In Motion

Ryan running through a cave at Carter Caves.

"I am confident only when I am constantly in motion. Between projects, the doubt creeps in." - Willem Dafoe

It's true: there is a confidence that comes when your hands are constantly busy but idle hands let the mind wander. When I have time to let my mind wander I have time to doubt. To me, to doubt yourself is a crime. On my Facebook, I have a personal quote on my description:

"Don't let your fear hold you back - I kow from experience: fear is like a chain."

So I try to make it a point to focus on not doubting myself in any part of my life, whether it be running or relationships, herbs or a home. So far, I didn't doubt myself on Ryan, I didn't doubt myself on the tent life, and I'm not doubting myself on The Nook...but what about that 50k in November? Kill me now...
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To begin with, we already know I'm a terrible time manager. Still working on that, I'm getting better. People can do whatever they put their minds to, though! So when Ryan and I signed up for a 50k (30 mile race) I figured we'll train or go in cold turkey. It's looking like that turkey is gonna be pretty cold...

But running is more mental than it is physical! I know that sounds wrong, but it isn't. Again, you can do whatever you put your mind to. Ryan surprised me this weekend with a trip to Carter Caves for a run! Originally we needed to do twelve miles this weekend, but I've only ran one this past week so I wasn't sure where I was at physically for this run.

It was a gorgeous day as we pulled off to the side of the road and climbed out of the Monte Carlo. We strapped or buckled on our hydration gear and started down the trail past the gate. It wasn't too long before we stopped to pee along the trail - we drank quite a bit of water on the way down.
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Those creek crossings, though...

There were one or two creek crossings, and I kept that in mind for later in the day. I've seen many runners cool off during a run with a creek. Maybe I'd try that later.

We were maybe just a little over halfway into our first mile when we came into a clearing. Ryan was ahead of me as I heard him shout something to me:

"The cabin!"

"A cabin? Yeah, covered wagon finished a creek crossing! Build our cabin here!"

"No, an actual cabin!"

And it was!

As Ryan lead me off of the trail and around to it, I saw the beautiful cabin standing on the hill in front of me.

"We have to explore that."
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Anyone who has completed the 4 C's trail may have seen this cabin. It's beautiful and old looking, with working features. There were plenty of vintage household items laying about outside, but the doors were locked and tried to keep us from accessing the wonders within.

Notice, I said tried...

I'm not sure if it is exactly "breaking and entering" if the windows were already broken.

So I crawled through the windows, past the few shards of glass that remained on the floor, and entered into the kitchen. Wow! There's a vintage cook stove, and an adorable hutch, a white fridge...

Fridge?

Ryan had me opened it - NOTICE that Ryan was outside the entire time and if anyone (a park officer, for example) pulled up he was free to run away and I had to explain my presence. Well, anyways, the fridge was indeed cold and the freezer colder. Inside it were plastic solo cups and some paper towels.

Either a really cool homeless person lives there, or it's the park employees place to chill. Chill on, mi amigos, chill on...

The cabin is set up as two separate rooms, an open walkway in between, and the loft in the roof connecting the rooms. One room was the kitchen, as we established, and the other was a bedroom with a little coal stove. So cute!
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We headed out on our run once again and quite a ways later came to a suspension bridge. It was beautiful, and I still couldn't get over how cool it was when the temperature was supposed to be in the 90s. Our run was mostly shaded and ran by water. We passed by the lake where two people were in a canoe, fishing.

I'm seriously thinking GoPro at this point. Would y'all like vlogs of our shenanigans? Those might be an eventual thing, as Ryan agrees. You guys might enjoy seeing these beautiful places and our majestic falls.

That is, Ryan falls majestically. He tucks and rolls, gets up and keeps running. I just crash and bleed. Which I did, but that is later down the trail in our story...
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I live for lens flares.

Oh, eye candy did abound! Each part of the trail was different. I was either on a runners high, which is bad because it was only the second mile in, or nature was more gorgeous than I could handle at the moment. We left the ridge by the lake side and headed down to the edge of the tree line. I grabbed for my phone out of my belt every chance I was inspired. Ryan is usually my muse, willing or unwilling, knowing or not.

Elevation started increasing again as we made our way up to our first cave. Eek! The last time I was at Carter Caves I didn't get to see any caves. Instantly, I almost fell in my excitement as I tried to make my way through the mossy rock up to the cave.

I reached up to touch the inside of the cave. The moss was completely damp and squishy, a very weird sensory experience.
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We didn't stay long at the first cave. There was more to see. So we stayed only a moment more to eat our Cliff bars, drink some more water, ask ourselves "do I need to pee?" and then head off.

Up the trail, 'round the bend, here we go again...

Another suspension bridge! Walking on these things is fun, but try running on run. I needed up awkwardly slow-motion stomping towards the end. So weird!
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It was here Ryan started getting dizzy. He's dealing with what the neurologist has diagnosed as post-concussive effects from his car wreck that happened almost a year ago. When I met Ryan, he was having a hard time dealing with the side effects of headaches, dizziness, and lack of balance. His doctor said that he had to quit running for a while, and as it would for most any runner, it brought along depression. A runner not running is a bad situation.

He he decided to start running again, and since then we've logged quite a few miles together. The neurologist says that if possible, he should keep running. Although he still has problems with his post-concussive syndrome, he is starting to do better in ways such as balance and mood and that might be because of running.

But I'm no doctor so who knows...
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​But I might need one! At one point into the run, maybe four miles in, I came down. I almost fell at least three times prior, but it for sure happened that time. I can't seem to get Ryan's tuck and roll down! Instant bruising.

We were supposed to do twelve miles, but my legs were wrecked and Ryan wasn't doing so hot himself. At one point it got to rough, I came up with a little ditty set to the tune of "Achey Breaky Heart".

"Don't take my hat,
My drippy, sweaty hat,
I don't think my shirt would understand.

And if you take my hat,
My drippy, sweaty hat,
I might become less of a man."

Guys, I have no clue. I seriously don't. I saw Ryan's drippy hate, the runners high was real, the pain existed.

We finished it at six miles and went to grab some food at the Lodge. Maybe next Saturday...

Our run wasn't the only thing in motion this weekend. Thanks to everyone's support and prayers out Nook was safely moved! Where we once slept in the tent, our Nook now stands.
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Adventures are everywhere and this entire year has been one. I like keeping everyone updated on The Nook, and right now the pads are being poured so maybe soon we can stay in The Nook again.
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The view when you're coming up from the cove where we get our water.

And at last, this Friday a new product is being uploaded to my Etsy (look under the Apothecary tab on this site)! These Anti-Inflammatory Herbal Capsules have a lot of love and thought put into them. I've spent weeks brainstorming and planning. I've tested the devil's claw on my parents and their arthritis, and I've done my research. I have high hopes with this product.

For those who are interested, realize it may take a few days for this herb to be in your system before an affect takes place.

​So keep an eye on my shop Friday for this product!
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Thank you for listening to my ramblings and the updates, and I wish you all good health to you and yours!
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