Cliffhanging
Posted: June 21, 2012 Filed under: 365 Yoga Challenge, Adventures in Life, beginnings, Critters, Fears, goals, health, hiking, home, nature, Photography, Spirit, Spring, Summer, travel, Vacation, Walking, water, weather | Tags: Bay of Fundy, Canada, Cape Enrage, dragonflies, Hiking, Hopewell Rocks, insects, nature, New Brunswick, Outdoors, Photography, pond, Scotland, spring, Summer, travel, Vacation 48 Comments
Stairs to the beach at Cape Enrage
Once upon a time, a very long time ago (going on 20 years, I think) in a land far away, I took a fall down a long, steep set of metal stairs in a castle ruin. It happened in Scotland, and I obviously lived to tell about it, but during the fall I wasn’t sure I would. Even M had thoughts of having to take me home in a body bag. We both agree it seemed to take hours for me to reach the bottom although it was probably a matter of seconds. I miraculously made it to the bottom with almost no injuries (a cut, a missing fingernail, a little mud on my nose).
The beach area at high tide
After the fall, I had a difficult time climbing up steep hills or stairs. I don’t mind the going up part. It’s the coming down that frightens me. It is, in a way, a fear of heights. Mostly it’s a fear of falling, as if I got it into my head that I’m only allowed to survive one fall like that in my lifetime, and should it happen again, I won’t make out quite so well. Silly? Yes. Logical? No. I’ve found there often isn’t too much that is logical about fears and phobias.
One of the many lovely views from Cape Enrage
So it was with trepidation that I faced the stairs leading down to the beach at Cape Enrage. Fortunately for me, I did not have to make a decision about the stairs because there was no beach to go down to at that time. The tide was up and the beach was under water.
I did walk part way down the stairs for a look, and since M wanted to explore the beach, agreed to come back at low tide and give it a try. If I couldn’t make it down the stairs, he could take the camera with him and I’d get a look at the beach from his point of view.
We did go back the next day, but you’ll have to wait to find out if I made it down those stairs or not. In the meantime, enjoy a few more views from our first visit to Cape Enrage before we leave for Hopewell Rocks.
Today in the Bogs it is still hot, but doesn’t feel as bad as yesterday. It was very breezy when I went out for my morning walk, and quite pleasant in the shade. A cold front is coming through soon which will help bring the temperature down even more.
The dragonflies and damselflies appear to be enjoying the hot weather. I sat and watched them for a while. I’ve had to go back out a few times to remind the groundhog that there are better places to live than under the deck. He sure is a big guy. We may have all-out groundhog wars going on here soon.
On the way to Hopewell Rocks
That’s it from the Bogs and New Brunswick for today. Thank you for visiting. One of the dragonflies I watched today turned out to be watching me. Perhaps he wanted some time on the blog.
Related articles
- Cape Enrage (bogsofohio.wordpress.com)
- Dennis Beach (bogsofohio.wordpress.com)
Life in the Bogs 
Oh, that sounds absolutely scary!! I wouldn’t have wanted to go down any steep satirs either after a fall like that! You may have tried this, but you can go down backwards, and it won’t be so bad.
LOVE the third photo. So beautiful!
Thank you, Michaela. 🙂
Sometimes going down backwards helps. It depends on the situation. Stairs are difficult to do backwards. Climbing down a steep hill or mountain is a little easier.
I love to read in places like seen on your pictures
Thank you for stopping by and commenting, Brulionman. 🙂
When I was 15 months old my father accidentally dropped me down a flight of stairs and I landed on my head. Anytime I am at the top of a flight of stairs, I hesitate a second before I start down. I’m sure it’s because of that memory. As I have gotten older, I hang onto the railing and take it one step at a time!
That’s how I do it too, Deborah. One step at a time, clinging like mad to the railing. It’s the stairs without railings that really rattle me.
oh my that is the most awesome dragonfly pic I’ve ever seen. simply stunning.
Thank you, Joss. I have to give most of the credit to the dragonfly for being such a willing model. 🙂
nevertheless! You’re the one who captured him even if he was happy to pose. Someone else might not even have noticed him.
True, Joss. 🙂
enjoying your walks that you share with us!
Thank you, Derrick. 🙂
Those stairs look scary to me!!
They look scary to me too, Cathy. They are pretty solid with some nice railings to hold on to… 🙂
I have the same problem, just not sure why. It was a challenge walking down the Eiffel Tower steps. What is a damselfly?? Beautiful sweeping skylines today, Robin, I really enjoyed these photos… xo
Thank you, Smidge. 🙂
A damselfly is a lot like a dragonfly. I don’t remember all of the differences, but they are easily told apart by the way they hold their wings when they land. A damselfly holds its wings upright, over the abdomen (in a closed position). Dragonflies hold their wings down, open wide.
No matter the fear, it’ never fun for those who have it. Meanwhile, the fourth pic with the long coastline is awesome!
Thank you, Frank. 🙂
Hubby has the same issue with steep stairs. We think long and hard before starting up…
Hope you’re cooler this morning! We’re still waiting. Even our famous sea breeze is absent.
It’s interesting how many people have a problem with stairs or going down steep inclines. Almost reassuring, although I really don’t wish it on anyone.
