Happy 2011 To Me
On January 5, 2011, I accomplished a goal I have wanted to do since the first time I walked a portion of the trail. Trixie and I made it from the campground to our house which is about three miles. The temperature was hovering around 40 degrees with very little wind.
This is one of the most beautiful times of the year to walk the trail that follows the lake from Methodist Campground to the Gazebo in Alma. Sound a little crazy? There is a beauty in the serenity of the surroundings, especially if we have had snow. During the summer, there is a section from the campground to the edge of town that is so overgrown you can't see the lake. But in the winter, the leaves are off the trees and the weeds and grass are gone. There is a good view of the frozen lake shimmering in the sunlight. The places where animals have laid to rest are easily seen, and I don't have to worry about the possibility of a bobcat or coyote appearing. Often when walking Trixie in the spring, summer, or fall, we meet campers and town people along the way. In the winter, we are all alone.
When Trixie and I left the house, I had planned to walk the road at the campground which equals one mile. When we got to the campground, I decided to walk the trail instead and just go part way and return to the car. We reached the marker indicating we should turn around and head back. I knew the distance from there to the end of town was about a mile plus almost a mile more to the house. I told Trixie, "Well, we're at the point of no return. If we keep going we have to make it all the way home." Trixie kept heading west. I said, "OK, let's do it; but boy do I wish I hadn't left my thermos of coffee in the car!" Okay, so I am talking to a dog. Any dog lover knows you do it all of the time. I forgot to mention. I left my IPod at home which didn't make me too happy. However, I found I enjoyed just listening to the silence of nature broken only by an occasional whisper of the wind or the cry of the snow geese.
When we got home, Bob came rushing to the side door. He was a wee bit upset because he didn't know what had happened to the car. However, I was so happy I had finally accomplished my goal, he couldn't get mad. The first thing I did was sit down and have a cup of coffee, then we went to pick up my car. Trixie was tired and very calm for the rest of the day. I felt exhilarated and tired. Next goal is to walk from the Gazebo to the campground. I will tell Bob before we leave.
Pictures
I only had the cell phone with me but decided to get some pictures anyway. Darn they don't turn out as well.
