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“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”
– Martin Buber
Almost every part of my brain likes to plan our outings with the destination in mind. A fair, a festival, a view, a place we have never been. I like to know how long it will take to get there. How long it will take to get home. Will there be food? Drinks? What time will we get home?
But then that other tiny voice inside of me wants to just get in the car and drive. Which is what we did on December 31st.
Matt has been reading up on Ord Mountain, north east of our home, since before we moved here. So, Saturday morning we decided to go explore it. Especially the low ravines where there is said to still be gold still left unearthed. We loaded up the Enclave (most certainly NOT an off roading weekend warrior vehicle) grabbed some snacks and hit the road. PS: I though it was like a 30 minute drive because it sure looked close. Trouble is that we had no idea how to get there. There didn’t seem to be a specific “entrance” so we trusted Google Maps. We spent the first 25 minutes on pavement and then took a road made of sand and then another and then another. They kept getting more and more sketchy but Google said we were close.
We had to be getting close… we had been driving for well over an hour. Then after going up, up, up… we hit a dead end. How disappointing, right!?! Funny thing is that we could see another road way down below running under where we were. It must have confused Google Maps. But we got out and the view was amazing. Ord Mountain was right in front of us, set under the darkest of storm clouds. Yet, we stood in the sun, and noticed a small path that would take us up further. We got out and walked. Higher and higher and to more rewarding views for the adults and the most fantastic climbing rocks for the kids. We soaked it all in and made it back to the car before that first rain drop fell.
We couldn’t have planned it so perfectly if we tried. That secret destination.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Not every great adventure has to be planned and often the greatest aren’t. It’s fun to experience something new as a family. Next time you have a free day, look at the map, pick an area that looks interesting and just drive. Rarely are those adventures regretted.
WHAT THEY WORE: I love this little getup that Abby put together. Both kids are wearing their new Ariat boots, The Patchery and carrying MadPax packpacks.
