On Free Time

Recently I have acquired more free time than I really have any idea what to do with. So in the interest of thrift and some vague idea to release my inner Thoreauvian (Henry David Thoreau -ed.) impulse I have started to hike a couple times a week. I grab my bag, my camera and a handy branch and without the aid of a map or any sense of direction, I go. Austin and the surrounding area has a large variety of parks and trails and I am going to go through them one by one.

Zilker Park I has traversed many many times so far, my last trip out was quite an ordeal as the combination of trail running, some JV rock climbing and hot weather made my body hurt for three days. Today I have just returned from Walnut Creek Park, it has a lot of trails and is perfect for those who have mountain bikes and/or dogs. Myself, having neither relied on my wits and my keen sense of falling off things. Twice I tried to take shortcuts and ended up doing a fair bit of climbing, at one point being in a position where a lucky branch saved me from if not certain death, at least bloody, horrendous pain. There were easier ways, I just chose the better way, ie the way that involved climbing things and almost getting really hurt.

Next week I shall blaze another trail, while wrestling grizzy bears with ham in my pockets.