As I pulled into the muddy parking lot today, I swore that I would not use microspikes for the day’s lumber. There is just no way! Screw it, I’m done!

I then put on the microspikes and took off down the muddy trail, mad at myself for using spikes on dirt and mud and for violating my own intentions.

I quickly turned down the hate when I exited the bridge over the river, when I was distracted by two small minks chasing each other around and looking cute as fuck. They hurriedly split up and found cover, and I went back to cursing myself for putting on the stupid spikes.

If you’re saying to yourself, “Hey, fat boy, why all this talk about minks all of a sudden?” Well, it’s a surprise to me too! I’ve hiked over 4,0000 miles on the trails at Deerfield and have not seen any minks until this year! In the past two or three weeks, I’ve seen a pair of young ones playing and chasing each other twice now, and a larger adult one on a different part of the river once. Today, I also saw what looks to be a discarded meal from one of them on the main trail as I was finishing up. Of course, that could have come from an eagle or hawk as well, but they usually take the fish with them.

After my mink encounter, I then took the time to remove the spikes before heading off. Ahhhh… that feels better. It actually makes no difference; it’s a mental thing.

Those goodtime spikeless vibes quickly ended when I hit the stank booty of the trails and found them covered in ice and standing water. “No worries, I got this!!” I mumbled to myself as I tiptoed along the snow and muddy edges of the trail, trying not to slide on the ice.

This yo-yo effect of ice and clear trail went on for a mile and a half, and I finally said fuck it. Pulled over and put the spikes BACK on. That was 1.5 miles into a 6.37-mile lumber, and I did not regret the decision. I think we are just a day or two away from 48+ hours of spring-like temps, so I’m hopeful that by next week the ice will be a thing of the past.

Spurs play Palace at 3 PM (EST) today, and while I’m not looking forward to watching them shit the bed yet again, and inch closer and closer to relegation, it beats the real world.

I currently have 24.57 miles in my feetz this week, and I’m looking forward to hitting 30 in 5 again tomorrow. I’m also looking forward to seeing Wifey, who is hurling herself towards me at 30,000 feet as I type.

Later.