Snowshoeing along...

Walk the Walk, Walk into Winter, Snowshoeing!
from Jack Welch

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER (afternoon)
Snow Shoe At Ft Tuthill
Location: Ft Tuthill County Park (exit 337 off I-17) in the parking lot next to
the Navajo Ramada which is located across from
the County Parks and Recreation Offices. Some road
construction in the park so follow the signs to this different location (not the inmate hut)
Time: Noon
Cuyler and Tom Boughner will be the leaders. Beginners welcome but Tom is excited about leading some
more experienced snow shoers on a more difficult trail. Participants are expected to bring their own snowshoes and winter gear. Check the yellow pages under "Ski Equipment - Rental and Sales" for information about rentals/purchase or contact the newest business in town interested in snow shoe rentals and/or sales called the Nordic Nook/KickStand Coffee and Equipment shop which is located at 719 North Humphreys (former home of the Coffee Pedaler). You can call Tim Allen at 779 5393 for more information.

Snow shoeing can be hard work so please honestly access your physical fitness!

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER - Evening -
Walk The Walk
Luminaria Night Walk in Coconino Estates
Start Location: Marshall School Parking Lot which is located at the corner of
Thorpe Road and Bonito Road
Time: 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
We'll follow the luminary route along the streets of Coconino Estates to see
their Christmas outdoor decorations. A visual treat! Lots of fun to meet the people responsible for this wonderful community event. About 3 total miles. Dress Warm!

TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER (MORNING)
Walk Into Winter
Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER (EVENING)
Snow Shoe Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM
We'll discuss the Ft Tuthill Snow Shoe activity on Sunday and then put together
a schedule. We expect a lot of questions as Sunday was our first organized effort.
Come help us work out the kinks and the store bought, fat free, low cal cookies will be
looking for some eager eaters! We'll also have some nice raffle prizes

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER
Flagstaff Trails Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM
Erv and Kay Perelstein have agreed to show us how the new CPR technique is done and we'll
have some tips on equipment for winter outdoor activities. Plus, I will do my best to answer your questions about local trails. I have some exciting new information about the Colton Park intersection in the downtown Raffle prizes and cookies galore!

It's going to be a long winter, unless...

We have had a terrific snowstorm here in Flagstaff: snow, wind, cold. I enjoyed the snow but am reverting back to my dislike of the bitter cold that comes after the snow. As a result I have been hunkered down inside, while my son has played and played and played outside during the two and a half snow days.
And there’s the rub. In order to get through the winter I need to be active outside, otherwise I will get cabin fever way too early. I took a short walk with my dog today and it was nice, but limited.
My super walker friend does not let snow stop her walks. She has walking poles and a sort of ice cleat on the bottom of her shoe to help her walk on icy streets. Once I called her while she was walking around our local Buffalo Park in snow over a foot deep. I could tell that it was hard work by her hard breathing. She also said that she had to plow through the snow. I could also tell she loved the challenge. Ummm, I was happy for her.
My husband loves downhill skiing. He actually gets a little low when the weather turns cold yet no snow arrives. He says it’s what gets him going in the winter. And I can tell that’s true. I have tried skiing and while it was fun, it is not for me.
I do enjoy cruising along on cross country skiis, on fairly level ground. And I have had fun on snowshoes. But I just don’t think snow activities are my type of thing. What do you do to get yourself through the grey of winter? Any ideas?

Bird bath during snow storm

Backyard after storm, see bird bath

top of St. Francis statue, statue must be a little over 2 feet tall, we had 22" of snow

Monday's Musings

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

~ Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, Let It Snow

Work n' Walk

Walk the Walk, Walk into Winter, Meetings
from Jack Welch

The following is our update from Thursday 3 December Through Friday 11 December

THURSDAY 3 DECEMBER
Friends of the Rio Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM
The "Friends" describe themselves as interested in the promotion of the Rio de Flag's natural stream system as a unique and valuable natural resource, an asset, and amenity to the City of Flagstaff and the surrounding community.
I hope that is of interest to you also. I know it's important to me. You can become involved by attending this interesting meeting that will feature a presentation by a Natural History Class out of the Coconino Community College about their erosion control project on a side drainage of the Rio de Flag.
We're also getting some long awaited projects involving the Rio underway as well.
Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend!

FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER - Please note the change in the start location
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Aquaplex Parking Lot on the east side of the building
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood. If the weather is bad we can walk inside on the indoor track. Cost: $4.00 for an all day pass which entitles the holder to use the hot tub, swimming pool and exercise room plus the indoor track.

SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER
Pull A Weed Project at Picture Canyon
Location: Park along the Flagstaff El Paso Road between the Wildcat Waster Water Treatment Plant and the El Paso Gas Company
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll work on getting some of those pesky weeds removed. Bring gloves, heavy clothes a shovel etc
We'll provide the bags. The work part will finish by Noon.

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
Location of the Restoration of Turkey habitat
Start Location: Mormon Ranger Station on Lake Mary Road across from John Wesley Powell Blvd
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking - expect a few hills - as we explore the area this project will use to help bring the wild gobblers.

TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood.

***************************
Winter Challenge Monthy Work Sheets
Please return the November sheet to me as I have to make a report by Friday. You can pick up the December sheet at our next walk. Prize Drawing every month but you must turn in your sheet to qualify.

