Walking revitalizes me. After one day on the trail I become different from the way I am at home. I am in touch with the seasons, the weather, the varied hours of each day. I see more keenly. I am aware of the details.
~ Marilyn Doan
Once upon a Sunday, yesterday to be exact, M and I hiked the Milburn Landing Hiking Trail in the Pocomoke River State Park. The trail is approximately 4 miles, and it’s very easy going and well marked. Part of the trail runs along the freshwater swamp area near the Pocomoke River, but you can’t see the swamp from the trail. As much as I love seeing the bald cypress trees, this hike was all about the fall foliage of the deciduous trees so I wasn’t too disappointed that we couldn’t see the swamp.
A small portion of the trail requires walking on the road, but as you can see, it was no great hardship. It’s just as beautiful along some of the roadways around here as it is in the woods.
I have to ‘fess up to something. The 5K on Saturday left me intensely sore. M set a much faster pace than I’m used to on my daily walks. So when we started our hike on Sunday morning, I was hobbling and making old person noises (moans, groans, and oooh’s).
Fortunately, there was no one other than M around to hear me. I think he might have been feeling the after-effects of the 5K, too, but he’s very stoic about such things.
When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no “I’ll start tomorrow.” Tomorrow is disease.
~ Terri Guillemets
Warming up on the hike also loosened things up a bit for me, but all the soreness came back in spades later in the day. What this tells me is that I need to pick up the pace for at least part of my daily walk. Meditative walks are all well and good, but I’d like to be able to go on longer hikes without the end result being pain and suffering because I wasn’t properly prepared. I’m also putting “run a 5K” on my list of goals for the next year.
It’s time to leave the woods for now. We’ll come back to them tomorrow, and do a little more exploring. Thank you so much for visiting. Take a deep breath. I bet you can almost smell the scent of pine and dry leaves, and feel the invigorating sting of the cooler air of autumn.
Be good, be kind, be loving. Just Be. 🙂
Today’s joys: This morning’s yoga practice that helped to loosen up my stiff muscles. Day 1 of the Mentor Channels 21 Days of Gratitude. Louie Schwartzberg’s images are amazing. Another gorgeous day here on the Eastern Shore. Green tea. The beauty that surrounds me. Love given, love received. ♥
breezes at dawn 
I am very familiar with old person noises, and as usual your photos are magnificent.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Mike. 🙂
LikeLike
Absolutely lovely! And those are NOT old people noises! Those are appreciating maturity noises. 😉
LikeLike
Thank you, CM. I like that so much better than old people noises. 😀
LikeLike
🙂 I got your back Robin!
LikeLike
Your first photo is stunning!
LikeLike
Thank you, Colline. 🙂
LikeLike
Love ‘the hiker in the woods’ photo. (next to last photo)… Looks like a great place for a walk. And I know the feeling of the day after a race. Actually for me it’s the 2nd day after the race that is the worst. But it’s a good sort of hurt…mostly. I 5K for next year is a good goal. I toy with trying to be ready for one on Jan 1….don’t know. It’s a lot closer than I think.
LikeLike
Thank you, Dawn. 🙂 It was the 2nd day after the race for me, too. The first day was bad enough. The second was really bad. But I’m hobbling less today. 🙂
LikeLike
What a marvelous trail to walk! The colors are excellent, too…
Can’t wait to see more 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Marie. 🙂
LikeLike
Love these photos, Robin. And I had to chuckle at your making “old person noises.” I think I might have done the same. I’ve been known to, at least. LOL
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
LikeLike
Thank you, Kathy. 🙂 It’s funny how those noises just come out.
LikeLike
This looks so pretty and peaceful. I can almost hear the leaves rustling 🙂
LikeLike
It was both, Michaela. 🙂 The strange thing about hiking around here is that there doesn’t seem to be anyone else out there doing it. We often have the trails all to ourselves so it is very peaceful.
LikeLike
Ditto the old people noises. I have a serious case of the “tomorrow” disease.
There is something about your photos that whispers Thomas Kincade or Terry Redlin to me. Beautiful.
>
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Carol. 🙂 It’s probably the light. I’m obsessed with trying to capture it.
LikeLike