One of those stressful, sleepless nights last year, I got out of bed about 3 am, feeling like I was gonna jump right outta my own damn skin – kinda like demons nipping at your heels. All I wanted to do was jump in the car and go. Didnt care where, I just needed to go. But being 3 am, my rational side wasnt going to let me. I mean it’s 3 am. Where the hell am I gonna go at 3 am? That would be straight driving for 3 hrs before anything started to open and given my mood I coulda made some serious distance in those 3 hrs.

I subjected myself to a couple of hours of viewing various Facebook pages. Yeah, that helped – NOT. Listening to music… I couldnt get settled. So by 5:30 AM I was in the car. At least it was a slightly more reasonable time, especially for a broke chic who only had enough money to fill her 1/2 full gas tank up one more time and a little bit of cash.

So I went barreling down the interstate.

A little over 2 hrs later, my rational side kicks in and says “You need a plan or before you know it you’ll be in Tennessee having to call family to wire you gas money.” Damn it, my ration side had a point.

I found a Waffle House to stop and eat a cheap breakfast while I tried to come up with a plan. I had to laugh at myself, as I just drove over 2 hrs to eat at a Waffle House when I have 2 with in a 10 my radius of my home and passed countless others while speeding down the interstate.

So I pull out my cell phone and pull up the handy map application knowing I’m not far from Shenandoah, Skyline, etc… Well, apparently, I blew right past them and was now further south… So I decided to backtrack north to that area and I would either end up by the water or in the mountains.

The car took me to Skyline Drive – Apparently that is where it decided to go, cause I was really hoping for Shenandoah – needed to be near the water. But I found myself at the south gate of Skyline.

Now you need to know what I was wearing:

• Flip flops
• A cute little pair of shorts
• and a really pretty little summer top

I stopped at one pull off in Skyline, got out and started walking along the path. Nothing of what I was wearing was meant for hiking in the woods, but there I was hiking in the woods. After about 20 mins I got bored on that path and really wanted to find some water to be near. So I hiked back to the car.

Went a little further down the road. Stopped and got a bottle of water, as it was going to be over 100 that day. Found another little pull off where there was a waterfall. I figured, this is what I need. So I headed toward the path entrance…

• Dangerous; treacherous
• Steep
• Rocky
• Hiking boots and gear needed.
• Take plenty of water

Well, I had water… So off I went down the path, figuring if it got too bad I would turn around. I’m wondering along the path, water bottle, cell phone and cigarettes in hand. I opt to take my flip flops off and carry them too… Yes, that means I was hiking barefoot on this alleged dangerous trail.

I catch movement out of the corner of my eye, and I see 2 black bears just on the other side of the dry creek about 25 yards from me. I try to get a couple of pics with my camera, but two other couples are coming up the trail and start clapping their hands when they see the bears. The noise makes the bears wonder deeper into the cover and my pics are all of trees and a dark spot. I wanted to throw these people to the bears… Of course, they finally see me and notice I’m barefoot, not in hiking gear, and lighting up a cigarette… I just grin… I grew up in the woods barefoot…

So I continue on my way down to the falls. All the while waiting for this trail to get treacherous… It never did… It was a gradual but steady decline, but treacherous… ha ha ha… not even close.

I make it to the falls. It is exactly what I needed, except there were a few other people there… So I wait for some of them to leave and wade into the water. It’s ice cold despite how hot it is outside. Feels great. I hang out there for some time and get some beautiful pictures. My mood has improved greatly. This is what I needed to recenter myself. My subconscious is making life decisions while I’m standing in the cold water absorbing serene beauty.

As more people start to gather at the fall, I figure it’s time for me to head back up. Still barefoot… I’m heading up the trail to hear people stop in mid conversation to look at my bare feet and pack of cigarettes. They are sweating, huffy, and puffy going down hill… I’m going up hill barefoot, smoking and carrying my flip flops… I stop a few times on the incline to wade in the creek and cool down on the steeper part of the incline. I aint no fool… It was freaking hot.

I’m nearing the entrance point, almost back to the car, grinning, from people eyeing the crazy barefoot chic, when I see two men heading to the falls. They are in mid conversation about having to stop and wait for the others when they notice me walking up the hill… still barefoot and not dressed for hiking. Their facial expressions were priceless as they turned back to look at the three other men they were waiting for:

Let’s see if I can describe this well enough, cause I almost peed myself from laughing…

Me – barefoot, cute little shorts, and really pretty little summer top carrying flip flops, cell, cigarettes, and water…

Them – hiking books, cargo pants loaded with stuff, a compass, walkie talkies, backpacks, canteens, hats, and each had two hiking poles… yes, that’s right, TWO HIKING POLES… lmao

I so badly wanted to take a picture, but I figured they had been shamed enough just witnessing a girl come up from her hike to the falls barefoot…

Their two buddies where doing everything in their power not to laugh… I bet those three guys still get teased. Really wishing I had taken a picture of them or gotten a group pic of me and them…

Well, it’s a year later. After everything, this trip really was the beginning of the end of a chapter in my life. Given it’s importance, it’s time for me to go hike barefoot in the woods with the bears again. Need to keep centered on the decisions made that day. Life’s not an easy journey, but one worth every minute. I think that is why I’ve always walked barefoot in the woods – – A little pain every now and again, but my steps are more true and carefully placed on the path.