Well, if he gets lucky, a boy finds a girl. To help him to shoulder the pain in this world. And if you follow your feelings. And you follow your dreams. You might find the forest there in the trees.” ~ Wake Up Time (Tom Petty)
Waking up this morning to the last remnants of the Super Blue Moon. Now just a white pinhole dot set against the pale orange Blue Ridge Mountains (that third range is West Virginia). The air temperature is a brisk 52 degrees. It’s deafly quiet. Compared with our constant New Jersey urban life, this silence is pleasantly noticeable and welcomed.
Travel transition day.
I planned a short first day hike to nearby Stony Man Summit. Roughly 4,000 feet above sea level just under 2 miles in length. Payoff is the highest elevation in the park. Perfect way to start our vacation.
I’ve often found the best part of the first morning of every vacation is quieting contemplating how the trip will unfold in real time versus all the planning, research, maps, booked tours and dinner reservations that transpired months ago.
Alone on this balcony at sunrise I wonder that now…..
Today Marie looks fantastic in her aqua rashie and hiking garb. We enjoy a wonderful slow paced hike up Stony Man. Mostly silent, occasionally inspired to engage; gossip, laughter, thought provoking ideas or discussing future plans. On trail…..we are comfortable in silence as much as comfortable in discussion.
By product of four decades together, no doubt!
Reaching the summit, the smallness of the world and smaller smallness of the two of us feels oddly enjoyable. If this is the biggest the world will ever get and I only get this one person…. Well, that feels good and right to me.
If it’s - Us against The World. I like our odds.
The connectedness one receives while enjoying the beauty of Nature while arms length away from a loved one is often indescribable but certainly palatable! In fact, I can feel it now.
Our heavy breathing has lessened. Our bodies slightly straining is no match for the image presently in front of us. Our pain lessens. Our mind soars.
However, it’s time to descend the trail.
Arriving back at the trailhead, we find ourselves tired but possessing a strong sense of satisfaction. Accomplishment. We did something together.
While our activity did not make us money, or even save us money, we are richer for the shared experience.
Stowing our gear in the Subaru, I ponder. How many things have we done together in 40 plus years? I have no idea….but add this to the list.
Our hike is completed. First day soreness will subside. It always does.
We lunch at Big Meadows Lodge on an outside patio overlooking the vast Shenandoah Valley.
I’m suddenly reminded of countless mid day lunch breaks on numerous skiing hills. Marie and I were at that time in our 20s and 30s. Our energy was boundless.
I say that above typed thought out loud to Marie. She laughs. “Yes, it does have that same vibe. Boy did we have fun skiing in our youth,” she replies.
Unfortunately we can no longer ski together, but we can still hike together. I’ll take that trade off, all day, everyday.
The midday sun begins to recharge my soul. Our food and drink arrive. Our open air amphitheater extenuates this fleeting moment.
We celebrate with two local blackberry favorites; Shenandoah Rapidan wine and ice cream pie.
Tonight I’m drinking Blue Mountain Kolsch 151 watching this gorgeous sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains at Black Rock Summit. The same short trail we hiked after our lunch earlier today.
Over 40 years ago (yesterday) Marie and I were drinking cheap beer listening to Springsteen and Yes albums.
Tonight……I’m grateful for this girl lying next to me. I’m grateful for this remaining life in front of me/us. I’m grateful for this life we made together.
“Come on go with me, babe. Come on go with me, girl. Baby, let's go. To the cabin down below.” ~ Cabin Down Below (Tom Petty)
Goodnight from Skyline Drive
S&M
Cabin 84
9/1/23
