The Joy of Walking

Walking is one of my favorite things to do. I love the rural, and so I seek roads and hills that take me away from city streets. My favorite walk/hike is up Box Springs Mountain above where we live. I usually go 8-10 miles on a Saturday morning. I so look forward to it all week long.

I wasn't able to walk but twice while I was off for 3 weeks during Christmas break. First it was being busy with preparations for Christmas and family visiting. Blake and I did walk it the Saturday before Christmas though. Unfortunately when I did have time I was sick for the rest of my break, so no walking up the mountain until today.

During the Christmas break Greg walked by himself a lot. One day he spotted a mountain lion close to one of my favorite little hills that I climb. I can see all the way to Hemet and beyond from that vantage point. I was so disappointed when he expressed his concern about me walking there. I have never been afraid of running into any wild animals before. I am sometimes leary of the two legged variety, and I do carry a small container of pepper spray for any agressive dogs that I might run into. I have seen coyotes, but they are not usually interested in me, they don't even come close and scamper the other direction. I do look down on the trails to make sure I don't run into any rattlesnakes, but really I just so love to be out free to walk and walk.

On the road to the trails that I hike up there is a posting to be aware of mountain lions, but like I said, I just wasn't too concerned. But, there was another mountain lion siting on another trail up to the "M" that I had hiked the previous Saturday. So, I went to Big 5 and bought a bigger and badder container of mace/pepper spray.

My mom heard about the mountain lions and knowing that probably wouldn't deter me much ordered a really big container of Grizzly Bear mace/pepper spray that they use in Alaska online and gave it to me! I am ready for anything out there; dogs, coyotes, bobcats (a teacher at school told me she has seen them around too), mountain lions, and even Grizzly bears!

Today I was in heaven walking my favorite walk passing dogs, goats, horses, donkeys, and even two majestic hawks that were soaring above my head. My soul was refreshed and my body was greatful for the exercise!