Upon our visit to the Noland Trail, it reminded me of the place I often retreat to for peace and quiet. Although the Noland trail was absolutely gorgeous, it is a little crowded with people who share my need for quiet time. A little further down Jefferson is the Newport News Par with contains a 3.2 mile trail, beginning with a half-mile long bridge across the Newport News resevoir. For 2 months I ran this trail daily, allowing it to be my escape as well as my punishment. The run is grueling, up and down hills with roots sticking up everywhere, more than once I have hurt myself here. But I continue to go back because I cannot get away from the complete isolation and the feeling of immersing myself in the wild. I often began by observing the turtles swimming in the underwater vegetation and the ducks splashing near the shore. The deer, sometimes up to 15 of them, come right up to the trail and beckon you to pass. A snake once curled up in the middle of the trail, causing me to come to a complete hault. There I am vulnerable. I have no phone, no water, no obvious connection to help for miles. It is here I can be myself. Here, I am able to run, think, regroup and regain my strength for the next day. It is places like this that you personally hold sacred. This is my sacred landscape.
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