Thanks!

As the Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close and I am eating the last of the pumpkin pie, I’m grateful for trails. This holiday weekend was rich with wonderful walks enjoyed by all members of visiting family members, even our greyhound Calypso got in on the activities.  Last year we began what is now, I hope, a tradition of walking trails over the Thanksgiving holiday. We are lucky in our town have parks and trails maintained in unison with the city and strong volunteer organizations, such as Friends of Warner Parks.

Thursday morning we drove over to Edwin Warner Park and enjoyed walking along the the paved road. There is something therapeutic about walking along a trail with a trusted friend. Thoughts come up, talk begins and the richness of the earth affords an environment for good deep conversations. Visually,  this particular season affords your eyes deep look into the woods, each year I seem to spot giant trees that I do not recall from years gone past.  We walked over the new sections of road that cover the damage from the May 2010 flood, spurring conversation of  ”where we were” last year. Catching the tip of a young doe’s tail bouncing through the woods in our sights we became excited, wanting the other person to spot this beauty.

Friday morning we headed over to the Hidden Lake State Park, part of the Harpeth River State Park.  We walked the trails to ridge tops,  theorized about the people who danced on the ridge top dance floor; we took the rock stairs to the bottom of the cliff and explored the edge of the swimming hole, talking of various fresh water polls from our own histories.

Lastly, on Saturday Dad and I tackled the red trail at Percy Warner Park. If you have walked this trail, you know it is as strenuous as it is beautiful. You climb in silence and marvel at the lovely ridge tops as your heart rate returns toward normal. We relish this last walk of the weekend, soaking in this lovely 55 degree November morning.  We talk about future hikes, maybe attempting to meet up throughout the year and walking a good portion the Cumberland Trail in 2012. As we make the turn on the connector trail we close in on the end of the trail in silence. We are physically tired, but our hiking heart wants to continue in the richness of relationship and earth. Thank you family for walking with me.

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