It rained all day yesterday and the weatherman said to expect more of the same today. Boofy and I lit out under a grey sky and headed to Tanoa Road which crosses over Elk Meadow. It was about 7:00. Boofy slept in this morning and even though I was awake I didn’t want to waste those precious bed moments and kept as still as I could trying to appreciate the extra time. I couldn’t stand it though. I like to get up as soon as I wake. I can’t help it. Laying in bed feels like a waste of time and makes me impatient to be moving.
So out on the road I glanced to my left to find a fox in the meadow hunting for breakfast. I hope she found a nice fatty field mouse who didn’t suffer too much trauma as the fox took her first bite.
Boofy and I proceeded on to Lewis Ridge Road and hopped on the trail. All of the things that I love most about our walks were presented in a more subtle way this morning. You know, the cloudy sky and the lack of traffic (it’s Memorial day) kept us surrounded by hushed tones.
Further up the path there were some deer laying down by some big rocks behind some trees set back from the path. It looked to me as if they hadn’t gotten up yet and I felt so intimate with them, casually walking by their bedroom.
Boofy and I arrived at the off-leash area and headed to the right. I had my mind on the rushing water sounds produced by the little creek down at the bottom of the park. I knew that it would feel lush down there this morning.
Before you get to the creek there is the little spring that comes out of the ground and then spreads around without a bed. Boofy slogs through the marshy mud lapping up the water as he goes. It is so obvious that he loves this. Then after his big drink he runs up to me and sits right in front of me waiting for the biscuit that goes with his beverage.
Further on down the trail we ran into a couple that we frequently see and the woman asked me if I had seen the fresh snow on Mount Evans. Well I hadn’t even looked up to the west at all. I am a little surprised by that because it is something I always do – look over at Mt Evans’ spectacular 14,000 ft peak peaking through the closer mountains. So Boofy and I had to extend our walk a little bit so we could get to a high point to look west from.
As I crested the hill I was blown away by bountiful beauty! Not only was Mt Evans covered with snow, but the clouds had broken apart to reveal a bright blue sky framing and spotlighting Mt Evans’ snowy peak. I mean really. I don’t make this stuff up.
Unbelievable.
