The Joy of Walking

These are the little maniacs and they remind me why trails can be fun even when they aren't run or ridden on.

They are pictured here discovering a bounty of lady bugs that are feeding on the aphids covering spring's fresh grass and wild flowers. In one 3 foot section there must have been a couple dozen clinging to stalks. 5 minutes later a dozen were covering the little maniacs arms and hands. They loved it. The lady bugs were not available for comment, but I'll assume they didn't mind too much.

It took us nearly an hour and a half to cover what normally would have taken me 10 minutes on a run. We discovered funneled spider webs with patient but immensely shy spiders within. A Red Tail Hawk circled and eyed us warily as we passed her nest in the citadel of a lone oak with a strategic view of the valley below us. My oldest maniac proudly pointed out owl scat. Our trail meandered through the oak studded hills that are the home of the rare and endangered Callippe Silverspot Butterfly. We saw many moths, a few lizards, magpies, Red-wing Blackbirds, buzzards, and many sparrow, but no butterflies.

It was a wonderful workout.