We met up at 8am.
Two brave ladies carpooled with me and we met up with 4 other brave souls. I've known two of them from the gym at one time or another. We all headed down trail chatting and laughing.
The first leg of the hike was along the paved multi use trail. One of my friends had never hiked before in her life. The other had never gone further than 7 miles with me and only hiked rarely.
I think Candace's group had been doing hikes and practicing to do the MammothMarch at the end of June which is a 20 mile hike event.
We all hiked in different small groups, sometimes all together, sometimes on our own. There was a lot of laughter and conversation.
The sights were amazing as usual.
We encountered two sets of horse riders, a few bicyclists and a couple of folks walking on the paved trail.
Otherwise, we were immersed in nature and each others' laughter.
One of the games we played was 'walking' the Balance Beam otherwise known as a log.
Our hike was not about time or speed but all about enjoying nature and friendship along with laughter. We took frequent breaks and as promised, we did not leave the tired folks behind.
My two friends who are new to hiking did stop at 15 miles. I walked on to where we'd parked and grabbed my car and returned to pick them up.
When asked if they'd do it again, the answer was a definitive yes. I promised to create shorter hikes. After all who does these crazy super long hikes?
We also witnessed some amazing wildlife!
I didn't have a decent camera with me, but we all stopped at one of the ponds to watch swans swimming with their cygnets.
We saw a fawn walk into the trail and lay down. I asked everyone to be quiet and walk around the fawn and not stop.
Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. ...Friendship is nothing but sharing!
Sounds like such a good time for everyone. The fawn video was so cute. Hopefully mom was watching nearby. RHill, TX
ReplyDeleteYes, mom's leave them as newborns so they can eat and return often.
DeleteNo way could I walk with my current knees....no problem on my trike. You amaze me. Lori
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Go triking! I went biking/triking with a dude last year.
Delete"Our hike was not about time or speed but all about enjoying nature and friendship along with laughter." That was my favorite sentence, prioritizing what's important. Love that! Thank you for taking us along this fun hike Val. That little fawn was precious!
ReplyDeleteThat fawn was the prize! I've never seen anything like that before and yes, I never ever leave a friend behind.
DeleteI've heard some folks earn a living being trail guides! Your log walking seems a little high off the ground, but Treebeard from the Hobbit was watching after you. That's a lot of walking. My feet hurt. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteTrail guides probably are for places that are a bit wild. I couldn't charge as the Reserve sometimes has outdoor classes and volunteers that will guide for birding and whatnot.
DeleteWhat a wonderful b-day hike! Surrounded by good friends, fun and nature. Never seen a fawn left "in the open" usually they are more hidden.
ReplyDeleteIt walked out onto the trail. I wonder if it was too buggy in the tall weeds.
DeleteGood company and exercise and a fawn.
ReplyDeleteLife is amazing in nature! Thanks, very good company!
DeleteGreat to have this kind of company. Hope you do it often.
ReplyDeleteI hope so also as some of them have asked to go on other hikes with me. Shorter and whatnot. The gals that are doing the long hike at the end of the month want to go again on the same route for practice with me to guide them through the turns.... :)
DeleteOh, wow! Thanks for sharing the beauty! ....and that fawn, how amazing! He looked so vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, hiking is fun and can be done alone or with others!
DeleteThat fawn was interesting! None of us had ever seen anything quite like that before.
Nicely done! I just can't do groups these days. We are awaiting a fawn. A pregnant doe has been wandering about.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't anticipated enjoying a group hike, but it was fun and it surprised me enough that I'd do it again.
DeleteSounds like you're a swell leader of the pack. Cute deer. I'm outside reading blogs and heard the snap in the woods and a second later, there she was. She's still here now just off the other side. Love living near woods. Also love that you're gonna make a shorter one for the newbies next go. Good on ya' for that.
ReplyDeleteI was the one that knew all the trails by heart. The others kept drifting off to other places....so much fun.
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