Today I realized that I love the mountains. I’ve always thought that I’m a beach person. I still love the beach, but I think I love the mountains more. Looking at the view from the top of a mountain is always both peaceful and awe-inspiring, especially if the view is more mountains. And there’s something extremely relaxing about driving in the mountains, as long as the roads are wide and paved and I’m not in any danger of driving over the edge of a cliff.

Today I also realized that I’m not as out of shape as I thought I was. This morning, I thought I was going to die. I had planned a hike to Catawba Falls that involved going up 580 steps, equivalent to a 30 story building, to get to a waterfall. I really didn’t think I was going to make it to the top. And if I did make it, it would probably be as a ghost. The good news is that I hyped it up so much in my head and convinced myself so fully that it was going to be awful, that by the time I got to the top I was thinking that I could have kept climbing stairs. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard, my thighs were unhappy, and I had to take a lot of breaks, but I was alive. And I was looking at a waterfall.

By the time I got down the mountain, along the ridge instead of down the stairs, it was time for lunch. I stopped in Black Mountain, a small nearby town. I again used all my will power to not buy an entire pottery store. After all that effort, I found a Cuban restaurant that was delicious!

My next stop was an overlook called the Wiseman’s View. Any man who goes there is definitely wise because the view was spectacular and only involves an easy 0.4 mi paved and wheelchair accessible hike. The picture doesn’t do it justice. I could have looked out at the view for hours, but I was only there a few minutes since I still have a few hours to drive.

I meant to stop at Blowing Rock after that to see another great view, but that one closes at 5 pm and I wasn’t going to make it in time. So I drove straight to Greensboro, where I’m staying at my cousin’s house for a couple of nights. My legs are getting a well-deserved rest tomorrow.