Back on the road again
But not all by myself.
It’s been wa-a-ay too long since I’ve been walking. Just ask Emma Dog. She’s been keeping me up all night, asking out (or back in) about once an hour. I reckon she’s antsy and bored and needs exercise.
Me too. But what with being sick much of the last almost three months (!) and the late heat spurt, and travel - and a host of other miserable, sniveling excuses - I haven’t been for a walk, nor taken Emma for one, in an age.
Last night I slept pretty well (despite Emma’s alarums and excursions) and woke up with clearer lungs than I’ve had since the flu hit me for real a couple weeks before. I actually … felt good. And I decided that one way or another we would hit the trail today.
Even though we got a later start than intended (what else is new?) the afternoon wasn’t hot, with the rain we’ve gotten the last couple days to break the unusual late-season heat spurt. So, on with the water-bottle carrier (carrying a water bottle, go figure, along with sundry useful items); on with the twelve-buck red Convo knock-offs which are the most comfortable walking shoes I’ve owned for a while, possibly ever; on with the wraparound shield-style UV-resistant shades, and the 8 x 25 Simmons monocular that’s a contender for best $20 I ever spent, in case birds break out; on with the Omron pedometer; on with the sweat-stained tan painter’s cap with New Mexico Land of Enchantment on the front I bought for 69¢ at the thrift store. And out the door we went.
We went to one of our favorite paths, the bike trail along the levee by the clear ditch that runs past the Rio Grande Nature Center. It was a beautiful afternoon, a little warm (big surprise!), a little muggy, but not bad. The trees are still green, late-season flowers are beginning to bloom. The hummingbirds are out in profusion - I gather they’re heading back to Central and South America for the winter. The cranes and the geese are flying in yet, but that usually happens later in September.
Wildlife was out. A squirrel ran right in front of us shortly after we turned off the path that leads from the end of Candelaria, before we reached the RGNC bridge across the overflow ditch. Emma didn’t deign to react, although she peered after it as we passed where it had gone through the fence into the Center and, presumably, into a brush pile. She’s a bird dog by avocation, after all, with a specialty in waterfowl. She has standards.
Although she did perk up when a big bunny ran across our path as we took the ramp off the bridge up to the bike path. She’s such a good dog, though; she didn’t try to bolt after it.
So we had a good walk, up to the second bridge and a ways along the shaded dirt path that runs between the ditch and the fences on the east bank of the ditch. Very pleasant setting.
Went a bit over 2.6 miles; took about 53 minutes, decent time after allowing for Emma to sniff things - highly important! - and occasionally wade in the water and drink. My goal is to get first to 4 miles a day, and eventually to 6 over the winter - or about 10,000 steps. But for now I need to remind myself that we can do 2.5 or so falling down. Rain or shine, even if I’m not feeling good, it’s pretty easy. Also there’s not a huge time hit. I reckon once I get in the habit of doing that daily, I’ll be well placed to kick it up by degrees to 4. And then when that habit’s ground-in, moving toward 6.
So: a good start. Yay!