Inspired by a new friend who has been doing the three mile loop at Walnut Creek I decided to give it a go. Three miles is not daunting to me since I semi-regularly force myself to do it on the treadmill at the gym. This distance is very different outside. Without my Ipod I have difficulty keeping a steady pace. The trade off though is hearing the birds, ducks and geese as I enjoy the wonderful weather.
I hadn't walked this trail before and was confused by the forks I encountered on the path. I arbitrarily decided to always keep to the right. I walked from 4:22pm to 5:14pm. It sure felt like three miles. It felt like three miles after just thirty minutes! I was confused by the people ''lapping'' me though so I stopped and asked a safe enough looking Dad with his kid. He looked at me with pity (I must have looked worse than I felt!) and he cheerfully told me I was on the right path and I was halfway there! The first person who ''lapped'' me was a shirtless guy on inline skates with a mullet and goofy grin. At first I thought he might have been one of the Bay City Rollers but as he whizzed closer by I decided he was much too young. The second person who ''lapped'' me seemed rather pleased about it. Miss Spandex seemed kind of smug as went by but considering she wasn't breaking a sweat or jogging I was guessing either she was on a different path or employing a Lycra covered time travel device.
I usually prefer airports and post offices for people watching but there was quite a number of people enjoying the path as well. I encountered a jovial, shirtless, sunburned , septuagenarian gentleman as well as several joggers, bicyclers, stroller pushers and dog walkers. One lady I passed was so thin I was surprised her skeletal legs held her up. She seemed to be in her forties and when I said hello she balked and looked at me like I was her worst nightmare coming towards her. Given her anorexic appearance that very well may have been the case. The bicyclists were the friendliest, followed by the dog walkers then the stroller pushers. The joggers seemed to intent on not dying to be very social.
I haven't been to the gym much in the past couple weeks so I was not ready I guess for packing and cleaning all day in anticipation of our move in four days to end the day with a three mile walk in the heat. I had my cell phone in my hand and was ready to call for pick up if I didn't figure out my way off this trail soon. My feet hurt and I was wishing that I was in a pedicure chair getting my toes pampered. Then I was wishing I had water with me. My mind wandered while I finished my walk unsure if I was headed in the right direction. Then I wished I had been looking where I was walking as I stepped in goose poop. Icky.
As I crossed the damn I spotted the parking lot and my car in the distance. I was so happy! So relieved! I wasn't lost after all! The last half mile felt like nothing since I knew I wasn't lost after all.
I enjoyed the walk along the path. The scenery, fresh air and being out in nature was refreshing but there is something to be said for the gym and the trusty treadmill that has a cup holder and no goose poop.
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