Where the Road Takes Us

Where the Road Takes Us
            None of us really knows where we’re going in life. We think we’re choosing our road, but routes change. A landslide takes out the scenic section we most wanted to drive. Familiar routes are closed. Construction causes detours.
            Regardless of whether we believe in a “higher power,” most of us acknowledge there are forces beyond our control. The best laid plans are altered, and life is better when we learn to adjust to the unexpected.
            I used to find it unbearable if things didn’t go exactly as I’d planned (read “control freak”). The extreme challenges of autism experienced by our younger son threw much of my sense of control by the wayside. I had to learn to walk the unpredictable path in front of me, and to find a way for myself, my autistic son, and the rest of my family to enjoy wherever the road took us. We are better people for it.
            The autism road takes parents places we never thought we’d be able to handle. Autism advocate and mom Betsy Hicks (see Autism Odyssey) and her son Joey shared a powerful message on that theme in a Mother’s Day post:
https://www.tiktok.com/@betsyonthego/video/6960089287622757638?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
Check out Betsy and Joey’s World Walks contribution, Whatcom Falls Park!
            May we all find the peace that comes with embracing unexpected turns in our paths, and the joy that may be found around the next corner.
            This week’s Hike Notes are from the archives, Oakwood Valley-Alta Trail, a woodsy covered trail near Tennessee Valley in Marin, with its own unmarked side paths.
            Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. The long list of Hikes can be browsed on the Quick View Hike List (listed by area) and on the main Hikes page. 
            Click World Walks to see favorite family-friendly walks contributed by HikingAutism readers, and how to submit a walk of your own!
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Please feel free to share, and follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism.
This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
(Original Hike Notes 96): Oakwood Valley-Alta Trail