Under strict instructions from John, my physical therapy guy, to not overwork my knee, the weekends are now difficult to fill in an exciting manner. Because of course, my weekends are usually fun filled adventures, but now with COVID and the knee surgery thwarting our activities, Elliott and I are constantly scratching our heads on how to spend the weekends. Of course, there are many chores to do around the home, but I refuse to spend my hard earned free time at the weekends performing these. Plus, I'm not allowed to walk far, go up and down stairs or basically use my knee for anything other than walking around the house. It's tough being so restricted and it's wearing me down. Four weeks after surgery, my leg is still swollen and sore, but I've been told to be patient and not overdo things. Thank God the weather hasn't jumped into Spring mode yet or I'd be howling like a dog at the door, wanting to be let out, knowing that I'd be missing hiking, cycling or gardening pleasures. The fact that it's still very cold and usually wet or icy means I don't feel I'm missing out on too much, for now.
A few weeks ago I'd taken Elliott on a tour of the swing bridges I'd found along Rte 11 and we'd been enchanted with one in particular that had been adorned with padlocks from couples proclaiming their love. We'd discussed adding our own metal declaration but had struggled on how we could decorate our padlock with a message that would last the beating Mother Nature would lash upon it. Pet tags! Elliott sent off for our own metal dog tag in bright red to be engraved with our message, and so on Saturday we set out to add our padlock to the others on the swinging bridge.
We first arrived to discover a chap sitting in his truck by the bridge, and feeling a little bashful, we drove away again, returning when the coast was clear and we had the privacy we wanted. The bridge was nice and bouncy as we trekked to the exact middle. Elliott was clinging on for dear life and not enjoying the crossing at all, and I struggled internally with my little demon that wanted to jump up and down to rock the bridge even more than it was already. We made it to the middle rather sedately and pulled out our phones to take photos of our special moment.
There had been a few more added since our last visit, all with names painted or carved on by hand, but none with a tag like ours. We chose an empty part of the fence and clipped it securely, delighted to have joined the many other couples openly announcing their ardent relationships. Elliott made a lovely little video of our padlock being secured to the bridge. He's so romantic, and I'm so lucky to have him in my life, I'm sometimes still in awe at how happy I am now with him by my side.
We took photos of our little 'lovelock' and then some of us posing with it. It looked so cute hanging there, shining brightly in the sun with its special message, glinting as the movement of the bridge turned it one way and then another, and I wondered if maybe we could add a little bell some time in the future, imagining it tinkling merrily as footsteps and the wind rocked the bridge. Satisfied at having become members of the Padlock Passel we left, but will doubtless return to check on our proclamation and on other future additions to the bridge. And to maybe add that bell...
On Sunday, we drove out to run some errands and noticed huge clouds looming over the Skyline Drive, so decided to go up and take some photos. It's always amazing to be up that high when there are clouds blowing by, it's another world, the weather is so different from our little town below. My Sony has been sent away again for further repairs so I just used my phone, but only took a few shots, since climbing in and out of the car pulled on my shoulders and knee, but it's always wonderful to experience the views from up there, scenery that constantly changes from one day to the next. You never know what to expect and we were amazed to see how much snow still lay on the ground on the higher elevations. The clouds were gorgeous, huge wafts of cotton wool slowly dragging across the valleys, leaving small tufts that caught on trees and sank into the hollows.
There were few people up on the mountains and for most of our drive it felt as though we had this part of the world all to ourselves. The views changed constantly as the wind blew and tugged the clouds across the sky. As we stopped at the outlooks, the scene would transform before our eyes, crisp white and stony grey clouds, some looking like small boats bobbing on an ocean, or others like sweeping swathes of satin rippling across the valleys. The photo below seemed to be as though a giant hammer had crashed down on a cloud, sending soft shards skyward, fingers spreading slowly across the fields below.
The Cloud by John Wilson:
A cloud lay cradled near the setting sun,
A gleam of crimson tinged its braided snow;
Long had I watched the glory moving on,
O'er the still radiance of the lake below:
Tranquil its spirit seemed, and floated slow,
E'en in its very motion there was rest,
While every breath of eve that chanced to blow,
Wafted the traveler to the beauteous west.
Emblem, methought, of the departed soul,
To whose white robe the gleam of bliss is given,
And by the breath of mercy made to roll
Right onward to the golden gate of heaven,
While to the eye of faith it peaceful lies,
And tells to man his glorious destinies.
