Aimless Driving

 7/12/21

Went back to Sam's Gap this morning - great exercise. It puts me in a good headspace, plus it's stunningly gorgeous up there, I don't get sick of it. The smell, the feel of the soft trail beneath my feet, the wind in the tops of the trees = perfection. 

I am a creature of habit, to some extent, something I learned from work. There's comfort in routine. During the quarantine phase of the pandemic, I hiked every day. I alternated between two trails, and I didn't feel comfortable deviating from that routine. It felt safe, I saw new things each time I hiked, and I felt a tremendous comfort in having some kind of routine, a schedule. 

Now, going back to the same trail for a few days is about as much a routine as I have. 

After the hike, I went to Stack House Burgers. A giant house-made veggie burger and blackberry cider - really, really good. It's the kind of place I love, family-run, kind of a hole-in-the-wall with a locally made beers and cider. If you're in Mars Hill, NC, or nearby, it's another place you should try. They have fried PICKLES. 

Then, I got in my car and started driving. The Miata is fun to drive. I'm glad I didn't trade it in for some gas-guzzling SUV, no matter how little interior space it has. Driving with the top down on those curvy roads in great weather is really fun. I saw a sign that said Rocky Ford State Park, and decided to check it out.

Absolutely amazing. Waterfalls, great trails, the sound of water, the SMELL of the trees, the plants - I'm so glad I chose to wander. Maybe the cider helped? Fear can set in sometimes. It can keep me from exploring, I have to work to overcome it. It being a Monday, it wasn't crowded at all. I saw at least four places that would be great for swimming. The water is so clear, a lovely blue-green. There's a place there called The Blue Hole, which I'd like to explore more. It's deep, at the bottom of a small waterfall, and the color is delicious. 

Cheers to aimless driving. May we all do it from time to time.