How to get your hiking fix when you can't hike

This is going to be an easy and quick post. I am heading into the weekend / vacation, starting as soon as our first guest arrives which should be any time now and I didn't want to take off without writing my weekly blog post. I am trying so hard to be productive and consistent.

I love to hike as you know, but I seldom do it for one reason or another. But I am never far from the trail. If I can't be outside doing what relaxes and inspires me, then I find creative ways to bring the trail to me. I love reading others' adventures. If I am not reading, then I am writing about it and or creating art related to the outdoors. One of my all time favorite activities to do though that keeps me plugged in to trail life is to help other hikers with their journeys. And that's what I got to do Tuesday and yesterday.

My good friend and 2015 hiking buddy, Wye Knot reached out to Bruce and I to see if we could assist his brother-in-law Homegrown, who would be finishing his thru-hike about this time. We said we would if the window fit our already full schedule. For whatever reason, our schedules didn't mesh. But Tuesday, I woke from my daily nap to my hubby standing over me and said, "Do you want to help a hiker?"

"Do I want to help a hiker?" Does a bear poo in the woods! I jumped off the bed and was begging for details. Within minutes I was off to Baxter State Park to retrieve Homegrown. His orginial ride ditched him as he was descending. Thankfully for him, he had service and reached us. I brought him back to our house for the night them gave him a ride to Bangor International Airport for his flight home.

I just love giving back to the trail. It keeps my head in the game when I can't phsically be there. This practice can work in all areas of our lifes. If we can't be present in what we want to do if we some how to related tasks, we will remain connected to whatever it is that we seek.

This would be a great topic to expand on, but I have not had my daily nap and friends are arriving at any moment. So I want to grab a wink or two before our fun-filled weekend of UMaine NROTC Alumni & Friends at the Lake begins.

So here's a shout out to Homegrown who let me be a part of his story and helped me get my hiking fix without actually hiking.

Happy Hiking,

Emily

PS - Chapter 3 of Happy Hiking is out on Mighty Blue's Podcast.