Walking the Given Path

Walking the Given Path
            Some people passively follow whatever path opens ahead. Others thrive on forging new, independent trails. Some of us alternate between these two extremes.
            Life doesn’t always give us a choice. The relationship we cultivated doesn’t work out. The favorite aunt we wanted to live forever passes away. The goal of becoming a veterinarian turns into a career as a teacher, or an accountant, or a waitress.
            Sometimes we’re on a trail and find ourselves in a spot with no clear signs of which way to go. We use our instincts to feel our way to the next clear trail section. The process of finding a sure trail after losing our way hones skills and builds confidence.
            I love rough dirt trails as well as bushwhacking through unmarked areas, but it’s also comforting to be guided by an easy to follow boardwalk or fence. 
            In the photo gallery for a new World Walks contribution from Florida, all paths are lined with a wooden boardwalk or bridge. I love the thought of wandering through the floodplain forest, guided by wooden structures underfoot.
            Check out St. Francis Trail-Ocala National Forest, third in a series of Florida World Walks, this one near Deland, Florida. (Click the World Walks link to see how to submit your own favorite walk!)
            The wooden boardwalk and paths shown in the St. Francis Trail-Ocala National Forest gallery reminded me of a wooden boardwalk through an unusual geological area. This week’s HikingAutism Hike Notes from the archives is Jug Handle Ecological Staircase-Mendocino, a hike that features a wooden boardwalk through a fascinating pygmy forest in Mendocino County.
 
This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
(Original Hike Notes 139): Jug Handle Ecological Staircase-Mendocino
 
            Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes and photo galleries via the main Hikes page or the Hike Search by Area (was Quick View Hike List) page. Click World Walks to see or share favorite walks from readers! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
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