Cemetery Walks with Paul, November 7, 2014

The Meuse-Argonne offensive was the last battle of World War II. It lasted months and 26,000 American s were killed, including twenty-four year old Walter Runge.

Paul and I went walking in Concordia Cemetery by our house on Bates--discovering that it has been there since the early to mid 1800's and was begun by Germans.  The leaves in the city proper have not fallen yet, and parks and cemeteries are great places to see large, colorful trees before winter weather sets in for good (probably this week).  We also went to the cemetery on Mackenzie where Paul's Dad is buried and witnessed a Bosnian Muslim funeral--the person who died is not in a coffin, and is only covered by a colorful burial shroud.  I just read that according to that tradition, the person should be buried before sundown on the day that they passed away--and the family prepares the body for burial.

Lewis and Clark, November 6

Hiked after professional development. Many leaves have fallen but the ones that remain are brilliant shades of red and gold.  I marveled how well I felt, other than panting going up the hills because I've been out of practice and out of shape.  It felt so great to MOVE.

New Bench at the beginning of the trail.

Lewis and Clark Trail October 6,2014

After hideous weekend with dental infection, I got the fairly all clear from the dentist (and the dermatologist by phone) to go hiking, since I'd taken the whole day off of school anyway.  Headed out to Lewis and Clark, still too swollen to wear flipper but I did not care. It was an amazing warm Fall day and I hiked the 5.3 miles easily.  This trail is so convenient--right on the way home from school.  Played with the effects on my I-phone camera. Instant and amazing! Just a few leaves starting to turn. 

Hiking with Pat around April 23, 2014: Cuivre River

I got a little lazy about posting my hikes, walks, etc.. It's been a busy and somewhat stressful season--from Spring to Summer to Fall. Took Gateway Writing Project in June/July, had surgery the first week of August and started school mid-August. Trying to catch up with postings and get back to hiking and blogging. . . .

 This is my brother Patrick Coleman on his 42nd birthday at Cuivre River State Park. We hiked after I'd left school early for a doctor's appointment--and then I purchased his gifts and headed out to Wentzville. Day was cool, a little humid. We talked a lot about Mom and her death, our Dad's sociopathic tendencies--samo, samo, but hiking and talking is a good way to process difficult information and occurrences.

 This is where Pat made the joke about . . well, it was inappropriate, as usual :).

 Odd drainage system. This was not concrete but some kind of synthetic material. Gave me the willies about cancer and toxins.

 The Cuivre River. It was a record cold winter in St. Louis--as cold a winter as I can ever remember and I'm 48.  Green was just trying to make a comeback in late April.  Contrast that with Spring 2011 when foliage was in bloom by the end of March.

 Back pack camp. We made plans to camp here, but as yet, they haven't materialized.

Field by the parking lot, heading home.

Clark Trail: April 22, 2014

 Near the end of the trail, I came across a giant True Detective pyramid!

 Finally, a dogwood has bloomed.

 The foliage is really coming out. Last weekend, the woods were still kind of bare.

 Tree formations caused from last Spring's storm damage.

 Red bud at the bridge. You know you've almost finished the trail here.

Likewise, you've almost finished the trail here.  I did 5.3 miles in about two hours tonight. Perfect weather, between 65 and 70 degrees. Sunny and little tree cover; I was wearing my wide-brimmed straw hat. Peaceful and stress relieving.

April 19, 2014: Chubb and Lime Kiln

Didn't get on the proper highway for Lewis and Clark this morning--opted for Chubb which is only about twenty minutes away, but unfortunately for me, there was a trail runners' race.  I should have known, with all the cars, but nothing was posted, so I attempted to hike.  It would have  been a peaceful, cool morning under the trees--had I not had to step to the side every three minutes. When I got to the campground spur, I hike back down and drove to Rockwood. I realize I should probably hike Rockwood exclusively for a bit--as it is the only only hikers' trail (besides Lewis and Clark) in the vicinity. And since Blue is too old to hike anymore, and Rockwood allows no pets, it's perfect for now.

 Redbuds in bloom. Promise of things to come.Talked to Pat and Lynnie on my cell phone for awhile, climbing a hill.

 This bench looked cozy for a little journaling, but the horse flies surrounded me and prevented me from settling in, so I kept moving.

 This stream means you have almost completed the three mile trail.

The Lime Kiln from another angle. Perfect 73 degree day.

Greensfelder, Dogwood Trail, April 18, 2014

 This is the trail icon for The Dogwood Trail, just 2.8 miles long. It took me about an hour on a sunny, 73 degree Spring Day. Good Friday, actually. Not many dogwood blooms, some redbuds, a horseback rider, a few bicyclists--the park was crowded. Wore my big brimmed hat with sun screen and nary a ray touched my face.

