If I wake up, and there is no rain falling – and no rain forecasted in the immediate hour, I tie my hiking boots on and go for a hike 😊
This morning the weather was favorable. I chose Lake Sacajawea because I hadn’t been there in a while; and it would be colorful with the azaleas bursting out in bloom.
There weren’t many people in the Park, this morning. There is extensive renovation going on around restrooms near the foot-traffic bridge that leads to the Sacajawea & Pomp statue and Namesake Brick plaza area (https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Lake_Sacajawea_Loop_Hike); plus there is another covid mask restriction happening: people are just tired of dealing with national, and local, restrictions on their daily lives. They are either staying home in a depressed state of mind … or they are packing a lunch and going where foot traffic is pretty much nonexistent.
However, being the rebel that I am, I tend to make my own rules when it comes to personal choice: I walk where I please (on public land my tax $$$$ pay for), when I please (regardless of aimless, politically motivated mandates), and however I please (maskless) 😉
I think I shared the Park with perhaps a dozen people, walking dogs or riding bikes.
I saw two men fishing off Lion’s Island, as I walked past.
Vehicle traffic was back-to-back at the crossroad crossings. If it hadn’t been for a compassionate truck driver … in a Ford, no less 😊 … I would probably still be standing on the curb waiting for a break.
All week, kindness in regards to traffic, has come from guys in pickups: waiting for a break, so I can make a lane change – a pickup man holds traffic up 2-car-lengths, so I can scoot into the gracious opening; backing out of a parking spot – a pickup guy gives me the distance I’m going to need … while he patiently waits; this morning, standing at the 4-way-stop curb waiting for a lull in traffic so I can cross to the other side of the street to continue my Lake walk – a pickup fella stops, and smilingly waves me across. I smiled and waved back as I quickly walked past his truck and continued my walk.
Women driving pickups, do not stop: they pretend not to see … and step on the gas, avoiding any eye contact whatsoever. MPO is that eye avoidance is their guilt kicking in.
Men in cars, appear to be self-absorbed. They are usually in a hurry, and have no time for anyone but themselves – especially little fellas in low-rider cars they think make them look bigger than they are.
I am thankful for the pickup men that show some courtesy, and give this petite/fluffy old hen a break 😉
And I miss my pickup man like crazy …
Continuing around the lower end of the Lake Hike Trail, and along the Nichol’s Boulevard side of the Park, I dilly-dallied 😉
As I neared the Louisiana Street Bridge, the underside of my left foot was starting to hurt … so I cut the hike short, and backtracked to the parked Highlander. I have learned the hard way that when my soles start hurting, it’s best to stop what I am doing and give my feet a rest.
My feet are not used to the lengthy walking: we’ve had so
much stinkin’ rain that has kept my feet indoors, that it will take time to build
up to 4-mile hikes again, without my feet whining, “what the hell mama?
So, I gave them a break and drove them home to rest 😉
Back at home, I talked to a friend who got her new car today, and she’s happy as a clam at high tide 😉 I’m glad for her.
I finished the Angel Baby Blanket I started last night … and I’ll work up another one before bedtime. They are little, and they hardly use up time at all.
