{ Tom’s Thumb (DAY 533) }

IMG_5602 IMG_5596 IMG_5582 IMG_5580 IMG_5583“Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow, till you find your dream.  A dream that will need all the love you can give, every day of your life for as long as you live.” ~Sound of Music

Hello friends! Last week we took a spontaneous trip down to the beach to see friends-who-might-as-well-be-family.  Every year we go down to see them while they are on vacation and sometimes we hike Tom’s Thumb.  The past few years I haven’t been able/willing to do the hike but this year I was like, “Let’s go!”  I knew I would probably physically pay for doing this hike but I knew it would be worth it and sure enough it was spectacular.

There’s something about trekking through dense forest/bush only to come out onto a glorious view of the ocean.  And there is something exhilarating about climbing straight up a hill and making it to the top to stand on the edge of a cliff.

For the last half of the trek up Tom’s Thumb you literally have to just keep your eyes down and put one foot in front of the other.  The incline is so steep you’re practically crawling up and a few times when my shoes didn’t have traction I had to pull on the long grass around me to make it to the next foothold.

Sometimes life is kind of like that.  You just have to put one foot in front of the other.  But here’s the good news, if you keep on pressing in you’ll make it to the top.  And the view?  Well it’s totally worth it.

UPDATE!!!  $92,419.82  To everyone that donated for my birthday and for the incredible anonymous donation that came to my house THANK YOU! YOU PEOPLE ARE AMAZING!  And if you didn’t get to donate to help children in India get an education then you can donate here!

5 Responses to { Tom’s Thumb (DAY 533) }

  1. Nick July 1, 2015 at 5:56 pm #

    Ellaini, those images from the hike are incredible… they look a lot like some I’ve seen of the coastline of Croatia and other parts of the Balkans. I’ve only been along the coast highway, never far off it, and certainly never up into the coastal hills. Yuo make me want to go and do some exploring.

    Your description of the determination and tenacity needed to best the hill is inspiring…… yes, at times all one can do is put one foot just a little bit in front of the other….. no matter how daunting the whole endeavour might seem. Paul tallks about the athlete beatng his body into submission, exercising the will over the screaming lies of the flesh. But, as your images show so well, only by persevering to the END does one get the prize.. in your case, the incredible view, and the sense of having bested it. Glad you were able to go and join your friends…. whom I strongly suspect I know well……… And I’ll bet you slept well that night, weary and content.

    • misselaini July 1, 2015 at 6:52 pm #

      Wow, that’s really neat that it’s similar to Croatia since I’d love to visit there someday.
      Haha yes you do know those friends quite well! And you’re right, I slept great.

      • Nick July 2, 2015 at 1:35 pm #

        Girl in the yellow dress, black leggings? Yup. Thought so. I’m just a bit jealous you are one of the ones got to join them out there…… but glad for you. I’m also glad they twisted your arm and dragged you along on the hike under heavy duress

  2. Joseph Kotia August 10, 2015 at 10:33 am #

    By God’s grace you have succeded

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