What started in me fearing a hike turned into what could potentially be one of my favorite moments of the entire trip. After letting myself come to the conclusion I didn’t think I'd make it back up after hiking down to Vikingsholm, I ended up taking a small rocky hike up to one of the most beautiful views so far. At the top, I spent a little over two hours enjoying the company of other tourists, my kindle unlimited subscription, wildlife, and the beautiful sounds of Emerald Bay. While sitting on the rocks, I found the comfiest spot and just thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. Looking back, I'm so glad I didn't let my doubts stop me from exploring a little further. The view stretched out in every direction, with the deep blue water contrasting against the surrounding mountains and pine trees. It felt like one of those rare places where time slows down and there is nowhere else you would rather be.I found myself completely present in the moment.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was a squirrel that wandered over and began eating just about a foot away from me. Unlike most squirrels I've encountered, this one seemed almost completely unfazed by the people around it. It casually sat among the rocks, nibbling on its food while occasionally looking up before returning to its meal. I spent several minutes watching it move through the cracks and rocks, finding its way around like they owned the place. It was such a simple moment, but it added to the feeling of being immersed in nature rather than simply observing it from a distance. By the time the rest of the class got back, I finally packed up my stuff and started making my way back down to meet back up with them. It was then I realized that the hike I had been almost dreading had given me one of the most relaxing and memorable experiences of the entire trip, and I am so grateful for that.
No comments:
Post a Comment