Twin Chimneys - part 2.

 

Today I went for a solo hike. It had been two weeks since I hit the trails and my body, mind and spirit needed this.

As I drove to O’Bannon Wood State Park, the mist hit my window, and the overcast skies seemed to reflect my recent mood. I debated going today, but my wife insisted I go. She knows how much it helps me and my recent stresses at work had to be purged.

As I arrived at the gravel parking lot, I suspected it was empty. It was 8:30am on a cold and rainy day. Perfect to wash away my anxiety. Climbing out of the car and the 37-degree air, a slight breeze and mist hit my face. I became energized. I have a t-shirt that says ‘I’m not crazy. My reality is just different from yours’ that I thought of. My wife and friends would disagree and simply call me crazy.

As I left my car and headed toward the trail, the air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. The light mist adds a touch of mystery, blurring the edges of the trees and cloaking the forest floor in a soft, silvery sheen.

Most of the leaves had fallen, revealing the intricate patterns of the branches against the overcast sky. The occasional splash of red or gold from a clinging leaf adds a pop of color to the muted palette of the season.

Under my boots the ground is soft and springy underfoot, a carpet of fallen leaves and pine needles. The slight breeze rustles the branches, sending showers of tiny droplets in a rhythmic pattern as they hit the forest floor.

The occasional chirp of a bird or the rustle of small animals in the undergrowth breaks the silence of the forest. It’s a peaceful solitude, perfect for reconnecting with nature and my own inner thoughts.

It’s beautiful how you’ve captured that bittersweet transition from tension to release in such vivid imagery. The cool breeze carrying away worries, tears mirroring the cleansing of my emotional state, and finally, the slow sinking into nature’s serene embrace. It’s a moment we all crave, and today I found it.

My destination was twin chimneys, that are the only actual parts of a house long abandoned and reclaimed by nature. My journey there was slow and methodical because of the wet leaves and slippery rocks. Once I arrived, I took a few minutes to look around before heading deeper into the woods on a trail I was unfamiliar with. I shot the picture above and continued until I saw an intersecting trail I was on previously.

There was a picnic table there, so I took my backpack off, sat my camera down and got out my water bottle. Those quiet moments with nature can be a double-edged sword, bringing both solace and stark confrontation with my inner struggles. The silence amplifies the noise within, yet it also offers a space to process it, untangle it, and ultimately, hopefully, find some peace.

Perhaps, instead of fighting the noise, try befriending it. Acknowledge its presence, listen to its whispers, and see what stories it wants to tell. There is fear, also frustration, and even something else entirely that I am unaware of. But by facing these things with curiosity and compassion, I might understand their roots and begin to heal and soothe myself.

Remember, nature holds her own wisdom. Take deep breaths of fresh air, feel the sun on your skin, and let the sounds of the earth wash over you. Maybe try mirroring its rhythms–sway with the gentle breeze, breathe with the rustling leaves, let your thoughts flow like a fast-flowing creek, or babbling brook.

I will return to the woods tomorrow and possibly New Year’s Day. Each journey in the woods intending to clear my erratic mind and strive to understand why things both within and out of my control have such a vice grip on my soul and mind.

Until next time,

Tim

P.S. - Read more about my first trip there - https://timothybme.blogspot.com/2021/03/twin-chimney.html