Now where my sister lived, I actually had to maneuver up a winding old logging road that was very narrow and rutted to the point whereby one could end up in a ravine. After navigating the mile long driveway up to their mountaintop home, I was taken in by the most beautiful and glorious surroundings I had ever yet experienced in my entire life. It was heavenly for lack of a better word.
The first evening we spent relaxing enjoying a cookout on an extended deck that over viewed a breathtaking, magnificent valley far below of painted foliage illuminated by a setting sun that was gloriously spectacular to say the least. I was in utter awe of all my surroundings and very much looking forward to a long nature hike with my friend down into the valley were there was a meandering creek leading up to a pinnacle where you could sit at the top of a waterfall just listening and basking in the nature of God's creations all around you.
The next morning began cool and brisk as my friend and I began making our way down an ancient steep trail of deer paths joining cutaway trails blazed by other hikers. All the acreage as far as my eyes could see was called The Falls Ridge Preserve and was managed by the Virginia Nature Conservancy. Often hikers came here to make the formidable hike along a meandering stream upward to where a triage of waterfalls were nestled into a mountainside setting.
I was delighted the day was becoming sunny and warm and that there was no one else around so we could relish our peaceful surroundings. The serene woodlands and autumn aromas engulfed our senses and all was very quiet indeed except for occasional bird or squirrel conversations. We pretty much walked with little conversation alone in our thoughts, when I succumbed to deep memories of past hurts that spiraled around in my mind causing me some disorientation in my thinking process. My friend would be speaking, yet I was totally oblivious to what was being said.
The first evening we spent relaxing enjoying a cookout on an extended deck that over viewed a breathtaking, magnificent valley far below of painted foliage illuminated by a setting sun that was gloriously spectacular to say the least. I was in utter awe of all my surroundings and very much looking forward to a long nature hike with my friend down into the valley were there was a meandering creek leading up to a pinnacle where you could sit at the top of a waterfall just listening and basking in the nature of God's creations all around you.
The next morning began cool and brisk as my friend and I began making our way down an ancient steep trail of deer paths joining cutaway trails blazed by other hikers. All the acreage as far as my eyes could see was called The Falls Ridge Preserve and was managed by the Virginia Nature Conservancy. Often hikers came here to make the formidable hike along a meandering stream upward to where a triage of waterfalls were nestled into a mountainside setting.
I was delighted the day was becoming sunny and warm and that there was no one else around so we could relish our peaceful surroundings. The serene woodlands and autumn aromas engulfed our senses and all was very quiet indeed except for occasional bird or squirrel conversations. We pretty much walked with little conversation alone in our thoughts, when I succumbed to deep memories of past hurts that spiraled around in my mind causing me some disorientation in my thinking process. My friend would be speaking, yet I was totally oblivious to what was being said.
