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Friday, September 26, 2014

Redefining our Journey - at Baker Creek

We had hiked a smaller trail at Hickory Knob to ensure that we would have enough time to explore her oft overlooked sister park, Baker Creek.

Known primarily to bikers, Baker reek is humble and non assuming.  The park is only open to the public between March and September.  Baker Creek is in a sense exclusive and must be given high consideration when planning the Ultimate Outsider Adventure and/or the Geocache Crusade.   If we were stupid enough to overlook Baker Creek now, we would not be able to visit her again until March.

We had every intention of hiking Baker Creek.  We really did.  But when we pulled up to the kiosk, we saw Baker Creek's pride, the inviting picnic pavilion jutting out over the lake.  Lured by her beauty, we dumbly followed the ramp up and beheld the picturesque placid lake spread out proudly for our viewing.  Baker Creek was ready for us.  She extended her hand of welcome and invited us to visit for a while.  The pavilion and the tables were ready for us to rest and to picnic.

Who were we to refuse?  And so we ran back to the van and gathered what food stuffs we had.  We filled cups of water and cups of granola.  We feasted on baggies of cheerios and raisins.  We passed around a communal tin of almonds and portioned out cheese cubes.  It was a humble repast, but still magnificent.

We watched fish jump in the lake before us tantalizing the vigilant birds.  We enjoyed Baker Creek's stillness for a long while.  Baker Creek stopped us to give us caution that the parks are to be befriended and absorbed into our identities- into our stories- and should not be merely conquered and checked off.  We took a breath at Baker Creek.  She had chastised us but in a way so rich and loving that we could not be resentful.  Instead, we willingly took heed and enjoyed our feast of cheerios and raisins beside the quiet still lake.

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