Anyway, yesterday, I decided to mix up my routine a little and go for my walk/run in the woods. I thought maybe if I wasn't running on concrete, my knees would be happier.
I set off on my journey through Ravenwoods, mostly sticking with the main trails, which are very developed and mostly smooth. It was going ok and I reached a crossroads, or crosstrails as the case may be. I looked at the map posted at the intersection and decided to head off on the blue trail which was described as about 2 miles and goes outside the reserve before it returns to Ravenwoods and the main trail. No problem.
I got about 25 yards beyond the edge of the reservation and hit a section of ushy, cushy mud. I had a decision to make, I could go back and just do the well groomed trails or I could find I way through the briars around the mud patch and keep going. Going back felt like defeat, so I went forward. Picking my way through the briars that kept snagging on my pants, but I made it and started running, well faster joggingish, on slippery rocks, leaf covered trail. (Did I mention it was foggy and raining a bit or perhaps it was the fog condensing on the trees?) All the sudden I had a picture of myself with a twisted ankle, deep in the woods. I decided to slow down and do my walk through the woods.
It was a pleasant morning, hit a couple more muddy patches, picked my way through the briars and kept going. I was looking for where the blue trail connected with the orange trail. From there I only had a little bit further to connect with the main trail again. All the sudden I see the orange markers. "Great" I think, " I should be almost there. I start going down the path and both blazes disappear. Weird. I stop and back track. Found them again and thought they headed off in another direction, but again, they disappear. I go back a little way and see a blue arrow pointing off, so I decide to follow it, but there are no orange markers. Am I going back the way I came? I don't think I've seen this part before, but the woods in the fall kind of look the same. What if I am going back the way I came?
I look at the time. Oh no, it is almost 11 and I don't know how close I am to getting out. I call Daryl. I'm not worried about myself. I knew I would eventually get somewhere that I knew, but I needed to pick up Elizabeth from pre-school which means I needed to leave Gloucester by 11:30. Would I make it? Daryl is on alert that he may need to pick Elizabeth up. So now all I need to do is figure out where I am. Do I keep going? Do I go back? I hear the Gloucester harbor fog horn and I think I am moving towards it (which is a good thing, kind of), but the echoes in the woods make sound travel funny.
I decided to keep going. Before long I see another sign marking the edge of the reservation. I'm back where I want to be. Not long after that, I see a trail marker clearly indicating that I have connected with the other trail. Not far after that I see the main trail and I am back to where I know where I am. Whew.
As I was journeying through the woods, I felt like this was a microcosm of my life right now. I want to go somewhere new, but not long into my decision I hit an ooey gooey mess. I can turn back, but what is the challenge in that? I can go forward, but it means picking my way through some experiences that really hurt as they snag me. When I make it through, the journey is new and interesting, but it isn't necessarily easy. I misread signs and the map. I get turned around or think that I am going the wrong way, yet deep down inside I feel like I am reading the map correctly. I can turn back, but then I will REALLY go the long way or I can keep pushing my way forward until I reach a place I recognize again.
I am glad that I kept going on my stroll through the woods and I am encouraged to keep going on my stroll through life. It is the only way to get to a new place.
