Nancy and I camped out last night.
Yup thats right. We pitched our tent and set up my eagle's nest hammock. She and I had a nice night under the stars...and thanks to the LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!! LOUD!!! neighbors...I know all about a man named Ron...how he has 60,000 dollars and "he is never willing to share it". Well fellow camper that sounds terrible...but come on please don't keep me up late at night yellin about it!!!
Anyways, the morning is what I will remember most about being at Castle Rock. Nancy and I woke up at 5:45 Mtn time and watched the sunrise while in the hammock. She and I nestled ourselves with our sleeping bags and watched the start to our day. The stillness was so inticing. It made me sad when the hustle and bustle started up again. The quiet calm morning feeling has truly stuck with me all day. I hopped out of the hammock leaving Nancy all comfy cozy and I snapped a few pictures. Ill post them here in a minute.
We left Castle Rock with warm feelings in our hearts, and a little strain in our necks thanks to having fallen back asleep in that morning hammock I mentioned earlier. Then she and I headed towards civilization aka the Outlet Mall. Both places are very wild...just dealing with different animals if you catch my drift!?!
The cool mountain air up here is something else. Nancy and I truly find ourselves silent a lot of the trip because we are at a loss for words. The beauty up here in these mountains captivates us everyday and with sunrises like this one we truly understand how a man can fall in love the West...be addicted to the outdoors...and his true passions can be existing as one with nature and appreciating the blessings God has given. Nancy and I feel like this trip is one of restoration. Much is taken, yet much abides...Our love abides.
I am reminded of a snippet from one of my favorite Tennyson poems that says:
I cannot rest from travel; I will drink life to the lees. All times I have enjoy'd greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those that loved me, and alone; on shore, and when thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades vext the dim sea.
I am become a name; For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known,-- cities of men and manners, climates, councils, governments, Myself not least, but honor'd of them all,--
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!
As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains; but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more, A bringer of new things;
then it goes on to say
Death closes all; but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods. The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks; The long day wanes; the slow moon climbs; the deep moans round with many voices.
Come, my friends. T'is not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite the sounding furrows;
for my purpose holds to sail beyond the sunset, and the baths of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down; It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,--One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
