January Walk

Quite frankly, I do not like the month of January.  It is usually too cold for much outside time, I cut back if not stop my daily walks altogether, and I start feeling the aches and pains of my winter sedentary life - ugh!

 

I just could not endure staying inside one moment longer.  I put on my hooded sweatshirt, my  down work jacket, my combo knitted scarf and hat (which I absconded from Becky), my combo knitted gloves/mittens, grabbed my camera and was almost ready to head outside.

 

Shoes.  What was I going to wear on my feet?  My rubber boots are too uncomfortable for any kind of distance and my worn out Nikes are too smooth and thread bare for the elements that I was about to encounter.  I rummaged through my closet and found a supportive pair of shoes, complete with deep treads, that I haven’t worn in over one year.  I just hoped they would not hurt my feet. 

 

I started my walk.

 

The ground was solidly frozen, except for a sliver of mud that frosted my path. It was enough mud to cause slipping.  I hate to fall, so my stride quickly slowed from toddler to baby steps.  Every step was hazardous in my mind.  But, I was determined to accomplish a winter walk.  My shoe choice was perfect -efficient, comfortable and much safer than my slick-soled Nikes.

 

I was going to keep my walk short, but the weather was so relaxing - cold, just at freezing, but with no wind - I was dressed well, so I decided to make my usual hike.  Peace surrounded me, as well as four dogs who all decided to behave today.

 

At one point, I came upon an electric gate.  I knew it was HOT because the cattle were grazing on the opposite side.  I could not figure out how to effortlessly open the gate, so I opted to crawl under the hot wire on my hands and knees.  I got slightly muddy, but I was where I wanted to be without much exertion.  The dogs watched and wondered, totally animated with tilted heads, what I was doing. In their minds, a gate…simply run under or jump over - easy.

 

As I neared the pond, the late afternoon serenity became more apparent.  I was enveloped with quiet. Nothing stirred except for me and my companions.

 

The pond was still covered in snow, a dusting from the previous day, and parts were definitely frozen to some degree.  My favorite heron was nowhere to be seen.  For that matter, no birds were around.  The quiet was so peculiar.

 

I returned home with three dogs…somewhere along the line I misplaced Avalanche (she has a habit of secretly wandering off), and with no falls.



Buddy  is rarely without a stick.  He carried this BIG one on the entire walk with the hopes that I would play 'Fetch'.
NO WAY! One throw of that stick would surely put my arm out.

 

I guess I should rethink my January outings. Today was tranquil and well worth the effort for a bit of winter exercise.

 

A January walk is not as bad as I had anticipated.

 

I will try it again soon.