A Walk in the Park

It promises to be a gorgeous weekend. Warm and sunny, not too much wind. I am determined to try and get some exercise while the weather cooperates. I know I will not walk unless I go with someone else. It is too easy for me to say I am too tired to go or I don't feel up to it. I call my friend and ask.

Yes! She is free and willing. I don't know where to meet, but she suggests walking the canal from Lake Ontario south. We can meet at Charlotte Beach, then drive to Turning Point Park together. She has walked the trail, and is thinking it might be prettiest there. I agree.

Baby decides to pick today to go on Theft System shutdown. I sit in the car waiting for the warning light to clear. A good fifteen minutes wasted. But at last, after calling my friend to tell her I will be delayed, I am on the way. 390 north is not crowded on this beautiful day, but then I understand why. It is closed due to construction a few miles north. I am detoured halfway back home. Phooey. The cards are stacked against me.

If it weren't for my waiting friend, I would have thrown in the towel and gone home. But I persevere. Then my body decides to have a bathroom needy day. Good thing the bathrooms at the beach are still open. Whew! At last I am ready to walk. We follow my iPhone directions to the park entrance and climb out. The view is gorgeous. We walk down shaded paths to a wooden boardwalk stretching out over the shallow canal. We see a single swan dipping into the muddy water. How odd. Swans usually travel in pairs.

Turtles sun themselves, ducks float nonchalantly, and a lanky heron hides itself in the tall bulrushes. Farther down the canal we can see a huge yacht heading toward us. My friend says that where Turning Point Park got its name. Yachts have to turn around at that place because that is as far as the center is dredged deep enough for passage.

I am wearying. We find a log and rest a bit. My friend is worried. Maybe we should go back. But I press on a bit more before turning around. I can feel the sun biting into my face and arms. I am huffing and red faced. But I know its not my heart. That is in perfect shape. So I slow down. My friend says - "I thought we were already going slow!" Ah, this would be why the boys won't walk with me.

I have seen several dogs here, so I am thinking I can bring Sugar (providing she doesn't jump off the board walk after some critter!). My friend has been exceptionally patient. We have caught up on family doings and career moves for her. I am happy to sit when we get back to the car. That was good. I would like to do that more often. At least its a start. Perhaps I can find other walking friends so I don't aggravate too many people too often with my slow pace and physical ineptness!