201: Learning experiences

(A bug’s eye view of the tiny white flowers dotting our lawn.)

M and I have been talking about taking a walking tour vacation.  Someday.  We’ve done a little research and thought about different places.  Places we’ve considered include (but are not limited to) the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in the U.K., and Nova Scotia in Canada.  (Note:  I’ve provided links to give you an idea of what I’m going on about, not as a recommendation for any particular tour.  I googled, these came up, and I picked them as examples.  We haven’t gone so far as to pick a touring company.)

Last year's oak leaves still clinging to the tree

Our 5.1 mile hike on Sunday taught me a valuable lesson.  I am not in the kind of shape I need to be in to take a walking tour type of vacation.  5.1 miles was pretty much my limit for the day, and you need to be able to walk anywhere from 8-12 miles per day according to some of the tour packages I’ve looked at.

Letting go and floating away

That said, I’m not in bad shape, per se.  I was able to walk the 5.1 miles.  I just didn’t do anything else for the rest of the day because all I could do was collapse in exhaustion.  I did not attempt it but I don’t believe I would have been able to walk another 5.1 miles (or more) the following day (yesterday).

Hanging around

To dream about taking a walking tour is one thing.  To actually do it will require planning and setting goals.  One of those goals is to get myself in shape and capable of walking 8-12 miles a day.

Beginnings

So, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other, I am going to work on building up my mileage.  Now that the weather is warming up to some degree (hey, it’s not below freezing or snowing), I should be able to get outside and explore the area where I live.  The block I live on is a country block, meaning it’s a BIG block.  A 5-mile loop.  That’s a good start.  From there I can venture off on other back country roads, past farms with cows, horses, and fields of crops stretched out for as far as the eye can see.

Great Blue Heron exploring the pond at sunset

I will be taking a walking tour of my own backyard, so to speak.  Branching out to explore beyond the small area I’ve been covering on my walks.  I think it will be fun, for the most part, and I will get to learn a bit more about where I live by not speeding by everything in a car.

Now all I have to do is decide between my hiking boots and my Vibrams.  I’m thinking the Vibrams would be ideal for walking around here, but I do need to break in those boots a little better.  Alternating might be the way to go.

Yesterday's sunset

I did not get off to a great start today, having gone only a little over 3 miles.  It’s raining and in the 40’s, not a good combination.  I got chilled and decided that even though it isn’t a great start, it’s a start.  And there is something to be said for that.

Maple blossoms

It wasn’t just the gray, gloomy, chilly weather that drove me back inside.  I sometimes wonder if I’m cut out for exploring the great outdoors.  There are days when I’m too… soft.  I’m not sure that’s the word I want, but I can’t come up with anything better at the moment.

At lunch today I saw the doves cuddled up near the bird feeder, and wondered why one of them wasn’t back at the nest.  Well, on my walk today I decided to stop by and check on the Mama Dove.  The nest was gone from the tree.  I looked at the ground and found it there, shredded to pieces.  On the other side of the tree I found the babies.

There was no movement at all.  I’m fairly certain they are dead.  I realize this is part of nature and the circle of life and all that.  It’s a bit of an emotional day for me anyhow (having begun the day with an oddly emotional yoga and meditation practice).  I cried for a little while, sad that the babies didn’t make it.

A white daffodil, softness and light

Ah well.  The doves are probably already building a new nest and starting over.

Life goes on.

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