Mile 512. No longer a novice.

Even with a continued forecast of rain, I am bound and determined to see the number “500” on the trial today.   I can wait no longer.

What is it about the number 500, anyway.   

It’s a number that impresses me.  It’s a voice that says, “You no longer are a novice.”   It’s a threshold that embraces me into this dirty-yet-clean world that titillates my senses and makes me feel alive.

Today’s hike was my favorite kind - an exploration of multiple ecosystems in a single day.  Every corner brings another sensory experience, another audible gasp, another moment that inspires multiple photographs in a desperate wish to bottle the awe that I am feeling deep in my cells.

Today’s journey starts with a mother cow mooing her calf to hurry up - she’s going places.

It continues into an emerald forest, sparkling with raindrops.   My canvas is bright, articulating jet black tree trunks against chartreuse leaflings.   

The Trail now is its own waterfall.   Rather than carefully navigating to avoid water and mud, I splash right in with a devilish glee.   

My childish dance continues with miles and miles of hopscotch, hip-hopping a path through boulders and rocks and tree trunks.   My feet love the challenge.   The best path is the fearless one.

The afternoon brings a wild herd of high country ponies.   They are hungry after two days of thunder; and they ignore my attempts to coodle and fawn.  

Finally, my day ends with a thankless team of trail maintenance crew.   Caked with mud and sweat, they slave over large rocks, cutting and moving them to form a perfect path.  I smile approvingly: the women are throwing the sledgehammers.

I arrive to my target 17.2 miles muddy, wet, cold, and happy.  

I am where I am supposed to be.