Noticing

My walks have recently caused me to think about what I notice. One day awhile back I saw some deer tracks heading the opposite direction and I thought to myself, “the deer could have been in the woods next to the trail.” I would never have noticed. They could have quietly watched as we walked by.
Usually my dog alerts me to the presence of animals, or people. My dog often spots deer on hillsides among rocks, grasses and oak trees. I can only see them when they move, they blend so well with the brown grasses and rocks. Pip will stop, look in the direction with ears alert. If he continues his walk it’s almost as if he is tip-toeing, his eyes never leaving his target. I have learned that I need to go to him at these times otherwise he might take off. Although he has learned that is a very bad, bad thing to do- according to me anyway, not to his dog-sense.
Once, in the fall, we were walking next to a field of dried out sunflowers and we heard a loud snuffling and snorting. I thought for sure that some giant pig had gotten loose from a yard and was snuffling about. I could just see the back of this snuffling animal about twenty yards away. Pip, a little uncertain now, came back to me, his body on full alert. Much to my surprise the animal’s head popped up to reveal that it was a dainty mule deer. I have no idea what it was snorting about for. I do know that Pip and I would have walked right past this animal if it hadn’t been so loud. The goodies in the soil must have been just too good, because the deer didn’t even appear to care to look around for danger. And the wind must have been just right and carried our smell away.
More recently Pip has, on several occasions, alerted me to the presence of a man who has taken to sleeping in the woods- sometimes to the obvious tent that I had somehow totally missed, sometimes to the not obvious figure sitting on rocks. I don’t know how Pip does it but there Pip will be in his characteristic alert poise. If I follow his gaze I usually find his object of interest.
Heavy snow is supposed to be on its way. After the initial blanket of white, everything moving to and fro in the forest will leave a trace, tracks that maybe even I can notice.

Monday's Musings

"The recent tracks of the fox or otter, in the yard, remind us that each hour of the night is crowded with events, and the primeval nature is still working and making tracks in the snow. Opening the gate, we tread briskly along the lone country road, crunching the dry and crisped snow under our feet, ..."
from
A Winter Walk
by Henry David Thoreau

Snow shmo (please let it snow)

Hello, I am including all of Jack's email about December's walks. I will include weekly updates as usual. I am almost (8,000 words to go, I can hear the cheering at the finish line) done with my NaNoWriMo novel. Don't expect to read it soon, but it has been a fun, learning experience. Lots of fun stuff included here.
talk with you soon,
Cecile

Winter Walks from Jack

Winter is a challenging time. If in doubt about any activity please call me (Jack) at 231 4065


UPDATES ON PREVIOUS INFORMATION

Winter Aerobic Challenge
The November Activity Log should be turned in by Tuesday 1 December so I can submit the
necessary report. When you turn in the November Activity Log I will give you the December 2009
Activity Log.
Or
I can mail it to you. Please e-mail me your postal address. I will have the December Activity Logs
available at every walk from tomorrow's walk - Friday 27 November - until the Friday 6 December walk
Please don't wait until the last minute!

SNOW SHOE
Of course we need snow to get started but everything seems to be
falling into place. We cannot include dates in our December Walk The Walk Schedule for the Snowshoe events because we don't know when it will snow.
BUT
If you have gotten this e-mail you are on our list to get immediate
informational updates as it become available.

OUR FIRST EVENT WILL BE HELD AT FT TUTHILL AT NOON ON EITHER A
SATURDAY OR SUNDAY(Exact date undetermined)
We will start from the Square Ramada across from the Coconino County Parks and Recreation Building at Ft Tuthill. It's located next to the Coconino County
Fair Grounds.

If you are a beginner that's OK.
If you are an advanced Snow Shoee that's OK too.
We will have routes for both ability levels.
We will not have any snow shoes available to be used unless otherwise noted.
You will be responsible for renting or bringing your own snow shoes.
Complete rental information will be available next week via e-mail

THE FOLLOWING IS THE REMAINDER OF OUR NOVEMBER SCHEDULE

SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER
Walk The Walk
Buffalo Park/McMillan Mesa
Start Location: Parking Lot at Buffalo Park
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking using the FUTS on both sides
of Cedar/Forest using the Bike/Ped bridge

WALK THE WALK SCHEDULE
DECEMBER 2009

TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

THURSDAY 3 DECEMBER
Meeting: Friends of the Rio de Flag
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM
Brian Bates will make a presentation about the Check Dam Project

FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER - Please note the new start location change
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Aquaplex on 4th Street
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. We walk outside if we can but if the weather is bad we
can move onto the Aquaplex Walking/Running Track.
But
That will cost $4.00 per person. That fee is a daily one and allows access to the complete Aquaplex
Sauna/swimming pool etc
15 times around the track = 1 mile

SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER
Pull a Weed Project at Picture Canyon
Start Location: Park along Flagstaff El Paso Road between the Wildcat Waste Water Treatment Plant and the El Paso Gas Company.
Time: 9:00 AM
Wear heavy clothes. Bring a pair of good gloves.
We'll work until Noon on getting some of the weeds removed.
Shovels will help as will snips. We'll provide the trash bags

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
Location of the Restoration of Turkey Habitat
Start Location: Mormon Ranger Station on Lake Mary Road across from John Wesley Powell
Time: 3:00 PM
There was a story about this restoration and we will explore the site proposed for this valuable work
About 3 total miles of walking

TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhoods

FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Aquaplex on 4th Street
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll walk 3 miles outside if possible but move inside if the weather is bad.
That will cost us!
$4.00 for the day. The indoor track is 15 times around to equal a mile

SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
Start Location: Mormon Ranger Station on Lake Mary Road
Across from John Wesley Powell
Time: 3:00 PM
About 4 total miles on a section of the Loop Trail near Skunk Canyon

