Kerouac said, "When you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing." He was quoting an old Chinese or Buddhist saying, I think. While there is something to be said for never being satisfied with where you are, the top of the mountain is still important in itself.

It's 11:34 on a Monday morning and I'm sitting atop Blueberry Mountain, 1,200 or 1,700 feet up, from the 500 or so I started at back at 300-year-old Stone House Farm an hour ago. Simple silence is all I hear -- the whoosh of the wind, the buzzing of flies and soft rustling of leaves and pines. No cars, no boats, no chainsaws -- nothing but nature. These places are set aside for those of us willing to work to get there. The summit offers the chance to reflect on more than just the climb, but everything else that brought me here -- from events last night to last week to last year. The clear air provides more than just pleasant breathing -- it allows for clear thought.

After descending, I will be ready for the drive home and the week ahead.