Labor Day Hike

Decent weather on a holiday requires a hike. So this morning Mike and I went to Farmdale, parked in the  already crowded lot, and dropped a pin on the map. I've never, not once, hiked at Farmdale and not gotten lost, and I've learned from experience to drop a pin before hitting the trails. 

Most people seemed to be headed toward the woods trails, so we headed towards the creek. There were some people at the creek, so we crossed it, hiked awhile, and crossed it again until we were way out where very few people go. Good thing, because by then the temperature was getting warmer, the effort of the hike was heating me up, and I was having a hot flash, so I took off my shirt. I had to put it back on briefly a couple times when we encountered a pack of mountain bikers and some hikers, including one premenopausal young woman wearing a jacket. 

We fantasized about being on "Alone", "Last of the Mohicans" and Wuhu Island (from a Wii game), and we reminisced about previous hikes and adventures. We stopped several times to close our eyes and just listen. We came to a little metal bridge over a stream, and I noticed that when I stepped on it, it sounded like my steel drum, so I danced on it, trying to sound different notes, but they all sounded the same. Still, dancing shirtless on a bridge in the midst of nature is reward enough in itself.

We saw two white Yellow Woolly Bear Moths (why do they have the word "yellow" in their name when they are pure white?" and I picked some Indiangrass to bring home for the cats to chew on and play with, and so I can plant some of the seeds.  I wouldn't mind our whole yard being filled with prairie grasses and herbs. 

They did enjoy smelling and chewing on the tall grasses from the wild outdoors.

                                        

It sure felt like more than 10,447 steps. It was a near perfect hike though, just a little too warm.