Chilly Sunday walk under steel gray skies - Actifit: October 13 2019

This morning I went out walking around a lake. It is beautiful year ‘round, but of course the green of summer and the gold of fall are most pleasant. It is already a bit tired and heading toward the browns of late fall, which are the least pleasant of all.

Come along, as we walk a stretch of park space and shoreline. I had a little adventure!

First is the starting point — a memorial site commemorating war heroes and veterans.

From there I walked along the paved path that would take me to various options for walking around the lake. It was very cold (about 5 degrees above freezing), and I knew I couldn’t manage the full circumference of the lake, which is probably about 4 miles.

Therefore, when I found a gravel trail that appeared to be a shortcut across the center of the pond, I took it!

There was not another soul in this area, and I was feeling pretty special. It seemed like such a pleasant thing to have this path all to myself with geese calling overhead and a cold rain falling. Sometimes that desolate feeling is kind of nice!

So I carried on, walking perhaps 3/4 of a mile along the gravel path, until I came to a bridge. I cannot emphasize enough how risky it felt to step onto this thing! It was a few planks stuck together, completely covered in goose poop and seaweed and slicker than snot!

But I could see the connection back to the paved path and the memorial park, and it was much closer to proceed than to retrace my steps. So I proceeded.

And I came to this:

Unfortunately, I was not wearing my rugged boots that are at least water resistant. No, of course not. I was wearing cute walking boots that would have soaked through immediately. I decided not to attempt to leap over the little flooded area and walk the rest of the way with wet, frozen feet. So I turned and started back, away from my destination.

That was when I saw the turtle.

Naturally, I picked him up to inspect the little guy. The risk around here is snapping tutles, which can take your hand right off. He didn't seem to be one of those, and futhermore he was itty bitty. And kind of floppy. His little legs moved a little, but he seemed to be losing his grip on life.

So I walked off the path toward the water and set him in the reeds near the water’s edge. I thought he could at least enjoy his last moments looking at the water where he had hopefully had some happy times. And then I walked away.

I got about a thousand feet away, and I thought “what if that turtle could be saved?” So I turned around and started walking back toward where I had set him.

That’s when the next thing happened that stopped me in my tracks. Coming my way, from the area where the bridge was sunk down into the water was a man. Evidently, he had made the leap across the piece of sunken bridge from the other side. Suddenly, the idea of enjoying this area all to myself lost its appeal. Honestly, it was too far from anything for me to get help or even to be heard if I yelled. This is not a good situation for a woman alone to be in. So I gave up on the turtle and turned around again and began walking back the way I had originally come, fast.

I had quite a ways to go to get back to the paved path where there would be people.

I turned a corner past some reeds and actually ran for a little while, hidden from the man’s view. I mean, I didn’t want to insult the guy. He was probably just an innocent walker out enjoying the day like I was!

Anyway, I got back to the paved path where there were some dog walkers and joggers and I was no longer worried. So I took some additional pictures of some lovely trees and buildings in that area. I never actually saw the man again after that.

There was more, but I don’t want this post to be too long. I will save the rest for another time.

Thanks for reading!

Daily Activity,Photowalking,Walking