Winter is tricky for me. While I appreciate being able to go stargazing shortly after work, the sky is usually too cloudy here in northeast Ohio to make that a regular occurrence.
But the lack of daylight definitely affects me, and makes it harder for me to find the time or motivation to get outdoors. Hence the lack of updates here recently. Not to mention the fact that it’s harder for me to work up the mental fortitude to face the cold compared to when I was a kid. But my recent trip to Minnesota reminded me how much beauty there is in winter and how it can be very much worth going out in the cold.
For months now, I’ve been meaning to go back up to the Lake Erie Bluffs, which, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, is one of my favorite places around here. But it’s been difficult to find the time, between work, the kids, and the shorter days. This past Tuesday, though, I brought my camera with me to the office and was determined to go and get some good sunset photos.
At first, it seemed like everything was conspiring against me. I left later than planned. I got in my car, headed out, and then realized that I was almost completely out of gas and there was no way I could make it without stopping to fill up. As I drove east, I watched the sun slowly but steadily keep sinking in my rear-view mirror. And as I stopped at the gas station, I accepted that I wasn’t going to make it before the sun slipped below the horizon.
It all worked out though. I was the only person there and truly felt like I was standing alone at the edge of the world. I could hear the waves when I arrived, but it was muted, a result of the layers of ice on the shore, followed by a segment of slushy water, and then the open lake itself.
I made my way down to the beach, which was particularly tricky, considering it was covered in sheets of ice. I was slightly concerned about the chances of me slipping and falling into the water, so I was moving slowly. But that worked perfectly, since it allowed me to really absorb everything around me.
I stood there, basking in the fading glow at the edge of the world, watching the waves come in and out, except for these, trapped in ice, watching the rest continue on their journey.
As cold as it was, I didn’t want to leave. The only thing that really made me go was realizing that I likely would slip and hurt myself if I was still down there after dark.
Spending time outside, in whatever capacity, is so revitalizing, something I seem to forget the longer I’ve been away from it. So if you can, take some time to get out there and enjoy the beauty, even – or especially – in the cold.
