Sometimes my trips don't exactly involve packing a bag, catching a flight, or packing my car for the road. Sometimes my trips stay close to home, some might not consider it to be a trip to go somewhere for just a couple hours, but for me, it is the experience of the journey. For me, taking a hike to Lynx Lake yesterday was a mini trip, one that I was able travel, not only along the trail, but in my imagination as well.
I set out early one Saturday morning for my hike around Lynx Lake with a little bit of a troubled mind. Dreams from the night before had left me haunted and I was finding them hard to shake. I took off and at the first sight of blue water my soul already began to lift. I paused as I passed in front of the spillway just off the North Shore parking lot and watched some fishermen in a boat. They floated nearby, lines dropped into the water as they stared at their rods, hoping for a bite. On the shoreline a family gathered together; some standing, some in chairs, all holding fishing rods hoping for a little luck in catching a fish. I continued on past the fishermen in the boat and waved good morning to them. I passed the family on the shore and nodded my hello as I moved into the shade of the tall trees that surrounded the lakeside trail. This was going to be a good hike, I could already tell.
I made my way around the lake and my mind began to wander as I took in the sights and sounds of the lake and all the people who were visiting. I smiled at hikers who were coming in the opposite direction. I listened to the birds in the trees and ducks in the lake. I relaxed to the gentle sound of the lake quietly lapping against the shore as my boots crunched on the dirt path beneath my feet. Not far down the trail a couple with a black lab passed by me. They greeted me as they zipped on past and I had to smile at the dog. The lab trotted alongside his owner with a bright green tennis ball in his mouth.
I continued on my hike and had a moment of sadness as the dreams from the night before tried to creep in again. As I rounded the bend toward a little inlet I saw the couple with the black lab nearing the shore of the inlet. The lab was off his leash and racing toward the water. He paused at the shore long enough to drop his ball and raced on in. The owner tossed his ball into the water and
SPLASH! the lab was in the water and after the ball. I watched the dog zip along the shore before plowing into the lake again and again as I hiked past and a burble of a laugh bubbled up from inside me. A small moment of pure joy that this dog was experiencing was seeping into me and pushing away the last dredges of sadness.
Lighter than before I continued on my trek, before I knew it I had made it to the South Shore. I paused for a breather at a shady picnic table and had a brief chat with a runner who had also stopped at the same table. The weather had turned warm and was quite humid from the previous day's monsoon storm but there was promise of more. I continued my hike knowing I was halfway around and entered the part of the trail that I knew would be a bit more challenging. Not from the trail difficulty, no, it was the portion of the trail that was now in full sun. Pressing on I left the parking lot of South Shore and kept going. At this point, I moved quickly along the trail drinking my water a little more frequently than I was before. I thankfully hiked over the little bridges that hovered over dry inlets and continued on my way. I thought about times I'd been out at the lake for short walks with friends or family, noting spots that we'd stopped in the past as I kept going. I happily noted the rental dock, knowing that I was nearing the end of the hike.
When I finally reached the final portion of the trail I began the uphill trek of the cement walkway toward the parking lot. I paused about halfway up the walkway to catch a breath. The sun now was intense and burning hot. I looked back down the trail to the lake below and wondered if taking a stroll into the water would be frowned upon. I bet the water would have felt wonderful at that point. Turning away from the water I finished my walk up the sidewalk and pushed myself up the handful of steps that led to the parking lot. At the top, I stopped. My mood had elevated, I felt so much lighter and better than I had when I had stood at the top of those same steps just a couple hours earlier. Sure I was sweaty and grimy, more than ready for a good air conditioner and a large glass of ice cold water, but none of that mattered. My trek around the lake truly was a journey for me, one that moved me emotionally from sadness to accomplished and joy. Hiking Lynx Lake is a beautiful hike to enjoy. You have beautiful views, lovely sounds, and many smiling faces. One just has to go and take in the pleasantness of the surroundings at embrace all the beauty Lynx Lake has to offer.
