Photo Journal

How strange and wonderful is our home, our earth, with its swirling vaporous atmosphere, its flowing and frozen liquids, its trembling plants, its creeping, crawling, climbing creatures, the croaking things with wings that hang on rocks and soar through the fog, the furry grass, the scaly seas.

Edward Abbey

November 15, 2022 - Rain and Fog at Pilot Mountain

Foggy Hike at Pilot Mountain

All was silent as before - All silent save the dripping rain. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Oh, the rain

And the fog,

And wet hands and cold feet,

And slippery pathways that disappear

In the mist not far in front of me.

Oh, rocky ledges

Appearing from nowhere

Out of the mist, out of the dark,

And Skeletal trees

With limbs hanging low-

Dripping their water all over me

Oh, wondering

And looking around every turn,

thumping on stone, Sticking in mud.

Should I keep going,

or should I go home?

oh, thank you

for signposts

and maps on wood poles-

now I am here - with this arrow,

At the end of this loop.

Over there

is the view, a rocky outcropping,

Sparsely covered with trees.

In the fog,

Like a small island

in an airy sea.

Oh.

November 9, 2022 - Calm Sunshine - Pokagon State Park, IN

November 9, 2022. The weather in Indiana was beautiful for the first days of my trip. I did a long hike here at Pokagon state park, called the Hell’s Point Challenge. I didn’t find it hellish at all; it was beautiful. This picture was taken near the end of the hike with my shadow looking almost as long as the dock. (I posted some pictures of all the animals I encountered here in The Company of Other Creatures post on November 10, 2022.)

November 11, 2022 - Rain and Fog at Caesar Creek

A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods. - Rachel Carson

November 11, 2022. I woke up to a gentle rainfall in Ohio at Caesar Creek. Whether it was the perfect time to walk or not, I went out! It was still pretty warm and the little path I found from the campground ran along the creek, which looks more like a river to me. I didn’t have much time to linger, I wanted to get moving as far as possible down the road while it was still a light rain. I heard they were expecting snow later.

November 12, 2022 - Rain and Fog at Pipestem Resort State Park

November 11- November 13, 2022. Pipestem Resort State Park in West Virginia. What a BEAUTIFUL place, and a huge one too. I barely scratched the surface of this park, even though I hiked and ran over 18 miles while I was here. It’s good to have the right gear. It rained nearly the entire time I was here, except on the day I left, when it SNOWED. Unexpected. I decided to hike to the lodge a couple of miles away to eat breakfast before taking off that day so I could ask whether the roads were too bad to drive on. I talked to some really friendly people who worked there and told me it was a pretty isolated snowstorm and I’d be out of it really quick; so, I ate my delicious breakfast and hiked back to my van and packed up for North Carolina.

November 13, 2022 - Woke to SNOW at Pipestem in West Virginia

November 15, 2022 - Sunshine through the lifting fog at Pilot Mountain in North Carolina

Nothing burns like the cold. - George R. R. Martin

November 15, 2022 - November 16, 2022. I had a free night between visiting friends near Raleigh and another friend who lives in Asheville, so I made a quick stop at a state park called Pilot Mountain between the two. I never heard of it before, but it was in a good spot, so I took a chance. The first photo in this post is from there. I hiked on a trail called the Grindstone, which led me to another trail, which led me to that overlook. I imagine on a clear day, I would have seen for miles into a great valley, and seen the peak of Pilot Mountain, and it all would have been breathtaking. It was not a clear day. It was cold; and there was a heavy fog with rain - but somehow - even though my fingers got so cold I had to take off my wet gloves and stick them inside my shirt against my belly - it was still amazing and magical, and I wouldn’t change it. Someday I’ll go back when it’s clear and I won’t even recognize it. And that will be magical too. Only one night here, In the morning, the fog was starting to lift, and the sunlight filtered through.

November 19, 2022 - Cake Rock at Clifty Falls State Park - Sunny and Cold

November 18-November 19, 2022. Two cold and bright days in Indiana. Clifty Falls is right on the edge of Indiana, near Kentucky. I love the trails at this park. The waterfalls are different here, they don’t just tumble over a cliff; they drop over rock ledges. This time, it was so cold, a few of them were frozen.

I thought I would head home on the 19th, but the weather at home turned out to be a problem. They were expecting a blizzard. I had to scramble to find another spot, just a little closer to home…so I went to Prophetstown.

November 19, 2022 - SNOW falling in Prophetstown State Park - Beautiful Grassland

November 19, 2022. Arrived in Prophetstown. Grassland and Marsh. So beautiful. Light blowing snow and really windy when I got in, but after driving I still got out for a quick hike before settling in for the night.

November 20, 2022 - Sunrise 13 Degrees and Clear at Prophetstown

November 20, 2022. Last night camping. Woke to this gorgeous sunrise right out in front of my campsite. It wasn’t as warm as it looks! It got down to 13 degrees Fahrenheit overnight. The sun made a difference though, so when I went out for the last trail run of the trip, even though it was only about 20 degrees, it felt much better. So glad to be going home today, even though I enjoyed my trip. I found a few places I want to return to, (hopefully when the weather is a little milder) and that makes me happy.

November 20, 2022 - Prophetstown Park - As the geese fly, so will I

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Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.

A. A. Milne

a path of water

i slip through forest

following a stream bed,

halting in the deep pools

encircled by carved rock.

Seemingly still on the surface

i slip invisibly underneath

until at the edge

I tumble

crashing thunderously

to the stony basin below

where I pause again -

briefly-

and then flow on.

November 12, 2022 Pipestem Resort State Park River Trail

I ran 8 miles on the rugged hilly mountain trails in the morning, following the river trail. Cool and wet, solitary running. It was muddy and slippery, so I had to watch my footing; to be fully present; minding the path, looking for the trail blazes, keeping all senses engaged.

I heard the water moving before I saw it. I stopped and slogged through the mud to watch it swirling and gathering, pooling and falling. Just flowing on and on, going about its way - to what end I don’t know. But I love to watch it go.

November 20, 2022 I was supposed to be home two days ago, but the weather at home is treacherous with heavy snow and wind, so I had to extend my trip. I landed here; at Prophetstown State Park in Indiana.

In the morning, the sun came up bright and clear so I decided to get out for a run through the grassland trails, through the marshes and pools. Such different terrain than the mountains of West Virginia. The water more still, actually frozen in places, was like mirror glass reflecting trees and flying birds and sky and making me feel almost lucky I got delayed so I could find this unexpected beauty.

I look forward to returning home for Thanksgiving where I will gather with my husband, neighbors, friends and family, but I am grateful too for these precious moments of solitude and reflection.

I will share more pictures from this trip over the next few weeks For now, I will say Happy Thanksgiving! May gratitude free you from worry, and gathering with people you love fill you with joy.

Rhoda Lewis

On the Road Again

Embracing Wild Weather

Flow like water