Once More With Feeling

Weekend of August 14

Part 1

Up early again this weekend, but I didn't get out to the trail until 6:50 - a bit later than I had planned. The humidity was a killer. As soon as I got out of the car I could see the condensation on my arms.

When I was doing my pre-walk stretch my right leg felt really tight. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to make the full 7 miles, but it turned out to be okay. I guess I was just a little stiff.

When I walked by the water hole, I looked for the ducks I saw last weekend. They weren't there, but as I was ready to walk on, the heron moved in the water. If it hadn't moved when it did I never would have seen it. They are magnificent birds and they blend so well into their surroundings it is really amazing.

The sun was cooperative and stayed behind the light cloud cover for most of the walk. There was a nice breeze and I was okay for most of the walk. Toward the end of the walk, the sun came out with a vengeance and the last half hour was brutal.

There were a lot of people on the trail today and more bicycles than I had ever seen. Amazingly, most of them very very mannerly and let the pedestrians know that they were around. There were only a few that behaved as if they were the only ones on the trail.

The crepe myrtle trees are in full bloom, but those were the only flowers in view. The grapes are completely done for the season. Those that are left are mostly gooey purple spots on the asphalt. I think it will be just green for the rest of the summer (which goes on until early October). I will miss the flowers. Something is still going strong because my nose was dripping the whole walk. I even took my allergy meds, so I know the pollen was heavy.

I did the full seven miles and although I was tired, I finished. I'm hoping to add some additional distance next time.

Part 2
Sunday arrived along with a horrible sinus headache. It was so bad, my face was swollen and I could barely hold my head up. Needless to say, I went back to sleep and spent most of the day resting.

There is always next week.