May Adventure! 5/22/17 Annapolis Rock Appalachian Trail Boonsboro, MD

I decided to go on a solo hike this month for my adventure!  I was quite nervous about it- not only was it at a place where I hadn't been before, but I was also worried about my safety while doing it!  I was going to be alone in the woods- with potential murderers and bear.  I found it pretty easily.  Actually it was just a parking lot off the side of the road with the entrance of the trail there.  I parked, gave myself a bit of a pep talk, cursed myself a bit for forgetting to both pee before I left the house and bring my poncho for the potentially rainy day. The trail was 2.5 miles so with an almost full bladder and a worried heart I was already telling myself it was OK to not do the whole trail.    I stopped and took this picture before officially heading out. 

As I turned to go behind the sign I was really nervous so I drew inspiration from a blog I had read earlier in the week about a girl heading out for her first solo hike-- she told herself, Let's go-- just put one foot in front of the other.  I checked my phone a few times while walking down the pavement towards the trail and worked up the nerve.  Cell signal strong.  OK-- let's go.

This was it-- the start of my adventure.  I nervously but boldly started.  It went around a curve and down a slope.  There I was met with a long, narrow, open air bridge heading across the interstate.  The noise from the traffic only made my anxiety worse and I nearly started to cry. Was that a hiker on the other side of the bridge!? Coming right towards me!?  That's when I noticed that the arrow to Annapolis Rock pointed to the trail to the right and not to the bridge.  So I started down that trail right next to the traffic.  It was deafening.  Then I had to go underneath an overpass where I was certain a homeless person was going to jump out and get me.  At this point I was so scared but I kept going. 

I drew from all my girl power--- "Nevertheless, she persisted." 

Once I made it to a more quiet area with more woods I loosened up a bit to realize I was holding a what I can imagine was a pretty bold/animated face about the whole experience.  I decided to take a selfie with this serious look.

Pretty sure I get the award for most grumpy looking hiker!  I headed deeper down the trail.  Less worried about homeless people, now worried about coming across a bear.  Certainly I would see one, it would kill me in a slow bloody way-- and I would meet my end this very day.

But, no, I was just met with the beautiful green of the trees and sounds of birds singing.  I was starting to lighten up a bit more-- but still very cautious. 

Before I knew it I was at a fork in the road.  The very clear sign directed me to go right to continue to Annapolis rock.  By now I had been walking for about 10-15 min.  I stopped to catch my breath, let my mind catch up and process everything.  I had just set my water bottle down so I could take some pictures when here comes the hiker I had seen before.  In what looked like full long term hiking gear.  He trudged by me with his hiking sticks, looking in his late 40's early 50's-- black dragon tattoo on his left bicep looking tired but determined.  I quietly said "hello", he said "hello-- it turned out to be a great day", he said, "not too cold not too hot"-- I agreed and to his back I said" I was expecting it to rain but it turned out to be a great day."-- "Yea" he called back.   In that moment I totally decided he was a great friendly guy and for a split second I thought I might ask him if I could hike with him for a while but I could tell I would slow him down, so I let him go ahead of me.  I followed him, keeping him in sight.  He was comforting -- knowing he was there I felt a bit safer. 

I scrambled behind him a bit, but he was a fast devil-- clearly a pro.  My heart was pounding when I stopped to rest-- knowing I had gone as far as I felt comfortable I considered turning around.  I watched him disappear around the corner and never saw him again. 

I looked up the hill and knew it would only keep going up.  I didn't want to push myself too far this first time out- or risk hurting myself.  So, I decided to turn around.  If I wasn't so scared( and if I didn't have to pee so bad) I probably would've kept going.  I had gone nearly 40 minutes with a small backpack so I was definitely pushing myself.  I decided to turn around and vow to finish this trail after I had done some training. 

The walk back was a bit more relaxing-- the trail is rocky and I don't know if this is common or not- but it was quite challenging to me-- even just for the rocks.  I enjoyed the hike back and took in more of the beauty.  I came across another hiker-- tall guy late 20's early 30's with a hoodie sweatshirt on.  I didn't notice him carrying a pack or even a water bottle, so I was feeling good about myself that I had at least more smarts than this guy.  When I could hear the traffic grow louder I was a bit bummed to go back into the real world.  I felt good and strong.  Proud and tired. 

I made it back to the original sign and found some pretty flowers to take a celebratory selfie with!

All in all I think I walked a mile and a half-- maybe more-- probably closer to 2 miles which meant that I was so close to being at the top.  I was happy and proud but I was also a little disappointed that I think I was ALMOST there and I didn't finish. 

