Perfect Day

I have been going through so many trials and struggles lately it has been all but impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For a while I began to doubt there even was one waiting for me. Fortunately I am blessed with people in my life who are always there to pick me up when I have fallen and set me back on track. After much comfort and coddling, pushing and shoving, I was motivated enough to try my best to get out of the funk I had allowed myself to settle into. At some point Thursday inspiration hit me. I couldn’t believe how obvious the answer was, all I had to do was find my happy place. Seeing as how I already know where my happy place all that was left to do was figure out the logistics. As I stated in a previous blog, I have a few Happy Places, but two stand out above the rest. I decided that since I was in need of serenity I would go to The Point, which is the nickname I have given to the Rocky River Nature Center in the Cleveland Metroparks. About this time is also when I started to worry. You see, I don’t drive, never have, and while getting to the Metroparks itself was just a matter of a simple bus ride, getting to the nature center involved a hike, a four mile hike to be exact. If that weren’t daunting enough, said hike would have to take place in the dark (there are NO lights, none) if we wanted to make it to the nature center for the sunrise. Pushing aside my doubts, Xavier, my son, and I packed up and were out the door a bit after 4:30 am.

When we left it was in the high thirties, so it wasn’t too bad as far as the weather goes. We were a little early so of course I stopped to pick up some snacks for the bottomless pit, aka my son. Which he proceeded to polish off while waiting on the bus. We got to the entrance to the park around quarter to six and started our hike. Going down the hill into the park wasn’t bad at all, we were in high spirits, joking around and goofing off, then again it was lighted by street lights. As we got into the park and turned off onto the all-purpose trail the fun began. The temperature had dropped to the low thirties or so, and there was black ice everywhere. We could see it for the most part once our eyes acclimated to the darkness, however that acclimation didn’t last long. You see, the trail runs along the road and every couple of minutes or so we were faced with an oncoming car with its brights on of course. We would then have to slow down until our eyes were used to the dark again. Trust me, it made for some slow going. Luckily as we got deeper into the park more often than not the path would diverge from the road so we were able to make up some lost time. Considering the issues I have been having with walking recently, I was shocked when we passed under the interstate bridge over the valley just because I knew we were over halfway there. The fact that I wasn’t in pain was a pleasant surprise to say the least, in my head I was thinking “now this is a good omen”.

The sky had been lightening for a little while as we walked up to the Nature Center and went around back to confront my nemesis, the stairs. You see, the acreage surrounding the nature center combines many different types of habitats and terrain. From wetlands and bogs, to shale cliffs, hills, rivers and forests, there is a little bit of something for just about everyone. However in my opinion the ridge formed by the shale cliffs is the pièce de résistance. While there are several ways to reach it, the most straight forward and easiest to access is the stairs, all 135 steps broken into 11 flights of various lengths. Back in my prime I was able to make the climb easily, my record being 26 seconds. Now that I’m not as mobile as I used to be I was dreading the task. Xavier sensed my hesitation and with a reassuring nudge he gave me that little bit I needed to get going. The climb while not as easy as it used to be was more than worth it, the views off to our left were spectacular the predawn light making everything seem to shimmer.

This picture was actually taken later in the visit simply because I wanted it to show in more detail than it would have had I taken it pre-climb.

Once we reached the top of the stairs, and the welcome sight of the strategically placed bench, I sat down to give my legs a chance to recover. As I sat there I just stared off, absorbing the tranquility of the moment. The distant walls of the valley, the river below, an opposing ridge. The beauty surrounding me was breath-taking, more than worth the climb. I was recovered enough by the time the sun began to peek over the horizon that we had made it maybe a fifth of the way down the ridge trail. I stopped at an outcropping and turned to the east just in time to see the sun beginning to break over the horizon. Not having the time to set up my tripod, and not having the steadiest of hands, Xavier stepped in and took the breathtaking shot that follows. The sun appeared to be a molten ball of fire, almost like a comet crashing into earth instead of a star rising above it. The stark bareness of the branches silhouetted against such a gorgeous backdrop made it the shot of a lifetime in my opinion.

