Wow
I have a lot to update about, but for now I just wanna do a short one while this is fresh on my mind.
Something amazing happened to me today, and I still can't quite get over it...
Earlier this evening I decided to go for a spin on my bike, just to get out for awhile. I haven't been on the bike for quite some time, so it felt good to get out. I wasn't expecting to go anywhere or do anything crazy (even though this park has tons and tons of great trails, some made specifically for mountain biking), so I didn't really dress or bring any of my gear (or even water). Well, sure enough, a simple spin turned into quite an adventure, and it was capped off by what I believe to be a small, but nonetheless amazing, miracle.
I rode up and around the park just to explore a little bit. I saw one little trail that went from the cottages (where we are) down to the golf course/clubhouse area down the road. I jumped on that because I knew it'd be a short downhill and I wanted some trail action. It was short, it was downhill and it was fun. I ended up at the clubhouse where I checked out the pool (opening in 3 weeks) and then rode back up towards the cottages. The hill is brutal; I was hurtin' at the top.
I passed up the cottages and rode towards the campground to do some more 'splorin. I rode all the way to the end of the rode to an old pioneer-era farm, which was neat lookin. I turned around and came back and, while going through the campground, hopped on a trail called Cliffside Trail, which is a 3 mile out n back.
It started off flat and easy for the first mile or two. Then, it started to pick up the pace a little bit and soon I came to a steep, twisty downhill which I cleaned with ease (and a smile). With my speed from the downhill, I bombed down the trail and soon came to a tight "S" turn. I whipped around the first turn and then leaned into the 2nd when I noticed a small, thin hemlock branch hanging over the left side of the turn. I didn't have time to avoid it, but I wasn't worried as it wasn't large enough to hurt. I hit it and felt it fling off my neck, making a metallic "ka-ching!" and slightly catching my chain (neck chain lol), which had fallen outside of my shirt. Uh oh. Sounded a lot like one of my medals getting ripped off. I stopped a few feet after and checked and sure enough, my Miraculous medal that Fr. Brian got for me (and blessed) for my trip to Las Vegas was missing. I had lost and found (obviously) it once before in Nevada, but have had pretty good luck with it since then. I leaned my bike against a tree and went back to look for it. I knew it would be tough since the ground and trail was littered with leaves and sticks and such. I was scared at first and a bunch of stupid solutions went through my head. I could come back and just look for it until I find it. I could buy a new one and have Fr. Brian bless that one, too. I could search for a W. VA metal detecting forum and see if any nearby metal detectors would come out and find it for me (lol I seriously considered this). Then I realized that good ole St. Anthony has never let me down. I said a few quick prayers, asking for his intercession and that actually boosted my spirits and confidence. I thought back of how he had pulled through for me int he past and I realized that I would find it. As soon as I realized that, I turned my head and sure enough, saw it sitting, centered plain as day, on a nearby brown leaf. I went over, picked it up and smiled. Thanks, St. Anthony.
Looking at it I noticed the clasp was gone, as I assumed it would be since it was ripped from the chain. I looked around for a second to see if I could spot it, but I knew I'd never find it... it's way too small. I jokingly thought of putting St. Anthony to a REAL test but then I realized that it was about 2 hours until sundown and I had no idea where I was. I pocketed the medal and my chain and then took off.
They call it the Cliffside trail for a good reason; it goes straight to two rocky outcroppings jutting out into a valley/gorge of sorts that was really, really pretty. You could hear a waterfall or whitewater or something roaring down in the bottom of the valley. The trail didn't go down there, it just went to the cliffs, did a small loop, and then went back the way you come in. I did the small loop (it was very, very narrow, technical and rocky). I got turned around a few times back there when the trail petered out and the "how did I get myself into this?" bug kept whispering in my ear. I eventually found my way back to the main trail, though, which I took back to the campground and the road, which I then in turn took back to the cottage.
Nice and muddy, I set the bike aside on the porch, got a glass of ice/lemonade and sat down for awhile. I wiped the bike down and brought it in, then I took a shower and then I made pasta (gotta reload the carbs for work tomorrow!). The pasta was good, and it feels good to be clean again.
After eating, I decided to check my chain out to make sure it wasn't damaged, and also to see if any of the other medals were in danger of coming loose. I took it out of the pocket I had stashed it in and examined it to find, by some miracle, the clasp from the Miraculous medal still in place. It looked as if it had never been touched; it wasn't even unclasped or bent out of shape. I have NO idea how the medal was removed from the clasp, nor do I have any idea on how the clasp wasn't flung off as well. Wait, that's not true, yes I do... the grace of God and the intercession of St. Anthony.
