The Adventures of Rambo & Squeak: Mushrooms, Gnats, & Inspriration

Yesterday, I wanted to hike, but my son, Sharpie Boy, who is Autistic and has CP as a result of an infant stroke, was having none of it.  Nothing is more miserable than hiking with someone who hates it, so I didn't force him to go.

Instead, he wanted to go to Taco Bell.  The kid clearly has a stomach made of steel.

I get very depressed when I can't get outside.  The weather has been horrible, so it was the first nice day to get out, and I was stuck at a Taco Bell. But, this is the life of a parent with a child with special needs.  He appreciated getting to choose our activity, and 3 burritos later, he was all smiles.

So, instead, I went hiking today.

Alone.

This is actually my favorite way to hike.  I like to camp with others, but I prefer to hike alone. I can go at my own pace, stop when I want, take a million pictures when I want, and I am not holding anyone up or going too fast.

I did a section in New Jersey that I have done about 10 times as a trail angel delivering water and Jerky and extended it so it would be the length of my longest planned hiking day with Rambo.  I wanted to look at the trail from Rambo's perspective.  This is slightly hard because I was in New Jersey, and he won't step one foot into the state because of our various laws and taxes.  But I wanted to get an overall sense of what the miles felt like.

I run a hiking club for new and returning hikers over 40 years old, but the hikes are always less than 3 miles with no elevation gain or loss.  The hope is to get people passionate about hiking and backpacking.  Rambo can handle more than that, but I didn't want to kill him with a 15 mile hike whilst wearing that huge pack of his.

Despite my constant heckling, I do, actually, want him to enjoy himself.  I am hoping he finds in the woods what I find there: peace, patience, inspiration, and motivation.  He used to hunt a lot when he was younger, so I know he loves the woods, but it has been a long time since he has been out, and if he can reclaim that peace which comes from nature, it is the greatest gift a sister can give to her brother.

The thing that I noticed most that I either never noticed any other time or was particularly annoying today were the gnats.  They were flying in my eyes (despite sunglasses) and my mouth (not the protein I was hoping for).  This probably won't be a problem in March, but it definitely is something I want to address for my next outing.

I did try to look around at things that Rambo would find interesting.  It's really hard to say what would inspire him.  I mean its rocky and steep at points, so you kind of just have to pay attention to where you step.  I only saw one chippy.  There were no snakes or bears.  There was one raptor at the fire tower.  So, I vlogged a mushroom for him, lol.

The things I find special in nature may not be the same for him.  I often listen to music while I hike and then, when I know I really need to pay attention, I shut off the music and listen to the forest.  I stop at any chance to view a cool rock formation or overview (or vista).  If I see a cool tree, I have to stop and photograph it.  I move aside for hikers.  I don't worry about the miles; they just peel away.

I do a lot of thinking, praying, and talking to God out on the trail when I am not singing along (badly) to whatever's playing in my ears.  I settle issues in my head, and this gives me energy to live my day-to-day life in the grind of adulthood. I don't know that this will be the same for Rambo. 

At the end of our trip, I want him to want to go back (with or without me)  I am pretty sure he will never section hike or thru hike with me (or by himself), but, still, I want him to remember what we learned as kids...the best way to find yourself is to remove yourself from the noise of reality.