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Mar. 23rd, 2025 10:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ravena_kadeSo I went on my little adventure yesterday. I was disappointed that I was the only one who took part in the Mass-Adventure commuter rail trip. I was the only on on the shuttle bus from the train. It was a tad awkward, but the driver was nice.
When the bus arrived at the trail head I could see that others were there so it wasn't going to be too weird. Yay. There were c couple of ladies my age, a family with 2 young girls who were into birding, and a family from India with a 2 month old infant. The grandfather from India had a HUGE camera as he was also a birder. They wanted to see snowy owls, but the snows all left a few weeks ago.
All in all I really enjoyed the day, but I underestimated the terrain. I knew it was a tour behind the dunes, but I thought it would be mostly through the scrub pines and such...I was thinking firmer ground. I was wrong. The trails were actual sand ..deep sand...even in when we were in the pine trees. There were several steep dines that needed climbing. The last one had me huffing and puffing like I wouldn't be alright. The guide said to take your time, but if I stopped I sank in the sand and started to slide down hill. The best was to bull through and climb. The sand was up to my mid calf. I also didn't have on hiking shoes, just walking shoes. I felt like was striking through the deserts of North Africa. Oi. I did not think it was an easy hike for an out of shape woman.
I did lug the BIG camera as I knew that if I didn't there would be something like a bald eagle asking for its portrait and I would be out of luck. There was a family of deer, but the baby crying scared them away and any other bird or mammal wildlife. I saw some cool moss and bugs.
At one point a snake caught my eye and I said "Snake Snake Snake". I generally like seeing snakes out in the wild. This one was almost posed for us. It was on a pine stump sunning itself. It had been cool in the morning so I know enough that it was heating up in a sun ray. Perfect light... but my camera was under my coat that was tied about my waist (I dressed wrong too) so when I freed it the kids moved and frighted the snake. I hope they got good photos.
Things I learned:
I still want to take more of the train trips as long as they run them. It's a good experience. I like getting out and about. I am not getting younger and money isn't getting better. I used to worry about living until 100, but now with the cousins I feel I may not make it much after 69.
I need a new camera strap. Perhaps a cross body one or a harness. A camera around my neck just bounces off my boobs and belly and that annoys me. If I have a back pack on I can just sling it over my shoulder.
I need to get out that bridge camera I bought last June. It is good to have if I am unsure if there will be anything to photograph. It is not heavy. It has a zoom so that is good, but it doesn't have the speed of the big camera so it is not a replacement.
I need better shoes. I want to find a place that will measure my feet. I know LL Bean will, but Bean supports project 2025 and gave a lot to trumpty Dumpty . They don't need any more of my money for a while.
Today I am really stiff. I need to get out more so I can do things like this and not be dead tired right after and sore the next day.
My plan for today is to head to the open house at the local art association. Since I am giving up my animal shelter nights (when they move the animals) I need something else to do that is in a place I can get to and aligns with what I want to do when I can leave office work behind.
After I will visit DQ. It is her 82 birthday, but she isn't celebrating because she lost her last sister on Monday.
When the bus arrived at the trail head I could see that others were there so it wasn't going to be too weird. Yay. There were c couple of ladies my age, a family with 2 young girls who were into birding, and a family from India with a 2 month old infant. The grandfather from India had a HUGE camera as he was also a birder. They wanted to see snowy owls, but the snows all left a few weeks ago.
All in all I really enjoyed the day, but I underestimated the terrain. I knew it was a tour behind the dunes, but I thought it would be mostly through the scrub pines and such...I was thinking firmer ground. I was wrong. The trails were actual sand ..deep sand...even in when we were in the pine trees. There were several steep dines that needed climbing. The last one had me huffing and puffing like I wouldn't be alright. The guide said to take your time, but if I stopped I sank in the sand and started to slide down hill. The best was to bull through and climb. The sand was up to my mid calf. I also didn't have on hiking shoes, just walking shoes. I felt like was striking through the deserts of North Africa. Oi. I did not think it was an easy hike for an out of shape woman.
I did lug the BIG camera as I knew that if I didn't there would be something like a bald eagle asking for its portrait and I would be out of luck. There was a family of deer, but the baby crying scared them away and any other bird or mammal wildlife. I saw some cool moss and bugs.
At one point a snake caught my eye and I said "Snake Snake Snake". I generally like seeing snakes out in the wild. This one was almost posed for us. It was on a pine stump sunning itself. It had been cool in the morning so I know enough that it was heating up in a sun ray. Perfect light... but my camera was under my coat that was tied about my waist (I dressed wrong too) so when I freed it the kids moved and frighted the snake. I hope they got good photos.
Things I learned:
I still want to take more of the train trips as long as they run them. It's a good experience. I like getting out and about. I am not getting younger and money isn't getting better. I used to worry about living until 100, but now with the cousins I feel I may not make it much after 69.
I need a new camera strap. Perhaps a cross body one or a harness. A camera around my neck just bounces off my boobs and belly and that annoys me. If I have a back pack on I can just sling it over my shoulder.
I need to get out that bridge camera I bought last June. It is good to have if I am unsure if there will be anything to photograph. It is not heavy. It has a zoom so that is good, but it doesn't have the speed of the big camera so it is not a replacement.
I need better shoes. I want to find a place that will measure my feet. I know LL Bean will, but Bean supports project 2025 and gave a lot to trumpty Dumpty . They don't need any more of my money for a while.
Today I am really stiff. I need to get out more so I can do things like this and not be dead tired right after and sore the next day.
My plan for today is to head to the open house at the local art association. Since I am giving up my animal shelter nights (when they move the animals) I need something else to do that is in a place I can get to and aligns with what I want to do when I can leave office work behind.
After I will visit DQ. It is her 82 birthday, but she isn't celebrating because she lost her last sister on Monday.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-23 09:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-23 11:55 pm (UTC)Sand is such an *itch to walk through. :o
HUGS, Jon
no subject
Date: 2025-03-24 10:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-24 03:17 pm (UTC)Well that toots. :(
when I freed it the kids moved and frighted the snake
Kids ruin everything. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2025-03-25 12:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-10 06:34 pm (UTC)