Brandon Webster "Noland Trail"

I was recently supposed to join my classmates and Dr. Redick on the trail in the prior week. I ventured on to the trail early this morning around 11 a.m. I was open all the way to bond with this nature and this wild life. I was walking across the bridge and watched as rabbits scurried away and heard the different sounds from the birds and other animals. Surely I had no idea of what these animals spoke of as I trotted on to their territory. As I cross over the bridge I notice turtles in the river. I watched the turtles for a few minutes as they interacted with one another. Turtles are mysterious creatures to me. I never took into account how turtles interact with each other and whether or not they have companions. This couple of turtles was sure enough to enlighten me in this day. As they swam through the river they would appear at the surface of the water then disappear to the bottom only to reappear. As they went to the bottom, it was like they were so close to each other as if they were to be holding hands on the way back. Made me wonder for a second, “what is it like to be a turtle and to live in water”. I also notices these humungous fish in the water, never seen fish that big. The ducks the fish and the turtles were all interacting with each other not a worry in the world. I continued on the trail, met a few people who had been routinely walking the trail with their dog. I expressed to the couple, how shocked I was to see turtles in love and big fish in the river. The woman knew all about the fish and the actions of the turtles. She was able to tell me the kind of fish they were and all. I walked along with them for about 2 miles on the trail, sometimes I fell behind and sometimes they did. As I walked the trail I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of nature we have here so class to our campus. It made me smile. I’d continue on the trail, feeling like im accomplishing something, feeling distinguished because I have had friends who said I should’ve just faked walking the trail. But no not me, I was walking the trail thinking in my head, they must not know the peace at mind there is on this trail. As I walked across another bridge I heard a strange sound in a tree above. I looked up to see what it was and it was the small bird which flew away still making the noise. When I looked up I also discovered something I had never in my 22 years of living see in person, real life outside of a film, book or even a magazine. My eyes lit up with awe as I looked up and noticed there was someone starring at me. This someone was an owl, resting on a branch quietly. I was like, “no could it really be an owl”. The creature was so beautiful I stayed and stared at it for a few minutes. Then I continued on to the trail, I had been walking the trail sometime now. Once I was about 3 miles in there was a sign with some arrows and a map. It said you are here. It then said this way you will have 1.5 miles left on this hike and this way you will have 2 miles left on this hike. For a second I thought, “I have been out here quite some time, I am thirsty and hungry. As I stood an tried to decide for a few seconds, the couple I was hiking with earlier on the trail passed by and said together “That ways the short cut, if you want to continue for the full 2 miles left on the trail then keep on the path you are going.” For a second I thought, could this be a test to my character?? Will this decision to take the short cut haunt me later in life? I didn’t want to take any chances so I continued on to be finished with the hike round about 1 o’clock.