An Ocean Of Fog
I have been hiking in Hot Springs National Park for over a decade. It is not rare for fog to roll into the many valleys between Hot Springs Zig Zag, and the Ozark Mountains. The fog settled in and created a beautiful ocean flowing below us high above the ridge lines below.
Have a lovely day! Breathe
Lee
PS: I am writing a novel which is… time consuming and a joyous adventure.
An Ocean Of Fog
Some believe that only spring is a time of renewal. Autumn’s turning leaves and their graceful fall to blanket the forest floor prepares nature for her winter rest. It is the beginning of the renewal flow culminating in a spring rebirth.
Dark green leaves begin to fade and a sprinkling of color appears above and below.
Happy hiking!
Lee
All we wanted to do in June was hike. Nature had other ideas and every day weather was either Lightning, Heavy Rain and Excessive Heat or a combination of the afore mentioned.
There was a small break in the weather chaos one morning and we bathed in the beauty of the Forest.
Happy Trails to All!
P.S. 7/8/2021 Dear Arkansans, please get vaccinated! Yesterday we had 1000 new cases and 80 people on ventilators. Seven unvaccinated people died. We have a vaccination rate of under 45% and 1/3 of senior have not gotten even a single dose. Delta Variant of COVID is going to kill our fellow citizens. Fourth of July tourist filled the streets this past weekend in the state. This influx of people from Texas, Mississippi, Missouri etc. will create even higher rates.
A year away from 3+ hikes a week and you lose a bit of agility. The exercises at home did not replicate the ever changing trail conditions, obstacles, weather and balancing while holding a camera etc. There appears to be random muscles that were never fully engaged in my indoor workouts. My knees movements are not as elastic either.
2021 is the year I rebuild, repair and heal on the trails.
Happy Trails and Love to ALL,
Lee
Hiking is unique in its muscle use and rebuilding my strength took several weeks of easy trails. It was a feeling of both joy and relief to complete an old favorite trail(s) circuit. The comfort of seeing old friends (the Trees) and breathing in the scents of the Forest was healing. Each lovely Wildflower reached out to my Soul and soothed the wounds of being apart.
Happy Trails Everyone!
Lee
Begin Rant: To be honest the only thing I really missed during the pandemic was hiking. I was however lucky to quarantine with my best friend aka husband. We leveraged the internet for delivery of supplies and only ventured out in the dark hours of the morning to walk, get gas or use needed services. However to get to the trails would have meant facing steams of tourists who were largely unmasked even when 4000 people a day were dying. They came to our little tourist town because the Governor of Arkansas sent mixed signals about masking.
Now that we are fully vaccinated it is only semi liberating. I know 10% my fellow humans can still become infected after receiving both doses. Many in Arkansas do not seem interested in getting any of the vaccines so it is always going to be masks on when going out on the city streets. The only time we currently unmask when out is on the trails. Mutations of COVID19 love antivax humans. Due to antivaxxers the pandemic may drag on longer than it needs too. End Rant
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