I took a little hike into Lost Maples State Park today and had a wonderful time. I had attempted to take a hike through the park Sunday but after getting there and seeing the long long line of other people waiting to get in, I decided to let the people who worked through week enjoy the park that day, and come back during the week when it wasn't so busy. After standing in a much shorter line today for only a few moments we drove around as much as possible, then Larry parked the truck near the Maple Trail entrance and I took off down the path.The first thing I noticed as I was carefully making my way along the path was the colorful sprinkling of leaves along parts of it. Other parts of the path were fully carpeted with maple and other leaves. The beauty beneath my feet enchanted me just as much at times as the beauty above them. I guess for people who live around maple trees, walking on such a colorful path is an everyday thing for them during parts of autumn. For this former flat land west Texas woman, it was a magickal experience.
Today's little hike was everything I had hoped it to be. I had wanted a short scenic fall hike, and that is exactly what I experienced. It was enough of a good stretch
of the legs to leave me pleasantly exhilarated, just the slightest touch foot weary, and panting slightly at the end of it. During the hike I saw some gorgeous scenery, chatted with some fellow hikers, and just generally had a perfect autumn outing.The photos I snapped are not as good as some I've seen of this beautiful park. This was my first visit however, and I only had a certain amount of time. I hope to return to Lost Maples and hike other parts of it. If not this fall, then perhaps this spring, and then again next fall. In the meantime, I have the photos I did take, and some wonderful memories of this perfect autumn day to look back on.
Though I did take more photos than I've included with this blog entry, today wasn't really about taking pictures. It was about truly enjoying and experiencing what
was to me, a perfect autumn day. It was about seeing, hearing and feeling all that was around me as I nimbly made my way along that often rocky nature trail. It was about really seeing and feeling the ground beneath my feet, as well as the beauty all around and above me. It was about pushing myself at times on that often colorful trail. Then taking a moment to sit on the bench beneath the canopy of leaves above me, catch my breath, and for just a moment, become one with all the beauty around me. Though I obeyed the rules and didn't take any maple leaves, I do admit to carefully hugging a couple of the trees.
