The Wandering Nana's are at it, again!

At Table Bluff where we started. #MammothHikeChallenge #HikingChallenge

 

Tuesday, October 12, 2021: Ice Age Trail - Table Bluff segment, Part 1

The weather today was cloudy, but no threat rain, so we decided to stick with our plan of hiking the connecting route between Indian Lake and Table Bluff. We had driven it previously to determine which direction we wanted to hike, and chose to go from the parking lot at the north end of Table Bluff to the Dog Park at Indian Lake, and if we still had energy to spare, move our vehicles and do the Table Bluff trail. The roads were lovely quiet roads with alternating views of farmland and forests. The colors are gradually changing, and because of our regular walks, we are able to enjoy observing the changes in small increments. Walking the countryside of Wisconsin and observing the working farms in addition to the flora and fauna is, mostly, one of the most peaceful things a body can do. Quilting is one of the past-times that Sue and I have enjoyed doing together, so seeing the barn quilts as we passed some of the farms along the way was an added treat.

 The only part that was less fun was the farm dog that insisted on barking at us as we passed "his" farm. I can't say we were "chased" because neither of us ran (being "dog-people" ourselves, we don't easily succumb to fear of them), but it took some scolding from Sue for the dog to realize it was time for him to go home. 

Being friends of many years, Sue and I always have things to talk about, and on this hike we discovered that we need to be mindful of where we are going. We definitely earned the "wandering" title in our trail name! It was unintentional, but we found it worth a good laugh! A hike that should have been about 4.8 miles including a .8 mile trek through a sweet little prairie ended up being closer to 7 miles. The "extended" version of the walk led to a change in plans, as we only completed the connecting route between the Indian Lake Dog Park and the Table Bluff parking lot, along with a small add-on of Halfway Prairie and the Matz Homestead, since we had not been certain that it was open the previous week when we did the connecting route between Springfield Hill and Indian Lake. A song that has been going through my head lately is  John Denver's "Annie's Song". While it is not necessarily a spiritual song, the first phrase, "You fill up my senses..." speaks to me of what God is doing as he moves me off the sofa and out to see and experience His creation. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." As I see his creation, I marvel at the magnitude of what that means, and am grateful to be a part of it.

Friday, October 15, 2021: Ice Age Trail - Table Bluff segment, Part 2

Since we did NOT finish the Table Bluff segment on Tuesday as originally planned, we came back to give it a second go, and did the connecting route into Cross Plains, as well. I smile now, as among the agreements Sue and I discussed when planning our joint venture on the Ice-Age Trail is that neither of us is all that fond of walking in the rain, so we would try to avoid it. The weather forecast for the day was "iffy", and we both ran into sprinkles on our way to meet at the Table Bluff parking lot, but since it wasn't raining when we got there, we set off on our trek with a measure of optimism. Well, more sprinkles did occur, though nothing like the downpours we know to be possible in Wisconsin. Maybe...just maybe...we are heartier than we give ourselves credit for! We still might be wusses when it comes to serious rain, but we survived Table Bluff and even got a kick our of the "mermaid". The final ascent from Table Bluff looks somewhat daunting, but the switchbacks made it a bit easier to navigate. We agreed that an "out-and-back" on this trail might be good preparation for the Devils Lake segment. 1 John 4:4 says, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." While there is a specific reference to what is being overcome in this scripture, it does not negate the thought that there is much for us to overcome in this world. We face obstacles often in this life that, in order to move forward, we must overcome. The steepness of the ascent from Table Bluff looks a little scary when you see it from below, but when you approach it from above and see the switchbacks, it becomes doable. How many times have you faced a hurdle in life that you had to overcome? Where did you turn when you needed help? By far, it has been the Lord who has directed the pathway of my life, and helped me to overcome. I would encourage you, reader, to look to him in your times of need, as well.