My feet hurt, my back ached, and I could barely walk. I slowly strolled into the kitchen to make my morning coffee. It felt like a truck hit me the day before. Getting old stinks is the thought that came to mind. It was last fall, and I was sore all over. Kim and I hiked Old Rag Mountain the day before, and I was paying the price. I had not done much hiking before this trip, which was a mistake. I have to admit the views were worth the pain.
One of our first dates was a hike with great views.
Kim enjoys the outdoors. I do as well, although I don’t spend much time there. One of the first dates that Kim and I went on was a hike. She talked me into spending a Friday afternoon wandering high in the hills of Virginia. It was a great time. We spent several hours hiking, talking, and getting to know each other better. Little did I know that Kim packed several beers. I needed one after we reached the top. That was a smart move on her part. She is clever like that.
Why I wrote this billboard
Some days, I am just plain lazy. The reality is that I enjoy being active most days, including the great outdoors and traveling. I learned on many adventures that the best views are at the top. Whether it is a mountaintop or a rooftop in a city – it is always worth the climb. I wrote this billboard to remind myself to put in the effort and reach the top. Sometimes, that means a long hike up a steep hill or slogging up many flights of stairs. The path does not matter much – the view counts in the long run.
The older you get, the harder the climbs get
I am no spring chicken. I consider myself in decent shape for my age, and I notice that the older I get, the harder it is to climb things. Stairs, hills, and mountains are more challenging to scale than when I was young. Kim is younger than I am, and it shows. When we were hiking up Old Rag, she chose the more strenuous trail and jumped from rock to rock like Wonder Woman. My ranger pride showed as I tried to keep pace. I held my own but paid for it the next day. It’s good that I keep plenty of ibuprofen in my condo. I needed it the next day.
The more you climb, the easier it gets to reach the views.
I noticed that the more climbing you do, the easier it gets. For example, when I am in Europe, my legs and feet eventually adjust to all the walking around that I do. The first climb to a building rooftop is usually a struggle, but it gets easier as the trip progresses. For example, Kim and I took her kids to London, Brussels, and Paris last summer. We included a side trip to Brugge, Belgium, one of my favorite European cities. Climbing the stairs in St. Paul Cathedral in London was painful. Getting to the top of the Belfry in Brugge was much better. The more you climb, the easier it gets.
The best city views are from above.
It is true. You must aim high if you want the best views in any city. The rooftops across New York City offer the best views of the city. The good news in many cities is that you can take an elevator to the top. That is not always true in Europe. Many European cities like London were built well before elevators were invented, so you may have to take the stairs. Many medieval cathedrals have some brutal as hell to climb spiral staircases. Those windy steps will wipe you out. I thought I was going to pass out climbing the Strasbourg cathedral stairs a few summers ago. Riley made fun of me the entire way up. Trust me, the pain is worth the view. The views from Strasbourg Cathedral were beautiful.
How I incorporated this billboard into my life
I know the deal. If I want to see the best views, I need to climb. Nowadays, getting to the top of a hill, mountain, or rooftop is almost always on the agenda. On my most recent trip to Catalonia, I visited a small city on the Med called Begur. There is a ruined castle on a nearby hilltop. I climbed to it and experienced fantastic sea views on a sunny day. It was another memorable experience that drained me but was worth the pain.
What about you?
Are you putting in the effort to get the best views? Are you willing to climb the mountain? If so – good for you. Keep climbing. If not – get off the couch and get after it. The best views await you.
You have to climb the mountain to get to the top. The work is well worth the view.
Dad