The front moved through overnight, Marie, and the humidity is expected to move out by noon today, with cooler temps. It should be your way soon. 🙂
Hi Robin. I have been at Cape Enrage a few times. The Nature Trust protects a beautiful salt marsh just next to where you were. I’ve been there when they were repelling down the cliff… not for me. You dragonfly is a very well-done photo! Jane
We stopped to look at the marsh, Jane, and I took a few photos. I was as fascinated with the marshes as I was with the other views, but didn’t get to spend as much time there as I would have liked.
Thank you. The dragonfly was extremely cooperative. 🙂
That is a scary experience – so glad you came through with barely a scrape. The photos are absolutely gorgeous. I will be curious to find out today if you made the trek down the stairs. I have a fear about going up a particular set of stairs. There is a fire tower in a mountainous part of my state, just a little west and north of here, that I’ve tried to climb so that I could experience the beautiful view at the top. My knees shake and wobble when I get halfway up, and I just can’t bring myself to go all the way up. I hate how the body betrays sometimes!
Thank you, Karma. 🙂
I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for the ending to my cliffhanger. I couldn’t fit it all in today. Soon, though.
I know just what you mean about how the body betrays. I’ve been known to freeze, paralyzed with fear. It’s a terrible thing. It’s also sometimes difficult for others to understand. I know people who think I should reason my way out of the fear. Or bully my way out of it. If those things worked, I’d do them. I’ve come to the conclusion that desensitization (which is so popular with talk show hosts when they discuss phobias) is useless as well. No matter how many times I force myself to do something I fear, I still fear it. Maybe I’m just crazy… 😉
I am enjoying the pictures of your trip ….
I have a fear of those long, steep stairs, too. I don’t like the height and going down is scarier then going up. A few years back, someone got me to climb up in a fire tower … blowing in the wind. My heart raced the entire time … but, coming down I froze at times and could not move. When my friend walked in front of me going down so I just had a view of the back of a head on the way down, it was better …
Thank you, Bearyweather. 🙂
Oh gosh, I felt like I was right there with you when you described coming down from the fire tower. That’s a good idea — to concentrate on the view of the back of the head. I’ll have to try that the next time my body wants to freeze up on the way down a steep hill or stairs.
These are amazing, Robin! Those are some breath-taking views.
I am glad you survived that fall, I have a phobia of heights to begin with, so I can only imagine what falling from a steep stairs would do to me emotionally (and physically of course).
Thank you, Gracie. 🙂
[…] Cliffhanging […]
Thanks for the photos and the commentary as always. I fell down some stone stairs onto my face a couple of years ago. I too survived with nasty cuts to my face and no other injury. So I understand your concern about walking down stairs. I now hold on to a convenient hand rail and carefully place my feet on each step. Takes longer to descend than it used to but I get there every time.
You’re welcome, Judith. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Hand rails are the main reason I make it down steep stairs these days. If there is no hand rail, I have to work up a great deal of courage to do it.
Awesome pic of the dragonfly.
That’s really scary about the fall. I’m glad you weren’t hurt. I’ve always been afraid of heights, but haven’t fallen yet. I’m knocking on wood right now. When I saw the first picture I thought, here’s where they lose me. 🙂
Thank you, Christine. 🙂
Those are some stairs, and that is quite a reason to be wary of stairs! Glad you were fine, and are fine, and that you had time with dragonflies! Good luck with the groundhog.
Thanks, Carla. 🙂
Hey, look on the bright side … not only has your body survived the fall, but it’s practiced how to do it right again if there’s a next time. 🙂
I’ve worn glasses since I was about four years old so now that I’m heading into “the prime of my life” and I need reading glasses too I’ve opted for varifocals. This has the odd result that I’m looking at my feet as I go downstairs through my reading glasses !
I tend to kick my feet to far forward now as I step off and bring them gently back against the upright of the next step before putting them down.
I’ve learned to trust my feet to do the stairs themselves without the help of my eyes … well, almost trust them, I’m often to be seen clinging to the handrail as I go.
lol, Sallyann! I have had a lot of practice falling. I am naturally klutzy. That’s one reason I avoid the edges of cliffs. lol!
I have varifocals too. They took a little getting used to at first, but I’ve had them for a few years now and automatically position my head or glasses to wherever it needs to be to see what I want to see.
It’s amazing how time changes depending on what’s happening, isn’t it? I too have had experiences where many events are recorded like like rapidfire shutte clicks. I love the photo of the stairwell down to the river. Reminds me of the stairs I took to a job down on the Mississippi riverflats many years ago.
Time is a funny business, OmbudsBen. Speedy and slow, sometimes all at once. 🙂
I fell down a set of painted wooden stairs once, and it’s definitely caused me to pause at every outdoor staircase since. I’m still pretty carefree (or careless, depending on who you ask) on indoor stairs, but the outdoor ones really make me think now.
Now that you mention it, Dana, I don’t seem to have too many problems with indoor stairs either. I barrel down our basement stairs sometimes, without the least thought.
What a great shot of the dragonfly!! He obviously did want some time in the spotlight – he’s posing for you! I don’t blame you for feeling anxious about the stairs, I would have felt the same way, and I haven’t fallen down stairs since I was 3 years old (but maybe that was enough to traumatize me for life). Those are spectacular images, I almost feel as if I’ve been on vacation too!
Thank you, Holly. I think you’re right. He does look like he’s posing for me. 🙂
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I enjoyed again making a virtual tour thru Your lovely photos.
Thank you so much, Sartenada. 🙂
[…] Next week we’ll head back to Cape Enrage for some fun on the beach (and the answer to that cliffhanger — did I go down the steep stairs?). An American Robin in the […]
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