We went for breakfast but it was horrible; so bad that our omelettes were obviously sitting for a long time (we waited probably 45 minutes in a Perkin’s that was not crowded) and mine was not even cooked through.

I had to go find some healthier things to eat so I made a grocery run and got fuel. Loran and Addy took off for the day to go do some things so I was going to find things to do after my grocery run.

And, find I did!

I used an app I have to locate some local hiking trails and found some great hiking in Hansen-Larsen Memorial Park not far from downtown. Damn…it was so good to be hiking amongst the pines again.

I put in 2.2 miles; a short hike but it was getting pretty warm and humid after the morning’s light sprinkles stopped as I was heading uphill. It remained cloudy but on the way back down the sun came out and it warmed up quick.

It was a great day for a hike (but it always is!) and I am glad I got out to get some exercise, be in the hills, and in the trees. I did not see any wildlife, but heard some birds so I got out my Merlin Bird ID app to see what I was hearing.

It really is a drag when your hearing sucks. I wear hearing aids but they really don’t help in many cases, and my right ear is getting bad. I cannot hear some of the birds clearly, and I miss the gentle sounds of a forest stream and the wind in the trees. As one can imagine, this is not good when hiking in rattlesnake country; actually it’s problematic when hiking anywhere there is potential for dangerous animal interactions. It is fine if I am with someone else but since I am usually traveling solo it is how it is and I have to adjust best I can or not go at all and that is not a favorable option. I DO have to be smart about my choices though.

After my hike, I took a parking lot breather and then went downtown for a walk. I grew up in the country, but if you have read my blog for any length of time you know I do love cities and the architecture…especially doorways.

All totaled, I walked just shy of six miles today. Not too bad for a short time out. Got my cardio up and burned some serious calories. It was nice to do a forest and a city in a short amount of time.

After they got back we went for dinner. Addy wanted to swim after we got back and we waited to see fireworks from our hotel. Now that it is Friday the crowds are getting worse so we are staying put. The weather has been iffy the last few hours.

Our hotel sits on a ridge overlooking parts of the city. We can see quite a bit out our window, so when the fireworks started we had a good view. We ended up going out into the parking lot to get an even better view. Down below our hotel is a neighborhood that had a lot of fireworks going off. We could look miles to the south and west and see fireworks with a backdrop of lightning; that was pretty cool. Then the city’s fireworks show started up and it was cool. We actually saw a few things I had not seen in fireworks before, and one was this:

It has been a great day and one I have really needed. Forest bathing is so underrated and there is so much inner peace to be found in nature if you just let it happen.

I used to have friends come out to visit in Colorado when I lived there and I would tell them to “…go ahead without me and I will catch up. Just listen to what’s around you, smell the air, look at the little things.”. They would always look at me like I was nuts.

I would catch up with them a short time later and they would say “I get it now. I see what you mean.”. There is so much healing in just taking a hike and let yourself immerse in your surroundings.

I do that anywhere I go, whether it is the forest, mountains, cities…anywhere. Give it a try sometime.

Hope to see you back here for tomorrow’s update!

Shawn