After a subpar week of lumbering last week, I was glad to get back to some normal mileage and picture taking. At least until I couldn’t today.
Miles and Al’s Return
Tuesday’s 5.79-mile lumber was OK, but nothing to write about1. There was little to no visible critter activity, and I had to rely on some nature nubbin macro shots to scratch my itch.
In fact, it was so lacking that I chose to bail early and missed my 6-mile target by a nugget hair. Oh well.
Weak Weeks & A New One
It’s no secret that my love (er, acceptance) of routine, no matter how good or bad it is for me, is borderline autistic. So, when I get out of a near-daily routine like writing about my mundane day hikes and attempts at nature photography, it can be hard to get back in.
However, as you can see, I’m back. For this, you have my apologies. But, so as not to get too up in your grill with a new post, I will just post some pics and say the lumbering and picture-takin’ was subpar last week, but this week has started off swell with a 6-mile lumber in some “not too bad” temps.
Macro Creeping
When I let Lola (the dog) out into the early morning darkness to do her business on Wednesday, I was greeted by brisk temps and the sound of more rain falling.
Lumbers & Shout Outs
After a lumberless weekend spent watching too much football, which included seeing Spurs finally win a league match this calendar year, but remain in the drop zone, I was back in the woods on Monday morning for a lumber.
The lumber was OK, but aside from a trailside Tufted Titmouse being titty, there wasn’t much action. The lack of critter activity might have had something to do with the high winds that were gusting like a freight train all day. I’m pretty sure if I were a bird, I would not be flying in conditions like that!
Back Again
As “weeks” of lumbering go, this one was pretty good, coming in at 30.60 miles in 5 days, and sitting at just under 95 miles over 16 hikes the month so far.
Good stuff, but of course, it’s just a weak stream of piss in an ocean of aging adipose tissue and worldly apathy. Still, it beats not doing it. I mean, who would take photos of the forest critters if I didn’t??? Don’t answer that.
Cold Starts
The week of lumbering has started off pretty OK.
Monday’s lumber was a slap in the face with a very un-spring-like 27˚ at hike-time. I was less than thrilled to be wearing a winter jacket, gloves, and a bobble hat in freaking late April, but it happens every year, and will surely happen again in the coming weeks.
Too Chatty, Too Tired
The week of lumbering was good, I guess. I mean, I was in the woods each day getting some miles in, so that’s always good, but until today, it was like living one rainy 96-hour-long day.
The Same Until Further Notice
Tuesday’s lumber was delayed by about 35 minutes while I waited for a band of thunderstorms to move out of the area.
Once I did make it to the trails, it was pretty much a carbon copy of Monday’s hike, but with more water on the trails, and some slightly different critters, including a brown thrasher (seen above), which treated me to the sweetest song of any bird I’ve heard in a while.
White Hunks of Meat
The weekend was a blur of rain, boredom, self-loathing, existential ennui, beer, and watching Spurs plummet further into the relegation zone, causing just a little bit more of me to die inside.
Fuck, there’s not much left! I figure, seeing the team I’ve supported for 20 years or more be relegated to the Championship should just about suck the last remaining drops of joy from my dark, flaccid soul.
I digress.