Reflections on the Noland Trail

The moment I stepped off of that bus, I felt as if nature was speaking to me. However, it was speaking to me through the wind, which was very strong that day at Lions' Bridge on the James River. It was almost as if it was telling me to explore nature through the Noland Trail. As soon as we entered the depths of the Nolan Trail I noticed something very different from when I was standing by the bridge. The strong wind that had been blowing seemed to be gone, and all I could feel was the warmth of the sun shining through openings at the top of these giant trees. Before, I could hear the sound of cars on the museum parkway, I could feel the wind upon my face, and I could see the waves of the James River right before me. The moment I stepped into seclusion after a few steps on the Nolan Trail, those sights and sounds disappeared. It is almost as if nature was enclosing itself, and ourselves from the outside world. These tall and dense trees seemed to block the outside world from entering as there was no sounds of cars, only the sounds of wildlife fluttering about in nature. The body of water in the center of the Noland Trail seemed to be the Axis Mundi of the trail, as everywhere I went I could never escape it. It seemed to be the presiding force that kept the Noland Trail as one, and gave it and everyone in it a sense of togetherness. The Noland Trail just gave off a feeling of calmness, as everyone I came upon seemed to welcome me by saying hello as I came across them, and through the rays of sun shining down on the body of water in the middle of the trail. It was all over after I stepped out from beneath those trees, and stepped off of that trail. The wind became apparent again, as did the sights and sounds of cars passing on the parkway. Seeing those lions on the bridge as we were leaving told me that we that we were leaving the sacred place of wildlife and beauty, and returning to the real world, where we do not see these same aspects taking place in our everyday life.