On Today’s Walk: Two New Trails

Gravel walking trail next to a lake, with part of a metal barrier (to block cars) in the foreground.
Starting the first walk

After a solid week of gray skies and rain, the sun came out today. My son agreed to explore a new-to-us walking trail in the area. The Philips Lake Trail seems fairly new, and looks as if it was put in as an amenity to nearby businesses and apartment complexes. You don’t feel like you’re out in the country, but it is a nicely built walking path. A map told me it’s 1.4 miles around the lake.

The first 0.4 or so, we fought through swarms of gnats. But we finally found the point where the wind was blowing them away from us, and the rest of the walk was pleasant enough.

We even saw a spot where the city (I assume) recycled some Christmas trees to help promote fish habitat (I assume.)

Lake with old Christmas trees partially submerged

After we finished with this path, we decided to explore another area literally right across the road. Because we are both gifted with stamina and a sense of adventure, at least in moderate amounts.

Gans Creek Recreation Area has a cross country route laid out, with facilities for events. But nothing was scheduled today. It was a little soggy in places, so we didn’t traverse every bit of it. But we got another mile and a half or so covered, for a pretty respectable amount of ground covered in one day.

Notice the lack of a single cloud in any of the photos. Beautiful blue skies all day. Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful for the needed rain we received. But nothing puts me in a funk like several days with no sun.

Time spent outdoors really is a remedy for whatever ails me. Outdoors is where hope comes alive for me.

We even got to hear some peepers loudly announcing the approach of spring.

On Today’s Walk: Gratitude and Staving Off the Food Coma

Concrete walking trail winding between leafless trees. Overcast sky.
Doesn’t this trail look inviting?

After a morning of cooking followed by an hour of eating, my spouse, my son, and I faced a choice between lapsing into food comas or getting out and moving. Though the hubs much prefers bicycling, he allowed me to cajole him into a walk and even suggested a trail to me. Since it rained most of the morning, we decided to go for a paved option.

I tried to stay in the spirit of the day and exercise gratitude along the way, which was easy enough. The afternoon provided what is for me optimal walking weather — 54 degrees and overcast. I was with two people I love. We had the luxury of being stuffed with a full meal of good food, and we all enjoy the health to be able to stroll away those calories on a beautiful walking path in a community that builds and values such things.

Sights we saw along the way:

Shallow creek with many rocks, winding through autumn landscape.
Grindstone Creek

Water puddle on concrete, reflection of tree limbs and sky.
Rain Puddle

A couple of curiosities:


After this hearty three-mile trek and a piece of pumpkin pie, the food coma finally caught me. I’m also grateful to own a comfortable napping couch.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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