I have done something that I haven't done very often up until now. I decided to venture off the trail into the wild woods. Most of the time before, I stayed on the path and took in my fill of nature from right there. At the time, I had good reasons for doing things that way.I want any of you who are beginners to nature to read closely now. I stayed on the path because it is safer there. There are many poisonous plants in the forest, and other things that just can't be seen clearly. You can usually see very clearly anywhere you step on a hiking trail. There's not as much of a chance of stepping on a snake or something.
I've come a long way in learning what to look out for, so I decided to step off the hiking trails to look for more adventures. I started out by following a few hidden deer trails, but then I went wherever I could make it through. I found out a few very important things along the way.My sense of direction had been excellent while I was on the trails, but when I was in the thick of the woods I found that I wasn't quite so sure. I would come back out onto the trails in completely unexpected places. When I found the strange plant I told you about yesterday, that turned out to be jack-in-the-pulpit, I wasn't quite where I thought I was.
Ths was all okay because I still knew the general direction of where I might find my way back to the hiking trails. Still, I recommend carrying at least a compass if you ever try leaving the trail. I have a GPS with a compass built right in, and I know my trails here as good as I know my own backyard.There was one certain direction that I've been wanting to go for a long time, and I finally decided to try it. There was some poison ivy I had to walk around, but other than that the way was pretty clear. There was something I suspected I would find, and this was the day I was going to do it.
After traveling for a long way and beginning to become a little unsure of myself, I finally found what I suspected was there all along. It was a river that not many people ever get to see. Well, at least not this section of it anyway. I think I even found a small island that split the river in two. I didn't cross over to the island, but I will one of these other times. I figured I'd save that for an all new adventure.I have one other thing I want to take care of today. This is a little off the trail for me too. I have received what is called the Six Hidden Treasures Challenge from Glynis at New Scribbles From Glynis Smy. Here is a link to her post about it: Archives Part II I like this one because it's an easy one. Here are the details.
The Rules
- Take the Challenge picture and place on your blog
- Find your favorite six hidden posts in the archives and add the links under the picture
- Choose one other blogger and send the challenge to them
- Link back to the sender of the challenge and New Scribbles
I want to pass this challenge on to Rainfield over at My Journey. Rainfield has been like my blogging brother for awhile now. I have many great friends here in the blogging world, but Rainfield is one of the very first. You don't have to to take this challenge if you don't want to do it, Rainfield. I just wanted to let you know you are a great friend.
I'm a stick to the path kind of person, my sense of direction stinks especially if i'm in unfamiliar surroundings....lol
ReplyDeleteYou are brave to venture off that trail Ratty. You just never know what might pop out at you..LOL Nice photos of those deep woods though!
ReplyDeletei bet Rainfield will gladly accept the challenge. lucky you to have found a blogging brother in him! :)
ReplyDeleteAbout time you got off the trail. All the really good stuff is out there to be found and nothing really to worry about as long as you don't 'graze'.
ReplyDeleteFortunately you've found your way out of there and bring us different pictures to see..
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the challlenge. I shall take a little time to response, my friend.
ReplyDeletei liked this adventure very much ratty! a little mystery is always a good thing. great photos and a great find!
ReplyDeletei am off to check out your archive links now. have a wonderful day my friend...xoxox
That's the spirit Ratty! I somtimes challenged myself to go off track too. Especially if the is a place of interest behind that.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear your wandering off the trail to explore. There's probably all kinds of cool stuff waiting to be discovered. :-)
ReplyDeleteJust a quick warning to anyone venturing off the trail. If you fall and hurt yourself no-one is going to walk by. Take a mobile phone, a whistle and a torch. Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back. :-)
oh, the only times i stay out of trail when i am geocaching and the directions somehow tells me to go off the trail :( otherwise, i oftentimes are not so adventurous to go off trail, afraid of snakes, etc :)
ReplyDeleteI have a terrible sense of direction so I am careful when venturing off a path. Your photos here are masterpieces.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Ratty. The real adventures are sometimes off the beaten path. I have always had trouble staying on the marked path.
ReplyDeleteAs you said this is not for beginners and can be dangerous. I have hiked and backpacked in various parts of the country and I always take precautions.
Watch out or you will get addicted to going off the path! Great stuff. Always so wonderful to find a spot that very few others have seen!
ReplyDeleteI was getting just a little frightened after the second pic. It reminded of a short novel by Stephen King - The Girl who Love Tom Gordon...I think that was the name of it. She was hiking with family and veered off the trail...lost for several days...but the ending had a better outcome than most King novels I've read
ReplyDeleteAnn - Sticking to the path is still fun. I only left it because I know this forest very well.
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Ginnymo - I thought I would finally go and see what's out there. I was very careful and watchful for the things that might pop out at me. It was actually very quiet.
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Cher - Rainfield is a good guy, and one of my first blogging friends.
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WiseAcre - I thought of you when I first stepped off the trail. I was mostly worried about poison ivy. This park is full of the stuff. I waited to do this once I could easily identify the stuff.
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Icy BC - I was glad I was able to find a few good things there. I'll be trying it again soon.
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Rainfield - You were the only one I thought of for this. Thanks for being here every day right along with me. I feel honored to know you.
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Pj - Yeah. I might have been missing the mystery a little bit. This off the trail adventure felt good.
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VanillaSeven - I hope I have a few more opportunities to do things like this. There is at least one other place I want to try it.
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John - Excellent advice. If I would have been injured without any form of communication at the places I showed in the pictures, nobody would have ever found me.
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Betchai - I don't have nearly the danger at the places I go that you do where you go. You are very wise to stay on your trails.
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Poetic Shutterbug - Even someone with a good sense of direction, like myself, can become disoriented. I did a little bit here.
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SquirrelQueen - Exactly. This is not at all for the beginner. I was a little disoriented even though I know this place very well. But this is good fun for an experienced person as long as they don't push it. :)
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Sharkbytes - I think I'm already hooked after the first time. I've been off the trail before, but never this far into the forest.
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Blog Queen - Oddly, If I would have read that story, I would have gone off the trail much sooner. I love horror stories, especially if they relate to what I'm doing somehow. It's also my favorite type of story to write. I think I'm going to read that book. :)
Hey Ratty,
ReplyDeleteI was listening to Ave Maria when I was reading this and I felt like I was traveling back in time on a hunt or something. So strange. lol
That was a wonderful adventure! If the sun is shining, I can usually find my way o.k. (with a Girl Scout background!) But I just wondered, are there dangerous snakes in your area?
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading about your hiking adventures. I'd probably be nervous off the path entirely but I do like to go off the main path. But still on a path.
ReplyDeleteRainfield is the perfect pick for this challenge! Go for it Rainfield!!!
ReplyDeleteDr. Lauren - I sometimes like to imagine I'm back in time when I'm out there alone.
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WillOaks Studio - There's only one kind of dangerous snake in my area. It's the massasauga rattlesnake. I watch for snakes, but I don't think any of these are in the places I regularly go.
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DK Miller - The smaller side paths are my favorite places too. Going off the path is for times when you really want to get in and dig around, and it's not for every body, and not usually necessary.
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The Retired One - I thought of Rainfield right away.