Apr 16, 2012

25 Oak Ridge Trail–6 Hour Hike & A World of Hurt from Nose hole to Toenail

I love taking pictures. It is one of the constant loves that has carried over from my girlhood into womanhood. The desire laid dormant for many years as I rose to the challenges of life and motherhood. I couldn’t justify the extravagant purchase and didn’t give myself permission to splurge just once. Eventually I learned its about balance, balancing your families needs as well as your own and both is of equal importance and so I bought my first digital camera and started taking pictures again. I have many of Toronto and wanted to explore beyond so I emailed a friend and suggested one day we take a drive stopping along the way photographing the landscapes. He planned the day trip and picked me up 9 am Saturday morning. We had a light breakfast at McDonalds and journeyed to Oak Ridge Trail. Starting point, 10 am.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012

The forest area was a combinations of browns, creams, taupes with a few evergreen tress and some blossoming trees. My friend Mr. D became my subject. As you can see he’s in front leading the march. I didn’t feel comfortable with him walking behind me so I asked him to walk in front.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (121)

This is the first pond of running water we passed early into our trek.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (109)We then came upon a bigger body of water.  Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (5)Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (112)

This is Mr. D (below) trying to capture tree fungus. He believes in getting low, what he calls “macro shooting.” He would encourage me to do the same. My response? “that’s what zoom lens are for.” The tree had interesting shades of green almost as if they were painted but you know from looking closely that they were not.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (66)

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (119) Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (120)

About 3.5 hours into our walk I started to feel the beginnings of tightness in my back, not a good sign. I looked for a fallen tree high enough off the ground so I can lean against for a moment to relieve the pressure building in my back. Once there I checked in with my daughter to let her know am alright and we are still hiking. I looked up at the sky and I told Mr. D that is after 12 pm about 1, he looked at his watch. It was 1:30 pm. He looked at me as if to ask, how did you know. I explained that 12 pm sun is usually straight above head and the sun was already moving west so its afternoon.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (33)

Around 1:45 pm I felt like I needed to use the bathroom. I thought, ‘oh lord’ and mentioned it to Mr. D who encouraged me to squat and pee in the bush. I looked at him and said, “with the pressure in my back building there is no way I can squat because if I do I can guarantee you I won’t be getting up and there is no way am going to have my pants around my ankles, my ass exposed to the elements and you with a camera. It’s ok I’ll hold it.”  I thought, ‘It wouldn’t be too long.’ Boy was I wrong! To take my mind off my tightening back and wanting to pee I took picture. I especially like this one. It looks like a squirrel.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (24)

I forgot what he called these. I would have to ask him again and then I’ll update with its name.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (139)

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (89)

The trail was ok for the most along the way we met one man who heard me laughing and thought it was a hound because he didn’t see anyone else on the trail. Embarrassed at the comparison to a dog hollowing he apologized and tried to explain what he meant over and over. I just laughed and said, “its ok, am not offended.”

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (21)

As we trudged on we met a woman with her dog. We stopped and said hello. Mr. D asked for her if she knew the distance to where we began. As I walked off I heard her tell him, “oh you only quarter of the way, and the path is rough and layered with tree roots. She warned to be careful of our footing. Boy was she right the ground was damp and spongy and your feet sank with every step. It was on one of these damp spongy area that I took an ungraceful swan dive into the mud landing partly on muddy ground and partly on the wooden trail bridge. It was not pretty. I was not pretty. I hurt. I banged my shins, scraped my knees and laid there like a turtle that was turned over and couldn’t get up. There were two blessings in that graceless moment, one I had put my big camera that hung around my neck in Mr. D’s bag about 5 minutes earlier so I didn’t smash it into my breast and seriously injure myself and two I did not seriously injure myself. I got up with as much dignity as I could manage while Mr. D waited quietly and patiently as I had ask him to give me a moment and just kept on walking not complaining once. By this time it was around 3:05 pm, 5 hours into our hike. There seemed no end in sight and I was peeing myself in small degrees. I took pictures of beaver eaten trees, a beaver’s den, Mr. D doing his photographer thing and interesting trees with twisty branches

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (44)Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (71)Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (93)

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (80)

I kept it moving. At this point I was in so much pain. The muscles in my back had seized up and it was radiating down into my hips, lifting my feet was a chore and the trail turned to an up hill climb.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (156)

I started praying, “sweet Jesus don’t let my feet fail me now.” No sooner than we went up we started to go down.  This went on for a while. It was hard on the joints. I was determined. We again encountered the man we met on the trail earlier and we inquired the direction in which he came. He told us to follow the part left and to stay left all the way and it would take us back to the parking lot. In my mind I am having a serious conversation with God. “I know I asked for something different, to go out and see things and you gave me a hike. I am not complaining. I am asking you to keep my back and hip steady so I can make it through so I don’t become a burden for my friend and please let us be near the end.” As we moved along on what was to be our last leg of our journey we encountered a dried up deer leg hanging in a tree.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (157)

Mr. D marched on ahead. My walk had slowed tremendously. I was dragging my feet but moving steadily. Then I heard. “We reach! We reach! Yeah! Mr. D was waving furiously. “Thank you Father” 4 pm. 6-hours later the trail ends.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (106)

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (158)Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (159)

I had never been so happy to see a car in my life. Though grateful getting in was a challenge. I could barely lift my feet. I sat slowly and peed myself a little as I sat. Every part of me hurt from my nose hole to my toenail. I relaxed against the back of the seat. On the windshield of the car was a yellow note. It was from the woman with the dog we met on the trail telling us of a bakery/cafe we can find something to eat and a bathroom to use.

