My Walk with God -June 20, 2013

Miles    5 miles - June 20, 2013
 

Total 230.6

 June 20, 2013 Thursday- Bill as he saw me near the completion of my goal this month which was walking all trails and roads of this park, was quick at encouraging me to begin my last section of trails. This included Trail 5 and the Archery trail, and lastly I wanted to walk the entire main road from entrance of park to docks. So with walking stick in hand, water bottle, backpack and radio that keep Bill happy, I was off.

 

 As I entered the beginning of trail 5 and we took a picture of me and the trail head. Trail 5 covers some wooded areas but a lot of wildflower fields. I just love these open areas that are allowed to grow wildflowers naturally. Although at time I worked up a sweet I love the cool breeze in the shady areas. 

After I finished trail 5 it was over to what I call 6 or the Archery trail. It is quite interesting. There are ranges with different length of goals and then a trail that gives you a chance to bow and arrow different objects like deer, turkey, rabbit or raccoon. I would say this is one of few locations you can use these skills.

As I saw my goal coming to an end I feel quite pleased. I have walked in the park, Raccoon Lake a total of 16.4 miles. Seems like a lot be there is no part of this park I have not seen including maintenance road and all. I love a goal finished. I am pleased that I feel my endurance level back where it was.

As I walked and drank in the enjoyment of all I was seeing and doing I wondered, how did I get the way I am. It seems obvious that I am some different kind of a woman. I mean, look do you see anyone else in this park or of my friends who jump at the chance to join me. Really I know there are others who love hiking just read some of the Appalachian trail journals. I also know I wasn't always like this. So how did I get here? Of course it was all the hand of God's doing but as I look I see the effect friends and other things has planted and watered this seed of the love of God's nature. First was my father who in his own way showed us the thrill of nature and storms and also it was the hunger to love to paint. To paint nature you, in my eyes must learn to love to see nature. Second, sending a friend like Margaret Berlin to help my art to grow. Of Course there was Mable my neighbor who even in her failing heart condition showed me to need to keep on keepin on and seeking adventure. Lastly was Nora, what a woman. This highly educated but loving woman took me under her wing and taught me about the stars, wildflowers and hunt for new adventure. She edited my painting packets, and as we traveled together she encourage me to seek out nature to its extreme. I remember in Teton Mt. her not being able to hike the trails but encouraged me to go and bring reports as to what I saw and help name all of it. How blessed I am.

 This walk with Jesus that started in my living room last year, has taken me this far and allowed me wonderful time meditating on just how blessed I am and talk over problems with my heavily Father. 

My walk with God - June 18,2013

Miles   2.5

June 18, 2013 

It now was off to trail 2. It leaves the camp store and goes to the beach. Beautiful morning and I love that I am making progress on walking all trails of Raccoon State Recreation Park. This one turns out to be longer but easier.  I as usual spent time with the one and only true God. I remember a book I finished last night about Abram and Sari. One thing struck me and that was that God allowed Sari to make the mistake of supplying her servant girl Hagar so Abram could conceive a child. He not only allowed it, he didn't change his promise for her to have a child herself, he blessed Hagar  also and her child, and all was used as a plan that even today affects us through the Muslim faith.  I thought of my choices and struggle because of those choices. Struggle to be the Godly woman he wants me to be. It seems clear he can and will use my bad choices to bring about a future plan and also teach me Patience to resist Satan and draw me closer to him. I was just in awe of this realization that Sari's bad choice did not change Gods love and plan for her.  

As I walked and search for new wonders of His nature I looked up and there on

My friendly deer in center of picture

the trail stood this beautiful deer. We just sat and took each other and then she wondered off eating as she went along. I was thrilled. This hike was 2.5 miles long and so I have just two trails left. I am pleased with the success of my goal of walking all trails in this park. It has given my wonderful quite time with God. 

