Bird Park church

                                                            Seven Island Bird Park 

The longest walk I did in this section of time was a 4 mile hike in the 7 islands birding park near Knoxville. This is one of my favorite places, mostly because it’s easy to get to, as well as seeming wild and remote. Visitors park in a gravel parking area after driving along narrow winding country roads. First we walk past landscape and feeders designed to attract the songbirds. Even with bird feeders, the idea is that nature, native bushes and plants make better feeders as well as provide protection for the birds.  We can walk through a barn decorated with photos of the birds we are likely to see. After the barn there is a tiny play area for children. Once we pass that area we have choices. One steep trail climbs the ridge to the right. An ADA paved trail goes straight ahead, and another very steep trail crosses a mostly unused road to wind through the trees. I have walked most of these trails, and enjoyed every one. Going straight on the paved path seems to be the most popular. It is flat but passes by expansive fields where deer graze and many birds and butterflies find shelter and food. The trail leads to the French Broad River and a bridge crosses the river. On the bridge we can see the seven islands of the park, small sections of land in the middle of the river. The views are excellent. 

This last visit I chose to walk to the right, uphill to the top of the ridge overlooking the entire park. Some sections are fairly steep, I had tried to push a stroller up it once before and had to give up. This time I was alone. My family was in church, and I was out walking in my church.  My spirit soared, my heart was full, and I walked, listening to bird song and breezes rustling in the wildflowers and grasses. I followed the trail along the ridge, and back down through woods to the meadow below. I didn’t cross the bridge, but followed a grassy path beside the river, listening to red wing blackbirds, and even the bob white pair calling across the grasses. I had not heard bob whites since my childhood, and it made me very happy to hear them again. This was a bird that used to be very common, but almost disappeared with the loss of his habitat. They are making a come back. Maybe one day I will have the experience from my childhood, of walking past a bush and hearing the almost gunshot sounds of the birds flying away.  Walking along the river was very nice, and I saw two people kayaking, just floating along with the current. It was one of those perfect, almost hot but not oppressive days. I finished my walk in time to meet my family at a restaurant.

 

When I walk outside, my thoughts go everywhere. Sometimes I try to control them, but mostly I let them go. Probably I need to think along these lines, and work out whatever things are bothering me. Once that is done, I tend to begin planning and dreaming of new ideas, crafts or writing projects that interest me. My optimism is strongest when I am out walking. Often I compose entire novels, plan future art lessons and future travels. These dreams may not come true, but I certainly feel better, positive and inspired after these flights of fantasy. I love watching birds, but I don’t have to identify them or keep lists, I just like to see and hear them. I passed a guy out birdwatching, and we started talking. He told me  I need to invest in good binoculars, and I agreed. Maybe one day. Right now I just like knowing the variety of birds that are around. I use an app on my phone to identify the songs of the birds. When I get home I chose one or two of them to practice drawing, and to learn more about. 

There was a time in my life where I spent every single Sunday morning and evening in church, closed off from nature. I wanted to “worship the Creator, not the Creation.” I think I wrote a couple of blogs on that very idea. Now, I would rather be outside, feeling the fresh air and moving in and among “the Creation.” I don’t know if I worship anything anymore. I feel awe for the beauty and diversity of nature, and I feel a desire to protect and to understand that nature. If there is a god that created this nature, then I am very thankful. I can’t imagine a god that designed butterfly wings and ecosystems getting upset that I chose to find joy in that creation instead of joy in singing praises and hoping loved ones are in his good graces. I can’t balance the complexity of nature with the judgement of a loving, or a wrathful god. But I do understand that humans have tried to wipe out entire species of critters, animal and plant, and that we have a lot to do to undo that damage. I do understand that we are not the only species on earth that can communicate, love, and care for others, and that we depend on the interwoven complexity of this life. 

I have walked 653 miles total, and I’m still in VA.  I’m happy to have passed the 600 mile mark, and my goal for the rest of this year is to pick up the pace and try to reach the end by the end of this year. We will see.