Spring Walking

Yesterday I took advantage of the mild weather and headed out to the woods to one of my favorite spring hiking spots. None of the spring wildflowers were up yet, but I'll go back over the next couple weeks and keep an eye on their progress. One of the best things about hiking at this time of year is the bugs aren't out yet. No mosquitoes! No blackflies! No deer flies!

The disadvantage of where I went walking is the gunfire. I had to modify my intended route because someone was training their hunting dog, and at one point guns were being fired on both sides of me. Needless to say, I hightailed it in the opposite direction.

Later in my hike I was turned back by trail closed signs, presumably for nesting Canada geese. I prefer loops whenever possible, but even with having to double-back along the same section of trail it was still a lovely day for a walk.

I heard peepers and wood frogs and saw a painted turtle and a garter snake. It felt blissfully good to be in the woods again without wearing a coat!