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
Luminaria Night/Evening Walk
Start Location: Marshall School on Bonito near Thorpe Park
Time: 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
This annual neighborhood event is a walk along a luminary route
to see the lights of the season. About 3 total miles

TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER
Trails Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM
Topic: TO BE ANNOUNCED

WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER
Trails Meeting
Location; Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM
Topic: The subject will be announced also

THE ABOVE TWO MEETINGS ARE SEPARATE AND ON DIFFERENT EVENINGS

FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Aquaplex on 4th Street
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll walk about 3 total miles outside but if the weather is bad we can move
inside the Aquaplex. That will cost $4.00 but as a daily pass it will allow use of the Aquaplex
exercise facilities including the sauna and swimming pool

SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
The Other Side of Picture Canyon
Start Location: At the end of Rain Valley Road which is about 1/2 mile further past Flagstaff El Paso Road off Route 66.
Time: 3:00 PM
We'll walk about 3 total miles using the Arizona Trail/Flagstaff Loop Trail to explore the other side of
Picture Canyon

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
The Lou Bader Sculpture Walk
Start Location: West side of City Hall
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking to see the work of Lou Bader


TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER - Christmas Day
Walk The Walk
A Closer Look at a Possible FUTS Purchase
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 3:00 PM
Need some fresh air? This 3 total miles of walking will lead us to a possible purchase to
inhance the FUTS. Expect one really good hill.

SATURDAY 26 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
Juniper Point
Start Location: FUTS Parking Lot at the corner of Lone Tree Road and John Wesley Powell
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking to take a look at an obscure FUTS connection into the National Forest
near this yet to be started development

SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER
Walk The Walk
The Presido
Start Location: Parking Lot of the Arizona Daily Sun
Corner of West Route 66 and Thompson
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking to see what's happening with this
started by not completed development.

TUESDAY 29 DECEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

I hope to see you all soon.
Jack Welch
714 0504
or email Jack at ADILLLO the at symbol aol (dot) com (I don't want him swamped with junk mail)

WE NEVER EXPECT ANYONE TO DRIVE THROUGH A SNOW STORM TO
PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF OUR WALKS. PLEASE USE GOOD JUDGEMENT!

YOU HAVE PROBABLY NOTICED ALL OF OUR SNOW SHOE ACTIVITIES WILL
HAPPEN AT NOON ON WEEKEND DAYS (A Possible Night Walk Will be the exception)

WE ALSO HAVE WALK THE WALKS SCHEDULED ON THE WEEKENDS. THEY WILL START
AT 3:00 PM

WHEN WE DO A SNOW SHOE ACTIVITY IT USUALLY MEANS CONDITIONS ARE NOT GOOD
FOR A WALK. WE'LL KEEP YOU ADVISED.

Happy Thanksgiving

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action."
W. J. Cameron


"Got no check books, got no banks. Still I'd like to express my thanks -- I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night."
Irving Berlin

Giving Thanks

This week's challenge is in keeping with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Just remember to be thankful for something everyday.
We are possibly going to have the driest year, here in Flagstaff, Arizona. since they started keeping records, that's 110 years. So, for starters, I am so thankful for any drop of water. (the photo is from a few years ago, we have not had much snow yet this year)

Walking into Thanksgiving

Walk Into Winter, Walk the Walk, Ride a Bus/Do a Hike
from Jack Welch

FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot
Time: 9:00 AM
We rather walk outside but if the weather is bad we can walk inside the mall

SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Ride a Bus/Do A Hike
Start Location: Downtown Bus Terminal on Phoenix (near Biff's)
Time: 3:00 PM
We'll catch a Mountain Line Bus and ride out to Coconino Community College
and walk back to the transfer station using the FUTS along Lone Tree Road, South San Francisco (on campus and then through the SouthSide). A little over 3 total miles.
Don't forget to bring a $1.00 for the bus

SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER
Walk The Walk
Forces of Nature Trail
Start Location: At the rear of the Trinity Church on 4th Street (3600)
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking use the ESA on the Forces of Nature Route that reach where
the famous 1977 Flagstaff Fire at Mt Elden was located.

TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. Fast and Slow Pace

THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER - Thanksgiving
Walk The Walk
Enterprise Loop
Start Location: Downtown Visitor Center
Time: 3:00
Overstuffed? Tired of watching TV. Get some exercise on this
3 1/2 mile loop on the Route 66 paved FUTS and Butler ave

FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot/Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll walk outside if the weather is good and inside if it's bad
About 3 total miles

Excuses, excuses

Ha!
Lately, I have been chock full of excuses as to why I shouldn’t walk. The main two excuses I have resorted to have been:

1.It’s too cold. Make your best whiney voice and say, “but it’s only 20 degrees outside, it’s too cold.” Now much more cheerfully say, “I will stay in and have an extra cup of hot tea.” The “hot tea” has been winning.
2.I need to get to work on … Pick your own very important project. For me it’s been this NaNoWriMo book. By the way, I am doing okay, a little behind, but I will catch up and I am having fun. But back to the excuse. What really happens is that I waste a lot, I mean a lot, of time on the computer before I ever start writing. That’s another issue I need to work on but that it keeps me from walking… for shame.

Anyway back to the “ha!” that I started with. I found a website that deals with each and every one of my excuses. The “excuse busters” might not all help my particular situation but that someone thought of writing about them provides a little motivational boost.
No more excuses.

