2006-04-26 - 1:59 p.m.
Well, my boss has changed his mind, and he's not retiring after all. Huzzah!
Last Sunday, I took Dolly out on the new All American Trail. This trail is just inside the boundary of Fort Bragg, and will eventually extend all the way around the post, about 70 miles. The first section is seven miles long. Due to poor planning on my part, we got to the trailhead at the height of the sun. We headed west, and walked about four miles, total. At one point, Dolly got into a creek with such steep sides that she couldn't jump out. She nearly exhausted herself trying, while I made my way to a spot on the bank where I could get to her and help haul her out. The green briar got me, but at least I didn't have to climb down into the water and boost her out, which was Plan B. She slept well that night, and so did I!
The new trail looks like every other trail on post - it's sandy and piney, with some very mild hills. I wonder if they will allow camping here and there once it's complete - I can't very well walk 70 miles in one day.
Monday evening, I took Dolly to our old route in the woods off of Canopy Lane. We walked about three miles. The woods on the other side of the road were on fire!
The "Danger" sign is for the live fire range located on that side of the road. On these walks, we often hear machine guns, or sometimes artillery. You get used to it.
They manage much of the post for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, so they have a controlled burn of the underbrush every spring. The smoke was kind of intense in places, but it did keep the insects down. (They were waiting for us when we got far enough away from the smoke.) I had my camera with me and stopped to take many pictures of the burn and of the bountiful wild azaleas in bloom all over the forest floor. (I guess they'll be lost when they burn that side of the woods.)
We were so late getting out of the woods that I took Dolly with me to the meeting. They're used to having the dog there, anyway.
Last night after supper, when it had cooled off a bit, I took Dolly out in the neighborhood. We walked over to the library, where I discovered a dirt track that winds behind the golf course for about two miles. As soon as we get off pavement, Dolly gets off the leash. (She gets more exercise that way, and she always comes when I call.) It's mostly in the shade, which was great, and it was covered in honeysuckle, which was delightful. I love that scent. We ended up walking about three miles again.
The weather has cooled considerably today - I'd guess it's about 65 degrees, down from yesterday's 85. They're predicting showers, but if it's not raining, we're going out again. We both need the exercise and fresh air.
It's been so long since I got out to the mountains, I feel like I've been in a long long sleep. I haven't heard any more about canoe trips, either. Man. There's a state park nearby, maybe I can go car camping there overnight some weekend, just to get some dirt under my fingernails or something.
