flowers

Not Walking…

by taohobo

Right now we’re not walking as a group. As you can see in the side bar where I list future walks we’ll be waiting for all Covid-19 precautionary measures are lifted before rescheduling Breakfast Walks.

Meanwhile, none of that should stop you from getting out, AND SAFELY, enjoying an outdoors walk.

We’ve done one walk together in the past week and I’ve been out on a short hike recently.

Niantic Boardwalk is a great place to walk. The day we were there we had no problem keeping a very safe distance from other walkers. One, because the boardwalk is now one-way – FROM THE HOLE IN THE WALL TO THE NIANTIC DRAWBRIDGE (that’s opposite to the initial announcement in The Day); and everyone was obeying the one-way requirement (i’m not finding that when grocery shopping). The sun, views, and fresh air lifted our spirits and put smiles on our faces. We had face coverings ready in case we needed them but the safe distancing and one-way traffic didn’t require their use.

Garlic mustard, an invasive, introduced bi-annual from Europe, North-western Africa, Western and central Asia. It is an herb that has been in use dating back to 4,000 BCE.

Yesterday, I took a day to explore some of my favorite trails in Pachaug State Forest. I got there early, walked one loop without seeing anyone. On the next loop there were other hikers behind me for part of the trail but they’d soon branched off. I finished that trail without encountering anyone else. Lots of birds busy in the forest, calling, and flitting around, trout rising and taking flys off the surface, enjoying old favorites and new plants blooming,…

So if you can get out there are things to enjoy and lift your spirits. Please do it safely and respect the safety of others. Distance yourselves from others, have face coverings to wear when passing within a close distance from others.

Be safe, be well!

Around the block…

by taohobo

Too perfect a day not to get out and log some steps in the neighborhood. Clear blue sky, temp in the 50° range with a light breeze, I couldn’t resist!

But, it was nearly turn around and go home. Hadn’t gone 5 yards before the first nip bottle showed up, then the next, and another one, 8 of them before I’d gone 50 feet. It wasn’t anything new, I’ve walked and cleaned this stretch of road for years. The numbers seem to be higher lately but there’s always a lot in this stretch. I’m pretty much 2 nips from the corner package store. Why 2 nips? Because on Earth Day I also do a long stretch between here and the package store and about half way between my house and the package store is always another concentration of nip bottles.

Today though is about a walk around the small development that has almost no traffic other than residents coming and going. Two laps are good for 10,000 steps if you circle the cul-de-sacs 2 or 3 times.

Definite signs of Spring in this curbside bed.

Despite narrow, curvy road with no sidewalks, make it safely into the development and start the walk.

There are signs of spring all around, that’s a little worrying because it’s still so early in the year. A couple days of hard freeze will kill buds and mean no apricots, peaches… 2017 and 2018 were like that.

Looking now for early emerging plants like skunk cabbage, mullein, and others are on my mind because we also did the same thing yesterday. I taught a Korean Natural Farming class on gathering and using local ingredients for Fermented Plant Juice extracts to feed our early plants, crops. These little flowers, and some trees adorned with sap buckets, are signs of encouragement.

Walking is always a great time to think, mull things, order, plan your day, if you’re walking alone. If you have company it’s a time to catch up, chat, or just enjoy the day together.

Hoping you know, or can find, a small and safe walk near you. One you can step out your door and just start walking.

See you on the trail…