Monday, July 18, 2022

On Top of the World

 


I will lift my eyes to the hills -

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth. ~Psalm 121:1-2


When anyone mentions Clingman's Dome, the above image is usually what comes to mind.  Have I been up there?  Yes, many moons ago when I was 10 and our family vacationed in the Great Smoky Mountains.  It's certainly worth the long and arduous trek up the concrete path at least once in a lifetime to view a mountain panorama bar none.

But that's not the walk Danny has planned today with Virginia.  There is an offshoot trail that few people know about and fewer travel.  It actually intersects the famous Appalachian Trail!  I've trekked this with Danny before; it is marvelous, but I know from experience this isn't a trail I can navigate now.  My legs are still not being the most cooperative I'd hoped they would be at this stage in my long road to recovery after the pneumonia incident.  But I am so excited for Virginia, knowing how much she will enjoy the wonderful views!

So, with Danny carrying their lunches, off they go on a new adventure; I stay back with the car and my own lunch.  The parking lot is jammed, and we are so fortunate to find a parking space at all, so while Danny and Virginia go a-wandering, I spend the time reading and people-watching.

Thankfully, my two hikers return with plenty of photos to share.
















Danny and Virginia are so blessed to have such gorgeous weather for hiking on Clingman's Dome.  I know Virginia will treasure these memories all her life.

Amen!

29 comments:

  1. Bom dia, Martha
    Desejo uma ótima recuperação, Deus continue te abençoando. Que passeio maravilhoso, aproveitar esses momentos são fantásticos. Estou colocando aqui a letra da música amizade de quatro por um, do vídeo que coloquei no meu blog, você acredita que eu esqueci de colocar a letra logo abaixo do vídeo kkkk. Obrigada pela preciosa amizade. Segue a letra da música: AMIZADE - QUATRO POR UM
    Que bom te ter aqui comigo
    Pra conversar e te conhecer
    Entra na roda, vem comigo
    Só é feliz quem tem amigos
    Aproveitar esse momento lindo
    Cantar, sorrir, fazer amigos
    Celebrando a Deus que nos uniu
    Como foi bom te conhecer
    Que bom te conhecer
    Pra mim foi um prazer
    Viver em comunhão
    Amigos mais chegados que irmãos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Lucinalva, for sharing the lyrics with me and all the readers here! Friendship is always a gift to be treasured.
      So glad you enjoyed the images here today, too. Not sure if I'll ever get to the point where I can tackle trails with confidence, but in the meantime, I'm determined to enjoy every moment I'm given.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  2. Love the pics and the view. That Virginia is having too much fun. LOL Thanks again for sharing your time with her with us. I have never been to CD. But I imagine it would be worth it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly is worth the trip, Bill, but you might want to go in the spring or late fall. There are so many tourists there in the summer, we almost didn't find a place to park; that would have been so disappointing for both Virginia and Danny.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  3. What a beautiful (and fun) time for them both. I have a friend who's walking the Appalachian Trail right now - started in early June in Maine and plans to finish in October in Georgia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, wow, Glynn, that's quite the ambitious activity that your friend has taken on! Those hiking days, sadly, are pretty much over for me, but that's okay. To everything there is a season.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  4. And this, yet another legacy, you're passing on to Virginia, friend. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Linda, I think Virginia will always love and appreciate the mountains. She simply has always enjoyed being outdoors, and that's such a healthy thing!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  5. It must have been a very nice walk all the way up there; but I understand what you mean about not having the energy. You stayed in the car; yet I'm sure Virginia will treasure these memories for ever.

    God bless you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Victor, it's not so much about having the energy, it's more about my joints not wanting to cooperate in a good way; too much risk of losing my balance and falling. A trail in the Smokies is NO place to risk having an accident!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  6. What a wonderful adventure for Danny and Virginia. That sight will be a lasting treasure for her entire life. Blessings, my sweet friend

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do believe Virginia will treasure this experience always, Nells. Such fun!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  7. ... Looking down on creation! Danny's alternate route looks far more scenic, and less crowded. Thank you for staying behind and taking care of yourself for our sake. (I'm selfish that way, lol.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome, Myra; it was the only sensible thing I could do, though I so wanted to go with the both of them.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  8. Nice adventure. Martha. Glad you could enjoy it vicariously.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, Frank, I certainly enjoyed the photos and the smiles on Virginia and Danny's faces when they returned. As I mentioned, I had hiked this stretch before (2014), so I could easily envision what they were seeing. Thanks for stopping by!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  9. What beautiful views and amazing photos Ms. Martha. Thank you for sharing with us ma'am.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you enjoyed the photos, J. D., and that you continue to tag along with these adventures. Much appreciated!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  10. Great memories made, for sure!! I did Clingman's Dome when I was in my early 20s. It is quite a hike! The views are SO pretty and you are right that Virginia will cherish the memories she made with Grandpa for the rest of her life!! Thanks for sharing (I would have stayed behind, too!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Terri, I'm so glad I'm not the only blogger who has encountered Clingman's Dome in person! It is indeed remarkable, and that concrete trail is not something anyone wants to do twice. The trail that Virginia and Danny took empties out onto that concrete path. I got a kick out of Virginia's remark that everyone coming up the trail looked exhausted - lol!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  11. Dearest Martha Jane,
    How rewarding such a hike is!
    The view is one thing, the endurance it teaches is a great character building element for the rest of Virginia's life.
    And oh, how YUMMY that lunch tasted in the fresh, clean air after having EARNED IT!
    Great photos for a fond forever memory.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to agree, Mariette, that food eaten outdoors always tastes better, and Virginia and Danny certainly savored their lunches! And lessons about endurance and perseverance cannot be stressed enough, especially for the younger generation. I'm so grateful that Virginia absolutely loves being in God's marvelous creation and appreciates it beyond measure.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  12. What an adventure and photos! you can tell they loved it. I would have enjoyed the people watching too. so much fun. Thanks for sharing the great times you had together

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so grateful and glad that I could share such fun times with my readers, Jean. We all need good news and joyful experiences in our lives that counteract all the negativity and hopelessness we see on the news. Happy to know you enjoyed this post.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  13. Oh what a wonderful and beautiful pictures from their hike and how delightful to do such things with grandpa!! Precious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you enjoyed this post, Marja! Somehow, your comment ended up in my spam folder, but I rescued it.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  14. Such beautiful photos!I have been to Clingmans Dome but many years ago. Quite a high incline to walk up , works the heart muscles and legs for sure. This is Cheryl from Sunlitpathway. Can’t seem to sign in from my google account

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl, and for identifying yourself. So many people seem to be having trouble with signing in with Google, I have to wonder if they are to blame for these glitches. And I agree that the Clingman's Dome walk to the tower is quite tiring!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete

. . . Good Tidings of Great Joy . . .

  . . . Good tidings of great joy . . . ~Luke 2:10 Pictured above are my daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, John, and their three girls, Virginia,...