Monday's Musings

Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.” ~Steven Wright

Lessons Learned: Just a 100 yards more

This week's challenge is to push yourself just a little bit further, just a little bit. Okay, so you are exhausted, you are sick of it, you don't think you can go any further (let alone make it back up the hill) but maybe, just maybe your big reward is just past the next corner. Do you really want to quit now if you find out later that if you kept it up just a wee bit longer you would have met your goal? Reached your destiny? Seen the crystal clear water gushing out of the natural spring? Harumph!

Do I sound a bit pushy? Miffed? Let me explain. Yesterday we took advantage of the day off to go for a hike to a place I had heard of tons of times, Fossil Creek. I had heard of various trails too. It didn't sound like too big of a mystery to get there. Hike down, hike back out.
We printed a forest service info page that listed the mileage as 3.1 miles to the creek. Long drive. We get there. The wooden sign reads "Fossil Springs, 4 miles." Hmmm, my mind goes, the springs must be further than the creek.
We start the hike down: easy, steep and rocky, easy, sloped, steep and rocky, easy, steep and rocky, is how I remember the trail. It went on and on but was a very pleasant hike. Our goal was to get back to the car in time to get back on the roads before it got dark. I was concerned because I figured it would take me awhile to get back up. Eventually we make it down the trail. And I was tired, make that exhausted. We get to the dry creek bed and park it. I sit on a natural rock ledge and pull out the lunches.
We talked about where the springs might be and I think that they must be about a mile downstream. I am not sure I can make it and back up the trail in time to meet our goal. We eat our lunch, relax, enjoy the scenery and head back up the trail.
On the way up we are passed by some backpackers coming out from the creek area. "Was there water?" I asked. "Oh yeah!" the first hiker replied. "When you got to the creek how far downstream were the springs?" I asked the second hiker. "Oh about 200 yards," he replied. And then continued after thinking a bit, "No, they really weren't more than 100 yards past the point you reached the creek." He went on about how he checked his GPS location and all. Meanwhile, I was whimpering inside. We were more than half of the way out and past the steepest, toughest part. No way we were going back today. Grrrr.
I am done kicking myself. The lesson has been learned. And now I get to look forward to another hike, in a few months.
I have heard you can drive there, however.

Walk 'n Talk

Walk the Walk, Walk into Winter
from Jack Welch

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max/Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll walk outside if the weather is good and inside the Mall if the weather is bad.

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER
Walk The Walk
Kachina Wetlands
Start Location: Raymond County Park - Off I-17 at the Mountainaire/Kachina Exit
the park is just around the corner (right and another right) on the
frontage road
We'll convoy over to the Wetlands (about 1 miles from Raymond County Park)
Time: 3:00 PM
Here a Duck, There a Duck, Everywhere you look you'll see a Duck -
which is why we are doing this walk. Some great views of the Peaks also plus
we'll show you where the Highland Trail from Ft Tuthill connects into the wetlands.
About 3 total miles of walking.

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER
Walk the Walk
Plaza Vieja Neighborhood
Start Location: City Hall Parking Lot
West side of building across from the Library
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking in this old town neighborhood. We'll see where the
proposed FUTS tunnel under the railroad tracks will be located and see the new
pocket park in this community.

TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER
Walk into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM

TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER
Meeting About the Outdoors
Presentation will be made by a remarkable guest speaker.
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM

WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER
Another meeting about the Outdoors
Presentation will also be made by a different guest speaker
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:30 PM

THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER
Regional Plan public meeting about the City's Open Space
Location: Aquaplex (4th Street)
Time: 4PM until 7PM
If you are interested in the city's open space and what will become of it
please attend this meeting.

FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot at the Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll walk (about 3 total miles) outside if its nice or inside the mall if its not so nice.

Making your mark

I have been a little preoccupied with this NaNoWriMo challenge- it has kind of tired me out. I have been making a lot of mud pies, and they are not pretty nor do they look much like mud pies, but it's fun.
It's dry here in Flagstaff. We have gone past the "oh, wow, what terrific weather" to "when the heck is it going to snow?" stage. We need it desperately.
I took my usual walk yesterday and noticed tracks in the loose soil. The tracks were very clear. You might not be able to tell but in one photo I could see the creases from the foot pad of the animal. I believe the clawed animals were skunks and they followed the trail for at least half a mile before they veered off towards a house. Hmmm.
This is a collection of tracks: bike, foot, skunk, dog.


This is the skunk (?) track where you can see the crease in the paw.

All together now, for comparison. I am not good at reading tracks so I have no idea if there were two or more of these critters. Looked like more than one tho.

Deer crossing.

Musings

"Writing is like walking in a deserted street. Out of the dust in the street you make a mud pie." - John le Carre

Thursday's Challenge

I am trying something new this month. Something out of my comfort box and yet sounds fun to me... I have joined the National Novel Writing Month challenge. That means for the next 25 remaining days of November I will attempt to finish a novel. Rules include: the novel needs to be at least 50,000 words long (that works out to 1,667 words per day for November), you can't edit your writing in November- December is for editing, you can't repeat one word 50,000 times. I am a freelance non-fiction writer so why I am doing this? It's a challenge. It might help me break my fear of large word counts. It might nourish my creativity. And it sounds fun. I always use to say, "I would love to write a mystery novel, but I don't have any ideas." NaNoWriMo gives me the safety net to let my imagination soar (no inner critics allowed- that's the beauty of not allowing editing). Five days ago, I didn't have any ideas and yet today I have written close to 6,000 words.
So, today's challenge is to try something new, something fun, something positive, something you have wanted to do but didn't quite want to start. Maybe paint a picture, meditate for an hour, read Anna Karenina, anything.
What the heck does this have to do with walking? Not necessarily anything. But, I don't think I would have had the interest in doing this extra thing, this writing event that takes up my extra half hours here and there, if I hadn't been walking or being as physically active as I could be. So I am going to enjoy my writer's marathon. I hope you find something you enjoy as well.

