlooks to admire the view, trekked through a trail or two beside the road, and then continued on once a course of action was decided: the River. Having cherished the view of the Shenandoah River on many trips out to the Valley previously, I had longed to go down and improve my relationship with it through a close personal encounter. After physically testing a long branch hanging precariously low over the river, determining a good landing spot, and taking in the gentle flow of the water, it was pronounced necessary to float down the river the next possible opportunity.. thus plans for Labor Day. Yay!
I then proceeded to pass out in the car and dreamed of the beautiful green branches stretching across the road, vast views of rolling hills, and butterflies flitting along sunlit paths. (maybe I should have been a writer..) All in all another very peaceful, delightful, calming adventure to the 'mountains.' Good because the next day my pristine, pampered, pretty car was hit. Ah life...
This weekend proved to be a laid-back one, in comparison with my weekends of late in which I have traveled, hiked, or otherwise involved myself in activities of amusement. Having no other excuses, plans, or desires to engage myself in another social event on Saturday evening...I caught up on my long list of DVR'd episodes of NCIS. :)
Sunday, however, brought the desire to go for a stroll, as I am wont. First I attempted to explore the Potomac shoreline in Alexandria, and was only mildly successful, as they tend to crowd the shore with restaurants, shops, and parking lots, although I did enjoy admiring the colonial architecture and overall stylistic appeal of the historic small town.
I then remembered the quiet paths of Roosevelt Island and set off. Roosevelt Island is a small island in the middle of the Potomac, right across from the Kennedy Center and the Georgetown waterfront. Cars, bikes and any other vehicle are strictly forbidden and the island is wholly dedicated to pedestrian traffic. The island serves as a monument to President Theodore Roosevelt, owing to his love of nature and adventures. In the middle of the island stands a statue of the late president, with a simple, stoic structure made of stone surrounding the statue that always reminds me of something out of Lord of the Rings.....see pics...
I started at the narrow bridge that links NOVA with the island and wound my way around its perimeter on a dirt path that transitions to a boardwalk above the marsh of the eastern side of the island. The clouds threatened rain above me...but as we have noted, a little rain never stops me. So I continued my walk around the entire island and was just crossing the bridge to get to my car when a downpour soaked me head to toe. Perfect timing I would say. :) The island is a paradisaical refuge of nature and serenity in the midst of the bustling capital. Whoever planned/designed/imagined its existence is my hero.
I find that when I take time out of my busy life to do things like this...strolling through forests, admiring trees, quietly taking in a pastoral vista....my outlook on life improves. My mind calms and I am able to better see the forest through the trees.(...yep that was a perfectly themed cliche I just had to use) I frequently find myself conversing with the Lord on these occasions and feel the Spirit envelope me as I "consider all the works (the Lord's) hands have made." My soul marvels at the 'beauty of the earth' and sings 'grateful praise' of 'how great thou art!' How wonderful that God, in His infinite power and wisdom created this earth for us with such beauty, for our joy and pleasure. As I get caught up in the world and the mundane things of life, I tend to feel overwhelmed and antsy. However, as I go for a walk, reflect on nature, or drive through a countryside, I feel invigorated, calm, and at ease. I think He knew that we would need that outlet. He knew that this life would be stressful and hard at times, and thus made this earth to be a reprieve and source of peace.
I feel like I have posted about this way too much....I guess this is the real theme of my blog. I would apologize...but in the words of LeRoy Jethro Gibbs...don't apologize, its a sign of weakness.
