How much fun can it be to walk in the hills? W stays home but I'm off with the walking group.
I'm excited to be on my favorite trail for the first time in about a year. But we end up on a new path with some challenges. Instead of Mariska's walk, we call this one "Marie's walk." She found it with her folks a few weekends ago.
We might have been forewarned by the odd staircase that starts the walk - imagine walking up or down this. There's no clear pattern for alternating feet on the 2'-3' treads. Gotta be a nightmare on tourist weekends when hundreds of people use it in both directions! (You can't stay on one side unless you can leap +2' every second step.)
There are wet boulders to climb over, uneven rocks to keep ankles straight on, and at least 6-7 flimsy or torn-apart bridges. The bridges are not too bad for humans. We're already used to stepping over holes in the woven bamboo or negotiating rusted corrugated metal sheets that rest on crumbling concrete pilings. It's not even that bad for our sure-footed Gypsy, who runs across and back without a glance at the rivers below.
There's construction (or shall we say deconstruction) of a few bridges. Workers make repairs between weekends so trekkers don't have to put their lives in jeopardy. They've removed one bridge completely. However, they've installed two of four 4"-diameter logs that will serve as the foundation for a new bridge.
One man braces himself in the gushing stream and takes our hands to help us balance across the two skinny logs. I fling my walking poles across the stream and place my feet sideways to maximize traction. We cross one by one, while other workers catch us once we're near the opposite shore. Whew I'm on the other side.
And then I have to go back again to get our second dog.
Cocoa, leash held by the worker, has fallen into the shallow water rushing under the bridge. Hairy poodle feet are not the best thing for a dog walking on a slippery 4" log. She ducks out of her collar when she falls in so I can't pull her out - and leaps for shore. Silly girl - wrong side. I tighten her collar and help her across, the worker helping me balance again.
Cocoa is game though. After she's across, she follows me closely on the leash to do the other crossings. There's a 6' drop under one approach (spaced branches) to a woven bamboo bridge. We all ignore the drop-off and step step step forward.
Cocoa is a bouncy, leaping athlete, chasing Gypsy on the smoother parts of the trail. She's also filthy, her wet feet picking up every dusty and muddy granule.
 |
| See the new trail going up that hill about 30' behind this guy? Thin logs hold loose dirt steps in place. |
We reach the cars and are headed home before noon; I have work waiting in the office.
The canary gets a nail clipping where the helper buys birdseed. The shop owner tips the bird on its back, using human nail clippers to snip off the 1/2" toenails. The birdie sings loudly, happy to be back in his cage.
In the late afternoon, W and I head downtown for a study. We're driving back up the hill and home by 8:30pm. Nice to get to bed within the hour.
Friday
Sitting on the porch early in the morning, the sun is shining and I'm relaxing in the beauty around me. Then I take another look at the ancient guava tree beside the porch. I've been thinking for months about how to shape it for the next 40 years = creating a balanced and interesting profile. (I love pruning for future beauty.)
but - No way! The yard guy has lopped off 2 thick year-old branches. Jagged and torn stumps are left, coming off the main trunk. (I've been pondering which one to grow out as a major limb.) Argh. This is the second time: the guy doesn't ask but randomly cuts stuff. Do I need some "this is off limits" tree paint? Maybe. Otherwise, the tree will be ridiculously lop-sided in a few years.
I huff into my office to make a sign, hanging it on a mangled branch. "TIDAK MEMOTONG!" (don't cut!) I hope a new sprout will emerge in the right direction.
We're on our way to the grocer. First, W and I drive up into the garden district to buy a few flowers. The big yard seems to swallow plants. A few new bursts of color poke out here and there. Once they're established and bigger, they'll be pretty.
Tropical plants are fascinating. On two completely different hanging plants, the tiny pink flowers are beautiful.
Tonight, Scott and Sarah kick off a Youth Alpha retreat at the house. Ibu S helps me put extra mattresses and bedding in the lofts. The teens and their leaders are sleeping over this weekend.
Read more:
*I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor.” Deuteronomy 15:11
*Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:1-5 NIV
*Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:18
Moravian Prayer: Most holy and generous God, you look past our faults and failures and love us unconditionally. We love, because you first loved us. Show those of us who have so much, how to help those who have so little. Let us embrace our brothers and sisters in need. Let us be as Christ to them. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment