Eye & Pen: Lifestyle, Travel, Photography and Literature
  • Main
  • Blog
  • Topics
    • Accommodations
    • Bucket List
    • Cheap Travel
    • Culture
    • Essay
    • Destinations
    • Inspiration
    • Interviews
    • Narratives
    • Personal
    • Photography
    • Restaurants
    • Reviews
    • Safe Travel
    • Travel Planning
    • Trip Update
    • Weekly Wanderlust
  • Photo Gallery
    • Photo Gallery – All Places
    • Photo Gallery – Aruba
    • Photo Gallery – England
    • Photo Gallery – Europe
    • Photo Gallery – Iceland
    • Photo Gallery – Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Italy
    • Photo Gallery – Northern Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Other
    • Photo Gallery – Scotland
    • Photo Gallery – USA
  • Services
    • Blog Coaching
    • Graphic Design
    • Hire Brandon
    • Advertising
  • About Brandon
  • Contact

Narrative: Finding peace in Nature by relaxing at water’s edge

5/13/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Hills of green joined the moody gray and subtle blue of the sky mirroring in the still water of Lake Hope, creating a truly awe-inspiring scene before me. I drove deep into the forest before slowing to a stop. I decided to hike through to water’s edge. I slung a day pack over my shoulder and grabbed my beach chair with one hand. And as I trampled my way through the thick brush of spring, I realized there were no signs of other campers or hikers, or families stirring, only the sound of my footsteps, my breaths and my heart beating wild.

Picture
I made my way carefully down a steep stretch that opened to the water, where I simply stopped, standing still, watching as far as my eyes could see. I let my breath catch in my having chest before hiking up along the bank to the highest point. Discovering a flat perch, I unfolded my GCI Outdoor Big Surf chair and sat. I studied the edges of the forest, across the lake, looking out for wildlife. I didn’t know what I hoped to see here. Part of me hoped to see a black bear, or some powerfully winged creatures take to the open skies. Anything at all would be welcome, because even though the true sound of Nature had always brought with it a peacefulness, I was beginning to feel lonely by myself.

The wind gently rippled the mirrored surface of the lake, and with it came the soft pattering of rain. Like a glittering disco ball, the reflection muddied and soon, all I could see in the mirror was a shadow of trees upon a bubbling plane. I feared getting caught in a downpour and contemplated heading back, but then I remembered to popup the SunShade that was built into my chair. For a few brief minutes of trickling cool water, the rain slowed and the breeze went still. A silence so powerful came over the scene. And I began to appreciate the soundless moments, for there were no humans and no civilization that could spoil the peace that began to form deep in the soul.

Picture
The toiling and stresses of the modern world, of my modern life, seemed to dissolve with each passing second, and it wasn’t long before I began to feel reborn. I breathed in slow and steady, and as my peace and connection with the natural world grew, I began to hear the sound of creatures stirring. The sun opened bright and orange, low in the sky, as the songbirds flooded into the woods behind me. I laid the position of my chair backward, so I could stare up at the sky or back into the woods. The SunShade blocked the blinding light that came from the direction of my feet, and I simply laid back, breathing in and out, steadying my breath until a meditative tranquility overcame my senses. And with a still mind, I listened to the gentle sway of the trees and the rustling of leaves, to the birds and the wind flowing over the foothills. It wasn’t long before something met my ears and my eyes flashed wide open.

“I know that sound,” I said aloud. The call of an adult bald eagle. And sure enough, after a moment of scanning the skies, I found her beautiful silhouette as she tore across the sky, ever so gentle and with such grace. I folded up my GCI Outdoor chair and made my way back the way I had came, and on my drive home, I felt renewed with a sharp mental focus that cut through the haze of stress that I had become accustomed to. Sometimes, all I need is to step away so I can rediscover what’s truly important in this life.


Picture
GCI Outdoor is great company that specializes in producing high quality camping, beach and outdoor travel gear, like the Big Surf with SunShade that I use in my story. Not only is the Big Surf chair fitted with a brilliant shade, it also can sit in four different positions, allowing the user a wide range of seating positions, with the capability of lying flat in the sun, which is why this chair is perfect for avid beachgoers. Beyond the UPF 50 grade sun shade, the Big Surf is fitted with a hidden feature: a slide-out table with beverage holder. The frame is made of aluminum, and is built better than most beach chairs. What I love about the Big Surf is that it’s packed with features that allow it to be used for a myriad of travel experiences, but that it’s also lightweight, weighing less than 11lbs. And it folds up flat!

If you would like to find out more about GCI Outdoor, click here.


Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen

(Main photo by njmezmer via Flickr)

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Sign up for my VIP email list:

Picture
Picture

Article Topics

All
About Blogging
Accommodations
Bucket List
Cheap Travel
Culture
Destinations
Discussion
Entertainment
Environment
Essay
Fine Art Feature
Gear
General
Giveaway
Green Living
Guest Posts
Inspiration
Interviews
Lifestyle
Luxury
Narratives
Not Recommended
Other
Personal
Photography
Restaurants
Reviews
Safe Travel
Trip Planning
Trip Update
USA Road Trip
Video
Weekly Wanderlust

RSS Feed

Monthly Archive

November 2021
September 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012

*Disclaimer: All blog posts featuring products, reviews, or suggestions for products or services are governed by our Disclosure. Products were received free to review, so to provide authentic opinions and content for our readers. The opinions and ideas in this post are the writer's own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business. We receive no compensation for product reviews. Links within non-product review posts may be sponsored.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.