Yesterday's Hike

Ground accepts bare feet

offerings on a fall hike

earth, friend, mother, life

No, it wasn't snowy all the way.  Most places along the trail were warm (somewhat) from the sun. 

What the heck???  A pink plastic spoon taped to a tree with black tape.  There must be some kind of cosmic significance here!

Life Is But A Stream

Prescription for when things feel out of balance:

Take one solo hike as often as necessary in order to alleviate symptoms.

Infinite number of refills.

No ill side effects.

I hiked alone today at the open space park that I love so much. I passed one runner. Other than that, I was THE LONE HIKER, except for the magpies and gulls and little creek.

It has been very dry here - we may break all records for lack of moisture this time of year. There are two creeks that run through my open space park. I say "run", but truthfully, they are now just trickles. But I love the sound of trickling.

Mr. CFP recently bought me a little flip cam and I brought it with me today and recorded the beautiful sound of the dancing creek. You can hear it here:




I didn't follow paths the whole time I was at the park. I followed the lead of my body. I threw rocks on the lake. They broke through the thin skin of ice and took with them my frustrations and anger and sadness.

I was alone and yet I have never felt so enveloped and embraced.

You would have liked it, I think.

Look! Up in the Sky!

I feel like a sneak when I go out the door, walking shoes in hand, sandals on feet, and saying goodbye to the Buddha dog because he can't come along on our hike to refresh body and soul.  Once in the car, I stealthily switch footwear and become....

HIKER WOMAN!


I am pretty much over being sad about the fact that my favorite hiking buddy is no longer able to come along to my favorite places.  It's at the point now where a woman has to do what she has to do.  With me, there is a direct correlation between hikes taken and a zest for life.  Even Buddhas benefit from having a sane momma!


So today Mr. CFP and I piled on layers and headed out early.  It wasn't long before the sun warmed our bones, and hats, mittens and jackets came off. 


And it wasn't long before we saw our first red-tailed hawk perched on the branch of a leafless tree.  As we neared him, he took off in flight, first soaring in front of the perfect half moon, then sailing over our heads as if to check us out.  A feathered friend of his joined him and they danced in circles in the sky.  

If we would have had our cameras with us, I would have been able to show you the hawk we saw today - with a half moon shining behind him.

How can I express the way moments like that do my heart good, how I can feel the smiles go all the way from my lips, through my belly and down into my toes?


I'm remembering something my friend recently told me.  It's a quote.  I don't know the author and I can't remember the exact words, but it was basically that without wildlife, we would be very lonely.


I agree.

The More They Stay The Same

Two years and two days ago, Buddha and I hiked for 6 hours on one of our favorite trails, Hell's Hole.  We walked among the fall aspen until we were full and satisfied.

Last year about this time, Mr. CfP and I took my parents on a drive to Hell's Hole so that they could see the shimmering yellows on the drive.

Now...

Buddha can no longer hike.  He can only do short, slow walks at the nearby park. 

My dad wouldn't enjoy riding for the two hours it would take to get to Hell's Hole and back.

I'm amazed at how much can change in a very short time.


Then again, as evident by the falling yellow aspen leaves, everything is changing all of the time.

****

I was a little sad today as Mr. CfP and I headed out to Hell's Hole without my favorite hiking buddy, Mr. Buddha (sorry, Mr. CfP; you're my #2 hiking buddy).


But I got filled up by taking in all of the stunning beauty.


And Buddha got extra lovin' when we got back.

Waterfalls!

Icicles!

Mushrooms!

Flowers!

Leaf-filled ponds!

Lately, I'm feeling a more profound need to soothe my soul.  Like a sponge, I find myself absorbing all of the goody out of anything that reeks of renewal:  things like lemon colored aspen leaves, the feel of cool mountain air, the blue Colorado skies, and the nuzzles of a Buddha dog who is happy to have me home.

I'm a lucky kind of woman.

Castlewood Canyon; Chapter 2

Castlewood Canyon really does have more to see than just windows.


A Dam Story

For some reason, I love this story:

The Castlewood Dam was completed in 1890, using only the power of men, mules and horses. It began leaking immediately, but repairs and a good dose of denial kept things going until 1933 when, after two days of rain, the walls came tumbling down. Fortunately, the caretaker was aware of the crumbling structure and word spread fast enough to save all but two lives while 1.7 billion gallons of water rushed 40 miles into Denver.

Remains of the dam

1.7 billion gallons of water. Can you imagine the power???

You can read more about the ill-fated Castlewood Dam here.



Wildlife

What we didn't see: rattlesnakes and ticks. And I'm not complaining about that! Also, no bears, coyotes or mountain lions.

Some of the wildlife that we did see:

Crayfish! As a young kid in Kansas, we saw these all of the time.

Big, fat toad (and lots of cute, little baby toads)

And the views...!

Pikes Peak

I'm still collecting hiking buddies, so if you are ever in the area and in the mood to walk in heavenly places, jus' lemme know!

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. - John Muir

Giving My Heart and Soul

So much beauty along the trail during yesterday's hike.

You've no idea how hard
I've looked for a gift to bring You.
Nothing seemed right!

What's the point of bringing gold
to the gold mine,
or water to the ocean?
Everything I came up with
was like taking spices to the orient.
It's no good giving
my heart and my soul,
because You already have these.

So - I've brought You a mirror
Look at YourSelf and remember me.

- Jalaluddin Rumi

What a Week!

I almost didn't post on this, the 15th anniversary of my marriage to my sweet Mr. Carol for Peace.

During the last 20 some hours, we were wondering if Buddha, the dog, was going to be around another day. We were in the emergency vet's office late last night and sleep was minimal after we got home, due to a very sick dog whose only diagnosis was that there was no diagnosis. Then this morning, when it truly looked like death was knocking, we went to our regular vet's office and lo and behold if Mr. Buddha didn't have a revival, walking all over the office, making us look like we had been experiencing hallucinations for the last 12 hours! The only thing that the vet can figure is that Buddha has some kind of stomach thingy going on. Bad enough to stop him from being able to walk or move much at all. Who knows??? Anyway, the rest of today he has been almost himself.

My Buddha dog is the sweetest dog and he shares so much love with me. I can't tell you how open my heart feels every time I even think of him.



And Mr. Carol for Peace... HOW did I luck out so well??? Not only is he one of the kindest, sweetest men I know, but he also puts up with ME! That's HUGE! Happy Anniversary to the man that I adore!

One more happy thing...

Because Buddha is somewhere between 83 and 90-something, depending on who you talk to, it has become impossible to do the thing that we have loved to do together more than anything - hiking. We are now down to less than a mile of flat walking. But I lucked out this week and found a friend to do a hike with me. 8.3 miles! Half of it uphill! I needed that. And that is where I saw this gorgeous butterfly:



"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." - Mother Teresa