Freedom is becoming a rather elusive thing. You can't just reach out and put your hand on it. Everything in our world is very much controlled, even in the country. State land is increadibly limited in it's reach, and it seems to be boxing me in. Maybe part of it is a failure of imagination. I have hiked most of the trails around here, driven on almost road, and seen every little farm in about 30 miles from house, but I've yet to met true freedom.

In this great land I see lots of streams, beautiful views, rolling farm country, and a greater society then our dirty urban areas. There is nothing quite like going down some twisty dirt road through some fairly dense woods. All this beauty is part of America, and it's suppost to represent freedom. It is easy to start doubting freedom. Maybe it's only part of New York State, and there is far more to explore, but only that is close. It's beautiful, but it's so limited in my reach. I want more rural areas to explore, and to get somewhere that is more free.

During these explorations into freedom, I've stopped and talked to some of the locals. A few times I've had to flag one down one of those pickup truck driving locals to get me unstuck. Meeting the locals is always something I love to do. These people are truly free people, living in a free area. It always so much fun to be driving around, and looking at farmsteads and other homesteads, and investigating how their free life works.

At the end of the day, I have seen a lot of freedom and beauty. Most of the trails I've hiked have some nice views, though there is always exceptions. It is always fun to explore to find out where things lead. They never lead to freedom or dignity, but they do allow me to find something deeper about myself. As I continue my exploration of freedom, I am never alone. There is always somebody nearby shooting, birds chirping, somebody harvesting nearby, or somebody plowing. I might not be free, and rural America might not represent total freedom, it sure is beautiful to escape.