Maura and I both like to climb rocks (and plastic). When the climbing gym is open, you can find Maura and I there on a regular basis enjoying this complex form of exercise as well as our many intellectual side conversations. Maura is an avid cyclist and an all-around outdoor adventurer. This is her story.

I love Steph’s reminder to meander, especially now. I liken it to outdoor meditation but with even fewer rules: try not to have a firm plan and be out there with eyes and heart open. Some of my most rewarding encounters with nature and people have occurred doing exactly that.

I had just finished climbing at Red Rocks and was on my way to Joshua Tree for more of the same. I was not in a hurry to traverse the desert. Being in a hurry and being on a climbing trip never mix well. The desert in spring is a sight to behold, so exclamations and screeching brakes ensued whenever something caught my attention. The Desert Dodder was just one of the many wonders on my drive through the Mojave Desert in 2005. This parasitic organism attaches to a plant with a rudimentary “seed” and quickly begins to live off the host plant. Gorgeous and dangerous. Admittedly this is a strange time to be recalling my fascination with a parasitic plant. Aren’t we now in the throes of a parasitic virus? We will rise to this challenge, just like the plants that host the Dodder do. We are, after all, part of the natural world.

More recently I find ways to meander on my road bike a lot. It offers just as much entertainment, as long as you are not head-down the whole time. Near Charlottesville, VA in summer of 2019, a snapping turtle sat in the middle of a road – a very nasty creature. I was unable to get it off the road without risking fingers or toes. When I drove back later in my car, armed with a method to safely move it, she was not there, and there was no sign of road kill. Obviously, she could take care of herself.

I have found through my various travels and outdoor activities that getting off the rocks or bike can add experiences and memories that would otherwise be missed. At a time like this, it’s important to take the opportunity to meander. Who knows what wonders you’ll find.