A little change of pace, out of the woods and out to cross a few meadows on gently rolling hills. The sky was beautiful, the scenery divine. As we’re learning, the uneven terrain made for easier walking with less pain for Tim. The fresh air and sunshine was restorative for this quarantine-weary couple. We eagerly kept wanting to see what was over the next hillock or down the next inviting path. There were many interlocking trails. I lost count of how many grassy fields we crossed.
Two trails featuring varied land features and vegetation, including two hills, a valley, hardwood and cedar forest, brushland, meadows, pastures, swamps and ponds. Well-established 0.5 mile trail system with bridges.
~ Avalonia Land Conservancy website
I have to say, there were more than two trails, even on the map, and we certainly walked more than half a mile! But we didn’t walk all the trails and perhaps we will return some day.
As with our other walks, the songs of birds filled the air. And we had a few bumble bees follow us a time or two.
Before you thought of Spring
Except as a Surmise
You see — God bless his suddenness —
A Fellow in the Skies
Of independent Hues
A little weather worn
Inspiriting habiliments
Of Indigo and Brown —
With Specimens of Song
As if for you to choose —
Discretion in the interval
With gay delays he goes
To some superior Tree
Without a single Leaf
And shouts for joy to Nobody
But his seraphic self —
~ Emily Dickinson
(The Poems of Emily Dickinson, #1484)
Looks like a lovely day and a wonderful hike, Barbara. You’ve reminded me that I wanted to see if some of the conservancy areas are open here. They closed the state and national parks. M and I have hiked some of the preserves/conservancy areas before and usually there was no one else out there. It’s possible they’re still open.
Our state parks are open until the parking lots of the more popular ones are full and then they close them, trying to keep the crowds down. At some of the nature preserves and open space properties we have visited we’ve been the only ones there. At the others our human encounters were relatively few and far between. We have two state parks in town which we’ve avoided so far. I hope you find your nature preserves open, Robin!
The interesting red spiky thing, it’s not what my beech nuts look like exactly, but it reminds me of them.
Apparently there are 10 to 13 kinds of beeches so I’m going to assume this must be one of them. Thanks for the tip, Janet!
Delving into nature is so restorative! Delving-what a word and one that I rarely use yet it seems right here. How lucky to find a bluebird. We always have one visit us just as spring arrives but then she travels elsewhere. But over the last few days a bright orange Baltimore oriole has graced our suet feeder. Thank you for including your lovely photos and beautiful Emily Dickinson poem.
Yes, indeed, examining nature in detail does have a beneficial effect on the bodymind! A walk out there is often a lab class and there is no shortage of discoveries to make while we get some much needed exercise, peace and fresh air. (I just started an online birdwatching course!) It sounds like a delightful and ever-changing scene of bird activity in your garden, Pam. I hope you’re finding some comfort there. You’ve been in my thoughts… *hugs*
What a lovely walk for a quarantine-weary couple. Nature is a balm for our spirits. Our son and daughter-in-law have ventured north up in New Jersey to find areas to hike. Hopefully without too many people.
That’s one reason we don’t walk at the beach much anymore – too many people, some oblivious to social distancing. But the woods has proved to be a good alternative. I hope your son and daughter-in-law found some good places to hike. The pull of nature is very strong.