6/16/13
Well, I'm not quite on the trail again yet, but I am thinking about it! I'm hoping to head out to the wilderness within the next couple of weeks. In looking for a hike that would give me about a month on the trail, I have settled in on the Benton MacKaye Trail, which "figure-8s" with the Appalachian trail, in Northern Georgia and through the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. I have done very little prep work for this hike in comparison to other long distance hikes that I have completed, and I am also, in comparison, very out-of-shape at this point in my life. (Well, I'm in a shape...it's just much larger, rounder, and not a firm and muscular.) It is time, though, for a "baptism by fire" experience...nothing like a long distance hike in the wilderness to whip the body back into shape. After all, it's just putting one foot in front of the other, and walking like we do every day. How hard can that be, right?
Later this week, I will get my gear together and escape this Florida heat, with a drive up to North Carolina. I will bring with me a companion, Ty, a "foster dog" that I've recently acquired. ("foster dog" because, I'm not yet convinced that his stay with me is permanent, and am passively looking for him a home...message me if it's you and your family that want a dog). I'm hoping that he's going to be a good trail dog, and that I'm up for the adventure of hiking with him. My plan is to head out next week on a trail near my folks' cabin in Burnsville, NC for a few days to see how both he and I do. Then, I am hoping to spend the month of July thru-hiking the 288 miles of the Benton MacKaye Trail, and possibly looping some with the Appalachian Trail. As, I said no real solidified planning, as of yet.
Overall, my goal is to get back out on the trail, taking in God's amazing beauty, while rejuvenating my whole being, both internally and externally. It's been awhile, and I am very excited to get back out there (and take you all along on the journey with me)!
8/9 – Day 18: A visit to Haarlem from Amsterdam (2nd day)
Welcome to Haarlem, the home town of Corrie Ten Boom
At this train station, they have a bike parking garage under the station. I thought it was fun to see the locals walking their bikes down the stairs using the ingeniously designed bike track.
The cute, quaint town of Haarlem
The Dutch have some rather large shoes to fill.
The church where the Ten Boom family worshiped
Our volunteer guide through the Ten Boom home. She spent 20 minutes of our hour tour preaching the Gospel with everyone seated in the family room. There was a definite presence of the Spirit of the Lord.
The Ten Boom sisters. Corrie is the youngest, pictured on the right.
Corrie in her later years
The hymn "You are My Hiding Place" setting on the Ten Boom piano.
The entrance to "The Hiding Place," on the bottom shelf on the cabinet, where 6 people (4 Jews) hid for 47 hours while the gestapo tore the house apart looking for them, but were unable to find them.
Me standing by the, now, hole in that exposed the "Hiding Place" for visitors to see.
Also, note the cabinet on the left, which was the same entrance, pictured above.
The place in the molding of the stairwell that the gestapo found extra ration cards, for which Corrie and three other family members were imprisoned.
A poster of Corrie at the "Hiding Place" after the museum was established.
The Ten Boom family Bible
Me standing outside of the Ten Boom watch shop. The house is on the upper floors.
A cheese shop...those Dutch are known for their cheese.
Catching the train back to Amsterdam. It was a wonderful visit to Haarlem!
8/8 – Day 17: Amsterdam, Netherlands (1st day)
Bessie was there to welcome me to Amsterdam!
The gabled homes along the canal are an icon of Amsterdam
Definitely more people bike around town than drive cars here.
Houseboats are abundant along the sides of the canals
Lots of bicycles! This is the first level (of 4) of the bike parking outside of the train station.
My folks on the dock awaiting our hop-on-hop-off boat...both our transportation and tour.
8/6 – Day 15: South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland, UK
The Firth of Forth, where our ship was anchored in Queensferry, Scotland
The beautiful Firth of Forth bridge, as we tendered under.
Our Scottish welcome music
We tour a whisky distillery, and got to try a sample...rather disgusting stuff all around if you ask me.
Some rich guy's scotch whisky collection.
Me at the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, where the Tattoo will be later that evening.
A factory where they make the Scottish plaid materials for the different clans.
The castle on the hill to the right. In the middle, the stands for the Tattoo, and on the left is Old Town
The opening act at the 2011 Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which even in the rain was an amazing experience.
I tell you, this was a marching band geek's paradise!
The castle lighting up, as the band played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
All the bands out for the final act of the Tattoo.
The Fringe Festival was going on, which brought our all the artsy types.
You never know what you'll see during the Fringe!
The que, in the rain, waiting to get into the Tattoo.
8/5 – Day 14: Invergordan, Scotland, UK
This was a nice relaxing day. We have visited this port two or three times before, but skipped right over Invergordan and took off on tours to Inverness, where you find a castle and the infamous Loch Ness, with its legendary “monster”. Not today though…today we strolled the town’s “High Street,” stopping in at stores. A highlight was visiting the local Protestant church, “The Church of Scotland.” They had computers with free internet access in one nave, and the women of the church has tables for free tea and shortbread set up in the other nave, with live organ music playing in the background. We experienced both, our favorite of which was the tea and chatting with a generous and loving sister in Christ. After spending over an hour at the church, we headed back out to High Street, and stopped in the community center for a little garage sale, where they were also serving free tea.
Next, we headed on down the street, and were intrigued by the “Fishy Feet” sign in the window of the beauty shop. We had them call and make me an appointment at a place across town. My folks and I grabbed a taxi and headed out to “The Therapy Rooms.” I first heard of “doctor fish” last fall when visiting China…you soak your feet in water while these little fish eat the dead skin off. I wanted to experience it then, but didn’t get the chance, and today was a perfect day to have this done. So, I sat for 30 minutes with my feet in water while fish feasted on my dead skin. It did tickle quite a bit. The therapist noted the difference afterward in the softness of my feet…but honestly I couldn’t tell the difference. It was worth the experience, but I don’t think I ever need to do it again. But, how many of you can say that you’ve have fish nibble on your feet for a half hour. J
While doing this, my dad had a Thai arms and leg massage. He said it was one of the best and most knowledgeable massage therapists that he’s ever had. Afterward, she spent about 20 minutes doing some free reflexology on a sore spot on my mom’s first. Both her and her assistant were very friendly and good at what they do. And, no worries, they too offered us complimentary tea. Instead of calling a taxi, she gave us a lift back into town, where we spent a couple more hour strolling before heading back to the ship, making this a very relaxing and personal day. The folks of Scotland are very kind and it was nice being immersed in the culture for the day. I’m looking forward to Edinburgh tomorrow.
The town from the ship deck.
Not a big place, but so very friendly.
Flowers in window boxes or hangers were abundant in this quaint town
Our "Welcome to Scotland" bagpipe players
My mother with our new friend that serves in the Women's Guild at the local church.
The Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland
Fishy Feet! Yes, those are fish eating the dead skin off my feet. It did tickle a bit.
Oils rigs are brought into this port for repair
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)