As the sun rises over the valley wall in the distance it sets the sky afire with it's flame

Once I got over my sense of wonder we moved on following the trail along the ridge. taking pictures here and there, noticing the changes in the terrain that had taken place since our last visit. It was clear the cliff was receding, more noticeable in some areas than in others, mostly due to the erosion that naturally occurs with the passage of time, however the signs that some was due to the plentiful rain of the past year were obvious. Gulleys from rainwater frequently marred the surface of the slopes above the cliff. When we reached the end of the ridge, that was where it really hit me, they had actually moved the security fence back roughly three and a half feet from where it had previously stood. it saddened me to think that one day it would erode to the point that it was unsafe, and that future generations would not be able to experience the breathtaking views I was beholding. To escape the melancholy atmosphere which was threatening to encroach on my perfect day we moved on to the backside of the ridge, the hilly forested terrain crisscrossed with trails both natural and man-made. As the sun rose we caught glimpses of it here and there, peeking through the screen of trees. As we rounded towards the backside I came across a stunning display of violence, damage cause by one or more of the many storms which have rolled through. I wasn’t saddened though, for I know this is how nature rebirths itself. Finding beauty in destruction doesn’t happen often, but when it does it is always impressive. The following shot is the best of a series of captures.

Beautiful example of how the earth is reborn through natural destruction.

As we wound our way through the trees and down the hill we came across a variety of plants, natural formations and terrain. The muted colors of the trees along with decaying leaves contrasted brilliantly by bright green splashes of moss on a log, patches of lingering snow tucked away in shadowed hidden valleys, dried pale yellow leaves clinging to the branches of a long dormant tree. No matter which way I looked there was something to captivate, to enthrall, to lift my spirits. Once we reached the base of the hill we picked up one of many trails, for which I am thankful because I was tired of slogging through mud. You see unlike my son I wore tennis shoes, not boots. He on the other hand had dressed in camouflage head to toe and to great joy in sneaking up on me. What can I say, he is his mother’s son. As we rounded a bend in the trail we came upon the wetlands, starting with the marsh. Of course Xavier just had to test the marsh ice along the boardwalk to “see how thick it was”. Wouldn’t you know it, it wasn’t thick enough. Thankfully I had made him give me my camera back or it would have gone swimming when he sank up to his calf. However we discovered his pants were waterproof, whether by design or fluke it didn’t matter. After passing the marshes we came across what is known as Bog Iron. Bog Iron is another name for limonite, which is a type of ore that consists of roughly 30% iron mixed with other minerals, clay and vegetable matter. This ore is found relatively close to the surface giving the water in the bog a reddish cast as seen in the following picture.

Deposits of Bog Iron cast a reddish hue to the water in the bog.

After we passed the bog we were almost back where we started, coming up on the base of the stairs. No longer dreading what I had conquered we breezed past them towards the Nature Center itself only to find we had thirty minutes to kill before it opened. Figuring we might as well see if we could get any pictures of the ridge from the other side of the river we walked out to the all purpose trail again and followed it across the bridge. Unfortunately I had forgotten the small island in the river which block me at every angle from getting the shot I wanted of the ridge. I would just have to wait until the Nature Center opened and get my shots from the deck as planned. As we still had time to kill, Xavier occupied himself by skipping rocks across the storm swollen river, and screaming at the geese. I think he was trying to out honk them, who knows. I shot pictures from various angles and spots as Xav hunted for rocks and such, eventually it was past opening time for the Center. As we walked back the way we came Xav and I continued with the easy banter that had become one of the best parts of the day, an ease I had been missing with him for far too long. Once inside the Nature Center we wandered about looking at the various exhibits, checking out displays, observing the animals, after seeing what there was to see I headed out onto the deck built off the back of the Center overhanging the river. There I set up to get the ridge shots I so desired. I took several, one after another for the ridge is my favorite part of the area. However, had I known how perfect, how metaphorical in its meaning, the first shot would be, I don’t know if I would have taken others.

I was so focused on framing my ridge shot I never noticed the shadows created by clouds crossing the sun. I never saw the subtle nuances that were there. It wasn’t until I opened the image on my computer that it hit me, that I felt that jaw dropping A-HA! moment. I, and the section of the ridge nearest to me, was in the light, brilliantly awash in the suns glory, whereas further away was shadowed by clouds over the sun. It really hit me hard. The area I had just come from, the furthest end of the ridge, was dark, melancholy, dismal, just as I had been as of late. but now I was in the light, I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face like a gentle caress, just as I had felt the gentle support of a dear friend who had helped pull me out of my darkness, who had stood by me and held my hand through it all. If that isn’t a message from the universe, I don’t know what is. This image represents my personal epiphany, my movement back into the light, and that is why it is my favorite shot of the day.

Sebastian's Shot.

All in all I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. There are many events, pictures, laughs, moments I am leaving out, however you now have the highlights. I am so grateful I did not let my wariness and my lack of faith in myself keep me from having this day. I needed this day, and I will treasure it for a long time to come.

I apologize for the length and any rambling I have done, however I needed to document this as a reminder to myself that there is always light, always hope.