Thanks man!
Something amazing happened to me today, and I still can't quite get over it...
Earlier this evening I decided to go for a spin on my bike, just to get out for awhile. I haven't been on the bike for quite some time, so it felt good to get out. I wasn't expecting to go anywhere or do anything crazy (even though this park has tons and tons of great trails, some made specifically for mountain biking), so I didn't really dress or bring any of my gear (or even water). Well, sure enough, a simple spin turned into quite an adventure, and it was capped off by what I believe to be a small, but nonetheless amazing, miracle.
I rode up and around the park just to explore a little bit. I saw one little trail that went from the cottages (where we are) down to the golf course/clubhouse area down the road. I jumped on that because I knew it'd be a short downhill and I wanted some trail action. It was short, it was downhill and it was fun. I ended up at the clubhouse where I checked out the pool (opening in 3 weeks) and then rode back up towards the cottages. The hill is brutal; I was hurtin' at the top.
I passed up the cottages and rode towards the campground to do some more 'splorin. I rode all the way to the end of the rode to an old pioneer-era farm, which was neat lookin. I turned around and came back and, while going through the campground, hopped on a trail called Cliffside Trail, which is a 3 mile out n back.
It started off flat and easy for the first mile or two. Then, it started to pick up the pace a little bit and soon I came to a steep, twisty downhill which I cleaned with ease (and a smile). With my speed from the downhill, I bombed down the trail and soon came to a tight "S" turn. I whipped around the first turn and then leaned into the 2nd when I noticed a small, thin hemlock branch hanging over the left side of the turn. I didn't have time to avoid it, but I wasn't worried as it wasn't large enough to hurt. I hit it and felt it fling off my neck, making a metallic "ka-ching!" and slightly catching my chain (neck chain lol), which had fallen outside of my shirt. Uh oh. Sounded a lot like one of my medals getting ripped off. I stopped a few feet after and checked and sure enough, my Miraculous medal that Fr. Brian got for me (and blessed) for my trip to Las Vegas was missing. I had lost and found (obviously) it once before in Nevada, but have had pretty good luck with it since then. I leaned my bike against a tree and went back to look for it. I knew it would be tough since the ground and trail was littered with leaves and sticks and such. I was scared at first and a bunch of stupid solutions went through my head. I could come back and just look for it until I find it. I could buy a new one and have Fr. Brian bless that one, too. I could search for a W. VA metal detecting forum and see if any nearby metal detectors would come out and find it for me (lol I seriously considered this). Then I realized that good ole St. Anthony has never let me down. I said a few quick prayers, asking for his intercession and that actually boosted my spirits and confidence. I thought back of how he had pulled through for me int he past and I realized that I would find it. As soon as I realized that, I turned my head and sure enough, saw it sitting, centered plain as day, on a nearby brown leaf. I went over, picked it up and smiled. Thanks, St. Anthony.
Looking at it I noticed the clasp was gone, as I assumed it would be since it was ripped from the chain. I looked around for a second to see if I could spot it, but I knew I'd never find it... it's way too small. I jokingly thought of putting St. Anthony to a REAL test but then I realized that it was about 2 hours until sundown and I had no idea where I was. I pocketed the medal and my chain and then took off.
They call it the Cliffside trail for a good reason; it goes straight to two rocky outcroppings jutting out into a valley/gorge of sorts that was really, really pretty. You could hear a waterfall or whitewater or something roaring down in the bottom of the valley. The trail didn't go down there, it just went to the cliffs, did a small loop, and then went back the way you come in. I did the small loop (it was very, very narrow, technical and rocky). I got turned around a few times back there when the trail petered out and the "how did I get myself into this?" bug kept whispering in my ear. I eventually found my way back to the main trail, though, which I took back to the campground and the road, which I then in turn took back to the cottage.
Nice and muddy, I set the bike aside on the porch, got a glass of ice/lemonade and sat down for awhile. I wiped the bike down and brought it in, then I took a shower and then I made pasta (gotta reload the carbs for work tomorrow!). The pasta was good, and it feels good to be clean again.
After eating, I decided to check my chain out to make sure it wasn't damaged, and also to see if any of the other medals were in danger of coming loose. I took it out of the pocket I had stashed it in and examined it to find, by some miracle, the clasp from the Miraculous medal still in place. It looked as if it had never been touched; it wasn't even unclasped or bent out of shape. I have NO idea how the medal was removed from the clasp, nor do I have any idea on how the clasp wasn't flung off as well. Wait, that's not true, yes I do... the grace of God and the intercession of St. Anthony.
Thanks man!