It is funny, isn’t it, how things tend to come full
circle? Rather, not quite full circle,
but a spiral, gently sloped upwards, returning to almost the same spot but one
step better. One step forward in the adventure of living.
I have often thought that the act of living is represented
in this spiral. You are either moving forward or backward in this spiral, but you are
moving. There are still the ups and
downs, but you are moving. At this point in my life, I am moving up with little bits of
synchronicity happening along the way.
I experienced this in full effect yesterday.
I went on my second adventure with my new kayak. While unloading at the launch area, a
wonderfully knowledgeable gentleman gave me some very good tips about paddling
and about equipment. He recommended
lessons and recommended that I check out Shank’s Mare, in Pennsylvania, along
with a few local places.
“Shank’s Mare” is a phrase I haven’t heard since my
childhood, growing up in Northern Indiana – when I had many Amish friends. When
asked how they were getting somewhere, they often replied “Shank’s Mare”; which
meant they were walking.
Imagine my surprise hearing this Indiana phrase here just a
few minutes outside of the city of Baltimore.
This gentleman was referring to Shank’s Mare Outfitters. He highly recommended that
I check it out. You can bet that I
found it on the internet as soon as I returned home, and will indeed go up
there and see what it’s all about. Turns out that it
is a lovely 1890’s era general store turned meeting place for hikers, kayakers,
and cross-country skiers. It is located
between York and Lancaster Pennsylvania, in Wrightsville, PA on
the banks of the Susquehanna River.
As we stood talking, the gentleman gave me stern information
about kayak safety; wear a floatation device, be lit at night, take care with
the weather, and so on. Very similar
warnings that I had just read the night before in How to Kill Yourself in a Kayak by magicman007.
Upon our return home, after my hours spent paddling around
the back side of Gun Powder falls park – the free section near Hammerman Beach
area – a young lady approached us in the parking lot.
Her company is relocating her to the area, and she’s trying
to find a suitable apartment near areas suitable for water sports, specifically kayaking. She
wanted to know what we thought of this apartment complex and where did we go
kayaking? Somewhere close? Yours truly went from someone who often explores the area solo to a personal tour guide to a young lady from Ohio. I drove her past a few areas, including
through the Hammerman Beach area. Her
excitement was palpable and she occasionally clapped her hands quietly, when
turning corners and seeing the water views.
She took off her flip-flops and stood in the wet sand while we talked about the area in general.
If she teared up, like this Midwest girl did when deciding
to live here, I didn’t see it. I was too much in awe of the coincidence of the
Ohio girl driving past the Indiana-turned-mid-Atlantic girl at the exact moment
we were unloading the kayak. And how
lucky I was to show one of these mid-Atlantic gems to someone in person.
I hope she enjoys the mid-Atlantic region as much as I do.
Image Credit: Images are mine ©Dawn Rae – All Rights
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I love all of the seasons and spend time outdoors no matter
the season. But there is something a bit sad as summer begins to fade
away. There is a feeling of freedom
associated with not having to bundle up before going outdoors. A feeling of abundant life as the insects,
birds, and animals move around you.
