Monday, June 14, 2021

A Different Path


Lately I've been wondering about a wildlife area a few miles west of here on Capitola Road which is also Old Lloyd Road, the difference being where you are on the road. So today I drove down there and parked and looked at the walking trail map posted on a sign and could no more figure it out than if it had been written in ancient Mayan hieroglyphs. As with religion, patriotism, and accessorizing, I just don't have the gene. I look at maps and I try to figure out where north is and where I am in relation to north and south and even though yes, the map at the park had a big YOU ARE HERE dot, I still couldn't figure it out. 
What the hell? This is why I have a phone. If I got lost, I could tell Siri to give me directions to Capitola Road and I'd eventually get there although, since I didn't take any water with me, I would have died anyway if I'd had to walk much further than I did which was not that far. 
The L. Kirk Edwards Wildlife and Environmental Area must have far more to it than what I traipsed across today because they describe the fishing and wildlife observations you can do there and mostly what I saw was small planted pines, much of which was on land that had been control-burned recently, and a few fields of what I assume is native wiregrass but I don't really know. I was too hot to stop and use my plant app. But that picture at the top is what the beginning of the trail looked like. 

There were some pretty parts to my walk and here are some. 





Although this picture of a pickerelweed looks as if it were growing in a pond, it isn't. It's growing in a boggy place with standing water in the trail, as in- the middle of the trail. 


Can you see the trail continuing on at the top of the picture?

There were lots of blackberry bushes but the berries were so small and dry-looking that it wouldn't be worth the effort to pick them. I really do need to find another place to pick blackberries. 

I saw zero wildlife. Well, I did see a vulture winging overhead. I am not saying that there wasn't any wildlife- I have no doubt there was plenty. I just didn't see it. I was pretty busy focusing on not dying in the heat. 
I'm thinking that this area might be a good place to walk in the winter when it's chilly and I'm glad I went. My curiosity is satisfied but I would like to explore other parts of it. There is access to the area in several other places. Perhaps eventually I will be able to interpret the map and figure out where exactly those are.

The rest of the day has passed with little to remark on. Garden-picking, a bit of mending. I think that this may be the week I let Dottie and her bebes out of the coop to free range. The little ones can fly and scurry, and Dottie has good control of them, able to call them to her at any sign of danger. If experience tells me anything, it's that they will stay close to the hen house and coop for a few days at least, before she takes them very far afield. 

I will also tell you that I watched (while I was mending) the beginning of an Olympia Dukakis made in 2002, I think, in which she plays a self-proclaimed dyke and I just have to say that if you think MY mouth is filthy, you should watch some of this. There's probably a good reason that the movie never garnered much attention but it seems like a fun ride. I'll probably watch the rest the next time I need to do any ironing or mending. 

I hope that all of you are well. As always, thank you for coming here to read. I have no idea what I'd do without you. 

Love...Ms. Moon




31 comments:

  1. And I have no idea what I'd do without you! One of my many Covid blessings was discovering your wonderful writing a year ago, and now I so look forward to my daily check-in with the Moon family. I learn, I laugh, I get mad right along with you, I love the photos, I appreciate that I'm not the only one who has do-nothing days (though yours tire me out just reading about them!), and I love watching your (plural your - credit to Mr. Moon) garden and what it produces. Ours is on a much different schedule up in southern Idaho. I really appreciate your honesty and straight talk - when something needs to be said, you say it.

    Glad you got out and tried a new place to explore, despite the heat. I did find this in the link you shared: "Visits are most pleasant in the fall and winter when there are cooler temperatures and fewer insects." That pickerelweed is beautiful, but predicts soggy shoes if you continued.

    Thank you for sharing your life and thoughts!
    Chris from Boise

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    1. I too read you first every day. I so believe I live vicariously thru your writing. You always give me a good vibe to get through the day.

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    2. Chris: Thank you so much for such kind words. They mean a lot to me.
      I should have read that link BEFORE I took the walk, right? Although I quickly figured out that walking there in winter would be a much more pleasant experience. Luckily, I didn't have an insect problem. The little trail "pond" was easy to navigate- I simply walked around it. It was dry on both sides.

      Barbara: That makes me feel so good. Truly.

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  2. You had a right adventure today, exploring new turf. I'd like to know the name of that Olympia Dukakis movie. I'm watching a rather scandalous series right now called Flack.

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    1. "Cloudburst" is the name of the movie. I swear- I laid in bed last night thinking about some of the things the Olympia character had said and they made me laugh again. I'll have to check out "Flack."

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  3. A good scouting job; you do need a new place to walk.

