Webster Walk: Saturday, May 17, 2013

 Hawken House, now in a small park, this house is a Century Home that was relocated to another part of Webster in the '70's.

 Azaleas abounded everywhere in Webster today.

 Reminded me a little of Nelson in his cowboy hat.

 Kind of funky.  It looks like most of this house is one room, Southwest style. It's difficult to see, but there are small windows lining the ceiling of the house--filled with pottery.

Paul said the parents at this house would leave for weeks on end, leaving their son to have two week parties.

Paul and I walked all around Webster this morning/afternoon. We walked for at least an hour, down streets I'd never been on.  The weather was partially sunny. We chanced across a few Little League games, noticed that the pool was open.  He showed me where he went to grade school and junior high.  I bet it was really cool to grow up in Webster in the '70's--and now, too. I remember watching television--kids in fictional shows would walk to school down tree lined streets, and I always wondered why I didn't live in a place like that. . . well, Paul did. In Webster.

Lewis Trail, Friday, May 16th, 2013

Stopped to hike after school on Friday, May 16th.  The temperature was between 75 and 80, alternating between sunny and overcast, but the predicted storms never manifested.  There was light drizzle when I started hiking.  I've written this before--there is no better way to begin a weekend than a hike on the way home from school, in any kind of weather.  The combination of nature, solitude and anticipation of weekend relaxation and activities has actually made me euphoric at times.

 This hill, part of the third (or fourth?)mile of the Lewis Trail is a cardio killer.I took my heart rate after climbing it--and my heart was beating 147 beats per minute. A week or so ago when I hiked this hill, I got my heart rate up to 165 beats per minute.The picture is deceptive.  It's a slow but steady and long incline that really taxes you.  At the top, there was always a bench, but I don't remember seeing it this time.  I'll have to check the next time.One thing I'll say is that now, when I reach the top of this hill, I can feel my anxiety levels drop as my endorphins kick in. I feel so calm and peaceful then, hiking the last mile or so of the trail.

Wildflowers (and allergies) abounded.  I found these flowers particularly striking amidst green.

Lost Valley, Monday, May 13, 2013

 Hiked Lost Valley after school--8 miles. Started at 3:01 and ended around 6, so I guess I averaged about  22.5 minute mile.  Not awful, but this trail is very moderate, if you are hiking it.  I missed the major cardio hills of Lewis and Clark.  Even though I pant climbing those, the pay off in anxiety fighting endorphins at the end of the hike is very pleasant. This trail promises a slow plodding, and also deferring to mountain bikers.

Met a birdwatching woman who told me she'd seen two cockatoos--and showed me what one looked like in her bird book.

Beautiful green field.

Yucca Plant, evidence of former homestead.

 Some dogwood blossoms left on a few trees.  Got close enough to see the red marks, which always reminds me of the legend of the dogwood they told us in Catholic school. This also made me think of Mom.

 Some furry, fuzzy moss right at the end of the trail that runs through the woods.

 These two trees were on either side of the old logging road. They both had what appeared to be wind shear?  Limbs were ripped from the trees, and were left hanging.

Look back over your right shoulder at the end of the hike and see this peaceful stream.

Cool swampy noises!

Downtown Walk, Laclede's Landing and the Graffiti Wall--May 12, 2013

 Paul and I got up relatively early and ventured downtown for a walk.  Although we'd driven by the graffiti wall before, we'd never hopped out and walked along it--taking pictures.I found it fascinating.

 Me at the Graffiti Wall. Chilly this morning; I was wearing a fleece cap and gloves, but then the weather warmed up.

 Some great graffiti on a train, across from the wall.

 From 2000?

 Laclede's Landing--a little more deserted than it used to be. . . .

Who is the man in white? He's been doing this for a couple of years now, consistently.

The river has been high. Sand gets up to an overlook. . . 

 Not sure why  the flags are at half mast. Perhaps because of the Boston Marathon bombing?

All the driftwood that traveled down the river during the past month's rains.

The head of the Clark statue, waving from the muddy depths, showing how high the river got this month.

Rockwood Reservation: Saturday, May 11, 2013

 The bridge at the beginning of the Rock Quarry Trail (2 and one fourth  miles)

 Chunks of street concrete belie the fact that you are not far from civilization.

Sycamore Bark

The Rock Quarry

Shadows of leaves that reminded me of Asian tapestries.

The sight of a sunny path lifts spirits.

Above and below: an overlook on the Trail Among the Trees

Didn't leave until 12:15 or so, on a sunny, 70 degree Saturday.  Dinner obligations stipulated a short hike, but I enjoyed myself.  Hike the Rock Quarry Trail and the Trail Among the Trees. On the trails, only saw a couple of couples and a young father with a friendly, talkative little boy wearing a Spider man cap.  He showed me leaves as I walked by, and wanted to sit on the bench where I was writing in my journal.  It was breezy, and after awhile, my eyes began to itch and nose to get a bit watery, but all in all, a lovely day for a hike. Stopped and took my heart rate a couple of times after climbing hills, but wasn't very out of breath.

St. Louis Heart Walk: Downtown, May 4, 2013

Dad asked Paul and I to do the heart walk with him at Busch Stadium. We walked for Boeing donations.It was a cold and rainy morning, but once we got walking, we were warm. We ended our morning with a little brunch at Tigin Pub downtown.

7:15 a.m., before the Heart Walk--Paul and Dad

 Don begins the walk in his overalls--forging ahead of us.

Cute family.

 Redbud blooms are one of the few signs it's Spring. It's misting and 42 degrees for the entire walk.

 Pretty big turnout, considering how cold and damp it was that morning.

Riding in Style at the end of three miles.

 Walkers did their last lap around the field at the new Busch Stadium.

 Me and Dad.

Last look at the field. . . .