Lewis and Clark on April Fool's, 2014

Stopped on a whim after school to hike Lewis and Clark.  Hadn't been there since last June, right after the tornadoes hit and the trail was impassable.  Noticed daffodils coming up by the pond; this must have been the site of another homestead that has all but disappeared.The temperature was around 60 degrees and I was warm in Nelson's old Ireland sweater.  The sun would come out, then it would rain and by the end the sun was kind of peaking out again.  I looked up the time of sunset--7:42--plenty of time before dark. Made me feel hopeful. I was wearing my giant brimmed straw hat-not a hiking hat--to protect my face from the sun and as it turned out, the hat kept me very dry, too, even at the end of the hike when the rain picked up and the trail started to get a little muddy.

Debris from last year's tornadoes. Cut from the path but not removed.

Coming upon the river vista, a broken tree and eerie sky. 

The last mile or two of the trail--more burned trees and limbs.  Eerie but exciting. Hiked the trail in abuot 2 hours and 15 minutes: 3:30 or so to 5:45. Talked with Pat on the phone at the end. Stepped gingerly and slowed down when the trail became muddy. (Earlier, in the school parking lot, it had actually hailed as I walked to my car in the sunshine.) There were two or three joggers; a backpacker hiking the trail backwards who'd also seen the hail, a woman walking alone, and a couple. The last two were at the trail's entrance. I panted going up the hills, but didn't feel short of breath or anything. Couldn't believe how good this hike made me feel.

Lost Valley Fire Road Trail and New Section, March 10, 2014

 First official day of Spring Break 2014 was 80 degrees after one of the longest and coldest winters in St. Louis that I've ever experienced.  The previous Monday was our eighth snow day of the season--with wind chills around -20. So this 80 degree day had all of our hearts thawing. . . .I took Pat and Lynnie up the hill to the Muschany Cemetery. Hadn't been up there in a couple of years, since the geocaching field trip two years ago April when Kelly Barban and I took some Creative Writers on this trail. Some time during the last two years, the well-tended barbed wire fence around the cemetery has been torn down so that one can walk inside and inspect the tombstones. Before, you could only closely inspect the stone of the baby Catherine, aged three, that faces in a direction that has protected it from erosion.

 Juneau was hilarious on this day--darting everywhere--with Lynnie fussing over her and giving her water. When she got back to Pat and Lynnie's, she was dogged tired, but up for more adventures the next day.

 A very "True Detective" Scene on the trail. Lynnie pointed out that the reflection would make a cool, if melancholy picture.

It got very hot--and in spite of my hat and sunscreen, my face burned, which has me worried like it never used to. Still, we hiked three hours and I was pleased to find that even after my sick and inactive winter, I was able to make it without being very sore the next day.

Indian Camp Creek Park, February, 2014

Lynnie, Pat, Juneau and I returned to Indian Camp Creek Park in February, on a semi-warm afternoon during a particularly cold winter in St. Louis. I truly can't remember a winter this cold, one that made me feel old, immobile and powerless.  This particular day went from sunny to overcast. We'd all been at Susan's, Lynnie's sister's, watching Paul paint, playing with Zen baby Henry and eating Bread Co.. That afternoon, sans Paul, we went for a short hike at Indian Camp Creek--Juneau on the long leash I bought her last summer at Walmart in Troy.  Pat and I were slow; nursing various maladies that I won't outline on this blog in case I ever decide to make it public again.This was a turning point for me, however, because from this day until March 14 (today), I have felt almost normal again and have been able to walk and to hike.

We all went to Llewellyn's in Winghaven afterwards--drank some beers and talked.

Indian Camp Creek Park, Tuesday before Thanksgiving, 2013

Alas, I have no photos from this hike with Lynnie, my sister-in-law. We had good conversations about Mom--and reminisces. And Juneau hiked with us. I took pictures to emailed to me from my i-phone, but that night--or rather--early in the morning, Wednesday, three men broke into our house and stole my i-phone. I saw them as they walked down the hall past my bedroom, on their way out of the back kitchen window.

St. Francois Park, Mooner's Hollow Trail October or November 2013

 Paul and I hiked this trail (Mooner's Hollow) circa Halloween. The weather was warm, but the leaves had changed color-- as you can see from the pics, the woods really were the proverbial cathedral of color extolled by nature writers. There was sunshine and then overcast sky, which contrasted the vivid colors.  Mooner's Hollow is a three mile trail, just the right amount for us after a year of--at times--sedentary despair. I fondly remember hiking it on Mothers' Day in 2000--and then meeting my parents for beers and dinner at the Tap Room downtown. Now I'm at the age--really, that was thirteen years ago--and the unthinkable has happened, with more unthinkable threatening on the horizon. . . .

In any case, Mooner's Hollow is a lovely walk, not strenuous, and scenic even though there really aren't any vistas. After hiking, Paul and I ate lunch in Hillsboro at an Italian Restaurant that we found on yelp. The name presently escapes me, but I recall enjoying the lunch, the company, a glass of red wine and pasta.

 It seems like every time I hike St. Francois Park, the sky feels low at some point, and I get the opportunity to take an eerie, almost ghostly picture that calls to mind the Moonshiners and Civil War soldiers that frequented these woods at different points in history.

A little pic of Paul in the corner next to a rock outcropping!