The central Michigan area got some showers overnight into this morning, and I was looking forward to getting in the wet woods to lumber ASAP.
Sadly, the rain had pretty much stopped by the time feet hit dirt at 6:51, so there would be no hike in the rain to provide the mental rub and a tug I crave. But the peacefulness of the bright green wet woods and some luck with my camera proved a worthy surrogate.
Even with arriving at the park before 7 AM these days, I still have trouble getting into the woods before the other near-daily hikers do. Nothing against them, but a couple bring their dogs, and dogs spook critters, and when critters get spooked, there is less that I want to photograph (the struggle is real!).
Having said that there was only one car in the lot when I arrived this morning, and that belonged to a couple of teenage dudes readying their canoe for some fishing.
I had it in my mind I wanted at least 6 miles, but preferably 7 or 8, so as to make it nearly impossible not to hit my increased (optional) 30-mile weekly lumbering goal this week. They say you can’t outrun out-hike poor dietary choices, but I’m sure as hell trying!
Sadly, my legs didn’t get the message that I was turning up the miles, and after two miles of brisk lumbering, I was feeling slow as shit and not sure any goals would be met.
BUT!!!
I drank some water, got my mind wrapped back around how awesome the wet woods were, and before I knew it, I was back to Escape II (Electric Boogaloo) with 7.13 miles completed and 25.05 miles on the week thus far. So, unless a 16-ton weight falls on my head (a real possibility in my cartoon-like mind) between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, I should hit my goal and have the weekend to slack my ass off, watch the Champions League final on Saturday, and at some point probably mow the grass for the second time this week.
PHOTO NOTES: As usual, today I used the Nikon z50 with the 55-200MM (75-375mm-equivalent), but I also took along the Hoya +2 close-up filter and used it on the photos of the wet leaves and the red-backed salamander. I love visiting with my salamander friend, but to be honest, they don’t do much, and if it weren’t for the fact that I see it in different locations of its dank, under-log home, I would think it was dead.
Later.