So teach us to number our days so that we can present to Thee a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12
A trip to a favorite park is always uplifting for my spirit. We returned to Red Rocks Canyon Park in Colorado Springs in early March 2020, and started up Hogback Valley on a Friday morning. We knew there would be few people, but there was a new sign: Trail is MUDDY. Walk through the Mud. Do not … Continue reading Stand Firm in Mud
It was the first hike of 2020 up a mountain and I knew it would be hard. The snow on the trail was a mixture of ice, slush, hard pack and muddy. Life resembles this trail with a mixture of easy, fast, cautious, and not pleasant paths. It changed so quickly from one type of snow to … Continue reading Snowy Path Resembles Life
This 3-mile hike Bow River hike started in town and ended in an open field with old abandoned miners equipment and houses in the distance. The field is a favorite place for the elk to access the river and to bed down in relative safety for the night. We saw no wildlife as we headed back … Continue reading Bow River Hike – ELK
But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness. He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; Isaiah 78:52-53 NIV When you see wildlife on or near the road, what do you do? The 1A, Bow Valley Parkway, is a back road between Banff and Canmore, Canada that … Continue reading Wild Beasts are the Best
Spoleto, in Roman times, held a strategic geographical position. In 774, it became part of the Holy Roman Empire. The Roman ruins include a Roman theater, Roman arches and a part of the Roman road. The Duomo was begun in 1100s and has an unusual feature of eight Rosettes. The mosaic floors were a delight. You have to … Continue reading Guide Paulo in Spoleto
The ridge between northern and southern Umbrian forests grows the magical black truffles famous in many Italian dishes. On our hike to the ‘ecotourism’ Bartoli Farm, it begins to rain as fog rolls in and covers the mountains with mist. ( Patrico sul Monteluco, agriturismobartoli@yahoo.it) The farm is a working farm and is available for dining tourists and … Continue reading AGRITOURISM – Truffle Farm
“Andiamo, Let’s Go!” Heading toward Spoleto, there is a mountain road that leads to “sacred woods”. Old growth forest rewards you after many harrowing hairpin curves in a tour bus. It is quiet. Moss is growing on trees and the paths have wooden cross fences. It is raining lightly. Our guide was from Spoleto and has memories of … Continue reading Sacred Woods of Spoleto
A protest against cutting ancient trees demonstrated by these stumps deposited in the Assisi main square. Our tour group gathered together for the walk down, down, down through Assisi from the Center Square to St. Francis’ Basilica. An African Franciscan monk was our guide in English. The Basilica is two churches built on top of … Continue reading St. Francis Assisi Basilica
The St. Francis Hermitage on Mt. Sabatio houses five monks who live there year around. There is art and sculptures in the monastery, and an outdoor ancient altar on a wooded path around the mountain. The Hermitage had narrow small short openings for doors to help keep it warm in the winter. There was one dining area … Continue reading Impact of St. Frances of Assisi
“Italians make fun of everything – the Pope, business, family, and traffic. But never, never poke fun at food or soccer. That is sacred,” says Matteo, our guide from Collepino to Spello, Matteo kept us entertained with his take on Italian politics and life. “At least the professional crooks were smart when they ran the government. We … Continue reading Spello with Difficulty
