I can't even believe it's October let alone Friday already! Someone in my extended family told me I would be bored in retirement. I am far from bored! There's still chores, shopping, coffee dates with friends and daughters and date nights plus leading a small group, a hiking group, and taking a weekly class. I'm busy and it does make the days go by fast.
But I also have chunks of time where I can sit in the sunshine on the deck or in the backyard swing and reflect on the blessings God brings and Fridays are perfect for that discipline. Susanne hosts this group called the FAVE FIVES where we share five of the blessings that made us smile during the week. Head here to learn more.
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| first half mile up the mountain |
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| This goes over a brook which was bone dry due to most of NY being in a drought |
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| me, Celine, Evelyn, Joan on the summit of Mt VanHoevenberg |
- HIGH PEAKS HIKE: The group I lead, SoulSteps, had four of us signed up for the climb up Mt Van Hoevenberg in the Adirondack High Peaks region. It involves a 2.5 hour drive from Albany and we got there around 9: 30 AM. We were on the summit a few minutes before noon. It was a glorious day but it started out cloudy and chilly up there. Foliage color was at peak last weekend up there. The leaves here in my town are just starting to turn yellow/orange with a few reds as now this week the nights are getting below 50 degrees. I'm thankful we had an awesome hike, were back down to the car by 1:30 leaving us time to explore two more areas in the high peaks. And praise report: I had NO cervicogenic headache all day nor did I have upper back pain when going down the mountain or for the rest of that day. (Wish it would be that way every day!!). I'm thankful for pain free moments.
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| Big Slide as seen from the opening to an overlook on Mt VanH |
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| looking up when paused on the trail Mt VanHoevenberg in golden glory |
- A PEEK of a HIGH PEAK: On the way down from the summit of Mt Van Hoevenberg, I discovered an opening through some pines where there is an overlook. We had a wonderful view of the High Peak known as Big Slide. Can you see the slide on the mountain? The elevation of that high peak is 4239' and I have hiked the first 2 miles of that trail as it goes to 3 peaks known as The Brothers. Big Slide has a lot of rocky scrambles so I'm not likely to be able to hike that one due to my cervical spine issues. But I know several people who have made it to the top. It was awesome to see the actual peak since earlier it had been in the clouds.
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| Big Slide a high peak in the Adirondacks |
- PHOTO PEEK: Courtney and her best guy friend from college (Nathaniel) had their 10th year reunion at Gordon College's HomeComing (HoCo)
on the north shore Boston area this past weekend. They left Friday and stayed at an inn Dave and I had recommended. Most of their activities were right on the college campus in this town of course but they also had Sunday to explore Gloucester and including one of the lighthouses. I had a sneak peak of some photos that she texted me. I'm so thankful they had safe travels to and from Boston (they all took Monday off so it was a travel home day after exploring Plum Island). I'm also thankful she could see some college friends she hadn't seen since graduation 2015 and that her boyfriend Tyler really seemed to enjoy his time.Tyler and Courtney at Eastern Point Lighthouse
Atlantic Ocean
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| Courtney and Tyler at the historic bell in front of Gordon College Chapel photo used with permission |
- SNEAK PEEK: After the SoulSteps mountain hike last Saturday, we had enough time to pop over to these waterfalls I had been to twice before. We had to "sneak" in (although there was only 1 other person there and he was leaving as we were arriving) past the fence....the fence is to keep people off the ledge but that doesn't seem to stop anyone as the fence is broken in 3 different areas! In fact, we could basically walk around it at one spot. I wanted my hiking friends to see this glorious falls. The reason for the fence is because several people have died here or been seriously injured as they tried to get to the base of the falls. There are warning signs as well. We of course stayed well away from the ledge. I knew where to bring my friends for a good shot of the falls. I'm thankful we had time to pop over to the falls.
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| Split Rock Falls town of New Russia Adirondack high peaks region |
- PEEK at WHAT'S COMING: On Wednesday, I had two errands to run and in between both of them, I did my morning power walk and some running at the Erie Canal bike path on the western edge of town. The Erie Canal path goes all the way from Albany to Buffalo. I had a great peek at what's to come..... a few trees were totally bare along the path but the leaves were brown and very "crunchy". On the news, I heard that this is because of the long drought we have had here in NYS since June. We did have one day of rain in July and then 4 days of rain (3 just last week) in Sept but the water tables are very low. So in a drought with very warm weather like we've experienced this year, the leaves turn brown and fall quickly. Here's a picture of me walking through the leaves and then the tree from where they fell. Of course the what's to come is more and more leaves will be falling off the trees in the next 2 months. I'm thankful for the beauty of a bare tree and for walking places to exercise.
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| power walking through fallen dried leaves |
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| A bare tree along the Erie Canal path |
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, whatever autumnal things you have planned. I'm hiking in the Central region of the Adirondacks today with my friend Diane F. We will be climbing a small mountain where the foliage is just at peak. I'm praying my cervical pain will be healed and if God chooses not to, I'm praying for the patience to deal with this. It's been a long 3 years. But thankfully, I can still hike!
Saturday is a trip to Vermont.
Sunday is church and yet another hike at a local state park where 18 SoulStep members have signed up! I'm thankful three of those members are my husband, my oldest daughter and her boyfriend.
HAPPY FRIDAY!
6 comments:
I always think it's so strange to see my area (the north shore of Boston) on blogs. I think we've already established that I work just around the corner from Gordon college. Many of the families I work with are from Wenham. It's such a pretty little town.
So good to hear you've had some pain free time. I hope that continues for you but good to know it's not stopping you from hiking. I hope you have a good time at the weekend with your group and family.
Hi Faith. So glad you had some good hikes and time in the mountians. It's great that you were pain free. It was fun to see pictures of Courtney and Tyler. I hope you have a good weekend. See you again soon!
I'm glad Courtney and her boyfriend had such a great time. And that you got some great hikes in. We've been pretty dry here, too, but I am hoping the leaves don't fall off too quickly.
You have so many beautiful places to hike and so many opportunities. I'm glad your pain levels are staying down so you can enjoy all the fall beauty around you.
We have been quite dry here, too Hopefully, we will get some rain this next week. (fingers crossed)
Courtney and Tyler's weekend sounds like it was a good time, especially reconnecting with college friends.
Hi Faith, I sure enjoyed reading your post about your hikes and the beautiful trees. I am glad you had some pain-free moments. We always need rain here in So CA and I sure hope we get some this winter. I really want to go walking. As soon as I feel better, I want to go somewhere to walk that has trees.
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