2nd of the 44 - The Great Outdoors

Yes...it has been awhile.   Maybe I should shoot for one blog post every 14-21 days!  Then I might be on track.  

For the second of my 44 things to be thankful for, I submit...the Great Outdoors!  

Now this might come as a surprise due to my last post, but I absolutely love hanging out in the mountains, adventuring in the outdoors.   But only sometimes.  I know I am a paradox with this.  

This one comes to mind as I spent last weekend with a buddy of mine, Michael, back out in the deep wilderness of West Virginia.  Well, maybe not in the deep wilderness because even though we spent one night tent camping (in the cold 20's), I was reasonably warm and cozy as we stayed the second night in a Bed & Breakfast in the little town of Davis, WV.

We do these trips a few times a year, but this time I told Michael I did not want any "Nazi Hiking".   Getting to be the advanced age that I am (har har), I wanted to take this one easy, and he complied.

Friday night was camping under the watchful eyes of Seneca himself, out by Seneca Rocks.   We had a roaring fire, told some stories and just hung out in the wild.   Waking up the next morning to Michael having made some "cowboy coffee", we then messed a short while in the Dolly Sods area and had some good times over at Blackwater Falls.  We finished up the evening over in Thomas, WV at the Purple Fiddle, listening to some live music courtesy of the City Dwelling Nature Seekers.

After a good breakfast at the Bright Morning Inn the next morning, we checked out the Maple Festival in Monterey, VA before heading back home.  An epic weekend indeed.

I am continuing the Great Outdoor theme this coming weekend as the family heads to Fairy Stone State Park, where my bro Tom and his family have one cabin and we have another cabin.  Mom is joining us as well so it should be a weekend trip of grand proportions!

I love seeing God's hand in everything in the mountains.   I am sure if Jesus came back for a quick vacation, He would set up shop in a cabin in the woods (and avoid the beaches at all cost)!  After all, the mountains are God's country!