Oak Ridge Trail - Sat April 14 2012 (107)

We ate, we talked and drove back into the city. It was quite the adventure. Neither of us suspected that the trail would be as long as it was. For more pictures of my hike adventure click here.

25 comments:

  1. It felt like I was on the journey with you cos of the pictures and the narratives...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I figured the only way for you to understand my experience is to give you a taste.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  2. I so want to do this - just take a day off with someone, taking photographs of the town. It sounded like fun. Lol at the peeing, but not at the back though

    Adiya
    Muse Origins FB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As soon as you are ready you will. YOu just have to find someone that is willing to take the journey with you. I took a lot of Mr. D facing me but I wanted to be able to use some so I took them of his back which told a story and still allowed me to use it.

      Delete
  3. WOW!! what an adventure. I can't go anywhere unless I know the exact location of every bathroom. You were very brave and you got some really good pics. I am sorry you took a tumble.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know I never even thought of that? I don't think either of us realized how long the hike was going to be but once we were in it there was no turning back really. The only way out was through it. Thanks I can still feel the bruise.

      Delete
  4. Hey girl
    I just loved this post. Incredible photos. I sent Catherine from A Celebration of Women an email asking/reminding her to add your posts. Hopefully she will.

    Take care

    Tiff

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks and thanks. I browsed by a few times and never saw it. Just figured it was probably not the content they were looking for.

      Delete
  5. Lmao@ having a I hope you have fully recovered. It sure was an adventure tho. I hope Mr. D didn't see wet patches on your behind lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I won't say I have recovered, more like recovering. No wet patches, had on two pants as it still cold here. I am sure I was good for a laugh but good ole Mr. D was a gentleman and didn't laugh in my face when I landed with a big tud unceremoniously in a belly flap in the mud.

      Delete
  6. Beautiful pictures. You really captured each moment! Hiking seems fun and adventurous. I would love to do that in the future! I found it super cool, that you guessed what time it was just by looking at the Sun...good job! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It can be fun. One piece of advice, if its a long trek make sure you take extra undies just in case lol.

      You know it comes so naturally because that is how we grow up in the Islands (Trinidad & Tobago). Its like learning without even realizing you are learning.

      Delete
  7. I enjoy doing the same thing. Pick a place and go explore for the day. Nice pics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean though I could do without the treacherous ground and ungraceful swan dive in the mud.

      thanks.

      Delete
  8. Hilarious @ never been so happy to see a car. Reading this post reminds me of my military days sleeping in the woods and not being able to wait until I laid in a real bed again. Good pics. I believe I would've ended the trip after seeing deer leg hanging from tree.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lol, lol, the deer leg was at the tail end of our trek although we didn't know that at the time. I never thought I'd express gratitude for a hunk of steel and 4 wheels but I was.

      Delete
  9. Dear Rhapsody,
    I was account place for over it thank you continue to heal for me and I need asked my family to wait me.
    I was getting in better this day but still back to soon.
    Michiko

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blessings my friend. Thank you so much for coming. Please take care and take the time to heal, be patient with yourself. You will get there.

      stay blessed.

      Delete
  10. I admire your courage,endurance and stamina. Fantastic. Lovely photos but I think the sun was very bright that day. It is not a good thing to hold back urine for so many hours because it can lead to other problems. Wonderful trip which I would shudder to take. Very interesting narration. Congratulations.
    Joseph

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know that I would call it courage but thank you. I certainly was something different to do. I havent trek like that since living in the Islands. Holding it was a challenge in itself but through God's grace I made it through till we found a bathroom we could use.

      Delete
  11. Great adventure,marvelous pics,wonderful post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you, thank you and thank you. It was quite the adventure, neither of thought it would be that long of a hike. We both endure, manage to laugh along the way and enjoy each others company.

      Delete
  12. Your daughter to let her know an alright for moment to relieve the pressure building in your back I though was you have more...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The back pain and the fall were the only down points in the trek, otherwise it was alright though a tad long.

      Delete
  13. Great adventure shame about that nasty fall though. I was there with you all the way. Cor I bet that cafe and bathroom came as a delight big time. Hope the pain pain has subsided for you. Oh and that beautiful plant very unusual with the fluffy bit on the end.
    Sheila xx

    ReplyDelete

You Are Enough. Right here, Right now, In this moment, YOU. ARE. ENOUGH!

By All Means Speak Your Mind. However, Please Observe These 3 Basic Rules.

1. No form of abuse is allowed, everyone is entitled to their point of view (pov) as we all see and articulate the world differently, be respectful and speak without offending.

2. Please stay on the topic of discussion

3. Agree to Disagree

So what say you?

Note: All content here are mine unless otherwise noted. All photographs are taken by me again, unless otherwise noted.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...