Oh well-- I will another day.  I'll be more prepared and maybe have a friend with me.  I'll be more prepared next time which I'm sure will help me with my anxiety level about the whole thing. 

Next time I go I want to have a better backpack, one of the loudest emergency whistles and it would be great to find one of those devices so that I can pee standing up :) 

I'm having fun with this hiking - and I think I want to give it more of my time.  Where next??  We'll see!

Until Next Time!

Mother's Day 2017

Hello All--

This was a wonderful year to be an Ashton Momma!  I'm 45 and Ashton is just short of 15 1/2--  We had a great day with hiking, donuts, shopping and shakes. 

 Here's my first selfie on our hike.  We went to the battlefield (third battle of Winchester on Red Bud Rd.) and had officially went farther than we had the last time we walked here.  Ashton wasn't ready to do a selfie-- teehee I snuck him in anyway!

This grove was beautiful.  Tree lined and nice shade when the temperatures warmed. 

Finally my baby let me do a selfie with him!  He's such a happy handsome man.  We're loving our hike and exploring the new terrain. 

If we had a snack with us we would've kept going-- but we decided it was time to turn back to the car.  We ended up hiking for an hour and 12 minutes and by the message my legs were giving me the next day I'm glad we turned around!  Tired but not really sore.  I definitely knew I had done something I hadn't done in a while!

Snack time at Target!

We've decided (and I hope we keep it up!) to make our hike a tradition.  It's a great way to slow down and reconnect as momma & son. 

I love that guy to the moon and back!  He's crazy creative.  He's polite.  He respects women.  He's super intelligent.  He also speaks his mind-- is willing to debate a topic he's passionate about- and he'll go toe to toe with things that irritate him.  (including me)  I'm slowly letting go and letting him be who he is.  I'm so glad I'm his mom. 

Love. 

Until Next Time.

April Adventure! Oatland Plantation Leesburg, VA 4/24/17

Hello All,

Time to report on my April adventure!  It was a rainy chilly day but I'm glad that I went.  I had considered briefly to not go but I knew I'd be upset with myself if I didn't.  It wasn't ideal, but it was fun and I am glad I went. 

Part of the fun of going on these adventures is going down roads I either hadn't been at all or haven't been in a very very long time.  That's what happened when I went down Rt. 9 towards Leesburg from Charlestown.  I found a really neat little farm market. 

After looking around a bit I bought some green tea (that was awful by the way) a small soap and some dried apples.

It was so nice inside, I wish I could've stayed longer-- but I didn't leave the house until after lunch so I headed on out.  Next time I go that way I'll be sure to make time to get a snack while I'm there. 

I followed the directions and traveled another half an hour- the directions weren't making sense.  I had followed a road that I thought was right but it dumped me onto 15 and I had no idea which way to go!  My directions said nothing of a 15!  So I back tracked and stopped at this little shop to ask for some guidance. 

The lady was very nice (although I was a bit embarrassed that my phone didn't have GPS as she expected) She said go to the brick church and go back that road and turn right onto 15, it'll be on the left. 

Selfie response to going back the way I had just come!

But in the end, I didn't give up and I MADE IT!

It was soggy, rainy and cold but I didn't care. 

I really enjoyed the greenhouse.  It had beautiful light for pictures, lots of historic details and most importantly -- it was about 10 degrees warmer in there!

I forgot to tell you that the tour of the mansion was guided and I had to wait until 4 pm to take the tour--  I waited on the front porch (luckily covered) as I was instructed.  I really thought I was going to have to be the only one on the tour- but here came 3 women to take it with me!

They were from Richmond VA and had traveled all the way here to see this house.  Apparently I had come here the same week as Garden Week in Virginia.  Oatland Plantation was just one of 8? 10? on the list.  They were very nice.  We talked a bit while we waited.  The most outgoing of the ladies had a Savannah Georgia accent, but said she was from Richmond.  Go figure. 

We took almost the whole hour to go through the mansion.  It had a lot of neat history.  I was hoping to go back into the garden before 5 when they closed, but the tour took too long.  I will definitely go back to see the garden on a bright warm sunny day.  I only got to see the very tip of it. 

By 5 o'clock I was tired, snacky and with damp feet.  It was also raining at a pretty steady pace.  Time to head home.  It took about an hour and a half to get home due to traffic.  (I managed to time it just at rush hour commuting time) 

That is it.  My soggy adventure but it feels good to get out alone and see something new.  I'm thinking about Pennsylvania for this month.  Not sure exactly what though!  We'll see.

Until Next Time!