Things Lost and Found

It's been a stressy few weeks (ok, maybe few months).  I do my best to keep my chin up, eyes ahead, and heart open, but there have been a few days here and there that have ended with little joy.  Today, dawning bright and early, proposed to be one of those.  I woke feeling regret for things both done and undone, and had a long day stretching in front of me.  But the weather promised to be beautiful, so I decided I should follow through on the promise I'd made to myself all week, which was to get outside, explore, see if I could find some morel mushrooms, and work with my new camera (I'm an optimistic multi-tasker).  It was a struggle to get there...three cups of coffee were a good early distraction, followed by some more laundry and a fair amount of time staring mindlessly at Facebook.  But I knew that if I wasted this day, the regrets would be compounded, and that's really not a fun place to be.

An idea turned into a few minutes of online research and the download of a new app called AllTrails, which I now consider my new best friend.  I had just purchased my annual Kansas State Parks Pass (thanks, KDWPT), and AllTrails showed 3 "easy" trails at Milford State Park and lake...just 30 minutes away.  Easy...I didn't want easy.  I wanted sweaty and strenuous and muscle stretching, with some breathtaking sights.  But, fine. Whatever. I didn't have the energy (or joy) to think any harder about this.  I tossed some snacks and a water bottle (and camera) in a bag, jumped in the car, and headed out.

Eagle Ridge trail looked like the best one--the most interesting, the longest, and...maybe eagles to see?  Some of the AllTrail reviews weren't too favorable, and it's also a horse riding trail, but I was already grumpy, so I'm thinking, hey, let's just see if I can completely throw this day in the can.  And off I went on Eagle Ridge trail.

I saw one couple on horseback, once, just as I began walking.  That was it.  The more-than two hours I wandered, I saw and heard no other human.  It was like being handed the most perfect gift at the most perfect time.  The longer I was out there, immersed in the quiet, the lighter I became. I caught myself grinning...noticing the tiniest amazing details...feeling a bit proud of myself for testing the unknown, sticking to it, and not freaking out when I got a little lost. And, yes, I got lost because the trail isn't marked very clearly.  As in, it's only marked at the trail head.  (Take my advice--use the app, and check it occasionally, rather than leaving it in your pocket most of the time, like someone did today, as demonstrated below).

Things were both lost and found out there on that trail today.  Lost were: more than a few intricate spider habitats (I kept walking into them, and even took one spider with me--neither of us were too happy about that), dry shoes (because I misjudged the waves coming ashore), battery power to my camera (I actually consider this a positive), and a large part of my regretful grumpiness.  Things NOT found include morel mushrooms (I'm now accepting donations) and eagles (in the wild, anyway). Many things were discovered, however--sun on my skin, a reminder that cedar trees smell sort of like a wild animal, a blister on one foot, some scared wildlife (including a turkey hen that scared me right back), fresh honeysuckle, a grit-covered face, renewed wonder, one huge Bur Oak tree, an increased comfort level with my camera, the awesome Milford Nature Center and Hatchery, and...joy.  Yes, some joy crept back in today.  I'm hoping to hang on to it, but if it becomes elusive again, I think I have a remedy.  Check out my photo story here.