Travel - according to Merriam-Webster, is a journey, especially to a distant or unfamiliar place.

 Since I can remember I was always on some kind of “move”, from exploring my local city bayous, wooded areas, and parks, to the yearly family vacations to my state’s national parks, like Inks Lake, and our local Chain-O-Lakes. I was always exploring.

 During my short time in the Boy Scouts I learned rope knots, pitching tents, identifying poisonous plants, starting and keeping a campfire and how to use a compass to orientate a map. Such a great time that was, and where I believe I got most of my first tastes of nature. Well, until I saw an old episode of Yogi the Bear at the age of 41, but that’s for another story.

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 Nature to me is the preservation of what keeps us connected to our planet. That connection, a symbiotic relationship if you will, that recharges our souls. That settles our over worked, stressed out, anxious and, sadly, our depressed spirits.

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 In the spring of 2019 I had this idea to create a photo-journal of my new adventures. I would pack up my truck, make my reservations and document a few hikes with the Instagram app, but I felt it just wasn’t enough. So, I decided to take to the web.

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 Then, 2020… Covid-19… lockdowns… closed businesses… closed parks… cabin fever.

 I’m sure every one of us can remember where we were when we heard the news about Covid-19. The “What?s, The “huh?”s.  The everything about every thing. Exhaustive.

 

2021, I was eager, like many others, to get outside after a year of being mandated to stay inside my 4 walls unless it was for an “essential” reason. Luckily for me, as an electrician, I was deemed “essential” and was still able to work outside, but many didn’t have that luxury. And even though I was outside, I missed the recharge of being in nature. I miss the quietness of a still open view from Old Baldy. The scenery from atop the ridges of Lost Maples. The beauty of Gorman Falls.

 I missed being “outside”.

 Summer is coming here in Texas. Our Parks are open, and while they follow CDC recommendations and move to a reservation system; It’s time to get out and about. Get the camera dusted off. Take some film, and chronicle life in 2021.

 

“5 to 10 years is going to happen whether you like it or not; Do something with it” -Jase Edwards