We’re in Curacao with friends. It’s our first visit to this beautiful island but definitely won’t be our last. We’ve rented a sweet villa at Blue Bay Resort - swim - read - meet new people - walk - and since we’ve rented a car for this vacation, we’re taking in some of the sights on this lovely Caribbean island.

I made a short list of a few things to do before we came down and on my list was a visit to Christoffel National Park. Although there are many things to do and see at the park - I wanted to climb the mountain. The mountain is approximately 1220 feet high - the highest point on the island - where you literally have a 360 view. On a clear day - some say - you can see Venezuella. (We didn’t).

We read several reviews before we went and all of them said - start early to beat the heat of the day! So…….Harv, Julie and I were up at 5:15 am and in the car by 5:45 and at the Park by 6:20. We paid our entrance fee and drove the 3 km to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain where Julie and I would start the climb. It would take between 2 and 3 hours to go up and down.

The entrance to the trail. Notice how smooth and wide it is!

Before long, the trail narrowed, the incline increased and we had to maneuver around boulders!!!

At our first opening from the trail - we caught our first glimpse of the ocean and the sun coming up over the mountain. To God be the glory!

My heart rate was definitely elevated as we climbed up and up!

We’re almost at the top! At this point - we were on all fours!

We made it to the summit in about one hour and twenty minutes.

After close to three hours we reached the bottom. We met a new friend and she hiked with us most of the way down.

When we were parents of young sons - we often said - “Jolliffe’s aren’t quitters!” My parents often said - “finish what you started!” Mark Twain said - “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Nelson Mandela was heard to say - “It’s always seems impossible until it’s done!” The apostle James reminds us - “Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds….for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete - lacking in nothing.”

The above sayings were good reminders to myself during and after the tough climb the other day!

Here’s what I think about such a trek!

#1. I’m thankful for my strong body. I’m thankful I’m able to go to the gym and work on strength training. I’m grateful for the coaches at NO DRAMA FITNESS who offer encouragement and grace each and everyday - who challenge me to do what I can with what I have.

#2. I’m thankful for my friend, Julie, who is a good sport to go along with some of my hair-brained ideas. It’s nice to have a “partner in crime!” A shout out to Julie - who very early on the climb, rolled her ankle but kept going. It wasn’t until we got home and she took off her shoe…….that we saw that she had aggravated her foot. RICE for Julie for a few days.

#3. I’m thankful we hit the trail early before the heat of the day set in. We brought plenty of water and stopped every 15 minutes or so for breaks and hydration.

#4. It was a special treat to see the sun coming up around the mountain. “The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”

#5. It was hard at some points along the upper part of the mountain - we were on all fours - sometimes needing to step on boulders that were almost two feet high, using out finger tips to hold on to the walls on either side - but we knew we were close to the prize and for sure would keep going! There were “new” friends along the way who offered a helping hand to pull us up or push us from behind! We need each other!

#6. Julie and I both agreed that it was exhilarating and a real adrenaline rush when we finished. It’s lovely (at our ages) to still be accomplishing things we’ve never done before. We will keep at it.

I’m reminded of Pilgrim - of the great book - Pilgrim’s Progress - by John Bunyan. Bunyan’s book is a Christian allegory - the story follows a man named Christian as he leaves the City of Destruction and journeys to a place called the Celestial City, encountering all sorts of roadblocks, mountains, treacherous pathways etc. along the way. On a deeper level, Pilgrim’s Progress - charts the journey of an average Christian as they walk through this life until they get to Heaven - with its roadblocks, mountains and treacherous pathways!

Keep moving. Don’t give up. Live life to the full.

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