Off The Trail

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

1. Take the Challenge picture and place on your blog
2. Find your favorite six hidden posts in the archives and add the links under the picture
3. Choose one other blogger and send the challenge to them
   
4. Link back to the sender of the challenge and New Scribbles
   

So here are my Six Hidden Treasures:

1. The Squirrel Strikes Back
2. Nesting Goose
3. Great Egret
4. 10 Tips To Get Close To A Deer
5. Hiking Tips For Beginners
6. Alice And The Dragons
   

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.