Wednesday's Walks (on Thursday)

Meetings, Walk Into Winter, Walk the Walk

from Jack Welch

THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER
Friends of the Rio Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM
Presentation by Kimberly Sharp and discussions about the future
of the Rio de Flag. Is it a sewer as some like to describe it or
is it a viable and very valuable greenway through Flagstaff that
needs our attention. Attend the meeting for more details.
I know I'll be there!

FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER - Please note the start location!
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot/Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. We'll be outside if the weather is good and inside theMall
if the weather is bad.

SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER
Walk The Walk
Picture Canyon
Start Location: El Paso Road (Off Old East Route 66 1/4 mile past the new Home Depo Store
Park on the right (east) side of the paved road between the Wildcat Waste Water Treatment Plant and the
El Paso Gas Company
Time: 3:00 PM
About 4 total miles of walking into this interesting and historical site. Expect to see some ducks as well as Flagstaff's only water fall, glyphs, ruin...............

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER
Walk The Walk
Airport FUTS - East/West
Start Location: Airport Parking Lot furthest from the Terminal
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking on a new section of the FUTS

TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhoods

FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max/Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll walk outside if the weather is good and inside the Mall if the weather is bad.

Turtles on a Walk

I was all about to write about something else and then I saw this video from Science Friday. The video is about the difficulty these turtles were having in getting over the railroad tracks to get from one habitat to another. The turtle researcher, in the video, comes up with a simple plan. I thought this story was terrific. First of all it shows how a simple human development, railroad tracks, can have unintended and unpredicted devastating effects on wildlife. And then it shows how simple it can be for one person, ONE person, to make a huge difference.
Thanks to this man, these turtles can continue their walks.

Monday's Musings

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air."
- Eric Sloane

No Impact Challenge

If you couldn’t tell from my posts earlier this week, I was taken aback by Americans’ attitudes towards climate change. I am not a “sky is falling” kind of person, really. But I do think change is happening, human-caused change, and we need to change our behavior in order to continue enjoying life on this planet the way we do now. It seems to me that much of the problem can be summed up with one word: overconsumption. You can attribute that to overpopulation and/or to a certain portion of the population consuming too much of the Earth’s resources.
I don’t think it’s too late to change our behavior to effect a change- if everyone is doing it. So this week’s challenge is to find five more ways to change your behavior- small or large- that will decrease your impact on Earth. By the way, one of the main reasons I started this blog was to promote walking as an alternative form of transportation. It’s not as sexy as bicycling but it’s cheap and is a stress reliever.
Check out these blogs for ideas:
Vamosverde's Weblog: My friend, Shannon, has some practical everyday ideas on how to reduce your impact.
Fake Plastic Fish: Beth has championed the cause of reducing plastic in our lives and also has a whole bunch of other interesting and useful blogs listed
Polka Spot Farm: I am new to this blog but it has a list of simple living blogs.

Snow won't stop us!

PLEASE READ!

NOTE THE CHANGE BEING MADE
Walk the Walk, Walk into Fall, Haunted Halloween Walk, Walk into Winter (!)

from Jack Welch

Our Walk Into Winter start location for Friday 6 November WILL NOT BE Kiwanis Park across from the NAU dome.

For the Month of November our Friday walks will all start from the Office Max Parking Lot (Flagstaff Mall)at 9:00 AM. We will walk outside if we can but if the weather is bad we can walk inside the Flagstaff Mall.
Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend!

Thanks to all who have accepted the Aerobic Winter Challenge

FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER
Walk Into Fall
Start Location: Peaks Ranger Station
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking

SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER Trick or Treat Walk
Walk The Walk
Flagstaff's Haunted Places
Start Location: Downtown Visitor Center
Time: 3:00 PM
The city has been running a series of "Haunted Tour Walks" and we; lll use their
brochure BUT our walk will be mostly on the South Side of the tracks because
they forgot to cover some really scary locations there. We'll visit the Andy Devine House - the old sidekick movie star. Kingman, AZ claims Andy but his ghost resides in Flagstaff. A most famous ghost horse roamed with the Headless Horseman through New England. A phantom Moqui Stage Coach to the Grand Canyon is pulled daily out of a southside stable by a set of four ghost horses. An old wall drawing "bleeds" through covering paint on a wall of the old ball court near the Tourist Home.
Bring your own south side of the tracks ghost stories.
After our tour don't forget to visit the downtown Halloween activities at Heritage Square!

SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Walk The Walk
New Mural Tour
Start Location: City Hall Parking Lot
West side of the City Hall across from the Library
Time: 3:00 PM
About 3 total miles of walking as we visit two of the latest murals produced in Flagstaff.
The one on W Summit Ave is located at the top of a very good hill

TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Location; Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot/Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll walk outside (3 total miles) if possible but we can always go inside the Flagstaff Mall and walk if the weather is too bad.

What should we do?

I was surprised to read that fewer Americans believe that global temperatures are rising. Representatives from 170 countries are about to meet in Copenhagen to discuss this global problem. The vast majority of scientists, especially earth scientists and climatologists, agree that earth’s temperatures have been rising and that human activity is responsible for it. I hear from ecologists, on listservs, the dire need to get the word out that change is happening to habitats around the world and that we are getting to the point where we won’t be able to turn back.
I understand how people have huge concerns in this difficult economy. They are going to worry about getting a job rather than getting to a job in a green way. Or they will worry about putting any food on the table rather than buying locally grown food vs. food shipped from China. I get that. Heck, I am not going to question the plastic content of the container if someone offers me a drink when I am thirsty.
So what can we do? How do we get the word out that change is happening in this world? Habitats are being lost, species are becoming extinct by the minute- all because of overconsumption by humans. Are we okay with that? I’m not. I am pretty happy sitting here knowing that across the world is some amazing creature living out its life, safely, in some jungle, savanna, tundra or ?
Any ideas?

Musings- something to think about

According to the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, "Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming." In phone calls to 1,500 adults in late September, early October they found 57% of the respondents "think there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades" compared with 71% in April 2008.

Walking SAD Away

It's that time of the year again when temperatures get cooler/ colder and the bed feels even more comfy. Time to take it easy and snuggle up with a hot cup of tea, some cookies and a good movie. Right?
Wrong. I am affected by the change of season. I think if I lived in a colder place with less sunlight I could become deeply affected by S.A.D.- Seasonal Affective Disorder. Fortunately, while I live in a cold place, Flagstaff is sunny and warm weather(Phoenix)is only two hours away. That really helps me through the deepest part of winter. But I still get a little down over the winter. I recently read a blog, Fresh Living, on how to prevent S.A.D. I will let you read the whole post yourself but the first item on their list is "Exercise more frequently and vigorously."
Why, to me, that sounds like a challenge. Now is the time to step up walking distances, find new paths and pick up speed. I think I will give it a try.

Walks for All

Walk Into Fall, Make a Difference Day, Walk the Walk
from Jack Welch

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER
Walk Into Fall
Start Location: Peaks Ranger Station
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3.5 miles of walking as we explore the lower half of Fatman's Loop and the Christmas Tree Trail.
Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend!

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER
Make A Difference Day
Clean up/Rio de Flag
Start Location: Footbridge in Wheeler Park
Time: 9:00 AM
Pick up trash along the Rio de Flag from City Hall to the Francis Short Pond
Bring a lunch

SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER - Walk the second half of the Highland Trail
Walk The Walk
Highland Trail - Kachina Wetlands half
Start Location: Raymond County Park
We'll convoy from there over to the Wetlands parking area
Time: 3:00 PM 3:00 PM
About 6 miles (I'm not kidding) on this out and back route that will take us
from the Wetlands down to the gate on Highway 89A and back. Hopefully we
will have time left to walk over to the lake and see how the ducks are doing.

TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER
Walk Into Fall
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood
Fast and Slow Pace
Bring a Friend

Walking in Austin

On Sunday, I got back from a trip to Austin, Texas and have been "running" ever since. I attended the National Association of Science Writers annual conference. I met lots of great people and went to some wonderful talks. I didn't get to see as much of Austin as I had planned but I saw a little bit. On Saturday I got to see some of downtown at night and on Sunday I had a little bit more time to get to the airport so I took the long way to the bus stop.
Here's a good restaurant:
Here's a great blue's bar:
Here's the tower and horse statue at Univ of Texas:
Yup, the Lone Star state. This was in front of the Texas State Museum.
The capitol building:
Here's another statue, this time at the state capitol. This is in honor of volunteer firemen. This fireman apparently lost his life to save a child.


A lot of walking potential in this town- many trails that are around town that I didn't get to explore. I guess I will need to visit again.

Musings

There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country. A fine landscape is like
a piece of music; it must be taken at the right tempo. Even a bicycle goes too fast.
- Paul Scott Mowrer

I have been in Austin, sans computer. I am waiting for my camera battery to reload and then I will share some of what I saw.

Walk More, Drive Less- Blog Action Day 2009

Hey, this is what this blog is all about- getting the word out that we need to do something about how we live on this planet. Currently our habits seem to be setting things off kilter and one way or another we, or rather our children and grandchildren, will suffer the consequences. So again since I truly believe that while one person's actions might seem like a drop in the bucket when it comes to helping the environment, if everyone who needed to changed their behavior then things would start to happen. With that out of the way, here's my contribution to Blog Action Day 2009:
Walk (bike, take the bus) more, drive less.

Also, since you have more time to think during your walks, come up with a letter for your representatives, senators, President Obama and anyone else you can think of, about how important it is that a dramatic lifestyle change begin now.

Here's a blurb from Blog Action Day:
"More than any other country, action taken by the United States to limit greenhouse gases and build a clean energy economy is needed to achieve a sustainable solution to our global climate crisis.

This December world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a global response to climate change. As a world leader in greenhouse gas pollution as well as clean energy technology, the United States needs to take bold action by implementing comprehensive clean energy policies to curb emissions.

President Barack Obama has said that climate change is an urgent threat, and that he wants to restore America's responsible leadership in the world.

This is a chance for people around the world and in the United States to join together in telling President Obama that we want him to lead the United States in taking bold and significant action to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Time is running out, and our planet can't afford to wait."

Coool Walkin's

from Jack Welch

THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER

Flagstaff 15 Minute Makeover - Second Annual

Start Location: Outside the door of what ever location you happen to be occupying

Time: 10:15 AM

Just carry a litter bag outside any door you happen to be near and pick up all the trash you can in 15 minutes

Please register to participate at: www.Flagstaff.az.gov/15

or

Call Tom Boughner at: 213 3607

There will be a drawing for some nice prizes - but you must register to win anything!

Let's break last year's record of over 4,000 participants!

FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER

Walk Into Fall

Start Location: Peaks Ranger Station across from Marketplace Drive at the Flagstaff Mall

Time: 9:00 AM

About 3 total miles of walking

SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER

Flag Biking Trail Work Day

Check out the Flag Biking web site for details

Ft Valley Trail System (Off Schultz Pass Road)

Time: 8:14 5 AM

SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER

Walk The Walk

New McMillan Mesa FUTS

Start Location: Buffalo Park

Time: 3:00 PM

About 4 total miles of walking on the newly constructed FUTS on

McMillan Mesa. Expect a few hills

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER

Walk The Walk

First Half of the Highland Trail (Ft Tuthill to Kachina Wetlands) hike

Start Location: Cochise Ramada next to the Tennis Courts at Ft Tuthill

Time: 3:00 PM

About 6 total miles of a loop that will begin at the Cochise Ramada - access

the Highland Trail down to the gate at Highway 89a and then finish the loop

back to the Cochise Ramada. Expect a few hills.

The second half of the Highland Trail (Raymond Park to Highway 89A) will be hiked on

Sunday 25 October with a start at Raymond County Park at 3:00 PM

TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER (morning)

Walk Into Fall

Start Location: Adult Center

Time: 9:00 AM

About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

Fast and Slow Pace

Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend!

TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER (evening)

Discussion of outdoor equipment - Mainly Snow Shoe - With Cuyler Boughner

Location: Adult Center

Time: 6:30 PM

Great opportunity to get some good information on outdoor equipment.

Cuyler is an outstanding source for this kind of knowledge.

I'll bring the store bought cookies!

WEDENSDAY 21 OCTOBER

Flagstaff Trails Talk

P.O.S.T. - Adopt-An-Avenue Information -

Plus the latest on local trails and entry forms to become a part of

the Aerobic Winter Challenge (see below for details)

Location: Adult Center

Time: 6:30 PM

You bring the questions and interest and we'll do our best to

provide the information.

Cookies on had to be eaten!

Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend!

I hope to see you all soon!

Jack Welch

IT"S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN - FOR THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

AEROBIC WINTER CHALLENGE.

Do you have trouble doing enough exercise during the winter months? Problems

with sticking to an exercise schedule? Then this is the program for you!

November through February -

A log based program to keep you moving throughout the winter months.

Prizes if you participate.

To get more information attend one of the Adult Center Meetings on

Tuesday 20 October or Wednesday 21 October at 6:30 PM

Don't miss this window of opportunity to get it done this winter. The window

closes on Friday 23 October - last day to register to become a part of one of

our three Scalawag Teams.

The Navajo's Long Walk

Last weekend we went camping at Canyon de Chelly. The weather was lovely, the cottonwoods were changing, the rocks were warm. Sleep? Not so much. One night it was the dogs barking, owls serenading (okay this was pretty cool), temperature dropping, gotta go pee night. But that's camping. And camping is a lot easier since we have a pop-up, which I love- kind of like a portable hotel room sans bathroom.

If you don't know about Canyon de Chelly (pronounced "shay")it is located on the Navajo Reservation in northeastern Arizona. It is a national monument but Navajo families still live there. I spoke with one Navajo jeweler/artist, in the visitor center, whose family had lived there for generations. Ansel Adams had taken a photo of his mom in the canyon. He was able to recreate the shot with his elderly mom. He mentioned that many families now lived elsewhere, to work, go to school, etc. and just came back on weekends or other times.

We walked down to the White House Ruins. We all commented on how blue the sky was- as blue as a fall sky can be. On the canyon floor we could see sheep and fields where crops had been planted and family hogans. From viewpoints above we could see how cottonwoods traced a dry streambed, along with tamarisk and Russian olive. This streambed meandered around huge thousand foot tall rock fins.

We went here over Columbus Day weekend. Kind of ironic. Information signs along the lookout points talked of how the Navajo fought with the Spanish in the late 1700s, early 1800s, and of how Canyon de Chelly served as a type of fortress. During one Spanish raid the young Navajo men were gone leaving the old, infirm, women and children. History reports that 115 people were massacred that day and more taken prisoner. Massacre Cave Overlook shows the location of that battle and talks of one brave Navajo woman who sacrificed her life in battling with a Spanish soldier, taking him with her as they toppled over the cliff.

Canyon de Chelly was also the site of the last standoff for the Navajos in a battle to preserve their property. In 1864 the Navajos surrendered to Kit Carson and were ordered on the "Long Walk to Bosque Redondo" in New Mexico. About 200 Navajo died during this forced march. Bosque Redondo was a desolate place for the Navajo and the people suffered with disease and hunger. In 1868 the U.S. Government acknowledged the failure of their plan and granted Navajo sovereignty in the Treaty of 1868.

So much grim history for such a beautiful place. I can tell you now that it seems peaceful and okay.

Monday's Musings

The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk. ~Jacqueline Schiff

More Shoes

Earlier I asked about movies/ books that featured long walks/ journeys. One movie that I “kind of” found was More Shoes. I have never seen this movie but it intrigued me. Here is this struggling film-maker who takes to heart advice from a successful filmmaker, Werner Herzog, and makes a solo journey of over 3,000 miles across Europe. OK sure, let’s do that. And let’s film it!
I have tried to find more details on this film but haven’t been able to find much. I hope the filmmaker is doing ok. I think the movie would be interesting to see. Here’s an interview from the Independent. Apparently the movie did win independent movie awards in Atlanta in 2008.

From film.com: “Struggling filmmaker Lee Kazimir reads the words of Werner Herzog, who said that filmmakers should skip film school and instead "make a journey alone, on foot, for a distance of 5,000 kilometers, let's say from Madrid to Kiev." Kazimir decides to take this advice literally, walking for six months and through seven countries while documenting the journey with a videocamera. Along the way, he confronts physical struggles and meets a varied cast of characters. He also learns some essential lessons, realizing that life comes before art.”