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  4. OHHH I love your walk! The antler forest is sublime! Getting lost is a thing isn't it? I usually like getting lost but I think , in the heat, I would not enjoy it quite so much. I would die actually. Lovely photos , very lush and pretty place, gooey!

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    1. Those branches looked like antlers to me too! Or driftwood. Either way, they were cool.
      I swear- I almost died today. Okay, not really, but I pushed it too hard.

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  5. I could have enjoyed that walk without the heat. And here's a fellow explorer who can never seem to find the main attraction, just blunder about in the wrong places!

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    1. Well, with 1800 acres, which may be small for a wildlife preserve but is pretty big for a walk, it's quite possible I missed a lot of the more interesting (and shady) places.

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  6. Was the movie called Cloudburst? I took a look, it looks wonderful. I like Olympia Dukakis.

    I don't think you have a filthy mouth at all. Am I missing something?

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    1. Yes! "Cloudburst!"
      You made me laugh with your comment about my filthy mouth. Ha! You and I would not shock each other if we met.

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  7. shame on you for not taking water on your walk, woman! In your climate......you always need water with you! OK, I've done my deed! LOL! Lovely new walk......look forward to more as you explore. Olympia Dukakis never made a bad film, IMO!
    Susan M

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    1. I have to find a small bottle. Or something. I already have my sweat rag and my walking stick. But yeah, I need an emergency flask or something. Of water. Of course.

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  8. I didn't care for the movie. Too much 'oh. that is just so cute, a little old lady saying bad words'. Very condescending to such a fabulous actor and us little old ladies (me) who like to let 'er rip on occasion.
    I admire your walking, it got up to 93 where I live in Montana and I thought I would die just getting the mail, about 12'.

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    1. Carolyn, I had the same initial reaction but as I got a little more into it, it seemed as if the Olympia character would indeed talk that way. But I totally take your point. I'll have to finish watching it to see how I feel at the end of it.
      Yeah. It's been over ninety when I walk here lately. Not fun. Not fun at all. But then again, I wouldn't be able to walk twelve feet in a Montana snow storm either.

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  9. Just watched Cloudburst and loved it! Stella's swears were swear perfection and i wish I could remember half of her insults, I would feel pumped with that artillery! Thanks for mentioning it, It was a most enjoyable movie!

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    1. The one about stretched-out vaginas! "I want to be able to crawl back in there and do yoga!" Of course, she didn't like the word vagina.

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  10. Looks a great place - it's often hard to see wildlife in the heat, birds especially. I bet if you went there with a moth trap it would be full of interesting species. Sometimes in woods I get frustrated by what I can hear bit not see.

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    1. Well I know that there had to be squirrels, foxes, bears, possibly wild cats, deer, possums, raccoons, armadillos, ...who knows? in that area. But they must have all been either hiding or sleeping. Or both.

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  11. OK, interesting! I don't know this movie but I'll look for it.

    I'm glad you got out to walk in a different area, even if it was hot as blazes. (Which is probably why you didn't see any wildlife.) That pickerelweed growing in the middle of the path is crazy. Must not be a very well-traveled path!

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    1. "Cloudburst" is the name. I don't know if you'd like it or not. Yeah- I can't imagine that that trail is getting much use right now.

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  12. You're a better woman, than I. Cannot walk in the heat under any circumstances. End up looking like a boiled lobster after two minutes (Rosacea will do that). Hope you are able to find some new walking paths--possibly some with a bit more shade. And, always with some drinking water on ya! :)

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    1. Oh, I look like a boiled lobster when I'm walking too. And when I go to bed at night, my hair (which I keep up all day long) is still wet from sweat.
      Yes! More shade and yeah, I need to take water.

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  13. I need a new place to walk but I don't like to have to get in the car to do it. so the dog and I just walk the same sections of the same streets. she's OK with it, has her doggie friends to visit. and me too, regular neighbors to chat with. we wait til evening, 6 or 6:30 and it's still hot then but at least one leg of the walk is in shade. I didn't do much yesterday besides go to the grocery store and post office.

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    1. I don't like getting in the car to go walk either but I've about worn out the roads and paths around here. One of the routes I used to take for many years has been partially blocked off so that's not even an option.
      It's still really hot at 6 or 6:30. I just need to quit being a fool and start getting up and out earlier.

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  14. You had better bring water when you go for a walk! It is fun to explore new places but not in the heat! I want you to stay safe, Ms. Moon!

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  15. That looks like a nice place to go walking - without the heat of course!

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    1. Yes. I think I'll hold off on this particular trail until next fall. LATE next fall.

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