Sometimes my trips don't exactly involve packing a bag, catching a flight, or packing my car for the road. Sometimes my trips stay close to home, some might not consider it to be a trip to go somewhere for just a couple hours, but for me, it is the experience of the journey. For me, taking a hike to Lynx Lake yesterday was a mini trip, one that I was able travel, not only along the trail, but in my imagination as well. 
I set out early one Saturday morning for my hike around Lynx Lake with a little bit of a troubled mind. Dreams from the night before had left me haunted and I was finding them hard to shake. I took off and at the first sight of blue water my soul already began to lift. I paused as I passed in front of the spillway just off the North Shore parking lot and watched some fishermen in a boat. They floated nearby, lines dropped into the water as they stared at their rods, hoping for a bite. On the shoreline a family gathered together; some standing, some in chairs, all holding fishing rods hoping for a little luck in catching a fish. I continued on past the fishermen in the boat and waved good morning to them. I passed the family on the shore and nodded my hello as I moved into the shade of the tall trees that surrounded the lakeside trail. This was going to be a good hike, I could already tell. 
I made my way around the lake and my mind began to wander as I took in the sights and sounds of the lake and all the people who were visiting. I smiled at hikers who were coming in the opposite direction. I listened to the birds in the trees and ducks in the lake. I relaxed to the gentle sound of the lake quietly lapping against the shore as my boots crunched on the dirt path beneath my feet. Not far down the trail a couple with a black lab passed by me. They greeted me as they zipped on past and I had to smile at the dog. The lab trotted alongside his owner with a bright green tennis ball in his mouth. 
I continued on my hike and had a moment of sadness as the dreams from the night before tried to creep in again. As I rounded the bend toward a little inlet I saw the couple with the black lab nearing the shore of the inlet. The lab was off his leash and racing toward the water. He paused at the shore long enough to drop his ball and raced on in. The owner tossed his ball into the water and SPLASH! the lab was in the water and after the ball. I watched the dog zip along the shore before plowing into the lake again and again as I hiked past and a burble of a laugh bubbled up from inside me. A small moment of pure joy that this dog was experiencing was seeping into me and pushing away the last dredges of sadness. 
Lighter than before I continued on my trek, before I knew it I had made it to the South Shore. I paused for a breather at a shady picnic table and had a brief chat with a runner who had also stopped at the same table. The weather had turned warm and was quite humid from the previous day's monsoon storm but there was promise of more. I continued my hike knowing I was halfway around and entered the part of the trail that I knew would be a bit more challenging. Not from the trail difficulty, no, it was the portion of the trail that was now in full sun. Pressing on I left the parking lot of South Shore and kept going. At this point, I moved quickly along the trail drinking my water a little more frequently than I was before. I thankfully hiked over the little bridges that hovered over dry inlets and continued on my way. I thought about times I'd been out at the lake for short walks with friends or family, noting spots that we'd stopped in the past as I kept going. I happily noted the rental dock, knowing that I was nearing the end of the hike.
When I finally reached the final portion of the trail I began the uphill trek of the cement walkway toward the parking lot. I paused about halfway up the walkway to catch a breath. The sun now was intense and burning hot. I looked back down the trail to the lake below and wondered if taking a stroll into the water would be frowned upon. I bet the water would have felt wonderful at that point. Turning away from the water I finished my walk up the sidewalk and pushed myself up the handful of steps that led to the parking lot. At the top, I stopped. My mood had elevated, I felt so much lighter and better than I had when I had stood at the top of those same steps just a couple hours earlier. Sure I was sweaty and grimy, more than ready for a good air conditioner and a large glass of ice cold water, but none of that mattered. My trek around the lake truly was a journey for me, one that moved me emotionally from sadness to accomplished and joy. Hiking Lynx Lake is a beautiful hike to enjoy. You have beautiful views, lovely sounds, and many smiling faces. One just has to go and take in the pleasantness of the surroundings at embrace all the beauty Lynx Lake has to offer.
Well done.
ReplyDelete