Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia, Arizona
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. ~ Proverbs 21:3
So last night, in front of a live television audience (we recorded it so we could fast forward thru much of it 😊), Nik Wallenda walked for 31 minutes across an 1,800’ steel cable suspended over an active volcano in Nicaragua, praising God and thanking Jesus all along the way of his longest and highest walk. His wife, Erendira, also first performed an aerial act over said volcano.
This is my question to you fellow believers out there – – are they deliberately testing God (a big no-no in Scripture) by performing these incredible stunts, or are they simply working in the field and in the way God created them for?
It was the day for us to do what we seemed to be designed to do – – at least in part. Climb mountains! We have no idea what this mountain is called, but it’s decent sized and promised incredible views from the top, so off we went. Properly dressed and laden with the supplies we needed.
Shortly after we began, we encountered about a half dozen cows right by the trail,
and then on the trail,
and then, running across the trail! A couple of them were youngsters and you could tell by the way the were jumping and leaping! I never gave any credence to the cow jumping over the moon before, but these just might be able to do it. 😊
Who knew cows could be so much fun!
And as you’ll see, they weren’t the last cows we encountered today. Just the most active and fun!
We followed the pink trail markers faithfully. . . .
Until we didn’t. . . .
We actually walked around behind it.
Way around. : )
But that was just because we reached the end of the trail, and were now entering strictly bovine territory – – where few humans have dared to go.
And like the dutiful and trusting wife I am, I followed.
Skirting wildlife perils . . .
Slipping under the barbed wire fence, designed to keep cows (and probably people) from climbing to the top . . . .
Over rough and rocky terrain . . .
Taking pictures periodically that I naively believed would help us find our way back down. (and just because we thought something looked nice)
We never saw them again. . . .
Up and up and up, we slowly climbed . . .
Taking the time to find secure footing, using our semi-toned and practiced leg muscles, conditioned lungs and dependable hiking sticks to pull us ever closer to the top.
Until I decided that the return trip wouldn’t be worth the potential injury of sliding downhill on loose stones, not to mention the additional stress inflicted on my body.
Plus, there was this nice flat rock with the most a-mazing views!
in the center of the picture. There’s also a pontoon boat a little further to the right.
But Blaine felt the need to complete his mission, so he continued on.
I wasn’t able to turn around where I was sitting. : )
And he made it! The following are his views from the top!
And more importantly, he made it back! I could hear his stick tap-tap-tapping on the rocks well before I could hear or see him.
We sat and ate our lunch, soaking up what God had to offer us on this stunningly gorgeous day and counted ourselves very blessed indeed!
In due time, we hauled ourselves up and gingerly made our way back down the mountain – – going a totally different way than the way we’d climbed. 😊
And then it was off to enjoy an additional adventure or two, because the first one only lasted just over two hours.
First, we drove to another spot inside the Sonoita Creek State Nature Area which is only about 1 ½ miles from the State Park. And we climbed another mountain, because one wasn’t enough. But this one had a much easier trail, and wasn’t nearly as high. 😊
Once we were on top of the mountain, we could see it it was more of a
“just to walk” type of trail – going around on flat land, with nothing
much additional to observe.
Wonder how old it is?
And I’m right behind him!
Once we descended, Blaine decided he wanted to go check out the spillway we saw while we were kayaking, up close. Pretty area with little baby waterfalls and a river!
How is it possible that a red flower comes from that?!? God is great!
It will be so interesting to see for ourselves how that works!
They’re supposed to bloom between April and June.
Visiting the spillway wasn’t too difficult, but coming back to the Jeep? Ugh! I don’t know what the steepness grade is, but it had to be at least 20%! It was probably the most difficult part of the day.
Of course, that could also be because we were worn out from climbing two other mountains today . . . .
Yet another day to be grateful! And we are!