Yesterday was my 45th birthday and it was a fantabulous day. Unlike some, I do not need presents or a big party to make it a great birthday. In fact, for me, yesterday was about as good as it gets.
I only last week learned that we have something called Shenandoah National Forest pretty much in our backyard. An hour and twenty minutes from home, it is a one hundred mile drive one way through some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen on the East coast. Breathtaking views, deer a-plenty and bear sightings as well, it was just awesome. It was just me, The Brit, the kids and my dog, but it was a damn near perfect day. The humidity here at home has been rough the last week but in the mountains, the temps dropped to the mid-seventies, so it was windows down, fresh mountain air blowing through the hair and breathing in the smells of nature.
We drove the whole Skyline Drive, which is 100 miles and that took us to about 4:00. Well, we had lunch and the boys and I hiked six tenths of a mile down to a waterfall (and then all uphill on the way back but I did it and felt great for the experience). So at 4:00, we elected that instead of grabbing the highway home, we would just turn around and drive the Skyline Drive back. As twilight descended, even more wildlife ventured out, and our ride back was full of deer sighting; does and fawns and even some young bucks with velvet still covering their antlers, as well as an additional black bear sighting.
It was beautiful and breathtaking and we are doing it again in two weeks and are also planning a tour in the fall when the leaves are brilliant colors.
Don't give me cities. My preference is always nature. Beautiful and peaceful it makes me wonder how anyone can doubt the existence of God (and that is not a call for snarky remarks. I don't bash anyone else's beliefs, so leave mine the hell alone) when I am watching a sky change colors after a storm or just listening to the sound of waves crashing onto the sand. It's like the story of the watchmaker. If you find a beautiful pocket watch on a log in the middle of the woods, you cannot prove that someone made it. You cannot see the watchmaker, yet you know he exists. For me, the same is true of creation. It didn't just "happen". Someone took the time to design it and in all its glory, it is infinitely glorious.
I'll show you pics when I get then downloaded. Maybe even tomorrow.
Hmm, not a snarky remark in sight! Sounds like a wonderful trip and a great way to spend ones birthday. I, of course, would have needed a cocktail. Wait...many cocktails!
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