Unexpected Discovery While Scavenging and Hunting

I love Wilmington's Cross City Trail, River to the Sea Trail and our Greenways!  So, when I realized Wilmington and New Hanover County Greenway was having a Scavenger Hunt, I jumped on the opportunity with the tenacity that would make a hyena, vulture or any other scavenger animal proud.

There were ten questions, half were online and half of them required exploration!  These questions were excellently crafted to reveal to the adventurer, jewels of information about Wilmington's wonderful greenways and trails.  I learned so much!  Such as:  in the Outer Banks, bicycling has been estimated to have an economic impact of $60 million with 1400 jobs created (source).  Also, the multi-use path at Greenfield Lake was dedicated to J. Rupert Bryan, Jr. (a city councilman who served 1975-1980) because of "his leadership by word and example in promoting biking as an alternate form of transportation for people of all walks of life to enhance physical fitness and enjoy more fully the natural scenic beauty found in the city of Wilmington."  I can really identify with his vision!  One of the main reasons I love to bike is the amazing smells, sights and experiences you are privy to when out touring by bicycle.

The discovery that delighted me the most was the East Coast Greenway!  This greenway runs 3,000 miles between Canada and Key West with 2,000 miles of alternate paths to explore.  Our Cross City Trail is a part of this fantastic route that runs through 25 cities along the East Coast.  I've always been interested in Europe's many walking, biking and hiking continental trails and wondered why United States missed the bus bike.  You can imagine my excitement in discovering the fact that we will have such a trail here on the East Coast!!!!  There are so many treasures, resources and wonders associated with this project that I will not attempt to convey them all in this post.  If this moves you like it did me, check their website out:  http://www.greenway.org.  

Thank you Wilmington Greenway for this opportunity and specifically Ginnie Weir for the brilliant scavenger hunt questions!  Not only did I learn a great deal about our greenways and area but I won a Beach Cruiser from Two Wheeler Dealer!  Of course, my detective work in the greenways of Wilmington would not have been complete without my trusty sidekick, Captain Jack.  I may have been the head in the online investigation but he was the sleuthhound out in the field.  See his detective work below.  Side note:  Wilmington Greenway is having a Photo Contest to raise more awareness and usage of the Cross City Trail.  Check it out!

A Preamble to a Pilgrimage

Adventures have thwarted my good intentions of writing the last two weeks.  I hope to soon master the art of experiencing these amazing jaunts while being able to reveal their magical moments to you in a timely fashion.  This week, I plan to elaborate on the exciting two week whirlwind of crusades...including but not limited to:  a four day music fest on the beach, a Fergitude quest through Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana, racing with 600 plus women through the streets of Downtown Wilmington, participation in a Midsummer Night's Dream wedding proposal, a scavenger hunt with Captain and a Memorial Weekend full of salt and freshwater.  I'll be posting throughout the week but here's a glimpse into the stories!

Social Grasshopper

For one year, I disengaged from what has always been a big portion of my life - the social side.  I often referred to myself as a hermit during this time of reflection and introspection.  It was an adventure I had never attempted.  At times it felt so wrong...saying no to invitations was the hardest.  Despite the challenge of saying no, it was a therapeutic experience.  I got to know my introverted side...a part of me that I've neglected for much of my life.  It was rewarding to find fulfillment, strength and happiness from within.  As a hermit, I still went on many adventures:  hiking, kayaking, triathlons, creative retreats to Lake Waccamaw, haunted houses, running, biking, 4 weddings (not very hermitish) and much more.  Unfortunately, I did not finish the book I had planned to write.  I have been working on it though and the idea is blossoming into something I had not predicted!  Spring has not only infused colors and life into the flowers, trees and nature but it has breathed a dynamic energy into my original mission of living each day as the adventure that it is.

Now, I'm ready to let my extroverted side come out to play while still allowing quality time for introspection with my introverted side.  I want to strike a healthy balance between the two.  Before I may have been a social butterfly, but now I see myself as a social grasshopper.  :)

I have neglected my blog for quite sometime.  In the beginning, I committed to a 30 day blog challenge.  Today, I commit to blogging at least once a week indefinitely.  It is a continuation of my original mission, to stay present and live each day as the adventure it is.  Each week I'll post about exciting adventures found in daily life!  Wooohoooo!!!!!