20 November 2012

Running Away

Since I can't actually RUN away anywhere, I decided to get out of town for the weekend.  Solo.  What better way to re-charge than to hike out into the wilderness and set up camp for a few days?  Okay, a state park isn't exactly wilderness.  

It took me a few hours to find a Texas State Park that had available hike-in primitive sites.  I didn't want to stay with noisy RVs - I wanted to be away from it all.  Finally, I secured a spot on-line, crammed my gear into my backpack, loaded up the car and set out for an adventure.

When I showed my reservation at the office she asked, "Primitive?"   She asked how many adults and when I replied with one, she repeated, in disbelief, "By yourself?  You're camping primitive BY YOURSELF?"  Uh, yes and thanks for announcing it to all the potentially crazy people in the office.  I wanted to say, "Um, nope, my mistake, me, my big dog and my angry dad with several guns are all camping together."  Instead, I just smiled and nodded.  Yup.

Loaded up with everything I'd need for the weekend.

Tested out the water proofness of my boots by crossing the Paluxy River.  
They indeed are waterproof. Good thing because the water got deeper!

Oh mah guah.  This view.  I could stare all day - and did for hours.  

Until I watched in silence as the sun set.  

Pitch black by 7pm, I amused myself by reading (brought 3, yes 3 books with me) and writing letters.  Yep, old fashioned pen and paper letters.  Who doesn't love mail?  It didn't get as cold as I feared it might and I was comfortable all night - save for the roaming coyotes who sang their mournful song a good part of the night. I didn't see any other campers but I didn't worry.  My food was hung high in a tree and honestly, I didn't think the coyotes were all that interested in my Clif bars!  

Standing once again in the Paluxy River, I was treated to this spectacular view.  I just stood there, holding my breath.  This sight - this glory.  I don't see this every day, yet it is there. The beauty is all around us if we'll stop for a moment and look for it.  

And I'm so glad that I took the time to look, for I surely found it.

24 comments:

  1. This. This is so wonderful.
    I'm so happy for you that you got to escape and surround yourself with Gods' wonders.

    Breathtaking.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This.
    This is truly wonderful. I'm so happy you got to escape and enjoy the spectacular view of Gods' wonders.

    ReplyDelete
  3. wow. gorgeous. and you are so cute with your headlamp. i'm glad a coyote didn't eat you up.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous views! I think you are amazing for doing that....I am not a camper and definitely wouldn't go alone

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow. You're amazing, I'd be too nervous to do it alone.

    That last picture is so awesome!
    Sad that you're still not running, but I'm right there w/ya. :( I guess it will make us appreciate running even more when it happens.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow. You're awesome! I'd be too nervous to do it alone.

    Love that last picture! The skies proclaim the work of His hands. ♥

    Sad to hear you're still not running, but I'm right there w/ya. :(
    I guess we will just appreciate running even more when we're able to do it again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. so. amazing. so glad you were able to just get away solo and be primitive. so awesome.
    and that last pic - just whoa. must. be. framed!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am always so in awe of God's creation and that He chooses to share it with us! I do love a sun rise!

    How so very brave of you to go alone! I'm afraid of the dark so I'm not sure this would work for me! And snakes... more afraid of snake than the dark, but the possibility of them both happening at the same time gives me the hibby jibbies!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a peaceful weekend. I would love doing that too if I could find a spider-free campsite. ;) I hate to hear you're still not running but I'm glad you found a place to make your heart happy. The solitude of nature works wonders on the spirit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So beautiful. Time in the woods makes everything better.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful scenery!!! Kudos to you for camping alone...I would be so spooked!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You are the CUTEST!! Sounds amazingly perfect. And that last photograph is breathtaking. Good for you. I'm glad you ran away, but even more glad you came back!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love that you did this. Those views are awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  14. How peaceful. I love that you are brave enough to do that... I know I don't think I have the courage - you know coyotes and all :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. A serene setting to soothe the soul. The final photo is nothing short of perfect. Just like your trip. Perfect. I'm glad you enjoyed your time in nature. Those coyotes don't know what they're missing. Clif bars are tasty.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hahahaha about what you WANTED to tell her when she asked if you were camping alone.

    I think it's wonderful you went off on your own and found the peace you were looking for :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. ahh-MAZing!! btw - I consider RV/tent parks -- a wilderness adventure. Kuddos to you for going it alone -- brave pink girl!! xo

    ReplyDelete
  18. That last picture is amazing. It doesn't even look real.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Those views are just gorgeous!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Those views are in Texas? I must be living in the wrong part of the state!

    ReplyDelete

Tell it like it is!