Matson Hill Park, Sunday, October 18, 2015

Prime hiking weather. Makes me wish, again, that we started school in early August so that we could have a week off in October.  Paul and I rose fairly early, tried not to dwell on this being the first morning in 16 years that we've awakened at our house and found no dog(s) waiting for us to take them out,  made coffee, brought donuts and a souffle to Pat, and found ourselves beginning a 4.9 mile at Matson Hill Park by 11 a.m..

We found golden trees against pure blue sky, a few bicyclists, even less hikers, and three or four dogs on the trail.  We were pleased to be moving at a fast pace and finished at exactly 1 p.m.. Pat and Lynnie called us as we were driving down 94, and we met them at Wine Country Garden for lunch. Pat was a little hung over from Kathy's bonfire last night, and we spied Lynnie's work compadre at the wine bar with a friend, although none of us made ourselves known to one another. 

Matson Hill is a moderate trail with many switch backs and a few gentle inclines. You get a work out, but it's not exhausting.  It's also very close to the roadhouses in Defiance and wineries along Highway 94. One to remember.

I took this photo of Paul to send to Laura C. via text, just as before he ditched the jacket as the temperature had grown much warmer.

Tower Grove Park, October 17, 2015

Paul and I walked through Tower Grove Park this afternoon, trying to cheer ourselves up after having to put Blue, our possibly 17 year old blue tick coonhound, to sleep.  He was a part of our lives for twelve years, having been rescued from despicable conditions by the Humane Society and adopted by us in 2003.  The park was teeming with people, children, dogs, joggers, kick ball players, picnickers, and the sky was. . .well, blue.  

 I spotted a small tombstone-looking marker under a tree, and took a photo. When I got home, I googled possibilities for the inscription and found conflicting stories. The most likely is from Jerry Berger, former St. Louis newspaper columnist, who said that the marker was placed by Henry Shaw to commemorate an oak tree planted in honor of a niece from England who was visiting, hence the word "oak" at the top. Her name was Eliza Hoole (or Poole or Moore).  The oak tree eventually died, and park employees tried to plant another, although I don't think there is an oak tree on the spot at this time.  Just another symbol of impermanence, memories and the passage of time.

Lost Valley Trail, October 16, 2015

Yay for one Fall Break Day. I left the house messy after the plumber left and headed out to St. Charles. The Lewis and Clark parking lot contained, literally, 50 cars. Ugh.  But just a few miles down 94, the parking lot of the Lost Valley Trail was entirely empty. I bought a bottle of water in Defiance and started hiking. The trail's a bit different than the last time I was here. Parts have been rerouted and now you can hike through the woods behind and above the scary contaminated True Detective looking lake instead of along the road in front.  I'm not sure how many miles I did on the "short loop", but it took me 3 hours and 45 minutes. I had to hurry home for dinner plans at 8.

I've never hiked this trail in October, but it's extremely beautiful. The trees are changing colors and the sky yesterday was completely blue--no clouds whatsoever.  The last two miles, I encountered three bikers, and older woman who was booking and a young man whose device of choice was blaring music as he rode. Of course, I had to step aside--one reason I've stopped hiking this trail very often.  But I can't believe there weren't more cyclists out today, especially after I saw so many hikers at Lewis and Clark. There's also a shooting range nearby, so the woods were filled with shots for awhile near the end of my hike.

So many shots made me think the deer would be scared away, but when I stopped to lean against a tree to remove my hiking boot for a few minutes, I heard something in the brush and saw a small deer leaping away into the trees. Each time I've been hiking this October, I've seen deer.

I know I've taken pictures of these devices before (fence posts? A pulley?) no doubt a part of a farm that was once on this land pre-WWII, but as the years go by, I find myself imagining more and more about the people who inhabited this land.

Rockwood Reservation: Greenrock Trail, October 11, 2015

 Another perfect October day to hike. Started on the Greenrock at around 9:30 in Rockwoods Reservation. Hiked the 3.6 miles to the border of Greensfelder and then turned around for a total of 7.2 miles. It took me about 3 and a half hours, total. Only encountered one jogger on the trail, which seemed surprising as late in the day as it was.

Saw two deer.

Greensfelder, October 3, 2015

Paul was in Colorado visiting his sisters, so I got up fairly early and drove out to Greensfelder to take advantage of the Fall weather. It was in the 50's and a bit overcast.  Not very many people, if any at all--although the area around Greensfelder is much more populous than it used to be. Hiked the Beulah Trail, but first visited the Beulah Shelter to finish my morning coffee--and then walked down to the overlook to take some photos. Still trying to convince someone to camp with me there after ten years.  Saw two deer.

 Outhouse at the Beulah Shelter

Short hike, but I always love the first Fall hike of the year.