Revelation # 841

It was yesterday that I realized that not only do I love all things hiking, being outside, wandering along paths, it's actually my favorite activity. For the past several years I've search for and been on some pretty amazing hiking adventures but as I walked through the tree lined, pine needled paths of Harris Lake that I felt the realization that this is exactly where I want to be. Not at Harris lake persay but hiking. Outside. Among the trees and birds, wandering through nature not seeing a single building, store, or many people for that matter. In the past two days I've hiked 10 miles and passed 4 people.

I've also come to the realization that I am quite the introvert. I would choose going out into the woods on a hike over a party without a second thought. The one thing that does make my hike better is my dog. I want to spend more time hiking and less time working. 

I am going to spend more time outside and less time working starting now. 

Dog time

There's not much that I love more than being outside with my dog. I feel that the art of enjoying a peaceful, non material moment is becoming a lost art.

Hunt not a complete fail

Last night we went in search of a view of the Supermoon. All day the clouds were building and as the evening grew closer the clouds grew thicker. With low expectations we headed out to Fort Fisher State Park to wait out the moonrise. Fresa's first trip to Ft. Fisher was filled with digging, sniffing and more digging. This end of the peninsula is protected from commercialism and there is not a house or store to be found. Just endless stretches of sand.

I forgot about the tire tracks. Driving on the beach, huh.

The clouds let through a bit of the sun set.

The clouds to the east were thicker and thicker and spread from sky to sea. I refused to leave and although we didn't see the awesome huge moon rise on the horizon, we did get a glimpse peeking through the clouds.

It was nice to see a handful of people down at the beach to try and see the Super Moon. Gives me hope that people have not completely lost touch.

Lovin' the south

I love that there is so much wildlife here. I can go to the lake and see turtles, alligators, and lots of birds and not just sparrows, but herons, egrets, sandpipers, cardinals! (when is the last time you saw a RED bird?). My parents backyard is virtually a little sanctuary in of itself. The carolina anole is the coolest little lizard! I could do without the roaches, spiders, and freaking horseflies but I guess that's the price for the other stuff. Oh, the other night I rescued a little froggie from the pool :)

I love sweet tea. Although I'm pretty sure that the devil is responsible for concocting this special brew.

I love vegetation. I do miss huge outcrops of rocks but I love the thick, deep, green, dark pine forests.

I love the beach. The cool breeze coming off the water while the water cleanses and renews the land.

I love the tide and how the beach changes each hour.

It's Africa hot

So when I was in Africa last summer I kept waiting for the heat to kick in. You know Africa hot... well on Kili it was freaking cold and then on our safari the sun really never made it out and it was never hot. Well, yesterday I found Africa's heat. It's stuck here in NC. Yesterday was the hottest I think I've ever been in my entire life. Different kind of heat than when we were in the Grand Canyon roasting. This heat was the kind where you were dripping with sweat with no possibility of evaporation at all. Wilmington actually broke a record yesterday for the hottest day this early in the summer in recorded history. I guess this is part of my heat training for Myanmar... The pool water in my parents backyard is 87 degrees, so it feels great. I know you are thinking it's too warm, but I love it like that. The ocean temp will get there soon :)