Summer is the time for vacations. In the past I have spent them travelling to cities I haven't been to to see my beloved Columbus Crew play, or to catch a new baseball ballpark, or the the US National Soccer team play. This year we are doing something different. I was given the invite to join a group of good people on a week long stroll of the Paria Canyon. I am quite excited about this and will be leaving on May 6 and not getting back till May 13. In the meantime in order to make sure I am in tiptop shape for this I have been getting up at 545 am and running. Though, I admittedly skipped that today and will hopefully be able to leave work a little bit early and get in two miles or so.
There are more than a few reasons why I am looking forward to this. One is because I have never done something like this before. I have been camping, though not in years, but never a week long trip like this. Also, it of course is the chance, as trite as it may seem, to see natural beauty in a way that not too many people get to see. Sure, pictures are something, and I will probably take my share. But during this trip I will be living it and breathing it in. Finally, and most importantly is just the escapism of it all. Time away from the city and job and other obligations. Time to revel in God's creation, to thank Him for it, to pray and to try to learn to be patient enough to listen and find out what I can learn in this trip. Working two jobs, and working over 70 hours a week, it's rare that I have the opportunity to slow down like this.
I am of course also aware that it will be physically and mentally challenging. I am in the process of seeing what are my best options as well to keep my vegan diet while on this trip. It can be done, I am sure, it's just a matter of me getting to it and doing it. For sure we are looking at a lot of dried fruit, granola, oatmeal, cous cous and beans for starters.
Yesterday at lunch I found this site where some people documented a stroll along the same trail that we will be strolling down. There are some great pictures and observations there.
Right about now, May 6 can't come soon enough.
3 comments:
That's awesome Scot. Looks like it'll be a great trip.
I'm trying to plan my summer vacation as we speak.
Destination: Brasil.
Aww man. I spent a week outside of sao Paolo back in high school. I would love to get back to Brasil.
We'll be going to Rio if we go. My dad has a friend that moved down there so if we go it'll be a 7-10 day Nico family vacation!
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