8-25 MacGuyvering elbow comfort, cheap toilet paper, beautiful synchronicity

Eureka campground, Kentucky

My elbows started aching from the hard plastic arms of the otherwise wonderful folding rocking chair I’ve had for quite some time.

Went to the local hardware store (it’s amazing how just about every little town has ’em!) and bought a short length of foam pipe insulation. Cut a couple arm’s length pieces out of it and popped it onto the chair’s arms.

Presto, instant comfort! Seems to work well so far.

I’ve wondered if being disconnected from the world meant I was escaping from it. I don’t think so… Because I’m from an era of land-line phones and letters sent in the mail.

It’s more of a going back to my roots of a slower, less insane paced world.

Moments of solitude are welcomed, invited, and easier without being constantly tethered to a world always clamoring for attention.

It might be a good idea for visitor center’s bathrooms to supply good quality toilet paper.

This one (which shall remain nameless) offered the cheapest kind with absolutely no traction to it so all it really does is push one’s shit around rather than actually wiping it off.

And it ends up being wasteful due to the need to use copious yardages of it to get “it” all off.

Not a great impression to make when welcoming visitors to one’s town, hmm?

It’s supposed to hit 100F degrees today and indeed the early day is already sweltering, pelting me with ceaseless heat wrapped tight in a thick cellophane of sticky ass humidity.

Normally I’d be long gone from here (the make yer own weather thing) but my momentarily ailing back requires me to sit tight a bit longer and let it heal up.

As I’ve mentioned before most of the time it’s a matter of acclimating to whatever weather there is but in extremes like the past few days it’s insanity to stay when you one can easily move elsewhere.

Cranky, anyone? ; )

With a couple hours before dark I drove over to this “Land Between the Lakes” national recreation area for a short hike into the sunset.

I somehow (it’s always somehow, right?) miss the trailhead and was about to make a u-turn back only to see a sign saying the road I’m on is one-way only. Pulled up the map to find it’s an eight mile roundtrip back to here.

Well, sheet.

May as well roll with it so I mosey onwards.

After a few miles I see a small pull-off with a trail snaking into the forest. Hmm, gonna pull over and try this one instead.

And what an unexpected delight this detour was!

The trail hugged a cliff-like coast off the lake; it brought back memories of Costa Rica’s sheer drop offs and vast waters below with sun rays shafting through tall trees.

A couple miles in the trail descended to a beachhead tucked at the edge of the forest complete with old fire rings and waves lapping at the edge. Perfect place to pause and soak in the shimmering glory of all that is.

A waning sun leads the way back, fading rays throwing marvelous patterns of orange across tree trunks and leaves.

This is what happens when perfect, beautiful synchronicity throws plans out the window and gives you something altogether better.