City of Flagstaff Official Website

City of Flagstaff Official Website

whoops, I was testing something and it didn't work the way I wanted...

2nd Annual Flagstaff 15 Minute Makeover

Here's a challenge for you all from the city's website, but you don't need to live in Flagstaff you can do this anywhere!

Participate in the 2nd Annual Flagstaff 15 Minute Makeover!
Therefore, at 10:15 a.m., everyone will step outside and clean up where you live, work, learn and play. That can be a school playground, ball field, front yard, sidewalk, parking lot, etc. The goal of a 15 Minute Makeover is to encourage community pride. People who have the strongest community bonds feel the highest obligation not to litter. The Flagstaff 15 Minute Makeover for Flagstaff will be very positive, proactive, event for the community. Keeping Flagstaff clean and beautiful is up to all of us. A clean city is a safe city.

Participants will be encouraged to dispose of the litter and debris in their own garbage containers. Please remember to recycle! All participants are asked to register online at www.flagstaff.az.gov/15 or by (928) 213-3607. Prizes will be awarded at random or those who register. For more information, please call Tom Boughner at (928) 213-3607 or e-mail at tboughner at flagstaffaz dot gov .

Walks for the week

I am putting in just about all of Jack Welch's email- some good info on pedestrian safety issues. Also, the NPS/USFS walks are taking a break until next spring/summer.

Walk the Walk, Walk into Fall, NAMI Walk, Safety Meeting

If you read the Daily Sun on Sunday 4 October you saw a front page article about the most dangerous intersections in Flagstaff - for drivers. Well, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know if an intersection is dangerous for vehicles then its much more dangerous for pedestrians. The Route 66/4th Street (just north of the Aquaplex Overpass) was listed as the most dangerous in regard to the number of vehicle crashes. Before the overpass and the intersection were being constructed the Pedestrian Advisory Committee showed up at Traffic Commission meetings to ask about the lack of pedestrian refuges in any of the four parts of that intersection. We were not heard in a responsive way and it
appears we were right. The intersection is dangerous!
If you are interested - as I am - as to what can be done to improve this nasty intersection for both vehicles and pedestrians (and bicycle riders!) please attend the Traffic Safety Meeting in Flagstaff Tomorrow evening, Thursday 8 October at 6:00 PM at Flagstaff High School which is located at 400 West Elm Ave
(Off Humphreys) I KNOW I'LL BE THERE!

TRAFFIC SAFETY IN FLAGSTAFF MEETING WITH POLICE
Location: Flagstaff High School
400 West Elm Ave
Time: 6:00 PM
The focus of this meeting will be on traffic enforcement procedures, accident reconstruction
and child safety seat information
Call to register:
Sgt Michael Terrin
556 2300


The following is our schedule from Friday 9 October through Friday 16 October


FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER
Walk Into Fall
Start Location: Peaks Ranger Station across from the Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. This time we'll use the new paved FUTS north on Highway 89 to the Elden
Pueblo. About 3 total miles on this out and back route.
Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend!

SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Walk
Location: Buffalo Park
Time: 11:00 AM 11:00 AM
I hope a lot of you will show up to join me on this 2 1/2 mile walk in support of this
excellent organization
I'll be there by 10:30 AM

SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER
Scalawag Climb of Mt Humphreys
Start Location: Trailhead in the Snowbowl Parking Lot
Time: 8:00 AM 8:00 AM
What a glorious time to be doing this hike. For those of you not interested in getting to the top the yellow aspen will be just as bright. The Aspen Loop Trail (About 3 total miles) is also available - trailhead next to the Humphreys trailhead.
Don't miss this great time of the year to get outside and do a hike!

TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER
Walk Into Fall
Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. Fast and Slow pace.
Everybody Welcome! Please do bring a friend

THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER
Flagstaff 15 Minute Makeover
Location: Where ever you happen to be at 10:15 AM in the morning
Time: 10:15 AM
Register and then get outside with a litter bag at 10:15 AM and pick up all the trash you can find!
Register at: www.Flagstaff.az.gov/15 or call 213 3607
If you register you can win prizes!

FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER
Walk Into Fall
Start Location: Peaks Ranger Station
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking.

Tree Parable

When we were walking to school yesterday, my son and I came across a fairly big tree that had fallen across the trail. We had a very windy weekend so it’s not surprising that a weak dead tree had fallen. We climbed over the tree while trying to avoid the numerous limbs sticking up here and there. The tree was too big and long too move from the trail. Someone was going to need to cut it.
In this forest there are a lot of dead standing trees, snags. I think a lot of these trees were killed during a recent beetle infestation. But I tend to not worry about these trees falling down. Maybe I should be a little more vigilant?
In another part of the woods there is this dead tree that has been leaning against these other trees since last winter. I give this tree a wide berth because certainly it is going to fall at any moment. The two live trees are the only support for this already collapsed tree. But this tree is facing away from the trail. I always assume that when it falls there will be a lot of debris shooting everywhere. I don’t want to be around. That is a known danger.
As usual, my mind wanders during walks and I thought, maybe I could make a parable out of this situation, or maybe there is one?
How about this: Don’t overlook hidden dangers while avoiding known dangers.

Monday's Musings (a day late)

“I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.” ~G.M. Trevelyan

For Pedestrian Awareness Week I put together all sorts of facts and quotes, it was fun. I will share those with you on Monday (it's a day late today) and call them Monday's Musings. :)