A different discovery…

A few years back, some close friends and I were going rock hounding--- which is just a casual way of saying that we went out to look for interesting rocks. The rocks that we find usually aren't worth much in terms of money, but they stand out for their beauty or uniqueness.  Although these rocks can be crafted into items like coasters, trivets, tabletops, or bookends, my friends and I mostly enjoy using them as yard decorations, lining pathways, dry stream beds, or water features.

 We typically have a definite site with a particular type of rock that we are searching for on any given outing. One time, we set out to find special quartz in an area familiar to one group member, though he had only been there once before. He was sure that he knew the way to get there, but the maze of Forest Service and BLM backroads led us to spend frustrating hours trying different paths and backtracking.

 It’s interesting how time changes your perspective.  I remember that we were quite irritated to be so close to our destination and still unable to get there.  Yet, when I was looking through old photos, I was reminded of good memories of that day.  Though we never found the correct roads nor site, we saw delightful scenery including this marvelous misty mountain vista.  We also enjoyed time together which was reflected in the photos of smiling friends. Even though we didn’t find our rock spot, we found joy as we shared an autumn adventure that made lasting memories.

 Oh, and, yes…we eventually made it there in a future autumn adventure!