Exceptional A relaxing road trip Nature's Sanctuary by Jesse James Doty

After an evening summer’s rain, Saturday’s sunny weather gave way to the perfect invitation for a road trip.   Connie and I went to my favorite place, known as the Elk River Estuary, where the land and sea meet, and nature’s sanctuary was a treat for the senses.   A secluded parking lot led the way to a paved path where both sides had an array of beautiful trees. Connie gladly pushed my wheelchair through what appeared to us like an enchanted forest.   When I was a child living in Virginia, there was a wooded area within walking distance of our cul-de-sac. I often went there with my older siblings, yet I went on adventures all by myself. While there, I played make-believe. In my mind’s eye, I imagined that I was Christopher Robin, walking next to a stream with stones, sticks, and toadstools as nature’s toys.   Being there at the Elk River Estuary was just like we were in Christopher Robin’s Hundred-Acre-Woods from A. A. Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” series of books.   While there, we enjoyed hearing the sweet sounds of birds singing in the trees. The trees had the wonderful smell of recently fallen rain. As we strolled along, our worries escaped us as our bodies relaxed. The concept of time was irrelevant to us. Hours passed like minutes. After completely unwinding and enjoying ourselves, we realized with amazement that over two hours had passed. We knew our delightful journey was soon to become a lovely memory. As we felt the chill of the late afternoon air, we headed back to the car.   Relaxing for the body and mind, this adventure was a trip we will do many times in the near future. Both of us enjoyed our journey into nature’s sanctuary.       Recognized Author Notes Connie is my caregiver, who also enjoys nature.

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