Total 225.6

My walk with God June 11, 2013

Miles   

Total 223.1

 The plan was to finish the second half of Trail 1 at Raccoon Park and come back Berry Drive. The rain last night gave the feel of fresh and clean but the trail was a bit muddy. The first part was just a great time of observing and praising God for the diversity of his creation.  After seeing some awesome videos from Creation Museum I was struck with just how beautiful all that God created is. It takes you on of a virtual space trip to the farthest known reaches of man’s knowledge of our universe. It is amazing but something very unusual happen as the virtual trip began its return to earth. As earth became a speck and then began to enlarge I was just blown away at just how different the earth is compared to all the planets seen. All the planets and star         are awesome in either the brilliance fire ball of stars or the sun to the varied colors of Pluto, Venus, Saturn and the whole group. But and this seems to be a huge but, they all are so uninviting. Human life is in no way acceptable at any of them and life of any kind is nowhere to be found. Beauty from a distance but up close, they are dead. I remember when we landed on the moon and we were all amazed. But amazed at what, its new creatures, different plant life or beautiful mountains or sunsets, no maybe just that we were there because it was by far the most uninhabitable land one could see.  On our trip back and earth became more visible it was just astounding, the beautiful blue oceans and land masses were like none other. All the planets could not compare even at a distance. The closer you came the more in awe I was. If there was life in outer space it would be no wonder they would choose this amazing planet to visit (not that I believe there is such life anywhere than on this earth). So as I walked today and see the great variety of birds plants and unusual animals I was just wow! And the change of season and skies are of continual amazement. So it accrued to me as I think of those who so crave to go to outer space, there is one thing I would warn them. THERE IS NO HERE THERE. Nothing compares to this place made by our creator just for these fragile human life he created. So just look all around you and remember THERE IS NO HERE THERE and only here will man find wonder and awe of this planet and it is un-limitless. 

  So after all this deep thinking I was met with the certainty of a challenge. A second bridge is out again, a very long bridge. So like the Appalachian hikers I was met with some choice. Now for them the choice to go back is most likely one they cannot make, but just how and can it be safely crossed. Of course for me going back was just not a choice I would make. I so thank God for the adventure mode he installed in me. So many do not have this hunger for adventure in them. Adventure with safely in mind meaning to weigh the risk and decide if it is worth it and can I most probable end up on the other side safely. It was muddy but it appeared due-able. So off I went. The first half was not bad but the second half was challenging to say the least. With my nifty walking stick and some logs I finally accomplished the goal but with rather muddy shoes in the end. But as I turn around and had climb to the top of the hill I was filled with a sense of satisfaction at my success. It was such a lofty goal but a goal accomplish none the less. Again I thank you Lord for somehow giving me the need to be out in your nature and the challenges that you lay in my path weather in life or on a trail teaches us perseverance. Thank You!

I finished the trail to Berry Road and back home again. It was a total of 2.4 miles. I was thinking just where this Appalachian trail adventure has lead me in this short 220 miles. It has taken me Through Eagle Creek Park, Downtown canal tail, all the trails in Brownsburg and even a path at a health center while I was on a bus trip. To add to that it has taken me for a close up look at nature during all four seasons. 

By that I mean I spent a great deal of time in the woods during the complete seasonal cycle. Here I have pictures of summer, Awesome fall, inspiring winter and the new life of spring. If I complete my 500 miles I will know that I know the Lord better and have grown from our hours of walking together. 

  

Goal for now 500

My walk with God June 9 and 10, 2013

Miles 2 miles June 10, 2013   Nunc coepi "Now I begin" (with your help, Lord)

Total    220.7

Trail 1 at Raccoon Lake was a fun adventure to add to my a Application Trail hike. It goes up to a shelter that overlooks the lake on a beautiful point. It had some real adventures. There were two bridges out but the first was taped off saying do not enter and looked a bit threatening  what does do not enter mean, now that is a very relevant question. Now for me it meant I got to make some "being by myself and no one to help me" choices. This was feeling more and more like the Appalachian Trail hiker. I needed to understand 1st can I safely do this, safety is more of the question then Bill thinks it is to me and how can I minimize the risk. It was a bit questionable. 2n what was the safest way and 3rd take caution on each step of the way and plan for the best route. What was the most fun in all of this (this is bad on my part) was knowing I could decide if the risk was a doable one and that Bill would absolutely have a fit. 

There was a very interesting graveyard on this trail. I am assuming it may have been a family who gave land to the park. I will have to investigate who David Payne is.

Goal for now 500

Miles   2.3 June 5 , 2013

Total 218.7

Today I started a little late but of course this is to be the laid back life at the campground and time goes out the window. I finished walking all the campgrounds. Today covered Songbird, Hideaway and then a stroll over to primitive camp sites across the street and this all came to 2.3 miles. So all total for the campgrounds is 4.5 and for last 3 days is 6, 6 miles. I plan to add these miles to my Appalachian Trail miles. I don't like walking the campground as well as the trails but it was fun seeing how many miles of camp ground there is. I did see the tail of a deer in primitive and picked up some trash. 

Goal for now 500