The last time Tim & I walked here was in October, eleven days before he died. We had finally got our hands on a good map of the maze of trails in Carolina North Forest and were excited to be more sure of the names of them. The leaves were still green. (see here: suspended)
This time my sister and her husband were my companions, but I walked a little ahead of them on this leg of Tripp Farm Trail, quietly talking with Tim, telling him how much I missed him and how sad I was that we missed seeing the autumn colors together in November as we had anticipated.
When we got to the place where Tim & I had turned around to retrace our steps, the three of us decided to continue following the trail. Much to my surprise, we eventually reached an intersection with the OWASA Corridor at the same bridge I came to with my friends back in November. (see here: remains of a colonial gristmill)
And now I’ve learned that the path I often follow in the woods along Bolin Creek near my home is called the OWASA (Orange Water & Sewer Authority) Corridor. Well, we learn something new every day.
Instead of going to see the colonial gristmill ruins we decided to take another route. We took the Glade Spur, which connects Tripp Farm Trail and Maytag Trail, which we followed back to the main road and the car. The three trails essentially made a big loop.
A couple of years ago, in November 2023, Tim & I found a little pumpkin sitting on a stone on the Wormhole Spur. (see here: moderate drought in the woods) I bet the same person placed another one here in this branch crook on the Glade Spur.
While on the Glade Spur a couple coming from the opposite direction said they had just seen a pileated woodpecker. It’s so hard to see so high up in these trees but a few minutes later I did hear one and then spotted it. The picture I got is cropped and basically a silhouette, but it will have to do.
Not sure how far we walked but we were gone for a couple of hours. We were exhausted when we got back to the car and wound up staying in to recuperate the next day, which turned out to be a gloomy day anyway.
A fine outing along some beautiful trails, Barbara. A bit melancholic without Tim, but as you carry him in your heart, he hears every word. 🙏🏼 💕
Thank you, Eliza. I have a feeling the urge to share new experiences with Tim will be with me for a long time to come. It’s so comforting. 🙏🏼 💙
🤗
What a cute idea, putting that tiny pumpkin in the tree! A spot of autumn color and a feast for the eyes. I’m glad you got outdoors to enjoy nature’s beauty, Barbara. Yes, I can see that you must’ve missed your Tim, but I’ll just bet his spirit was walking right beside you, giving you comfort.
Thank you, Debbie. I did feel Tim’s presence there with me on the walk and it was indeed very comforting. That orange pumpkin stood out in the very bland landscape, and I appreciated the unexpected photo opportunity. It’s quite a challenge finding things of visual interest in winter time!
I’m glad Beverly and John were here to walk with you and help make use of the map you and Tim were so happy to find and planned to use to navigate for future walks, which sadly didn’t happen. I am sure Tim is there in spirit, cheering you on for continuing to find your way. I like the idea that someone is placing these mini pumpkins there and I’m surprised, like the last time, both pumpkins look plump, pristine and appear to have no bite marks in them. Either this is a regular/daily walker on these trails, or the squirrels have not yet discovered the tasty gourds.
I didn’t leave the trails (I’m still wary of snakes) to inspect the pumpkins up close but I strongly suspect they aren’t real, but some good-looking fakes, at least from a distance. I did feel Tim’s presence with me, which was comforting and sad at the same time. Grief is such an intense experience but I always feel better after a good cry. Having Beverly here to share my thoughts and feelings with was very healing for me, too. I’ve known her even longer than I knew Tim. We’ve been through so much together.
Ah, that makes sense why the mini-pumpkins have not been snatched up by a critter. I am afraid of snakes as well and I’ve been going through the photos taken in September and October and was surprised to find a snake in a tree. I have two near-identical shots, one with the snake, one without. I assure you I did not see the snake so I didn’t take a second shot for that, but it is a steep asphalt trail, so likely I thought I moved and blurred the shot, so I took it over. I never look to see how a picture looks on the camera. I’m glad Beverly and John came to visit, especially during this first big extended holiday without Tim. I am mindful that Thanksgiving is a holiday too, but it lasts only one day. You have many years together and many memories during a half-century of marriage … I can imagine that it is not easy for you Barbara. {{{ Hugs }}}
Thank you so much for the big hugs, Linda!! That snake must have been slithering along at a good speed if it was in and out so quickly between your camera shots! I don’t look to see how a picture looks on the camera while I’m out, either, and sometimes there are surprises when I get home and load the pictures onto my laptop. Lots of times some photos look better than I thought they might be, and sometimes they are blurry when I thought I got a good one. 😉
You are very welcome for those hugs Barbara! The brown snake (its name per Google) was in a tree and curled up, but not high up in a tree, so I can’t see why I didn’t see it. It boggles my mind as it was not a huge snake, but it wasn’t a garter snake either. I often take doubles of shots to ensure I got it when I really like what I’m photographing, but sometimes it is fun to get surprises too. I was happy to see the dragonfly came out okay and not blurry because it was so quick. The nice surprise is always rewarding.
