Fade to Black
This past weekend I had the opportunity to experience a few new outdoor adventures. The centerpiece was the Solar Eclipse but some work had to be done to get there. Read on!
Horseback Riding ... While Black
I had never gone horseback riding before and for some reason I had visions of shetland ponies and stubborn mules. Perhaps it was the city view of horseback riding which entails a pony circling the post at the fairgrounds. The folks at Chunky Gal Stables quickly changed that perception. Their Thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses were very well kept and perfectly trained. A simple sway of the reins afforded me complete control of the powerful animal. Everyone has probably seen images of John Wayne performing his cinematic heroics on the big screen. Very few of us are aware of the contributions Black Cowboys made in the Old West. People like Nat Love, Bill Pickett and Bob Lemmons to name a few. As I rode in the saddle on my Tennessee Walker named Marlon, I thought of those cowboys of the past. What life must have been like when your primary transportation would have been a horse and/or a buggy. When your commute would have been a hot or freezing ride between small towns on the dusty plains. Anyway, It took a few minutes to get comfortable in the saddle but soon my African-American Posse of eight riders were in a groove. We were putting on a show firing our six shot Remington smoke wagons with precision while standing in the saddle and herding cattle.... oh wait, back to reality. However, I felt as if I had been there before.? Sitting high in the saddle, one handing the reins with the other rested comfortably on my knee. Galloping took a few 'ummm .... adjustments' but soon me and the boys were good. I finished the two hour trail ride ready for more and with a strong desire to stretch my horseback riding limits a little further. I also pledged to dig further into the contributions of African-American Cowboys. Posse Up with me!!
Solar Eclipse
The weekend provided opportunities for Camping, Running, Waterfall Hiking, Trout Fishing and Horseback Riding. All were really a prelude to the solar eclipse. Persimmon Creek Campground is a family owned campground on a working farm. It had amenities that most campgrounds don't afford. Things like farm fresh eggs, sausage, chops, fruit preserves, fresh produce and the roosters provided the morning wake-up calls. The folks at Persimmon Creek were very welcoming and great hosts. They held an eclipse celebration and I estimate about one-hundred campers enjoyed it as much as I did.
Initially, I wasn't that excited about the Solar Eclipse. I love being outside and the solar eclipse would just be a bonus in my mind, an add on. That is If I decided to stay and watch. After all, there would be traffic to fight afterwards. Not to mention that it was hot and just baking in full sun didn't seem that appealing.
I decided to wait. I definitely made the right decision. The imagery of the eclipse is hard to put into words. I would only struggle trying to describe it. So I will not try but I will simply say: Many cheered as the eclipse became total. Some sat quietly I presume. I can't remember much of what was going on as the space around me 'Faded to Black'. For the most part I sat quietly in my borrowed chair, as I reflected on the beauty I was witnessing, the peace I felt and GOD whom made it all possible.
And yes, the rooster crowed twice this day, but there could be no denying. ref Mark 14:30