Solitary

Solitary

Grant me the ability to be alone; may it be my way every day
to go outdoors among the trees and grasses,
among all growing things, and there may I be alone,
to talk with the one that I belong to.

~ Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav

This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge from The Daily Post is Solitary.  Last week I had the opportunity to do something I rarely do.  I went for a bike ride on my own.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Boston Mill Depot.

I went with two other people, and we did the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Bike Aboard thing.  I road the train as far as Botzum (again), and the other folks with me went on to the Akron Northside stop (about 6.5 miles farther on).  Since I like to stop to take photos, we figured they’d catch up with me fairly quickly.

Admiring change

As it turns out, they did not.  I had plenty of time out on the Towpath Trail on my own.  I saw very few other people while I was out there.  The occasional jogger, hiker, or cyclist, usually going the other way.  Most of the time I had the trail to myself.

As much as I enjoy the company of others, especially those I boarded the train with and planned to ride with later, it was wonderful being out on my own.  I could take my time, stopping whenever I liked, without having to rush through the ride.  Serious cyclists don’t always appreciate my stop and go approach or slower pace.

I understand why.  They ride to exercise, to train, and to accumulate mileage.

I ride for the same reasons I hike.  I want to enjoy the moment, the movement, the scenery, the day itself.  I don’t worry too much about mileage except when it comes time to get where I set out to go.  Left to my own devices, I might wander forever savoring the movement, the scenery, and the day.

My companions on this trip (unintentionally) gifted me with an hour or so for my mostly solitary ride.  By the time they caught up with me, we only had about four miles or so to our destination.

That gave me plenty of time to stop and admire the flowers, the light on the trail, and the changing colors of the foliage.

Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your own presence rather than the absence of others.

~ Alice Koller

Only when one is connected to one’s own core is one connected to others I am beginning to discover.  And, for me, the core, the inner spring, can best be refound through solitude.

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

That should do it from me and from the Bogs for today.  Thank you for coming along on my brief, almost solitary, journey on the Towpath Trail.

As for here in the Bogs, Autumn has treated us to another gorgeous day.  Morning was clear and sunny.  Clouds moved in during the afternoon, with rain expected to follow.  We could use a bit more of the wet stuff so I’m not complaining.  There are umbrellas available if you want to take a walk, or you can relax on the porch which is sheltered and a great place to watch the rain.

Have a delightful day, evening, or night… wherever and whenever you are on the spectrum of time.

This morning’s view of the pond

Related articles

• Weekly Photo Challenge – Solitary (kattermonran.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary (insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com)
• Photo Challenge: Solitary (deetoursbydeepali.wordpress.com)

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