A nice walk full of discovery, and memory. Very nice on the woodpecker! I hear them but never have managed a photo.
Thank you, Karma. If I hadn’t heard this one I would never have looked for it so high up in the trees!
Seeing that little pumpkin was a big surprise. It reminds me of how Japanese decorate at Halloween. Not that they celebrate it, but they seem to enjoy decorating according to the season. I am sorry that your walk brought on some loneliness but hopefully nice memories outweigh the sadness. The autumnal foliage was a delight for me, as we don’t have much of that here where I live.
Welcome to my blog, Amanda! Thank you very much for your kind words. I took a quick peek at your blog and was delighted to discover that you are also obsessed with Scandinavia. I’m looking forward to reading your posts and getting to know you better.
Hi Barbara, Thanks for the welcome. Yes I am a bit obsessed with Scandinavia, as my family hails from there. And I am so far away in Australia! Having friends over that way helps a lot. May I ask what your connection is with Scandinavia. Family history perhaps?
I do have a drop of Norwegian blood, Amanda. My 3rd-great-grandfather, Ingebrigt Martinus Hansen, was born in 1818 in Brevik into a family of sailors and shipbuilders and then came to America in 1837. His father’s name was Hans Mathias Tønnesen, so he took on the name Martin Thompson, seeing Tønnesen was similar sounding to Thompson. He was a sea captain and married an Irish immigrant and settled on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, by the sea. When I was a little girl I had very blond hair and my grandmother would tell me it was because of my Norwegian genes. Grandmother told me so many tales about him and Norway that I fell in love with all things Norwegian. I finally got to go there in 2015, the trip of a lifetime for me.
How wonderful to hear the stories of Norway and family from your grandmother. I do think they is something in our Dna- DnA memory perhaps that attracts us to certain places. Have you visited Brevik?
I agree, there may well be something to the theory of genetic memory and epigenetics. I did visit Brevik briefly on our whirlwind trip to Norway. It’s not a tourist town so when we stopped for dinner at a restaurant they had to dig out a dusty old menu that had some English translations on it. Our server didn’t speak English at all. It was wonderful hearing nothing but Norwegian being spoken all around us, even if we didn’t understand a word. I did feel like we had a little taste of the “real” Norway.
I can imagine what the restaurant dinner without english speakers was like. On a map Brevik is close to Porsgrunn (gorgeous China made there). It looks like a lovely coastal town that doesn’t have many tourists.
I went to rural Denmark some years ago. Same deal with that restaurant. When they finally found an english speaker, she translated the soup of the day as crap soup! “You know the crap that swims in the sea,” she said. Of chose she meant crab soup!! Haha.
Lol – I love your funny memory of the “crap” soup!
I have to laugh at my memories. When I went back to my post about Brevik it turns out our server did speak some English. Anyway, if you’re interested the post with pictures is here:
https://www.ingebrita.net/2015/06/brevik/
I loved the Brevik post. Thanks for linking it. What a darling town.
Thank you for reading it and bringing me back there in my mind.
Dear Barbara, how very brave of you to return to this spot so soon after your husband died. I found this so incredibly moving and poignant, my friend, that my eyes are full of tears. I applaud your bravery and sweetness, your joy for life, and wish you continued healing in your grieving journey.
Thank you so much for your very kind and thoughtful words, Jet. I never thought of grieving as a journey before and am embracing the idea after you put it in that light. And like many journeys, no doubt it will have many surprising twists and turns. I feel a little more prepared now. 🙏
Hi Jet! Waving from Australia. I remember your username from when I first started blogging!!! Around 2010. Glad you are still active here!
Thanks for dropping in, Amanda. Cheers to you and beautiful Australia.