Today, I planned to walk 2-4 miles, depending on which roads and trails I took. Very quickly, my walk turned into more of a treasure hunt for pictures of all these amazing blooms I was seeing everywhere.
These bushes were the first to catch my attention just about a mile into my walk. I stopped and played with angles and focuses. There's just something so alive and joyful about these bushes.
When I walk, I use the NikeRun app on my phone to track my miles, speed, calories, etc. Now, I can't run easily because it really hurts my neck and lower back, so I usually try to walk fast and keep a consistent pace. So far on my walk, I was doing ok, pausing only for a few moments to take a picture or two. I continued down this road and turned onto the next. This is where I really started getting side tracked.
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After all these shots, I went on my way again. Telling myself I will only stop for can't miss shots. My pace was good, songs were encouraging me along, air was pure and life was grand. About a mile away from these beauties, I found another tree that was in bloom.
Once again, I continue on. I'm just walking along and find an extra jump in my step. I see a path that I've walked by countless times before, that I've never once gone down. Wooded paths have been hard for me with the concussion. I have a hard time navigating over the roots that cross the path and all the leaves that have fallen to the ground. I decide I will try it today and take it slow. Little did I know that I would end up walking slowly simply because I wanted to take pictures of everything I saw. Endless patches of bright green skunk cabbage sprouting up from a brown landscape, glimpses of the Mill River passing by, a tiny flower growing with moss on a rock, ground cover blooming just above the leaf covered forest floor and the very odd curve in the tree.
At this time, I have come to acknowledge that any further plans I have to walk fore exercise sake, were lost. Nature's beauty had won out and I immersed myself in her. Once again, the yellow beauty caught my eye and drew me in towards the local water fall.
You can find peace and tranquility along these trails. The power of the waterfall with nature's beauty surrounding you. The bridge above is no longer suited for vehicular traffic so it makes a nice spot to stop and admire the view.
Walking past the pond, I spotted one flowering tree, standing strong in a sea of brown.
Down the next trail, I spotted a couple of lounge chairs set-up with people laying back, enjoying life.
It's hard for me to capture on film, what the next part of the trail feels like. The light shining through all these tall, skinny trees, makes you feel small and insignificant. I caught the glimpse of a small tree growing under all the big and tall guys.
Passed by the out of place train bridge. It does provide a beauty all its own within the natural landscape. Man made strength surrounded by nature's awesome power.
On the other side of the tracks, I find ferns who are just waking up and stretching to meet the sun. Moss, close-up. Long ferns still laying down from their winter's nap. A tiny flower about to bloom.
I walked out to the edge of an old mill to take one last look at the river and find these tiny white flowers, sprinkling the landscape. These little guys have a beautiful view of the river below.
