Eight of us Senior Trailblazers showed up for a guaranteed rainy Thursday hike. Here's a picture of Linda right after we climbed out of the car before we started hiking, and you can see her raincoat and pack cover are already wet. Since we start out in the trees as we make our way to Raptor Ridge, it didn't seem too bad, but once we got to the ridge, we turned around to start back down before stopping. It was raining, snowing, and blowing up there! Definitely not a place to sit down and enjoy a leisurely repast, as we have done in the past.
I took this picture of Al on the ridge, since there was zero view. Trust me, there is really a nice view when the weather is fine, which it wasn't today. The good part is that it wasn't raining as hard as it might have been. In fact, every now and then it would lighten up and a bit of sunshine tried to make its way through.
This looks like a place where an animal might find refuge, or even a bunch of hikers looking for a place out of the wind and rain. We kept going, however, after deciding that our best bet for a nice place for lunch was the Senior Center itself! But we had four miles to navigate before we would be back to the cars.
For most of the day, our trail was rather nice, with mist and light rain the only real problem we had. We are accustomed to having cloudy or rainy days; they seem much more common on Thursdays than sunshine. We also saw a couple of neat trees.
The bark on the red cedar tree really IS that red, especially when wet from the rain. And Rita is looking at a face we saw in a tree, two eyes on the top, a nose and mouth. Can you see it? By the time we had finished our eight-mile hike, we headed for a late lunch over at the Center, where we could be warm and dry and enjoy our time together.
Karen joined us at the Center, although she didn't make the hike with us, and she took this picture for me, so you can see the group of intrepid Seniors who enjoy being with each other, even when the weather isn't perfect. If we waited for the weather, we would miss many good times!
:-)
your indoor lunch sounds like it was a treat after the rainy hike! but i bet it was invigorating, too.
ReplyDeleteGee, I was just thinking of you, when I looked out my window and saw the rain pouring down in sheets. I thought, would you be like DJan and go out in this weather? But there you go -- you would but I would not!!! Lol. Glad you had a good time over there.
ReplyDeleteI totally love the last thought about not letting the weather dampen an outing with friends.
ReplyDeleteThe red bark is very interesting too. I think I need to find a senior centre near by. It looks like an opportunity I am missing out on.
ha...it looks like the tree fell on a turkey...its legs sticking out...smiles...
ReplyDeleteyikes...four miles...bet you were hoofing it to get back...and warmer indoors....
I DO see the face!
ReplyDelete...but I don't see how anything without suction cups for feet could shelter in that rocky cliff!
I look at you people standing out in the rain while I listen to the ice cold wind screaming outdoors and a part of me thinks you're all insane. Wet though it might be, I gather it isn't terribly cold. Right???
Those roots are really red..it looks cold to me..but you guys and gals are a hearty bunch:)
ReplyDeleteLooks like fun.
ReplyDeleteI love a picture showing a path in the woods. Red Cedar bark is amazing.
I look for faces too, well I don't look, they just appear. Yes, I see the face.
Thank you for sharing the lovely woods.
Oh, that red cedar is gorgeous. I've never seen that before.
ReplyDeleteAnd again, I take my hat off to you for hiking in the cold and rain. You are dedicated!
Stay warm, jj
I see the face...and I would have stopped to look at it again and again.
ReplyDeleteYour group is amazing...the fact that weather never keeps you all off the trail is commendable.
Hugs to you,
Jackie
The top of a ridge can be very severe when it comes to weather. The wind comes blasting over the ridge and brings lots of stuff with it. In your case today..rain, fog, snow. that's enough.
ReplyDeleteI do really love to see your beautiful face in your photos, DJan! Your day reminds me of mine. We actually did Tai-chi in the rain today. It was quite an experience. Our teacher, Master Pong is 86 and he wasn't complaining so we couldn't be whimps, could we?
ReplyDeleteI did my exercise indoors today, even though we had very little actual rain here by the airport. I'm finding that I need to trade off walking with stationary biking now to keep my sciatica settled down. With so much time walking yesterday, I was happy to sit, read and work up a sweat pedaling.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it wasn't pouring down on you. Light misty rain is manageable. We had a cold wind all day, and tomorrow the snow level drops and the rain/snow will be harder. It will be a good day for you to head for the gym.
Wet it might have been - but that was a truly beautiful walk - particularly from my dry vantage point. Thank you. And I loved that red, red cedar. Little Red Riding Hood would envy that colour.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to do a fair amount of walking in the rain, however, nice to know it does not dampen your spirits. Weather doesn't hold us back from doing things here either. Especially in the Maritimes, unless you are out on the water - that's when you dash home. I did see the face in the rock when I enlarged the photo - NEAT and the red on the trees is just splendid. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteYou and your group of seniors are an inspiration to so many of us. You definitely moved to the right place, you found like minds with like interests and energy. Most of the seniors here would not venture out in rain or chilly weather. I am one of them. Brrr.
ReplyDeleteI really like the picture of the place 'an animal might find refuge'. You and your fellow hikers are courageous to brave the elements like you do... and are lucky to have found each other.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the best spot for lunch, indoors! The roots of that red cedar remind me of something out of a horror movie!
ReplyDeleteAwwwwwwww, dry, indoors and filled with friends and laughter. After a wet hike like that...the center looks mighty cozy.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting to know the faces of the people in your hiking group. Shame it rained, but it brought a different kind of togetherness, didn't it.
ReplyDeleteThe last picture would be my cup of tea--warm and dry digs for lunch with friends.
ReplyDeleteI saw that you met Linda, how wonderful
ReplyDeleteloved the photo of the 2 of you on her blog
the red cedar is amazing, I've never seen that
hugs from me and Hope
Dear DJan, I did see the face! And I saw your smiling face to the left of the picture as you sat with your friends at the tables. Your posting about you and them and the hikes you enjoy together always give me such a sense of contentment. Thank you. Peace.
ReplyDeleteYou were eight very hardy souls to brave that wind and rain. I think your choice for lunch was very sensible. I do enjoy seeing all the moss from your area.
ReplyDelete