The Washington, D.C. area is having a mini global warming episode lately. January 6th it got
to 71 degrees or so. I blame it on my knowing the ranger who went to Alaska to lead snowshoe hikes, then had no snow.
On my wish list
for Christmas this year, I had listed snowshoes and poles. My loving family pitched in and got me some. Therefore,
the prospects for snow here in the near future are bleak.
That is probably
just as well; I have recovering broken ribs.
Walking down
the streets of Greenville, SC with my nine-year-old
granddaughter turned into trying to keep up with my nine-year-old granddaughter.
I started walking
faster to keep up,
She walked faster.
I assumed the
moderate pack test gait with crouching walk to gain speed.
She started
to run.
I tried to switch
from the low crouch walk to a run and both feet stuck stock still on the brick sidewalk.
I propelled
forward sort of like superman in a horizontal pose, some distance above the pavement.
Gravity kicked
in.
I did a perfect
tuck and roll, according to my family members who were behind us.
Initial diagnosis
of the wreck revealed: one shredded pair of trousers, two bruised knees, and two bruised palms.
Later, the pain
in the ribs started to kick in.
That was December
8th and after about four weeks of healing, I no longer suffer when I sneeze.
Another two
weeks is what the doctor said would be needed for total healing of the ribs.
Therefore, I
am looking forward to strapping my snowshoes around my boots and marching off on snow by January 19th.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park at Great Falls of the Potomac on the
Maryland side encountered many people enjoying the park. A stroll through the wooded trails northeast
of Great Falls Tavern got me away from the crowds that filled the canal path and boardwalk to the falls.
I did not take pictures in the woods, it was a typical winter eastern woodland forest, with an occasional white-tailed deer
keeping its distance.
The water level in the Potomac was quite high. Water rushing through the narrow chutes and over the falls filled
the air with sounds heard all the way out to the parking lot. The constant roar added excitement into the air.
I chose to ignore the crowds and pretend I was alone. The ruse worked for me, even though I frequently had to fold my
tripod legs in to allow foot traffic past me on the boardwalk and bridges, I was able to enjoy the setting.
