A local celebration has closed the streets and, being that
it would be difficult for me to get over the hill, I opted to take a long walk
in a local park instead of my usual mountain getaway. My day started at a brisk pace through a
little canyon community. Freshly painted
Spanish style houses, sitting side by side with barely room to breathe in
between, lined the streets. It’s
actually very pretty as each lawn is manicured and styled according to
individual preference. Sort of like a
garden walk but you shouldn’t touch anything or someone will holler out at you
as if you’re up to no good. This being
so-Cal, the roses are ever in bloom and the air is scented with jasmine. The jacaranda has colored the sidewalks
purple and the hillsides are dotted with wild nasturtium and lavender. It’s kind of like wonderland or maybe the
chocolate factory. It seems unnatural
since it really never rains here but those that populate the area can well
afford to be liberal with the watering practices. I wander past a playground which looks like a
lot of fun and there seems to be some kind of birthday party. I catch some wizards and warlocks adjusting
capes and costumes, getting ready to make a grand entrance. I don’t wait for the show to begin because
today I’m using my iPod fitness calculator and its tracking my walking
pace. I haven’t used it before and I’m
not sure what happens if I stop too long.
I don’t really need to keep count of steps or miles because I know the route
and I know how far it is. I also have a
pretty good understanding about how many miles I can walk in an hour but the
little tracker is kind of fun and I can play some music in the background. I pass the orange orchard which grows oranges
for those in need and I slow down a little bit to look for deer. The grove has recently been expanded and an
automatic watering system has been put in place. There used to be deer that came over the
hill and cleared the weeds but it seems a fence has been erected to keep the
deer out and so now it looks crazy with wild mustard. I continue on into the park which is really a
jewel in the middle of the city. I’ve
seen bobcat and coyote in the past. The
rangers swear to me there is mountain lion.
Today I don’t see any of those things but there are a lot of ducks. Also, because it’s Sunday there are a lot of
people walking babies and dogs. This is
a good place to see a large variety of dogs.
There are all sizes, colors and temperaments. There was even one crazy woman who used to
bring a cat on leash and walk around the entire lake… oh wait… that was
me. Today I’m on my own because my
darling Mango-Joe refuses to keep a fast enough pace for my iPod tracker. I make my way up to the far end of the lake
but instead of heading around I head up the hill toward the fire station. This gives me a little time on a dirt trail
and also a little time to myself since no one else really goes up there. When I come back down there is a yoga-dance
class beginning and a bunch of ladies in wrap style skirts and beaded sandals are
headed into the community center. They
are all gripping their very own yoga mat and I learn that most people choose
blue. If I had more time I think I could
enjoy yoga but it has not yet fit into my schedule. I briefly imagine what it might be like to be
one of those ladies today and am considering whether or not I would wear a wrap
style skirt as I recall that I did try yoga a couple of times and was put off
by the smell of all the sweaty bodies in such a small enclosed space. I also found that my neck would hurt from twisting
my head to see what other people were doing in order to follow the instructions
and poses. I think on this for a minute
and conclude that if yoga ever does fit in to my schedule I will choose outdoor
yoga. On the way back I’m a little tired
and my feet hurt from the pavement. It’s
downhill though so I don’t mind. As I
passed back through the garden estates I noticed several signs alerting people
to one lost cat or another and I am reminded of when I used to walk here at
dusk in the summertime, after I left work and before returning home. I often saw coyote slipping in and out between
the parked cars, keeping their eyes on me the whole time. They are beautiful but intimidating and I’m
sure they like to eat cats. So I
question, as I continue my brisk pace, the decision to let your cat out if you
live outside a park like this. As I approach
my car, the car I like to call my little-guy, I take a look down at my
tracker. I’ve managed about six and
one-half miles. A lazy day to be sure
but a good one.
